Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing concentrated alcohol from beer comprises a plurality of concentrator cells and a plurality of salvage cells arranged in a line in side-by-side relation. Liquid beer, supplied to the first upstream concentrator cell through a supply conduit, flows through passages between adjacent cells in response to the volume of beer reaching a predetermined level in the adjacent upstream cell. A microwave ignition bulb is positioned in each cell to heat the liquid beer and boil or vaporize the alcohol content thereof. The gaseous alcohol is serially bubbled through a fluid passage from each concentrator cell to the next adjacent upstream cell until the gaseous alcohol reaches the first concentrator cell where the gaseous alcohol is concentrated and condensed in a column to a liquid solution containing approximately 95% alcohol and approximately 5% water.

Abstract: This rock picker invention is a towable farm implement which is capable of removing rocks from a farm field. A plurality of buckets scoop up quantities of soil as the rock picker is towed by a tractor. The buckets are mounted on a pair of cables which pass over guide wheels. The cables are forced to move by a power source so that the buckets are forced into, across and out of the ground. The guide wheels are mounted on axles on a conveyor frame which allows the buckets and cables to be lifted to a transport position and which allows the angle of attack between the buckets and the ground surface to be varied. The buckets are equipped with openings and shaped such that soil falls from the buckets when the buckets are lifted. The cables are guided such that the buckets are caused to invert and dump the rocks collected into a hopper. The hopper is equipped with a lifting linkage to allow transfer and disposal of rocks collected.

Abstract: A personnel carrier particularly suited for use in agricultural weed spraying is designed to be pulled behind a tractor having a standard three-point hitch. The carrier has two wings that extend laterally and forwardly from the attachment point behind the tractor at an angle of approximately 45.degree.. Platforms are provided on each wing for personnel to spray weeds from and wheels are located at the outer end of the wings to aid in support and balance of the device. A pair of skids whose lateral spacing corresponds to that between the front wheels of the tractor is located at the rear of the device and serves to support a large portion of the weight of the device in conjunction with the three-point hitch.

Abstract: A support device for automotive body parts includes a rectangular frame pivotally connected to a U-shaped support frame for pivoting movement between collapsed and erect positions. The support frame is provided with a pair of brackets which cooperate with the support frame for supporting an automotive body part thereon in generally inclined relation. A table frame is pivotally connected to the rectangular frame and when pivoted to a raised position cooperates with the rectangular frame to support an automotive body part horizontally thereon.

Abstract: A vehicle hoist and towing device is positioned on the floor of a pick-up truck bed and includes a mounting frame having a hoist frame pivoted thereto for pivoting movement between lowered and elevated position. A hoist boom is mounted on the hoist frame for sliding movement between a retracted and extended position along a track secured to the hoist frame. A linkage interconnects the track and the hoist boom to a power ram for raising and lowering the hoist frame and for shifting its retracted and extended positions. A vehicle suspension mechanism is secured to the outer end of the boom for suspending the vehicle from the boom.

Abstract: This implantable penile prosthesis may be surgically implanted in human males to cure erectile impotence. The prosthesis includes a pair of rigid portions joined by a hollow tubular section, all of which are implanted inside and along the length of a penis. The tubular section is connected to a pump means which controls erection of the penis by controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the tubular section. The tubular section includes a chamber means which undergoes only a small change in volume and therefore requires minimal fluid displacement as the prosthesis goes between a nonerect and an erect condition.

Abstract: A guide device for boat trailers includes a pair of guide devices each being mounted on one of the rear frame members of the boat trailer and each guide device including a vertically oriented guide roller. Each guide device also includes an obliquely oriented roller which is positioned adjacent the associated vertical roller. The vertical rollers are vertically adjustable and each oblique roller and its associated vertical roller are laterally adjustable as a unit to permit proper spacing between the guide devices to maintain a boat in centered relation as it is pulled upon the trailer.

Abstract: A batch operation water distiller is provided with a venting valve between the boiling chamber and the condenser. Operation of the venting valve during the heating phase prior to boiling allows entrained gases such as chlorine to be vented to the atmosphere rather than into the condenser and hence into the purified water. The valve may also be used as a humidification device for the area in which the distiller is operated. A screen-like shield is provided about the condenser inlet so as to prevent bubbles of unpurified water from entering the condenser passage. Also, a flexible fill tube is provided which allows the distilling chamber to be filled prior to use and then drained after use so as to remove mineral laden water from the chamber.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a vehicle body having a forwardly facing operator's compartment or cab. The vehicle is provided with a front end implement which is controlled by vertically swingable lift arms that extend along the sides of the operator's compartment. A pair of safety gates are pivotally mounted on the front portion of the vehicle body and prevent an operator from being thrown from the operator's compartment when the gates are in the closed position. The gates also obstruct vertical movement of the lift arms when the gates are in the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which utilizes the heat of fusion of a storage material to store heat from a vehicle exhaust system for later use in warming the lubricant or cooling fluid of the engine. An elongated canister has a portion of the exhaust system running through it, and that portion is located near the bottom of the canister. Located in the top of the canister is a heat exchanger through which flows engine coolant or lubricant. The remainder of the canister is filled with a heat storage material which may consist of various eutectic salt mixtures or single salts having temperatures of fusion and heats of fusion such that the material is in a liquid state when warmed by the exhaust system and in a solid state at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A device for separating water from diesel fuel is adapted to be used with conventional fuel filter fittings and consists of a conical screen-like member which serves to separate the water from the fuel and in which the inlet providing the fuel which may have water therein is interior of the downwardly diverging conical member. A quiet zone is provided at the base of the cone to reduce turbulence and allow the water to be drained off by an automatically operated valve which operates in conjunction with the air compressor already on the truck.

