Abstract: A net supporting standard for net games comprising a pair of elongated, thinwall, cylindrical plastic tubes diametrically sized so that one tube telescopes adjustably within the bore of the second or base tube. Each tube has a set of spaced holes formed in the associated tube wall. A hitch pin inserted through various combinations of overlying and mated holes locks the two tubes to establish a selectable length for the standard suitable for supporting a game net at three different heights appropriate for men's volleyball, women's volleyball, or badminton, as desired.

Abstract: A heavy-duty caster assembly with a pintle and swivel plate mounted on top of a wheel carrying horn that minimizes pintle bending and breaking with the addition of a powdered metal washer around the pintle locked on top of the swivel plate.

Abstract: A nitrification process is disclosed wherein the population of the nitrifying bacteria in an activated sludge system may be increased by the addition of ammonium nitrogen to a return sludge reaeration zone. The increased nitrifying population results in increased reliability of nitrification and lower effluent ammonium nitrogen concentrations.

Abstract: A wound wire rheostat for a fuel level sender or other condition sensor and its method of manufacture, that eliminate wire snapping by heat staking selected portions of the wire into its plastic support board.

Abstract: A hand lever operated grease gun that has both high pressure and high volume modes by changing the mechanical advantage of the lever acting on a dispensing piston. A spring biased pivotal connection between the lever and a forwardly mounted supporting link is shiftable between two positions by depression of the lever against the biasing force of the spring.

Abstract: An electrically controlled pattern tracer selectively uses stored detected pattern information from a sensor differently depending upon the value of a selected entered kerf entered to control the tracing element to follow a pattern turn. The tracer also distinguishes one type of pattern turn from another and delays use of stored pattern information for control of the tracing element by different amounts depending upon the type of turn detected and the entered kerf.

Abstract: A submersible fuel pump and fuel sender assembly for a vehicular fuel supply system, supported within an opening in a fuel tank and located inside the tank by a plastic bumper seated in a recess in a tank wall.

Abstract: A pattern tracer with circuitry for electronically adjusting the lateral offset of the tracing element for kerf compensation, that produces a control signal based on a temporal relationship between a reference signal and a pattern detection signal associated with a preselected kerf compensation. The pattern is traced with the selected lateral offset in accordance with a control signal. The control signal is developed in response to both a line width compensation signal and a kerf compensation signal. A photometric detector is calibrated by electronically adding a compensation angle to a pattern detection angle to compensate for any physical misalignment of the detector.

Abstract: A pressure-operated electric switch assembly of the diaphragm type wherein a housing mounted diaphragm actuates a snap action switch adjustable in the housing to vary the switch operating pressure. The pressure setting may be varied externally by the user upon manual rotation of a switch sealing boot and the setting may be visually observed from indicia surrounding the housing that cooperate with a pointer on the boot.

Abstract: A runaway valve for an air-driven material pump that shuts off air flow to the pump when air flow rate exceeds a predetermined setting to prevent pump damage, wherein the valve includes a flow-responsive poppet valve member and an axially movable sleeve finely adjustable about a first position to select flow rate, and movable to a second position to interconnect the upstream and downstream sides of the poppet valve member to effect reset. A closed chamber with a vent hole buffers the upstream side of the poppet valve member from inlet pressure to delay valve closing and compensate for pressure transients. In its reset position, the sleeve isolates this chamber from inlet pressure to achieve faster reset.

Abstract: A pattern tracer and method of tracing in which the movement of a racing element along a pattern is controlled in accordance with an effective forward offset which is selectively less than the actual forward offset to optimize the tracing for speeds less than the maximum tracer speed. The effective forward offset is established by providing control angles which are based on the pattern angles as detected in accordance with a selected criterion depending upon the type of pattern curve detected. The control angles are either calculated from the detected pattern angles or are selected from previously stored pattern angles. A kerf setting for lateral offset of the tracing element from the pattern is partially defined by the actual forward offset, so that changes in the effective forward offset do not cause any corresponding changes to the lateral offset or require changes to the kerf setting.

Abstract: A double-glazed, light-transmitting panel having a pair of plastic face sheets permanently bonded to and spaced by a mechanically interlocked I-beam grid core. The grid core employs an I-beam spacer attachment which comprises a plurality of I-beams each having a pair of identical flanges joined by an interconnecting web with each of the flanges being formed with a dovetail keyway, a plastic connector seated upon each I-beam flange and having a dovetail tongue engaging a mating dovetail keyway, and an adhesive layer bonding each face sheet to opposing connectors separated by the I-beams. An alternative embodiment for the plastic connector has a generally U-shaped cross section that snaps on the flange of the channel. A method for fabricating a plastic connector by using the I-beam flange as a mold is also disclosed.

Abstract: A practically all plastic lever operated grease gun with a flexible plastic link integrally molded with a plastic head, pivotally connecting the lever to the head. A lever reciprocated dispensing piston, slidably mounted in a transverse bore in the head, actually forms the bore in the head as a core pin during head molding.

Abstract: A speed sensor and cable assembly that connects to an opening in automobile transmission housings and includes a one-piece plastic molded ferrule and gear bearing for supporting the cable and a speed sensor gear in the housing opening. This ferrule has a plurality of spaced integral rigid rings that support the ferrule in the housing opening and it also has an integral shaft projecting in the housing for supporting the speed sensor gear.

Abstract: A heavy-duty caster assembly for a corrosive environment having a U-shaped metallic wheel supporting horn with a metal swivel plate rotatably mounted on the horn by a kingpin wherein both the swivel plate and the horn are coated with a permanently bonded fluorocarbon coating. The facing surfaces of the swivel plate and the horn have semi-torroidal recesses that receive a pure torroidal self-lubricating plastic bearing.

Abstract: An illuminated membrane switch assembly lighted by internal bulb units. A membrane switch sub-assembly is finger touch actuated by a small translucent plastic button with a graphic overlay on its forward surface and a light-diffusing textured rear surface. A clear plastic backplate is provided for the membrane switch sub-assembly, and in one embodiment light is transmitted to the button directly through a complex partly opaque conductor area in the membrane switch by a single bulb unit mounted in the rear of an enclosing housing that has a white interior surface, and in another embodiment light is transmitted to the button through the switch conductive area by a bulb mounted inside the transparent backplate.

Abstract: A piercing tool for opening a metal container in which the tool has an elongated body which supports generally at one end of the body a curved piercing blade and a cooperating hook for engaging the container with the hook being disposed on the concave side of the blade. A modification comprising an elongated bar for opening additionally a container having a lid including a scored flap closure which is to be displaced into the interior of the container by a movable tab which is fixed by an intermediate anchor adjacent the flap closure with the tab including a handle portion located on one side of the tab anchor and adapted to be elevated relative the container lid and with the tab also including a closure depressing portion located on the other side of the tab anchor adjacent the flap closure.