Abstract: An extraction cleaner is provided with a removable recovery tank having a recovery container, a drain opening quick-empty valve, and an actuator assembly for emptying the recovery container. The drain opening can be provided on a lower portion of the recovery container. The actuator assembly can selectively open the valve. At least a portion of the actuator assembly can be provided on an upper portion of the recovery container.

Abstract: An agitator for an agricultural system includes a shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis during operation of the agricultural system, and an extension coupled to the shaft. The extension includes a hoop and a tine extending from the hoop, and the tine extends acutely relative to the rotational axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A high speed granule delivery system and method is disclosed for dispensing granules in intermittent patterns onto a moving asphalt coated strip in the manufacture of roofing shingles. The system includes a granule hopper and a rotationally indexable pocket wheel in the bottom of the hopper. A series of pockets are formed in the circumference of the wheel and the pockets are separated by raised lands. A seal on the bottom of the hopper seals against the raised lands as the wheel is indexed. In use, the pockets of the pocket wheel drive through and are filled with granules in the bottom of the hopper. As each pocket is indexed beyond the seal, it is exposed to the moving asphalt coated strip below and its granules fall onto the strip to be embedded in the hot tacky asphalt.

Abstract: Bulk material discharge assemblies comprise a bulk material hopper, a conduit for delivering an air stream to entrain with bulk material from the bulk material hopper, and a feeding apparatus for introducing additive to the conduit. The feeding apparatus comprises an additive hopper and an airlock positioned adjacent the conduit. In addition, metering apparatus are provided that comprise an axle and first and second metering wheels. A noncircular perimeter of the axle and the shape of each hub opening of each of the metering wheels cooperate to nonrotatably mount each metering wheel to the axle. The first and second metering wheel are adapted to be selectively mounted in at least one of a first relative position and a second relative position.

Abstract: A fixing device for a dispenser for dispensing a fluid substance, the dispenser being suitable for being fitted to a container (1) provided with a neck (10) and comprising a dispenser member (2) mounted on the neck (10) of the container (1), said neck (10) forming an outwardly-extending peripheral thick portion (11) cooperating with the remainder of the neck to form a bottom shoulder (12), said fixing device comprising a fixing ring (20) for fixing the dispenser member to the neck, the fixing ring (20) being provided with a peripheral skirt (21) which extends to below said shoulder (12), said fixing device being characterized in that said skirt (21) is provided with flaps (22) whose free ends point inwards and upwards and come into abutment contact against the shoulder (12), thereby snap-fastening the fixing ring (20) to the neck (10) of the container (1).

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel granular material metering and dispensing system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel adjustable-rate apparatus for metering and dispensing granular chemicals, seeds and fertilizers. A metering dispenser for granular materials comprising: (a) a metering assembly for affixing to a resevoir of granular materials; and (b) at least one roller comprised of two opposed, truncated cones rotationally mounted on a metering shaft in the metering assembly.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus utilizing a through shaft metering gear pump. The metering gearhead includes an elongated drive shaft which receives multiple, self-contained gear pumps in a sliding manner. The gear pumps of the apparatus are connected to a fluid distribution manifold at a selected spacing with an inlet of each gear pump being connected to a central supply passage within the manifold and at least one outlet of each pump connected to a manifold outlet passage which may lead to suitable dispensing nozzles or guns. Each gear pump includes at least first and second gears with the drive gear being connected to the elongated drive shaft by way of a hollow shaft which provides both a sealing function and drive transfer function. The hollow shaft is keyed to the drive shaft to allow the pump body to be slid into the desired position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a vertically extending receiving hopper (1) having a guide funnel (2) in the bottom part thereof. A disk (3) having at least one discharge opening (4) is mounted between them. Above the discharge opening (4) is mounted a cut-off member (9) with a possibility of vertical and horizontal movement and has its surface extending in parallel with the disc (3) surface.

Abstract: This screw auger chemical applicator is designed to evenly and non-cloggingly feed chemical or small seed onto a ground surface. Primarily, it consists of a pulley and belt train driven by a wheel in engagement with a trailing wheel of a pair of wheels mounted to a towed frame behind a farm tractor, and the pulley and belt train drives a left and right pitched auger beneath each hopper of the applicator, for even feed from a pair of discharge openings in the hopper. A by-pass tube is also provided beneath the auger portion, for preventing compacting of the chemical or seed that could cause malfunction.

Abstract: The spreading apparatus has a main hopper and at least one extension hopper, each having a discharge roller for flowable material such as chippings for road surfacing. The extension hopper is mounted adjacent the main hopper and movable longitudinally to enable variation of the combined width of the hoppers. A baffle cuts off communication between the discharge roller of the extension hopper and the major part of the interior of the extension hopper over a width corresponding to the longitudinal overlap between the main hopper and the extension hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for intermittently dispensing either fragile particulate material, such as sesame seeds, or flaky material, such as bran, through openings in a tube to spread material over an array of spaced rows and columns of a food product in a pan. The dispensing apparatus comprises a hopper from which fragile particulate material is dispensed through a dispensing tube in which a mandrel driven by a reversible variable speed motor is rotatably disposed. The mandrel has spaced spline teeth formed on its outer surface in dispensing sections separated by blocking collars spaced longitudinally of the mandrel such that rotation of the mandrel causes particulate material to be dispensed in parallel columns and such that intermittent rotation of the mandrel causes the columns to be divided to form rows.