Abstract: A container of pilfer-proof construction formed from a single blank of fiberboard cut, scored and folded together in such a way that the closure panels thereof are locked inside of the container at inaccessible locations. Lock flaps on the top closure panel are securely held in place by lock tabs thereon engaged between multiple wall segments of the container end walls.

Abstract: A socket support adapter includes an elongate extensible and retractable body including housings at opposite ends thereof. Male socket elements having gears thereon project from the housings and each male socket element is shaped to accommodate a female socket element or the adapter element of a drive ratchet. An elongate drive shaft is positioned within the adapter body and has gears secured to opposite ends thereof which mesh with gears on the male socket elements. Rotation of one of the male socket elements by a drive ratchet in one direction will rotate the other male socket in the same direction.

Abstract: A stand for mounting floor tom-toms consists of an arcuate member having inwardly directed flanges which have apertures therein for mounting to the lugs of the drum between the castings and the rim. Vibration-absorbing grommets are provided in the flanges in order to provide a resilient support and isolate the stand from the vibration of the drum. Brackets are provided at diametrically opposite parts of the arcuate member for clamping leg members. The stand may be adjusted for both angular and vertical position relative to the leg members.

Abstract: A tripod stepladder includes rigid stiles having steps and a platform secured thereto. A hinge plate is pivoted to the platform and to a pair of legs to permit the legs to pivot as a unit towards and away from the stiles. The legs pivot relative to the hinge plate towards and away from each other to an unfolded tripod configuration. An A-shaped linkage limits pivoting movement and stabilizes the legs in the extended position.

Abstract: A gauge device for a hypodermic syringe may be readily applied to the flanged end of the hypodermic syringe barrel. The gauge device includes a rigid bar which is spaced a predetermined distance from the free end of the plunger of the hypodermic syringe when the plunger is fully extended into the syringe barrel. The bar limits the retractive movement of the plunger from the barrel and therefore limits filling of the hypodermic syringe to a predetermined dosage.

Abstract: The tool comprises a hollow barrel having an obturator slidably mounted therein and having a rounded forward end. A locating device is attached to the barrel to stabilize the obturator in the plurality of predetermined positions as it is moved along the bore of the barrel. A needle having suture material attached may be placed within the bore of the barrel. A slot is located along the length of the barrel to allow the suture material to exit from the side of the barrel. In practice, the tool may be inserted into a bodily structure such as one of the corpora cavernosa of a penis. The outer surface of the barrel is equipped with a plurality of markings that allow the user to gauge the depth that the barrel has been inserted into a bodily structure. After the tool is inserted, the obturator is slid along the barrel bore to force the needle out of the rounded forward end of the barrel. The needle is manually pulled out of the bodily structure.

Abstract: An adjustable drag feed device for a mobile grinder-mixer machine is mounted on the chassis of the grinder-mixer machine by a support arm which permits lateral swinging movement of the drag feed device between a transport position and selected operative positions. A short pivot arm pivotally interconnects the drag feed device with the support arm. The drag feed device may shift longitudinally a short distance about the short pivot arm to thereby permit the infeed end of the drag feed device to be optimally positioned with respect to the discharge chute of a bin from which material is discharged into the drag feed device.

Abstract: Apparatus for utilizing ambient air to provide supplemental cooling of a refrigerated enclosure in combination with a mechanical refrigeration system. Initial pull down of the temperature in a refrigerated enclosure to an intermediate temperature level is accomplished by a mechanical refrigeration system, or by an ambient air system in combination therewith. Cooling of the enclosure to a predetermined, low temperature level is achieved by actuating fans in response to the sensing of an outdoor temperature at or below a predetermined temperature level to draw relatively cool ambient air into the enclosure.

Abstract: The urethral catheter puller described in this application provides a convenient apparatus for performing urological diagnostic procedures such as urethral pressure profilometry and urethral electromyographic profilometry. In practice, a urethral catheter is mounted on catheter supports attached to the boom of the puller. The boom is equipped with positioning apparatus so that the catheter supports may be positioned in close proximity to the patient. The puller allows the catheter to be pulled in a horizontal or vertical direction, thus allowing the patient to stand or lie in a bed during the diagnostic procedure. The catheter supports are equipped with suitable structures to control the motion of the catheter as it is withdrawn from the urethra of the patient. A variable speed drive is provided to control the rate at which the catheter is withdrawn.