Abstract: A method and apparatus for around the curve sawing is shown and described wherein a group of roller assemblies are positionable along a selected semicircular path having a point of tangency relative to lines of cut provided by an assembly of cutting blades whereby each roller assembly provides a transport path normal to the axes of rotation for each roller assembly and tangent to the selected semicircular path. Upon actuation of the roller assemblies, as positioned along the selected semicircular path, the wood product, as captured between rollers of the roller assemblies, moves along the selected semicircular path and into the cutting device for cutting along concentric lines of cut. The method and apparatus is particularly well suited for use with tree species having irregularly shaped protrusions and formations deviating from an idealized curved centerline of the log or cant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an illusion of depth when viewing moving pictures projected on a plane surface. A member such as a lens is placed over the dominant eye of a viewer. The lens is designed to slow light transmission whereby impingement of the image onto the dominant eye is slightly delayed as compared to the impingement of the image onto the docile eye of the viewer. Moving images are thus viewed by the two eyes at different positions which the viewer's brain interrupts to be depth dimension.

Abstract: A coupling for coupling a lever to a sensor, e.g., a potentiometer for remote control of the throttle speed of a motor. The coupling includes a die cast housing wherein configured end cavities are interconnected by a through bore. One of the cavities is configured to have bosses that form rotative stops. A bushing is positioned in the through bore and the combination provides a sub-assembly. A second sub-assembly includes a shaft with a cross pin that is adapted to seat between the bosses with the shaft inserted into the bushing. With the shaft assembly seated, a retainer ring is placed on the opposite end of the shaft to cooperatively (cooperative with the cross pin) retain the shaft sub-assembly to the housing. A lever is attached to one end and the other end is connected to the sensor. The spaces between the bosses provide the desired rotative limits for the shaft to generate the range of throttle positions between full throttle and idle.

Abstract: A three dimensional slicing/dicing machine that slices a food product such as a loaf of sausage into similarly sized but irregularly shaped cube like portions. The machine has cutting knives that have a sinusoidal like wavy profile at their cutting edge and has an inclined conveyor for conveying the food product loaf and the resulting sliced portions along a feed path. A first knife cuts a slice of determined thickness off the loaf. The slice tips over onto one of its sides onto the conveyor where it is transported to the second knife. The second knife, which is mounted at an angle to the first knife and the travel path of the conveyor cuts the slices into strips. A third knife which is mounted at an angle to the travel path opposite the angle of the second knife cuts the strips into the desired cube like formations.

Abstract: A machine for slicing a food product in the three dimensions in a single continuous cycle to produce an end product having a determined size and shape. The machine incorporates a first slicing station for slicing a determined length of a first slice off the food product by a first pair of synchronously driven and counter rotating cut off knives and a second slicing station to slice the first slice in two dimensions by a set of gang knives and a second pair of synchronously driven and counter rotating cut off knives to produce a cube of a determined size and shape. The machine has a conveyor system for conveying the food product on a continuous basis through the machine. The rotation of the cut off knives are variable and are set in conjunction with the feed rate of the conveyor system to establish the desired dimensions of the end product.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable posts mounted on a polygon frame to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The polygon frame is configured with vertical sides that closely conform to the width dimension of the largest sheath in its stretched condition. The machine width is dictated by the frame width, i.e., the distance between the vertical sides and accordingly the machine has a width only as needed to accommodate the designated bale size, the restricted width being desirable for shipping and towing. The movable posts are strategically positioned and individual cylinders are provided for opening and closing the posts for optimum utilization of the power source for the posts.

Abstract: An infusion port for subcutaneous placement and dialysis procedures is shown and described as including two chambers, two corresponding large area membrane access panels, and two corresponding barbs providing access between the infusion port and a patient's blood circulatory system. A valve selectively couples the chambers and the barbs in one state, and in another state isolates the barbs and couples directly the two chambers. The valve can operate externally by pressure applied to patient's skin. Hemodialysis is performed in the first state, and in the second state the port is flushed clean of residual blood by injecting cleansing fluid into one chamber and withdrawing it from the other. Also disclosed, an access needle includes a tube carrying a removable penetration pin. The tube fluidly couples to an external barb. The needle is fluidly coupled to the infusion port by driving the needle through the skin of the patient and membrane of the infusion port.

