Abstract: A combine having a single rotor extending longitudinally for axial feed and discharge having a concave directly beneath the rotor and a separation grate along one side of the rotor adjacent the peripheral path thereof for discharge into a space at one side of the threshing compartment which is formed by laterally offsetting the axis of the rotor from the central axis of the compartment, and a deflector directs the material from said space substantially centrally onto a grain receiving member below the concave and extending between opposite sides of the threshing compartment to prevent overloading of one side of said compartment as in conventional single axial rotor type combines.

Abstract: The feeding system for an axial flow rotary combine in which the separator is disposed generally fore-and-aft includes a dual auger feeder house in which a pair of side-by-side upwardly and rearwardly inclined augers are driven in such directions that a major part of the crop material handled is conveyed in a concentrated high speed stream between the augers and delivered in undershot fashion to be engaged by a separator infeed rotor for transfer downstream to a coaxial threshing section. In the preferred embodiment the infeed rotor and its housing are generally frusto-conical in form, the rotor including a frusto-conical core carrying four equally spaced axially extending tapered feed bars, each bar having a ramp-like cross section, with the rotationally leading edge of the ramp radially closer to the rotor axis than the trailing edge.

Abstract: A farrowing crate for sows which crate is adjustable in size to accommodate different sows. Adjustability of the crate is accomplished by pivotally mounted side panels each of which has flared ends spaced different distances from the pivot. When the side panels are swung 180.degree., the interior dimensions of the crate are varied.

Abstract: The proposed invention is directed to an electrically driven and electrically controlled film viewing device including a viewing screen and a film transport means including a double reel assembly and further including means to drive the reels and also incorporating electrical control means for the drive means so as to selectively position the film with respect to the viewing screen.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a tobacco combine incorporates a single pump for driving a pair of tobacco leaf defoliators in contra rotating directions, and a pair of hydraulic motors for the take off conveyors in the same direction. Precise synchronization of the defoliator blades driven by the motors is assured by serially connecting the motors in the hydraulic circuit. A 50--50 flow divider provides equal hydraulic fluid flow to a pair of hydraulic motors, each driving portions of a first conveyor system, respectively, the fluid flows from these two motors being combined to drive a common second conveyor system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endless conveyor which has a plurality of individual conveying elements which are slidably movable to an extended position laterally of the conveying direction during a conveying run of the conveyor. When the conveyor is mounted on a harvester for harvesting the crop of a row of bushes, vines or canes, the individual elements in their extended position extend below crop dislodging means of the harvester and catch the crop and convey it to a collecting station and this avoids waste. In order to prevent the conveyor from fouling obstacles such as a plant or post during harvesting, there is a device for maintaining the linear speed of the conveyor zero relative to the ground.

Abstract: There is described a bee frame caddy useful in supporting, storing, manipulating or inspecting bee frames, which may be laden with brood and honey, thereby facilitating various beekeeping operations. The caddy comprises a holding rack, having a rectangular opening, the rack being dimensioned to receive bee frames and to permit the frames to hang within the rectangular opening; at least one upright inspection support having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having an opening dimensioned to receive a bee frame and to permit the frame to hang within the opening, the lower end of the inspection support being affixed in a substantially perpendicular fashion to the holding rack.

Abstract: An assembly of pig confinement stalls that includes a first upstanding rectangularly shaped enclosure portion having an open end, and upstanding middle wall portion dividing the first enclosure portion into first and second stall portions, each of which has an open end, an upstanding V-shaped enclosure portion for each of the first stall portions having an apex end, and an open end connected to the open end of a corresponding first stall portion to form a pair of continuous pig retaining enclosures, and a second rectangularly shaped upstanding enclosure portion that has an open end connected to the apices of the V-shaped enclosure portions to form a third continuous pig retaining enclosure.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a lateral beam frame assembly which is mounted on a mobile unit frame, and supports a vertically adjustable guide beams which in turn support a contra-rotating tobacco defoliating mechanism as well as the conveyor assembly for conveying a defoliated tobacco leaves to a common conveyor, is made laterally adjustable. The longitudinal beams are supported adjustably on the upper portions of the tractor mounting framework. A cable and winch arrangement is used for securing lateral adjustment of the beam and the rigidly mounted guide elements for supporting the vertical guide beams. In addition, an upper truss-forming cable or bar assembly is secured to the lateral beam so as to rigidify same and prevent bending moments from impairing the effective operation of the combine and harvester.

Abstract: Apparatus and process is provided in which a blast of air is directed into the tree to be harvested from the circumference of a circle which is apposed to the foliage expanse of the tree and is caused to move about the circumference of the circle as a rotating unit which rotates about the center of the circle. A plurality of nozzles may be arranged around the circumference of the circle and the blast shifted from one nozzle to the adjacent nozzle in succession alternatively. A nozzle delivering a continuous blast of air is mounted to rotate about the circumference of the circle. The rotating units are mounted on a mobile base so that they can be drawn horizontally along a row of trees.

