Abstract: A wall compound applicator appliance that has a work station including a reservoir for containing a supply of wall compound, an air compressor, an applicator tool, a portable compressed air tank to operate the applicator tool, and a carrying strap assembly to attach the tank to a user with the tank connected to the applicator tool. The applicator tool has a cylindrical, tubular body to receive a supply of wall compound. The reservoir has a transport tube that is connectable to a one-way fill valve on the applicator tool to refill the applicator tool with wall compound. An adapter is connected to the work station and has a fitting to connect to a refill airline that is connected to the portable compressed air tank in order to refill the tank at the same time that the applicator tool is being refilled. Once the applicator tool and the compressed air tank are refilled, the workman is free to move about the work area independent of a work station and the air compressor.

Abstract: A viscous material (sludge) pump, a method of accurately estimating output of such a pump and a method of efficiently managing such a pump. The pump can be the single or double cylinder variety. The pump is calibrated to determine a calibrated sludge-weight output of the pump in terms of a parameter defined as a “lost travel” position of the piston in the pump chamber. This position is defined in terms of the position of the piston in the chamber when the pressure in the chamber reaches a preselected reference pressure expressed in terms of a percentage of the maximum pressure reached in the chamber during a just previous discharge stroke of the piston. The lost travel parameter is used for comparison purposes to accurately estimate actual pump output based on the calibrated pump output at the calibrated value of the lost travel parameter. The pump is managed efficiently by management of the speed of the feed auger.

Abstract: A weight lifting exercise machine that uses dumbbell weights for the weight resistance and for incremental weight adjustment. Dumbbells are particularly suitable since they are usable both as free weights and as incremental weights for the exercise machine. The machine includes an overall frame that stands on the floor, and at least one vertical guide rail attached to the frame. A dumbbell weight carrier is a assembled to the guide rail. The dumbbell weight carrier has a carriage that engages the guide rail. A dumbbell receptacle is attached to the carriage. The dumbbell receptacle can hold a plurality of dumbbell weights selected according to the overall weight desired by the exercising person. A weight handle is connected to the dumbbell weight carrier. The exercising person engages the weight handle and moves it against the weight resistance of the weight carrier and dumbbell weights loaded thereon.

Abstract: A device (10) for use in monitoring or measuring properties of a moving bed (11) of particulate material includes a sled (12) that rides or floats on the top surface (15) of the moving bed (11). A mounting structure (14) holds the sled (12) stationary with respect to the linear movement of the particulate bed (11), but permits movement of the sled (12) in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the bed (11), such as up and down when the bed (11) is moving horizontally. The sled (12) can carry on board sensors (76) to monitor the particulate material properties. Other sensors (72, 54) can be located remote from the sled (12) such as a sensor (54) to indicate displacement of the sled (12) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the moving bed (11). In one embodiment, the device includes a flume-like collector that directs particulate material through a sampling cell comprised of parallel side walls (47, 48) with the sensor sled (12) located between the sidewalls.

Abstract: A cover assembly for an organic waste lagoon basin and a method of making and deploying such a cover assembly. A cover includes connected cover panels or sections. In one form of the invention the panels are comprised of a single layer of geotextile fabric. In another form of the invention the panels are comprised of interconnected strata including a sacrificial layer which faces the sun and protects the cover from ultraviolet light degradation; a foam layer that floats the cover; and a geotextile fabric layer. The geotextile fabric is porous and suppresses the release of malodorous gases from the lagoon basin. The cover can be constructed and deployed by laying out cover panels in fanfold fashion along a side of the basin; connecting adjacent edges of the panels; attaching flotation to the free edge of the top panel; and using deployment lines and a mandrel to move the cover across the filled basin.

Abstract: A rotational molded boat or equivalent floatable marine structure has parallel hull walls interconnected by rows of spaced apart, molded V-shaped connectors. The connectors are formed in the rotational molding process. One of the mold sections has a mold surface for forming one of the hull walls, said surface having one or more rows of V-shaped indentations projecting toward an opposite mold surface. The V-shaped indentations have apexes that are spaced apart from the opposite mold surface by a distance that, during the molding process, will fill with molten material to form a molded connection between the finished hull walls. In another embodiment, a lattice structure is assembled to the mold and molded in between side wall components of the hull.

