Abstract: A conveyor for a loin puller machine has a plurality of rigid belly slats and chine slats to support the carcass which is carried past knives or blades on the machine for skinning, trimming, and cutting the meat carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are attached to chains extending around a drive roller and an idler roller to form an endless loop. The belly slats have a flat upper surface and the chine slats have a curved upper surface corresponding to the belly portion and chain portion of the carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are spaced apart from one another to define a gap through which the cutting blades of the machine extend.

Abstract: A loin puller machine is provided with a scribe saw assembly that longitudinally aligns the scribe saw blade with the actuator for raising and lowering the blade. By positioning the blade directly in front of the actuator, the actuator forces are centrally aligned with the blade so as to reduce binding and bearing wear. The alignment of the blade minimizes maintenance and increases productivity and profitability.

Abstract: A loin puller machine includes a frame with the conveyor mounted on the frame for carrying loin carcasses past a series of cutting blades. A caterpillar drive assembly is mounted on the frame adjacent the conveyor to engage the carcass for movement past the blades. The caterpillar drive assembly includes a pair of sprockets and a chain trained about the sprockets, and a hydraulic motor operatively connected to one of the sprockets so as to rotate the sprockets and chain. The motor is positioned below the sprockets and chains to preclude accidental dripping of hydraulic fluid onto the sprockets, chain, or loin carcass.

Abstract: A loin puller machine includes a frame, a conveyor, and a series of blades, including a Z blade, a J blade, and a trim blade. A roller assembly is mounted to the frame and includes an arm with a roller on the lower end. The roller arm is spring biased. The roller engages the carcass and applies a downward force on the carcass directly over the J blade cutting edge so as to provide more accurate and consistent cutting of fatback from the loin portion for increased yield and profitability.

Abstract: A loin puller machine is provided with a scribe saw assembly that longitudinally aligns the scribe saw blade with the actuator for raising and lowering the blade. By positioning the blade directly in front of the actuator, the actuator forces are centrally aligned with the blade so as to reduce binding and bearing wear. The alignment of the blade minimizes maintenance and increases productivity and profitability.

Abstract: A conveyor for a loin puller machine has a plurality of rigid belly slats and chine slats to support the carcass which is carried past knives or blades on the machine for skinning, trimming, and cutting the meat carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are attached to chains extending around a drive roller and an idler roller to form an endless loop. The belly slats have a flat upper surface and the chine slats have a curved upper surface corresponding to the belly portion and chain portion of the carcass. The belly slats and chine slats are spaced apart from one another to define a gap through which the cutting blades of the machine extend.

Abstract: A knife blade for a loin puller machine to cut pork carcasses includes an elongated member with opposite upper and lower mounting ends to mount the blade to the machine. The mounting ends are offset with respect to one another, with a cutting edge extending angularly between the opposite mounting ends. Angular orientation of the cutting edge causes the cutting edge to enter the meat sequentially between the opposite ends of the cutting edge, thereby providing a cleaner cut with improved yield and less blade wear when the carcass is not firm.

Abstract: The problem of lost circulation is pertinent to the oil industry. To prevent fluid loss, a lost circulation material (LCM), or more generally, a plugging material, can be used to effectively plug the fractures in the rock formation. If the fractures are in the production zone, it is also ideal to unplug them when the drilling operation is complete. Therefore, a material engineered to degrade after a desired period would be useful. In examples, a plugging material has been developed by gelling an oil-based fluid using a low molecular weight gelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS). DBS gels are robust and show plugging behavior. DBS is shown to chemically degrade in presence of an acid. Hence, a self-degrading gel can be synthesized by incorporating an acid into the system. Further, by varying the type and concentration of the acid, the degradation time of the gel can be controlled.

Abstract: The problem of lost circulation is pertinent to the oil industry. To prevent fluid loss, a lost circulation material (LCM), or more generally, a plugging material, can be used to effectively plug the fractures in the rock formation. If the fractures are in the production zone, it is also ideal to unplug them when the drilling operation is complete. Therefore, a material engineered to degrade after a desired period would be useful. In examples, a plugging material has been developed by gelling an oil-based fluid using a low molecular weight gelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS). DBS gels are robust and show plugging behavior. DBS is shown to chemically degrade in presence of an acid. Hence, a self-degrading gel can be synthesized by incorporating an acid into the system. Further, by varying the type and concentration of the acid, the degradation time of the gel can be controlled.

