Abstract: A swivel coupling for joining lengths of flexible hose together incorporates a pair of cylindrical coupling members rotatably supported within a cylindrical housing at opposite ends thereof. Each of the rotary coupling members comprises an inner sleeve and an outer coupling collar joined by an annular shoulder segment. The annular shoulders bear against adjacent shoulders on opposite ends of the outer housing to restrain the rotary coupling members against outward displacement from the housing. Tubular end segments on each of the coupling collars project outwardly from the ends of the housing for the attachment of lengths of hose thereto.

Abstract: A weeding machine for stalk crops includes a pair of driven rotors which are disposed on opposite sides of a row crop, such as cotton. Each rotor includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart spiral blades and a rearwardly positioned cone. The rotors are arranged in forwardly converging relation with respect to each other. Weeds and accumulating soil are impelled outwardly from the spaces between adjacent rotor blades, and the cone of each rotor serves to smooth the soil displaced by the rotors.

Abstract: An improved distribution tower for weighing and mixing particulate material such as chemical fertilizer has a plurality of storage containers therein for separate storage of various particulate materials and utilizes a combined weighing and mixing bin which is positioned below the storage containers to receive material therefrom, the bin being provided with an upright central auger for mixing and blending the material before discharging the material through a discharge duct at the base of the bin. The bin is also provided with a weight measuring scale to weigh quantities of material added thereto from the storage containers so as to permit predetermined fertilizer compositions to be formulated. In one embodiment the auger apparatus has radial paddles to better mix the material. A second embodiment utilizes a combined weighing and mixing bin wherein a funnel-like configuration of spaced-apart baffle plates is carried by the bin and intercepts and redistributes material discharged by the auger.

Abstract: A tag feeding machine particularly adapted for separating thin paper tags, of the type applied to feed bags, one at a time from a stack. A tag engaging member mounted on a movable arm and having a friction contact surface thereon is movable through a predetermined path on a displacement stroke wherein it contacts the first tag in a stack and buckles its leading edge out from engagement by a leading edge retaining member on a tag holder. As the tag engaging member moves back through a return stroke to a rest position, it carries the separated tag's leading edge forwardly to a freely disposed pickup location. Tag pickup means in the form of a swingable delivery arm having a pickup device on one end grips the freed leading edge of a separated tag and delivers it to an application location.

Abstract: A generally rectangular shaped beaver tail platform is supported in inclined relation from the rear end portion of a trailer. Locking elements on the beaver tail platform and trailer releasably lock the beaver tail platform on the trailer. Ramp members are pivotally mounted on the rear end portion of the beaver tail platform.

Abstract: An improved sorting apparatus for sorting sand, rock, gravel and other fragmented material utilizes a wire screen panel having a plurality of sorting zones with the apertures of each zone having a different cross-sectional area. A multiplicity of equally spaced, parallel, serpentinely crimped, longitudinal wires extend from receiving end to discharge end of the panel and are rigidly retained by attachment shrouds at the ends, permitting the longitudinal wires to be tensioned and sagging of the wires avoided by gradually tightening and straightening the longitudinal wires. Mounting means is provided to mount the panel in most commercially available vibrating screen boxes and includes a stationary angle iron mountable at one end of the screen box to retain an attachment shroud at an end of the panel and further includes a plurality of clamping devices adjacent the remaining end of the screen box and engaging an attachment shroud at the remaining end of the panel.

Abstract: A water distiller assembly comprising a bottom boiler unit and a top condensing unit incorporates heat exchange passage means for supply water and steam arranged in the condensing unit in such a way in combination with tubular flow connections between the condensing unit and boiler unit that cool, incoming supply water is preheated by steam rising from the boiler unit and flows by gravity down into the boiler unit, with the steam thereby being cooled and condensed to distilled water. Mineral laden residue water in the boiler unit is discharged therefrom continuously by means of a discharge passage providing a predetermined flow restriction against the flow pressure generated by the vapor pressure in the boiler unit. A supply water vessel forming a portion of the condensing unit is removably secured to the top of a boiler vessel by spring clips, which also serve to tightly seat lids covering the supply water vessel and the boiler vessel.

