Abstract: A device adapted to be secured to the trunk of a tree, the device serving to catch the fruit from the trees and protect the fruit from animals, the device including a mesh dome having a rounded closed top and an open bottom. The open bottom defines a circumference, and a slit defines an opening to the mesh dome. The slit is perpendicular to the circumference of the open bottom. The device further includes a circular mesh dish having an outer circumference and an inner centrally located aperture. The outer circumference of the mesh dish matches the circumference of the open bottom of the mesh dome. Furthermore, means for securing are discretely positioned about the outer circumference of the mesh dish. These means for securing function to secure the outer circumference of the mesh dish to the circumference of the open bottom of the mesh dome. A foam ring is positioned within the centrally located aperture of the circular nylon mesh dish. The foam ring is adapted to be secured about the trunk of a tree.

Abstract: A powered rotary screed has a plurality of interchangeable modules of different lengths so that the power screed can accommodate a range of job applications. Additionally, the rotary screed comprises a centrally located expansion member that can be adjusted to cause an upper ridge member of the rotary screed to expand outward, thus raising a medial portion of the roller screeds so that they may be adjusted to maintain horizontal alignment. The screed is propelled by two drive tubes that are supported by drive modules and powered by hydraulic motors. The screed further comprises a two-section strike tube which is likewise powered by a hydraulic motor. An operator rides in an operator's station and controls the speed and direction of the rotary screed.

Abstract: A bouquet display apparatus includes an adjustable clamp assembly which includes a medial strut portion. A pair of clamp portions extend transversely from the medial strut portion in a first direction. An adjustable jaw member is connected to one of the clamp portions. The clamp portions are spaced apart from each other on the medial strut portion such that the clamp portions are adapted to clamp onto an edge of a table top therebetween. A bracket assembly is attached to the medial strut portion and extends from the medial strut portion in a second direction. A skirt holder assembly is attached to the medial strut portion and extends from the medial strut portion in the second direction. The bracket assembly includes a bracket holder portion attached to the medial strut portion of the adjustable clamp assembly. A flower holder assembly is adapted for removable and replaceable connection to the bracket holder portion.

Abstract: A baling press for forming bales of agricultural crop comprises an essentially horizontal longitudinal compression chamber with an intake aperture provided on its underside, a press slide which can be moved to and fro in the longitudinal direction in front of the intake aperture in the compression chamber, an intake duct which is connected to the intake aperture of the compression chamber, the section of the intake duct on the side of the compression chamber intake aperture sloping upwards, a pick-up device fitted in the vicinity of the take-up area of the intake duct and at least one intake element which projects into the intake duct through a side wall and can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the intake duct.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for installing open-ended tubular members axially into the earth by simultaneously or sequentially driving, drilling, and jetting. A drilling string assembly is located inside the tubular member, but is supported independently from the tubular member. The position of the drill bit on the lower end of the drilling string assembly relative to the lower end of the tubular member may be adjusted so as to control the rate of penetration of the tubular member into the earth.

Abstract: A prefabricated metal deck form to provide bridge deck construction and/or bridge deck replacement. The construction is simplified to both shorten construction time and to save on construction costs. The deck form, including a concrete slab is sufficient to sustain both dead loads and heavy, live loads on a bridge.

Abstract: A wellbore operation in which a downhole tool is given rotary motion without rotating the tubing string to which it is attached. A "Yankee screwdriver" type of connecting element is used to connect a downhole tool to a tubing string so that compressive forces acting on the connector as a result of relative linear movement between the connector and the tool cause the tool to rotate. A number of various types of downhole operations are possible, such as rotating a tool away from an obstruction and retrieving the upper section of a lost tubing string.

