Abstract: An idler for supporting the forward end of an endless track of a track-type tractor has an endless chain resiliently supported on an outer flange of the idler hub.

Abstract: A seal ring having a frustoconical spring completely encapsulated within an annular body provides a bias force to an annular lip seal of the annular body to assure positive contact with an opposed face of an adjacently disposed member of a joint assembly. The seal ring requires minimal counterbore depth in the member in which the seal ring is mounted, and no modifications are required in the spring or in the base of the counterbore to provide retention of the spring in the joint.

Abstract: A ripper carriage assembly has a transverse cross beam fixedly mounted at a central portion of the cross beam to a ripper implement support structure. The distal ends of arms extending outwardly from the central portion of the transverse cross beam are adapted for pivotal connection to a pitch control mechanism. Stress relief notches are formed in the transverse cross beam at a position between the distal ends of the arms and the central rigidly mounted portion of the beam. Energy generated as a. result of the ripper tip twisting upon impact with rock or other solid objects in hardened ground is stored in the transverse cross beam, and subsequently returned to the ripper tip to bring the tip into a desired operational orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for excluding specific areas of a workpiece from quenching during a heat treat process. A workpiece, having preselected areas to be quenched, is positioned in a manner so that quench sprays are aimed toward the surface to be quenched. The area to be excluded from the quench is protected by a shroud, and steam is forced under the shroud during the quenching operation. Steam pressure within the shroud is maintained at a pressure sufficient to prevent the quench media from passing through a sealed edge of the shroud. The steam has a temperature sufficient to prevent a sudden drop in the workpiece temperature in the area protected from the quench media.

Abstract: Dissociated ammonia carrier gas used as a reference gas is obtained from an ammonia dissociator which also provides dissociated ammonia carrier gas to a nitriding furnace whereby the source of ammonia supply gas is the same. An oxygen probe is used to regulate the nitriding potential of a nitriding furnace and atmosphere for process control and high quality nitrided parts. The method further includes correlating the probe mV output signal to a nitriding potential and adjusting the ratio of ammonia supply gas to dissociated ammonia carrier gas at the inlet of the nitriding furnace.

Abstract: A handbill is rolled to form a coil that is retained within a collapsible cup as it is ejected from an elongated tube and delivered to its destination. The collapsible cup has a cylindrical wall and a bottom member at one end that does not contribute to the structural strength of the cup. The elongated tube is connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid that is used to eject the handbill assembly from the tube. The handbill assembly and delivery system avoids the problems of prior assemblies and systems that projected cone-shaped paper flyers through the air.

Abstract: A beverage holder has a thermally insulative sleeve disposed around a liner having a plurality of radially outwardly extending, longitudinally oriented ridges on an exterior surface that maintain the sleeve in a fixed relationship with the liner during rapid movement of the assembled holder. The liner also has a radial flange with a circumferential lip that extends outwardly over and along an upper portion of the insulative sleeve. The assembled beverage holder is particularly adapted for the rapid movement and accurate high speed positioning associated with multi-color direct screen imprint processes.

Abstract: An electrical contact assembly has an elongated body portion and a sleeve member that has a head provided thereon. The body portion includes a socket, disposed at one end of the body portion, for receiving a pin contact. The head of the sleeve member has an enlarged opening for guiding the pin contact into the socket. The sleeve member also provides an important covering over side wall openings in the socket to prevent intrusion of nonconductive molten material during pressure molding of an electrical connector that may have one or more of the electrical contact assemblies encapsulated therein.

Abstract: A device for selectively indicating a characteristic of an article or of the contents of a container includes a body having a plurality of predefined indicator marks placed thereon, and a means associated with each one of the indicator marks by which the device can be selectively attached to the container or article. The placement of the attachment means is such that the attachment point of the indicating device 10 is unambiguously associated with only a single one of the indicator marks 14.

