Abstract: The invention provides a drum shaker apparatus for use in seed or vine crop harvesters with improved effectiveness in removing seeds or fruit from the plant portion of the crop. The drum shaker includes a rotatable drum to which is mounted a counterweight mechanism having at least three rotatable counterweights, each counterweight having an axis of rotation spaced apart from its center of mass, and means for rotating the counterweights in a phased relationship. Usually, the drum is rotated at a constant angular speed, onto which is superimposed the oscillatory movement caused by rotation of the counterweights. The drum shaker further includes tines extending outward from its surface for engaging the crop. The present invention provides tines of varied stiffness arranged on the drum so as to create relative movement of adjacent tines, which tends to shear the seeds or fruit from the plants.

Abstract: Sprayable aqueous insulating liner compositions for metal casting vessels such as permanent refractory lined tundishes are disclosed that contain a water insoluble and hydration resistant particulate refractory grain containing MgO, organic binder and fibers, with the composition being substantially free of water soluble alkali and alkaline earth metal oxides that would migrate during drying with the water to degrade the permanent refractory lining.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for threshing seed crop, such as wheat, barley, rice, corn, beans and many others, by moving the seed crop circumferentially through a trough-shaped screen with openings through which the kernels can pass. A rotatable hub and a multiplicity of tines which project generally radially therefrom are coaxially rotatable relative to the screen. The hub and the tines are rotated so that the free tine ends, which are spaced from the screen, move past the screen at a speed approximately equal to the speed of the apparatus through the seed crop field. The hub and tines are vibrated to superimpose on their rotational movement a multiplicity of cyclical accelerations and decelerations as the seed crop moves from one side of the screen to the other to thereby separate the kernels from the plant growth.

Abstract: Novel preheatable molded refractory insulating liners and methods of use thereof for lining metallurgical vessels, such as hot tops, ladles, tundishes, troughs and pipes, etc., which serve to transfer molten metals, such as ferrous alloys, are disclosed. The new and vastly improved preheatable liners are suitable for developing effectively the required hot strength needed for casting molten metals at vessel preheat temperatures and casting temperatures. The unique preheatable liners additionally possess the needed hot strength during the range of casting temperatures as are experienced in the metal making industry.

Abstract: Novel preheatable molded refractory insulating liners and methods of use thereof for lining metallurgical vessels, such as hot tops, ladels, tundishes, troughs and pipes, etc., which serve to transfer molten metals, such as ferrous alloys, are disclosed. The new and vastly improved preheatable liners are suitable for developing effectively the required hot strength needed for casting molten metals at vessel preheat temperatures and casting temperatures. The unique preheatable liners additionally possess the needed hot strength during the range of casting temperatures as are experienced in the metal making industry.

Abstract: Novel preheatable molded refractory insulating liners and methods of use thereof for lining vessels, such as hot tops, ladles, tundishes, troughs, and pipes, etc., which serve to transfer molten metals, such as ferrous alloys, are disclosed. The new and vastly improved preheatable liners are suitable for developing effectively the required hot strength needed for casting molten metals at both vessel preheat temperatures and casting temperatures. The unique preheatable liners additionally possess the needed hot strength during the range of casting temperatures as are experienced in the metal making industry.

Abstract: A tubular cylindrical housing encloses an eccentrically mounted rotor provided with radial slots receiving the inner ends of slideable vanes, the outer ends of which are connected to wiper bars which ride along the interior peripheral surface of the housing. Opposed rotatable sealing plates disposed between the ends of the rotor and the ends of the housing are concentric with the interior of the housing and carry the ends of the wiper bars. Gear trains synchronize the rotation of the discs and rotor.

Abstract: A vine crop, e.g. tomato harvester is disclosed which has a crop processing mechanism that is movable through a field and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined elevator or header that is pivotally connected to a forward end of the processing mechanism. A leading edge of the elevator is proximate the ground and a level control wheel is vertically movably connected to the header and positioned forward of its leading edge. The wheel is defined by a multiplicity of tines, the free ends of which engage the ground so that the wheel rolls over the ground as the harvester moves through the field. The tines have a longitudinally convex configuration facing in the direction of rotation of the wheel. A control mechanism is actuated by relative vertical movements of the wheel for raising and lowering the leading edge of the elevator in response to ground surface irregularities sensed by the wheel.

Abstract: A lightweight harvester for a vine crop such as tomatoes planted in spaced-apart parallel rows on seed beds separated by depressed furrows. The harvester has a frame mounted on aligned, longitudinally spaced-apart flotation wheels which are positioned so that they ride on top of the seed bed during harvesting operations. The frame mounts vine pickup, handling and fruit separating mechanisms and includes a knife, aligned with the flotation wheels, for severing the vines from their roots forward of the wheels so that the wheels ride over a relatively smooth seed bed. An outrigger is secured to the frame, extends laterally therefrom and at its outer end mounts a stabilizing wheel which is spaced from the flotation wheels so that it rides in a furrow during harvesting operations. The axis of the stabilizing wheel can be raised or lowered to maintain the harvester in a laterally horizontal inclination when the ground slopes transversely to the seed beds.

Abstract: Sprayable aqueous insulating liner compositions for metal casting vessels such as permanent refractory lined tundishes are disclosed that contain a water insoluble and hydration resistant particulate refractory grain containing MgO, organic binder and fibers, with the composition being substantially free of water soluble alkali and alkaline earth metal oxides that would migrate during drying with the water to degrade the permanent refractory lining.