L.r. Nelson Corporation

Other

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

+mfg, LLC

Thomas R Kruer

Lawrence P Heren

Hugh A Thompson

Jerry R Hayes

Kenneth J Bruninga

Gary Redhead

David L Hunt

Ronald G Hayes

William Howard McMahon

Jon Charles Heisler

Derek Alan Wilkes

James Blackwood

David Kenneth Memke

A method and apparatus for depositing metals and metal-like substances in two and three dimensional form without a substrate in a safe, rapid and economical fashion using gas shielded arc welding equipment and programmable robotic motion. The method and apparatus includes the use and application of robotic controls, temperature and position feedback, single and multiple material feeds, and semi liquid deposition thereby creating near net shape parts particularly well suited to rapid prototyping and lower volume production.

Method and apparatus for fabrication of articles by molten and semi-molten deposition

A reinforced unitized mat to facilitate growing plants includes at least two material layers defining fluid-conveying passageways forming distribution headers and a flow restrictor, an inlet for delivery of a fluid into the distribution headers, and an outlet for dispensing fluid into a root zone area covered by at least one layer of the material layers. The material layers are sized and shaped to cover an area immediately around at least one plant. The flow restrictor, for metering the fluid, is in fluid connection with the distribution header and extend outwardly to a multi-dimensional array of outlets. There may also be an additional reinforcing layer attached to the material layers. The reinforcing layer for the unitized mat can be a polymeric material layer, a fibrous material layer, a foam layer, a metal layer, or a composite layer. The fibrous layer, foam layer, metal layer, or composite layer may also form a portion of, or replace, one or more of the material layers.

Reinforced unitized mat to facilitate growing plants

A unitized mat to facilitate growing plants includes at least two polymeric material layers defining fluid-conveying passageways forming distribution headers and a flow restrictor, an inlet for delivery of a fluid into the distribution headers, and an outlet for dispensing fluid into a root zone area covered by at least one layer of the polymeric material layers. The polymeric layers are sized and shaped to cover an area immediately around at least one plant. The flow restrictor, for metering the fluid, is in fluid connection with the distribution header and a multi-dimensional array of outlets. The present invention combines a fluid distribution device and artificial mulching. The method of manufacturing and using the unitized mat to enhance the growth of plants is also disclosed.

Unitized mat to facilitate growing plants

A unitized mat to facilitate growing woody plants includes at least two polymeric material layers, an inlet for delivery of fluid, and at least one outlet for dispensing fluid into an area covered by at least one layer. There is an opening in the layers through which the plant extends along with an installation seam with overlapping ends. The mat includes perforations, aligned or off-set, for fluid outlets and may be used in a container, such that a polymeric material layer covers the surface thereof. Flexible extension flaps adjust for container size and shape. The mat is removably affixed to a container and/or can be fed by a water-filled container with a polymeric material layer integral with the container. The mat may be used for woody plants in a row, such as orchard applications. Extension flaps provide continuous cover around and between plants, and perforations provide anchors for fixable positioning.

Unitized mat to facilitate growing woody plants

An adapter clip for receiving an auxiliary rail having an upper slot and a lower slot, the adapter clip being shaped to be received in a shelf edge having an upper and lower groove. The adapter clip includes an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper and lower flanges being shaped to be received in the upper and lower groove, respectively, to thereby couple the adapter clip to the shelf edge. The adapter clip further includes an upper tang and a lower tang, the upper and lower tangs being shaped to be received in the upper and lower slot, respectively, to thereby couple the adapter clip to the auxiliary rail.

Attachment bracket for a shelf-edge display system

The present device relates to an apparatus and method for automatically sequencing the flow of fluid between one fluid source and at least two fluid chambers in response to an interruption of fluid flow or pressure. Particularly, the device relates to irrigation. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a sequencing valve that includes a two-sided flapper valve that is controlled by a spring and piston mechanism in order to direct fluid flow between chambers. In an alternate embodiment, the device includes a mechanism that also allows manual sequencing of fluid flow.

