Abstract: A fishing lure comprising at least one fish hook having two retainers on its shank, a piece of flexible material wrapped around the shank between the retainers, the material having first protrusions on one side and second protrusions on the other side, the first and second protrusions being adapted to releasably interlock with each other, a skirt or other visible lure assembly attached to the strip and secured to the shank thereby.

Abstract: There is provided an animal trap which is specific to a given range of animal weights. The trap has a frame, and a spring-arm pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and having at the other end apparatus for entraining a cable. The spring-arm can swing from a horizontal position to an upwardly extending position, and is spring-biased toward the latter. A trip lever can move between two positions, in one of which it retains the spring-arm in the horizontal position, and in the other of which it releases the spring-arm. An animal stepping on the trip lever can cause it to release the spring-arm. The cable is anchored at one end and has at the other end a loop adapted to be placed so as to surround the trip lever. Apparatus is provided for avoiding the springing of the trap by an animal lighter than the given range of animal weights for which the trap is specific, this apparatus including a spring urging the trip lever toward the position in which it retains the spring-arm horizontally.

Abstract: A fluid engine for use in pneumatically operated toys such as wheeled vehicles or airplanes. The engine housing has a fluid input cavity which is in continuous fluid communication with a source of compressed air, a fluid delivery cavity which is in continuous communication with a piston cavity bounded by a movable piston mounted in a cylinder member and which is separated from the fluid input cavity by a wall having a valve opening therein, and an open-ended exhaust cavity which is separated from the fluid delivery cavity by a wall having an exhaust opening therein. A valve rod with a tapered end is movably housed in the exhaust cavity to open the valve opening and close the exhaust opening during the piston's power stroke, and to close the valve opening and open the exhaust opening during the piston's exhaust stroke. The valve rod can be operatively connected to the piston to act in synchronism with it either by use of a cam or by use of a network of connecting links.

Abstract: An aerodynamic toy adapted for spinning and throwing having a cylindrical ring with at least one retaining element thereon and a tether for engaging at least one of the retaining elements, which tether can be also gripped by the thrower's hand to enable the thrower to impart a spin to the ring thereby moving the toy in a forward direction generally parallel to the axis of spin. The spin of the cylindrical toy imparts an inertial stability and the cylindrical shape causes the ring to glide through the air over great distances.

Abstract: A tubular member holds a paper, tubular fuselage above a paper wing supported by a plate and below a folding die from which a fuselage presser depends; whereby the fuselage may be attached to the wing and the edges of the wing may be folded into an aerodynamic configuration when the die and tubular member are brought into working association with a pair of upstanding plates which are spaced apart in a manner such that the fuselage and its associated parts may be positioned between said plates while said die folds the wing edges over the upper edges of the plates.

Abstract: A multi-purpose amusement apparatus simulating the action of a bucking animal, such as a bull or horse, and which is an apparatus for mounting by a person, the apparatus generally simulating the appearance of the animal and installed in the bed of a pick-up truck, a heavy spring device supporting the apparatus with the bed of the truck, and eccentric rear wheels provided for the truck for transmitting an up and down motion to the bed of the truck for producing an action for the apparatus generally simulating the movement of a bucking animal.

Abstract: A toy racing car is provided having a configuration to simulate a racing car such as a drag car. A support member is attached to the body of the car at a predetermined location to receive a weighted member such as a coin of monetary value. The addition of the coin alters the location of the total center of gravity of the car and positions it so that upon the application of a small additional force, the front wheels will be lifted off the ground to provide an impression of high speed acceleration.

Abstract: An all-metal grape stake is provided that includes an elongated metal upright member which is rolled to have a V-shaped cross-section with flanges extending along its two edges. The grape stake also includes a cross-arm in the form of a metal strip which extends across the upper end of the upright member and which has a bent-over upper edge extending across the top of the upright member. A V-shaped bracket is mounted in the center of the cross-arm, and this bracket receives the upper end of the upright member. In assembling the grape stake of the invention, the upright member is first driven into the ground, and the cross-arm is dropped over the upper end of the upright member until its upper edge engages the top of the upright member, with the upper end of the upright member being received in the bracket.

