Abstract: A locking hub assembly has a hub rotatably engaged to a vehicle's non-rotating axle and a manually controlled actuator for selectively switching the hub assembly between an engaged position for rotatably fixing the hub to the axle and a disengaged position for freeing rotation of the hub on the axle. A locking mechanism for the hub assembly has a lock operatively engaged with the actuator and at least one throw arm. The lock is selectively operable between: a locked position in which the throw arm is extended into locking engagement with the hub to prevent operation of the actuator, and to prevent removal of the actuator from the hub as well as the hub from the axle; and, an unlocked position in which the throw arm is retracted from locking engagement to permit operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A process for placing a color graphic image in an ice structure requires a substrate of material which is suitable for use in a four-color (CMYK) printing method, which generally retains its shape upon exposure to water or aqueous solution, and which is air permeable. A decal is produced by printing the image on the substrate using the four-color printing method. The decal is placed onto a surface of the ice structure and coated with water which, once frozen, embeds the decal and image thereon within the ice structure. The substrate should become transparent or dissolve after being embedded in the ice structure. The process is suitable for ice hockey rinks, curling rinks, decorative ice sculptures, and the like.

Abstract: A retractable safety post for facilitating access in and out of a manhole is slidably attached to each side rail of a wall-mounted ladder. Each post slides within a tubular sleeve fixed to the side rail and is selectively movable between a retracted or stowed position to an extended or use position. Each post has at its upper end a cap and handle for ease of grasping during use, and at its lower end a latch member for securing the post in its extended position during use. A wall bracket anchoring the ladder to the manhole serves as a resting support for the latch member and its post when in the extended position. The post is secured in the extended position by merely lifting the post, twisting the post a given amount in a pre-set direction, and lowering the post slightly so that the latch member can engage the wall bracket. In its stowed position, the post rests wholly within the manhole.

Abstract: A hay raking machine of the present invention for attachment to a tractor with a single point hitch has a lifting mechanism for lifting the hay raking machine above cut hay laying on the ground while keeping the rake arms substantially level to the ground. The lifting mechanism employs two hydraulic cylinders working in tandem, with one cylinder located at the rear of the machine below the cam assembly for the rake arms, and the other cylinder located at the front of the machine which attaches to the single point hitch. The front cylinder cooperates with an assembly of four hitch arms in a parallelogram configuration for raising and lowering the front of the machine in unison with the rear of the machine. A farmer therefore has control over the height of the hay raking machine and its raking arms both during raking operations and during transport over roads or other potentially damaging surfaces.

Abstract: In an ignition assembly for a flare vent having an open terminal end for venting waste gases, a hollow tubular stripper is located adjacent a generally upright exterior wall of the flare vent and has a lower opening and an upper opening proximate to the terminal end of the flare vent. A conduit for diverting some of the waste gases from the flare vent to the stripper is located below both the upper opening of the stripper and the terminal end of the flare vent. A pilot has an ignition end to ignite the diverted waste gases in the stripper to produce an ignition flame at the upper opening of the stripper, which in turn ignites the waste gases exiting the terminal end of the flare vent. The pilot is housed in a sleeve having an open first end for receiving the pilot and an open second end for exposing the ignition end of the pilot to the waste gases in the stripper.

Abstract: A hair foundation device for lifting, guiding and holding hair on a user's head has a hollow inner cup within a hollow open ended outer casing. The inner cup has a tubular outer surface, an open bottom end for locating adjacent the user's head, and an opposed top end having flexible spaced tines with openings therebetween for receiving hair. The outer casing has an interior surface for slideably engaging the outer surface of the inner cup, and an exterior surface fitted with bristle type material for gripping the hair being wound thereabout. The inner cup slides relative to the outer casing to adjust the device's height for accommodating a selection of hair lengths and styles. A raised hair-do is formed by gathering hair into locks and stuffing the locks through the openings. One or more of the locks may be wrapped over the bristle type material to help position and secure the device on the user's head. Hairpins or other securing devices are not required, although they may be employed if desired.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat comprises a flexible base to which is attached at least two conductive elements laid out in a continuous pattern.