Abstract: An inclinable stairway for providing a staircase in one orientation and a ramp in another orientation comprising a pair of spaced, opposed, and upwardly extended side walls, each side wall having opposed and upwardly extended front and rear edges with an inclined edge extended upwardly from the front edge to the rear edge in a stair-step fashion; a pair of spaced, opposed and articulated upper support members, each upper support member having a lower end and an upper end with the upper end pivotally coupled to the top edge of a side wall, each upper support member comprised of a linkage of elongated bracing elements pivotally coupled end-to-end with the bracing elements in the linkage aligned along the inclined edge of an adjacent side wall to define a staircase configuration, and the bracing elements in the linkage linearly extended above an adjacent side wall from the top edge thereof to a location adjacent to the base plate to define a ramp configuration; a plurality of step members coupled to alternating

Abstract: A method of warning of the onset of pipe sticking in a rotary drilling operation using a drill string comprising: (a) monitoring the pressure of a drilling fluid being pumped through the drill string during drilling over predetermined periods of time to obtain series of pressure measurements; (b) monitoring the torque required to rotate the drill string during said periods to obtain series of torque measurements; (c) obtaining the skew (third moment) of each series of pressure measurements according to the relationship ##EQU1## wherein N is the number of pressure measurements xi in the series, xmean is the average value of the measurements in the series, and .sigma. is the standard deviation of the measurements in the series; (d) obtaining the normalized standard deviation .sigma.n of the torque measurements in each corresponding series of torque measurements according to the relationship .sigma.n=(.sigma./ymean) wherein .sigma.

Abstract: A plant tender delivers light to the foliage and water and nutrients to the roots of a plant growing in a container and embedded in an anchoring medium contained in the container. The plant tender has an armature positioned adjacent to the plant and formed with a conduit for electrical power. A reservoir is provided in physical contact with the container, armature or anchoring medium. The reservoir supplies water and nutrients to the roots. An artificial light source is supported by the armature and irradiates the foliage. A controller establishes a duty cycle of the light source and controls both the duty cycle and the delivery of water and nutrients. In certain embodiments, the positions of the plants and lights can be adjusted, and fish are grown in symbiotic relation to the plants.

Abstract: A barrier for the protection of reserved areas including at least one upper element (1) rotatably mounted relative to a lower element (6) anchored in the ground (G). An elastic return spring (18) is interposed between the upper and lower elements (1,6). The upper element (1) is adapted to be displaced to either side of an upright reference position by rotating about a horizontal pin (2) provided on the lower element (6). A releasable mechanism selectively blocks rotation of the upper element in a first direction (F2) and a non-releasable mechanism blocks rotation of the upper element in the reverse direction (F1) at the end of a limited angular deflection. The elastic return spring provides a force opposing the limited deflection in the reverse direction.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method utilizes a downhole electrolysis process implemented by means of an elongated gas generating apparatus containing an array of cascaded electrolysis cells distributed along all or part of the borehole length to be fractured. In one use of the present invention in a deep or a shallow drilled borehole, an electrical current delivered downhole converts an appropriate electrolyte to a stoichiometric mixture of combustible gases, such as, oxygen and hydrogen, which is ignited when sufficient gases have been collected to achieve the desired explosive force in the area surrounding the drilled borehole. In another use of the present invention, the gases are not ignited but rather at least one of the generated gases are delivered by pressure into the area surrounding the drilled borehole to enhance environmental remediation processes.

Abstract: A dock leveler is mounted in a pit formed in the floor of the loading dock area of a factory, warehouse or similar facility. The loading dock includes an overhead door adjacent the dock leveler. The dock leveler is retractable so that, when it is not in use, it can be stored fully within the facility inboard of the overhead door. To prevent vehicles from inadvertently falling off the end of the stored dock leveler, the dock leveler includes a raisable barrier. When raised, the barrier is located between the end of the dock leveler and the overhead door. In addition to preventing vehicles from accidentally running off the end of the dock leveler, the barrier also protects the overhead door from accidental collisions with such vehicles. When the dock leveler is in use, the barrier folds away to a position below the extendible ramp. Alternatively, the dock leveler can be non-retractable and the barrier can be raised and lowered in from of the ramp.

