Abstract: A grain bin sweep is adapted to be assembled within a grain bin. The sweep comprises an auger assembly including a shield and an auger; and a tractor frame assembly comprising a frame first part and a frame second part. The sweep components are sized to fit through a small access opening to a grain bin and to then be assembled together within the grain bin. Additionally, the assembly of the grain bin sweep is accomplished using simple hand tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. No welding, drilling or other fabrication is required to assemble the parts or components together to form the sweep.

Abstract: A precision, laser-based method and system for high-speed, sequential processing of material of targets within a field are disclosed that control the irradiation distribution pattern of imaged spots. For each spot, a laser beam is incident on a first anamorphic optical device and a second anamorphic optical device so that the beam is controllably modified into an elliptical irradiance pattern. The modified beam is propagated through a scanning optical system with an objective lens to image a controlled elliptical spot on the target. In one embodiment, the relative orientations of the devices along an optical axis are controlled to modify the beam irradiance pattern to obtain an elliptical shape while the absolute orientation of the devices controls the orientation of the elliptical spot.

Abstract: A laser polarization control apparatus includes a polarization modifying device, such as a liquid crystal variable retarder, and a controller. The polarization modifying device receives a laser beam and modifies the polarization of the laser beam. The controller, which is connected to the polarization modifying device, adjusts an input to the polarization modifying device in order to control modification of the polarization of the laser beam based on alignment of a structure to be processed by the laser beam. For example, the polarization of the laser beam may be rotated to correspond with the alignment of a link in a semiconductor device to be cut by the laser beam. The polarization modifying device is configured for incorporation into a laser processing system that produces the laser beam received by the polarization modifying device and that focuses the laser beam modified by the polarization modifying device onto a workpiece that includes the structure to be processed by the laser beam.

Abstract: A limited rotation torque motor is disclosed including a rotor with at least one pair of magnetic poles and a stator with at least one pair of stator coils. Each stator coil includes a plurality of layers of interconnected flexible circuit composites. Each flexible circuit composite includes a dielectric material and a patterned conductive material on one side of said dielectric material.

Abstract: A high-speed precision positioning apparatus has a stage supported by a platen. The stage is driven by a plurality of drive motors that are co-planar with the stage and arranged symmetrically around the stage. The drive motors apply drive forces directly to the stage without any mechanical contact to the stage. The drive forces impart planar motion to the stage in at least three degrees of freedom of motion. In the remaining three degrees of freedom the motion is constrained by a plurality of fluid bearings that operate between the stage and the platen. The drive motors are configured as magnets, attached to the stage, moving in a gap formed in-between top and bottom stationary coils. Integral force cancellation is implemented by a force cancellation system that applies cancellation forces to the stage. The cancellation forces, which are co-planar with a center of gravity of the stage and any components that move with the stage, cancel forces generated by planar motion of the stage.

Abstract: A drinker for a watering system of a poultry house comprising a housing having a side wall, a top, and a bottom defining a valve chamber having an inner surface and a floor. A valve seat is formed in the chamber above the outlet port; and a valve member received within the chamber to be movable between a first closed position and a second position opened position. A trigger pin passes through the outlet and has a head with a cavity in the top surface. The cavity has a shape different from the shape of the valve member. The drinker elements are sized such that the distance between the valve seat and the chamber floor is greater than the height of the pin head. Additionally, the valve member is sized such that when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member is does not contact the pin head.

Abstract: A diaphragm operated water pressure regulator switchable between an operating mode and a flushing mode by changing the relative positions of the water inlet port and the valve in the regulator. By moving the port to a position in which the valve cannot close the inlet port, water at full line pressure enters the watering system to flush the system. A mounting bracket is also disclosed which independently suspends the regulator and a support pipe from a cable in the poultry house such that the regulator can be removed from the watering system without affecting the support pipe.

Abstract: A diaphragm operated water pressure regulator switchable between an operating mode and a flushing mode by changing the relative positions of the water inlet port and the valve in the regulator. By moving the port to a position in which the valve cannot close the inlet port, water at full line pressure enters the watering system to flush the system. A mounting bracket is also disclosed which independently suspends the regulator and a support pipe from a cable in the poultry house such that the regulator can be removed from the watering system without affecting the support pipe.

