Abstract: A pair of frame members are secured to the ends of a pair of ducts having a generally circular or arcuate configuration. Each frame member has the same generally circular or arcuate configuration and has an inner vertical wall and an outer vertical wall. The outer vertical wall is connected to a sloped rigidifying portion which extends outwardly from the inner vertical wall. Both the inner and outer vertical walls have horizontally extending flanges which are in abutting relation and their end portions are clampingly engaged. The frame members have a circumferential or peripheral dimension less than the circumferential or peripheral dimension of the duct member so that at least one gap is formed in the circular or arcuately shaped frame member. The frame members are positioned on the duct end portions by inserting the frame member flange portion inside the duct end portions with the top surface of the frame member upper flange abutting the underside of the duct.

Abstract: An improved expansion assembly for a mine roof bolt has a tapered plug, two expansion leaves that bear against the tapered plug, a bail that connects the expansion leaves and extends over the end of the mine roof bolt, and a breakable holding ring to keep the expansion assembly assmebled until after it is placed into the bore hole. The tapered plug has a threaded bore therethrough for threading onto the mine roof bolt. The tapered plug also has tapered surfaces that have an angle of taper of 8.degree. to the axis of the mine roof bolt. The expansion leaves each have nine serrations formed on the surface such that the serrations are formed by the intersection of a planar surface perpendicular to the axis of the mine roof bolt and a frusto-conical surface. The frusto-conical surface is at an angle of 69.degree. to the planar surface. The serrations are equally spaced from each other and have a peak to peak distance of 0.25". The expansion leaves each have a maximum length of 3".

Abstract: A material handling platform is pivotally attached to the front of the material transport vehicle. Actuator means raise and lower the platform. The platform is arranged to tilt relative to the vehicle about a horizontal pivot at the front of the vehicle. A turntable is mounted on the platform. The material handling platform positions roof supports in an underground mine adjacent a long wall mining machine. The roof supports are transported by the material transport vehicle carrying the material handling platform with the longest dimension of the roof support aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. After the roof support reaches the position where it is to be installed, the roof support is turned relative to the vehicle by turning the turntable of the material handling platform so that the longest dimension of the roof support is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The roof support is then removed from the vehicle by lowering and tilting the platform relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic valve includes a generally cylindrical major body portion which is at least partially formed of a plastic material. The major body portion has an axially extending interior chamber. A pair of flow lines intersect the major body portion and the interior chamber thereof. A plug is mounted in the chamber and is selectively rotatable to control flow of fluid through the flow lines. The major body portion includes a reinforcing sleeve formed of metal which is encased within the plastic major body portion to surround the interior chamber.

Abstract: A glass block wall has a frame member that frictionally engages the glass block adjacent thereto. A continuous flexible spacer member extends along the horizontal end walls of the glass blocks in each course. Separate vertical spacer members abut the adjacent vertical end walls of the glass blocks and a filler material is positioned in the recess formed between the edges of the adjacent glass blocks and the edge of the spacer member. The spacer members have a configuration to align the glass blocks in the wall and to stabilize each of the glass blocks in the wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for harvesting fruit crops from bushes or bushy plants and, in particular, for harvesting grapes from a bush-like vine that has a plurality of arms or branches extending from a main stem and includes inserting a dislodging member into the bush-like vine from above between the arms and main stem and moving the dislodging member toward and away from the main stem to shake the grapes from the vine.

Abstract: An improved expansion assembly for a mine roof bolt for use in a nominal one inch diameter bore hole with a nominal 5/8" diameter roof bolt is provided. The expansion assembly has a tapered plug with four tapered surfaces, an expansion shell that has four leaves extending axially upwardly from a support ring and into contact with the four tapered surfaces on the tapered plug, and a threaded support washer to support the expansion shell on the threaded end of a mine roof bolt. The tapered plug has a threaded bore therethrough for threading onto the mine roof bolt. The tapered plug tapered surfaces have an angle of taper of at least 6.5.degree. to the axis of the mine roof bolt. The expansion leaves each have seven serrations formed on the surface such that the serrations are formed by the intersection of a planar surface perpendicular to the axis of the mine roof bolt and a frusto-conical surface. The frusto-conical surface is at an angle of 72.3.degree. to the planar surface.

