Abstract: A road traffic network wherein the fundamental "building block" is an endless loop of one way traffic flow, a second endless loop of one-way traffic flow completely surrounded by the first endless loop and having traffic flow opposite in direction to the traffic flow direction of the first loop and an interconnecting traffic flow roadway extending between the two loops. The interconnecting roadway merges the traffic seeking to transfer between the two loops such that no vehicle crossovers or intersections are encountered. A road traffic network can be made from a plurality of interconnected "building blocks" or traffic flow systems, each such system being interconnected with either a single two-way roadway or two one-way roadways which, again, allow vehicle transfers between portions of the systems without crossovers or intersections.

Abstract: A thrashing system for a vegetable harvester including a plurality of tines on an oscillating shaker head which engage vines and shake the fruit such as cucumbers, from the vines. The fruit is collected on a cross conveyor and the vines are pulled through at least one pair of pinch rolls for discharge on the ground. A full width blower directs high pressure air across the cross conveyor to lift and spread the vines allowing disconnected fruit to fall therethrough onto the cross conveyor.

Abstract: As an article of manufacture, a construction element typically in a square configuration for its exposed face, or multiples thereof, suitable as a load bearing or decorative member or a facing or tile for a wall, floor, ceiling and the like, for components for furniture, room dividers, as packaging components, toys, jewelry, sculpture and sculpture components and the like, wherein at least one face of the element has a combination of five exposed surfaces, which surfaces interrelate and give varied visual effects by the interplay of light with the five exposed surfaces.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the slope of a screed supported by support arms wherein the screed is moved over a distance includes a first slope sensor which develops a first sensor signal representing the slope of the screed, a second slope sensor which develops a second sensor signal representing the slope of the support arms and a first summer which sums the first sensor signal and command signal indicative of a particular screed slope to develop a first error signal. An integrator integrates the error signal over distance to develop an integrated first error signal. A second summer sums the integrated first error signal with the second sensor signal to develop a second error signal which is utilized to control actuators which adjust the slope of the support arms.

Abstract: A mower-mounted grass catcher and reel lawn mower assembly and method of making same. The catcher has two spaced-apart bores which receive two pins on the mower for mounting the catcher in a cantilever manner and on the mower. The bores are strengthened and are located in the opposite sides of the catcher which also has two handles for maneuvering the catcher. The upper panel and the lower panel of the catcher, adjacent the opening for the clippings, are reinforced with ribbing. The catcher is molded for extra-strength in the area defining the bores.

Abstract: For preventing very small amplitude vibrations of the rod in a tensioner during high speed movement of a belt to be tensioned by the tensioner, a tube which is connected to a plunger which moves together with the rod is overlapped with a stationary member so as to define an annular clearance therebetween in an operating chamber of the tensioner. By filling an operating fluid in the clearance, shear strain is generated upon high speed movement of the plunger, which resists movement of the plunger.

Abstract: The blade assembly comprises a circular rotor body with an axial bore for attachment to a motor shaft of a lawn mower and a plurality of spaced cutting elements are attachable adjacent the rim of the body. The rotor body has a plurality of radially elongated passageways near the rim wherein cutting elements, formed as hook members, are positioned. The cutting elements have a radially extending leg for cutting grass and are generally pivotable when so mounted. The passageways are formed with respect to the dimensions of the cutting element to allow limited movement in the vertical direction. Another plurality of passageways are circular in shape and are formed very close to the rotary body rim to allow for greater vertical movement of the cutting elements installed therein to enhance its passage over uncuttable obstacles encountered in operation and thereby reduce the damage done to the cutting element.

Abstract: A ducted cover grass collection system for a lawn mower includes a hopper with a front end having an inlet, a rear end having an outlet and an open upper end, a deflector hood located at the front end to partially cover the open upper end, and a lid covering the remainder of the open upper end, the lid having a duct open at a front end and having a rear end in communication with the outlet so that a flow of clippings and air is introduced through the inlet and projected generally horizontally toward the rear end of the hopper, so that the clippings settle to the bottom of the hopper, after which the air is directed back toward the deflector hood, through the duct and is discharged via the outlet. An air flow indicator located in the hopper lid pivots when the air flow in the duct decreases, signaling that the hopper is filled with clippings.

Abstract: A motorized rotary cement trowel is provided with a detachable trowel blade with a detachable trailing edge having a variety of forms of trailing-edge configurations and optional quick-disconnect means for attachment of the detachable trailing edge to the cement-trowel blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pad which supports a utility access conduit in a roadway and permits relative movement between the conduit and the roadway without damaging the seal between them and which supports vehicular traffic for a time comparable to the life of the roadway itself, without the occurrence of any dipping in the vicinity of the access conduit. This is accomplished with a rectangular block of rubber or similar compressibly resilient elastomeric material which has an opening passing through it that snugly engages the access conduit. The invention also relates to a method for installing the pad in either a new or existing roadway.

Abstract: A windrowing rotor 1 is driven in rotation and equipped with tools to windrow plants that are on the ground. A cover 26 is jointed on a beam 2 by a hinge pin 33 that is at least approximately horizontal and that is at least approximately perpendicular to the beam 2. A central support pin 7 is housed in a bore 25 in the cover 26 so as to be able to turn during work in relation to the hinge pin 33 together with a control cam 16, a frame 18, and small wheels 19, 20, and 21.

