Abstract: A water flow guide stationarily mounted in the water box of an underwater pelletizer to selectively direct the pressurized water flowing through the water box in order to more efficiently cool and rigidify the extruded polymer strands and enable the rotary cutter blades to more effectively shear the strands into pellets and to convey the sheared pellets away from the die face and rotary cutter blades of the pelletizer to the water box outlet. The water flow guide provides an accurately guided pressurized water flow which enables pelletization of polymers of various diameters and a wide range of specific gravity and rheological characteristics.

Abstract: This invention concerns an aluminum alloy container and lid for transportation and handling of perishable products. It combines the ability to provide improved temperature control for the product, and in addition is reusable, nestable and recyclable. This container is comprised of two components, the box and the lid. The box is made from three separate pieces. The bottom and two sides are formed from the same piece of material. The two ends are formed separately and each are welded to the bottom and two sides. The lid is made from two separate pieces, the lid plate and the interface bracket. All parts are made of light aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A water flow guide stationarily mounted in the water box of an underwater pelletizer to selectively direct the pressurized water flowing through the water box in order to more efficiently cool and rigidify the extruded polymer strands and enable the rotary cutter blades to more effectively shear the strands into pellets and to convey the sheared pellets away from the die face and rotary cutter blades of the pelletizer to the water box outlet. The water flow guide provides an accurately guided pressurized water flow which enables pelletization of polymers of various diameters and a wide range of specific gravity and rheological characteristics.

Abstract: A water flow guide stationarily mounted in the water box of an underwater pelletizer to selectively direct the pressurized water flowing through the water box in order to more efficiently cool and rigidify the extruded polymer strands and enable the rotary cutter blades to more effectively shear the strands into pellets and to convey the sheared pellets away from the die face and rotary cutter blades of the pelletizer to the water box outlet. The water flow guide provides an accurately guided pressurized water flow which enables pelletization of polymers of various diameters and a wide range of specific gravity and rheological characteristics.

Abstract: A fluid power steering gear (10) comprises a housing (16). A power steering fluid (34) is disposed within the housing (16). A seal (50) contains the power steering fluid (34) within said housing (16). A member (20) extends through the housing (16) and the seal (50). The member (20) is movable relative to the housing (16) and the seal (50) in response to a change in the fluid pressure in the housing (16). The power steering fluid (34) comprises a base oil and a metal-free lubricant additive. The metal-free lubricant additive is soluble in the base oil and modifies the interfacial surface tension between the base oil and the member (20) and the base oil and the seal (50). The weight percent of the metal-free lubricant additive is about 0.1% to about 5.0%, by weight of the power steering fluid (34).

Abstract: An auto allele caller executed in a computer system for identifying alleles from a trace is described. The auto allele caller applies a typical shape of an allele for a marker to the trace to identify potential allele calls that match to the typical shape of the allele at the marker and assigns a quality factor to the allele calls.

Abstract: A riding attachment is adapted to be connected to a self-propelled lawn mower for carrying a standing rider/operator behind the mower during operation of the mower. This riding attachment includes a mounting assembly, a tow bar assembly, a pivot assembly, and a riding assembly. One end of the tow bar assembly is pivotably connected to the mounting assembly to allow for rotation of the tow bar assembly about a first axis parallel to a plane of the mower and transverse to the direction of movement of the mower. The riding assembly, including a platform for supporting the standing operator, is pivotally connected to the pivot assembly which, in turn, is connected to the tow bar assembly. This pivot assembly allows for pivoting of the riding assembly about an axis essentially parallel to the mower plane and to the direction of movement of the mower.

Abstract: A game hoist for mounting to the cargo rack of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The game hoist is mounted to the cargo rack using a base plate which has one or more sets of angle brackets mounted to the underside of the base plate. The sets of angle brackets form pockets or receptacles to slidably receive respective rods of the cargo rack. The base plate has an upward facing cylindrical post which receives a cylindrical column. A telescoping boom is provided with a cylindrical collar which fits over the top end of the column. The telescoping boom has an inner cylindrical member which is slidingly received in an outer cylindrical member. The inner cylindrical member may be telescoped outward from the outer cylindrical member. The outer end of the inner cylindrical member is provided with a manually operated winch. The winch is desirably provided with a ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A riding attachment is adapted to be connected to a self-propelled lawn mower for carrying a standing rider/operator behind the mower during operation of the mower. This riding attachment includes a mounting assembly, a tow bar assembly, and a riding assembly. One end of the tow bar assembly is pivotably connected to the mounting assembly to allow for rotation of the tow bar assembly about a first axis parallel to a plane of the mower and transverse to the direction of movement of the mower. The riding assembly is pivotally connected to the second end of the tow bar to allow the riding assembly to pivot about a second axis parallel to the plane of said mower and in the direction of movement of said mower. The riding attachment further includes a pivot limiting element that limits the pivoting of the riding assembly out of the plane of the mower to a predetermined limit angle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cable fitting for insertion in a protective enclosure. The fitting includes one or more cable channels and is constructed of a first staging portion for attachment to the electrical enclosure and a second portion which incorporates strain relief features with gripping teeth for clamping the cable. The fitting is designed for use with one or more cables. In use, it is installed in the panel to the staging position depth, the cable or cables are inserted through the fitting and the panel into the box to the desired position for clamping, and the fitting is inserted into the panel to the installed position to lock the fitting to the box and to clamp the cable within the fitting. The fitting may also be fully inserted and the cable or cables installed thereafter.

