Abstract: Each link of a flexible multi-link closure includes a cylindrical male member and a female member. The female member includes an open arcuate wall, in part defining a recess adapted to moveably receive the male member of an adjacent link. A part connects the members of each link in a fixed, spaced relationship at a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the wall of the female member. One edge of the wall of the female member is spaced from a line extending through the center points of the members by a distance approximately equal to half the length of the connecting part.

Abstract: Liquid, such as milk, enters the sealed container from an inlet at the top of the container and exits through an outlet at the bottom of the container. The quantity of liquid in the container is sensed and a microprocessor calculates the total volume of liquid. During periods of low flow, such as at the beginning and at the end of the milking cycle, the outlet is automatically closed, partially or completely, by a motorized valve connected to the microprocessor, or by a weighted float situated within the container, so as to accumulate the liquid during those periods thereby enhancing the accuracy of the measurement.

Abstract: The container includes a first chamber connected to the liquid source through an inlet port of a given cross-sectional area and a second chamber connected to a drain through an outlet port of at least equal size. The chambers are separated by a partition having a slot which has an elongated portion extending from the container floor in a direction generally parallel to the container side walls. The area of the elongated slot portion is approximately equal to the area of the inlet port. Liquid level or weight sensors generate signals representative of the quantity of the liquid level in the first chamber to a microprocessor to measure the flow rate. The signals are integrated over time to measure the total volume.

Abstract: An electrically-operated control valve includes a rotor rotatably mounted to a first position connecting a fluid inlet port to a fluid outlet port, or a second position disconnecting the fluid inlet port from the fluid outlet port; a battery-operated electrical rotary motor for rotating the rotor; and limit switches for deenergizing the electrical motor when the rotor arrives in either the first or second positions. The electrical motor is coupled to the rotor by a speed-reducing, torque-increasing transmission such that very little electrical power is required to operate the motor, thereby enabling the control valve to be used as a remotely-controlled pilot valve for controlling a water irrigation system.

Abstract: An automatic irrigation device for plants which is automatically activated in correlation with the evapotranspiration needs of the plants comprises an open-top fluid evaporation pan containing the irrigating fluids, the fluids being capable of evaporating from the pan, thereby reducing its weight. A fluid conduit attached to a fluid inlet port conducts the fluids to the plants and the pan while a valve, interposed between the inlet port and the conduit and operatively connected to the pan, controls the conduction of the fluids to the pan and the plants. A counter-force member exerts a force on the pan in a direction opposite to that of the force of gravity. When the pan holds more than a first amount of fluid the valve closes and the device enters the evaporating stage. When the pan holds less than a second, lesser amount of fluid the valve opens and the device enters the irrigating stage. The device can be used to automatically irrigate a large number of plants simultaneously.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a frame having a pair of foot treadles mounted in side-by-side relation and depressible with respect to the frame; an overrunning clutch for each of the foot treadles and having a drive member coupled to its respective foot treadle and a driven member coupled to the drive wheel; and a planetary gear assembly for each of the overrunning clutches for coupling the drive member to the respective foot treadle such as to multiply, by a factor of at least two, the displacement of the clutch driven member by its respective foot treadle.

Abstract: A ship mooring system for securing a ship to a fixed object by means of a mooring cable, includes a mounting member pivotally mounted on the ship, a drum rotatably mounted at one end of the mounting member for receiving one end of the mooring cable, locking means for selectively unlocking or locking the drum against rotation, and a dashpot device engageable with the opposite end of the pivotal mounting member for absorbing tension forces applied to the mooring cable.

Abstract: A high pressure plastic container is made by rotationally moulding a first wall of plastic material, and a second wall enclosing and bonded to the first wall. One of the walls is integrally formed with a plurality of circumferentially-extending axially-spaced ribs of a hollow construction. The other wall may be unribbed, or may be integrally formed with a plurality of axially-extending circumferentially-spaced hollow ribs. The hollow ribs, are filled with a rigid plastic foam.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a pair of foot treadles mounted in side-by-side relation, and an overrunning clutch for each foot treadle. Each foot treadle is mounted to the frame by a four-link parallelogram retaining the respective foot treadle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame as the foot treadle is driven downwardly by the operator's foot and is returned upwardly by springs.