Abstract: The problem of lost circulation is pertinent to the oil industry. To prevent fluid loss, a lost circulation material (LCM), or more generally, a plugging material, can be used to effectively plug the fractures in the rock formation. If the fractures are in the production zone, it is also ideal to unplug them when the drilling operation is complete. Therefore, a material engineered to degrade after a desired period would be useful. In examples, a plugging material has been developed by gelling an oil-based fluid using a low molecular weight gelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS). DBS gels are robust and show plugging behavior. DBS is shown to chemically degrade in presence of an acid. Hence, a self-degrading gel can be synthesized by incorporating an acid into the system. Further, by varying the type and concentration of the acid, the degradation time of the gel can be controlled.

Abstract: A scribe saw assembly is provided for a loin puller and has substantially reduced wear and increased life of the assembly components. A pinion assembly includes a double keyway and opposing cutouts on the pinion shaft, with dual needle bearings. A bevel gear assembly includes pins for holding the scribe saw blade and dual bearings on the bevel gear shaft to eliminate shaft flex and blade wear. The standard is mounted to the motor housing with load bearing pins to prevent loosening of the mounting bolts. An adjustable ski is provided on the standard to control the cutting depth of the scribe saw blade.

Abstract: A scribe saw assembly is provided for a loin puller and has substantially reduced wear and increased life of the assembly components. A pinion assembly includes a double keyway and opposing cutouts on the pinion shaft, with dual needle bearings. A bevel gear assembly includes pins for holding the scribe saw blade and dual bearings on the bevel gear shaft to eliminate shaft flex and blade wear. The standard is mounted to the motor housing with load bearing pins to prevent loosening of the mounting bolts. An adjustable ski is provided on the standard to control the cutting depth of the scribe saw blade.

Abstract: A scribe saw assembly is provided for a loin puller and has substantially reduced wear and increased life of the assembly components. A pinion assembly includes a double keyway and opposing cutouts on the pinion shaft, with dual needle bearings. A bevel gear assembly includes pins for holding the scribe saw blade and dual bearings on the bevel gear shaft to eliminate shaft flex and blade wear. The standard is mounted to the motor housing with load bearing pins to prevent loosening of the mounting bolts. An adjustable ski is provided on the standard to control the cutting depth of the scribe saw blade.

Abstract: A garden soaker hose and reel assembly includes a ground anchor on one end of the soaker hose which is rigidly fixed to the soaker hose. The reel has a special configuration to make the soaker hose easier to unwind from the reel and to wind back onto the reel. The soaker hose can be provided with a stripe on the upper wall of the soaker hose to make it easily apparent if the hose is twisted.

Abstract: Dual loin knife blade members, in the form of a Z-blade and two styles (tabbed and non-tabbed) of J-blades, for use with knife assemblies in loin pulling machines for pork processing operations. The Z-blade knife comprises a shelf portion of extended length, formed of two separately-shaped blade portions, to maximize to the allowable customer dimensional length specification for the meat shelf being cut, while not cutting into and exposing the red meat of the pork loin eye. The J-blade, of either the tabbed or non-tabbed style, includes lower sweeping radius blade portions allowing the J-blade to lie closely adjacent and generally conform to the profile of the underlying split conveyor belt bed shape. The profiles for the present Z-blades and J-blades permit substantially increased yield in pork loin processing operations, reduced subsequent hand-trimming labor, as well as extended blade wear.

Abstract: A garden soaker hose and reel assembly includes a ground anchor on one end of the soaker hose which is rigidly fixed to the soaker hose. The reel has a special configuration to make the soaker hose easier to unwind from the reel and to wind back onto the reel. The soaker hose can be provided with a stripe on the upper wall of the soaker hose to make it easily apparent if the hose is twisted.

Abstract: Compounds of the invention have the general structure ##STR1## X, Y or Z are, respectively independently, H, F or an isotope thereof, Br or an isotope thereof, I or an isotope thereof, At or an isotope thereof, (R.sub.1)W or (R.sub.2)V and R is --(R.sub.1)W, when W is H or F or an isotope thereof, R.sub.1 is linear or branched alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is vinyl, V is I or an isotope thereof and at least one of X, Y or Z is not H. The compounds of the invention bind to PK receptors.