The Toro Company

Other

Charles C Holley

Walter J Petersen

William E Daniels, Jr

Owen Smith

Robert C Comer

David J Scherbring

John M Beattie

Dana R Lonn

Gary R Lamusga

Michael N Zenner

Joseph P Hager

Steven A Sallstrom

Dean A Podevels

Michael T Schmidt

Kaibai Liu

Spec-Trac is a computerized specimen rack storage system. The main focal point of the invention is the computerized storage racks that allow the user to scan barcode \ labeled specimens and place them in the rack as directed by the computer, using LED's, proximity switches, and computer technology In addition, the rack's are stored in refrigeration/freezer units that connect the racks to a network, and allow the racks to synchronize its database with the main storage server, using standard network wired or wireless technology. Specimen retrieval can occur at the computerized rack, individual storage units, or the main database server.

Spec-trac

A refuse collection device (1) including a collector roller (11) and an inclined conveyor (27) which deposits collected debris into a hopper (127) along arcuate paths (128, 129), thereby filling the hopper (127) initially in the region adjacent to its rear wall (130). Mounted on the collector roller (11) is a plurality of rubber fingers (13, 14, 15, 16) arranged in rows (17, 18, 19) which are laterally offset from substantially identical rubber fingers (39, 40, 41), also arranged in rows (32, 33, 34) so as to occasionally form a substantially continuous, upwardly moving entrainment platform (150) and to also occasionally form an arrangement of spaced apart fingers which each transport debris onto the conveyor (27). The collector roller (11) is attached to a hydraulic ram (118) so as to permit the collector roller (11) to travel over excessively large debris without interference. The conveyor (27) is inclined at an approximately forty five degree angle, the upper conveyor axle (26) being supported by a bearing (123) which may be adjustably mounted within a slot (124) and on alternate parallel frame members (10, 115) so as to maintain the desired clearance from the road surface (6) as the rubber fingers (14, 15, 16, 40, 41) shorten due to wear. A carcass storage box (131) is pivotably mounted along the lower edge (140) of the hopper (127) to segregate refuse which must be disposed of separately.

Highway debris entrainment and storage device

A debris collection vehicle (1) having an offset cab (12) adjacent to a conveyor belt (61) which transports collected debris to a hopper (59). Rows of resilient fingers (51) are mounted on a collector drum (36), the conveyor (61) and on curb brushes (22, 24). The orientation of the collector (36) may be varied with respect to the lower drum (57) supporting the conveyor belt (61) in order to permit the reliable entrainment of various sized and shaped objects without fouling. The collector drum (36) is biased by a spring (192) to facilitate clearance of obstacles or oversized debris. A front deflection bar (229) is mounted adjacent to the collector drum (36) to direct debris toward the lower support (56) of the conveyor belt (61). A rear deflection bar (239) is mounted adjacent to the lower conveyor support (56) to direct debris toward the upper surface of the conveyor belt (61). The lower region (387) of the conveyor belt (61) may also be supported by a forward axle (401) and a tandem rear axle (402) to provide a volume (391) within which uncollected debris is urged toward a collector drum (368). The upper region (349) of a modified conveyor belt (347) is constructed to transition to a horizontal orientation to facilitate delivery to a hopper (350). The hopper (350) is connected to an hydraulic lift assembly (292) to permit elevation and emptying of the hopper (350) at a suitable collection site.

Automatic debris retrieval system

A refuse collection device (1) including a collector roller (11) and an inclined conveyor (27) which deposits collected debris into a hopper (127) along arcuate paths (128, 129), thereby filling the hopper (127) initially in the region adjacent to its rear wall (130). Mounted on the collector roller (11) is a plurality of rubber fingers (13, 14, 15, 16) arranged in rows (17, 18, 19) which are laterally offset from substantially identical rubber fingers (39, 40, 41), also arranged in rows (32, 33, 34) so as to occasionally form a substantially continuous, upwardly moving entrainment platform (150) and to also occasionally form an arrangement of spaced apart fingers which each transport debris onto the conveyor (27). The collector roller (11) is attached to a biasing means (118) so as to permit the collector roller (11) to travel over excessively large debris without interference. The conveyor (27) is inclined at an approximately forty five degree angle, the upper conveyor axle (26) being supported by a bearing (123) which may be adjustably mounted within a slot (124) and on alternate parallel frame members (10, 115) so as to maintain the desired clearance from the road surface (6) as the rubber fingers (14, 15, 16, 40, 41) shorten due to wear. A carcass storage box (131) is pivotably mounted along the lower edge (140) of the hopper (127) to segregate refuse which must be disposed of separately.

