Abstract: A mount for isolating a vibrating member from its support. In several embodiments an elastomeric element is made up of four components that are preferably bonded to the inclined outer surface of an inner member and the inclined inner surface of an outer member. One of the inner and outer members is bifurcated and drawing the two halves into mating engagement results in the elastomeric components being preloaded simultaneously in compression and shear. The elastomeric element is preferably formed with portions which snub movement in each of three orthogonal directions. The dimensions of the pair of elastomeric components above or below the vibrating member may be different than the other pair since the greater compression strain on one pair of components to maintain maximum design stress levels.

Abstract: An arrangement of multi-colored randomly-flashing lamps provides a decorative lighting effect which is particularly pleasing when viewed while listening to music. The lamps are mounted in a plurality of lamp reflectors which are disposed in a honeycomb-like array which is mounted in a frame. Preferably, a series of five lamps are mounted in each reflector. A series of flashers corresponding in number to the number of lamps in each reflector function to power the lamps in random sequence so that various colors and color blends are produced.

Abstract: A bowstring draw and release device has a frame in which a hammer is mounted in such a way as to cooperate with a trigger and latch to effect release of the bowstring with a relatively low trigger pressure. The device includes a frame having a recess in its front end and a pivotal latch member adapted to extend across the recess for engaging a loop which is formed into a bight around the bowstring. The latch is tripped to afford offslipping of the loop and hence release of the bowstring and arrow engaged therewith. A latch sear is releasably engaged with the latch and has a portion disposed in the path of movement of a spring biased hammer normally held in a cocked position by a hammer sear connected to the trigger. A suitable handgrip extends rearwardly from the frame and is designed to enable the user to actuate the trigger with his index finger.

Abstract: The invention relates to automatic sheet feed equipment, particularly for use with microfilm aperture cards that permits ready manual insertion of a sheet into the equipment. The sheets are transported on a plate 12 bearing against a register edge 26 and are moved by engagement in the nip between a drive roll 27c and a counter roll 28c. The counter roll is loosely mounted for vertical movement above the plate 12 and the edge of the plate 12 opposite to the edge 26 is unrestricted so that sheets can easily be inserted in the direction of the arrow A. The rolls preferably have polished surfaces and are each chamfered at least on the side away from the edge 26.

Abstract: Automatic braking apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle travelling downwardly on an inclined slope. The apparatus comprises a wheel housing, a pair of specially designed wheels mounted in the housing for combined rotary and axial motion, and a rail engageable between the wheels and moveable longitudinally relative thereto. The wheels have tapered camming surfaces which confront one another and annular braking surfaces facing outwardly in juxtaposition with respect to pads of friction material carried by the housing. A load applied between the rail and the wheels forces the wheels axially outward into engagement with the friction pads to retard rotation of the wheels and thereby to limit the relative velocity between the rail and the wheel housing. In one embodiment, the wheel housing is carried by a pallet and the rail is mounted stationary. Wedge means is provided at the lower end of the rail for engaging between the wheels relatively close to their rotational axis to arrest motion of the pallet.

Abstract: An anchor is stowed entirely within a recess in the bottom of a vessel, by means of a fairlead within the recess comprising a sheave supported in a bracket pivotable about a vertical axis in the center of the recess, along which axis the pull of the anchor winch occurs; the bracket has a hollow space for receiving the shank of the anchor, and a spring-based roller holds the anchor line against the sheave. The lower part of the bracket has guide edges extending completely around the pivot axis except for a side portion corresponding to the width of the sheave for automatically guiding the anchor line onto the sheave.

Abstract: A dewatering press which is particularly suited for use on a self-propelled vehicle designed to field process alfalfa for obtaining therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. The dewatering press includes a pair of conical pressure members mounted in a frame assembly which provides outward and downward pivotal movement of the conical members to afford access to the interior of the press. Material to be pressed is charged downwardly between the pressure members as they are rotated slowly by motors mounted in the frame assembly, and after having passed through a pressing zone located below the rotational axis of the conical members, the pressed material is discharged outwardly by a deflector mounted between the conical members. Expressed juices are collected in a pan which extends along the lower periphery of the pressure members.

Abstract: A tufting needle having a pair of eyes, an upper and a lower, spaced apart vertically wherein the needle when penetrating the backing fabric the upper eye does not penetrate the backing fabric in the lowermost position.

Abstract: A device for controlling pests on house plants comprises a convex cap having a chamber containing a pesticide, a stem for supporting the cap adjacent a plant, and a removeable closure for the chamber to afford air flow through the chamber to distribute the pesticide about the plant.

Abstract: Apparatus carried on a self-propelled vehicle field processes alfalfa to obtain therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. A specially-designed macerator for shredding the harvested alfalfa is disclosed. The macerator includes a cylindrical die ring having an open end and a series of peripheral apertures through which the alfalfa is extruded by means of a pair of rollers mounted inside the die ring for rotation therewith. The die ring is rotatably supported in a frame, and the rollers are coupled to the die ring for rotation in synchronism. A shroud surrounds the periphery of the die ring to collect macerated alfalfa, and an impeller is mounted inside the shroud for displacing macerated alfalfa downwardly through an outlet in the bottom of the shroud.

