Abstract: A method of pest control which includes forming an enclosure of flexible heat resistant flexible material or fabric about articles forming a working load and heating atmosphere of the enclosure to a temperature which is lethal for the pest being exterminated, and maintaining this elevated temperature in the loaded enclosure for a period sufficient to bring complete working charge to a lethal temperature of 130° F. and maintaining this temperature for at least ten minutes. The treatment is undertaken after determining the air penetration parameters for the enclosure, so as to be able to determine the CFM requirements for achieving an air flow rate of between 10 and 50 air changes per hour in the enclosure, and preferably between 30 and 50 air changes per hour. Heated outside air is introduced to the enclosure at a temperature of at least 200° F., with the temperature in the enclosure being safely elevated until the air temperature reaches the lethal level.

Abstract: A method of pest control which includes heating the effected area to a temperature which is lethal for the pest being exterminated, and maintaining this elevated temperature in the zone for a period of at least about eleven hours. The treatment is undertaken after determining the air penetration parameters for the treatment zone, so as to be able to determine the CFM requirements for achieving an air flow rate of between three and five air changes per hour in the treatment zone. Heated outside air is introduced to the treatment zone at a temperature of at least 200.degree. F., with the temperature in the treatment zone being elevated at a rate of between about 5.degree. F. and 10.degree. F. per hour until the air temperature reaches the lethal level.

Abstract: Fluid substances, particularly substances having differing viscosities, are combined and mixed by first segmenting a flow of a first fluid material to form a flowing segmented substance matrix containing a network of voids, such as by passing the flow through a plate having a plurality of passages therethrough and a second fluid substance is discharged into the segmented flow at a position which is substantially centrally disposed with respect to a cross-section of the segmented flow to combine the substance and additive, and then, the combined flow is mixed. The combined flow may be compressed and then mixed or may be compressed and then expanded prior to mixing. Additionally, a flow of a substance from a source such as an extruder may be partitioned into a plurality of streams and then, at least one of the streams is treated as specified above.

Abstract: Fluid substances, particularly substances having differing viscosities, are combined and mixed by first segmenting a flow of a first fluid material to form a flowing segmented substance matrix containing a network of voids, such as by passing the flow through a plate having a plurality of passages therethrough and a second fluid substance is discharged into the segmented flow at a position which is substantially centrally disposed with respect to a cross-section of the segmented flow to combine the substance and additive, and then, the combined flow is mixed. The combined flow may be compressed and then mixed or may be compressed and then expanded prior to mixing. Additionally, a flow of a substance from a source such as an extruder may be partitioned into a plurality of streams and then, at least one of the streams is treated as specified above.

Abstract: A valve device for restricting fluid flow has a hollowed piston member having a closed piston end wall and an open piston seat end. The piston end wall is integral with a second piston wall which extends to the piston seat open end which, in turn, opens into a chamber defined by the piston end wall and second wall. The piston second wall is positioned in slidable contact with a housing interior wall surface and has at least one aperture positioned therethrough for a fluid to flow in or out of the piston from the chamber so that upon the piston being reciprocated in the housing, when the piston seat end is seated in a seat integral with the housing, the at least one second wall aperture is confined by the housing interior wall surface to close the valve to fluid flow and so that when the piston is at a position displaced away from the seat, the at least one aperture is unconfined by the housing so that the valve is open to flow of fluid.

Abstract: An extrusion die assembly, adapted to be secured to the discharge end of an extruder, for producing extruded products having different sizes and/or shapes from a single extruder without interrupting the operation of the extruder. The die assembly includes a block having an inlet duct to receive thermoplastic material discharged from the extruder, and a pair of discharge ducts which diverge axially from the inlet duct and terminate in a pair of spaced die plates. A cylindrical diversion valve is rotatably mounted in the die assembly at the convergence of the outlet ducts and the inlet duct, with the valve having an angled passage extending therethrough for directing the flow of thermoplastic material from the inlet duct into one of the outlet ducts. The diversion valve enables thermoplastic material to be diverted from one die plate to the other without interrupting the operation of the extruder.

Abstract: A free-standing die assembly, for use in the production of extruded products, which is mounted as a separate unit apart from the extruder in which product ingredients are processed. The die assembly includes a center plate having a die unit secured to one or more planar faces of the plate, with each of the die units having at least one die orifice in the outer surface thereof. Hot flowable dough processed in an extruder is carried via suitable tubing to the center plate from where it is distributed to the planar faces of the plate and into the die units, from which it is extruded through the die orifices in the die units. The die assembly may be modified to permit the production of coextruded product from the die orifices in the die units of the assembly. One or more of the die assemblies may be associated with a single extruder. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, die units are secured to opposing side faces of the center plate to provide a free standing, dual-faced die assembly.

Abstract: A free-standing die assembly, for use in the production of extruded products, which is mounted as a separate unit apart from the extruder in which product ingredients are processed. The die assembly includes a center plate having a die unit secured to one or more planar faces of the plate, with each of the die units having at least one die orifice in the outer surface thereof. Hot flowable dough processed in an extruder is carried via suitable tubing to the center plate from where it is distributed to the planar faces of the plate and into the die units, from which it is extruded through the die orifices in the die units. The die assembly may be modified to permit the production of coextruded product from the die orifices in the die units of the assembly. One or more of the die assemblies may be associated with a single extruder. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, die units are secured to opposing side faces of the center plate to provide a free standing, dual-faced die assembly.

Abstract: A free-standing die assembly, for use in the production of extruded products, which is mounted as a separate unit apart from the extruder in which product ingredients are processed. The die assembly includes a center plate having a die unit secured to one or more planar faces of the plate, with each of the die units having at least one die orifice in the outer surface thereof. Hot flowable dough processed in an extruder is carried via suitable tubing to the center plate from where it is distributed to the planar faces of the plate and into the die units, from which it is extruded through the die orifices in the die units. The die assembly may be modified to permit the production of coextruded product from the die orifices in the die units of the assembly. One or more of the die assemblies may be associated with a single extruder. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, die units are secured to opposing side faces of the center plate to provide a free standing, dual-faced die assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into chunks of a predetermined maximum length. The apparatus includes a carrier drum and a cutting drum mounted on parallel shafts which are interconnected for rotation in opposing directions. The carrier drum has a plurality of parallel longitudinal bars mounted equidistant around the periphery of the drum, spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the food chunks. The cutting drum carries a plurality of elongated cutting blades mounted parallel to the longitudinal bars on the carrier drum and spaced apart the same distance as the longitudinal bars. The drums are aligned so that upon rotation of the drums the blades cooperate with the longitudinal bars to cut elongated food pieces carried on the surface of the bars into the nip between the drums, without striking against the bars.

Abstract: An apparatus for rinsing extruded pasta product in a container to remove surface starch from the pasta. The apparatus includes a conveyor on which containers holding a portioned amount of extruded pasta product are conveyed upright in single file, a manifold for introducing hot rinse water into the containers, and a rotary draining unit in which the water-filled containers are first inverted to drain off the rinse water and are then returned to an upright position for transfer to additional processing operations such as sauce filling, container sealing, retorting and cooling. A stationary slide plate is provided between the conveyor and the rotary draining unit, and reciprocating arms are mounted adjacent the slide plate to move the water-filled containers from the conveyor across the slide plate and into the rotary draining unit. The rotary draining unit includes a pair of horizontally extending support surface mounted equidistant from and parallel to a central shaft around which the support surfaces rotate.

Abstract: A molded plastic electrical wiring box having knock-out regions comprising a two-flap structure with the flaps having essentially planar offset surfaces providing a frangible bridge or web to separate the flaps.