Abstract: A stackable and interconnectable stand used for supporting potting containers to prevent accidental toppling of potted plants is disclosed. The body of the stand is constructed of a wire lattice or flat bands, which has six radially extending legs between which the potting container is secured. Each leg has an upward (hip) bend, which forms an inner leg segment, and a downward return (knee) bend, which forms an outer leg segment. The inner leg segments diverge upwardly to define an area for restrictively receiving a potting container with the side walls of the container restrictively held secure against inner leg segments. The inner leg segments diverge upward at an angle such that the side walls of potting containers of various dimensions will be in restrictive contact with at least some portion of the inner leg segment to firmly support the potting container within the stand. The stands can be stackable atop one another to provide convenient storage of the stands when unused.

Abstract: An instrument and method for surveying the static fluid column of a cased oil well and measuring the volume of oil and brine in the fluid column is disclosed. The instrument uses the inherent differences in specific gravity between water, oil and brine to provide a more simple, convenient, portable and cost effective means for surveying oil columns in cased oil wells. The instrument includes a probe, and a modified fishing rig used to lower and raise the probe into the oil well. The fishing rig includes a handled rod, a reel with a numeric line counter, and length of fused braided fishing line. The numeric line counter visually indicates the length of line expelled from the reel's spool. The probe includes a tubular casing, which is filled with ordinary tap water. The probe is constructed and filled with water so that it has a specific gravity greater than oil and less than brine (approximately 1.0 g/cc).

Abstract: A venting cover for a containerized candle that stabilizes the combustion flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion of containerized candles is disclosed. The venting cover of this invention is a flat disc, which is seated over the mouth of the container or jar. The venting cover has an annular flange around its periphery, a central exhaust vent and six oblong inlet vents spaced radially from the exhaust vent around the periphery of the venting cover. The venting cover creates a concentric laminar air flow within the interior of the jar, which stabilizes the flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for metering produce into “clam shell” type containers carried past the dispensing mechanism by a conveyer, as part of an automated conveyer driven packaging system. The dispensing mechanism includes a side mounted hopper, a guide shoot, and a pair of elongated produce stops. The interior of the hopper is divided by internal partitions into a large bin and a dispensing queue. The body of the hopper has an inclined floor, and converging side and end walls that funnel produce toward two vertically oriented metering gates. One gate meters produce from the large bin into the queue and the second gate meters produce from the hopper into the containers. The guide shoot is pivotally connected to the hopper beneath the second gate. The guide shoot directs the produce from the hopper into the moving containers as they are carried along the conveyer.

Abstract: An air/oil separator used with a closed loop oil seal system for a liquid ring vacuum pump, which incorporates a multi-chambered design for facilitating multiple stages of oil particulate separation is disclosed. The separator includes a rectangular reservoir tank and a tubular internal filter housing, which supports a filter element inside the reservoir tank. The filter housing extends horizontally inside the reservoir tank with an open distal end disposed within the reservoir tank and a closed proximal end protrudes from the proximal end wall of the reservoir tank. Extending horizontal across substantially the length of the reservoir tank, the filter housing and two internal baffle plates divide the reservoir tank into an upper inlet chamber and two collection chambers.

Abstract: A portable lawn and brush trimmer including an elongated tubular boom arm, motor assembly mounted at one end of the boom, a trimmer head mounted on the opposite ends of the boom arm, and two adjustment mechanisms, which allow the attitude of the trimmer head to be adjusted about two different axis in relation to the boom arm is disclosed. The adjustment mechanisms allow an operator to manually change the attitude and orientation of the trimmer's cutting plane to conform to the slope and contour of the terrain without the operator altering the natural balanced operating position of the trimmer or his body posture while maintaining the natural balanced orientation of the boom arm with respect to the operator and not the terrain being worked. One adjustment mechanism (pivot adjustment) allows the trimmer head to pivot in relationship to the boom arm between a number of manually selectable angular positions.

Abstract: An improvement to conventional electrical wiring that provides a visible indication of wear abrasion before an electrical hazard is created in high wear, high abrasion cable applications is disclosed. The improvement to conventional wiring cable construction is the use of contrasting colors between the extruded insulator and the outer jacket materials in the cable. When the outer jacket of the cable is worn down, cut or damaged, the underlying insulator of a contrasting color becomes visible against the outer jacket thereby indicating a hazard condition.

