Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically merging multiple image portions to produce a single image. Image portions are produced, such as by a hand-held scanner, with overlapping areas. The overlapping area of a first image portion is examined to determine a distinguishing feature. The overlapping area of the second image portion is then searched to locate the corresponding feature. The differences in alignment of the two features, such as rotation, expansion or compression, are then determined. One of the image portions is then rotated, compressed or expanded in the amount necessary to align the two images. The two images are then merged by eliminating the overlapping portion of one of the images.

Abstract: A pneumatic control valve system has a modulating valve and a piston. When the operator depresses the piston, pressure is communicated to a switching piston moving that piston to a switched position so that pressure is communicated to a switching outlet. The switching piston retains this switched position when the first piston is released. When the modulating valve is opened to communicate pressure to a work port, pressure is also communicated to the switching piston in order to move the switching piston back to its unswitched position whereat the switching outlet is vented. The switching piston allows the control of another function.

Abstract: A roll-up door for a container body of a van or the like is provided with a winch which is located in a compartment formed in the header of the door. The winch is connected by flexible winding straps to the upper door panel and the lower door panel so that it is operable to drive the door between the open and closed position. The door panels are hingedly connected by hinges in which the hinge pin is located at the inner face of the door. Flexible sealing members are connected to each jamb and bear against a marginal edge portion of the outer face of the door when the door is in the closed position. A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable.

Abstract: A roll-up door for a contained body of a van or the like is provided with a winch which is located in a compartment formed in the header of the door. The winch is connected by flexible winding straps to the upper door panel and the lower door panel so that it is operable to drive the door between the open and closed position. The door panels are hingedly connected by hinges in which the hinge pin is located at the inner face of the door. Flexible sealing members are connected to each jamb and bear against a marginal edge portion of the outer face of the door when the door is in the closed position. A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable.

Abstract: A light-weight elevator platform for a load elevator of a truck or the like has a plurality of light-weight floor boards mounted in a rectangular frame which has support rails which extend across the frame and are located between adjacent floor boards. Side edges of the floor boards are mounted in channels which are formed in the side edges of the frame and support rail members. The support rail members are releaseably secured to the frame member.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable. The control circuit permits the movement of the door to be arrested at any time and to be reversed at any time by operating the master control and allowing similar control by means of the slave control when it is activated.

Abstract: A high pressure hydraulic flow control valve is formed with a spool which is capable of operating as a conventional spool to control the flow of fluid from an input port to an output port or to a return port. The spool also provides overload protection which will permit fluid to pass from the input port directly to the return port when an overload pressure condition exists in the fluid supply line. In alternative structure, the overload pressure release system may be incorporated into the valve which is used to control the return of fluid from the output port to the return passage. The high pressure hydraulic flow control valve is formed from a die-cast housing and has hardened seats mounted in access passages so as to bear against a seating shoulder. Preferably, a retaining sleeve is mounted in the access passage to bear against the hardened seat to retain it against the seating shoulder.

Abstract: A roll-up door for a container body of a van or the like is provided with a winch which is located in a compartment formed in the header of the door. The winch is connected by flexible winding straps to the upper door panel and the lower door panel so that it is operable to drive the door between the open and closed position. The door panels are hingedly connected by hinges in which the hinge pin is located at the inner face of the door. Flexible sealing members are connected to each jamb and bear against a marginal edge portion of the outer face of the door when the door is in the closed position. A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable.

Abstract: A high pressure hydraulic flow control valve is formed with a spool which is capable of operating as a conventional spool to control the flow of fluid from an input port to an output port or to a return port. The spool also provides overload protection which will permit fluid to pass from the input port directly to the return port when an overload pressure condition exists in the fluid supply line. In alternative structure, the overload pressure release system may be incorporated into the valve which is used to control the return of fluid from the output port to the return passage. The high pressure hydraulic flow control valve is formed from a die-cast housing and has hardened seats mounted in access passages so as to bear against a seating shoulder. Preferably, a retaining sleeve is mounted in the access passage to bear against the hardened seat to retain it against the seating shoulder.

Abstract: A motor vehicle such as a truck or a van which has a powered liftgate and which includes a liftgate electrical circuit for activating the liftgate to raise and lower the liftgate and a hazard warning circuit for operating the pulsating hazard warning light system of the vehicle, is fitted with a power interrupting device in the liftgate circuit which is responsive to the operation of the hazard warning circuit to render the liftgate circuit operable when the hazard warning circuit is operating.