Abstract: A crop bagging machine is provided with a movable chassis having adjustable brakes and a grain container having a rear tunnel defining a rear opening. A pliable plastic bag is fit to the tunnel with the bag bottom closing the opening. A bin on the chassis receives grain, e.g., from a truck and an auger transports the grain from the bin to an elevated position in the container that is above the height of the filled bag. The adjustable brakes are set to establish the level of grain pile in the container to cover the opening and thereby fill the bag. The brakes are independently controlled to provide limited steering. An additional embodiment of the invention shows downsizing for reduction in cost and in dimension for compatibility with conventional shipping containers while further providing adjustability in tunnel size to accommodate variation in bag diameter. A further additional embodiment provides for a modified conveyor system for the grain that utilizes air flow.

Abstract: A shock absorbing fork for a bicycle having an air damping feature to rapidly and effectively diminish the cyclical motion of the struts of the fork resulting from the compression and expansion of the resilient shock absorbing pads provided in the struts of the fork when an obstacle is encounter by the front wheel of the bicycle. The struts have an inner cylinder slidably mounted in an outer cylinder with the pads captively mounted between the bottom of the inner cylinder and a member of the outer cylinder. An air chamber within the outer cylinder is contracted by movement of the inner cylinder into the outer cylinder and is expanded by movement of the inner cylinder out of the outer cylinder. The pads, as the inner cylinder is moved into the outer cylinder are compressed to absorb the shock and the air in the chamber is compressed. The compressibility of the air allows the fork to immediately respond to the impact force.

Abstract: A book binding process and apparatus are shown wherein polyurethane adhesive (PUR) attaches a crepe portion of a book binding to a book block and hot glue attaches the crepe portion to the book cover. The PUR delivery system includes an inclined trough positioned adjacent a polyurethane adhesive delivery roll. A polyurethane adhesive source delivers polyurethane adhesive upon the inclined surface of the trough and the polyurethane adhesive is metered onto the roller as a function of the separation of the leading edge of the trough and the roller.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for feeding material through a material reducing machine. An inclined wall is positioned strategic to a material reduction unit and a plunger of the machine. A lower beveled edge of the inclined wall is positioned in close proximity to the material reduction unit and above the plunger. The plunger forces material toward the material reduction unit and the inclined wall. Material that is below the lower edge of the wall will be forced into the material reduction unit and material that is above the lower edge will be forced to elevate on the inclined wall thus preventing jamming of the forced feed mechanism of the machine. Controls are provided to control the rate of movement of the plunger in correspondence with the rotational rate of the material reduction unit. The rate at which the plunger moves toward the material reduction unit is decreased when the rotational rate of the material reduction unit decreases.

Abstract: A hedge trimmer blade assembly preferably a double acting assembly having upper and lower reciprocating blades. Superimposed cutting teeth extend laterally from the sides of the assembly from each of the blades. Guard portions extend from the teeth of the upper blade only on one side and from the teeth of the lower blade only on the other side. The guard portions are asymmetrical with a straight side and a tapered side, the taper preferably including a shallow bevel near the base and a sharper bevel near the tip of the guard portion. The cutting teeth of both upper and lower blades on both sides form oval shaped cutting chambers with cooperative hook configurations at the entry to the cutting chambers. The upper and lower blades are preferably identical in configuration but inverted one relative to the other in the assembly. The straight sides of the guard portions are all faced toward the power head of the trimmer to produce a hooking action as the user sweeps the trimmer during operation.