Abstract: A rotary water sprinkler includes a plunger reciprocatable within the nozzle to restrict and englarge the nozzle throat so as to enable larger size nozzles to be used for obtaining a larger range, while the reciprocating plunger cyclically restricts and enlarges the nozzle discharge nozzle to restrict the discharge rate. The sprinkler further includes a pivotal arm impacted by the water jet and returned by a spring in order to reciprocate the plunger and also to rotate the sprinkler head.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a honeycomb structure including a honeycomb core in which a plurality of preformed honeycomb core elements are moved through an extrusion machine, while a layer of a plastic material is simultaneously extruded over the opposite faces of the honeycomb core elements.

Abstract: A panel having high strength relative to its weight is made of rigid material and is formed with a plurality of open cells, each open at one side, and with a plurality of closed cells, each closed on all sides. Each of the open cells is surrounded on all its sides by a plurality of the closed cells, and each of the closed cells is surrounded on all its sides by a plurality of the open cells.

Abstract: A water distribution device adapted to be connected to a pressurized water supply line includes a valve controlling the flow of water from the supply line to a water distributor, a cyclically-operable-timer driven through cycles of operation by the energy of the pressurized water, and a coupling between the timer and the valve, which coupling is effective to actuate the valve to its open position for a minor portion of each cycle, and to actuate the valve to its closed position for a major portion of each cycle. Preferably, the cycles are from 1-60 minutes each, and the minor portion of each cycle is about one-fifth to one-fiftieth of the complete cycle. Also described is a water distribution system including a plurality of such devices connected to a common water supply line and randomly operated.

Abstract: A flow restrictor device particularly useful as a drip irrigation emitter, comprises a disc-shaped member attachable to a pipe containing a pressurized fluid. The disc-shaped member is formed with an annular recess in one face to be exposed to the pressurized fluid, and with a metering passageway leading from the annular recess to another face to be exposed to the atmosphere. The device further includes an annular member received within the annular recess to partially cover the metering passageway. The latter member is deformable under pressure to restrict or enlarge the metering passageway, and thereby to control the flow of the fluid therethrough, according to the pressure of the fluid at one face of the disc-shaped member.

Abstract: An article of furniture comprises a plurality of plastic sections each curved at its opposite ends according to the same radius of curvature, with each section having notches at its opposite ends of a length twice that of the radius of curvature. Fastener means are receivable in the notches of adjacent sections and couple the sections together. Several embodiments are described having different fastener means, including one arrangement wherein they are separate pin and link members, a second arrangement wherein they are pins inserted into sockets integrally formed with the plastic sections, and two further arrangements wherein they are pins integrally formed with the plastic sections and receive separate link members.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprising a plurality of horizontally extending chambers each including a plurality of spray nozzles oriented at different angles, a drive for cyclically driving the sprinkler about its horizontal axis, and water-steering means for selectively steering the water to the plurality of chambers while the sprinkler is cyclically driven about its horizontal axis. In one described embodiment, the plurality of chambers are oscillated about the horizontal axis of the sprinkler; and in other described embodiments, the plurality of chambers are rotated about the horizontal axis of the sprinkler.

Abstract: Water irrigation apparatus comprises a water supply pipe divided into a plurality of sections each formed with a plurality of water outlets spaced along its length; pivotal connections connecting the ends of each section to the ends of the adjacent sections to form a line of sections articulated at their ends; a wheel carried by each section for propelling the respective section over the ground; and horizontal aligning means for each section effective to couple or decouple the wheel of each section to its respective section in response to the angle between it and the next adjacent section.

Abstract: Water irrigation apparatus comprises a water supply pipe and means for moving it over the ground to be irrigated, the water supply pipe including a plurality of coaxial tubes, and a plurality of longitudinally-extending, circumferentially-spaced radial ribs supporting the inner tube within and spaced from the outer tube. Water is inletted into the inner tube, and outletted therefrom along longitudinally-spaced points.