A closed loop feed trough having a feed chain moveable lengthwise therein to distribute feed from a hopper associated with the trough provided with an impeller which rotates in response to movement of the chain to assist in returning uneaten feed to the hopper. The impeller is mounted in the hopper adjacent its inlet and is fabricated in two halves which are fastened to opposite sides of a drive sprocket which engages the feed chain. Each half of the impeller has a hub and a series of vanes exte...

A horse boot for resilient engagement about the hoof wall and adjacent hoof structure. A boot wall extends upwardly from the perimeter of a boot sole and includes a flexible rear wall portion of generally concave-convex shape. The rear wall portion is flexible to permit manual repositioning thereof downwardly about the rear edge of the sole to open the boot for passage of the horse's hoof into place. A raised rear portion of the rear wall contributes to hoof engagement. The boot sole may be perf...

A throat support device comprising a main throat support section having one or more lifting mechanisms, each with a tip, each tip adapted to fit into a location immediately adjacent to and behind a basihyoid bone, a thyroid cartilage and/or a cricoid cartilage of an animal to control upper airway dysfunction. In one embodiment, the throat support device further comprises a bridle. In one embodiment, the upper airway dysfunction is dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) and the animal is a...

A feeding apparatus aimed at efficiently supplying feed to chicks in a chick box, which can hold the feed in the chick box and can supply the feed to the chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed is supplied to the chicks in the chick box by means of a feeding apparatus which can maintain the feed at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

Methods and systems for performing landing gear operations. In one embodiment, a method for retracting a landing gear is useable with an aircraft having a gear door that at least partially covers a gear well when the landing gear is extended. The method can include receiving a first signal during movement of the aircraft down a runway for takeoff. The first signal can correspond to at least a first aspect of motion of the aircraft, such as upward rotation of the aircraft for liftoff. The gear do...

An In Orbit Transportation & Recovery System (IOSTAR.TM.) (10) One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a space tug powered by a nuclear reactor (19). The IOSTAR.TM. includes a collapsible boom (11) connected at one end to a propellant tank (13) which stores fuel for an electric propulsion system (12). This end of the boom (11) is equipped with docking hardware (14) that is able to grasp and hold a satellite (15) and as a means to refill the tank (13). Radiator panels (16) mou...

A system for modifying a shock wave formed in a fluid by a body to modify effects of the shock wave on an object released from the body including heating fluid along a path to form a volume of heated fluid expanding outwardly from the path, the path extending from the body and through the shock wave, releasing the object from the body, and timing a release of the object relative to the heating of the fluid along the path to modify certain effects of the shock wave on the object.

A small animal litter box which comprises an upper tray with a perforated bottom wall for carrying litter material, and a lower tray for receiving urine and particles dropping from the first tray through the perforated bottom wall thereof. The first tray contains litter material in the form of pellets that are disintegrated into smaller particles when the pellets absorb urine, and the perforated bottom wall has holes dimensioned such that smaller particles from disintegrated pellets pass through...

A saddle pad apparatus constructed from a first non-slip top layer which is stitched or welded to a second non-slip bottom layer with a stiffening layer contained between the top and bottom layers. Each layer is constructed from a poly vinyl chloride impregnated scrim. Each scrim is constructed with ventilation openings to allow for proper ventilation between the load being carried and the animal. The scrims are manufactured by applying a poly vinyl chloride material onto a fiber network with fi...

A treeless riding pad has a first and second seating portion for two persons, and is particularly for use with handicapped and physically challenged riders. The riding pad allows a therapist or other professional to ride behind the rider and assist with therapy. The riding pad is made of soft materials and is typically an English-style pad. A looped member at the front of the riding pad allows the first rider to bold on to the animal. The riding pad has two sets of stirrups, allowing both riders...