Abstract: A machine for slicing a food product in the three dimensions in a single continuous cycle to produce an end product having a determined size and shape. The machine incorporates a first slicing station for slicing a determined length of a first slice off the food product by a first cutoff knife and a second slicing station to slice the first slice in two dimensions by a set of gang knives and a second cut off knife to produce a cube of a determined size and shape. The machine has a conveyor system for conveying the food product on a continuous basis through the machine. The rotation of the cut off knives are variable to establish the desired dimensions of the end product. The first slice is transferred on the conveyor of the second slicing station in a manner to accommodate slicing the first slice in the other two dimensions by the second slicing station.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for installing water impervious barrier walls underground and particularly in levees. A mobile trailer movably mounted on rails carries upstanding front and rear masts and a carrier bar therebetween that is power driven up and down the masts. Augers mounted on the carrier bar are driven into the levee surface to create overlapping holes of loosened soil. A slurry of cement based grout is pumped through the augers to be mixed with the soil by the rotating, retracting augers to produce a soil-concrete slurry. A following mobile trailer also movably mounted on the rails is moved into position over the wall segment of uncured soil-concrete slurry. The following trailer carries a supply of water impervious membrane. Mechanism on the second trailer inserts the membrane into the soil-concrete slurry to produce a water impervious barrier wall segment. The trailers are sequentially moved along the levee to install a continuous water impervious barrier wall along the levee length.

Abstract: A decorative window shade for a window opening and the like constructed of multiple layers of materials. A base layer covers the total area of the shade. Subsequent layers having defined patterns are applied in layers. A portion of the base layer may remain uncovered to provide an area having a single thickness of material, the subsequent layers may cover only a portion of the base layer to provide an area having a two layer thickness or may be overlaid on a previous patterned layer to provide an area having a multiple layer thickness. The layered material thus provides areas of varying thickness which provided for areas varying in translucence. In addition the patterned arrangement of the layers of material provide a shade that is aesthetically appealing.

Abstract: An automatic machine for performing framing operations on a power pole. The machine is controlled by a programmable logic control and interchangeable programs are provided to control the operation of the machine according to a pole frame specification. Poles to be framed are received on a primary conveyor. The poles are sequentially scanned for length and position and are transferred in sequence to a longitudinal feed station where the poles are oriented on a first set of supports. An end of the pole is clamped to a movable carriage to maintain the pole orientation. The pole is fed through a movable rotatable tool ring either by movement of the pole clamp carriage or movement of the tool ring. The tool ring supports tooling to perform the framing operation on the pole. The programmable logic control coordinates the movement of the pole clamp carriage, the movement of the tool ring and the rotation of the tool ring to position the tools in the proper relation to the pole.

Abstract: An automatic filling machine for forming, sizing, transferring and inserting a food product portion into a container. The machine has forming chambers that are expandable to facilitate receiving a food product in bulk and are contractible to define a column having a cross section mating that of a container to be filled. The chamber is expanded to receive a quantity of a food product that is to be inserted into a container. The chamber is contracted to form the food product received therein into a column as defined by the contracted chamber. An upper plunger is provided to force and compress the formed food product column into a sizing apparatus. A pressure switch controls the compressive force applied to the food product column to provide consistency between sized portions of the food product.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a platform for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale off the platform through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The bales as they exit the machine and are deposited on the ground are encased in the bag. The bag being elastic conforms closely to the shape of the bale. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine.

Abstract: A coupling for coupling a foot pedal to a sensor used to control the throttle of a vehicle's engine. A shaft assembly is provided including a shaft having ends configured to interconnect the rotative movement of a pedal with the shaft of a potentiometer. The shaft is provided with bearings, a cross pin and the mounting for pedal return springs. A housing assembly is produced from a pair of identical castings that together provide the seats for the bearings, cross pin and springs mounted to the shaft. The housing halves split the housing lengthwise. With the halves separated, the shaft assembly is placed in the seats of the bottom half and the top half is assembled to the bottom half to complete the assembly. The seat for the cross pin provides the stops to prevent axial movement of the shaft and to provide restricted rotative movement of the shaft.

Abstract: A hub locking mechanism for a wheeled vehicle is provided for selectively coupling and uncoupling driving and driven members. A clutch ring is in permanent engagement with one of the members and is axially moveable to engage the other member. Engagement of the clutch ring and the engageable member is enhanced by the provision of tandem rows of engaging formations on the clutch ring and the engageable member. The mechanism for affecting movement of the clutch ring has an improved one piece friction shoe for the moving cam and an improved cage enclosing the clutch ring and actuating spring.