Abstract: A vehicle oil pan assembly which is acoustically insulated for noise reduction includes an oil pan having a normal configuration with a base and enclosing sidewalls and further including a peripheral flange which is disposed adjacent an upper edge of the sidewall and which is used to attach the oil pan to the vehicle engine. In order to insulate the oil pan so as to reduce any noise which may otherwise be transmitted by the oil pan, a noise reducing/sound deadening enclosure is attached to the oil pan. In order to facilitate the attachment of the enclosure to the oil pan, a plurality of support brackets are welded to the oil pan and each bracket includes a plurality of support tabs. The noise-reducing enclosure is arranged with an outer skin and a foam isolation layer and the outer skin is molded so as to include a plurality of latching portions. The final component in the attachment system is a plurality of spring clips. There is one tab for each latching portion and one clip for each tab.

Abstract: A self-cleaning smoke-monitoring system that is used in measuring opacity of exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The invention includes a pair of air passages that supply a flow of filtered air over the optic elements of the smoke-monitoring system. The flow of particulate-free air is the result of a venturi effect created in the exhaust flow such that ambient air is continuously drawn in through the air ducts.

Abstract: A water heater construction including an inner tank for containing water surrounded in spaced apart relationship by an outer shell. An outer collar of insulation material is located in the annular space between the inner tank and outer shell at a preselected location within the annular space along the height of the water heater construction. The collar has a radial thickness greater than the radial width of the annular space and is radially compressed between the interior wall of the outer shell and exterior wall of the inner tank. An expandable foam thermal insulation material fills the annular space above the collar.