Abstract: A support device for a mobile house type trailer is mounted within a compartment adjacent the front of the trailer and includes a pair of telescoping leg structures which are extensible to engage the ground and support the trailer when it is disconnected from a prime mover, the leg structures being retractable when the trailer is connected to the prime mover. A reversible electric motor is drivingly connected to a driven shaft through a belt and pulley drive, this driven shaft being operable to extend and retract the leg structures.

Abstract: A detachable pocket, pouch or container readily attachable to and detachable from clothing or other flexible, fabric-like materials without alteration of or damage to the material comprises a tongue member positionable wholly on one side of the fabric-like material with its periphery engageable against the material, a receiver member positionable against the remaining side of the material opposite the tongue member and having guideways adjacent its periphery to slidably engage the periphery of the tongue member to releasably retain the tongue member and grip the fabric-like material between the members so as to retain the members on the fabric-like material without damage to the material. One of the members carries a load device such as a container, pouch, adhesive surface or the like by which a load may be carried.

Abstract: A torque arm assembly for securing a silo unloader output chute. The assembly preferably comprises first frame means adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the silo unloader and second, generally horizontal tracking frame means pivotally coupled to the first frame section for sequentially engaging silage discharge orifices. In operation the tracking frame alternately engages and then withdraws from each silo silage discharge orifice before dropping to a lower position. The tracking frame preferably includes latching means for selectively grasping the silo's discharge orifice partitions to control downward movement and cooperating roller wheel means for smoothly contacting the discharge orifice partitions to facilitate proper subsequent engagement within a lower discharge orifice. The latching means preferably comprises a fork portion pivotally coupled to the tracking means which temporarily grasps the orifice partitions to delay downward movement.

Abstract: A mobile tree removing apparatus includes an elongate extensible and retractable boom structure mounted on a vehicle such as a truck. A cutting device is mounted on the outer end of the boom structure and includes a housing having a plurality of cutting members positioned therein. Adjacent cutting members cooperate with each other to cut an entire standing tree including the trunk and limbs thereof into chips. The chips are impelled through a conduit connected to the housing by action of a vacuum pump mounted on a truck.

Abstract: The process consists of making available the full contents of the rumen or paunch of commercially slaughtered cattle without any dilution or addition of substances thereto. Said contents per se are subjected to mechanical separation to remove up to 90% of the watery and liquid contents therefrom. The premium, relatively solid material left is in the form of clumps of matted fibers having other solids and semi-solids adhering thereto, such as cogulants, emulsions, and fat globules. Said matted and solid fraction is chopped or otherwise subdivided, rendering the separated particles more susceptible to the next vital step of flash-drying. Flash-drying of said fibrous, premium fraction is preferably carried out by a combined heating and conveying medium which applies a blast of high temperature air upon and through the divided fibrous fragments and particles while they are tumbled and dispersed. Such products contain protein (by weight) in a range from 10 to 12%; fats in range from 3.3 to 3.

Abstract: A gangable solar energy collector module utilizes an insulative housing containing a plurality of hollow interior conduits confronting the sun, separated from one another by slots, and overlying an energy absorbing tank which is connected with the conduits to permit flow of heat transfer medium therebetween. The conduits and underlying energy absorbing tank are positioned between supply and return ducts which extend beneath the conduits so that solar energy passing through the slots strikes the ducts and is either absorbed or reflected upwardly toward the conduits for absorption by the conduits. Each supply and return duct has a central segment within the insulative housing and has a terminal segment at each end of the central segment, each terminal segment being thermally insulated from the central segment and extending through and outwardly from the housing to permit a plurality of such collectors to be ganged by series connecting all supply ducts and series connecting all return ducts.

