Abstract: A probe, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures, with a balloon coordinated to the insertion end of the probe tube, the balloon being fillable with liquid and emptiable in the inserted condition. The probe tube end is secured on a pilot probe and is detachable from the outside.

Abstract: A clear, storable, aqueous solution of partially condensed urea and formaldehyde substantially free of formic acid supplies non-burning and slow-releasing plant food nitrogen when applied directly to the foliage of living grasses, and agricultural and ornamental plants or to soils having neutral or acid surfaces. The substantially ammonia free solution has a pH between 7.5 and 9.8 and contains added buffering agents so that between 0.05 and 0.30 milliequivalents of phosphoric acid are required to reduce pH of one gram to 7.0; and is prepared by the partial condensation of from 1.5 to 2.0 mols urea with 1.0 mol formaldehyde for 20 to 300 minutes at temperatures between 75.degree. and 90.degree. C. with between 0.05 and 0.3 milliequivalents of alkali hydroxide per gram of solution as catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved ginning system incorporating a roller gin and a feeder for the same. Means is provided for presenting the cotton to the roller gin substantially one lock at a time. Incorporated in the gin is means to move the ginning roller into and out of ginning relation to the ginning knife, and means is provided in the system to cause the ginning roller to move out of ginning relation to the knife whenever there is less than a predetermined amount of seed cotton in the feeder.

Abstract: Described herein is an organic coating composition particularly useful in cathodic electrodeposition comprising a dispersion, solution or suspension of a coating composition characterized by (a) a reaction product of a conjugated fatty acid ester and an acrylic containing monomer, preferably containing oxirane rings; and (b) Formula A within the molecule, being the reaction product of reacting an oxirane ring and an amine; wherein Formula A is:--CH.sub.2 --C(Z)--CH.sub.2 --N.dbd.wherein Z is hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; acyloxy of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; (.dbd.O, as in a ketone), --OR'--.sub.n H; --OR'--.sub.n OH, and --OR'(CH.sub.2 OH)--.sub.n OH, wherein R' is a saturated alkylene group of from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and n is a number from 1 to 6.Also described is a method of electrodepositing coating compositions containing said adducts onto a cathode.

Abstract: An animal feed supplement in a solid, weather resistant block form and method of making is disclosed. The molasses, based feed supplement block, intended for consumption primarily by ruminant animals, although not limited thereto, contains ferrous sulfate as a blocking agent. The feed supplement also comprises a water absorbent clay, a phosphorous source and magnesium oxide as well as an edible fat or oil in sufficient quantities to set into a solid block form in less than one hour at room temperature when admixed with the blocking agent. A preferred block composition is prepared by a method which comprises admixing the molasses, water, phosphorus source and water absorbing clay under high speed shearing action of an effective amount of time to disperse the clay, admixing edible fat and dispersing it in the mixture and then admixing ferrous sulfate and magnesium oxide to obtain a viscous nutrient mixture that thickens quickly.

Abstract: A method is provided for making polyimides resulting from aromatic organic dianhydride and organic diamine interaction in the presence of an alkali metal salt of an oxygenated phosphorus compound.

Abstract: A monolithic laser device produces a plurality of spatially displaced emitting cavities in an active layer of a semiconductor body acting as a waveguide for light wave propagation under lasing conditions. Various means are disclosed to deflect and directly couple a portion of the optical wave propagation into one or more different spatially displaced emitting cavities to improve coherence and reduce beam divergence.

Abstract: A recoil protection system is disclosed which includes a fabric yoke. A leather panel is stitched to the yoke with a foam pad confined in the volume between the leather panel and the yoke. The foam pad is sized with its rest volume somewhat larger than the volume defined by the leather panel and the yoke such that the foam pad is in a constant state of compression. The foam pad is formed of a material having a high Loss Factor, and the yoke is held in place on the shoulder of the user by means of a harness which includes first and second straps, each of which passes under a respective arm of the user. Preferred materials for exceptionally effective foam pads are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing garments from continuous webs in which flattened pairs of left and right sleeves arranged in series are made from longitudinally moving superposed webs of sleeve material and transferred to parallel shingled arrangement in which elastic is attached to the cuffs. Sleeves with cuff elastic are transferred to a first moving web of garment body material and attached to the web; the first web and attached sleeves are combined with and attached to a second moving web of garment body material which is severed along transverse shoulder seam lines to form garments.

