Abstract: An adjustable toilet seat lift adapted to selectively raise and lower a toilet to meet the needs and desires of the user. The lift includes an actuator which adjusts a top plate relative to a bottom plate, and is powered by an external power source, or, in the alternative, manually activated.

Abstract: An open-end spinning system characterized by laying straightened fibers next to each other onto an endless member and moving these deposited fibers in a generally perpendicular direction to the fiber orientation into a twisting zone where they are twisted and compacted into a yarn.

Abstract: A mechanical device for advancing a strand between two rotatable sheaves where the facing sides of the sheaves are provided with teeth. The sheaves are mounted on separate axis and are tilted toward each other. This tilting allows the teeth of the two sheaves to engage with each other at one side and to disengage with a gap between themselves on the opposite side of the two disks. The strand is laid in the gap portion between the two sheaves and is wrapped in circular configuration between the teeth portion in undulated shape. The downstream portion of the wrapped strand is released by the teeth of the two sheaves in the gap portion and can be effortlessly be withdrawn from the sheaves.

Abstract: An adjustable toilet seat lift adapted to selectively raise and lower a toilet to meet the needs and desires of the user. The lift includes an actuator which adjusts a top plate relative to a bottom plate, and is powered by an external power source, or, in the alternative, manually activated.

Abstract: A spool (1) mounted on a rotating shaft (2) with a brake drum (3) attached to it is mounted onto a swing lever (4). The swing lever is hinged on a creel channel (6). A loading-force is pushing the brake drum against a fixed brake shoe (9) which is located at such an angle to the swing lever that the tension in the withdrawn strand (10) is not dependant on the diameter of the spool but is constant.

Abstract: An improved tension controller for a strand to achieve constant downstream tension regardless of tension variation in the upstream strand has a pair of tensioning plates (9, 10) between which the strand upstream (3), downstream (5) is compressed, generating frictional force for added tension. A selectable loading force is applied to the controller in the opposite direction to the movement of the strand. This loading force acts on a wedge between a movable tensioning plate and a fixed plate (9). The angle between the fixed plate (9) and the strand between the tensioning plates generates a compression force at a right angle toward the compressed strand for added tension. The incoming strand is deflected before it reaches its compressed stage between the tensioning plates. This strand deflection generates a force-component in the direction of the strand movement and reduces the loading force correspondingly.

Abstract: A strand tension apparatus, including a strand delivery mechanism for controllably delivering a moving strand under tension downstream from a strand supply, a strand take-up mechanism positioned downstream from the strand delivery mechanism for pulling the strand from the strand supply, and a tension controller positioned between the strand delivery mechanism and the strand take-up mechanism for adding tension to the moving strand as it moves downstream from the strand delivery mechanism to the strand take-up mechanism. The tension controller includes a rotating strand feeding device frictionally-engaging the strand and a variable drag force-applying device cooperating with the rotating strand feeding device for adding a predetermined tension to the strand as the strand is delivered downstream from the strand delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for space dyeing yarn includes a series of dye stations each of which has a dye applicator roll and a rotatable pattern roll having deflecting rods which may deflect yarn into engagement with the periphery of the respective dye applicator roll. Each pattern roll is rotatably driven by a servo motor and selectively rotated to position the deflecting rods for permitting dyeing to occur at the respective station and to rotate the roll and thus the rods to angular dispositions where the yarn is not deflected. A programmable controller controls the respective motors to the selected angular positions at precise times to start and stop the application of dye to the yarn. An encoder associated with the yarn feed system feeds timing signals related to yarn movement to the controller so that rotation of each pattern roll is in timed relationship with the movement of the yarn.

Abstract: A security system and method for monitoring security in the vicinity of a location perimeter is provided. The security system includes security sensors positioned in a detecting relation to the location perimeter for detecting a condition indicating a potential violation of security in the vicinity of the perimeter. The security sensors have a normal, negative state indicative of no violation of security and a positive state indicative of a potential violation of security. A detection indicator operatively communicates with the security sensors for storing information indicating whether a security sensor is in the positive or negative state. A signal receiver operatively communicates with the detection indicator. A signal transmitter is activated from outside the location perimeter, and transmits a control signal to the signal receiver.