Abstract: A hydroponic method and system for growing plants is disclosed wherein an inner container of a fibrous material contains particulate growing medium and a plant whose roots grow through the bottom and sidewall of the container and an outer supporting member of a root impervious material surrounding the inner container sidewall and having an upper portion thereof bearing inward against the upper portion of the inner container sidewall whereby the firm support of the inner container results from the combination of gripping at least a portion of the upper region of the container by the support member and the engagement of the laterally growing roots with the inner surface of the support member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stackable crate assemblies for use in plant cultivation and transportation, each crate assembly including a latticed bottom member, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, respectively. Supporting legs and support protrusions extend in spaced relationship from each side wall. At least one and preferably both end walls connected to the bottom member by hinged joints to facilitate loading and unloading of the crates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protecting house plants from dying as a result of dehydration, when they are neglected, or when the householder is on vacation, for example. The invention involves an annular flange which is sealed to the inside bottom of a flower pot, and also includes a short upstanding conduit or pipe which is sealed to the flange around the flower pot drain hole. The flange may be of porous plastic for ease in cementing to the bottom of the flower pot, and the upstanding conduit may be either integral with and formed of the same material as the flange, or may be a separate short length of plastic tubing. In practice, when the plant is watered, a certain amount of water is trapped between the conduit and the sidewalls of the flower pot toward the bottom of the pot so that the entire soil within the pot stays moist for prolonged periods of time, thus providing good growing conditions for the plant.

Abstract: An improved self controlled watering planter device of the type utilizing a porous moisture sensor, an air-tight fluid reservoir and a membranous fluid inlet port on the interior bottom of the device including concentric annular ridges and a solid circular disk for inhibiting the interference of plant roots with the fluid inlet port. The improved device further includes baffle structures to inhibit debris from fouling the bottom portion of the inlet port, an interiorally mounted moisture sensing unit and an inward draining niche surrounding the fluid reservoir fill port.

Abstract: Guide apparatus for guiding the movement of a vehicle window pane comprises a regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the window pane and a guide mechanism for regulating the locus of movement thereof. The regulator mechanism consists of X-shaped crossing movable arms, the upper ends of which slide along a horizontal guide channel secured on the window pane, and the lower ends of which slide along another horizontal guide channel secured on an inner panel of a door. The arms are driven by a handle. The guide mechanism includes a tubular guide track, a bottom of which is pivoted on the door inner panel. The guide track slides vertically through a single guide member secured on the window pane. Accordingly, the inclination of the window pane is always held unchangeable, so that it is very easy and simple to adjust the securing position of the guide member secured thereon in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A gyratory machine for finishing parts, grinding such as paint grinding, or screening, having a fixed frame and a floating support resiliently mounted thereon, a finishing chamber mounted on the floating support, a gyratory motion-producing assembly affixed to the support comprising a vertically mounted housing, a plurality of bearings mounted in the housing, one or more vertically oriented shafts rotatably journaled in the bearings, and eccentric weights mounted on the shaft or shafts in fixed radial relationship thereto, a motor mounted on said housing for gyratory motion therewith and coupled to the shaft by a belt and pulley coupling assembly. The belt and pulley assembly applies rotating force to the shaft at a driving point or plane external with respect to the bearings, that is, at a point axially external to that portion of the shaft included between or defined by the bearings. In a further improved embodiment the annular finishing chamber is readily demountable from the floating support.

Abstract: A belt for a trough belt cleaning apparatus in which the objects or articles to be cleaned are tumbled within the trough of a rotating endless belt and subjected to the action of a blasting agent during their tumbling motion, to become cleaned thereby wherein said endless belt comprises cross bars having extending between them links of a resilient material, with the ends of said links having on either side thereof a partially open end eye each for receiving said cross bars and for facilitating replacement of a link without removing a cross bar, which end eyes fully or partially embrace the (associated) cross bar, and wherein the edges of the eyes are adapted to be expanded to the width of a cross bar under spring-back resilience.

Abstract: Centrifugal blasting apparatus comprising a throwing wheel that rotates and forcefully projects a directional stream of particles for impingement against work pieces that are to be cleaned, peened, or otherwise treated by the particles, and a feed spout for supplying the particles continuously to the wheel. The feed spout terminates in an outlet section that has a conical surface formed with a discharge opening for the particulate material and is located concentrically within the particle impeller blades which form part of the wheel. The blades have inclined inner ends that are positioned in a closely spaced relation with the conical surface to provide for a discharge of particles from the discharge opening under the combined forces of gravity and suction induced by movement of the blades past the discharge opening.

