Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating a variety of breathing disorders experienced by patients. The invention is particularly suited to the treatment of atelectasis, the partial or total collapse of the lung, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that it has applications in treating other disorders as well. Treating patients with breathing disorders traditionally has required the use of multiple types of apparatus in order to provide the multiple types of treatment used. The present invention provides for a treatment apparatus that is enabled to provide multiple types of treatment, depending on the needs of the patient.

Abstract: A metering mechanism comprises a housing (7) with a material inlet (12) and a rotary metering member (27) that is rotatably mounted between side walls (8,9) of the housing with its periphery exposed to a chamber (48) within the housing so as to meter material from the chamber as it rotates, characterized in that a removable insert (74) is provided that is a close fit in said chamber and has a passage (75) through it that communicates at one end with said inlet (12) and at the other end with the periphery of the rotary metering member (27) so that the effective volume of said chamber (48) is reduced to the volume of said passage (75). Thus, if the metering mechanism incorporates the known shutter-type tramlining device in which a shutter (24) serves to close the inlet (12) to the housing, the quantity of speed retained in the chamber within the housing is reduced and therefore the length of a bout that will be sown after closing the shutter will be correspondingly reduced.

Abstract: A relatively compact and lightweight planting and fertilizing apparatus is attached to a small garden tractor by a universal hitch which restricts lateral movement between the two. The apparatus is spring biased downwardly to assure firm contact with the ground, and can be raised above the ground by a single lever. The lever carries the biasing spring, and cams lifting bearings on the lever against a lifting plate on the apparatus. The fertilizer is fed by an axially adjustable feed gear rotated by a ground engaging wheel on the apparatus. The feed gear is biased by an adjusting spring against a threaded adjusting knob which sets the axial position of the feed gear.