A high pressure liquid containment joint in an apparatus for injecting high pressure liquid into turf. A preferred high pressure liquid containment joint includes an O-ring (72). The high pressure liquid containment joint also includes a cylindrical plug (70). The plug (70) includes a first end and a second end, external threads (71) located between the first and second ends, a shoulder (73) for accepting the O-ring (72) wherein the shoulder (73) is located between the external threads (71) and the second end. The plug (70) also includes a hexhead (75) connected with the first end for accepting rotational force. The high pressure liquid containment joint also includes a high pressure liquid containment vessel for containing high pressure liquid wherein the vessel includes a threaded bore (74) wherein the bore (74) includes internal threads (172) for engaging the external threads (71) and two, smooth machined frusto-conical surfaces (174, 175) for contacting the O-ring. The O-ring (72) and the frusto-conical surfaces (174, 175) form a liquid impermeable barrier when the external threads (71) engage the internal threads (172) and the plug (70) and the O-ring (72) are rotated relative to the threaded bore (74) and wherein the barrier lies between the high pressure liquid and the external and internal threads (71, 172) whereby stresses on the internal threads (172) in the containment vessel are reduced resulting in a reduced chance of structural failure of the containment vessel.

High pressure liquid containment joint for hydraulic aerator

An apparatus and method is disclcosed for cultivating soil and turf by utilization of pressurized liquid injected into the soil and turf. A roller assembly (33) is provided for applying mechanical pressure to the turf after cultivation. Further, a means for setting a first speed in a transport mode and a second speed in a cultivating mode is provided. The apparatus is designed to be bidirectional to allow the apparatus to be used in both a forward and reverse direction. The flow of the pressurized liquid is controlled to be at intervals of from about 0.010 to 0.065 seconds and at pressures from about 2,300 psi to about 5,500 psi through nozzles having diameters of from about 0.033 to about 0.090 inches. The apparatus (10) utilizes a water hammer effect to effect the flow of pressurized liquid out of the nozzles 55 and has found a relationship in the pressure and pounds per square inch of the cross-sectional area of the bore of the manifold to the accumulated area of the output ports of the nozzles.

Method and apparatus for soil cultivation by high pressure injection of

A hydraulic system (30) suitable for raising, lowering, floating and locking a cutting deck (16). Hydraulic circuit (30) preferably includes a back pressure system (40) for automatically, or manually, applying a preferred back pressure to hydraulic cylinders (24) to 'float' decks (16). Connected to back pressure system (40) is an actuation system (42) which can automatically or manually act on back pressure system (40) to change the back pressure depending on conditions. For example, it may be desirable to increase the back pressure when mower (10) encounters a hill to transfer more weight from the cutting unit (16) to the traction vehicle (12) of mower (10).

System for supporting a working unit

A rotary mower (10) including a front deck assembly (18) and a pair of wing decks (20). Each wing deck (20) is supported by a lift arm assembly including a main lift arm (26) and a lift arm extension (32). A pivot joint (30) exists between lift arms (26) and (32) so that when deck (20) is raised from its cutting position to its transport position it is also caused to rotate so that mower (10) maintains a relatively low profile even when decks (20) are in their transport position. Mower (10) also preferably includes a pair of breakaway assemblies (48) which allow wing decks (20) to 'break away' in the event they strike an immovable object. Finally, a preferred mower (10) includes resilient bushing assemblies (38) between the wing deck lift arm assemblies and the wing deck housings (24) to minimize vibration and noise and provide some floating of the decks (20).

Growing community of inventors

Bloomington, MN, United States of America

Charles C Holley