Abstract: Planting apparatus including a supporting frame adapted to be connected to a tractor or similar vehicle; a seed hopper mounted on the supporting frame for containing a supply of seeds, and seed metering mechanism spaced beneath the discharge outlet of the seed hopper for controlling the movement of the seeds discharged from the hopper on the ground. A magnetic seed treating device is disposed in the path of seeds discharged from the hopper for causing the seeds to pass through a magnetic field to magnetically treat the seeds as the seeds are planted.

Abstract: An improved fluid bed furnace which includes a new and improved pilot light assembly and which is of the type having a fluid bed comprising material which fluidizes upon being subjected to a flow of gas mixture therethrough and a burner for burning a fuel mixture for providing the flow of gas mixture at an elevated temperature through the fluid bed material for fluidizing and agitating the fluid bed material. The pilot light assembly includes an ignition means for providing a pilot flame, pilot flame confining means for directing the pilot flame into the furnace fluid bed above the fluidizable material for causing the pilot flame to ignite the burner fuel mixture, and pilot flame detecting means for sensing the presence of the pilot flame and enabling the supply of the fuel mixture to the burner.

Abstract: A seed planting apparatus comprises a mobile planting machine to be connected to a tractor or similar vehicle, and having a seed hopper for containing a supply of seeds to be planted. A seed outlet on the hopper feeds a seed dispensing apparatus for delivering seeds to the ground to be planted. A microwave seed sensing apparatus is disposed in a path of travel for seeds discharged from the hopper for detecting the seeds and producing an observable indication to the operator of the presence of seeds in the path of travel. The seed planting apparatus may also include magnetic seed treatment apparatus. The microwave sensing apparatus may therefore be connected in a control circuit for actuating the magnetic field in response to the presence of seeds and for producing an indication to an operator of the passage of seeds.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lock mechanism that has been designed to take up a minimum amount of space and thus be accommodatable in a relatively shallow structure. Said lock mechanism includes a pivotally mounted latch bolt, a deadlock member associated with said latch bolt, with biasing means urging said deadlock member to a locking position. To control the operation of the deadlock member there is provided a deadlock trigger and a deadlock position lever providing an operational connection between said trigger and the deadlock member. A primary operating lever as provided comprised of a first pivotally mounted arm portion and a second arm portion integral therewith and connected with the latch bolt by a loss motion connection. The pivot axis for said latch bolt, said primary operating lever and said deadlock member are disposed parallel to and adjacent the front plate of the casing structure, thereby enabling the lock mechanism to be accommodated and to function within a shallow casing structure.

Abstract: Two contraction-expansion pieces each have one end thereof connected to a base plate secured to a main body containing therein an opening and the other end thereof connected to a base plate secured to a lid serving to open and close the opening of the main body. The two contraction-expansion pieces which are each provided with a constricted, flexible elbow portion are pivotally fastened independently of each other and arranged in a mutually crossing state. Consequently, the two contraction-expansion pieces and the two base plates jointly form a pantographic mechanism. When the lid which is locked to the main body to keep the opening in its closed state while holding the pantographic mechanism in its folded state is released from the main body, the pantographic mechanism automatically expands and the lid is consequently brought to a completely opened state.

Abstract: In a control for use in a hydraulic system of the type which includes a hydraulic cylinder arranged to raise and lower a load such as a dump bed of a vehicle, wherein the hydraulic system is actuated for raising and lowering the dump bed upon axial displacement of a rod member contained within an outer conduit from a neutral position in first and second respective axial directions and wherein the hydraulic system is deactivated upon the rod member being in the neutral position. The control includes a tubular member which is adapted to be connected to the outer conduit, a control knob, and a rigid inner member partially within the tubular member having a first end connected to the rod member and a second end supporting the control knob. A latch supported by the tubular member is arranged for releasably locking the inner member in a neutral position with respect to the tubular member for precluding inadvertent axial displacement of the rod member from the neutral position.

