Abstract: A flight section for mounting at the feed end of an auger comprises an intergral moulding from a resilient elastomeric material such as natural rubber which includes a central sleeve portion and an outer flight. The sleeve has an inner surface for engaging around a shaft with the surface defining a part cylindrical portion and a flat portion by which torque is communicate from the shaft to the sleeve portion while allowing slippage to occur by distortion of the resilient sleeve portion when the torque exceeds a predetermined maximum. The flight extends over 360.degree. and is shaped so that it increases in transverse width or thickness as it approaches the outer edge thereof thus defining a flat band around the outer edge. This acts to define a curved surface facing the material to be fed which cups the material and reduces slippage.

Abstract: A hoist for use over a man hole includes a H shaped base part defining two side struts and a cross strut offset toward one end of the side struts. The base part has four legs arranged at the ends of the side struts, adjustable in height and terminating in a flat pad for engaging the ground. A vertical sleeve part extends upwardly from the cross strut for receiving a swivel arm which is a separate item and can be inserted into the sleeve part for swivelling movement about a vertical axis. A swivel arm includes a jib portion extending out over the larger area defined forwardly of the cross-strut. Swivelling movement is limited to the forward area.

Abstract: The invention comprises a microphone and loud speaker system in which the components include a cylinder having a center section and an end section at each end of the center section in axial alignment with one another. The adjacent ends of the center and end sections are elliptical and lie in planes oriented at an angle of 35.degree.16' to the longitudinal axis of the module, the long axes of the ellipses are oriented at 45.degree. to horizontal. The planes of the elliptical ends are substantially isomorphic to the tympanic membrane of the human hearing structure and represent half the dihedral angle of a regular tetrahedron. All of the loudspeaker transducers are shielded by sheilding cylinders with elliptical end faces lying in planes oriented, at half the dihedral angle of a regular tetrahedron, namely, 35.degree.16' to the axes of the cylinders, with the long axes of the ellipses oriented at 45.degree. to the horizontal.

Abstract: A device for supporting a building structure or the like includes an elongate shaft which is of square cross section and has a short length of screw flight at a lower end and the male screw threaded portion at an upper end extending coaxially with the shaft. A stabilizer in the form of a sleeve arranged to closely surround the square shaft together with three wings to be hammered downwardly into the ground surrounding the shaft after the shaft is screwed into the ground. Various heads can be provided including particularly a building support head in the form of a sleeve with a female screw thread at one end for attachment to the threaded portion of the shaft and a plate separate from the sleeve which can swivel relative to the sleeve to allow adjustment of the height.

Abstract: A mobile suspended scaffold arrangement comprises a support portion which can move along rails or purlins provided on the roof of a steel building, a boom assembly extending outwardly therefrom and a scaffold hanger portion suspended from the boom assembly. The device is particularly for use in cladding prefabricated steel buildings. The wheel assemblies include a vertical support wheel and a horizontal guide wheel and can be coupled by simple elongate beams extending at right angles to the rails. The support portion on the roof can be divided into two separate dollies which can be used for transporting equipment on the roof. The support portion couples to the hanger portion both at a hook at the top of the beam and also at a bracket extending outwardly from one side of the support so as to clamp the hanger rigidly vertical to prevent twisting.

Abstract: An automatic switching valve mounted between two fluctuating pressure sources automatically switches from one source to the other to supply gas or liquid from the source that is under the higher pressure. A T- housing conveys gas or liquid from either side and out of the central stem. Tapered, spring loaded plugs or valves in either side engage with tapered seats and are maintained in contact with the seats by springs which permit one or the other valve to open when the pressure on one valve exceeds the tension of the spring of the other valve. If the pressure is equal on both sides, both valves will open simultaneously if pressure is greater than cracking pressure.

Abstract: An inflatable container for use as a crib, playpen, bassinet and safety car bed is provided by a rectangular base and attached side walls, all of which can be inflated by an air pump permanently attached along the top of one side wall. Between adjacent edges of each side wall and the next side wall a zipper is provided which extends from the base to the top edge of the side wall so that when fully closed the side walls define a rectangular structure with open top. Across a center line of each side wall is a fold section which allows a top portion of the wall to fold back downwardly and attach to the base. Ballast pockets can be provided in the base. The device can be used in a vehicle with a strap system including an automatic retraction device whereby the straps on retraction draw down the upper sections of two walls to close the open top and contain the child.

Abstract: A pneumatic distribution system for particulate material includes a tank and a plurality of pipes extending outwardly from the tank to respective sides thereof. Each of the pipes forms part of the duct from a metering system and carries the particular material in an air stream to a spreader nozzle at the end of the pipe. At a position before the end of the pipe, and extraction nozzle is mounted in the pipe formed by a curved plate having a leading edge transversed to the pipe with a curved plate mounted in an opening in the pipe so as to extract the material and direct it outwardly onto a guide plate which forms a spread pattern.

Abstract: A power takeoff attachment for a conventional road vehicle includes a base member with a rod extending transvesely thereto and of a length so that the outer end thereof can be inserted into a pivot coupling for example provided by a V-shaped space between the torsion bar bracket and the frame of the vehicle. A rear edge of the base can be bolted to the transverse beam of the frame of the vehicle with the angle of the base being adjusted by the bolted connection. The base carries bearing blocks which support the power takeoff shaft and in one example an electric clutch. Drive is communicated to the shaft via chain or belt coupling from a sprocket mounted at the pulley of the vehicle engine and attached to the pulley by bolts which pass into the pulley and into the crank shaft.

