Abstract: A farrowing apparatus intended to prevent piglets from being crushed by their mother sow in which two adjacent chambers are provided for the piglets and the sow respectively. The sow is so confined that she may either stand up or lie down on her side in a suckling position. An opening is provided between the chambers so that the piglets can reach the sow when she is lying down. The opening is adapted to be closed by a gate normally biased to a closed position. A pivotally mounted lever contacts the gate and projects into the sow's compartment and extends beneath the sow so that when she lies down, the lever will be depressed to force the gate to an open position, thus permitting access of the piglets to the sow's chamber to nurse, but should the sow subsequently stand, the lever automatically moves to its upper position thus permitting the gate to quickly close.

Abstract: This invention is a filtration and aeration apparatus which comprises (a) an elongated tubular member which is closed at its lower end, open at the opposite end, and provided at its lower portion with a plurality of passages which extend through the longitudinal wall of the tubular member and (b) an air delivery means for supplying air to the interior of said tubular member at a point at or slightly below the lowermost level of said passages so that the air is discharged parallel to the length of said tubular member in the interior of said tubular member. Another aspect of this invention is a unique air delivery means which comprises an air tube connected to and extending into a chamber designed to allow air to escape from said chamber through passages in the chamber walls so that the air is discharged through said chamber wall passages in a direction opposite from the direction said air is delivered to said chamber through said air tube.

Abstract: A vacuum package containing a single dose of the material to be dispensed is held in a frame so that it can be cut open by a spring-loaded sliding blade. The blade is held off the package against the force of the spring by a timer, which is an arrangement of a metal shear pin in contact with another metal of lower electrode potential. Immersion of the timer in an electrolyte such as sea water initiates galvanic action which causes the shear pin to corrode to failure close to a predetermined time.

Abstract: A mower with two pairs of counterrotating cutting disks has a frame on which two yokes are mounted for independent swinging about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel, each yoke carrying a pair of coacting horizontal conditioning rollers which in a working position lie in the wake of a respective disk pair to gather and press the mown crop coming from these disks. The conditioning rollers are driven from a pair of ancillary shafts on the machine frame, operatively linked with the disk drive, through extensible and universally jointed transmission shafts enabling each yoke to be separately swung into a retracted position.

Abstract: On both heels of a racing plate a boss is formed having a top surface lying substantially flush with the top surface of the shoe, and an upwardly facing opening including a shallow recess and a mortise extending completely through the shoe is formed in each boss for receiving an insert. The insert formed of abrasion resistant material has a capital which lies in the recess, and a tenon which slides snuggly into the mortise and is held in place by a resilient O-ring. The insert capital supports the side walls of the recess and the recess walls exclude dirt from wedging between the capital and recess floor and lifting out the insert. A calk is made by forming a cleat on the insert capital; without a cleat, the insert is a wear plate whose top surface is flush with the top surface of the boss, providing a zone of increased wear resistance to decrease the wear of the heels.

Abstract: An agricultural crop harvester's feeding and gathering units are driven by a power source on the harvester through a sheave assembly journaled on a countershaft mounted towards the rear of the feeding unit. Power is then transmitted by a variable ratio V-belt drive to a speed reducing and direction reversing planetary gear unit mounted forwardly on the feeding unit and finally to the gathering and feeding mechanisms by drives of conventional design. In the variable ratio V-belt drive, the effective diameter of a split sheave output portion of the countershaft sheave assembly is selectively adjusted hydraulically while, in inverse response, the effective diameter of a spring loaded variable driven split sheave, integral with the planetary gear unit, adjusts automatically. In addition, the driven sheave is provided with a coaxial cam arrangement responsive to changes in torque transmitted so that its effective diameter also adjusts automatically to provide appropriate belt tension.

Abstract: An automatic sorting device for livestock comprises a chute through which animals are urged, and includes a first, open end, and a second end with two passageways therein. Each of the passageways leads to a separate livestock pen area. A pair of gates are operably connected with the device, and each selectively closes and opens one of the passageways. A weight sensitive mechanism is operably connected with the chute, whereby one of the gates is opened in response to an underweight animal walking through the chute, and the other gate is opened in response to a marketweight animal walking through the chute, thereby automatically inducing sorting the livestock by weight into the separate pens.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating vegetables from their shells is characterized by a cylindrical basket element defining a volume in which raw, unshelled vegetables are received. Disposed within the basket is a plurality of arcuate segments. The leading edge of each segment projects radially inwardly into the radially outer regions of the basket volume to define a gap between the edge of the segment and the basket element. Vegetables to be shelled are introduced into the basket volume and agitated to cause the vegetables to be ejected from their shells. The vegetables and the empty shells collect toward the radially outer regions of the basket volume. A strainer element is disposed in the gap between the leading edges of each of the arcuate segments and the basket. The strainer is sized to permit only shelled vegetables to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An improved fishing line sinker which contains at least two additional passages forming passages inclined downwardly in the body of the sinker in addition to the loop passages for attaching the sinker to a fishing line. The two additional passages located in the conventional fishing line sinker provide a means for threading the fishing leader line through said sinker body and thereby provide a positioning location of safety for a fishing hook normally attached to the one end on the fishing line leader as the hook end of the fishing hook is placed into one or more of the passages. In another embodiment, a cylindrically shaped fishing line sinker containing at least three passages is provided for threading of the fishing leader line to said cylindrical sinker, said cylindrical sinker being made of conventional nonbuoyant material which is plated with chrome or nickel to serve as a jigger in addition to being a sinker; a useful embodiment for particular kinds of fishing.