Abstract: A combination brake and brake wear take-up device is disclosed. The device comprises a disc brake assembly and a link assembly connected to actuator discs. A link assembly pull rod is connected to a fluid power piston slidably disposed in a cylinder. One or more conical washer members are carried around the piston and permit the piston to slide in the cylinder in one direction over a relatively extended distance, but permit the piston to slide in the opposite direction over only a limited distance. A snap ring disposed in the cylinder interior and a shoulder formed in the cylinder interior define the axial extent of that limited piston return motion.

Abstract: Contact lens disinfector unit for sterilizing contact lenses contained within a lens case, wherein the contact lenses are of the type which preferably should be sterilized or disinfected once each day and periodically cleaned after a predetermined number of sterilizing or disinfecting cycles. The heating unit includes a housing in which is disposed a heating block arranged to contact the lens case, and circuit means operatively associated with the heating block and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric potential for utilizing electric current to apply heat to the heating block. The circuit applies the electric current for a sufficient period of time to attain a desired sterilizing temperature within the case, and then terminates the heating cycle allowing the lens case and the contact lenses to cool, thereby completing the overall sterilizing cycle.

Abstract: A line protector for a communications circuit comprises an insulating base having a ground pin and two pairs of line pins, one pair for each side of the line, projecting through the base. Each pair of line pins has a contact electrically connected thereto and projecting away from the base. The ground pin also has a contact projecting away from the base and spaced from the line pin contacts. A metal oxide varistor having opposed faces provides surge voltage protection for each side of the line. The line pin contacts are bonded to one face of the varistor while the ground pin contact is bonded to the other face of the varistor. Electrically conductive spring clips span the varistor and are pressed toward its opposite faces and in electrical contact with the ground pin contact. An insulating sheet is interposed between the clips and the line pin contacts to prevent one or more of the clips from grounding the line except in such surge condition that heats the varistor sufficiently to melt the insulation.

Abstract: A lens case for use with a dry heat sterilizer unit, or the like, wherein said sterilizer unit includes a substantially flat heated support surface with the lens case supportable thereon in intimate surface-to-surface heat conductive contact. The lens case is substantially flat and includes shallow, cup-like base and cover sections. The lens case base section includes separate, lens supporting arrangements for receiving a pair of lenses, said lens support arrangements being provided in side-by-side relation. The lens case is designed to be positioned on said support surface of said sterilizer unit only in an inverted position, i.e. with the cover engaged with said heated support surface, and said lens support arrangements inverted, which serves to prevent overheating of the lenses. Further, the cover member for the lens support arrangements, include central apertures, which permit the lenses to be engaged during opening of said covers, to preclude said lenses from adhering to said cover members.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting eggs from a number of poultry cages is disclosed. The apparatus includes a collector conveyor belt for receiving the eggs from egg cages, and a ramp conveyor belt for de-escalating the eggs from the collector conveyor. The cage bottoms are extended to provide a trough in which the collector conveyor belt is carried. Opposite the cages, strips of low-friction material act as bumpers to maintain without damage eggs upon the collector conveyor. A diagonal fence is provided above the collector-ramp belt conveyor junction point to encourage easy, undamaged egg transfer action from the collector to the ramp conveyor. Resilient fingers mounted in rows upon the ramp conveyor encourage undamaged egg de-escalation. An accumulator belt conveyor receives the eggs from the ramp conveyor and carries the eggs to an accumulation point.

Abstract: A plurality of rectangular waves of selected duty cycles and fundamental frequencies are generated. Selected ones of these waveforms are then added at selected amplitude ratios. Such additions provide resultant waveforms of desired fundamental frequencies and having desired harmonic contents or spectra, for simulating the characteristic sounds of acoustical musical instruments.

Abstract: An hydraulic clutch comprises coaxial input and output shafts with driving and driven discs respectively mounted on the shafts. The mounting of the driven discs on the output shaft includes a one piece member having a cup with an annular wall that surrounds the input shaft and the driving discs. The one piece member also includes the output shaft. An hydraulic piston is used to engage the clutch discs; and pins, around which return springs are mounted, limit the throw of the piston. The arrangement tends to minimize turbulence, heat build-up, and power losses when the clutch is in the disengaged condition.