Abstract: A tapered part measuring apparatus and method measures male and female tapered or conical parts. The apparatus and method use non-contact linear measurement technology for accurate and repeatable measurements, particularly of tapered parts with large deviations from their desired measurements. The tapered part suspends in non-contact position to the non-contact linear measurement probe on a true vertical axis to accurately assume the same position on replicate measurements.

Abstract: A hot air slurry dryer having a cylindrical housing with a central shaft rotatably mounted in the housing. Material to be dried moves from an upstream end of the housing to an outlet at a downstream end. A hot air inlet is connected to the upstream end of the housing preferably at an upstream end wall. A material inlet is open to the side wall of the housing downstream of the hot air inlet. The shaft carries structure for breaking up the moist material introduced into the housing and mixing it with the hot air. In a preferred embodiment a drum is carried by the shaft at the inlet end of the cylindrical housing. The drum carries a plurality of agitator blades that pass close by the interior surface of the side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A cutting board combination for use with a double basin sink having a sink divider separating the two basins. The cutting board combination includes a first cutting board that has a flat upper cutting surface and a pair of spaced apart legs fixed to the bottom surface. The legs are spaced apart to straddle the sink divider with the cutting board base supported on it with lateral edges overlapping the sink basins on either side. The cutting board combination includes a second cutting board that can be connected at an inner lateral edge to a lateral edge of the first cutting board. The second cutting board is connected to the first in such a fashion that the work surfaces of the two are coplanar. The inner lateral edge of the second cutting board is supported by the first cutting board. The second cutting board has a length sufficient so that it spans the sink basin with the outer lateral edge supported on the sink rim.

Abstract: A shielded flat-plate proximity/dielectric properties sensor includes a dielectric substrate leaving a planar configuration and a pair of spaced sensing electrodes mounted on one surface of the substrate. A pair of shield electrodes limit the electric field produced by the sensing electrodes. A first shield electrode on the back of the substrate intercepts field lines behind the sensor to prevent detection of objects from behind the sensor. A second shield electrode co-planar with and between the sensing electrodes intercepts field lines very close to the sensor to prevent the dense electric field near the sensor from dominating measurements of objects within the field.

Abstract: A system for warming blood or other liquids to body temperature for infusion into a patient. The system includes a blood warmer apparatus having a pair of closely spaced apart heat transfer plates, each of which forms one face of a housing containing flat vapor condensation heating units. A flat disposable heat exchanging blood warming envelope is held clamped between the heat transfer plates. The envelope is provided with an air escape vent covered by a hydrophobic filter eliminating the need for a vent separate check valve. An air heating unit in one of the apparatus housings includes a cool air inlet, heat transfer fins on the walls of the vapor condensation heater unit, a fan and guides for conducting air past those fins and a warmed air outlet. An external elongated insulated air hose is connected at one end to the warmed air outlet and extends to the patient.

Abstract: A scraping implement that can be quickly coupled and uncoupled to a conventional self-propelled snowblower for the removal of snow from a driveway or sidewalk. Drop pins releasably hold the frame of the implement to opposite sides of a snowblower housing. The implement has a concave curved plow mounted on a frame for angle adjustments. A bolt extends through a swivel plate and the frame to hold the plow at the selected position. The frame is laterally adjustable to fit different sized snowblowers.

Abstract: An improved aircraft altitude approach control device is characterized by both visible and audible indications of changes in the aircraft altitude as the aircraft descends to a landing. A transducer is provided on the aircraft which produces an output signal corresponding to the altitude of the aircraft. The output signal is converted to a digital signal and then to an analog voltage signal. A voltage controlled oscillator produces an audio frequency signal whose pitch corresponds with altitude. A further characteristic of the invention is the provision of a memory circuit in which a digital signal corresponding to a preferred landing is stored. This signal can be modified to produce a preferred or reference analog voltage signal. The actual and reference voltage signals are delivered to a glide slope meter which indicates differences therebetween. Thus, a pilot can gauge his landing approach relative to the reference or preferred landing approach.

