Abstract: A crop lifter for the header assembly of an agricultural combine. The crop lifter includes a lifter arm in the form of a longitudinally elongated panel which has a lifting tip at its leading end. The panel is vertically oriented and has a crop lifting surface extending along its upper edge. Extending laterally of the panel are a pair of flexible crop lifting wings which expand the effective lifting area of the crop lifter. The crop lifting surface has an initially steep incline followed by a shallower incline.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a stripper plate in a cornhead row unit includes two slots formed through the plate adjacent its outer edge. The slots define narrow plate segments from the outer edge. Arcuate surfaces are formed on inner and outer edges of the plate segments. An actuation arm associated with each slot has opposed fingers which engage a corresponding arcuate surface when the lever is manipulated to adjust the stripper plate position.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing pipe lengths on a horizontal directional drill that allows easy loading and unloading of pipes from the cartridge while it is attached to the drill. Longitudinal support members and towers at each end of the cartridge provide structural support to the cartridge and maintain the pipe lengths within the cartridge. The sides of the cartridge are open and unobstructed. Loading and unloading of pipes can, therefore, be done through the sides of the cartridge.

Abstract: A cornhead for an agricultural combine has a plurality of row units including generally U-shaped frames. Each frame includes parallel side frame sections on which stripper plates are mounted. One of the stripper plates is adjustable transversely of the corresponding side frame section by an actuator mounted within the side frame section. The actuator includes a torque shaft operatively connected to the adjustable stripper plate through the top plate of the side section.

Abstract: A plastic film fluid storage bag and dispensing spike assembly and method wherein the spike punctures the film and forms a fluid tight seal with the film surrounding a hole formed by the puncture. The film has no separate port structure for dispensing its contents. The spike may include a bulbous body with a sharpened tip at one end, an enlarged central portion, and a reduced diameter portion at its opposite end, adjacent a radially extending skirt. When seated, a seal is created around the smaller diameter portion of the body and against the skirt. The spike may alternatively include a cylindrical body with a slightly rounded point at one end and a radially extending skirt intermediate its ends. Finally, the cylindrical body spike may be used without a skirt. In all cases, a fluid passage extends through the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a flexible comprises first and second elongated handles, each of the handles having at least an upper and a lower aperture defined therethrough, the apertures extending substantially transversely to the elongated handles. At least one central aperture is also defined in each of the first and second handles, the central aperture extending substantially transversely to the elongated handles and positioned between the upper and lower apertures. A loop of flexible element, extends through, and freely slidable within each of the apertures in each of the handles, wherein manipulation of the handles in conjunction with pressure applied to the loop of flexible element advances the element through the apertures to change the position of the flexible element relative to the handles.

Abstract: A stalk roll set for a corn-harvesting combine includes first and second rolls adjacent one another, each having an axis of rotation and defining a shear zone therebetween. At least one pair of flutes projecting radially from each roll. The pair of flutes being bilaterally symmetrical and each including a knife edge with a leading surface and a trailing surface forming an acute angle therebetween, whereby the flutes of the adjoining stalk rolls are offset to and overlapping one another.

Abstract: A weathershed for use in a composite insulator includes a molded polymer body. The body configuration is such that the leakage distance across the weathershed is increased, while at the same time the amount of material needed is reduced. This provides a lightweight and easily manufactured weathershed. The weathershed includes a radially curved outer edge which reduces the electric field gradient and also reduces the tendency to trap contaminants.

Abstract: A method of cleaning tissue webs in a rewinder utilize the Coanda effect to produce an improved tissue product. The Coanda effect web cleaner utilizes the smooth flow of a thin layer of air to scrub off dust and lint embedded and entangled in the web surface while stabilizing the web in its travel. Two of these Coanda effect web cleaners arranged on opposite sides of a multiple-ply web in a rewinder are effective when operated according to the method of the invention to produce a rewound tissue with an unexpectedly low loose dust and lint count on its surfaces.

Abstract: An improvement in a bin-type, bulk fluid container. The container comprises a rigid carton containing a plastic bag. The bag has an evacuation element in its bottom. The bag rests on an insert in the carton. The insert comprises a body molded in one piece from relatively dense, expanded plastic. The insert includes an upper panel supported by walls and partitions between the walls. The upper panel has an aperture through it for the evacuation element and forms a generally funnel-shaped surface inclined downwardly to the aperture.