Abstract: An improved scrubber that uses a stream of air to blast the oil off the oil-laden conveyer chains of oil-only recovery apparatus is disclosed. The improved scrubber eliminates the need for conventional scouring components that physically contact the conveyer chain. The scrubber includes a blower, a series of air ducts, and an elongated nozzle. The air flow generated by the blower is communicated through the air ducts and directed onto a length of the oil-laden conveyer chain within the reservoir chamber of the recovery apparatus by the nozzle to blast the crude oil off the conveyer chain. The scrubber also includes a collection baffle positioned directly behind the length of the conveyer chain, which provides a surface area upon which the liquid oil collects and upon which the gaseous oil particulate may agglomerate and condense, before collecting at the bottom of the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: An open circuit failure monitoring apparatus for controlled electrical resistance heaters is disclosed. The heater failure monitoring apparatus allows controlled electrical resistance heaters to be continuously monitored for open circuit failures without applying an operational current flow through the heater, regardless of the operational status of the heater and without significant power consumption during periods when the heater is not operated. The failure monitoring apparatus includes a reactive current limiting element, such as a capacitor, and a current monitoring circuit. The capacitor is connected in parallel with the contact switch used to control line voltage applied to the resistive load. The reactance of the capacitor provides a small but continuous test current capable of being detected by the current sensing component, but not large enough to consume significant power.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing leaves and debris from a roof gutter from a ground position is disclosed. The apparatus includes an adjustable articulate head unit connected to a telescoping handle. The head unit includes a pair of gripping blades hinged together along their proximal end to pivot between an open and closed position. One of the gripping blades is rotatably connected to a flat neck by an O-shaped grommet, which allows the gripping blades to rotate between different angular positions with respect to the neck for different angles of inclination. A cord is connected to the other gripping blade and passes through the grommet and is used to manually close the gripping blades. A trigger device, which includes a finger loop is secured to the cord and can be selectively positioned along its length.

Abstract: An air/oil separator used with a closed loop oil seal system for a liquid ring vacuum pump, which incorporates a multi-chambered design for facilitating multiple stages of oil particulate separation is disclosed. The separator includes a cylindrical multi-chambered accumulator and a cylindrical filter housing, which supports a conventional filter element. The accumulator has an outer housing and an inner housing, which defines an outer reservoir chamber and an inner reservoir chamber. The accumulator also includes an inner oil conduit extending through the inner reservoir chamber, which deposits the oil discharge into the inner reservoir chamber. A perforated inner baffle is mounted within the inner housing to partially divide the inner reservoir chamber. A second outer baffle is mounted inside the outer reservoir chamber between the outer and inner housings to partially divide the outer reservoir chamber.

Abstract: A collar attachment, which allows vertically suspended automatic screw drives to be operated more ergonomically is disclosed. The collar attachment eliminates the need for the operator to firmly grasp the screw drive in order to draw the screw drive down on a screw, thereby reducing hand and forearm fatigue. The collar attachment provides a horizontal annular platform extending radially from the screw drive upon which an operator's hand can rest naturally. With the operator's hand only loosely wrapped around the casing and rested upon the collar attachment, the operator can apply downward force to the collar attachment to draw the screw drive downward without firmly grasping the drive casing. The collar attachment includes two planar semi-circular half sections, which clamp radially around the cylindrical casing of the screw drive.

Abstract: A kite employing a controllable transmission between two specialized types of rotor assemblies. The torque rotor assembly, is designed to rotate when placed in a stream of wind, collecting power from the wind in the form of lift and torque. The lift rotor assembly, transfers torque energy from the torque rotor into lift, through the system of power transfer. Torque energy from the torque rotor assembly is used to power the control system for the transmission, the control system for a remote mechanism to steer the kite, and power for other devices and remote functions. This invention is dedicated to harnessing and utilizing wind power, both torque and lift, by providing a metered and therefore controllable amount of lift through the variability of the transmission, in a vector along the kite line. The usefulness of this vector of lift is enhanced because, it can be altered through the steering system while retaining the reeling ease of a single string, and can provide power for remote functions.