Abstract: An hydraulic clutch is provided, which is positively engaged by hydraulic means, and is disengaged by mechanical means. The clutch includes a male cone member carried for rotation on an input shaft, and for limited axial sliding movement therealong. Interconnection between the male cone member and the input shaft is provided by a series of elongated pins carried in recesses formed in the male cone member and in the input shaft. A female cone member, formed integrally with an output shaft, receives the male cone member for driving engagement. When engagement is desired, a fluid pressure piston and thrust plate urge the male cone member axially along the input shaft into driving engagement with the female cone member. A stop pin carried by the thrust plate engages an abutment for limiting the axial motion of the hydraulic piston and male cone member.

Abstract: An inexpensive rack which is mounted on the roof of an automobile. Other objects are then mounted on the rack for transport with the automobile. The rack is an elongate lamination including a pair of opposed soft foamed outer layers, and an inner reinforcing layer therebetween. The reinforcing layer extends outwardly of the soft layers defining end tabular portions which are sandwiched between the car roof and the opposing doors to secure the rack to the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of racks are mounted in spaced relation across the automobile roof. An object positioned thereon is secured to the automobile by conventional means of rope, straps, or the like.

Abstract: A control system for a hydraulically powered self advancing mine roof support, which system ensures that a hydraulically extensible chock leg of the support is set to a predetermined pressure, irrespective of the length of time that a main inlet valve is held open comprises an auxiliary valve interposed between a main valve and a chock leg(s) in a fluid supply line extending from a high pressure line to the support, a bypass line connected to the high pressure line in advance of the main valve and extending to the auxiliary valve, the auxiliary valve being so constructed as to open upon sensing a predetermined pressure and to close upon sensing a higher predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed plating machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user accessible control panel. The microprocessor is further programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored.

Abstract: A counterbalance valve assembly for use in a hydraulic system of the type including a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering a load provides gradual and continuous exhaustion of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder to facilitate smooth lowering of the load. The assembly includes a counterbalance valve having an outer barrel and an inner barrel forming an annular channel therebetween through which the exhausted fluid passes. The outer barrel includes an inner valve seat and the inner barrel includes an outer relief valve surface which engages in the annular channel to form a relief valve. The inner barrel is movable in a linear direction within the outer barrel for opening and closing the relief valve as the load is lowered. To avoid abrupt changes in the exhausted cylinder fluid flow rate, and thus to avoid abrupt variations in the load lowering rate, the relief valve surface has a long tapered configuration rendering the exhausted fluid flow rate less sensitive to inner barrel movement.

Abstract: An electrical coil assembly comprises a rectangular annular coil and a dustproof cover therefor. The cover is formed of a folded blank of electrically insulating sheet material which has a rectangular annular portion with a rectangular aperture. A first pair of opposed flaps and a second pair of opposed flaps are integrally joined to the external periphery of the portion. Each flap has a first tongue portion which is passed through the aperture and a second tongue portion which overlies a respective side of the aperture in the coil. The width of each tongue portion is greater than the length of the respective side of the aperture in the coil. The width of each tongue portion is not greater than the length of the respective side of the apertures. This blank is easy to assemble into a cover and there is a reduced risk of tearing the flaps.

Abstract: A filter is described for separating solid particles and breaking down dense masses from a liquid carrier, and for promoting mixing of friable, dry material with the liquid. The filter comprises a housing having an interior wall of substantially circular cross-sectional configuration. A cylindrical filter member is carried inside the housing but is spaced apart from the housing interior wall. A circular fluid flow path is thus defined between the wall and the filter member. A liquid outlet port is defined in the housing and communicates with the inside of the filter member. A liquid inlet port is oriented so as to direct the fluid flow over and past the filter so as to cause an extending filtering and filter-cleaning action.