Abstract: A controller for mechanically setting a diesel engine's air/fuel ratio at a stoichiometric value to reduce black smoke emissions by regulating the quantity of fuel injected into a diesel engine's combustion chamber in response to the quantity of air flow to the engine's cylinder consists of an air flow sensor device and a modulator. The air flow sensor device has a venturi tube located along the engine's air intake conduit, and the modulator is in air communication with the venturi tube via a hollow hose. The modulator is located between a fuel control device, such as an automobile's accelerator pedal, and the engine's fuel injection pump. The modulator consists of an outer shell, internal diaphragm, return spring, push-pull rod and air valve system. The diaphragm divides the modulator's interior cavity into a front chamber and a rear chamber which communicates with the venturi tube.

Abstract: In an assembly for constructing a multi-tiered retaining wall to support a backfilled embankment, at least one generally planar backfill retaining wall panel has opposed top and bottom edges, and opposed parallel side edges. Each wall panel spans between pairs of transversely spaced posts. Each post is in the form of a rigid elongate column having an upper end, a lower end and opposed side portions. An abutment forming a recessed area extends longitudinally along each side portion of the column for receiving the side edge of the wall panel. A pin element insertable into the column retains the wall panel in place between pairs of columns in the abutment prior to backfilling against a rear surface of the wall panel. A seat at the upper end of the column supports a wall panel of an adjacent higher tier. A saddle at the lower end of the column provides for free-standing support of the column on a wall panel on an adjacent lower tier prior to backfilling.

Abstract: A Helical Bearing Anchor and Catcher for the insertion into a well conduit to anchor well equipment in both linear directions and rotation in one direction. The device has a helical groove in either the mandrel or the drag body to accommodate the helical bearing. The helical bearing has holes within it to accommodate shear pins. The shear pins translate the linear motion from the helical bearing to the drag body. The drag body has a conical surface which contacts slips to drive them outward and grip the inner well conduit wall. Once the slip grips the inner well conduit wall the mandrel and the attached well equipment can not move linearly in either direction or rotate further in the setting direction within the well conduit. The anchor catcher can be unset by rotating the mandrel in the direction opposite to the setting direction. The drag body, pins, and helical bearing all move downward away from the slip.

Abstract: In an external steel sleeve for reinforcing or for providing a seal to prevent leakage in a pipe, the sleeve consists of steel plate material that is shaped and sized to encircle a portion of the length of the pipe. The top and bottom halves of the sleeve each consist of steel shaped plate, and the bottom half in addition has zippers welded on either side. The sleeve may be installed while the carrier pipe is under operating pressure and temperature. Following cleaning of the pipe and sleeve surfaces, if necessary, including cleaning of any external anomalies on the section of pipe to be reinforced, an epoxy filler material is applied to the pipe over the area to be covered by the sleeve. The top and bottom halves of the sleeve are then placed around the pipe and initially tightened using hydraulic jacking devices.

Abstract: A reinforcing assembly for use in structural concrete members, such as slabs, footings, raft foundations, beams, walls and columns, has at least one reinforcing stud having an elongate stem and an anchor head at least at one end of the stem for anchoring the stud adjacent a face of the concrete member, and an elongate support element for mechanically retaining therein the anchor head of the stud. The support element is in the form of a U-shaped trough having a base and sidewalls which hold the stud and confine the concrete about the retained anchor head. The trough decreases the size of anchor head necessary to avoid concrete crushing behind the anchor head and distributes some anchorage forces away from the anchor head. The trough also spaces and positions a plurality of studs in the concrete member.

Abstract: A device for connecting the ends of two aligned sections of a hollow drive shaft which are rotatable about a common axis has first and second coupling members for securing to the ends of the drive shaft sections. At least two shearable bolts or pins connect the coupling members for transmitting torque between the drive shaft sections during operation and are arranged for balanced rotation of the coupling members under high r.p.m. conditions. The bolts, and not the drive shaft, will shear when the coupling members are subjected to a predetermined overload condition. The coupling members also include an annular groove and a correspondingly shaped annular projection for maintaining the shaft sections in axial alignment upon shearing of the bolts, and a collar for preventing the collapse of the shaft sections by restricting axial movement of the coupling members upon shearing of the bolts.