Abstract: A chain tensioner for a chain saw has a cam member in positive engagement with a flange of a plate attached to the guide bar. Rotation of the cam member forces the guide bar away from a drive sprocket of the chain saw to tension the chain. The cam member is clamped in position to maintain the guide bar in the adjusted position. Flats on the cam member in abutment with the flange resist rotation of the cam member when in the adjusted and clamped position. A slot is provided in the cam member to facilitate rotating the cam to force the guide bar away from the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A powered cart for moving heavy objects. The cart has a container portion that is elevated and lowered under power with a floor of the container portion capable of being lowered onto a surface supporting the cart. The floor has an inclined edge that provides a ramp for loading items onto the cart. The cart is propelled by a steerable wheel and the wheel is provided with a braking system. A removable gate is provided for securing the open side of the chassis and is provided with an automatic latch mechanism that locks the gate in position when the container portion is elevated off the supporting surface.

Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle having two output shafts, a gear reduction assembly, a coupling mechanism and an overrunning roller clutch for selectively producing driving of one shaft only or both shafts concurrently. The coupling mechanism selectively couples one output shaft to either (1) an input shaft, (2) the gear reduction assembly, or (3) a neutral position. The overrunning clutch has an inner race, an outer race, and rollers located between the races. Drag shoes are positioned to frictionally slide on a drag surface of a selectively grounded member to retard the rollers. A resilient band urges the drag shoes against the drag surface. When the drag shoes rotate at a sufficient speed they disengage from the drag surface so as to provide no force to retard the rollers. When the ground member is grounded it provides the drag surface for the drag shoes. When the ground member is ungrounded it is free to rotate and the drag shoes do not provide a drag force to bias the rollers.

Abstract: A circular brush cutting blade with peripheral cutting teeth. Segments are bent or deflected out of the blade body at an angle to the plane of the blade less than normal. The segments are configured to provide an inclined leading edge for each segment that cuts a laterally extended path with movement of the blade laterally or axially. The segments produced by folding the segments around a base line or juncture with the blade body whereby the opening through the blade created thereby is radially outward of the juncture.

Abstract: A machine for compacting organic material such as silage and inserting the compacted material into an elongate elastic bag. A rotor positioned at an inlet of a tunnel propels and compacts the material. A barrier positioned in the tunnel strategic to the rotor restricts the flow of material directly into the bag. The barrier forces the material to flow through the barrier and upwardly over the barrier to insure complete filling of the bag. The barrier may be immovable or may be arranged to be pivoted to alter the resistance to the material flow.

Abstract: A modular storage unit provided in kit form that is readily assembled, is securable to a vertical wall and is arranged to be supported on a floor. Rails are mounted to the wall and the framework of the storage unit is secured to the rails. Outer legs of the framework extend to the floor and adjusters are provided to compensate for slope or other variations in the floor. The components of the storage unit have holes or slots that facilitate assembly by the use of common fasteners. The storage unit is arranged to fit around obstructions such as footings so that the storage unit may be mounted basically flush to the wall. Alternatively the rails mounted to the wall are utilized to support an existing cabinet in conjunction with adjustable legs.

Abstract: A self releasing connector for a log choker has double ended jaws that are pivotally movable between an open and a closed position. A biasing spring urges the jaws to normally open position. With jaws open an end of choker cable is insertable and the jaws are closed to retain the end of the choker. A holder is slidably movable to retain the jaws in the closed position. The choker cable is extended through eyelets on the opposite ends of the jaws. Tension applied to the choker cable will force further closing of the jaws and the holder is released. Upon release of the tension on the choker cable the spring urges the jaws open to release the end of the choker cable. An auxiliary lock may be provided to maintain the holder in position to maintain the jaws in the locked position.

Abstract: A traction device for vehicle wheels has tread segments that are expandable and contractible by secondary inflatable chambers to place studs either in engagement or out of engagement with a road surface. Alternatively, stud bearing tread segments are removably mounted between segments of conventional tread.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end for a vehicle is disclosed. The integrated wheel end has a hub rotatably mounted to a bearing pack. The integrated wheel end is secured to the vehicle by fastening the bearing pack to a knuckle of the vehicle. The integral hub has a spindle portion for receiving an end portion of a drive axle, a clutch housing for receiving a locking clutch mechanism and a flange for the mounting of a brake rotor and a vehicle supporting wheel. A locking hub clutch is mounted in the clutch housing and is selectively operated to provide unity of rotation between the axle and the hub or to provide independent rotation of the axle and the hub. The clutch housing is suited for installing different clutch mechanisms including manually operated and pressure operated either by negative or positive pressure. The integrated wheel end has a sealed defined cavity and an air circuit for the introduction or withdrawal of air to operated the pressure operated clutch mechanisms.

Abstract: A traction device for vehicle wheels has an expandable and contractible member mounted next to the vehicle wheel. The traction device has a tire with extending studs that is expandable by air pressure to increase the diameter of the tire. The tire is contracted by releasing the pressurized air within. The tire is expanded to a diameter just larger than the vehicle wheels so that the studs will engage the roadway to provide traction. The tire may be inflated manually from a pressurized air source and deflated manually. A pressure source and control valves may be provided to control the inflation and deflation of the tire remotely.