Abstract: A deodorizer for a toilet employing a compact motor housing for drawing odor laden gases from the interior of a toilet when in use and venting those gases. The motor housing is a compact device which includes a one-way valve and a motor-driven fan. In one embodiment the housing is located on the toilet and is readily removable. In another embodiment the housing is located away from the toilet and an air intake device is located on the bowl beneath the seat.

Abstract: A shelter adapted for use as a portable toilet having a plurality of upstanding planar wall panels connected along adjacent vertical sides by flexible sheet hinge members. The wall panels, foldably collapsible for ease of shipment, are combined with a removable roof, base member and commode to form a complete portable toilet shelter which may be quickly assembled on site. A number of flexible straps may be positioned underneath the base member and releasably secured to opposing wall members of the shelter in order to secure the base member to the wall unit and increase the stability of the shelter.

Abstract: The device for the treatment of the eyes with a washing or bathing liquid consists of a container, which possesses a cover, in which are located two vertical whirlpool tubes as washing devices, spaced to accommodate the two eyes, in the interior cross section of which is located a whirlpool device to generate bubbles as in the manner of a whirlpool bath. The cover carries the whirlpool tubes with intake. Only the washing liquid is located in the container.

Abstract: A portable and collapsible playpen has two side walls supported under tension by a pair of poles bent in the form of an arch and crossing each other like an "X" midway of their length. The poles are divided into segments for ease of assembling and segments of each pole nest together inside a hub at both front and back ends of the pen.

Abstract: A device for keeping a blanket or sheet off feet in a bed comprising a frame, a support structure, and a line extending from the frame and engaging the blanket. The support structure is a plate interposed between a mattress and a box spring set. The frame has a vertical member attached to the support structure which extends upwardly and generally perpendicular to the mattress. A horizontal member is attached to extends from the other end of the vertical member. A line is attached at one end to the horizontal member and at the other end to the blanket. The line includes a pin at one end. The blanket has a button occurring at a location corresponding to the location of the feet. The horizontal member has a well for receipt of the pin of the line.

Abstract: A motor vehicle for transporting and laying a fixed bridge includes a ground supported vehicle having a chassis with a front and a rear. The slide frame is longitudinally displacably mounted to the chassis and has a first travel position and a second extended position wherein a first end of the slide frame is disposed a substantial distance from the rear. A support leg is secured to the first end and includes a ground engaging portion extending beyond the lower surface of the slide frame and supporting the slide frame. A bridge member is carried by the slide frame. A bridge member laying and displacement device is connected generally to said first end and includes a rearwardly extending portion adapted for supporting the bridge member during displacement thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure-contact and lift-off arrangement, which comprises pressure-rollers, a doctor blade, and brushes, which are mounted in guide rails or bearings, as appropriate. These rails or bearings are located on the inner sides of the side plates of a processing unit. Hold-downs are mounted on supporting frames in a manner permitting vertical adjustment by means of screws. The supporting frames have elongated holes which are obliquely inclined, and are capable of displacement in the longitudinal direction over bearing carriers on which rolling-contact bearings seat. The bearing carriers are fastened to the side plates by means of screws. The supporting frames are connected by means of a shaft, which possesses hubs and on which a hand lever acts. The hubs are connected to link plates by means of attachment screws. Connecting links are mounted on these link plates by means of bolts which are capable of rotating.

Abstract: A toilet cleaning tool for cleaning a lavatory bowl of a toilet, which toilet cleaning tool comprises a disposable cleaning member and a body, the body having an elongate handle and first and second parts between which the disposable cleaning member is releasably retained, and the disposable cleaning member being water degradable whereby the disposable cleaning member can be disposed of by being flushed down the toilet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a toothbrush with curved bristles formed of natural or manmade fibers of thermoplastic or thermosetting material such as acetate fibers, rayon fibers, acrylic fibers, nylon fibers, polyamide resins, polyimide resins, phenolic resins, or urea resins; the bristles are set in two rows, at least one of the rows being offset from the center-line of the brush and with a curvature which is concave viewed from the center-line of the brush; some embodiments have bristles with substantially uniform curvature and other embodiments have bristles wherein the curvature in non-uniform and the greatest curvature is approximately one-third of the length from the distal extremity of the bristle. Preferably the bristle distal extremities are at about a right angle to the proximal bristle portion and the brush optionally has a row of short straight bristles parallel to the row of curved bristles on the concave curvature side of the curved bristles.

