Abstract: A front wheel shock absorbing system for a bicycle wherein the legs of the front wheel fork includes struts slidable in tubes. The struts are attached at one end to the wheel axle using a quick release clamping mechanism. Brackets on the strut ends are U shaped and simply drop over the axle and as a result of the clamping action are clamped onto the axle. To avoid upsetting of the parallel relation of the struts, one of the brackets is equipped with an axially slidable U shaped shoe. Thus, the clamping action merely moves the shoe of the one bracket closer to or farther from the other bracket but without affecting the spacing between the brackets and, thus, the struts. Fasteners fasten the shoe to the bracket following the clamping action.

Abstract: An electronic foot pedal for outputting an electrical signal proportional to the degree a treadle is pivoted. The electronic foot pedal has an improved spring arrangement for yieldably biasing the treadle toward its home position. Dual springs are provided, independently mounted and supplementary to each other. Each spring has an adequate biasing force to urge the treadle to its home position. The springs are of a ribbon-like material that are wound into a flat spiral. The springs are subjected mainly to bending forces and have flexure as the treadle is pivoted to its pivotal limits.

Abstract: A cooperative conveyor system for a lumber production line. The production line has a canting station and a sawing station spaced at a distance from each other and interconnected by a powered conveyor system. The cants are fed at a higher rate through the canting station than through the sawing station. The conveyor system is arranged to receive cants from the canting station at a high feed rate and transport the cants to and into a sawing station at a lower feed rate. The cants are fed through the canting station at controlled intervals so that the resulting gap between succeeding cants received on the conveyor are at a desired spacing to maximize the production of the sawing station. The cant exiting from the canting station is forced to overrun the conveyors feed rate and thereby reduces the gap between it and a preceding cant. The conveyor then transports the cant to and into the sawing station at the desired feed rate for the sawing station. In one embodiment, the sawing station has two saws.

Abstract: A process for producing a concrete post having a sleeve that functions as a pouring form during pouring of the posts, a protective shield during shipping and storage thereof, and a strengthening component upon installation. The post is produced in a process whereby multiple, replacable sleeves are provided in a rack which are simultaneously filled from a hopper. The sleeve cavities are substantially free of rebar to facilitate pouring and reduce cost, the sleeve replacing the rebar as the strengthening component.

Abstract: A weight driven kiln control system is shown and described wherein a digital scale provides sample board weight values to a kiln control system in association with sample board identification values whereby the control system may drive a load through a given drying schedule by inferring the moisture content of the load based on received weight values for a set of sample boards. The control system requires less operator expertise in manipulating the progress of the kiln through the drying schedule, and allows the kiln control system to make certain judgements about the rate of drying within the kiln and independent adjustments, if so authorized, in the drying schedule based on a calculated drying rate.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like The machine has radially adjustable fingers to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The machine has elevating and guide mechanism for elevating and guiding the bales through the machine and as the bales exit the machine they are encased in the sheath. The resilient sheath will shrink to its original size to thereby fit closely to the contour of the bale. The machine has a swing away tow bar for offsetting the machine to either the left or right of the towing unit permitting the towing unit to travel on either side of the bale row. The swing away tow bar may be adjusted to a center position for ease of towing the machine from one job site to another or down a roadway. The swing away tow bar eliminates much of the side draft experienced previously.

Abstract: A die for performing multiple operations on a cartridge case in a single operative stroke of a reloading press. The die will uniformly coat the exterior of the case with lubricant, eject the spent primer, resize the exterior of the case, wipe and lightly lubricate the neck interior and resize the neck interior in one operation. The die has an insert that is replaceable and interchangeable with another to accommodate different calibers. A reservoir supplies and uniformly distributes lubricant to a lubricating pad in the entry of the die.

Abstract: A tool for use by an incident commander for organizing, deploying and managing resource units assigned by the commander in a incident control operation. A carrying case including a variety of graphic displays and movable tags identifying regional resources. A first graphic contains the tags of potentially available resources for that operation. A second graphic to which the tags are moved upon the resources represented by the tags being assigned to that operation. A third graphic to which the tags are moved to identify tasks assigned to the specific units.Additional graphic displays provide expansion of the incident organization determined by the size and severity of the incident. Graphic displays are segregated by area responsibility such as medical, finance, etc. A command graphic enables the expansion of the chain of command. In all cases, individuals having supervisory or management responsibility are identified and positioned within the chain of command.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a fork lift truck wherein a side shifting carriage is slidably supported on horizontal bearing bars that are directly attached to the upright of the lift truck. Lifting bars secure the bearing bars together and carry load roller bearings supported in the guide slots of the uprights. A hydraulic motor anchored to the bearing bar assembly at one end and the carriage at the other controls horizontal sliding of the carriage relative to the bearing bars. The interfitting arrangement of the bearing bars in the carriage reduces the load moment arm, reduces the weight requirement, and provides the operator with greater visibility as compared to prior side shift carriage mounts.

Abstract: A saw chain for cutting hard abradable material is shown and described. The saw chain cuts with an abrasive particle impregnated mesh structure. In one embodiment, the saw chain has right and left support links carrying the diamond mesh upon inclined support surfaces inclined relative to the travel axis of the saw chain. The abrasive particle impregnated mesh contacts the material to be cut only adjacent its trailing edge. A consumable material exists between the impregnated mesh and the support surface. The impregnated mesh may extend downward along the side of the support link to maintain a constant kerf width. In another embodiment, a formed cover is mounted on joined side link pairs of the saw chain. The cover has an abrasive particle impregnated mesh on an inclined surface and on select areas of its side skirts. The skirts cover as least a portion of the bores in the drive links and support links to retain and protect the fasteners therein.

