Abstract: In a chain excavator including an excavation chain with links routed around a drive sprocket and an end idler with a base plate mounted to a link for supporting excavation implements, a stabilizing element extends rearwardly from directly behind the excavation implement in order to contact and be supported by its trailing base plate.

Abstract: An improvement to an A-V dialysis graft construction that includes an elongated length of polymer tubing having an inlet end and an outlet end adapted to be attached to access needles. The improvement comprises a normally reduced diameter intermediate portion, providing a pressure drop from the inlet end of the length of polymer tubing to the outlet end for the purpose of improving flow to the extremity, not utilizing excess cardiac output and minimizing venous stenosis. A first embodiment comprises a gradual converging portion of the lumen followed by a gradual diverging portion. A second embodiment comprises an inflatable, annular stenosis balloon, providing a variable stenosis.

Abstract: A brush chipper with feed rollers and a winch has an interlock control with feed roller disabled position and a feed roller enabled position, spring loaded to the feed roller disabled position to encourage or require the use of the winch line to move it into a feed roller enable position. A winch control is provided that selects between a winch freewheel condition and winch drive condition. A connection is provided between the interlock control and winch control such that the interlock control automatically moves to the feed roller disabled position whenever the winch control is moved to the freewheel position.

Abstract: An improved feed roller assembly wherein the feed roller provides a force perpendicular to the feed direction of the brush material. In a first embodiment, cleats that are not parallel to an axis of rotation of the feed roller are affixed to a periphery of the feed roller. When the feed roller is oriented with its axis of rotation in a substantially vertical position, each cleat is arranged with its upper end ahead of its lower end, in a direction of rotation. This configuration provides a downward force on the logs or brush being fed into the chipper, thereby reducing the occurrence of bucking. In an additional embodiment, the axes of rotation of the feed rollers lean toward the outfeed end of the brush chipper.

Abstract: A mechanical control mechanism for the feed of a brush chipper is disclosed. The feed control bar has four positions: (1) forward or feed, (2) neutral, (3) reverse, and (4) stop. The hydraulic control valve has the three usual positions: (1) forward or feed, (2) neutral, (3) reverse. A function of the feed control bar is to provide the three function of the hydraulic control valve, plus the fourth in a fashion amenable to emergency situations. To these ends, the control bar has an extreme rearward position wherein the feed mechanism is stopped. The only permissible change to the stopped condition of the feed mechanism is to reverse the feed. Until a reset lever is manipulated, the hydraulic control valve cannot be put into a forward feed position.

Abstract: A grapple apparatus of a type having arms that pivot about parallel axes of a frame for grasping and releasing objects and wherein the entire grapple, including the grapple arms, pivots about a pivotal axis transverse to such parallel axes, and more particularly to a grapple which is pivotally adjustable about such pivotal axis between a first position and can be locked in at least the first and second positions thereof. A heel is fixed to the frame for supporting an object being grasped by the grapple when the grapple is in the first pivotal position thereof. A tooth is also optionally attached to the frame for permitting manipulation of the position of an object when the grapple itself is not being used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel electric powder impregnation process for impregnating powder into a fibrous, filamentary and/or porous network, especially in order to produce a composite, comprising a continuous, rigid or flexible, matrix with which said network is in intimate contact, in which process the powder on the one hand and said network on the other are placed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, these electrodes are electrically insulated from each other by a dielectric and connected to the respective poles of an AC generator so as to simultaneously subject the powder and said network to an electric field, characterized in that the upper electrode comprises at least one electrode tube and the AC electric field applied is from 0.10 to 20 kV/mm.

Abstract: The inventive circuit breaker-contactor (1) comprises a fixed contact, a contact (5) movable (19, 21) with respect to the fixed contact between open and closed positions, means (7) for displacing the movable contact (5) in the closed position thereof, means (9) for displacing the movable contact in the open position.

Abstract: A method of fabricating light-sensing devices including photodiodes monolithically integrated with CMOS devices. Several types of photodiode devices (PIN, HIP) are expitaxially grown in one single step on active areas implanted in a common semiconductor substrate, the active areas having defined polarities. The expitaxially grown layers for the photodiode devices may be either undoped or in-situ doped with profiles suitable for their respective operation. With appropriate choice of substrate materials, device layers and heterojunction engineering and process architecture, it is possible to fabricate silicon-based and germanium-based multi-spectral sensors that can deliver pixel density and cost of fabrication comparable to the state of the art CCDs and CMOS image sensors. The method can be implemented with epitaxially deposited films on the following substrates: Silicon Bulk, Thick-Film and Thin-Film Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI), Germanium Bulk, Thick-Film and Thin-Film Geranium-On-Insulator (GeOI).

Abstract: An apparatus for attachment to a bucket for holding a liquid is attached to a bucket with an upper rim. A bail is pivotally attached to the bucket as in a conventional arrangement, the bail having an upper position and a lower position. The apparatus has a housing with a pump operatively attached thereto, the pump having an inlet in liquid communication with the bucket and an outlet for facilitating the pumping of liquid from the bucket, preferably through a spray wand with a nozzle at the outlet thereof. A member is pivotally attached to the housing at one end thereof and has a notch in another portion thereof. This member has at least a first pivotal position and a second pivotal position. When housing is on the rim, the bail is in the upper position thereof and the member is in the first pivotal position thereof so that a portion of the bail is in the notch for thereby holding the housing to the upper rim of the bucket.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wavy coulter having a plurality of variable-amplitude waves, each wave defined by a crest and an adjacent valley. The coulter is mounted on an implement such that a leading peripheral edge of the coulter rotates in a downward direction as it enters the soil. The waves having larger amplitudes of deviation from flat provide a driving force for turning the variable wave coulter. The waves having smaller amplitudes of deviation from flat provide penetration into the soil. The result is a coulter that is forgiving in both wet and dry soil conditions.

Abstract: Co-product streams derived from the manufacture of vegetable oil were further processed producing materials that possess strong absorbance of visible and ultraviolet light. The compounds contributing to the light absorbance were increased and standardized to produce a fat-soluble composition with consistent and strong absorbance of ultraviolet and visible light. The fat-soluble composition is a useful photoprotective agent for various applications including protection of herbicides and pesticides. In a preferred embodiment acidulated vegetable oil is blended to a constant absorbance of light between 190 and 400 nm and used in a formula to protect a field-applied herbicide.

Abstract: A mowing device including a disc, the disc providing a mount for at least one knife, said knife being pivotably mounted to said disc by a pivot pin, said pivot pin defining a mounting axis, such that the knife can rotate about said pivot pin between a first extended position and any retracted position, said disc being constructed of a basic material thickness and comprising a mounting surface; said mowing device including a knife adapter comprising a cylindrical aperture and a projection; said pivot pin comprising a first cylindrical section of a first diameter to fit into said cylindrical aperture in said knife adapter, and a second cylindrical section, of a second diameter, with a groove defined by a groove width and a pin section thickness at the groove of a dimension less than said second diameter; said mowing device including a retainer constructed of a material thickness equal to or less than the width of said groove, with a key-hole shaped aperture defined by a first circular section with a first insid