Abstract: A mounting strip with carpet gripping means for relocatable partition walls is disclosed. Said mounting strip comprises a central portion having a generally rectangular configuration, support shelves integral with said central portion and extending outwardly from marginal edges thereof, a multiplicity of barbs extending downwardly from said mounting strip, locating tabs extending upwardly from said central portion along said marginal edges defining an accommodating path for floor runners therebetween. Said mounting strip is capable of gripping a carpet at said barbs and adapted to support wall panels along said support shelves and accommodate floor runners between said locating tabs. Said mounting strip is removable without harmfully affecting a carpet to permit relocation of a movable partition wall construction mountable thereon.

Abstract: A composite insulated wall includes a pair of outer poured concrete layers cured in a form and an organic or inorganic insulating panel or panels disposed between the concrete layers and retained in place by a number of lateral tie-rods extending through the insulating panel and into the concrete.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric wall facing units provided with at least one mortar tie-in member (e.g., a metal mesh lathing material) embedded in and protruding from the backing surface of these units. The tie-in member permits the unit to be mortared onto a base wall structure made of, e.g., masonry materials, wall board or steel panels. Particular wall facing units are panels and corner units. The present invention also relates to wall systems having corner facing units of the present invention.

Abstract: A support spacer apparatus relating to a paneling system for providing improved insulating qualities to pre-engineered buildings and the like in which stresses imparted to a supported structure are transferred through compressible insulation without diminishing the thermal character of the insulation, the support spacer apparatus comprising a spacer member having a plurality of fastener assemblies connected thereto and extendable through the insulation; the fastener assemblies attachable to an underlaying substrate by the application of energy to the fastener assemblies for supporting the spacer member at a predetermined distance from the substrate such that the insulation is disposed substantially in its prepenetration state after attachment of the fastener assemblies to the substrate.

Abstract: A panel of thin sheet metal is roll-formed into a beam having upper and lower first flange portions integrally connected by a web portion, and the first flange portions are reinforced by corresponding second flange portions which may be formed from the panel and folded back onto the corresponding first flange portion. The upper and lower flange portions project in opposite directions from the web portion providing the beam with a Z-shaped cross-sectional configuration to facilitate close nesting of the beams in a stack. A plurality of parallel spaced stiffening ribs are formed in the web portion, and longitudinally extending stiffening ribs are formed in the flange portions. When the ribs in the web portion extend longitudinally of the beam, a series of longitudinally spaced strut members extend transversely between the flange portions across the ribs and are attached to the flange and web portions.

Abstract: A reinforcing bar support for joining concrete structures, having a hollow body of prismatic shape and formed by a front part and by a cover part. The front part features a front side scheduled to be installed in the concreted main wall, two longitudinal narrow sides and two cross sides. The sides are so designed that the cover part can be clamped to the front part and released therefrom. The front side is provided with a longitudinal center groove and equidistant cross grooves, with the cross grooves used for marking holes to be drilled later, which holes are scheduled to receive the leg ends of the reinforcing bars.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fastener adapted for joining a structural member such as a post, rafter, girder, or wire tie downs to concrete or masonry structures. The fastener of the present invention comprises a generally planar elongated member of steel or the like having at least one hole therethrough near one end of the member and having lateral edges near the other end of the member which are inwardly directed scallops. Preferably, the member also includes a hole near the end of the member which has the inwardly directed lateral edges and a hole near the central portion of the member.

Abstract: A roofing element is described which comprises two spaced skins, an upper skin of relatively thick non-metallic sheet material, such as plywood or chip board, and a lower skin of sheet metal, for resisting compression stresses in the upper skin and tension stresses in the lower skin. The skins are bonded to spacing members extending in the lengthwise direction of the element and provided by composite beams of non-metallic or substantially non-metallic material, having webs of wood-based board material and flange members of wood. The spaces between the skins are filled up with a thermally insulating material, such as mineral wool or foamed uretane plastic.