Abstract: A multi-row cotton harvester machine having a plurality of harvesting units and a system for individually mounting the harvesting units at a front end of the cotton harvester. The mounting system includes a tool bar which is adapted for vertical movement with respect to the frame of the harvesting machine. The harvesting units are individually connected to the tool bar in a manner allowing the harvesting units to be readily moved relative to each other between a first position wherein the units are arranged to effect narrow row cotton harvesting and a second position wherein the harvesting units are further spaced apart to provide access for servicing or to effect wider row cotton harvesting operations.

Abstract: A method of conditioning forage crops utilizing a pair of counterrotating conditioning rolls mounted in a hay harvesting machine is disclosed wherein at least one of the conditioning rolls is transversely reciprocated relative to the other conditioning roll. An oscillating mechanism is provided to effect the transverse reciprocating movement of the conditioning rolls. The method of conditioning can be accomplished by a conditioning mechanism in which the entire conditioning roll is transversely reciprocated while being rotated or by a conditioning roll in which individual lobes circumferentially mounted for transverse reciprocation around the conditioning roll core effect the sliding action while being rotated.

Abstract: A dock leveler is provided having an automatically actuated barrier for preventing accidental runoff of material handling equipment from a loading dock. The leveler includes a ramp pivotally mounted on the loading dock for selected movement from a stored position wherein the exposed upper surface of the ramp is level with the platform surface of the dock. A lip is hingedly connected to the front edge portion of the ramp and when in a depending first position supports the ramp in the stored position. When in the first position, a portion of the lip protrudes above the plane of the ramp upper surface and forms a vehicle barrier. Upon the ramp being actuated from the stored position to a raised position, the lip automatically slides relative to the ramp to a depending second position whereby no portion of the lip forms a protruding vehicle barrier.

Abstract: A tool for breaking, cutting, and working solid materials includes a rearwardly extending shaft adapted to be inserted into the bore of a holder. The shaft includes an annular groove located adjacent a rearmost end thereof. A cylindrical clip is mounted on the shaft for retaining the tool within the holder. The clip includes a longitudinal slot extending longitudinally completely therethrough. A rear free end of the clip is inwardly bent into the groove of the shaft to oppose longitudinal forward movement of the shaft relative to the clip.

Abstract: A mining apparatus for the mechanized breaking-down of mineral raw materials, particularly coal, in underground mining operation includes at least one endless chain and chain wheels for the endless chain. A main drived is provided for one of the chain wheels and an auxiliary drive is provided for the other chain wheel. The main drive and the auxiliary drive each has a transmission unit including main transmission stage, initial transmission stage, coupling and drive motor. A superposed motor in the form of a controllable electric motor having small power acts in connection with a worm gear transmission on the superposed input of the superposed transmission unit. Synchronous running of the main drive and the auxiliary drive or the drive motors thereof is achieved by a unilateral drive control. This results in a uniform power and load input independently of the wear of the chain and chain wheels.

Abstract: A drive-on vehicle supporting arrangement for use with a floor anchor system includes a pair of parallel, spaced vehicle supporting treadways, each of which includes vehicle support stands secured to floor anchors to affix the support stand to the floor and clamps to connect to the undercarriage of a vehicle. Removable treadways are positioned between front and rear vehicle support stands. Additionally, a front treadway extends forwardly from the front vehicle support stand and a rear treadway extends rearwardly from the rear vehicle support stand and are supported by treadway support stands. A ramp leads to the rear treadway so that the repairman can drive a vehicle onto the treadway surface, elevate the vehicle, if necessary, by portable jacks and secure the vehicle atop the support stands. Thereafter, the treadways may be removed for clear access to the underside of the vehicle to facilitate repair.

Abstract: A tool for scribing lines in soft concrete in which the line can be impressed by a standing operator. Guides are provided on the tool to assure a proper angle of the scribed line. A grooving tool can then follow the scribed line without added guide because the line will be located and all rough aggregate in the concrete will have been moved out of the path of the grooving tool.

Abstract: An improved dry bridge kit, composed of individual bridge bays of cross-sectional U-shape and of a cross-sectionally H-shaped traversing beam, the improvement comprising that the bridge bays are composed of a central part and of two side parts, the side parts containing hollow parallelipipedic track ways, and being foldable for transport underneath the central part. When launching the bridge, first the traversing beam is assembled and launched and then the individual bridge segments are coupled together and moved over the tranversing beam. The traversing beam remains as a bridge support element.

Abstract: A rotary grain screener is disclosed in which the primary grain-advancing flighting is mounted on the internal surface of the rotary screener drum and an inner auger is mounted on a central axial drive shaft to advance the grain forward in the drum at a greater rate than is accomplished by the flighting on the internal surface of the drum. The screener drum is supported on the central drive shaft which has a support bearing on the input auger housing and the drum is further provided at the input end with two annular bearing plates which are attached to the end plate of the drum and have a close fit around the input auger housing for closure and support purposes. A single motive power source drives the drive assembly which operates both the input auger and the screener drum.