Abstract: An hydraulic wobble pump having an inlet passage extending inwardly from one end thereof through the central portion of said housing and opening into said wobble chamber. The inlet passage being arranged to admit hydraulic fluid to said wobble chamber substantially centrally between said cylinders so as to be substantially uniformly distributed to each cylinder in use.

Abstract: A multi-port valve comprises a valve seat skeleton and a valve body of readily castible material cast about the skeleton. The valve seat skeleton comprises a plurality of wear-resistant members each having a wear-resistant operative surface formed thereon. The wear-resistant members are secured to one another to retain the wear-resistant operative surfaces thereof in a predetermined fixed arrangement. The valve body has a plurality of valve passages formed therein, one for each valve port, at least one of said passages opening to expose each wear-resistant operative surface for engagement by a movable valve component mounted in each valve passage to bear against and move relative to each wear-resistant operative surface in use. The valve is manufactured securing a plurality of wear-resistant members to one another to form a valve seat skeleton on which the wear-resistant operative surfaces are arranged in a predetermined fixed relationship, and casting the valve body about said skeleton.

Abstract: An apparatus of the type designed to be mounted in a shower stall. The apparatus includes a rotatably mounted brush member that oscillates in a vertical plane or a horizontal plane depending upon the selection chosen by the user of the invention. Water is diverted from the shower head to rotate a water wheel that is enclosed within a housing, the rotation of the water wheel effecting rotation of the brush. The brush is provided with a first gear that is forced to travel along a second gear that forms an elongated oval configuration so that the brush travels either up or down or sideways depending upon the alignment of the elongate second gear. The elongate second gear is mounted about its periphery by a plurality of spring members, the spring members being employed to introduce play into the apparatus to facilitate the orbiting of the second gear by the first gear.

Abstract: A flatware pre-cleaner is disclosed which includes an elongated, inclined tray or tank divided into a plurality of open-topped compartments for receiving flatware. The tank is provided with water inlets and water outlets with a baffle provided at one inlet to distribute the water flow and a spray nozzle in the several compartments connected to the other inlet. The water outlets drain food particles therefrom and maintain a desired water level in the tank so that water discharged from the inlets agitates the water in which the food engaging ends of the flatware are immersed. The compartments are formed by screen partitions spaced above the bottom of the tank to enable gravity flow of food particles and the like to the outlet. Control valves, additive siphons and supporting structure are provided to render the pre-cleaner effective in pre-cleaning flatware.

Abstract: An air cargo container is disclosed of metallic construction which is light in weight, yet sturdy and which has structure for overcoming problems which have been encountered with cargo containers heretofore available and with particular reference to hold-down or restraint pockets, fork lift pockets and floor construction and which complies with present government and other applicable standards.

Abstract: A telescopic truck body incorporating an ejection bulkhead. The telescopic truck body consists of two sections telescoped one within the other. A movable bulkhead is located within the inner section of the telescopic body and a drive means is provided for driving the bulkhead longitudinally of the inner section as the inner section is driven with respect to the outer section. The drive is adapted to move the bulkhead longitudinally of the inner section so that it is located adjacent the discharge end thereof when the inner section is fully telescoped within the outer section.

Abstract: A dump truck having a telescoping container body which is initially telescoped to a reduced length to discharge a portion of the load therefrom in response to the telescoping action and thereafter elevated to discharge the remainder of the load in the manner of a conventional dump truck. The fully extended length of the container body, which determines the load carrying capacity of the container body, is greater than that which would normally be elevated to directly discharge the load therefrom in the manner of a conventional dump truck. The retracted length of the container body is no greater than the acceptable length of a container body for elevating to dump a load in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A controller in the form of an insert for a microwave oven having apertures or openings therein, each of which is provided with an adjustable closure for controlling the amount of radiation reaching food being heated or cooked in the oven. The controller unit includes a radiation-opaque shield or panel supported in elevated relation to the bottom of the microwave oven with the apertures being provided in the panel at desired positions with the apertures being of different sizes and having closure members to enable the size of the apertures to be varied for more effectively controlling the amount of radiation engaging food products placed under the controller. A positioning attachment is provided for the controller unit to enable it to be placed accurately in the oven and to adjust the controller to a proper position for various commercially available microwave ovens.

Abstract: A load transfer device for transferring a portion of the load normally carried by the rear wheel sets of a dump truck to the front wheel sets of the dump truck. The device is in the form of a tag frame which is pivotably mounted on the tailgate of a dump truck so as to be movable between an elevated position in which the tag frame is disposed closely adjacent the tailgate and a lowered position in which the wheel set of the tag frame is in the current engaging position.