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method for molding patties of ground raw meat and the like that has a hopper for holding a supply of the meat, a mold having a patty shaped mold cavity, a ram equipped pressure chamber into which the meat is moved from the hopper and from which it is forced into a patty shaped mold cavity in the mold, means for moving the mold between a filling position for the cavity and an ejecting position for removal of the patty from the cavity and a lever system for moving the mold, meat transfer means in the hopper and the pressure ram all without substantial lost motion in order to avoid noise pollution that is an unwelcome side effect of machines such as patty molding machines that use such lost motion connections to provide pauses between relatively operating parts.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing a thermoplastic strip moving forward stepwise and used in the production of hot-formed containers which, after forming, are filled and sealed in a sterile atmosphere, which method consists, before the strip softening operation, in exposing the surface of said strip which is subsequently to constitute the inside face of the containers, evenly and intermittently, in successive portions and for a very short period of time, to a temperature higher than that of the softening point of the said thermoplastic strip and which is dependent on the desired extent of bacterial destruction.

Abstract: A lower film is carried continuously along a passage having a substantially horizontal first passage part and a downwardly curved second passage part. While the lower film is carried along the first passage part, a plurality of recesses are formed on the lower film by a molding device which is moved in synchronization with the advancement of the lower film. An upper film is supplied continuously in such a manner that both upper and lower films approach together in the shape of "V" in section at the second passage part and they are sealed together as they move down further along the second passage part. While the films are partially sealed at the second passage part, powdery or particle-size material is fed into the recesses in the lower film.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically, rapidly, and simultaneously packing multiple layers of fruit, such as cantaloupes, for example, into packing boxes wherein the layers of fruit are packed in a predetermined staggered or complementary pattern. A pair of packing heads, i.e., a first packing head and a second packing head, in near side-by-side relationship, are automatically simultaneously tilted, in response to like mechanisms or actuators, to deposit the fruit which are automatically prearranged thereon in a predetermined pattern into indexed packing boxes. The second packing head which packs the top layer of fruit is set back slightly from the first packing head which packs the first or bottom layer of fruit thus allowing the second packing head to place its fruit onto the bottom layer. The container is then automatically moved forward in order that the next cycle can take place. Structure providing this unique arrangement is described.

Abstract: A pickup head for long-stalk crops, generally grown in rows, such as corn, especially for a field chopper or harvester, has a multiplicity (more than three) of mouths each aligned with a respective row and adapted to guide the crop into the throat of the machine. According to the invention, each of the mouths is provided with a respective guide channel, two of the guide channels merging ahead of the throat along the path of the crop toward the latter. Along each of the guide channels prior to the merger, a respective chain or other advancing mechanism is provided, the advancing mechanism of one of the channels continuing beyond the merger point to the throat of the machine. The arrangement permits a large number of rows to be swept although the throat of the machine is substantially narrower than the width of the intake side of the pickup head.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting combine having a crop treatment means and a crop gathering means. The crop treatment means supported on a first wheeled chassis, which supports a power source for propulsion of the combine, operation of the crop separating and operation of the crop gathering means. The crop gathering means is supported on a second wheeled chassis which is pivotally mounted to the first wheeled chassis to be movable between a first position lying beside the first wheeled chassis and a second position trailing behind the first wheeled chassis.

Abstract: Blade structures useful particularly for mowing vegetation, the several embodiments of the present invention are useful with rotary lawn mowers and weed trimmers intended for mowing lawns and other vegetation with a maximum degree of cutting effectiveness and user safety. The present structures are preferably mounted to the drive shaft of a mower or trimmer in the place of a conventionally used cutting structure, usually without the need for modification of the mower or trimmer. Generally, the present structures include a plate member which acts to bend at least upper portions of vegetation downwardly to allow a cutting bar carried by the plate member to strike the vegetation at or below the bent portions to facilitate clean and rapid cutting of the vegetation.

Abstract: A latch for the hood member of the corn harvesting header is disclosed wherein the latching mechanism includes a self-centering guide device to provide a proper latching action to lock the hood member in an operative position. A stop affixed to the hood member and projecting inwardly therefrom is engageable with a V-shaped guide device formed into the latch lock mechanism to guide the stop into a notch formed in the latch lock mechanism. When the stop is seated in the notch, the latch is properly aligned with the latch lock mechanism for proper engagement therebetween. A release rod connected to the latch provides for convenient operation of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tractor drawn device for harvesting fruits such as berries and coffee. A harvesting device is mounted on a frame structure supporting a vertically disposed tined shaker unit and a power pack, preferably a hydraulic pump driven by a diesel engine, that imparts rotation to unbalanced weights by a hydraulic motor. The towed frame mounting the shaker unit includes levelling devices for maintaining the central axis of the shaker unit substantially vertical.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for raking or spreading crop lying on the field, for example, mown grass, comprising at least one carrier rotatably driven around an upright axis and having upright shaft pins arranged in a circle, on each of which is journalled in a freely pivotable manner a crop-engaging, tine-shaped element of non-circular cross section, wherein a flexible member independently of each element is arranged so that the tine-shaped element is held in an outwardly directed position with respect to the upright axis, said tine-shaped elements preferably consisting of two or more tines in overlying position the bending resistance in the vertical plane of the superjacent tines differs from that of the lower-tine.

