Abstract: A no-lash nut assembly for installation on a threaded rod and including a lead nut, a trailing nut, a transition nut and a torsion spring. The lead and trailing nuts have threaded bores for mating with the rod. The trailing nut has an external surface configured for engagement with the lead nut to prohibit relative rotation and allow relative axial movement. The transition nut has a threaded bore for mating to trailing nut, an external surface defining a slot, and a front face having a mating surface corresponding to the rear face of the lead nut to allow relative axial movement between the lead nut and the transition nut. The torsion spring has a pin and a hook. The pin protrudes into the rear face of the lead nut and the hook protrudes into the transition nut slot to apply a rotational force on the transition nut.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic heater is provided having a rotational member and a stationary member. The rotational member is operable to rotate relative to the stationary member about an axis so as to induce fluid shear and therefore, thermal energy to the working fluid. The hydrodynamic heater may be a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the rotational member of the hydrodynamic heater. The heat generated by the hydrodynamic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a working fluid.

Abstract: A no-lash nut assembly for installation on a threaded rod and including a lead nut, a trailing nut, a transition nut and a torsion spring. The lead and trailing nuts have threaded bores for mating with the rod. The trailing nut has an external surface configured for engagement with the lead nut to prohibit relative rotation and allow relative axial movement. The transition nut has a threaded bore for mating to trailing nut, an external surface defining a slot, and a front face having a mating surface corresponding to the rear face of the lead nut to allow relative axial movement between the lead nut and the transition nut. The torsion spring has a pin and a hook. The pin protrudes into the rear face of the lead nut and the hook protrudes into the transition nut slot to apply a rotational force on the transition nut.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic heater is provided having a rotational member and a stationary member. The rotational member is operable to rotate relative to the stationary member about an axis so as to induce fluid shear and therefore, thermal energy to the working fluid. The hydrodynamic heater may be a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the rotational member of the hydrodynamic heater. The heat generated by the hydrodynamic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a working fluid.

Abstract: A pick assembly for picking potatoes from a supply in a potato planter and moving them to a discharge position includes an arm that supports a plurality of picks that will engage the potatoes. The arm is mounted on a rotating wheel, and the picks are held in the arm with gently tapered bores in the arm and mating gently tapered conical surfaces on the pick that seat together when the pick is installed in the arm. The picks are maintained under axial compression loads to force the mating tapered surfaces together during use.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a wood chipper attachment for a skid steer loader provides power to both a motor for driving a chipper wheel and a motor for driving a feed roller. A priority flow valve is provided to supply priority of flow to the chipper motor. As pressure increases on the chipper motor, the output from the skid steer loader pump reduces and the priority flow valve acts to reduce flow to the feed motor to reduce the infeed speed. The wood chipper is adapted to be mounted on a skid steer loader and utilize the hydraulic power source from the loader power source. A separate relief valve for the chipper wheel motor is set to relieve pressure if the chipper wheel motor stalls at a lower pressure than the relief valve for the hydraulic system on the skid steer loader so that the feed motor will have sufficient pressure for reversing the feed wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for shredding debris from lawns and trees, such as twigs, leaves and like material has a housing in which a rotor is rotatably mounted about an upright axis. The plane of the rotor is thus generally horizontal and supported on a frame which permits movement across the ground. A vertical shaft engine is mounted on the upper side of the housing and supports the rotor within the housing cavity. The rotor has blades which generate an air flow as the rotor is rotating, to provide a vacuum in the center portions of the rotor. The vacuum draws material through a central opening in the bottom of the housing, and the blades impel the material outwardly toward pivotally mounted shredder blades at the outer periphery of the rotor. The rotor also mounts chipper blades in an upper surface thereof with an upwardly extending guide chute receiving limbs and guiding such limbs into the path of the chipper blades as the rotor is rotated, to chip branches, limbs and the like.