Abstract: A device for receiving and dispensing metered quantities of loose material. The dispenser includes an upright open hopper having a rotatable metering shaft journaled below downwardly converging hopper walls. A helical feed groove or a series of indentations aligned in a helical path along the metering shaft receive material from the hopper upon rotation of the shaft and discharge it in the metered quantities below. Wipers are provided on opposite sides of the metering shaft and extend from the hopper walls to rub against the shaft periphery in order to control the amount of material received and delivered through the helical groove or indentations.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated cover and aerosol activator for an aerosol spray container so that the cover does not have to be removed from the container in order to actuate the aerosol activator. The combined cover-activator is also provided with an annular locking ring on the inside surface for engaging an annular lip on the container for locking the aerosol activator in engagement with the aerosol valve when it is actuated. The cover is also provided with spring members for allowing the aerosol activator to be moved in a substantially-vertical direction to vertically move and actuate the stem of the aerosol valve. In another form of the invention, one spring is provided for allowing the activator to be moved at an angle to bend and actuate the stem of the aerosol valve.

Abstract: A multiple nozzle fluid dispenser having jointly and independently actuable valves that are interchangeable as to their relative positions and having means for accommodating a valve operating mechanism for the valves to any arrangement of the valves.

Abstract: An inlet stream of particulate material is successively split into smaller stream segments. The segments are spread across a conveyor belt in a magnetic or conductivity separator. Inlet and intermediate stages of the splitter include troughs of triangular cross section to concentrate the streams before splitting them. The flow direction is reversed in each stage to facilitate the axial concentration of the material stream.

Abstract: The method of burning different sorts of solid fuel in a tunnel-like burner furnace comprises the steps of pulverizing the solid fuel particles to a size corresponding to optimum burning performance of the employed burners, supplying the pulverized particles in an air stream to the burners of the furnace and adjusting the supplied amount of pulverized particle-air mixture, and the amount of air in the mixture in accordance with the optimum burning performance of the burner. The burner furnace system for performing the method of this invention comprises a tunnel burner furnace having a plurality of ceiling burners and of side wall burners, a fuel distributor having a rotatable distributing channel communicating successively with respective burners and a dosing device connected to the input of the fuel distributor and adapted for adjusting the stream of the mixture of air with pulverized fuel particles.

Abstract: Battery plates are assembled into stacks forming positive and negative rows of lugs and the stacks are placed within the cells in a battery case. Molding channels are automatically formed around the positive and negative rows of lugs and molten lead alloy is automatically introduced into the molding channels to cast the straps and intercell connections simultaneously within the battery case.

Abstract: A liquid-oil feeder is provided for supplying various metered amounts of oil to a plurality of regions. The feeder has a tank of oil and an oil pick-up chamber reciprocating in and out of the supply of oil. The chamber contacts a transfer plate and a longitudinally adjustable rod displaces the oil from the chamber to the transfer plate. The metered amount of oil then flows from the transfer plate through a spout to an outlet leading to an oil line for carrying the oil to the various regions. A plurality of such chambers and transfer plates, displaced as a unit and each associated with a separate adjustable rod and outlet, may be provided. The feeder is capable of supplying oil in a continuous flow of droplets and also has flushing apparatus for supplying a stream of oil to various regions.

Abstract: A continuously refrigerated, automatically ejected block ice machine having means to measure and supply a specified amount of water to a water distributor which appropriately directs each measured amount of water to each of a plurality of product cells in which the ice is formed, the product cells, being an integral part of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The water which is permitted to enter the bottom of the product cell forcing up the frozen block of ice where it is harvested. Upon the completion of the water entering the product cell, means are provided to remove water proximate the cell to prevent freezing. The operation is automated through each of the product cells, each cell filled with new water and ejecting the frozen ice block, the new water permitted to be frozen and the operation repeated.

Abstract: A multiple nozzle fluid dispenser, such as a glue gun, having some of its nozzle valves selectively and jointly actuable by a common operating element and at least one of its nozzle valves actuable independently of the jointly actuable valves, for controlling fluid flow through the dispenser nozzles in complex delivery patterns.

Abstract: Apparatus for discharging predetermined quantities of food for dairy cows and beef cattle, which apparatus comprises a hopper, an elongate flat-sided housing, a conveyor positioned in a conveyor section of the housing, a plurality of separate collector compartments formed in a collector section of the housing, and a plurality of sliding plates joined to a common rod for simultaneously closing and opening a plurality of discharge apertures in the collector compartments.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing lithographic plate which includes two sprayer/scrubber stations separated by a water rinse. The fluids to be sprayed are continuously circulated through fluid feed tubes provided with externally actuable metering orifices. The valve operators for the orifices are pneumatically operated in a periodic manner to provide even dispersion of the fluid.

Abstract: A hot water feeding device having an upper water tank and a lower water tank connected with the upper tank by a conduit. The water is heated by heater means provided for the lower tank. The hot water is selectively taken out from the lower tank through a port. An additional pipe is provided for the lower tank which communicates therewith through the upper wall of the lower tank. The additional pipe upwardly extends through a bottom wall and the interior of the upper tank and opens over the current water level of the upper tank.A plurality of pipes may be provided between the lower tank and the port. Different amounts of hot water may be selectively taken out during a constant time period by opening selected valve means of the additional pipes.