Abstract: A well pump sucker rod scraper arrangement that includes a sucker rod, scrapers fixed to said rod and a scraper at spaced apart positions movably mounted on said rod, between adjacent pairs of the fixed scrapers. The movable and fixed scrapers each have surfaces at respective opposite ends thereof and an outer fluted surface. The fluted surface is defined by spaced apart ribs and the ribs on the movable scraper are angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The movable scraper has a slot lengthwise thereof with a throat portion whose width is narrower than the diameter of the rod and through which the rod passes when pressing such movable scraper onto the rod. A lug on the fixed scrapers project therefrom in a direction toward an adjacent movable scraper and the lugs are so positioned so as to project into said slot of a movable scraper associated therewith as the latter approaches the fixed scraper and prior to engagement of the abutting planar end surfaces on the respective scrapers.

Abstract: A paving machine having a gate control system for maintaining a target depth of paving material on the surface to be paved. The paving machine includes a wheeled frame having a lengthwise tunnel and a conveyor for moving paving material through the tunnel. A pair of gates are provided to control the volume of paving material being conveyed from the rear of the tunnel. The position of each gate is automatically adjusted by a hydraulic cylinder, a control valve, an electro-hydraulic control system, an ultrasonic sensor assembly and a cable assembly. Each sensor assembly includes a sensor which is positioned to define a target distance between the sensor and the paving material. The target distance corresponds to the target depth for the paving material. The sensor detects the actual distance between the sensor and the paving material and produces an electrical output proportional to this actual distance.

Abstract: A portable crowd control barrier for use in sporting or entertainment events having lightweight body members formed of a resiliently deformable material and each defining an interior chamber and having slots formed in endwalls thereof to receive wooden studs such that the introduction of liquid into the interior chambers deforms the body members, clamping the walls of the slots against the studs and locking the system in place.

Abstract: An edge-of-dock leveler incorporating an inflatable lift bag. The leveler includes a frame mounted on the front face of the dock and the rear edge of a deck plate is hinged to the frame, while a lip is hinged to the forward edge of the deck plate. In the storage position, the deck plate is generally horizontal while the lip hangs downwardly in a pendant position. The frame includes a fixed pressure member and a movable pressure member is hinged to an edge of the fixed pressure member. A link interconnects the movable pressure member with the deck plate. An inflatable, flexible bag is located between the pressure members and by inflating the bag, the deck plate is pivoted from the horizontal position to the substantially vertical position. By deflating the bag, the deck plate will descend by gravity and the forward edge of the lip will move in a generally curved path into engagement with the bed of a truck parked in front of the loading dock.

Abstract: A floral bouquet holder is provided which may be removably secured to the edge of a table. The holder includes a tube which is mounted to a bracket. The bracket is formed so that the holder may be mounted to tables of various widths. The holder may include an inner tube which is vertically slidable in the tube to which the bracket is secured. The bracket tube includes a stop screw which may be tightened against the inner tube to selectively position the inner tube vertically with respect to the bracket tube.

Abstract: A fluid powered stepping motor is disclosed for connecting to a pipe string to rotate a tool relative to the pipe string by raising and lowering the pressure in the pipe string. The motor includes a housing, the lower end of which is connected to the tool. A mandrel is connected to the pipe string and extends into the upper end of the housing to support the housing for rotation relative to the mandrel. A passageway extends longitudinally through the mandrel in fluid communication with the pipe string. A piston is located in and closes the passageway so that the piston will move downwardly in the passageway in response to fluid pressure in the passageway acting on the piston. Resilient spring resists the downward movement of the piston in the passageway, and cam members rotate the housing an incremental distance when the piston moves downwardly in the passageway.

Abstract: A method of tensioning casing between a subsea well and a surface wellhead employs an adjustment sub. The adjustment sub has upper and lower portions connected together by a threaded section. The running tool locates within the adjacent sub and is employed to secure the lower end of the casing to a tieback latch within the subsea housing. Continued rotation shears out a lower portion of the running tool, causing the threaded section to rotate relative to at least one of the other portions. Rotation of the threaded section brings a hanger on the upper sub portion downward into engagement with a load shoulder in the surface housing.