Abstract: A practical and safe heavy duty hedge, bush and brush cutter having a forwardly mounted dual-sided tine set that comprises a means for readily cutting flexible heavier limbs. The forwardly mounted tine set preferably is part of a comb-like attachment which includes a number of additional dual-sided tine sets that define a plurality of gathering, holding and cutting areas. The attachment is designed so that it can be mounted from one side of a conventional chain saw blade without removing the chain blade from the chain guide and yet provides stopping surfaces on both sides of the guide bar and chain blade of the saw to support severed limbs and branches in such a manner that bias cutting of flexible limbs and shredding of branches is prevented. The comb-like attachment including the dual-sided tine sets defining the gathering, holding and cutting areas for branches to be cut can be installed and removed from one side of the chain saw blade without the use of special techniques or tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved capillary mat for water plants. The mat includes a lower piece of the air bubble type material. This provides a support base to be laid in a tray leaving space for a water reservoir between the air cells. In accordance with the present invention, instead of using a fiber type material for the top piece on which the plant is rested, a piece of solid sheet plastic material is used. The sheet of plastic material has a number of holes therein. The plastic sheet material is only sealed to the bubble packed material at certain places so that water can travel by an adhesion type effect in the free space between the plastic sheet layer and the air bubble material and exit through the holes in the sheet to the plant pot. The center structure is of waterproof material. The plastic sheet layer will not become discolored and can be wiped clean if any unwanted material deposits on top of it.

Abstract: The feed and vent apparatus as illustrated comprises a pair of tubes, one constituting an infeed and the other a primary vent tube, joined by an adapter to form an essentially V-shaped structure at the apex of which is an opening from one end of each tube. Material feed means which bridge and substantially fill the cross section of the infeed tube receive the material to be refined from an integrated hopper by way of an opening in the tube which extends a substantial portion of its length. A similar opening in the upper side of the primary vent tube leads to an extension of the escape passage defined thereby the cross section of which is sharply and abruptly expanded. The lowermost portion of the primary vent tube embodies, in a limited portion of its cross section means for receiving and carrying solids attempting to pass through the primary and secondary portions of the escape passage defined by the vent tube and its extension back to the refiner to which the V-shaped structure is connected.

Abstract: A coaxial feeder for connection to the inlet of a disc refiner includes a channel defining means which contains a bladed screw the blade of which has a relatively short axial length and is housed to position coaxially of the discs, to which it feeds material for refining purposes, and in concentric spaced relation to the wall structure which bounds said channel. The material to be refined is introduced to the down side of the screw blade. At the outer periphery of the blade, at the lowermost limit of its travel, is a bar or plate-like control device which is substantially coextensive with the blade and arranged to specifically direct material to the space between the discs of the related refiner with minimal interference or disruption. The control device presents a surface to the material moved on the down side of the screw blade which effectively inhibits bypass of material to the upside of the blade, having regard for the direction of its rotation in use.

Abstract: An infeed disc for a disc refiner has infeed passages which are circularly spaced by portions thereof which define spokes. The spokes and the passages have special characteristics. The center line of each passage is skewed with reference to the axial center line of the disc, in both an axial and a circular sense, and thereby curved, causing the passage to be essentially curved to provide a circular offset of the openings from the respective ends of each passage. The disc is further characterized by a non-radial skewed orientation of its spokes, the center line of each spoke being angularly inclined to a plane which is radial to and includes the central axis of the disc. The centers of the respective axially spaced infeed and operating surface portions of the spokes are offset one from the other, in a circular sense.