Abstract: An apparatus to recondition used ammunition cartridge cases in order that they can be reloaded and reused. A stand includes a base and an upright column. A plurality of bearing sleeves are located in the column disposed about parallel horizontal axes. A plurality of tool holders have shafts that are rotatably assembled in the column. The tool holders carry cartridge case reconditioning tools of the type that operate upon a cartridge case upon rotation with respect to it. The tool holder shafts are interconnected by circular gears. The rotation of one shaft results in rotation of the other shafts. A crank is connected to one of the shafts for rotation of all of the shafts. One of the cartridge case reconditioning tools is for deburring the inside mouth of the case, another is for deburring the outside mouth of the case, and a third is for cleaning the primer pocket.

Abstract: A sanitary material moving pump having a ram mounted for rreciprocal movement in a pumping chamber. An elongte tubular housing is connected at one end to the ram for purposes of reciprocal movement of the ram to move material through the pumping chamber. A piston shaft is mounted in stationary relationship relative to the pumping chamber in alignment with the design pumping axis of the pumping chamber. The end of the housing opposite the ram extends outward of the pumping chamber and is installed on the working end of the piston shaft. A piston is mounted on the inside end of the piston shaft. Hydraulic fluid lines communicate with opposite sides of the piston to reciprocate the housing on the piston shaft and the ram in the pumping chamber. Apparatus is provided for correctly adjusting the alignment of the hydraulic power unit to be as coincident as possible with the design pumping axis of the machine.

Abstract: An ankle brace for constraining movement of the lower leg and foot about the normal horizontal axis of rotation of the ankle while inhibiting other rotation or extension or retraction movement about abnormal axes or in abnormal directions in order to help prevent injury to the ankle joint. The device includes a U-shaped leg member positionable in straddling relationship to the ankle joint and fixable to the lower leg. An ankle member is connected by a sliding pivot to the U-shaped leg member and is engaged with respect to the foot to hold the foot and lower leg together for movement about an arcuate path described by the sliding pivot joint.

Abstract: A furnace having a primary heat exchange unit also providing a combustion chamber, a secondary heat exchange unit connected by an upper crossover conduit to the primary heat exchange unit, and a tertiary heat exchange unit connected by a lower V-shaped crossover conduit to the secondary heat exchange unit. A third crossover conduit connects the V-shaped crossover conduit with the primary heat exchange unit. A fly ash removal screw is located in the V-shaped crossover conduit to move fly ash therefrom through the third crossover conduit back into the primary heat exchange unit to an ash depository for removal therefrom. Vibrating means are provided between the secondary and tertiary heat exchange units to vibrate the walls thereof and dislodge clinging fly ash so that it falls into the V-shaped crossover conduit for removal by the screw conveyor. A burner assembly of the furnace includes a combustion air housing carrying a circular, stationary grate with an annular valley for carrying fuel during combustion.

Abstract: A vacuum grain moving apparatus connected to a three-point hitch of a tractor and operated with the power take-off drive of the tractor. The apparatus has a grain holding tank connected to a grain collection hose used to carry grain and air to the tank. An air moving unit mounted on the tank has a rotatable power driven impeller that draws air from the center of the chamber of the tank to provide a vacuum pressure within the tank. The impeller has first and second generally radial blades that pump the air from the tank chamber. An auger conveyor operatively associated with the lower end of the tank moves the grain from the tank into a transport vehicle. The auger conveyor has a driven helical auger located within a tube. The tube extends beyond the outer end of the auger and retains a plug of grain in the tube to inhibit back flow of air into tank chamber during the running of the air moving unit. A swinging gate pivotally mounted on an outer end cap normally closes the exit opening of the tube.