Abstract: A wall panel system of the present invention includes a plurality of inter-connecting tongue-and-groove panels which are framed by top, bottom, and side channel members to form walls which may be easily erected and taken down. The bottom channel member has a back leg, a front leg, and a bottom surface extending between the back and front legs. The top channel member can either be an integral, one-piece assembly or a two-piece assembly. In the one piece assembly, the top channel member is substantially similar to the bottom channel member. The two piece top channel member includes a fixed member and a locking leg mountable to the fixed member. The fixed member includes a back leg, an upper surface, and a rearwardly facing groove in the upper surface. The locking leg includes a finger which is received in the groove. The locking leg can have either a single panel or have or a pair of spaced apart arms.

Abstract: A poultry feeder which includes a mechanism for automatically adjusting the size of the opening from the feeder's drop tube to the feeder pan so as to permit the feed pan to be flooded with feed as young chicks are introduced into a poultry house and then, as the chicks grow, to automatically reduce the amount of feed introduced into the pan. The feeder includes a feed level controller movable relative to the feeder's drop tube to be moveable axially relative to the drop tube and feeder pan. The drop tube includes a plurality of support members (fins) pivotally mounted to the drop tube body and which extend from the body outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling grain flow within a column of a grain dryer is disclosed. The grain dryer includes a metering roll positioned to contact grain advancing out of a discharge opening of the column. The grain dryer further includes a regulator member which is movable between a flow regulating position and a trash escape position. The regulator member contacts either the metering roll, or grain supported by the metering roll when the regulator member is positioned in the flow regulating position. The regulator member is spaced from the metering roll by a distance sufficient to enable a trash object to advance between the regulator member and the metering roll when the regulator is positioned in the trash escape position. A method of controlling grain flow within a column of a grain dryer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A poultry feeder which includes a mechanism for automatically adjusting the size of the opening from the feeder's drop tube to the feeder pan so as to permit the feed pan to be flooded with feed as young chicks are introduced into a poultry house and then, as the chicks grow, to automatically reduce the amount of feed introduced into the pan. The feeder includes a feed level controller movable relative to the feeder's drop tube to be moveable axially relative to the drop tube and feeder pan. The drop tube includes a plurality of support members (fins) pivotally mounted to the drop tube body and which extend from the body outlet.

Abstract: A hog feeder with an adjustable gate mechanism is disclosed which comprises a feed hopper for receiving and storing a supply of flowable, dry hog feed to be gravity dispensed from discharge openings in the lower longitudinal portions of the hopper, for consumption by hogs over a length of time. The flow of hog feed from the discharge openings is controlled by a pair of slideable gates, each having a cam actuated adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a number of receiving notches on each side of the hopper corresponding to a filly open gate setting, a fully closed gate setting, and a plurality of intermediate gate settings. Positioning a selection lever within a desired notch shifts the corresponding slideable gate to the selected position by way of a sliding cam arrangement. The sliding cam arrangement transfers lateral motion of the selection lever into vertical motion of the slideable gate, allowing for opening and closing of the discharge openings.

Abstract: A rotary sweep scalper for cleaning grains deposited within a hopper. Grains to be processed are deposited through an upper inlet opening in the hopper and fall unto a screen located below. Those grains below a predetermined size pass through the screen to the hopper's lower discharge opening. A drive moves impeller arms located above the screen in the hopper to either force particles below a specified size through the screen or to discharge large particles through the hopper's side discharge opening. These movable impeller arms may be of different sizes and be spaced at different locations above the screen. Actual contact with the grain may be through a flexible flap attached to the lower edge of the impeller arms.