Abstract: An optical device is provided for determining the movement of the head of a user of the device relative to a fixed object that the user is viewing while performing a specific physical task. The optical device includes a pair of spectacles that are worn by the user. A flexible optical altering membrane substantially smaller than the lenses of the spectacles is adhesively secured to each lens of the spectacles in the area of the lens through which the user normally views the object. The optical altering membrane is selectively removable and reattachable to the spectacle lenses. The membrane causes the object to appear to the user to be in a first position when viewed through the optical altering membrane and to "jump" to a second position when viewed through portions of the spectacle lenses not covered by the membrane.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a frame with a material dislodging head mounted on the end of the frame. Ground engaging tracks propel the machine within a mine along the floor of the mine to advance the dislodging head into the face of the mine to dislodge material therefrom. Roof bolting apparatus is employed for installing roof bolts at predetermined locations in the roof of the mine above the mining machine. The roof bolting apparatus is supported by a drill pit which is positioned within the frame and movable relative to the frame. The roof bolting apparatus is arranged to install roof bolts at predetermined locations above the mining machine while the mining machine is being propelled through the mine to dislodge material from the mine face.

Abstract: A self-propelled continuous mining machine includes a mobile frame assembly having a front end portion with a boom assembly pivotally retained thereon. A dust collecting system is positioned on the mobile frame assembly for inducing a flow of air through a hollow interior portion of the boom assembly. As a dislodging head removes material from a mine face, the dust collecting system draws airborne dust created by the dislodging head through a hollow interior of the boom assembly and into the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly. Two portions of the boom assembly are pivotally connected to portions of the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly to provide pivoting joints to allow the collecting system to draw airborne dust through the boom assembly with the boom assembly in any preselected position relative to the mobile frame assembly.

Abstract: A grinder assembly includes a grinder support device positioned within a pipe section and has a support shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the pipe. A grinder is supported from the support shaft by means of a connector secured to the body portion of the grinder. The grinding wheel is positioned in abutting relation with the edge of the pipe and the support shaft being rotatably mounted on the grinder support permits the grinding wheel to rotate around the periphery of the shaft. There is an adjustment device for the support shaft where the angularity of the support shaft, the grinder, the connector and the grinder wheel face can be adjusted angularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe section to compensate for an edge portion of a pipe that is cut at an angle other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe.

Abstract: A roof support for an underground mine or the like is disclosed. The roof support is comprised of two roof anchors that are secured in bore holes formed in the mine roof with a cross member tensioned between the roof anchors. The roof anchors have eye-bolt heads formed on the ends which protrude from the roof and to which the cross member is readily secured. A tensioning means is provided to tension the cross member and the major portion of the cross member may be either a rigid metal rod or a flexible wire rope cable. The present invention also provides for a roof anchor that is formed from concrete reinforcing bar which has an eye-bolt head that is hot forged onto the reinforcing bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for movably supporting an object to be marked which includes a fixed member with a table assembly movable reciprocally on the fixed member. The object to be marked is secured to a surface of the table. A marking device is supported on a U-shaped support member and a guide means is movably secured to the support member with the marking device pivotally mounted thereon. A first driving means moves the marking device linearly relative to the fixed member to apply a mark on the object and a second driving means moves the table relative to the fixed member to position the marking device. The support member is mounted either vertically or horizontally so that it can mark a vertical surface or a horizontal surface on the object.

Abstract: An improved expansion assembly for a mine roof bolt for use in a nominal one inch diameter bore hole with a nominal 5/8" diameter roof bolt is provided. The expansion assembly has a tapered plug with four tapered surfaces, an expansion shell that has four leaves extending axially upwardly from a support ring and into contact with the four tapered surfaces on the tapered plug, and a threaded support washer to support the expansion shell on the threaded end of a mine roof bolt. The tapered plug has a threaded bore therethrough for threading onto the mine roof bolt. The tapered plug tapered surfaces have an angle of taper of at least 6.5.degree. to the axis of the mine roof bolt. The expansion leaves each have seven serrations formed on the surface such that the serrations are formed by the intersection of a planar surface perpendicular to the axis of the mine roof bolt and a frusto-conical surface. The frusto-conical surface is at an angle of 72.3.degree. to the planar surface.