Abstract: A method for extracting and utilizing geothermal energy present in the earth's interior is based on at least one essentially vertical bore hole into the ground, the bottom zone of which is provided with penetrating passages into the surronding rock. A heat-conducting substance is forced into the penetrating passages. At least one supply and one return line for a heat transmission medium is thermally linked with the heat-conducting substance and the surrounding rock. The heat transmission medium is conveyed in a circuit in which part of its heat content is extracted and industrially utilized before reintroducing the fluid into the ground.

Abstract: An improvement in a fastening assembly for upholstery material on the rail of a metal frame in furniture seats or the like. The frame rail includes an outer member and a member extending inwardly of it along one of its edges; i.e., a flange formed on the web of a channel, for example. A first flexible fastening element is secured to said flange and has a plurality of tiny loops formed in it. A second flexible fastening element is secured to the periphery of the upholstery material and has a plurality of tiny gripping fingers formed in it. The fingers are pressed perpendicularly into the loops, causing them to interlock. The upholstery material drawn tight around the frame exerts stress on its fastening elements substantially only in shear.

Abstract: The machine includes a horizontal base plate on which a plurality of vertical tubes are mounted, apertures in said plate being disposed beneath said tubes so food products are free to pass down through the tubes and the plate. Stop means below the plate limit the distance which food products can extend out of the tubes. A blade assembly is rotatable below the plate on a vertical axis between the tubes. A blade assembly includes a freely rotatable circular blade at its outer end which passes under the tubes in sequence and cuts corresponding food products into predetermined length chunks.

Abstract: A wheel construction and arrangement wherein a wheel which has a relatively wide surface contact tire, pneumatic, for example, is mounted for rotation in a yoke which extends in the direction of travel of the vehicle which the wheel supports. The yoke is tiltable on a substantially horizontal axis which extends below the wheel axis and relatively close to the supporting surface. Lateral displacement of the body to which the yoke (and wheel) is attached will cause the wheel to tilt in that direction and any subsequent longitudinal motion in either direction of wheel travel will result in the wheel righting itself; i.e., correcting for that displacement. Conversely, tilting of the yoke and wheel to a certain degree will cause the wheel to travel in a precisely prescribed arc. The vertical plane in which the tilt axis lies passes through the area of tire contact with the supporting surface regardless of the angle of tilt.

Abstract: A steering system comprising a propeller in a flow duct across a ship is provided with a wedge shaped valve to shift the flow direction between the sides of the ship, which wedge shaped valve has its vertical pivot shaft in the wedge center line directed into the onflow and its wedge sides arranged as flow guides.

Abstract: A coil seat spring assembly wherein spring coils are mounted on a plurality of sinuous spring bands extending between the front and back rails of a furniture seat frame. The axes of the coils are substantially vertical. The coils on each band are clamped to each other and to adjacent coils and adjacent bands at their uppermost coil turns and at their lowermost coil turns. The coils are approximately two-thirds the axial length of conventional coil springs.

Abstract: A method of assembling a sensor head and permeable membrane with encapsulated electrolyte. A disposable fixation ring is part of a similarly disposable fixation ring assembly, the latter of which serves as a fixture for automatically mounting the membrane on the sensor head body with the electrolyte encapsulated. The ring is then employed to fasten the head to a patient's skin while the remainder of the assembly is discarded, the ring also being disposable after use on a patient.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for converting rotary to linear movement. A portion of a drive cable is wrapped around a drive shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the wrapped cable portion to take up a perpendicularly extending cable portion on one end, and feed out a perpendicularly extending cable portion on the other end. As it does so, the wrapped cable portion moves axially along the drive shaft. The diameter of the drive shaft and its site of rotation determine the speed of take-up, and feed out. Axial movement of the wound portion on the drive shaft is determined either by the pitch of the threads in a threaded section on the drive shaft, or the movement of control means on an externally threaded control shaft.

Abstract: A seat spring assembly having sinuous spring bands wherein the outermost band adjacent a side rail is provided supplemental resilient resistance to deflection by a combination of a trust member and a key member. As a result, a uniform spacing can be maintained between the bands across the entire seat frame.

Abstract: A rail connector and improvement in seat base support assembly. The connector takes two basic forms. In the first a pre-stressed, close wound coil, disposed either transversely or longitudinally of the connector, is effective to continuously bias the seat base support means upwardly. In the second a cantilevered, curved spring arm serves the same purpose. The connector may be configured to reach into the body of a sinuous spring band, for example, and define a torque arm in the band, at the back rail. All forms are applicable to wire mesh, chord rubber webbing, flat steel bands and sinuous, both arced and dearced.