Abstract: A twisted textile web is detwisted by continuously withdrawing the web from a supply and passing the web longitudinally along a path and over a curved deflecting surface formed by a roller that deflects the web and divides the path into an upstream leg and a downstream leg that are out of alignment with each other. The deflecting surface can pivot about a pivot axis which passes through a pivot located to the upstream side of a straight line passing through the center of curvature of the deflecting surface and angularly equispaced between the legs. In a central position of the deflecting surface the two legs, the surface, and the pivot are all coplanar so that a twist in the web will pivotally deflect the surface in a direction depending on the direction of twist. The extent of pivoting is detected and the web is detwisted in the upstream leg in response to the detected pivoting of the surface.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for operating an open end spinning machine having a plurality of spinning units each including a sliver feeding device, a fiber separating device, a twist forming element, a yarn taking-off device, yarn winding device and a reversing mechanism for returning the yarn end back into the twist forming element. The twist forming element and the fiber separating device are set in operation; thereafter the fiber feeding is started simultaneously with the yarn end reverse travel to return same into the twist forming element in which a fibrous ribbon is formed of the fibers supplied. After spinning-in said yarn end with said fibrous ribbon the yarn is again set into a forward operative travel.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for feeding a tow to a textile machine, the leading end of the tow is automatically twisted by a vortical gas flow during transport through a tube to the machine. Preferably the vortical gas flow is also used to draw the tow through the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of synthetic filament yarn having crepe characteristics by simultaneous drawing and falsetwisting of the filament yarn while imparting a twist by means of a falsetwister, as well as--under certain conditions--drawing of the filament yarns to a ratio of at least 1:1.08.

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a combination of a liquefied natural gas vaporizing plant and a fuel burning power generating facility is disclosed. The liquefied natural gas vaporizing plant utilizes the cryogenic capacity of the liquefied natural gas to produce liquid air which is pumped to a high pressure by a liquid air pump. The liquid air is then brought into a heat exchanging relationship with air drawn into the vaporizing plant so that the high pressure liquid air is converted to high pressure gaseous air. The high pressure gaseous air which represents recovered reversible energy of the liquefied natural gas is fed into a combustion chamber of the fuel burning power generating plant. Since the power generating facility requires no significant output of power to drive a compressor to compress ambient air prior to its entry into the combustion chamber, the power generating facility is operated at a high efficiency.

Abstract: A six cylinder internal combustion engine having first and second groups of three adjacent combustion chambers and an exhaust valve port connected to each of the six combustion chambers. In each group of three adjacent combustion chambers the exhaust valve ports of the side combustion chambers are positioned on the side of the middle combustion chamber thereby reducing the length and surface area of the exhaust passages and maintaining a high exhaust temperature. First and second confluence members join the exhaust valve ports of the first and second groups of three adjacent combustion chambers respectively to an exhaust reaction chamber.The ignition timing of the combustion chambers is controlled in order that the periods of successive exhaust valve port openings partially overlap.

Abstract: A diesel exhaust particulate filter contains a high temperature depth type filter material arranged in a reflexive path throughout which diesel particulates are collected from engine exhaust gases passed therethrough. Upstream and downstream portions of the filter flow path are disposed in heat exchange relation. Upon heating of the incoming gases to the incineration temperature of collected particulates, the heat of combustion in the downstream portion will be partially transferred to the upstream portion, providing more even temperature levels and improving balance of the incineration process.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid flow network, utilizing the fluid returned from by an open center hydraulic system, to augment the charging system of a hydrostatic transmission. The augmented charging system provides oil under pressure to flow into the charging system in the event that charging system pressure flow falls below normal. A back pressure is maintained in the return line header of an open center hydraulic system by a relief valve. Flow is diverted to the charging system by a line containing a non return valve.