Abstract: A field crop collection vehicle provides improved crop collection and storage. The vehicle steers through mutually orthogonal directions of travel and includes forward and reverse propulsion for accurate, quick and convenient field positioning in preparation for a bagging operation. During bagging, the vehicle is propelled by compaction force developed by placement of crop material with the storage bag and is steerable to more controllably place the storage bag upon the ground.

Abstract: A winch having an electronic current limiter to shut off power to the drive motor when a load limit is attained. The electronic current limiter utilizes a linear hall effect transducer mounted in a torroid surrounding a conductor carrying current to the motor. The transducer outputs a voltage which is compared to a regulated preset voltage. The regulated preset voltage is preset at a value that corresponds to the voltage output of the transducer when the maximum allowed current is flowing in the current carrying conductor. The preset voltage establishes a trip point or threshold. The output voltage of the transducer and the preset voltage are compared and when the output voltage of the transducer crosses the threshold or trip point, power to the winch drive motor is shut off. The electronic current limiter includes a reset circuit that requires the motor to be driven in the reverse direction after an overload shut down before the motor may be run in the initial direction.

Abstract: A device including a head support attachable to a vehicle seat. Attachment is achieved by a first fastener applied to the seat back and a second fastener applied to the head support. The head support is provided in the form of a shaped pillow to receive an individual's head providing both frontal and lateral support while sitting in an upright, non-leaning position. The pillow may be adjusted vertically in reference to the seat back to accommodate the requirements of the user.

Abstract: A single article dispensing apparatus adapted for newspaper vending captures a bundle of newspapers between opposing support plates with one movable plate being spring biased toward the stationary plate. Newspaper engaging pins extend beyond the stationary support plate and into the space between the opposing support plates to engage the back edge of a newspaper of the bundle. Upon deposit of the necessary coins and pulling of a dispensing handle, the newspaper engaging pins slide the newspaper from the bundle and out through an output door of the vending machine. When all newspapers in the bundle are dispensed and the support plates come to direct face-to-face opposition, a last copy of the newspaper held behind a display window is automatically dispensed upon the next actuation of the dispensing handle. The vending machine restricts access to the inventory of newspapers and allows a purchaser but one copy of the newspaper for payment of one copy.

Abstract: A screening system incorporated into the system of sawdust collection for paper producing pulp. An upper and lower range of the sawdust particles is designated as between smaller, strength-inhibiting size particles and larger strength-enhancing size particles. A screen is provided to screen out the smaller size particles. The screen is made out of stainless steel to avoid rusting and corroding and also to more readily pass the moistened smaller size particles. The screen is sloped and agitated to induce shuffling of the sawdust mixture, the process of which results in a separation of about 50% of the particles as rejected smaller size particles and 50% as acceptable larger size particles desirable for paper producing pulp.

Abstract: A reloading press that is convertible between different capabilities. The press utilizes a basic structure to which interchangeable conversion sets are individually mounted to provide a reloading press with a capability. To change the capability of the press, one conversion set is interchanged with another. The interchange of the conversion sets permits a user to convert the reloading capability of the press such as from a single station to an indexable multiple station. The conversion sets include top plates for holding a tool or tools, and a shell holder mountable to the ram. Components may be added or interchanged between conversion sets to convert the capability of the press further such as converting from one caliber to another or converting a multiple station press from manual to automatic indexing. The basic structure utilizes a rugged support extending from the base for supporting the interchangeable top plates.

Abstract: A feed system with improved preposition is shown and describe wherein a prepositioning stage is located vertically above a feed stage such that movement of a wood product from the prepositioning stage to the feed stage corresponds to movement of the wood product through a transfer path having orientation corresponding to that of the height dimension of the wood product. This prepositioning configuration provides relatively more efficient movement of the wood product along its transfer path from a prepositioning stage to a feed stage as compared to prior methods where the transfer path is horizontal and the wood product moves in a direction corresponding to its relatively greater width dimension. The vertical orientation of the transfer path as provided by a prepositioning stage above a feed stage also allows for more efficient sequencing of mechanical events within the system to further contribute to improved productivity.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel that is configured to be worn by an individual as an ear protector and eye glasses retainer. The article is adjustably attachable to a pair of glasses by utilizing formed sleeves that receive the bows of the glasses. Each of the sleeves grips the bows as with an elastomeric material forming a part of the sleeve that clings to the bows of the glasses. The article worn on the head of the individual covers the ears to provide protection and being attached to the glasses, retains the glasses in position.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for the drive train of a four-wheel drive vehicle for controlling the application of braking power between the front and rear wheels as applied through the drive train. A driving shaft is connected to a driven shaft through a roller clutch assembly and the driven shaft is coupled to a wheel set equipped with anti-lock brakes. The driving shaft has a drive cam race and a driven shaft has a cylindrical race. A cage carries the clutch rollers and is provided with drag shoes biased against a fixed drag ring. The rollers captured by the cage continuously drag against the rotative urging of the driving shaft whereby the rollers engage the cylindrical race with the driving shaft inducing driving rotation of the driven shaft, and disengage with the driving shaft inducing braking rotation of the driven shaft.

Abstract: A front wheel shock absorbing system for a bicycle wherein the legs of the front wheel fork includes struts slidable in tubes. The struts are attached at one end to the wheel axle. The tubes slide over the struts and are fixedly secured to the forks steering tube through a triple clamp. A rim type braking mechanism is secured to the struts by a bypass attachment mechanism, preferably by the provision of a slot through the tube to permit a fastener to extend through the tube and onto the strut. The slot permits reciprocation of the strut relative to the tube. Compressible bumpers in the tube are compressed by the strut and tube interacting to provide the shock absorbing effect.