Abstract: The header support linkage of a swather header on a support frame of a swather comprises a substantially vertical beam, an upper cross arm formed from a channel and a lower support cradle arm projecting outwardly from the bottom of the beam. A lower link projects from the frame forwardly to engage the lower part of the beam and is formed by an expandable cylinder to lift the header. An upper link extends from an upper part of the frame along the inside of the channel forming the upper arm. A cylinder extends from a lower part of the frame to a lever pivotally connected to the upper link providing a lost motion connection. An adjustable stop is provided between the upper link and the inside of the upper arm. A float spring is connected between an outer end of the upper arm and a vertically adjustable slide provided on the frame.

Abstract: A below grade heat recovery system discharges air into the drainage system below the floor slab and around the perimeter of a house or building. This air may be warm and moisture laden air ventilated from the building so that a portion of its energy content will be transferred to the surrounding soil, thus raising the soil temperature and reducing below grade heat losses. Pressurization of the sub-soil layer will reduce radon and soil gas transport from the soil, through the floor slab into the basement. Reduced foundation movement will also be reduced by the supply of a relatively constant flow moisture into the soil with the discharged air.

Abstract: A spray shield for a field sprayer includes a front skirt and a rear skirt each extending along a plurality of nozzles of the field sprayer. For each nozzle there is provided a dome-shaped enclosure which is attached to the front and rear skirt and extends therefrom upwardly toward the nozzle so that between each enclosure and the next there is defined a V-shaped through which prevailing winds can pass. The dome enclosure terminates at an edge surrounding an opening with the edge lying in a plane below the height of the top of the nozzle so that an initial portion of the spray pattern is exposed to view above the dome enclosure while an open portion of the spray pattern is protected by the dome enclosure and by the skirts from the prevailing winds.

Abstract: An elevator system for a two storey building includes two carriages each of which is movable from the upper floor to the lower floor and which are mounted in a counterbalance arrangement so as to move simultaneously. The carriages are mounted upon a single central support between the two carriages and are carried thereby in cantilevered arrangement projecting outwardly from the sides of the central support. The whole of the weight of the structure is therefore transmitted to the base of the support to avoid necessity for reinforcement of the building structure. A door system includes four doors, two on each level. The doors are spring biased to an open position that can be latched closed. The latches are automatically opened so that the available carriage always has the door open. Opposed doors on the two levels are connected by lever mechanism so that as the door on the lower level is closed to close the carriage, the door on the upper level is also closed to close the carriage present at that level.

Abstract: A picking tool for litter and the like includes a handle with a manually graspable upper end and jaw elements at the lower end which can be opened and closed by operating the handle to grasp material to be lifted. The handle includes two generally parallel handle sections which can be squeezed together by manual operation at the upper end. The squeezing action operates on a pair of gear tooth fulcrum members at the lower which are thus pivoted open by the squeezing action. Each fulcrum member can replacably receive a jaw element for grasping the material between the two jaw elements. One style of jaw element comprises a scoop. A second style of jaw element includes an outer pinch edge and a pair of receptacles rearwardly of the pinch edge for collecting materials of different sizes.

Abstract: A hole in a leafcutter bee nest is stripped by pushing a thin tube into the hole to separate larvae in the hole from the surrounding nest material. An ejector, for example a rod sliding in the tube, is used to eject the separated larvae and cocoons. The method is carried out using an apparatus with foot guides for engaging a nesting block and aligning the tubes with a row of holes in the block, and a sequential drive. The drive first pushes the tubes through the block then drives the rods through the tubes. The tubes and rods are then withdrawn. The foot guide is subsequently lifted out of engagement with the nesting block and the block is indexed one hole forwards for stripping of the next row of holes.

Abstract: A system for precipitating dust includes providing a screen arrangement either in the form of a ceiling with walls or in the form of a canopy with the screen being penetrable by air. Inside the screen and particularly adjacent edges of the screen or the canopy there are provided negative ion emitters positioned in rows so as to generate a curtain of ions precipitating the dust from the air onto the ground for collection. Within the screen can be defined either a clean zone or the screen can be used to confine a dust producing process so as to precipitate the dust immediately adjacent the process to prevent it spreading to other areas. Emitters are provided in the form of a carbon fiber yarn which projects outwardly through openings in a channel member with the yarn being doubled back upon itself in some cases to provide a highly directional emission.

Abstract: A circuit breaker panel system supplies power to plural circuits that are ground fault protected and plural circuits that are not ground fault protected. The panel system has two sections. One section, which is not ground fault protected, contains a ground fault circuit breaker that supplies power to the second section, so that the entire second section is ground fault protected.

Abstract: Lens for eye glasses are formed by a method in which a lens is selected having a finished front face and a rear face to be finished to provide a required curvature. The rear face is firstly cut on a Generator machine and is then polished on a cylinder machine. In the invention the conventional metal tool of the cylinder machine is replaced by a tool formed from a plastics material. The tool is mounted on a tool holder by a cooperating shape of the tool holder and a contact surface of the tool including wedge-shaped members and side shoulders which locate the tool without the necessity for a clamping action. The tool is formed by selection of a tool having a curvature approximating to the required curvature following which the approximate tool is cut on the Generator machine to form the required curvature.