Abstract: Several embodiments of pallets which can be fabricated from scrap pieces of deckboard lumber are disclosed. Each pallet comprises top and bottom decks separated by a pair of outboard stringers disposed on opposite sides of intermediate stringer means. The decks may be of like or different construction, but at least one deck comprises a pair of long deckboards which extend the full distance across stringers adjacent their ends and short deckboards extending inwardly from the outboard stringers so that their free end portions are cantilevered in opposite directions with respect to the intermediate stringer means. The short deckboards are fastened to the intermediate stringer means and to one or the other of the outboard stringers.A method of manufacturing pallets is disclosed.

Abstract: An over-under firearm having a breech block, a barrel block, at least one shot barrel mounted in the barrel block and a rifle barrel superimposed on the shot barrel at a small angle relative thereto, and a hinge mounting the barrel block to the breech block to afford pivoting about a vertical axis for loading and unloading.

Abstract: An over-under firearm having at least one shot barrel and a rifle barrel superimposed relative to one another and mounted in a barrel block designed to pivot relative to a breech frame so that the rear ends of the barrels are disposed laterally for loading. The breech frame surrounds the top, bottom and one side of the barrel block, and arcuate ribs and grooves are provided between the top and bottom of the barrel block and the breech frame. A breaking mechanism is provided to displace the barrel block laterally after the barrel block has been unlocked from its operating position in the breech frame. A mechanism is provided for withdrawing the firing pin and cocking the hammers in response to further movement of the barrel block relative to the breech frame.

Abstract: An egg collector for use in conjunction with a multi-tier poultry cage system to collect eggs from cage belts at various levels and to transfer the eggs to a common cross-belt conveyor. The collector comprises a series of intermediate conveyors each including an endless belt having a series of individual egg-receiving cups disposed in longitudinally spaced relation along the belt. Transfer means located alongside each belt gathers the eggs from each cage conveyor belt and delivers them individually to successive egg-receiving cups of each intermediate conveyor. The eggs are conveyed downwardly by the intermediate conveyors to a location adjacent the cross belt where means is provided to control unloading of the eggs from the cups.

Abstract: A closed loop feed trough having a feed chain moveable lengthwise therein to distribute feed from a hopper associated with the trough provided with an impeller which rotates in response to movement of the chain to assist in returning uneaten feed to the hopper. The impeller is mounted in the hopper adjacent its inlet and is fabricated in two halves which are fastened to opposite sides of a drive sprocket which engages the feed chain. Each half of the impeller has a hub and a series of vanes extending outwardly and rearwardly at spaced intervals from the hub to provide a series of buckets between the vanes. A baffle overlies the impeller to shield the buckets from feed in the hopper as they rotate downwardly toward the inlet while affording unloading of feed from between the vanes as they rotate upwardly away from the feed chain.

Abstract: A snag-resistant fishing lure of simple three-piece construction has a body which normally conceals a hook until such time as a fish strikes and exposes the tip of the hook. The lure has an elongated rigid back member and a belly-like member fabricated of relatively thin flexible material and mounted below the back member to form a cavity for containing and concealing the tip of the hook. The bottom of the belly member has a slot which registers with the tip of the hook and through which the tip protrudes when a fish strikes the lure and compresses the belly against the back ahead of the tip. The tip lies within the slot and is angled downwardly and forwardly for cooperating with the rigid back to provide a self-setting action when struck by a fish. The lure is designed to float when stationary on the water; however, the leading ends of the back and belly members have an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface designed to cause the lure to dive when pulled through the water.

Abstract: A storage rack having a column with a front flange and side flanges engageable by a clip mounted at one end of a load support is provided with an improved locking assembly for releasably fastening the load support clip to the column. The locking assembly includes an L-shaped connector member comprising a threaded shank extending through a hole in the clip and through one of a row of apertures in the front flange of the column and a lug engaged inside the column. A nut threadedly engaged with the shank has an integral annular flange which engages the front of the clip when the lug engages the rear of the front flange of the column. The lug is bent at less than an orthogonal included angle with respect to the shank from a material which affords elastic flexure of the lug relative to the shank when the nut is tightened to provide a locking action.

Abstract: A truss for supporting cages in a poultry cage system comprises a pair of inclined upstanding legs and a series of vertically-spaced horizontal cross-members connected thereto by novel clips which are specially designed to enable the cross-members to be connected to the legs with a minimum of labor. Opposite ends of each cross-member have a pair of spaced apertures which register with a pair of similarly-spaced apertures in the truss legs. The clip has a front flange with a pair of rearwardly turned lugs which are received in the leg and arm apertures and which have hooks located below the lower edges of the apertures. The legs also have holes located below their apertures and below the lower edge of the cross-member, and the clip has a deformable angulated tab depending from the lower portion of the flange and extending into the holes in the legs.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump which is easy to clean, simple to assemble and disassemble, and economical to manufacture is disclosed. The pump comprises two cast metal casing members, one of which has an integral volute wall and the other of which has an oval partition providing an inlet plenum opposite the volute wall. A wear plate is interposed between the casing members to channel fluid in the desired direction through the pump. An impeller is mounted for limited axial adjustment on its engine shaft to adjust its clearance with the wear plate. The impeller also has specially-designed slinger teeth which function to minimize wear of the impeller shaft seal.