Abstract: A scraping brush with the free ends of the bristles having feet or disc shaped terminal members, which provide the latching or anchoring surfaces by which paint scales or other scales are pried or pulled loose when the scraping brush, in which the bristles are attached, is swept over the scales.

Abstract: The invention provides a molded plastic handle for attachment to the upper end of a heavy duty olefin bag for packaging dry mix and the like, wherein the handle is provided with a hand-engaging opening, has an integrally formed depending skirt of alternating depending portions adapted to be sonically or impulse sealed to the outer surfaces of the upper edge portion of the olefin bag, with each of the depending surfaces so arranged that they do not overlap or correspond position-wise to the skirt depending element on the opposite side of the olefin bag, one of the depending portions being disposed midway along the handle, and a vertical strut being provided connecting the handle top portion to such midway depending portion. The invention also provides integrally formed reinforcing ribs at each side of the handle, on front and back faces, with downwardly bifurcated ends which extend to two end skirt portions, and thereby reinforce such end portions to equalize the load stress on the handle and top of the bag.

Abstract: A positioner for a movable window sash embodies a guide bracket carried by the sash with one side of the guide bracket spaced from and facing an adjacent side of a window frame and extending in a plane which is inclined relative to a plane extending in the direction of movement of the sash with the opposite side of the guide bracket being parallel to said one side thereof. A wedge-like member has a first surface in sliding engagement with said one side of the guide bracket. A second surface of the wedge-like member extends parallel to and faces the adjacent side of a window frame and is movable into and out of engagement with the window frame in response to sliding movement of the wedge-like member in opposite directions. An actuator mounted for sliding movement along said opposite side of the guide bracket is operatively connected to the wedge-like member to move it in opposite directions. A resilient member urges the wedge-like member into engagement with the adjacent side of the window frame.

Abstract: An improved hinge construction is provided having cam and spring means for maintaining it in its open and/or closed positions and importantly, having parts enabling it to be adjusted as to its positioning between a door and a door frame after it has been secured in position therebetween. Adjustment in its heighth and lateral relationships may be independently accomplished. A screw is carried by the boss of a screw-on mounting plate and cooperates with a so-called driving dog to effect lateral adjustment between the mounting place and a swing or operating arm and thus, between the door frame and the door, itself. Heighth adjustment is accomplished independently by loosening a mounting or fastening screw that is used to secure the swing arm to the boss, sufficiently to enable cross adjustment between cooperating serrations carried by them.

Abstract: A shirred casing article including a compacted strand of shirred casing functionally engaged about a tubular core, wherein the core is formed with end portions which capture an axially compacted length of the strand to the core without interferring with subsequent deshirring. The end portions preferably are formed while the casing strand is being held under compression so that a fully compacted length is captured to the core.

Abstract: A machine for withdrawing or removing fibre staples from a set of bales of textile staples which can be displaced rectilinearly and alternately, with a carriage having a reciprocal vertical motion carrying rotary reels for removing said fibre staples from the bales is controlled by a device which comprises a plurality of detectors adapted previously to determine in the vertical sense sequential working zones for the carriage on the bales and an apparatus for automatically impressing a differential action of the carriage on the bales in relationship with the sequential preselected working areas. Thus the withdrawal of the fibre staples is obtained consistently with the compactness of the material contained in the bales without discrepancies in the production run and with a constant degree of bale-breaking.

Abstract: A device for condensing a fleece emerging from a carding engine or a like machine has two adjoining and aligned sets of rollers (5, 5', 5", 5"') having hollows along their generating lines and which are rotated about their own axes perpendicularly to the plane at which the fleece is doffed, and which are spaced apart relative to a fleece doffing roller (3). The rollers belonging to a set rotate in a direction and those of the adjoining set are rotated in the sense opposite to the former. The rotation of the rollers of two adjoining sets can be concordant in direction so as to provide a central doffing spot (13) between the two sets, or such a rotation can take place in directions opposite to one another and diverging, so as to provide two doffing spots (13,13') placed laterally of the two roller sets. By the rotation of such rollers two airstreams are originated, whereby the fleece is airborne and so conveyed towards the doffing spot(s) where a fibre sliver is formed to be forwarded to a condensing unit.