Abstract: The combination cooking, serving and eating unit disclosed herein employs a heat-resistive deck-like invertible body which has multi-functional rather deep protruding endless flanges on both sides thereof. These two flanges are of different area dimensions for respectively receiving and insulating, selectively usable cooking pans containing piping hot foods. The outer peripheral edges of the two flanges are smooth and preferably continuous to seal with upper portions of the cooking pans in use. The two pans constituting parts of the invention, made of metal or other heat-transmissive material in configuration and depth are made to conform in shapes to the two different pockets formed by the two said flanges with the deck portion of the body with the aforesaid spaced insulating relation. The end portions of the invertible heat resistive body are extended somewhat to provide handle portions to facilitate handling and serving of the assembled device with the piping hot dish therein.

Abstract: A solar energy collector connectable with a fluid-circulating system is contained in a plenum within an insulative housing and has a plurality of generally parallel, heat-absorbing conduits extending between intake and outlet manifolds and confronting the sun or other heat source through a transparent window, each conduit being separated from an adjacent conduit by an intervening slot. Positioned below the conduits is a heat-absorbing tank which is connected in fluid-flow relationship with the outlet manifold and also with the circulation system so that a heat-transfer medium may flow continuously between the energy collector and the circulation system. The tank receives radiant energy through the slots and after absorbing some of the radiation reflects the remaining portion upwardly to the conduits to thereby increase radiation intensity on and heat absorption by the conduits. Multiple reflections between tank and conduits further increase energy absorption both by tank and conduit.

Abstract: A latch apparatus for doors and gates usable with swinging or sliding doors has a mounting bracket which is fixed to a door frame adjacent the door with a pair of converging guideways for retention of a keeper having a slidable tongue which may be removably inserted into the guideways. Extending outwardly from the tongue is a rigid L-shaped strap which fits about and retains a corner of a door to restrain swinging or sliding of the door relative to the strap. The tongue lockably cams within the guideways when force is applied against the strap so as to force the door. Additionally, the lateral sides of the tongue are provided with camming edges which engage a roughened surface within the guideways to further lock the tongue within the guideways.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically spot gluing printed sheets on a folding machine. The apparatus comprises an applicator head, an internally defined cylinder interconnected with a source of fluid pressure, and a reciprocally displaceable piston disposed within the cylinder for selectively engaging to be glued. The piston includes a glue output orifice adapted to contact a printed sheet to be folded and glued in a folded condition. The orifice is in fluid flow communication with a glue input source. In a single action embodiment the apparatus includes a return spring for resetting the piston after each spot gluing operation, and in an alternative double action embodiment fluid pressure is utilized to automatically reset the piston at a preselected instant.The spot gluer is located immediately in front of a stop bar which serves to stop moving sheets and buckle them between folding rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating and recording signals from two separate sensors on a patient adapted to provide an indication of the condition of an anatomical member to be monitored.A control cabinet having an integral strip chart recorder is provided with plug in inputs for two externally connected strain gauges. Each strain gauge makes up one leg of a bridge circuit. The bridge outputs are amplified and multiplexed into a single channel strip chart recorder having a single, heated stylus which records two separate traces based on the signals received from the two sensors.Heat to the recordinng pen or stylus is turned off during switching excursions of the pen between the two traces so as to eliminate shading and marking which would otherwise occur on the recording chart between the traces at slow chart speeds.

Abstract: A map display device includes a boundary defining structure having a plurality of recessed portions which define geographical areas, such as states, countries or the like. Each recessed portion is adapted to be filled with a material, native to the geographical area, such as soil, and a glass plate covers the boundary defining structure to retain the material within a recessed portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for roasting a product with a heated granular bed are disclosed. A granular bedding, heat transfer material such as salt or the like contained within a rotatable heating chamber is directly exposed to a heat source which directs heat into the interior of the heating chamber. Heated granular material is then conveyed to a separate product roasting chamber and mixed with incoming particles of a product to be roasted. Internally disposed auger and flighting means facilitate movement of the commingled granular material and product through the roasting bin in response to rotation thereof. Separation means at the output of the roasting bin separates the processed product from the granular heating medium, and continuously returns the granular material to the heating bin for repetition of the process cycle. In one form of the invention the heating chamber is coaxially disposed internally of the rotatable roasting chamber to maximize thermal efficiency.