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: A transfer case for a vehicle having two output shafts, a gear reduction assembly, a coupling mechanism and an overrunning roller clutch for selectively producing driving of one shaft only or both shafts concurrently. The coupling mechanism selectively couples one output shaft to either (1) an input shaft, (2) the gear reduction assembly, or (3) a neutral position. The overrunning clutch has an inner race, an outer race, and rollers located between the races. Drag shoes are positioned to frictionally slide on a drag surface of a selectively grounded member to retard the rollers. A resilient band urges the drag shoes against the drag surface. When the drag shoes rotate at a sufficient speed they disengage from the drag surface so as to provide no force to retard the rollers. When the ground member is grounded it provides the drag surface for the drag shoes. When the ground member is ungrounded it is free to rotate and the drag shoes do not provide a drag force to bias the rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for pulling a cooked meat product into individual strands. A preferred embodiment including a feed roller set that compresses a cooked meat product to initially start the separation process and controllably delivers the food product to a feed station. An auger in the feed station delivers the food product into a rotating drum. Longitudinal rakes are rotatably mounted in the drum and during rotation will engage and elevate the food product. As the food product is elevated the food product will be delivered into the rotational path of a rotating puller bar that is rotatively mounted and driven in the drum. The rotating bar will separate the food product into strands and propel the food product against the surface of the drum. The strands will sift through the rakes and progress toward the exit end of the drum with the remaining large pieces being elevated by the rakes to be delivered into the path of the puller bar.

Abstract: A dry kiln for wood products that has sample tunnels mounted strategic to each of the charges (stacks) of wood products that are to be dried. A board sample is mounted in the tunnel that is representative of the charges to be dried. A sensing device mounted in the tunnel and supporting the board sample continuously monitors the weight of the board sample and inputs the information to a controller. The moisture content of the board sample at any time during the cycle is ascertained by weight. The board sample in the tunnel is subjected to the same drying conditions as the charge and therefore the moisture content of the charge will be the same as the board sample. The continuous weight monitoring of the board sample is accordingly used by the controller to control the dry cycle.

Abstract: A hub and rotor combination for a vehicle wheel assembly including a hub having a central bore with an axis about which the combination is rotatable, a connector formed integrally with and extending radially outwardly from the hub substantially normal to the central axis, and a rotor formed integrally with an extending radially outwardly from the connector. The rotor includes a pair of first and second disk shaped ring plate portions disposed substantially normal to the central axis and spaced from each other by a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced spacers to permit airflow between the rotor plate portions. The inner bore of the hub is splined to receive and engage splines on a spindle mounting.

Abstract: A spindle nut and a locking device are disclosed for securing the nut on a spindle in a non-rotative position relative to the spindle. The assembly comprises the spindle nut, an antirotation spring and a spring backup plate mounted on the spindle. The antirotation spring and spring backup plate may be formed as a single unit.

Abstract: An infeed system that orients a log for a processing unit. A flight conveyor, a log turner and a sharp chain are in an overlapping arraignment. The flight conveyor conveys a log past a scanner which inputs scan data into a computer which determines the profile and orientation on the flight conveyor. The computer determines the desired orientation of the log for the processing unit. The log turner is arranged to rotate and skew the log to the desired orientation. The log is then transferred to the sharp chain conveyor. The overlapping arrangement of the flight conveyor, log turner and sharp chain maintains full control of the log at all times. The sharp chain conveys the log past a second scanner which inputs the scan data to the computer to determine the actual orientation of the log on the sharp chain. The infeed system may also be provided with a shift and lift mechanism for further controlling the log position relative to the processing unit.

Abstract: A towing system for a vehicle particularly suited for a vehicle having an energy absorbing feature. The towing system has a frame bracket mounted to a frame member and bumper bracket, e.g., mounted to a bumper or bumper strut. The frame bracket and bumper brackets are mounted strategic one to the other and in a paired relation. The brackets are mounted at determined positions so that the energy absorbing feature of the vehicle is not compromised. A draw tube is removably mountable in each bracket pair. The draw tube is installed for the mounting of a tow bar and is removed to restore the energy absorbing feature of the vehicle.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end system for a vehicle including a clutch adapted to provide driving engagement/disengagement of a wheel to convert between driven and non-driven modes of wheel movement. A support is coupled to the vehicle frame and an elongate spindle is mounted in a bearing in the support. The outer end of the spindle is adapted to have a wheel mounted thereon, and the inner end of the spindle has a radially outwardly entending flange having engaging elements arrayed about its periphery. A driven axle has a plurality of engaging elements arrayed about its periphery adjacent the flange of the spindle. A sliding clutch member is shiftable between a driving position in which it concurrently engages the engaging elements on the axle and spindle flange to provide a driving connection therebetween, and a non-driving position where such concurrent engagement does not exist. A selectively activated actuator is provided for moving the clutch member between its driving and non-driving positions.

Abstract: A system for applying moisture to a food product in a display case. The system has a mist bar adjustably mounted on brackets to adjust the direction of the mist. Mist tips are mounted to the mist bar at determined intervals and are individually controlled to an open or closed position. The system has a controller that controls the cycle time of the mist application. The mist tips produce a fine fog like mist that settles on the food product. The mist tips are provided with a ball check that acts as a seal and prevents dripping.