Sequencing valve

System and process for producing different embodiments of sprinkler assemblies uses two different first housing assemblies, from which one first housing assembly is selected for producing a desired sprinkler assembly embodiment. Each first housing assembly is replaceable with the other and includes an inlet end and a spaced outlet end; the inlet end of each first housing assembly is configured for connection with a source of water under pressure. Each first housing assembly also includes an adjustable flow control mechanism to control the flow of water under pressure through the first housing assembly. The control mechanism may include a manually-actuated moveable valve structure to control water flow rate, or a timing mechanism to select a duration for the water flow. By providing a first housing assembly with a control mechanism that is different from that of the other first housing assembly, the sprinkler assembly embodiment produced will depend upon the first housing assembly that is selected. A second housing assembly having an oscillating mechanism also is provided, and a sprinkler head assembly is connected to the oscillating mechanism. The first housing assembly, the second housing assembly, and the sprinkler head assembly are supported by a base assembly on the area to be sprinkled. Additional features, such as adjusting rings and spray width control members, also may be provided.

System and process for producing sprinkler assemblies

Arcuate hose nozzle

Wave sprinkler

Unitized sprinkler assembly including a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a manually adjustable control mechanism carried by the housing assembly, a sprinkler head assembly having an inlet end disposed to receive water under pressure flowing from the outlet end of the housing assembly, a base assembly constructed and arranged to support the assemblies on a ground area to be sprinkled, a structural connection between the sprinkler head assembly and the housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable the sprinkler head assembly to oscillate about an oscillatory axis with respect to the housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism mounted in the housing assembly constructed and arranged to be operated by the flow of water under pressure and connected with the sprinkler head assembly to oscillate the sprinkler head assembly about the oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles, an adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance, and a control member to control selectively the width of the spray patter discharged from the sprinkler head assembly. The housing assembly may include first and second housing assemblies.

Unitized sprinkler assembly with adjustable water control mechanism

A wave sprinkler assembly in which the tubular spray assembly comprises a tubular member and one or more elongated strips of flexible material having a series of longitudinally spaced water stream outlets extending therethrough, the strips are assembled with the tubular member by inserting them therein through an end and moving them radially outwardly into an operative position wherein the water under pressure within the interior of the tubular spray assembly acts on the strips to enhance their engagement with the tubular member. The strip provides an annular seal of flexible sealing material extending around the exterior of each of the controllable water stream outlets, and a control member is mounted on the elongated tubular assembly for movement between a full width operating position and a width limiting position. The control member includes a control section associated with each annular seal and the controllable water stream outlet around which it extends. Each control section has a surface area movable into engagement with the associated annular seal to prevent a water stream from issuing from the controllable water stream outlet around which it extends and an open area movable over the controllable water stream outlet around which the associated annular seal extends to allow a water stream to issue therefrom.

Wave sprinkler with improved adjustable spray assembly

The lawn sprinkler device comprises a manually operative combination of a container, sprinkler head and lid components. The container and lid are manually movable between a closed position defining a closed volume in the container and an open position that provides access to the closed volume. The container and lid are mounted within the ground so that the closed volume extends downwardly from the level of the lawn area and in the open position access to the closed volume is available generally at the level of the lawn area. The sprinkler head component includes a hose coupling inlet for manual connection by a user with an above-ground hose and an outlet structure for discharging water under pressure in a desired pattern on the lawn area. The sprinkler head is mounted with respect to the container and lid for manual movement between a storage position within the closed volume of the container and an operative position which is in elevated relation to the closed volume. In the operative position the sprinkler head can be manually connected to the above-ground hose containing a source of water under pressure so that water will discharge from the outlet in a desired pattern on the lawn area.

Growing community of inventors

Edgewood, KY, United States of America

Thomas R Kruer