Abstract: A system for the disposition of shopping carts including at least one storage area for carts, which are intended to be removed and returned from the storage area by users. Each storing area has at least one gate in an outlet passage to permit a cart to pass therethrough only if a deposit is received and a gate in an inlet passage to permit cart to pass therethrough if identified as authorized, in which event the deposit is repayed.

Abstract: A livestock feeding apparatus which includes an endless belt conveyor. Feed is supplied to the upper run of the belt and is selectively discharged from either side of the conveyor belt by a feed discharge unit. The feed discharge unit includes a frame mounted to travel in a reciprocating path above the belt and the frame carries a feed diverting plow and a rotatable brush. The plow and brush are disposed in generally parallel arrangement and can be pivoted between a first diagonal position with respect to the side edge of the belt to a second diagonal position. Movement of the conveyor belt is transmitted through a drive mechanism to rotate the brush about its axis. As the feed discharge unit moves relative to the belt, feed is discharged from the side edge of the moving belt by the plow and the brush acts to remove residual feed from behind the plow.

Abstract: A wear indicator for knuckle or swivel joints of the ball and socket type wherein the spherical surfaces in swivelling engagement are urged in bearing engagement by a retainer member accomplishing the double function of holding the ball and the socket in assembly and of applying a pre-load force to the ball to prevent vibration and rattle and to compensate for wear of the bearing surfaces. The wear indicator is in the form of an elongate member attached to the pre-load retainer member at a portion thereof which is progressively movable in the direction of wear of the bearing surfaces of the joint for maintaining the pre-load pressure upon the bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A cap of synthetic resinous material for securement over the head of a fastener, such as a bolt or screw type. The cap has a hollow head portion and a cap attachment portion. The head portion has a top wall and an integral annular side wall. The attachment portion is formed integral in the inner wall adjacent a circumferential free edge thereof and is constituted by an annular channel formed in the inner wall of the cap for receiving in snap-fit engagement therein a lower circumferential flange of a fastener head to secure the cap over the fastener head.

Abstract: An improved pipelock comprising a first pair of rings facing each other axially, with the inner diameter of each ring at the outer face being smaller than the inner diameter of each ring at the inner face, each of said first pair of rings comprising at least two circumferential parts, means to restrain longitudinal movement of facing circumferential parts outwardly from each other, at least one second ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts connected to each other, outwardly surrounding said first pair of rings, and constraining outward radial movement of said first pair of rings, at least one third ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts, having an outer surface conforming to the inner surface of said first pair of rings, and at least one waffled fourth ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of said third ring.

Abstract: Sealed ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swiveling relative to a socket member. A bearing ring disposed with or without clearance in a housing has a concave spherical surface portion in swiveling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the housing constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate, is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: The forming machine includes a load station adjacent one end, an unload station adjacent the other end and a first work station, turnaround station and second work station spaced longitudinally in succession between the load and unload stations along a workpart flow path. Each work station includes a rotatable spindle fixed in position on one side of the flow path and a tailstock with a workpart support slidable toward the spindle transversely of the flow path. An overhead transfer mechanism is slidable along the flow path and carries multiple workpart transfer members such as grippers to transfer workparts successively from one station to the other along the flow path. First and second pairs of forming tools are spaced longitudinally to cooperate with the first and second work stations and are slidable longitudinally and simultaneously in engagement with first and second workparts rotatably and transversely supported at the respective work stations between the respective spindle and tailstock.

Abstract: A hole cutter for plastic tubing comprising a pair of opposed members pivotally joined at one end thereof, means between said opposed members for limiting their separation in open position, recesses within the opposed members for gripping a tube and a hollow cylindrical blade rotatably mounted on one of the opposed members, adapted upon rotation to cut a hole in a tube gripped in the cutter.

Abstract: In an impact crusher for reducing the size of particulate material, the breaker bars having one or more quasi-circular depressions for engaging a circular back-up bar is secured to a rotor by means of a serrated wedge and C-clamp assembly. A newly designed housing opening permits the breaker bars to be placed in an optimum horizontal positioning and a rotor-locking assembly holds the back-up bars in this optimum positioning and provides support for the breaker bars during replacement thereof.

Abstract: A novel pipelock comprising a first pair of rings facing each other axially, with the inner diameter of each ring at the outer face being smaller than the inner diameter of each ring at the inner face, each of said first pair of rings comprising at least two circumferential parts, means to restrain longitudinal movement of facing circumferential parts outwardly from each other, at least one second ring comprised of at least two circumferential parts connected to each other, outwardly surrounding said first pair of rings, and constraining outward radial movement of said first pair of rings.