Abstract: A grain turner (101)of the present invention is adapted for use with a grain dryer having an inner dryer wall (7) and an outer dryer wall (9) spaced therefrom and defining a vertically extending grain path (11) therebetween. A grain turner (101) of the present invention is disposed within the grain path for exchanging (turning) grain from the inner portion of the grain path to the outer portion of the grain path and vice versa and for exchanging grain widthwise within the grain path. The grain turner comprises a vertical wall (109) disposed between the inner and outer dryer walls. The grain turner further has at least one pair inclined plates (119, 125) with one of the plates (119) being on the inside of the vertical wall and with the other of the inclined plates (125) being on the outside of the vertical wall. Plate (119) is inclined downwardly in a first widthwise direction and the other of the inclined plates is inclined downwardly in the opposite widthwise direction.

Abstract: A poultry feeder (1) having a drop tube or main body (7) for receiving feed from a source of feed (FC). A feed pan (5) is carried by the drop tube which receives feed for consumption by poultry. The feed pan has an outer rim (11), an outer portion spaced inwardly of the rim and an inner portion between the drop tube and the outer portion. The drop tube (7) has at least one aperture (21a-21c) therein spaced above the feed pan through which all of the feed from the drop tube is discharged for delivery to the feed pan. A first feed path (FP1) has an inlet (57a-57c) for receiving feed discharged from the at least one aperture (21a-21c) and an outlet (the open bottom of cover 33) for discharging into the inner portion of the feed pan and a second feed path (FP2) having an inlet (53a-53c) for receiving feed discharged from the at least one aperture (21a-21c) and a second outlet (55a-55c) for discharging feed into the outer portion of the feed pan.

Abstract: A drive (D) for an auger conveyor (FC) is disclosed where the auger conveyor comprises a conveyor conduit (11) and a centerless helical coil auger (15) disposed within the conduit. The auger has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of spaced, helical flights (17). The drive (D) is a drive screw (23) substantially coaxial with the auger and having a plurality of flights in face-to-face engagement with corresponding flights of the auger. A drive member (47) is in driving engagement with the drive screw with the drive screw and the drive member being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis. A power drive (27) is rotatably drives the drive screw about its longitudinal axis so as to effect movement (either axial or rotational movement) of the auger relative to the conveyor conduit. A method of driving the auger is also disclosed.

Abstract: A metering unloader (101) for unloading a fluent material from a flow path (11) is disclosed. The flow path has a fluent material outlet (27). The metering unloader comprises an unloader body (103) having an outer cylindric wall (105) and an inner cylindric wall (107) spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall with the walls defining a chamber (126) therebetween. Means (117) is provided for rotating the unloader body about a vertical axis. Outer wall (105) has a fluent material inlet opening (119) such that with the fluent material inlet opening (119) in register with the flow path fluent material outlet (27), the fluent material will flow by gravity through the fluent material inlet opening (119) in the outer wall into the chamber (126). The inner wall (107) has a fluent material outlet opening (127) therein such that the fluent material in the chamber (126) will flow by gravity from the chamber to a fluent material discharge outlet (15).

Abstract: A poultry feeder conveyor control unit (63) of the present invention comprises a drop feeder adapted to be attached to an overhead feed conveyor (5). The feed conveyor has a conveyor element (11) moveable within a feed conduit (9) for conveying poultry feed in axial direction of the conveyor conduit, and a plurality of other poultry feeders (7) spaced at intervals along the path of the conveyor conduit. The control unit is positioned at a desired location along the length of the conveyor conduit. The control unit has an electric motor (75) having an output shaft (77) rotatable driven by the motor, and a paddle (79) carried by the output shaft. The motor is mounted within the control unit such that upon the feed in the feeder tube attaining a predetermined level, the paddle will engage the feed with the latter stopping rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A poultry feeder (10) comprising a generally vertically disposed feed tube (18) adapted to be installed on a generally horizontal feed conveyor tube (14) for receiving feed from the feed conveyor tube. The feed tube has an upper portion (26) fixed with respect to the feed conveyor tube and a lower portion (27) movable axially with respect to the upper portion between an extended position (as shown in FIG. 5) and a collapsed position (FIG. 6). A feed pan (23) is disposed below the bottom end of the feed tube for receiving feed.