Abstract: Locking means for truck platform flaps (6) comprises a base plate (1), a handle (2) pivotably journalled in the base plate, a substantially U-shaped locking yoke (3) which is connected to the handle and pivotable in relation thereto on an axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the handle and which in its locking position is adapted to engage a hook (11) for holding the flap, and at least one spring (24) which actuates the handle and the locking yoke and whose one end is secured to the base plate (1). To make one and the same spring fulfill three essential functions, viz. ensuring resilient appliance of the locking yoke (3), rotation of the handle in the direction towards the base plate (1) at locked as well as unlocked (when the handle has an opening angle which is not substantially more than about 50.degree.

Abstract: A cable, wire or rope clamping device including a pair of plates having surfaces defining serpentine grooves to receive and retain segments of the article to be clamped. The plates are moveable between an open position for insertion of the segments and a closed position with the surfaces in closely spaced face-to-face relation to retain the segments within the grooves.In one form the clamping device is formed of nonconductive material and is useable to connect or splice electrical conductors.

Abstract: A fitting for flexible fabric type web slings.

Abstract: A moveable wing aircraft including a quick release, attachment mechanism carrying the aircraft on a bomb rack or other carrier and a mechanism for deploying the moveable wing from its captive carry position to its extended free flight position are disclosed. The aircraft includes an elongate fuselage, a portion of the top surface of which is substantially flat in order to accommodate the moveable wing. The moveable wing is positionable between a captive carry position in which it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and an extended free flight position. The single, moveable wing is pivoted around a central point from its captive carry position to its extended free flight position such that it is substantially perpendicular to the aircraft fuselage. The quick release mechanism extends through apertures in the wing in its captive carry position and is spring biased to retract through the wing and into the aircraft fuselage when released from the bomb rack or other carrier.

Abstract: Described is a piezoelectric drive element assembly for use in ink jet printer devices. The assembly comprises a piezoelectric drive element, which is characterized by a pair of electrodes spaced apart and thereby electrically isolated from one another on an external lateral face of the drive element. The assembly further includes a printed circuit board having holes through which the drive element is fitted, with the electrodes of the drive element being soldered to opposite sides of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Vapor cooled induction apparatus having a winding with predetermined surface irregularities on the turn surfaces of the winding to provide spaces to permit a cooling/insulating vaporizable liquid dielectric to flow between the turn surfaces of the winding to enable a film of the insulating cooling detection to be deposited on the surface area of the winding. The surface irregularities may be transverse grooves disposed at predetermined intervals in at least one surface of an elongated metallic conductor used to form the winding or they may be bosses of insulation disposed on a predetermined spacing on at least one surface of the elongated metallic conductor. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for forming precisely spaced grooves in the surface of a continuously moving elongated conductor and thereafter insulating the grooved conductor with a uniform, solid, homogeneous coating of electrical insulation.

Abstract: A boiler pipe assembly tool that has separate one-piece gripping jaws engaged with the pipe sections or tubes to be connected, an operating lever and short flexible chains connecting the lever and jaws to move adjacent ends of the tube sections into aligned relation and into engagement with an interposed chill ring used to provide resistance necessary to allow the tool to function in the alignment of and welding of the tube sections. The separate gripping jaws include a structure enabling the point of connection of the chains to be adjusted thereby varying the force moment arm on each jaw.

Abstract: A flexible pipe comprises an inner supporting pipe (1) made from an elastic material, onto which inner supporting pipe a shaped strip (2) is wound. Said strip (2) has a cross-section profile formed by two stepwise conjugated quadrangular flanges (3) and (4), the height of each of the flanges being equal to a half of the height of the profile. The adjacent turns of the strip (2) partially overlap each other so that the upper flange (3) of one turn is superimposed onto the lower flange (4) of the other flange, and the ends of the flanges (3) and (4) are aligned. An interlayer (5) made from an elastic material is superimposed onto the power frame formed by the strip (2). At least one pair of reinforcing layers (6) and (7) formed by groups of power filaments (8) and (9) is disposed on said interlayer (5), said filaments being parallel to one another and wound in contrary at angles of from 0.degree. to 20.degree. to the axis of the pipe.