Abstract: A pigeon trap including a two-level walkway and a locking mechanism barring entry of animals such as house cats and other predatory quadrupeds of comparable size. The upper level walkway is or is covered by a hinged deck plate which remains in a tilted, off-horizontal position as long as there is no weight on it, and in this position it exerts an upward force on one end of a pivoted balance beam through a rod connecting the two members. This causes the opposed end of the balance beam to be depressed, thereby freeing the lower ends of the pivotally mounted bobs which would otherwise be locked in place by the balance beam. In this position of the members, a pigeon standing on the lower level walkway can push the bobs out of his way and fly into the loft.

Abstract: In a crop harvesting and threshing machine of the type utilizing axial flow threshing and separation there is provided about the upper portions of the rotor casing axial flow inhibiting members rearwardly of axial flow facilitating members. The inhibiting members are arranged in a reverse pattern to the facilitating members so that crop material transported axially about the threshing and separating rotors is decelerated and deflected into a discharge opening without passing further rearwardly, thus preventing the enwrapping of crop material about the rotatable shafts of the rotor.

Abstract: A magnetic pin setter useful in constructing replicas of teeth for production of crowns and bridges. The device employs two support rods mounted on a base, each supporting a horizontal plate at its upper extremity. Mounted on the base between the two support rods is an adjustable work table. In producing castings for restoration work including crowns and bridges, dowel pins must be positioned for the casting and removal of individual tooth models to be restored. Small horseshoe magnets are magnetically attached to the horizontal plates and the second magnet interconnected to the first magnet holds a vertical support rod in position. The rods retain the dowel pins in position in the center of the individual teeth for the casting process.

Abstract: A toy blood pressure monitoring device for simulating the blood pressure monitoring instrument used by doctors. The device comprises a housing having a diaphragm on one side and a pressure indicating scale on the other side. A fan is mounted for rotation within the housing and has a pointer coupled to the fan and coacting with the scale. A manually squeezable air impelling bulb is coupled to the housing and adapted when squeezed to substantially simultaneously direct a pulse of air against the fan and diaphragm. The air pulse imparts a rotative movement to the pointer over the pressure reading scale to simulate a blood pressure reading. The pulse of air further deflects the diaphragm which if held against a person's arm simulates the person's heart pulse beat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for harvesting tobacco wherein the apparatus includes a tobacco harvester having a stalk cutting head comprised of two sets of generally vertically spaced circular saw blades disposed in side-by-side relationship that are adapted during harvesting to cut standing tobacco stalks into relatively short stalk sections. Tobacco leaf material extending from the cut stalk sections remain generally intact with the cut stalk sections such that during harvest the tobacco crop material is harvested in a manner such that the respective stalk sections and tobacco leaf material are harvested together in one operation.

Abstract: A roll opening device is provided for a hay harvesting machine of the type having a wheel supported main frame and a laterally elongated crop harvesting header mounted to the frame by pivotal linkage, the header having a fixed lower conditioning roll and an upper roll mounted on lever arms pivoted on said header and biased by tension spring to an operating position adjacent the lower roll. A toggle link is pivotally mounted to the header at each end of the roll adjacent the roll lever arms and is connected thereto. Tensile members interconnect the free ends of the toggle links with the frame so that when the header is raised to the transport position, the tensile members open the rolls against the force of the tensioning springs.

Abstract: Harvesting apparatus for harvesting fruit, berries, and similar produce is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of harvesting fingers which are subjected to rotational and vibrational movement by shaker heads. The shaker heads are in assemblies of at least two shaker heads, and each shaker head of a given assembly is coupled to produce the same rotational and vibrational movement of each head. The shaker heads are moveable transverse to a longitudinal horizontal axis of the harvesting apparatus, and are pivotable, so that they can conform to the shape of bushes bearing the desired fruits, berries or other produce.

Abstract: An improved compact repeating slide viewer of the type having two compartments, one for storing a stack of slides and the other for viewing individual slides, a longitudinally shiftable slide carriage feeds the topmost slide of a stack to the viewing compartment and then returns the viewed slide to the bottom of the stack with the slide carriage retracting a spring actuated tongue which acts upon the stack until the viewed slide is returned to the bottom of the stack and then releases the tongue to elevate the stack for feeding of the next topmost slide. The viewer also includes means for easily loading and unloading slides from the stack or from the viewing compartment, and is constructed to be easily manufactured from molded plastic parts.

Abstract: A two-row crop harvester for carrots, beets, etc. has a wheeled chassis with a forward cab disposed to one side of a pair of lifter frame assemblies. Each lifter frame assembly has a main component with a forwardly gathering element rigidly connected to a rearward mounting element. The rear end of the mounting element is pivotally mounted on a rocking frame, the lower end of which is pivoted about a horizontal axis on the main frame of the harvester. The main component of each lifter frame assembly mounts a relatively movable gathering component. The topping bar units have both their driven and idler ends supported by the main component of the lifter frame assembly. The rear drive pulleys for the gathering belts are chain driven from the drive shafts of the topping units and the latter are individually driven by hydraulic motors and articulated shafts with the motors geared together so that the topping bar units are synchronized.

Abstract: A dental crown or bridge remover comprising crown or bridge gripping means, and a power actuated linear ram attached thereto, having a drive means arranged to permit gentle and gradual dislodgement or separation of the crown or bridge from the underlying tooth system without causing damage.