Abstract: An apparatus for urging livestock animals includes at least one alleyway which is defined by a frame having a stationary portion and a reciprocating portion. The reciprocating portion includes a paddle assembly including spaced pairs of pivtobably mounted paddles. The reciprocating frame swings between a rear position and a forward position. The paddles are mounted to the reciprocating frame such that the paddles may pivot forward but not backward to permit forward motion of a livestock animal and to apply force to the hind quarters of the livestock animal when the reciprocating frame moves forward or to prevent rearward movement of the livestock animal in the alleyway.

Abstract: An anti-corrosive sol-gel composition and process for coating an aerospace alloy substrate with the composition.

Abstract: A method of determining springback in metal forming with a fluid cell press through establishing a computational formulation to determine bend angle and compensated die radius based on factors of geometry of the part being formed, material properties of the sheet material and the forming process, and computing additional iterations of springback until a specific tolerance between the formed part angle and the desired part angle are reached.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for inspecting parts for surface contamination including the steps of covering the part with a film of water, and then scanning the wetted part with a infrared camera to preserve the reflected image of the reflected infrared light thereby defining a water break area of contamination.

Abstract: The irrigation controller is for directing the times and duration of the flow of water to a set of irrigation zones within an irrigation system in accordance with irrigation program and schedule data. The irrigation controller includes a microprocessor and a memory which are programmed with an embedded Web server. The embedded Web server can send and receive irrigation program and schedule data in the hypertext mark-up language (HTML) format. The irrigation controller communicates HTML formatted program and schedule data through an on-board Ethernet chipset to a local area network (LAN). Accordingly, irrigation controller program and schedule data may be interactively accessed from any network accessing device having a standard Web browser which is connected to the LAN, such as for example a personal computer with a Web browser connected to the LAN. Moreover, if the LAN is connected to the Internet, the program and schedule data may be viewed or changed from a web accessing device connected to the Internet.

Abstract: The roof tile system of the present invention includes parallel patterns of channels or features which when viewed in a large pattern of identical tiles create the illusion of a surface made using a costly three dimensional roofing material such as Spanish tile. The patterns of channels or features may also function to direct the flow of water in a manner that is consistent with the apparent contour of the surface. The patterns of channels or features may also be arranged to direct the flow of rain water from a first area of a roof to a second area of a roof. An added water directing feature in the tiles of a bottom course of tiles can be used to direct rain water into an enclosed rain gutter.

Abstract: A DC motor includes a power source, a stator and a rotor. Permanent magnets are mounted to either the stator or the rotor. Electromagnets are mounted to the other of either the stator or the rotor. Each electromagnet includes two coils which are each branched with a capacitor. A switching means, responding to the rotor, switches between a first mode in which the power supply is connected across a branch for energizing the coil and charging the capacitor and a second mode in which the branch terminals are closed for discharging the capacitor into the coil. The switching means and branches are arranged such that the coils of a particular electromagnet maintain the same polarity while also alternating between opposite polarities.

Abstract: A rotary reel material removal tool for removing an overlaid material from a substrate material includes a rotating cutting reel having blade members and non-cutting bumper members. The bumper members and the blade members are preferably arranged in a generally alternating and spaced manner around the outside of the cutting reel. The bumper members are set at a bumper diameter which is generally equal to or greater than the cutting diameter at which the blade members are set. When the reel is rotated at a sufficiently high rate on a generally flat, smooth substrate surface, the bumper members prevent the blade members from cutting into the smooth flat substrate. When the reel encounters the edges of overlaid materials which are layered on top of the substrate surface, such as, for example, roof shingles, the bumper members do not prevent the blade members from cutting into and removing the overlaid material.

Abstract: The trencher unit of the present invention mounts to a standard loader attachment fitting and relies on the auxiliary hydraulic power of a loader. A powered chain drive sprocket is mounted near the upper end of the trencher unit. An idler wheel is mounted at the bottom end of the trencher unit. The chain drive sprocket and the idler wheel carry an endless digging chain which presents a series of digging teeth. The trencher unit includes a vertically adjustable auger assembly having forward and rear augers that push excavated soil away from an excavated trench. A loader operator controlling the position of the trencher unit can lower the digging chain of the trencher unit into a work surface to dig a trench. The trencher unit is typically operating in an upright position so that the loader may be guided along a curved path to dig a curved section of trench.

Abstract: The two piece tree syringe of the present invention can be used to inject a liquid agent into the living tissue of a tree. This tree syringe includes a barrel and a plunger. An hollow injection stem projects from the barrel. A passageway inside the hollow injection stem is separated from the interior of the barrel by a thin membrane in the barrel floor. The plunger is a double walled cylindrical container adapted to engage the barrel in a telescoping fashion. The drain stem is fixed to the inner wall of the plunger and can line up with and pierce the thin membrane in the barrel floor so that it can pass through the barrel floor and into the injection stem passageway.

Abstract: The golf ball of the present invention has a white core which has a bright, white outer surface and a relatively thin, translucent cover composed of SURLYN.RTM. having a thickness of about 0.06 inches or less. The translucent SURLYN.RTM. cover contains between 6% and 12% by weight photostorage material, of the type having components such as aluminum oxide, strontium oxide, calcium oxide, europium oxide and boron oxide. A brightly colored fluorescent dye at a concentration between 0.01% and 0.04% by weight can also be added to a SURLYN.RTM. cover material to produce a golf ball of the present invention that is brightly colored. When the golf ball of the present invention has no fluorescent dye in its cover, it is substantially white in appearance, is visible in daylight and after being charged by exposure to light, emits a long lasting bright glow of light for high visibility in the dark.

Abstract: The adjustable firearm support of present invention works in combination with a firearm stock having a sling stud mounted to its underside near its butt end. This firearm support includes four basic parts; namely, a support rod, a base member, a position sleeve and a support leg. The support rod has a pivotally mounted clasp for engaging the sling stud and a threaded outer surface for receiving the position sleeve and the support leg which both have threaded central bores. The base member has an upper cradle surface for fitting up against the firearm stock, a central bore for receiving the support rod and a side slot for allowing the support rod to pivot in relation to its clasp into a horizontal folded position. An assembled adjustable firearm support can be attached to a firearm stock by engaging the clasp with the sling stud and tightening the position sleeve up against base member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Activity Schedule Recording Device generally comprising a flat shell that carries and encloses rotatably mounted indicator discs having indicator numbers. The indicator numbers on the indicator discs can be seen in view openings in the shell. The view openings have labels that indicate a schedule item. As the corresponding disc is manually rotated, indicator numbers can be changed to correspond to the scheduled time for each item.