Abstract: A fatigue resistant rivet in which the head has a distal frusto-conical portion and a proximate frusto-conical portion relative to the shank thereof. The proximate portion has a conical surface with a smaller angle relative to the rivet axis than the conical surface of the distal portion.A method of securing a fatigue resisting rivet to a work piece including the steps of first deforming the proximate portion to be pressure fit on a countersink to provide residual clamping strain/stress at the base of the countersink and deforming the distal portion to be pressure fit on the countersink to provide a residual claiming strain/stress adjacent the top of the countersink, and deforming the distal and proximate portions against the countersink to provide seal and clamp action between the rivet head and the countersink.

Abstract: Extremely high-purity and defect-free layers of III-V semiconductor materials are produced by a specific MBE process. This process as applied to GaAs includes protecting the deposition substrate with a passivating surface, removing this surface in situ, treating the bared substrate heated to a temperature below its incongruent melting point with an arsenic-containing gas, and initiating the MBE growth in an environment containing an excess of arsenic over gallium.

Abstract: A semiconductor member is attached to a base by placing a wafer of solder material on the base, placing a carrier member having a through capillary hole on the solder wafer, placing the semiconductor member on the carrier member and heating the arrangement whereby the solder material melts to solder the carrier member to the base, the solder material also travelling via the capillary hole to solder the semiconductor member to the carrier member.

Abstract: A method of assembling a combination starter-protector device. In this method, a first and second terminal are interconnected, and another of the first terminals is mounted to the terminal mounting piece. The second terminal is associated with an aperture extending through a casing member, and the first named first terminal is extended through an opening in the casing member. The terminal mounting piece is disposed in a position with respect to the casing member to at least in part close the opening therein, and thereby the another first terminal is extended through the opening in spaced apart relation with the first named first terminal. Another casing member is associated generally in mating relation with the first named casing member and the terminal mounting piece, and thereby a chamber is enclosed within the casing members.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device for realizing high integration density wherein a small size package called chip carrier (1) comprising a semiconductor integrated circuit element and providing connecting area at the perimeter of the rear side of said package is mounted onto a wiring board called mother board (2) providing connecting area corresponding to the connecting area of said small size package at the upper surface, characterized in that, contamination or dust existing in the gap between the upper surface of the mother board (2) and rear side of the chip carrier (1) can easily flow out and can be removed, thus improving reliability, by providing a through hole (7) at the chip carrier mounting area on said mother board (2).

Abstract: A quick attach/detach instrument panel and method in which the panel may be both mechanically and electrically connected to the support frame by zero insertion force connectors and in which the individual instruments on the panel may be easily removed from the front of the panel and electrically and mechanically connected thereto by zero insertion force connectors.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for fabricating an electrical crossover wire harness, the apparatus including, a wire holder, a known wire shuttle for feeding wires to the wire holder, a pressure plate for guiding and inserting the wires into the wire holder, a carriage for mounting and transporting an electrical connector relative to the wire holder a wire stuffer for transferring selected wires into selected wire positions of the connector assembly, and the wire holder holding wires elevated from the connector assembly and the wires previously transferred thereto.

Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting corrugated shipping cartons open includes a cutting blade and a holding arrangement for the cutting blade. The holding arrangement includes a confining member and a support member on which the cutting blade is held in its active position by being accommodated in a recess and having a stationary finger holding the blade and which is mounted on the confining member for movement between first and second positions displaced 90.degree. relative to each other. A cover for the cutting blade is mounted on the confining member for pivoting between its closed and open positions. The holding arrangement includes a contact surface which engages the edge region of the respective carton at the side wall thereof, and a distancing surface which engages the top wall of the carton during the cutting operation with the cover in its open position and with the support member in its first position to determine the distance of the cutting blade from the top wall.

Abstract: Reciprocal blade assembly of electric shaver having means for positively shaving specifically such long beard hair as ones extending along user's face skin or curling which are hard to shave, in addition to ordinary beard hair easy to shave. The means comprises an elongated bent part and slit-shaped hair inlet apertures made in an outer blade of a flexible steel foil fixed as bent semicylindrically to the shaver's head, the bent part being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade and the slit-shaped apertures substantially transversing the bent part, and an undulated part corresponding to the bent part and made in respective arcuate cutting blade edges of an inner cutter driven reciprocally to slide at the edges along the inner surface of the outer blade.