Abstract: An improved pneumatic material dispenser of the type wherein material is dropped from the periphery of a rotating element into adjacent axially spaced material collecting passages of a collector and an air supply propels the material through discharge tubes attached to the collector to remote locations, the improvement being a plenum chamber which receives the air supply and feeds it to the collecting passages through air passages at a point remote from the material entry thereinto.

Abstract: In an aircraft flight line servicing system there is provided an electrical power unit and an air compressor from which extend respectively a plurality of electrical and air distribution lines and a plurality of service islands are each connected to all of the electrical and air distribution lines. Each service island is provided with components for supplying both starting air and cooling air and electricity to aircraft. The distribution lines and service islands may be detachably mounted upon the surface of the flight line and have such a height and shape so as to enable aircraft tires to pass thereover.

Abstract: A powder-feeding method and apparatus according to which it is possible to provide one or a plurality of powder-feeding flows in which the powder is fed at a substantially constant rate which is of relatively small magnitude. A cone of powder is maintained substantially centrally of a disc which is rotated at a constant speed. A coarse scraper blade extends inwardly across the periphery of the disc into the cone of powder thereon substantially radially with respect to the disc so that the coarse scraper blade removes some powder on one side of the blade while leaving on the disc on the other side of the blade a layer of powder the depth of which is determined by the distance between the bottom edge of the coarse scraper blade and the top surface of the disc.

Abstract: A dispenser for metering predetermined charges of shot or other particulate material by means of a slidable charging plate, incorporates a shear slide device which prevents shot that become trapped between a supply hopper and the charging plate from either jamming the charging plate or being sheared into irregular pieces. The device also withholds the trapped shot from the metered charge, and thereby increases the uniformity of the quantities metered.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for semi-fluid material includes a housing having a vertical bore and a second bore connecting with this vertical bore. A piston is slidably mounted within said second bore and is movable between a first position spaced from the vertical bore and a second position adjacent to the vertical bore. Fluid pressure is applied through a first channel to a first piston surface to cause the piston to move from a first to the second position. Fluid pressure is applied through a second channel to a second piston surface to cause the piston to move back to the first position from the second position. An input aperture connects the vertical bore in the housing to an interconnecting array of branching channels which are in turn connected through a plurality of apertures to dispensing members. The channels in this array are configured such that the pressure drop between the input aperture to the array and the inputs of each of the dispensing members is equal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful apparatus that incorporates the precision and accuracy of net weight fillers with the speed and economy of volumetric fillers. The invention comprises means for receiving a flowable product, said means being connected to a scale. When the product within the receiving means reaches a predetermined weight, it is deposited into a cavity having a plurality of equal chambers and is evenly distributed therein by rotary motion means. A plurality of containers are positioned relative to the cavity to receive the product from the chambers.

Abstract: Loose fibrous material, e.g. cut tobacco, is distributed via a horizontal rotor drum in a housing; the drum having external rakes for picking up tobacco deposited on an ascending portion of the drum and presenting it to suction-operated, draw-off pipes in a top portion of the housing. Tobacco which is not drawn-off is carried around on the rotating drum for re-presentation to the pipes. This re-cycling avoids an external return system and degradation of the tobacco.

Abstract: A powder feeder, especially useful for transporting particulate materials at very low, yet precisely controlled, rates. A container preferably a closed vessel, is provided with an orifice to admit gas up through the bottom of the vessel in a high velocity column (or jet). A pair of concentric conduits is suspended from the top of the vessel in approximately axial alignment with the orifice so that the column of gas is captured within the outer conduit and substantially all enters the inner conduit. Particulate material (such as metal powder) is stored in the space between the outer conduit and the walls of the vessel. The spacing of the outer conduit from the bottom of the vessel is adjusted to admit particulate material to the vicinity of the orifice at a controlled rate but to prevent flooding of the space between the orifice and the conduits. When gas is forced through the orifice, particulate material is lifted by the venturi pressure effect created by the gas column.

Abstract: Plywood is made by continuously propelling a liquid plywood glue in unfoamed condition at a predetermined flow rate, continuously foaming the glue as it is propelled, and continuously extruding or otherwise applying the foamed glue to the surface of a plurality of wood veneers. The flow rate of the unfoamed and foamed glue is maintained substantially the same on a unit weight of liquid glue per unit time basis. The veneers then are laid up into a plywood assembly and pressed into a plywood panel. The veneers may be preheated to expedite setting of the glue. The method is applicable generally to the application of a foamed liquid to a solid surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material comprising a hopper, a grid melter, a reservoir and a pump. The novel grid melter comprises a plurality of upwardly extending frustoconical melting elements formed on the bottom wall of the melter. The pump is also novel and comprises a unique infeed system for forcibly moving molten material into the pump inlet. The apparatus lends itself to a modular building block concept in which differing manifold blocks, pumps and drive motors, as well as applicators may be utilized in combination with the grid melter and/or reservoir to create differing operating characteristic dispensing systems.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for filling tubular battery plates with active material paste by extruding the paste into the tubes via feed tubes passing from an inlet end of an extrusion head to an outlet end arranged in a row.The plates are supported during the extrusion and the feed tubes proportioned so as to equalize the amount of paste fed into each individual tube.

Abstract: A device adapted for operational mounting upon a ground-level superior, moving, and dirigible platform, which device distributes individualized members of a particulate solid according to a ground pattern selectively controllable with respect to distribution frequency and locational placement of the individualized members.Claimed also is a sequence of operations method for distributing members of a particulate solid according to a ground pattern which ground pattern is selectively controllable with respect to member distribution frequency and locational placement.