Abstract: In a ventilation system for a building in which air is extracted by a fan arrangement, an inlet flap arrangement is provided for a ceiling opening which comprises a foamed material flap member mounted directly covering the ceiling opening. The flap member is controlled by a tension spring biasing it to a closed position so that its weight and air pressure act to open the flap. The angle of the spring relative to the position of the center of gravity of the flap member are controlled to provide the required opening characteristics. In one arrangement the flap member is shaped as a scoop so as to direct air along the ceiling when opened.

Abstract: A step construction for an auger tube comprises a clamp which clamps around the auger tube at a position spaced from the hopper at the lower end of the auger tube. A flat step member is pivotally coupled to the clamp and includes a leg at an end remote from the clamp with a leg having a concave lower surface for sitting over the upper surface of the auger tube. The angle of the step relative to the auger tube can be adjusted by sliding the leg up and down within a sleeve attached to the step. The step can thus be readily attached to the auger tube and provides a secure footing for the user to stand on the auger tube to observe operation of the material within the hopper.

Abstract: A brush for cleaning a chimney flue is formed from a central hub outwardly from which extends a plurality of plastics strips manufactured from strapping tape having a width of the order of 1/2 inch and a thickness of the order of 0.030 inch. The device is manufactured from a plurality of separate units each formed with six outwardly extending strips or blades and a central hub with all of the units stacked on a bolt and prevented from rotation each relative to the next. A natural curvature of the strips tends to form a device into a cone shape so they can be readily pressed into a chimney flue from the lower end with the flexibility of the strapping tape enabling the unit to be compressed and passed around obstructions such as the flue damper.

Abstract: The tar and nicotine content of tobacco is reduced by passing through the tobacco a combination of steam and starch cells.

Abstract: A rack for supporting a plurality of rolls of sheet material particularly floor covering is defined by a frame structure carrying two chains one at each end with the chains arranged to rotate around upper and lower chain wheels. The chains rotate in synchronism with support hooks carried on the chains and aligned transversely of the chains. A bar can be hooked onto the support hooks to receive a roll of the floor covering. The bar can be lifted into place by a lift mechanism in the form of an elongate bar with an upper and lower hook so the upper hook can engage over a previous bar and a lower hook can lift the intended bar to a position adjacent its receiving hook. An overcenter linkage then is used to reduce the length of the bar to lift the new bar into engagement with its respective hook.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cultivator having a frame which includes at last one line of hinges with axes transversely disposed to the direction of draft of the cultivator. The portion of the cultivator frame ahead of the front row of hinges is known as the leading tool-carrying frame and carries a row of shanks with cultivator shovels disposed abreast along the length of the leading tool-carrying frame. One or more additional rows of hinges with axes transversely disposed to the direction of draft can be provided in the cultivator frame to the rear of the front row of hinges. The frame-work depending upon and following behind a given row of hinges is known as a following tool-carrying frame. Each following tool-carrying frame also carries a row of cultivator shanks. The provision of each of these rows of hinges with axes transversely to the direction of draft provides an additional degree of freedom for the cultivator frame to conform to knolls or depressions in an agricultural field.

Abstract: A door lock includes circuitry for signalling the condition and operation of the lock. The lock has a bolt and two separate locking mechanisms, each operable to lock the bolt in its projected position. A bolt position signal switch generates a signal indicating the position of the bolt, either projected or retracted. Two lock signal switches are operated by the respective locking mechanisms to provide respective lock position signals. An intruder alarm using the lock includes a perimeter alarm subsystem, an interior alarm subsystem and an alarm conditioning control. The control is responsive to an unlocked condition of the door as signalled by the bolt position signal to disable both the perimeter and the interior alarm subsystems. When the door is locked from outside the premises protected, the control activates the perimeter and interior alarms, while locking of the door lock from inside locks the perimeter alarm only.

Abstract: An article of apparel, generally a T shirt which includes a fabric layer upon which is attached a three dimensional molded article providing a three dimensional relief pattern on a front part of the T shirt to enhance the appearance and provide opportunity for increased sales. The three dimensional molded part includes a flat based disc and raised relief parts with the disc being attached to the T shirt fabric leaving a hollow area between the fabric and the raised parts.

Abstract: Baled animal feed material is improved by being moved onto a vehicle either by a lifting mechanism at the side of the vehicle or by a platform which takes the bale directly from a baler. On the vehicle is firstly mounted a wrapping station in the form of a cradle which rotates the bale about its axis and about an axis at right angles to the bale so that the plastic strip material is wrapped around the bale and around the ends of the bale. A probe is moved forwardly hydraulically to enter the bale along its axis following which anhydrous ammonia from a volumetric measuring device is injected under pressure from a hydraulic supply through the probe into the bale.

Abstract: A multi-axle road vehicle has an equalizing resilient suspension for equalizing the load over the axles of a multi-axle set. The suspension is itself carried on a suspension subframe that is in turn mounted on the vehicle to pivot about a transverse, horizontal axis. The use of a pivoting subframe provides for equal axle loading over a much wider range of road conditions. The suspension system is especially suited for application to the "B" train multiple vehicle configuration, where the common suspension will be mounted on a subframe pivoted to the lead vehicle and carrying a fifth wheel for the following vehicle.

Abstract: A roller metering device comprises a roller, which has continuous elongate grooves longitudinally thereof spaced angularly around the periphery thereof, mounted in a hopper so that it grasps and forwards a volume of the particulate material within the hopper for each movement of a recess past a metering edge into a plurality of cups and venturis arranged along the length of the roller. A cleaning device for the roller is provided which is driven by the roller and comprises a plurality rods carried in angularly spaced arrangement around an axis of rotation of the cleaning device with each rod extending along the length of the roller. In one arrangement there are twelve recesses in the roller and six rods on the cleaning device with the cleaning device driven at a 2:1 ratio in speed relative to the roller.