Abstract: An adapter for use with rotary crop shredders and with a vehicle for towing the shredders. The resulting shredder apparatus is described as having a center shredder, directly behind the vehicle and shredders on each side of the center one. A center coupling assembly makes connections to the towing vehicle and to the center shredder. Extending from the center coupling assembly to each side shredder is a beam. A side coupling assembly connects each side shredder to the corresponding beam. The positions of the side shredders along the beams can be adjusted for best alignment with planted crop rows. The coupling assemblies, by providing considerable freedom of motion for the shredders, enable them to run over irregular ground. At the same time, means have been provided which permit the shredders to be raised for transport to and from a field.

Abstract: A mulching type of lawn mower including a mower housing and a cutter blade therein and with vertically adjustable wheels on the housing. A comb member with a drag flap or panel is attached to the housing at the rear thereof and extends downwardly toward the ground in two sections, with the forward one of the two sections being shorter than the rearward one, and with the two sections or panels terminating in lower edges which brush the cut grass clippings and thereby comb them into the turf.

Abstract: A gated, cage-like enclosure device adapted to receive, confine and quickly release a steer or a calf and especially constructed for use in the performance of certain rodeo contests, such as, by way of example, those known as bulldogging, steer-roping, and calf-roping. The enclosure device has an improved lever and link mechanism for readily opening and closing the exit gates and holding the exit gates locked when in closed position. The enclosure device also has adjustable side walls for accommodating animals of different sizes and in addition means for operating an entrance gate with greater ease than has been possible with prior art devices.

Abstract: To prevent conception of dogs, cats and other quadruped female animals, a barrier is provided consisting of an apron, preferably fabricated of a single piece of material plus straps to secure the apron in position. The device has a first aperture for the tail of the animal and has an enlarged open portion permitting defecation. A second aperture is formed providing two straps which extend through the crotch and between the straps is an apron-like flap, which is preferably weighted to hang down over the vulva to prevent penetration by the male but sufficiently flexible not to interfere with urination. The end of the device near the first aperture extends across the back of the animal in front of the tail and has first snap elements, preferably two female snaps. The opposite end of the device has a hem for an elastic strap and can be folded to shorten the overall length to accommodate smaller animals.

Abstract: A fishing rod and handle are disclosed in which there is no twisting of the rod in the fisherman's hand while handling a large fish; no twisting of the eyes of the rod; longer, smoother, and more accurate casts can be made; and in which friction and line wear are reduced. The fishing rod and handle comprise a rod, the handle having a lower portion and an upwardly extending forward portion, means for securing a reel of fishing line to the lower portion, means for securing the rod to the upper end of the forward portion, and the upwardly extending forward portion having an opening therethrough below the rod. Downwardly extending eyes are secured to the rod and spaced along its length and adjacent its tip, so that the fishing line extends from the reel, through the opening and through the eyes below the rod in a substantially straight line.

Abstract: Starting bar apparatus for a starting gate structure and including a starting bar in one or more section extending across the stalls of the gate structure at ground level and adjacent the rear ends of the stall. A plurality of downwardly-inclined rigid links are swingably connected at upper ends to the gate structure and swingably connected at lower ends to the starting bar. These links are inclined forwardly in the direction of the forward ends of the stalls so that when the bar is engaged by the hooves of horses starting out of the stalls, the links force the bar firmly into the ground so that it does not give or slip rearwardly relative to the horses.

Abstract: Food is automatically and periodically dispensed to an aquarium over long periods of time by means of a pivotally mounted arm which has a shallow food containing bowl on one end and which operates directly responsive to evaporation of liquid from a liquid containing cup on the opposite end. A supply of food is placed in the shallow bowl which extends over the surface of the aquarium water. A prescribed volume of water or other liquid having an established rate of evaporation is placed in the liquid containing cup to balance the reciprocating arm by weight. Additional water or liquid in an amount known to evaporate in a given period of time is then added to the liquid already in the cup. As the measured liquid evaporates the food containing bowl will begin to tilt downwardly after an initial period and the food will spill into the aquarium at a preselected time determined by the rate of liquid evaporation.

Abstract: An automatic livestock waterer having a concrete housing. Formed within the upper portion of the housing is a trough which is adapted to hold water. A well spaced away from said trough is also formed within said housing. A float control element for regulating the water level in the trough is coupled to a plumbing element mounted in said well, and which is connected to the water source, providing a conduit for the water from the water source to the float. The housing contains a service aperture adjacent to the well for servicing the control elements and plumbing elements. A hood extends over and around the float and associated heating element.

Abstract: A shipping cage for animals having secured to an interior wall a receptacle containing a disposable bag of sterile water. A demand feeding valve having a piercing point is inserted into the bag through the wall of the receptacle and has intermediate integral retaining flanges on the valve which secure it to said wall.

Abstract: Fly ash, bottom ash and/or boiler slag are used as animal litters and particularly as cat litters. These materials exhibit remarkable absorbent and deodorizing capabilities and their low cost makes them a commercially more attractive substitute for Fuller's earth and other currently available cat litter compositions. These materials are also effective when used in admixture with Fuller's earth or other known cat litters.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic harvesting of fruit such as olives, nuts, almonds and/or the like, including a vibrating device provided with a pair of driven wheels with eccentric masses and driving pulleys adapted to rotate independently the wheels. The pulleys are actuated by means of a pair of substantially vertically opposed hydraulic motors fixed to the frame of the apparatus. The pulleys cooperate operatively with said driven wheels to produce vibrations of a frequency variable through an angle of substantially 360.degree.. Fixing articulated means for the jaw members act to tighten and shake the trunk of a tree and provide an autocentering couple. A catching member is associated to the jaws.