Abstract: An oilfield material reservoir is disclosed. The oilfield material reservoir has a body, the body having an upper end, a lower end, a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends, the sidewall defining a recess within the body, an opening defined by the upper end, and a first orifice defined by the lower end. The oilfield material reservoir is also provided with a metering gate connected to the body at the lower end. The metering gate has a base having a second orifice aligned with the first orifice, and a knife gate connected to the base. The second orifice has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The knife gate is configured to slidably cover the second orifice. A method is also disclosed for controlling a discharge rate of oilfield material within the oilfield material reservoir by adjusting a metering open area of the second orifice according to mathematical modeling equations.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a material pipe, a first container, a second container and a constant-length linkage mechanism. The material pipe is configured for feeding a first material. The first container is configured for receiving the first material and supplying a timed amount of the first material to a first material feed port. The second container is configured for storing a second material and supplying the second material to a second material feed port. The constant-length linkage mechanism is connected to the first container and the second container. When the first container is actually supplying the first material to the first material feed port, the constant-length linkage mechanism allows the second container to supply the second material to the second material feed port simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to dispensers of bedding materials for laboratory animal cages. According to one embodiment of a dispensing unit, materials are drawn into a storage chute by a vacuum and dispensing is accomplished in a dispenser comprising a plurality of dispensing chutes having dispensing openings through which material is dispensed into cages. While in a first position, a material directing gate allows the materials to be dispensed through one of the dispensing chutes into a first number of cages, and through another one of the dispensing chutes into a second number of cages while in a second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum from the vacuum blower is utilized to remove dust from the dispensing area where material is dispensed into cages. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for aligning, indexing and drying laboratory animal cages which have already been cleaned in a cleaning station.

Abstract: A dispenser for granular materials and a method of seasoning using the dispenser is provided. The dispenser has multiple deflectors. The deflectors can deflect granular materials in tangential and radial directions. The dispenser has a dispensing mechanism actuated by a user-manipulable lever connected to a yoke in which a pin is received for rotating a member of the dispenser. The dispenser achieves consistent quantities with each dispense with three different features. One feature is having a rim partially raised around the first member aperture. Another feature is pushing elements that cooperate with the partially raised rim. A third feature is radially staggered dispensing apertures.

Abstract: The combined water balloon launcher and water discharging device preferably includes a mechanism for discharging water. A water-holding reservoir may be mounted onto a handle section. A first barrel may also be coupled to the handle section. The first barrel may have an inlet port formed at a proximal end thereof in fluid communication with the water-holding reservoir. A guard may be coupled to a first plunger and may be slidably seated about the first and second barrels. The first plunger may displace air from the air holding chamber into the water holding reservoir. The water balloon launching mechanism may include a second barrel and a revolving water balloon-holding drum. The drum may contain isolated chambers in which water balloons are loaded. A second spring member may be anchored to the handle and attached to a second plunger. The second plunger urges the water balloon outwardly from the second barrel.

Abstract: A measure for dispensing measured quantities of two liquors from a pair of bottles has a pair of measuring and receiving bowls associated with the bottles. Sleeves engage within necks of the bottles for delivery of liquid from each bottle to an associated bowl. Valve members in each bowl have normally open inlet liquid seals which cooperate with the sleeves to control filling of the bowls. Outlet liquid seals on the valve members normally close liquid outlets of the bowls. An actuating lever is operable to raise the valve members, moving the seals upwardly for opening the outlets and closing the inlets of the bowls. Thus, liquid measures flow from the bowls substantially concurrently into a glass or the like placed below the liquid outlets. The outlets are arranged to direct the two liquids to opposite sides of the glass so that the liquids remain separated within the glass. Release of the actuating lever drops the valve members closing the liquid outlets and opening the inlets for recharging the bowls.

Abstract: A device for dispensing particulate condiments comprising a condiment hopper translatably mounted on a transfer plate having a gated reservoir for receiving and dispensing condiments from the hopper. The invention also includes a method for dispensing particulate condiments comprising translating an open-bottomed condiments hopper over a transfer plate having a gated reservoir to transfer a predetermined aliquot of condiments from the hopper to the reservoir. The method further includes closing a dispensing aperture of the reservoir while the hopper is in register with a transfer opening of the reservoir, and opening the dispensing aperture to dispense the aliquot of condiments when the hopper is out of register with the transfer opening.