Abstract: An apparatus for applying liquid smoke to the outer surface of an extruded sausage strand has a frame with an elongated stationary outer tube thereon. A rotatable tube is concentrically mounted within the outer tube. Power components are on the frame for extruding a meat emulsion through the inner tuber while it is rotating, and for winding a strip material into a casing on the outer tube wherein the formed casing slides and rotates as it progresses down the stationary tube to receive meat emulsion from a discharge end of the inner tube. A fluid, such as liquid smoke, is introduced between the rotating casing and the rotating strand of meat, which rotate in the same direction and at the same speed to prevent any turbulence from developing in the meat emulsion. A meat strand linker creates the extruded strand into links. A conveyor takes the link strand to a heating station for cooking.

Abstract: A shoulder strap comprising a body of padding material having a flexible flat strap member embedded therein. The flat strap member is embedded in the padding material in a sinusoidal manner. A plurality of elongated indentations extend into opposite sides of the padding material and the indentations on one side of the padding material are offset longitudinally with respect to the indentations on the other side of the padding material. The device may also be used as a handle.

Abstract: A method of banding the mane of a horse is described as well as the apparatus for performing the method. The method of banding the mane of the horse is made possible by a staple gun having generally U-shaped staples provided therein which are stapled around individual groups of hairs. The method comprises the steps of separating the horse's mane into individual mane groups and at least partially encircling each mane group with a selectively removable staple to maintain the mane groups separate from one another.

Abstract: A hand-held trigger grip drill bit holder for drill bit sharpening includes a hand grip adapted to be held in a user's hand and a clamp on the hand grip adapted to hold a drill bit for sharpening the tip on a grinding wheel. A trigger on the hand grip moves the clamp from a normally open position to a closed position to hold the drill bit. A sight is provided on the grip to allow visual alignment of the tip of the bit for proper sharpening of the cutting edges. In one embodiment, the sight takes the form of a loop. In another embodiment, the bubble isn't intended as a sight.

Abstract: A quadrifilar helix antenna of the present invention is used with a wireless device to transmit and receive signals. The antenna includes a plurality of helical antenna elements and an impedance transformer electrically connected to the antenna elements and connectable to the wireless device. The impedance transformer may be comprised of either a planar transmission line ¼ wave impedance transformer or a pi-network impedance transformer. The antenna may also be comprised of dual band quadrifilar helix antenna for transmitting or receiving two different frequency bands.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff has a sausage producing machine which produces a linked strand of sausage for deposit of loops of the strand on the hooks of a continuous conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each.

Abstract: An improved carrier which includes a hinged bed in order to decrease the load or approach angle on vehicle to be towed. The carrier also includes a lock which can hold the bed in a flat or planar position as a conventional straight deck, and a cable guide which directs the tow cable along the surface of the articulated bed to avoid contact with the vehicle to be towed.

Abstract: A side-by-side robot workcell includes two tables each of which is movable from a work position to a load position. Linkages are connected to the tables and cause the tables to have a slow speed at the time the tables approach either the load or the work position, and a faster speed in the middle of the movement between the work and load positions.

Abstract: A foot orthosis with a detachable sole plate has a pair of elongated retainer walls which are integrally formed with the toe plate adjacent the Velcro® strip to help stabilize any lateral movement of the orthosis with respect to the toe plate and the sole plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrocoriolysis, the separation of ionic substances from liquids in the electrodynamic mode. The method maximizes centrifugal forces on a fluid contained in a chamber having oppositely polarized electrodes. A feed fluid is fed into the chamber. Spacing of the electrodes can be minimized for enhancement of the process. A constant voltage can be applied. Centrifugal force and the electric potential across the chamber create enhanced separation. Concentrated solution can be removed from a location in the chamber and depleted solution from another location.

Abstract: A fish habitat package built up of old tire casings baled together to form a series of chambers into which fish can enter to provide habitat for those fish.