Abstract: A marking device includes a plurality of individual marking pin assemblies. Each marking pin assembly is spaced an angular distance from each adjacent marking pin assembly in the marking device to form a generally fan-shaped array. An arcuate object to be marked by the marking device is placed on an object support plate. As the arcuate object is rotated on the object support plate, the plurality of marking pin assemblies in the marking device operate to selectively imprint a plurality of preselected characters in the circumference of the arcuate object.

Abstract: A bowling ball has an oversized finger hole in which a rigid liner insert is secured. The rigid liner insert has an inner cylindrical bore with an internal threaded portion. A cylindrical finger receiving insert has an internal bore of a preselected diameter and an external cylindrical surface with external threads formed thereon. The finger receiving insert having an internal bore of a preselected diameter is threadedly secured in the liner insert to provide a bowling ball having a finger hole of a preselected diameter. The finger receiving insert may be threadably removed from the liner insert and another finger receiving insert with a different preselected diameter may be threadedly secured therein.

Abstract: A personal sports equipment carrier adapted for carrying baseball or softball equipment is provided. The sports equipment carrier has a rigid frame with recesses formed in it to receive bats. Balls may be positioned in the bottom of the rigid frame and are held in place by straps that are fastened longitudinally onto the frame at a distance above the bottom of the frame approximately equal to the radius of the balls to be retained. An eyelet or a velcro strip is provided to receive the strap of a baseball glove and the tied-together laces of shoes. A handle is secured to the rigid frame so that a baseball or softball player may carry his own equipment conveniently. Storage eyelets may also be secured to the frame so that the frame and the equipment therein may be stored by passing the eyelets over hooks or nails that protrude from a wall or the like.

Abstract: A plurality of individual openings provided in a sheet strip material by a stamping device are passed in succession through a monitoring station positioned adjacent the outlet of the stamping device. As each individual opening is passed through the monitoring station, the monitoring station produces a plurality of voltage signals which identify the progres of each opening through the monitoring station and the progres of the sheet strip material through the stamping device. A controller is provided having an input for receiving the plurality of voltage signals produced as each opening is passed through the monitoring station and an output connected to the stamping device. Within the controller, the plurality of voltage signals identifying the progress of an individual opening through the monitoring station are compared to the plurality of voltage signals identifying the progress of a following opening through the monitoring station.

Abstract: A pair of frame members are secured to the ends of a pair of adjacent generally circular ducts. Each frame member includes a vertical wall extending upwardly from the circular duct and a sloped outer wall angularly spaced from the vertical wall. Each frame member includes an annular pocket for receiving an end of the circular duct, and a base wall abutting the annular pocket. The base wall has a rebent end portion for engaging a plurality of protuberances positioned on the inside wall of the circular duct. The frame members have an expanding means to urge the frame end portions away from each other to increase the diameter of the frame and engage the duct end portion. A gasket is positioned between the vertical walls of adjacent frame members to contact the adjacent vertical walls, and a clamp is positioned in surrounding relationship with the pair of adjacent frame members secured to the pair of adjacent circular ducts. The clamp has a pair of legs, each leg contacting a frame member sloped outer wall.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a preselected length of strip material from a roll in which the dispenser has a housing with a cover member pivotally connected to the housing. The cover member has an elongated transversely extending slot with a bracket member extending therethrough and pivotally supported intermediate its edge portions to the cover with a portion extending into the housing and a portion extending outside of the housing through the slot. The bracket member rear edge portion is arranged to pivot upwardly against the inner surface of the cover and abut the inner surface of the cover to frictionally engage the paper therebetween. The bracket front edge forms a knife edge for severing a preselected length of strip material from the roll when the material is pulled downwardly against the knife edge portion of the bracket. The bracket member is arranged to be pivoted upwardly by the strip material to release the back edge of the bracket member and permit the withdrawal of a length of paper from the roll.