Abstract: A multi-stage fluid filter filters entrained particulate matter from a moving fluid stream at substantially constant fluid pressure and filtration efficiency during continuous on-line operation. The filter includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, first and second stationary filtration elements positioned in the housing, each having a filtration medium therein from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof. The two elements are positioned in series for fluid flow from the downstream side of one of the two elements defined as a first filter stage for accumulating particulate matter on the filtration medium thereof to the upstream side of the other of the two elements defined as a second filter stage having a previously accumulated layer of particulate matter on the filtration medium thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for drafting a continuous strand of staple fibers into a finer strand of the staple fibers and including a mechanism for supplying separated fibers suspended in a fluid and a rotating fiber chute receiving the fluid with the separated fibers axially and dispensing the fluid and the fibers radially. A collection belt with a porous portion is used for passing the fluid but holding back the fibers wherein the belt moves in a circular path around the chute and leaves the circular path to move the collected fibers thereon out of the circular path. A vacuum housing is positioned in close proximity to the collection belt and with an opening facing the collection belt for collection of the fluid.

Abstract: A randomly entangled, plied yarn having a first yarn strand and a second yarn strand wherein at least one of the first yarn strand or the second yarn strand is unidirectionally twisted in a first direction of twist, the plied yarn having spaced-apart spliced zones along its length defining therebetween lengths of unspliced yarn having a ply twist in the opposite direction of the twist of the component yarn strands along the entire length of the plied yarn.

Abstract: A lift unit for lifting and inverting waste containers for emptying. The waste containers are of the type having an enlarged lip proximate the mouth of the container. The lift unit includes grippers for gripping the enlarged lip of the container and lifting arms for lifting and inverting the waste container for emptying while gripped by the enlarged lip. The lift unit includes a support for supporting the side of the waste container while the container is being lifted and inverted. The grippers are carried by the lifting arms. The pair of opposed lifting arms can be adjusted to waste containers of different heights and widths.

Abstract: A strand tension controller which has an elongate strand sensing lever arm having a strand guiding input end and an opposing strand guiding output end with a tension shoe positioned between the input end and the output end of the lever arm for applying tension between a range of zero and a preset maximum tension on the strand. The lever arm is pivoted adjacent the strand engaging output end pivotal movement responsive to strand tension sensed at the opposing strand engaging input end of the lever arm and for subtracting from the tension applied by the tension shoe. The tension is sensed on the strand at the input end of the lever arm. The tension shoe engages a first surface of the lever arm and the strand passes along the top surface of the lever arm from the input to the output end of the lever arm. A pressure responsive expandable fluid reservoir in the form of an air tube controls the force applied to the strand.

Abstract: A winding apparatus which includes a plurality of yarn supply package stations for holding a plurality of packages of multifilament yarn, a processing station for receiving yarns from the yarn supply packages and processing the yarn, and a take-up package. The improvement comprises a yarn randomizing device positioned downstream from the supply packages and upstream from the processing station for intermixing filaments within a single yarn and among the plurality of yarns in a random and irregular manner before delivery of the yarns to the processing station thereby preventing patterning in the processed yarn. In one embodiment the randomizing device comprises a air vortex and in another, a rotating beater.

Abstract: A method of lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom walland upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segament wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.

Abstract: A vacuum-controlled apparatus for gripping or gripping and lifting a load such as a roll-out refuse container. The lifting apparatus includes a primary vacuum pad for initially engaging the load, the primary vacuum pad comprising a vacuum head for exerting a vacuum-induced suction grip on the load, secondary vacuum pad carried by the vacuum head for secondarily engaging the load and supplementing the vacuum-induced grip on the load. A lifting arm effects vertical movement of the load. The vacuum pads are resilient and have a load-contacting surface on one side thereof generally corresponding to the shape of a surface of the load to be contacted by the load-contacting surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing yarn, comprising yarn supply packages for supplying a yarn. First and second feed rolls and a take-up roll are provided for delivering the plied yarn from the supply package onto a take-up package. An air-jet is positioned between the first and second feed rolls for inserting short, spaced-apart entangled segments into the plied yarn as the plied yarn moves past the air-jet at a predetermined speed. The air-jet comprises an enclosure having a yarn entrance and a yarn exit and a nozzle for directing a stream of pressurized air into the enclosure and against the plied yarn while the plied yarn is moving through the enclosure. The nozzle moves past the enclosure at substantially the same surface speed as the yarn is moving through the enclosure whereby the stream of pressurized air impacts a short, discrete segment of yarn while the segment of yarn is within the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom wall and upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segment wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.

Abstract: A winding apparatus which includes a plurality of yarn supply package station for holding a plurality of packages of multifilament yarn, a process station for receiving yarns from the yarn supply packages and processing the yarn, and a take-up package. The improvement comprises a yarn randomizing device positioned downstream from the supply packages and upstream from the processing station for intermixing filaments within a single yarn and among the plurality of yarns in a random and irregular manner before delivery of the yarns to the processing station thereby preventing patterning in the processed yarn. In one embodiment the randomizing device comprises a air vortex and in another, a rotating beater.