Abstract: A method for removing a portion of fat from meat cuts involves placing a meat cut on a longitudinal conveyor, pressing sensor probes into the meat cut to measure the relative thickness of fact and the location of lean in the meat, and then withdrawing the sensor probes from the meat. An electronic signal is transmitted from the sensor to a controller along with an encoder signal to determine the depth from the outer lower surface of the meat cut through a layer of fat in the meat to a layer of lean in the meat. Data taken from the foregoing step determine the desired position of the blade. A predetermined amount of fat is thereupon cut from the meat cut by the blade. An apparatus for removing a portion of fact from meat cuts includes a frame and at least one sensor probe including fiber optics to permit scanning of the interior of a meat cut penetrated by the probe.

Abstract: Described is a wrench comprising a base plate having a generally circular periphery. A plurality of teeth extend radially from the periphery of the base plate and are adapted to engage the indentations in the top of a compression ring of a base assembly. The base plate has a shaft extending upwardly therefrom. Preferably, the shaft includes a handle portion which an installer may use to apply torque to the tool and, thereby, to the compression ring. The shaft may, however, be adapted for engagement with another tool, such as a pipe wrench or electric drill.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is utilized for mounting a wind turbine on the upper end of a wind turbine tower. The invention also relates to the method of erecting the same. The tower is provided with a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned at one side thereof which extend from the lower end to the upper end of the tower. A carriage is movably mounted on the guide rails and has a platform pivotally mounted thereon adapted to support the wind turbine thereon. The carriage positions the wind turbine so that the spinner/hub and rotor blades may be secured thereto while the wind turbine is at the lower end of the tower and provides a means for slidably moving the wind turbine from the carriage to the upper end of the tower when the carriage has been winched to the upper end of the tower.

Abstract: A drive train comprises an internal combustion engine, a clutchless gearbox, which can be shifted by means of an electronic control unit and by means of actuating devices, without a mechanical synchronizing device, and a hydrostatic gearbox with a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, which are connected in a closed circuit. The rotational speed of the hydraulic motor being controllable in dependence on a control signal to the adjusting device of the hydraulic pump and/or to the adjusting device of the hydraulic motor. The control unit calculates the control signal by means of setpoint input via an accelerator pedal or as a function of the rotational drive speed of the internal combustion engine, with shifting of the transmission stages being possible by means of the actuating devices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow piston including: fixing a core insert formed of a non-metallic material in a desired location within a mold cavity, injecting a mixture of non-metallic binder material and metal particles into the cavity so as to surround at least a portion of the core insert and form a piston, and eradicating the core insert from the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating seeds and particulate material includes an elongated tray operably mounted on a support frame with a motor for oscillating the tray to move particulate material from a rearward end to a forward end therealong. The tray includes a perforated support surface with a saw-toothed cross-sectional shape such that the particulate climbs the inclined tread of each sawtooth and drops from the forward end of one tread to the rearward end of an adjacent tread to form a “curtain”. A plurality of spray nozzles are located over the tray to direct coating solution onto the seeds as they move along the tray. Preferably, the nozzles direct spray towards the curtain of falling seeds between the treads. An upper housing on the support frame includes an air plenum which directs air downwardly onto the seeds on the support surface and through the perforated support surface to a second air plenum formed under the support surface.

Abstract: A compactor including a forward and rearward compaction wheel each rotatably supported on a support arm and pivotally connected to a main frame. The forward compaction wheel is pivoted to a position aligned forwardly of and positioned below the rearward compaction wheel when in an operating position. A pair of diverter panels are connected to the frame and extend longitudinally on opposing sides of the rearward compactor wheel to divert fill dirt towards the compactor wheels. Each diverter panel has a diverter wing pivotally connected thereto with the diverter wings diverging outwardly and forwardly. The diverter wings are pivotally connected at a point of the forward compaction wheel and proximal thereto. The diverter panels are preferably parallel to one another and extend rearwardly beyond the rearward compaction wheel. The diverter wings preferably extend forwardly beyond the forward compaction wheel.

Abstract: A spray nozzle attachment with a hollow tubular body for mounting on the spray nozzle and interchangeable cleaning heads for removable mounting on the body. The heads may include different cleaning tools, such as a brush, a scouring pad, or a bottle cleaner. The body of the attachment is frictionally fit upon the spray nozzle, and the cleaning head is frictionally fit onto the body. The body of the attachment includes a central bore such that water may be directed from the nozzle onto objects to be cleaned.