Abstract: In order to be able to simultaneously fill with a liquid, gaseous or solid flowable medium, without it being necessary to measure and monitor the filling volume or weight of each container, the filling plant has a pipeline system (10) for conveying the medium to be filled with a plurality of drawing-off lines (13, 113, 213) leading to the filling valves (20, 120, 220) and in which are arranged volume chambers (40, 140, 240) with rotors rotated by the medium flowing through the same, arranged jointly on a shaft (40) with a system pressure-dependent controlled brake (45). A balance (50) is only associated with a single filling valve (20) of the valves controlled by a control cylinder (25) and is used for controlling said cylinder (25). A feed pump (15) connected upstream of the filling valve (120) associated with balance (50) ensure a uniform exit velocity of the medium in the container when pressure fluctuations occur in the pipeline system (11, 13, 113, 213).

Abstract: Apparatus for intermittently dispensing fragile particulate material, such as sesame seeds through openings in a tube to spread material over an array of horizontally and vertically spaced rows and columns such as upper surfaces of buns in a pan. The dispensing apparatus comprises a hopper from which fragile particulate material is dispensed through a dispensing tube in which a mandrel driven by a variable speed motor is rotatably disposed. The mandrel has spaced spline teeth formed on its outer surface in dispensing sections separated by blocking collars spaced longitudinally of the mandrel such that rotation of the mandrel causes particulate material to be dispensed in parallel columns and such that intermittent rotation of the mandrel causes the columns to be divided to form rows.

Abstract: In order to simultaneously fill several containers with a liquid, gaseous or solid flowable medium, without it being necessary to measure and monitor the filling volume or weight of each container, the filling apparatus has a pipe system (10) for carrying the medium to be filled. The pipe system includes a plurality of branch lines (13, 113, 213) leading to valves (20, 120, 220). In the branch lines there are arranged volume chambers (40, 140, 240) having impellers jointly placed on a shaft (41) with a system pressure-dependent braking device (45). The impellers are rotated by the medium flowing through the volume chambers. A balance (50) or a rotary piston meter (150) is associated with only one valve (20) of all the valves controlled by a control cylinder (25) and is used for controlling the latter.

Abstract: A device for discharging particulate material, such as agricultural seed at a uniform rate comprises a hopper having a rectangular slot in the base, a driven roller having a compressible surface which contacts one side of the slot and a transparent glass metering plate attached to the hopper and which bears against the roller to provide a nip therebetween and to control the rate of flow of the material from the hopper while allowing visual examination of the flow of particulate materials between the roller and metering plate. The device may be conveniently attached to an agricultural drilling machine and the roller driven by a mechanism associated with the ground wheels of the machine. Collecting cups are provided for directing the seed from beneath the roller into the seed drills. Seed is discharged into the drills at a constant rate and no adjustment is necessary for use with seeds of different sizes.

Abstract: The food material to be processed is alternately transferred from two sources to an elongated treating chamber. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes rotary valve means employing two pocket areas, each pocket area including a plurality of pockets with each pair of diametrically located pockets having an interconnecting passage. The pockets of one area are angularly displaced or out-of-phase with the pockets of the other area. Owing to the out-of-phase relationship, the food material to be processed is alternately received by one pocket of one area, then by the next pocket of the other area and so on through each revolution of the valve means in which the pockets are contained, the material being discharged in the same out-of-phase relationship through the interconnecting passages and diametrically disposed pockets into the inlet of a pressurized elongated treating chamber.

Abstract: An improved metering discharge device for particulate material, particularly grain, is described. The device comprises a plurality of tubes extending downwardly from a lower region of a vessel, particularly in uniformly spaced relationship across the bottom of a gravity flow grain drying chamber. Each tube has an upper end flow connected to the drying chamber and a closed lower end and also has a pair of opposed openings in the side walls. A rotatable auger extends laterally through the tube via the side wall openings. The tubes preferably arranged in straight rows with a single auger extending through each row. This combination of tubes and augers provides a simpler design as well as a more precise flow metering than prior metering rolls. Also included are a plurality of laterally spaced, inverted channel members with open bottoms extending across the drying tower immediately above the discharge floor structure, these channel members being adapted to distribute cooling air into the grain in the tower.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying glass spheres or other dry particles at prescribed adjustable widths without wastage of material by gravity feeding such spheres upon a roller assembly comprising a plurality of roller sections selectively engagable for rotation by a continuously driven coaxial drive shaft.

Abstract: A machine, for delivery of metered quantities of granular material, comprising a hopper, a discharge outlet, and a metering device in the lower regions of the hopper for conveying measured quantities of granular material between said hopper and said discharge outlet, said metering device comprising a rotary member with peripheral flutes defining peripheral recesses in said member which recesses are, when the member is rotated, successively charged with granular contents from said hopper, peripherally closed by an internal surface of said hopper, and open at the discharge outlet to permit discharge of the conveyed material, characterized in that said recesses are closed by a wear member after exposure to the hopper contents and before closure by said hopper surface.