Abstract: A pipe cutter with a split ring frame attachable to a pipe. A split ring carrier assembly is rotatably mounted to the frame. The carrier assembly carries a cutter arm which in turn carries a cutter tool. The cutter arm is pivotally mounted to the carrier assembly so that it may be adjusted to cut pipe of various sizes. The feeding means for advancing the cutting tool is responsive to rotation of the carrier assembly about the frame. The feeding means is completely enclosed within the cutter arm, carrier assembly and frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation with a rotatable head carrying a non-metallic cutting line extended into a cutting plane. Additional line is extended from a supply line coil within the head into the cutting plane without independent operator action. A mechanism in the head automatically feeds replacement line whenever the free end of the cutting line is reduced to less than a predetermined maximum length in the cutting plane. The cutting line length is always extended to this predetermined maximum length at all operational rotational speeds, without adjustment, and in a positive step-by-step mode of segmental line advancement. The line feeder mechanism, has an escapement cam with an off center pivotal mounting that senses both centrifugal forces on the cutting line and changes in rotary speed of the head.

Abstract: A lettering machine is disclosed, which comprises a tracer support mechanism supporting a tracer at a corner such that the tracer can be freely moved to trace a letter or the like engraved on a tracing plate, a parallelogrammic horizontal component transmission mechanism via an inclination angle setting mechanism and capable of transmitting only the horizontal component of the tracing motion of the tracer on an equal scale, an enlarged scale or a reduced scale and/or a preset inclination angle, a parallelogrammic vertical component transmission mechanism coupled to the tracer support mechanism and capable of transmitting only the vertical component of the tracing motion of the tracer on an equal scale, an enlarged scale or a reduced scale, a resultant motion reproducing mechanism coupled to the parallelogrammic horizontal and vertical component transmission mechanisms and capable of combining the horizontal and vertical components of tracer motion transmitted from the respective transmission mechanisms to rep

Abstract: A measurement apparatus (10) for measuring a dimension between two surfaces (26, 27) on a workpiece (20) in which the apparatus includes a pair of gaging tips (310, 320) for engaging the surfaces. The gaging tips are mounted toward the end of a spindle (120) and extend outwardly (perpendularly) therefrom. The gaging tips (310, 320) are moved inwardly by the surfaces (26, 27), with the amount of inward movement being dependent on the distance between two surfaces. The inward movement of the gaging tips is sensed by a one piece flexible member (200), preferably in the shape of an "H", which has parallel legs (230, 240) compressed and pivoted about its central portion (250) by the inward movement of said tips. The flexible member is mounted rewardly of the contact tips by a thin pivot portion (224) to a housing.

Abstract: This taper gauge device is for barbers, stylists, beauticians, and the layman, and primarily, it consists of a body which is received on the cutting head of a hair clipper. It also includes teeth on its side walls and spaced ribs, for rolling movement on a person's hair, and openings are included in its side walls for receiving a pair of pins extending from the head of the hair clipper.

Abstract: A sensor (16) is affixed to a piece of rotatable equipment (10). The sensor has a rolling member (26) freely moveable within a cage member (18). In operation, the rolling member (26) contacts electrically conductive surfaces (28,30) disposed about the interior of the cage member. By determining which particular pair of surfaces are currently in contact with the rolling member, the orientation of the cage member with respect to the horizontal is known. The preferred embodiment utilizes a resistor network (34) and an electrical measuring device (48) for making this determination.

Abstract: The drying container has foraminous side walls and an open bottom which is received onto a vertically positionable, upwardly facing lower wall having a sloping surface. A pair of semi-cylindrical shielding walls encircle the drying basket and are spaced therefrom, the inner surface of which includes a trough to receive water from the drying container. During drying, produce received within the drying container is rotated which moves the water from the produce outwardly through the openings in the container sidewalls to the trough. At the conclusion of spin drying, the lower wall is moved downwardly away from its container enclosing position and the dried produce falls onto receiving conveyor belts for moving the dried produce to a packing station. At this time the drying container is subjected to short reciprocative movements which serves to shake loose any produce adhering to the inner surface of the container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for drying coal, particularly sub-bituminous coal in a packed bed configuration, wherein coal is ventilated by an oxygen-containing gas so that there is a heated zone wherein autogenous drying occurs. In particular, counter current ventilation is used to accomplish preheating, drying and evaporative cooling in three contiguous subzones. The process for drying provides for regulating the movement of coal and the flow of incoming air so as to achieve by exothermic oxidation a temperature not greater than 250.degree. F.