Abstract: A rear discharge mower includes a frame, a drive wheel having a drive axle and a mower deck supported by the frame. The mower also includes a discharge chute used in transporting cut vegetation from the mower deck to a grass bag. A drive system includes a transmission and is used in driving the drive wheel. The transmission is positioned in line with the drive axle. The inventive arrangement of this rear discharge mower provides for a direct chute having a large cross-sectional area and yet including transmission that is in line.

Abstract: A shape for the central drive hole of a rotary mowing blade, such shape including two pairs of teeth extending off of a central hole substantially displaced 30° from the central axis of the mowing blade.

Abstract: A tiller assembly includes a tine assembly that is rotatably connected to a tiller body and the tine assembly includes at least one tine for use in tilling associated soil. A hydraulic system is operatively connected to the tine assembly and includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor for use in rotating the tine assembly in first and second directions, a control valve, and hydraulic hose for use in communicating hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor, and the control valve. The control valve may be positioned on-the-go into a first position thereby causing the tine assembly to rotate in a first direction and into a second position thereby causing the tine assembly to rotate in a second direction. The tiller assembly may also include a roller assembly that has a roller frame pivotably connected to the tiller body. The roller assembly also includes a roller that is rotatably connected to the roller frame and a spring for use in maintaining the roller against the soil.

Abstract: A drainage pipe for use in a waterproofing system includes a plurality of openings. The drainage pipe includes a cleaning tube affixed to an interior surface of the drainage pipe. The tube has a plurality of spaced holes which allow fluid such as air or water to be forced out of the tube and clean debris from the drainage pipe. A garden hose, air hose or other fluid source can be attached to the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing an unvulcanized tire tread from a storage device (14) includes the step of inverting the tread (12) and transporting it to a roller conveyor in a single step. The tread (12) is picked up by a vacuum bar (80) fitted with a series of suction cups (76). Individual suction cups (76) can be selectively supplied with vacuum depending on the length of the tread (12). After the suction cups (76) have engaged the tread, the tread is raised from the storage device (14), inverted through 180 degrees, and then set onto a special slotted roller conveyor (130). The slotted roller conveyor (130) has a center slot (142) to receive the vacuum bar (80) as it passes therethrough. Side slots (144,146) in the conveyor receive arms (90,92) attached to the vacuum bar (80).

Abstract: A clear plasto-elastomeric material comprising a thermoplastic, an elastomer or a copolymer or a blend thereof, mineral or vegetable oil, or a mixture thereof, and a fire retarding agent, is disclosed. This material has a combination of resiliency and shock absorption and is exceptionally hydro-slimy. Footwear made of this material has a high degree of comfort and shock absorption, slides made with the lining of this material are more efficient than water slides, and candles made with this material are freestanding, unbreakable, and have a very long burning time. The candles have been enhanced with photochromic, thermochromic, iridescent, fluorescent, and phosphorescent materials and with combinations thereof.

Abstract: A clutch-brake assembly for a mower includes a housing, a shaft rotatably connected to a prime mover, a clutch plate operatively received onto the shaft, a brake ring and a pulley of which the pulley is selectively engageable with the clutch pad or brake ring. An actuator, that may be a vacuum actuator, applies equal and opposite forces to disengage the brake ring and engage the clutch plate, which in affect allows for the transmission of rotational power from the shaft to the pulley.

Abstract: A new and improved fertilizer is disclosed herein. The method for producing the fertilizer produces a substantially odor free fertilizer that produces substantially larger plants than the known fertilizers. The fertilizer includes shredded rubber, coal dust, Canadian peat, trace minerals, organic surfactant, and Nature's Blend. The invention also includes a method for producing a substantially odor free fertilizer that includes the steps of mixing rubber with an organic material, adding carbon, adding peat, adding trace minerals, and adding a surfactant.

Abstract: A new and improved children's toy is disclosed having an internal cavity where valuables and the like may be stored. The cavity is easily and repeatedly accessible without damaging the toy. A container is provided for placing the valuables in, and then placing the container into the cavity.

Abstract: A coating system for ferrous and nonferrous metal substrates that provides cathodic protection from corrosion by coating with inherently conductive polymers and sacrificial anodic metal particles. The coating system is formed by a process that includes premixing of the inherently conductive polymer with the anodic metal particles to form a inherently conductive polymer/metal particle complex.