Abstract: An animal containment pen particularly for use as a maternity pen for calfing cows includes a front panel, two side panels, and a rear gate. The front panel includes a head gate section adjacent one side panel and a squeeze panel pivotally mounted on the front panel and movable from a position alongside the front panel to a position squeezing the animal between the squeeze panel and the side panel adjacent the heat gate. A sliding gate is provided in the front panel between the squeeze panel and the opposite side. The squeeze panel and the head gate are directly mounted in the plane of the front panel so as to be formed therewith in an economic construction. The squeeze panel is mounted relative to the head gate so that movement of the squeeze panel to the squeezing position forces the head gate into a closed position to grasp the neck of the animal.

Abstract: A hydraulic concrete pile cutter includes a blade and a method of cutting reinforced precast concrete piles at grade level. A single blade of suitable hardness limits up to about Rockwell C 56, has a beveled cutting edge extending across most of one edge, bordered by unbeveled side portions, adapted to slide in channels. The single blade is used to shear reinforced precast concrete piles. A double blade arrangement with a fixed blade opposed to a movable blade, both blades having cutting edges formed to fit around the pile, is also taught. The double blades shear the concrete of the pile leaving the reinforcement intact. The movable blade is actuated by hydraulic cylinders, two hydraulic cylinders to provide the required power are preferred, because they have less tendency to jam the blade, during use. An anvil or stop extends across the outer ends of the channels, and is removable. Projecting attachments for concrete breaking and recessed attachments for pile guiding are also shown.

Abstract: A fish feeder has a cylindrical feed container with a conical hopper bottom. The bottom is equipped with a bushing in which a metering head slides. The head has shallow pockets in its side surface that fill with feed when the head is in a normal position retracted into the container. The activation of a solenoid drives the metering head through the bushing to expose the pockets and allow the feed to be discharged into a fish tank. The metering heads and bushings are interchangeable to provide for different quantities of discharge and different sizes of feed. For very large size feed the metering head may be replaced with a valve, which is operated on a timed cycle to control the amount of feed dispensed. The feeder is capable of delivering feed in a particle size range from 250 microns to 4 millimeters diameter.

Abstract: A snowmobile jack is described herein that raises the rear of the snowmobile off of the ground when it is not in use. Manufacturers suggest that snowmobiles be raised when not in use, so that their tracks do not freeze to the ground. Manufacturers also recommend that snowmobiles be warmed up with their tracks elevated. This cuts down on general wear and tear of the tracks and supporting belts. The jack comprises a vertical lift bar slidable within a sleeve. The bar is raised by a foot pedal lever which acts on the lower end of the bar and is latched in the raised position. The bar carries a transverse rod adjustable in height relative thereto with hooks for engaging the rear bumper of the snowmobile.

Abstract: A conventional bottom dump truck includes doors which in a closed position are suspended underneath the bottom opening of the hopper of the trailer. The doors are opened outwardly and upwardly by pivotal action about an upper suspension point of each of the doors. The amount of movement of the door is limited by an abutment member mounted upon a vertical flange on the outside surface of the hopper bottom. The abutment member includes an abutment plate extending outwardly from the flange together with a bracket which has a slot slidable along the length of the flange and locatable at different points along the length of the flange by a pin passing through openings in the bracket and one of a plurality of openings in the flange.

Abstract: A feeder for receiving a bale confined within a cylindrical body of the feeder comprises a cylindrical skirt and a plurality of bars upstanding from the skirt for confining animals outside of the feeder for accessing the bale within the feeder. The skirt is manufactured from a single integral sheet of metal which is bent about parallel horizontal lines to form coplanar skirt portions and flange portions and is then curved to form into the cylindrical shape. The upstanding bars are then simply welded to the skirt portions so that the structural strength for the feeder is provided by the cooperation between the curved and bent skirt sheet and by the vertical bars. The design reduces the materials required in the conventional hoop members and reduces the amount of labour required for manufacture while providing equal or increased strength.

Abstract: A combustion heating device for use for example with oil processing equipment defines a combustion chamber within which combustion wholly takes place. The combustion chamber consists solely of a sleeve and end plate defining a vertical cylinder and a layer of ceramic fiber insulating material inside the sleeve defining the inner surface of the combustion chamber. A burner is mounted in a bottom plate of the device which can be pivoted to an open position exposing the burner for service. Air channels are defined on the outside of the sleeve so that incoming combustion air passes over the sleeve and acts as a heat recovery for any heat escaping from the insulating material. An outlet duct at an upper end of the combustion chamber at right angles to the combustion chamber extracts the combustion gases so that all heat exchange takes place outside of the combustion chamber. The device improves heating efficiency and reduces corrosion of heat transfer surfaces.