Abstract: An attachment for a front end loader that provides a method and apparatus for ripping solid ground that includes a hollow tube mounted between the arms of a front end loader directly behind the bucket. The hollow tube is slidably mounted on a solid shaft. Closely machined bushings are welded and braced on support brackets on the inside bottom surface of the arms of the loader. These closely machined bushings are adapted to receive the shaft which extends from the ends of the hollow tube. Ripper brackets are welded to the exterior surface of the hollow tube. On the end of each ripper bracket are mounted ripper teeth in a manner such that the pointed ends of the teeth are pointing towards the rear of the front end loader. Connecting rods are attached to both the hollow tube and the loader bucket. When the bucket is tilted toward the operator the hollow tube rotates downward to a ripping position.

Abstract: A moisture indicator in an air flow drying process where hot gas is circulated over and around a granular material having an undesirable amount of moisture includes a detector located in the path of the exhaust gas to determine exhaust flow temperature, a valve control device associated with the temperature detector to control the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the hot gas intake and an indicator connected to the valve control device. A display is associated with the indicator to display the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the gas intake which indicates the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage of hydrocarbon gas needed in the intake is inversely proportional to the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage signals the loader operator whether the granular material loaded has an acceptable amount of moisture for successful operation of the drying process.

Abstract: A top reading bituminous paving depth gauge is used to determine the thickness of paving layers. The gauge comprises a depressible rod operatively associated when a rod support system comprising an upper portion having a graduated measuring gauge fixed on the rod support system and a bottom support devise fixed to the lower end of the rod support system. The bottom or the support device acts as a foot for the measuring gauge and also acts to receive the lower portion of the depressible rod. The top reading bituminous paving depth gauge operates without any washers on the measuring depressible rod to prevent false measurements due to the presence of large aggregates.