Abstract: A disc cutter is rotatably mounted on a self-contained power unit which is detachably mounted on lift arms of a hydraulic excavator for locating the disc cutter at a position on the opposite side of a stump from the excavator and providing curling movement of the rotating disc cutter through the stump towards the excavator in the line of sight of the operator for discharging the debris away from the operator.

Abstract: A new and improved hinge for use with a refrigerator door. The inventive hinge is a drawn hinge, created by the drawing process. The inventive hinge includes first and second flanges, a pin, and a pin arm. The flanges on each side allow use of a thinner piece of metal in creating a hinge, while retaining the strength of a thicker piece of metal. The pin arm is extended in order to prevent pinching when opening and closing a refrigerator door.

Abstract: A water driven impulse turbine has a barrel rotatably mounted upon an axle, with a plurality of runner blades extending tangentially from said barrel. Side plates secure the runner blades on opposite sides thereof. A breastplate is maintained in concentric juxtaposition with the wheel so defined. A penstock is interposed between a water source and the breastplate to pass water into the runner blades. The turbine may consist of a plurality of axially interconnected wheel sections of similar or dissimilar nature to optimize performance.

Abstract: A wire capable of operating at high temperatures and a method of making the same is disclosed. The high temperature wire includes fiberglass, which surrounds the conductor. The fiberglass insulates the conductor and enables it to operate at relatively high temperatures. The fiberglass is heat-treated without any additional, or in lieu of, other chemical treatment and is sufficiently frangible to be easily removable from the conductor. The frangible fiberglass may be easily stripped away from the conductor without leaving strands which need to be individually removed.

Abstract: A method of supplying water from a well is provided. The method includes the following steps. First, a supply apparatus is provided that includes a container having first and second ends and a first chamber extending to a first opening in the second end. The supply apparatus also has a first fluid conduit with a first branch for use in transporting the water from the first chamber. Next, at least a portion of the second end of the container is submerged within the water in the well such that the first chamber contains a quantity of air. Then, at least a portion of the quantity of air from the first chamber is removed by an air compressor thereby drawing a vacuum within the first chamber. The vacuum in turn draws a quantity of water from the well into the first chamber through the first opening. Next, the removal of air from the first chamber is stopped when the water has obtained a first predetermined level within the first chamber. The first opening is then closed.

Abstract: An inventive check is disclosed including a barcode, which includes at least one of the following pieces of information: the date the check was paid, the amount of the check, the payee, the drawers account number, the banks routing number, and the identifier number of the check. A method for preventing check fraud is also provided, including the steps of attaching a machine readable code on a negotiable instrument, creating a negotiable instrument, the drawee receiving the negotiable instrument, and the drawee scanning the machine readable code. A method is also included for integrating the entire checking process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately applying a cord to a rotatable mandrel utilizes control of cord length, rather than cord tension, as the control parameter. The apparatus includes a mandrel with an inflatable diaphragm mounted on an outer surface of the mandrel. The diaphragm is selectively inflatable via a control valve and source of pressurized fluid for dynamically adjusting a circumference of the mandrel in response to a control input. The control input reads a tension in the cord being wound. The cord is positively fed to the mandrel according to a defined algorithm based on the mandrel's shape, circumference and rotational speed, rather than by demand feed of the cord. The apparatus includes a positive feed control capstan which is electronically geared. The apparatus further includes a cord-laying wheel which isolates radially directed forces from circumferentially-directed forces.

Abstract: A variable speed mechanism for propelling an associated lawn mowing apparatus has a variable pitch pulley assembly, a belt which connects the variable pitch pulley assembly to a transmission, a control arm assembly for controlling the variable pitch pulley assembly, and a speed selector for selectively adjusting the control arm assembly. The speed selector is positioned corresponding to the desired lawn mowing apparatus ground speed. This creates tension in a cable which moves a control arm. When the control arm is moved, it rotates about a pivot shaft adjusting the position of a bearing cup which, in turn, adjusts the position of the moveable pulley half within variable pitch pulley assembly. Once the pulley assembly has been positioned, the effective belt diameter is set. If the effective belt diameter is increased, the speed supplied to the transmission is increased assuming a fixed pulley size on the transmission input.