Abstract: A stiffener insert is incorporated into a molded composite article such as an automobile dashboard by inserting the stiffener insert between a pre-formed plastisol skin forming opposed mold walls for receiving an intermediate polyurethane foam layer therebetween and partially compressing a porous, resilient layer such as an open celled reticulated foam layer on opposite sides of the stiffener insert to an extent sufficient to exert a spring-like holding force to self-center the insert between the mold walls and yet insufficient to cause readout of the partially compressed porous insert layer through the outer plastisol skin on the final molded article. The partially compressed, porous, resilient layer on the stiffener insert permits flow of polyurethane foam therethrough to fill the mold cavity and is impregnated with the polyurethane foam to securely bond the stiffener insert in the composite article.

Abstract: There is disclosed a container structure including a sealed side seam having a protected internal raw edge, and a method for accomplishing same. The method includes skiving or cutting a side seam flap along a taper to a feather edge, applying a sealant to the skived surface, and pressing the sealant-covered strip under heat and pressure into contact with the inside surface of the adjacent side wall panel to become sealed thereto without an exposed internal raw edge. Alternatively, the sealant may be applied to the side wall panel adjacent the skived tapered surface.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for agitating and pumping a liquid slurry, such as manure slurry. The apparatus includes a vertical column mounted for rotation about its axis in a pit or vessel containing the liquid slurry. A motor-pump unit is mounted for rotation about the axis of the column and is also mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the column. To guide the motor-pump unit in vertical movement on the column, a generally C-shaped guide on the motor pump unit rides on a flat plate-like track on the column. The upper end of the track terminates at a level slightly above the pit, so that by elevating the motor pump unit, the motor-pump unit can be freely removed from connection with the column. The upper end of the pit is enclosed by a closure plate having a central opening, and a rotary deck plate carried by the column encloses the opening and rotates with the column relative to the closure plate.

Abstract: A baby bottle particularly designed and constructed for supporting thereof by the baby or infant itself during a feeding operation. The bottle contains a container having at least one integral element of a circumferential dimension sufficiently small for encircling thereof or grasping thereof the baby's small hands whereby the baby may independently support the bottle during a feeding operation without the assistance of an attendant, or the like.

Abstract: A functional testing system for programmable logic devices. Test vectors are generated by a shift register and applied to the contact pins of the logic device through isolation elements so that all pins may be treated alike regardless of whether they are inputs or outputs. The logic level on pins that are outputs are controlled by the logic device, while logic levels on pins that are inputs are controlled by the shift register. The response of the logic device to the test vector is recorded in an output shift register and the response is then shifted out of the shift register to one input of an exclusive OR gate that also receives outputs from predetermined stages of the test vector shift register to create a pseudo-random function. The output of the exclusive OR gate is shifted into the test vector shift register as each bit of the logic device's response is applied to the exclusive OR gate thereby creating a new test vector.

Abstract: A bimetal snap disc thermostat is disclosed which is structured for automated assembly. Such thermostat includes a body with contact supports molded therein in a manner providing sufficient strength so that terminals can be riveted onto the contact supports after assembly. The body and contact support subassembly is structured so that it is symmetrical on opposite sides of a central axis. A disc cup is provided with axial and radial surfaces which accurately locate the disc during and after assembly. Also disclosed is a method of gaging and calibrating the thermostat automatically. Calibration of the spring force of the movable contact is accomplished by sensing the force in a given position and subsequently deforming the spring until a predetermined force exists in such predetermined position. Gaging is accomplished by deforming a projection from the movable contact arm until a predetermined uniform spacing is established between such projection and a gaging surface.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic control system for an electric motor which drives a pipe bending machine. A machine operator's hand switch acts through a logic system to cause the motor to run in either direction, and negates control conflicts.The logic system controls an SCR bridge system to select the direction of D.C. energization of the motor for forward or reverse drive. This bridge system is supplied from A.C. mains through a bridge rectifier comprising three diodes and one SCR. When motor drive is called for, this SCR is made conducting to provide full-wave rectification. When motor drive is terminated, this SCR is turned off so that the rectifier becomes half-wave, which facilitates turn-off of the motor reversing SCR's.A dynamic brake for the motor is turned on by a triac when motor energization is shut off.

Abstract: A power transmission is disclosed, including a single input pinion or worm and multiple gears and output shafts associated therewith such that two of the latter shafts are at right angles to one another, or any other angle other than parallel. In an alternate embodiment, two worms are formed on one input shaft, with one or more gears meshing with each worm, producing multiple outputs at two different speeds.

Abstract: A heavy duty liquid detergent is provided whose cellulose ether component is stabilized against lump formation and separation by the presence of glycerol. Freeze-thaw and low temperature storage stability is thereby particularly improved. These aqueous liquid detergent compositions comprise:(1) from about 0.5% to about 2% glycerol;(2) from about 0.05% to about 1% cellulose ether;(3) from about 3% to about 6% of a nonionic surfactant; and(4) from about 10% to about 25% of an anionic surfactant.