Abstract: A cap driver for supporting a cap holder on an embroidery machine has a cylindrical shell that is yieldably biasedly supported on support rollers and guided during rotation by guide wheels that are rotatably attached to one end of a pivotable arm that allows the guide wheels, and cylindrical shell, to ride over obstructions that may occur during rotation of the shell. The guide wheels mate with a rail that has a surface elevated above the outer surface of the shell. The cap driver overcomes the problem of fixed support and guide wheels that previously caused distortion of the cylindrical shell when obstructions were encountered during rotation. Also, the present invention overcomes the problem of debris buildup in a circumferential guide groove on the outer surface of the shell.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an electrically nonconductive body member and a pair of electrodes formed of a material each having titanium diboride as its major component. Tests indicate that titanium diboride electrodes are extremely resistant to electrical erosion. The spark plugs embodying the present invention are particularly useful in continuous cycle or heavy duty cycle engines that have heretofore been the subject of severe electrode erosion.

Abstract: A hood assembly includes a hood member and an adjustable length stabilizing link. The stabilizing link is movable between a first position at which the link maintains a bottom surface of the hood member in a substantially parallel relationship with a ground, or soil, surface and a second position at which the link tilts, or rotates, the hood member and thereby moves the bottom surface of the hood member to a nonparallel orientation with the ground surface. When in the tilted position, a portion of the bottom surface of the hood member is spaced from the ground surface at a distance sufficient to permit access for the repair or service of elements normally protectively enclosed by the hood member.

Abstract: A method of mining includes striking the surface of friable to brittle, essentially homogeneous mineral materials with a plurality of concave-faced cutting tools rotating about a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel with the surface of the mineral material. Segments of the mineral material are cleaved by the cutting tools as the tools strike the surface and then pass along a predetermined path completely through the mineral material.

Abstract: A cutter bit having a concave face surface has a base surface spaced from the concave face surface and a recess extending inwardly from the base surface, The recess is adapted to receive a portion of a tool holder that extends at least partially into the recess, A bearing member is interposed the body of the cutter bit and the portion of the tool holder disposed in the recess.

Abstract: A rotary cutter having a plurality of flighting segments which have a tool holder receiving pocket extending radially inwardly from an outer surface of the flighting segments. Cutting tool holders are retained in the pocket by a wedge disposed adjacent the trailing edge of the tool holder and a bolt extending radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the rotary cutter. The bolt extends through the wedge and an opening in the flighting segment and engages a nut disposed in a passageway extending transversely through the flighting segment.

Abstract: A sensor measuring support strut pressure on a cold planer provides a signal for controlling extension of the struts to maintain contact between the ground and the strut in the event of a kickback. Rotation of the planing cylinder is also interrupted in response to the signal, and resumption of vehicle operation is prevented until the support strut pressure is sufficient to enable the operator to control movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hood support assembly (18) for controllably supporting a hood member (16) on an earth working machine (10) includes a support member (20) that is pivotally mounted, at each of two end portions (22,24) to the frame (12) of the machine. Arm members (26,28) and stop members (42,44) are attached to each of the end portions (22,24) of the support member (20). A pair of adjustable links (34,36) respectively pivotally connect the hood member (16) to each of the arm members (26,28). A pair of springs (52,54) attached to the frame (12) cooperate with the stop members (42,44) to maintain the lateral orientation of the hood member (16) with respect to the frame (12) and support a portion of the weight of the hood member during ground engaging operation of the machine (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bonding metal and ceramic parts to form a bonded component. The method of the present invention allows the metal part and the bond to be fabricated concurrently. The strength of the bond can be controlled through choice of the material for the metal part, and by varying the thickness of the bond region. The bond region is formed by mixing ceramic particles with fibers and subsequently removing the fibers forming voids within the ceramic part. The bond region is formed with a second ceramic particle region adjacent to it.

Abstract: A screw conveyor in which mixing and flow-directing paddles are selectively adjustable for use on a wide variety of materials having dissimilar flow characteristics. The adjustable paddles are advantageously applied to a screw, or auger, conveyor of an asphalt paving machine to convey a sufficient amount of unsegregated paving material beneath a center drive case or other problem distribution area.

Abstract: A seal coat composition comprises a slurry consisting essentially of an aluminum neutralized phosphate bonding solution and iron oxide (Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) powder. The bonding solution advantageously contains a relatively small but essential amount of vanadium pentoxide and, preferably, magnesium. A process for forming the bonding solution component of the coating slurry includes equilibrating an aqueous phosphate solution with a small but controlled and necessary amount of solute aluminum prior to adding iron oxide powder to form the slurry. The present invention overcomes the problem of bonding solutions which require environmentally disadvantageous chromates or molybdates to neutralize the bonding solution prior to formation of the slurry.