Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: A foodstuff collating apparatus having a plurality of discrete channels within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converging from one end of the apparatus to the other. As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Abstract: A cable reel or cable reel assembly for use in transporting and storing cable of length, diameter and weight up to a predetermined reel capacity. The cable reel, or cable reel assembly when assembled, includes a generally cylindrical cable-receiving drum, which in the case of the cable reel assembly is assembled from a plurality of drum components, and a pair of opposed flanges that are fixed to the ends of the drum and retain wound cable in place on the drum. The drum is made of a material, and has dimensions, that enable it to resist bending under the load of the cable wound on the drum and to resist cable loading and unloading stresses. The opposed flanges resist the lateral load applied to the cable reel by the wound cable. The flanges are made from a selected blended rubber-plastics composition and have dimensions selected to resist bending due to the lateral load of the cable wound on the drum, and due to the stress applied to the flanges by the drum bearing the cable.

Abstract: A pup joint is provided which comprises a length of pipe, a female sub integral with one end of the pipe and having external threads formed thereon, a male sub integral with the other end of the pipe, a wing nut for threadedly connecting the male sub to the female sub, a set of retainer segments for retaining the wing nut on the pup joint, and a retention shoulder formed on the male sub to maintain the wing nut and retainer segments on the male sub. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipe and the male and female subs are comprised of a single forging, and the retention shoulder is formed by machining the male sub.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of waste material. The process includes the steps of combining the waste material with a treatment composition to form crystal growth structures and adsorb the waste material within the crystal growth structures thereby stabilizing the waste-material. The treatment composition includes natural zeolite seed, crystalline quartz, aluminum trihydrate, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, dolomitic calcium oxide or calcium oxide or dolomitic limestone, and potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate. The zeolite seed may be selected from the group consisting of clinoptilolite, chabazite, heulandite, phillipsite or mordenite and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A coupling for quickly connecting a cement head to a casing of an oil or gas well comprises tube-shaped upper and lower bodies that connected to each other and are telescopically adjustable. The upper body receives the cement head and the lower body attaches to the casing. A clamp mechanism utilizing split ring segments is located in the lower body and is actuated by a piston for quickly attaching or releasing the lower body to and from the casing.

Abstract: A gear drive unit with an internal disc brake is disclosed. The brake disc is mounted for non-rotatable movement on a driven shaft in a housing of the drive unit. The housing has internal pockets for holding brake pucks at sides of the brake disc. An actuating member mounted in the housing moves one puck toward the disc when the member is rotated in a pre-selected direction. An adjustable spacer is located on the opposite side of the other brake puck and positions and backs up that puck adjacent the other side of the brake disc. The adjustment can be made outside the housing without the use of special tools. The internal brake has fewer parts, is easier to assemble, is not contaminated by dirt, leaves, and grass clippings, and the like, is not subject to damage, and does not present a possible source of injury to an operator or a child.

Abstract: A gear drive unit with an equalized shift is set forth. The gear drive unit is specifically a two-shaft transaxle having multiple forward speeds and at least one reverse speed. The transaxle specifically utilizes an existing transaxle housing originally designed to provide even more forward speeds. Certain existing internal components are also utilized. With the transaxle having fewer forward speeds, the forward speed gears are spaced farther apart on a shaft in the existing housing. To provide an equalized, in-line shift pattern, a shift coupling is employed between certain forward speed gears. The shift coupling connects one of the gears to the shaft when the coupling itself is engaged by a shift key of shift mechanism in the transaxle. Shifting through all gears is thereby accomplished by equal incremental movements of the shift mechanism of the transaxle.

Abstract: Shift mechanism is provided for a gearbox, such as a transmission or transaxle, of a small vehicle. The shift mechanism has three functions. It shifts or changes the gear-engaged condition of the gearbox. It moves a clutch between engaged and disengaged positions. It also actuates a brake of the vehicle to move it between a braking position and a release position. Further, the shift mechanism achieves all three of these functions through a single shift lever which is manipulated by an operator. The shift mechanism also causes the brake to be moved to its braking position at any time the gearbox is moved between a forward speed condition and a reverse speed condition, to avoid extreme, lurching movements of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pup joint is provided which comprises a length of pipe, a female sub integral with one end of the pipe and having external threads formed thereon, a male sub integral with the other end of the pipe, a wing nut for threadedly connecting the male sub to the female sub, a set of retainer segments for retaining the wing nut on the pup joint, and a retention shoulder formed on the male sub to maintain the wing nut and retainer segments on the male sub. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipe and the male and female subs are comprised of a single forging, and the retention shoulder is formed by machining the male sub.