Abstract: A hydraulic shaft seal (10) has a first elastomeric part (40) and a second elastomeric part (42). The first elastomeric part (40) has a surface (54) for sealingly engaging the peripheral surface (56) of a shaft (14), and is formed of a vulcanizable elastomeric composition which includes a first fluorinated rubber. The second elastomeric part (42) supports the first elastomeric part (40) in a sealing position, and is formed of a vulcanizable elastomeric composition which includes a second fluorinated rubber but is essentially free of the first fluorinated rubber. The first elastomeric part (40) is co-vulcanized with the second elastomeric part (42) and is bonded to the second elastomeric part (42) by cross-linking between the two elastomeric parts as a result of the co-vulcanization thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cable fitting for insertion in a protective enclosure. The fitting includes one or more cable channels and is constructed of a first staging portion for attachment to the electrical enclosure and a second portion which incorporates strain relief features with gripping teeth for clamping the cable. The fitting is designed for use with one or more cables. In use, it is installed in the panel to the staging position depth, the cable or cables are inserted through the fitting and the panel into the box to the desired position for clamping, and the fitting is inserted into the panel to the installed position to lock the fitting to the box and to clamp the cable within the fitting. The fitting may also be fully inserted and the cable or cables installed thereafter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cable fitting for insertion in a protective enclosure. The fitting includes a plurality of cable channels and is constructed of a first staging portion for attachment to the electrical enclosure and a second portion which incorporates strain relief features with gripping teeth for clamping the cable. The fitting is designed for use with one or two cables. In use, it is installed in the enclosure to the staging position depth, the cables are inserted through the fitting via the cable channels into the box to the desired position for clamping, and the fitting is driven to the installed position to lock the fitting to the box and the cable within the fitting. The fitting may also be fully inserted and the cables installed thereafter.

Abstract: A sight glass apparatus and method limiting external pressures on the sight glass. The sight glass apparatus has a pair of flanges wherein each of the flanges includes a tubular top portion which abuts the respective pipes. The tubular top portion includes a circular cut-out for providing a victaulic type connection for a clamping means to clamp to the respective pipes and a conical section which tapers into an annular rim section having a plurality of apertures wherein a bottom portion of the annular rim includes a center aperture being co-axially aligned when mounted to the pipes. An O-ring is mounted in a recess with a cylindrical glass tubing for observing the fluid or the like. The sight glass apparatus further includes machine precisioned shoulder studs with threaded ends. The ends protruding through the apertures of each of flange when connecting the sight glass apparatus together.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for covering at least a part of the open bed of a land or marine vehicle or the like includes an enclosure structure telescopically collapsible and extendable with an access opening and door assembly rearward longitudinally movable portion thereof. An improved end gate assembly is selectively positionable and releasably securable at a number of continuously variable longitudinal locations on the open bed, corresponding with the movable rearward section of the enclosure. The apparatus also includes an improved track assembly for the telescopically collapsible and extendable enclosure sections, with apparatus for substantially preventing or minimizing the accumulation of corrosion, water or other foreign materials that would hinder the smooth and free operation of the enclosure structure.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for heating a plurality of sheets of plastic material between adjacent ones of a plurality of vertically stacked and individually heated platens. The platens are vertically displaceable together and relative to one another, and any two vertically adjacent platens are vertically separable relative to a fixed horizontal pass line to facilitate removing a heated plastic sheet from between the platens and introducing a plastic sheet to be heated therebetween. Vertical separation is achieved by latching the upper one of two adjacent platens in a fixed holding position above the pass line and lowering the lower one of the two platens and any other platens of the stack therebeneath to position the upper surface of the lowered platen at the pass line. Sheet discharge and feed mechanisms are then operable respectively to remove a heated sheet from the lower platen and introduce a sheet to be heated onto the lower platen.

Abstract: A reformed rice product is made by extruding a dough through a low-pressure, pasta-type extruder to form simulated rice grains which are then dried at a temperature of up to 150.degree. C. to a final moisture content not exceeding 15% of the product. The dough is made by adding water to a dry composition comprising a mixture of pregelatinized and ungelatinized flour, sodium chloride and fat in powder form.