Abstract: In a master cylinder a housing defines a bore for movably receiving a pair of pistons. A pair of seals cooperate with the pair of pistons to define a pair of pressure chambers and a sleeve disposed within the bore fixedly locates the pair of seals within the bore so that when the pair of pistons are moved within the bore, the pair of pistons move relative to the pair of seals to displace fluid within the pressure chambers to respective brake circuits. A bearing member engages the sleeve to fixedly retain the sleeve within the bore and cooperates with one of the pair of pistons to define an auxiliary chamber which is contracted during a brake application to communicate fluid to one of the pair of pressure chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a back pressure turbine (2) for a district heating plant (15), in which a cut-off valve (22) is provided between the turbine (2) and the condenser (5). The valve makes it possible to use the turbine condenser for heating the water of the district heating system through direct supply of steam from the steam boiler (1) when the turbine is shut off.

Abstract: A device for cooling the wall of a combustion chamber, in which air is taken from the space outside the chamber by means of an annular protuberance which extends beyond the outside of the chamber and forms an annular pocket, which is provided with outside air by means of holes and communicates with the interior of the chamber by means of an annular slot between the downstream internal wall of the chamber and a small annular tongue which is an extension of the upstream wall. The air intake holes for the pocket are arranged in the wall of the protuberance which is more or less perpendicular to the wall of the chamber which faces the air flow and have a sufficiently small diameter to make it possible to arrange them in at least three concentric rows, which are offset from one row to the next.

Abstract: In order to replenish a helium bath in the super-conducting rotor of an electrical machine, in which bath liquid helium boils at subatmospheric pressure, with liquid helium from a helium reservoir, the liquid helium in the reservoir being at ambient pressure and a part of the liquid helium changing to the vapor phase during flow from the reservoir to the bath, liquid helium is introduced into the bath at a distance from the rotor axis of rotation, the liquid and vapor phases of the helium flowing from the reservoir to the bath are separated from one another in a phase separator fixed to the rotor, and the separated vapor phase is extracted from the separator.

Abstract: A chiller for edible food products including an insulated enclosure, an endless conveyor conveying the edible food products along a serpentine path through the enclosure along a plurality of vertically extending flights alternating between upward and downward movement and a horizontally extending flight above the vertical flights, means for evenly distributing a heat transfer liquid uniformly over the horizontally extending flight so that the heat transfer liquid falls over the food products moving along the horizontal flight, and deflection means below the horizontal flight between the vertical flights for deflecting the heat transfer liquid into registration with the vertically moving flights.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system having a generator that includes a first, or primary, heat exchanger operatively connected to a low temperature energy source and that includes a second, or auxiliary, heat exchanger operatively connected to a high temperature energy source. Control means are provided so that energy is supplied to the generator from the high temperature energy source only after energy is extracted from the low temperature energy source and additional energy is required by the system. Various embodiments are disclosed showing different ways of positioning and operating the primary and auxiliary heat exchangers. Another embodiment illustrates a condenser system that efficiently operates to condense refrigerant vapor regardless of the distribution of the energy contribution between the high and low energy sources.

Abstract: An open top refrigerated display case having an upper display portion for displaying refrigerated products and a lower storage portion for storing refrigerated products. A cooling mechanism cools both the display portion and storage portion. The cooling mechanism establishes a refrigerated air band which encircles the display portion. This refrigerated air band is established by circulating air through an air conduit which surrounds the display portion and is positioned above the storage portion of the display case. Mounted within the air conduit is a fan and a set of evaporation coils. Air is expelled from one end of the conduit at an outlet opening located near the top of the display case and such air is propelled across the opening in the display case towards the opposite end of the case where it is received by an inlet opening of the air conduit. In this manner, an air curtain is formed across the top of the display case.

Abstract: This invention pertains to machines for freezing and dispensing a confectionery product, particularly soft ice cream and milk shakes. The invention is particularly addressed to an improved mix over-run control for controlling the flow of air and liquid product into the freezing chamber by directing the incoming fluid mix from a reservoir into a vortex chamber which causes the fluid mix to flow down the side walls of a communicating line with an open air passage in the center therefor for assuring the proper over-run or percentage of air in the resultant confectionery product.