Abstract: A tag axle suspension system provides weight reduction and enhanced safety and ride quality. In a described embodiment, a tag axle suspension system includes hanger brackets pivotably attached to a vehicle frame. Actuators push rearwardly on the hanger brackets to raise an axle relative to the vehicle frame. The hanger brackets are rigidly attached to a tubular member extending laterally across the vehicle frame. The tubular member is rotatably attached to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

Abstract: A filament-wound tank portion of an electric water heater has a wall opening through which an electric heating element of other structure extends into the interior of the tank. The opening is reinforced by a stacked series of single layer, open weave patch members which are interdigitated with layers of the filament winding and through which the opening extends. The filament winding and the patches are impregnated with and intersecured by a cured resin material. As an alternative to cutting portions of the patches during formation of the tank wall opening, the patches may be provided with suitable pre-formed openings with reinforced peripheries, the subsequently formed tank wall opening extending through these reinforced, pre-formed patch openings. The single layer, open weave patches are also utilized to reinforce other types of filament-based tank wall structures.

Abstract: A multifocal soft contact lens has a main carrier lens with a distance vision axis coincident with its geometric center and extending transversely through the intersection of transverse horizontal and vertical reference axes, and a smaller near vision lenslet supported on the carrier lens. The lenslet has a near vision axis extending through the horizontal reference axis in a nasally decentered relationship with the distance vision axis. To facilitate the proper rotational placement of the lens on the eye of a wearer, a nasal indicator mark is appropriately formed on the horizontal reference axis of the lens in a nasally offset relationship with the carrier lens center.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.

Abstract: Apparatus for deploying equipment in a fluid container or fluid conduit comprises a fluid housing having an outlet aperture, the fluid housing being adapted to be secured to the container or conduit such that the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container or conduit. The apparatus further includes a piston in the fluid housing dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the interior of the container or conduit via the outlet aperture when the fluid housing is secured in fluid communication with the container or conduit. The piston is movable within the fluid housing toward the outlet aperture in response to increases of fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber. The apparatus further includes a guide means for guiding deployment of the equipment into the container or conduit.

Abstract: A foam dam in the insulation cavity of an electric water heater comprises a plastic bag into which liquid foam insulation is injected, the bag having an essentially closed top edge portion with only a small opening for receiving the injected insulation. A small portion of the insulation injected into the bag is forced outwardly therefrom via small metering holes to form external protrusions on the bag that mechanically interlock with a second batch of insulation subsequently injected into the cavity and prevent the hardened second insulation batch from pulling away from the bag. The substantially closed top edge of the bag permits the insulation injected into the bag to pack therein and increase the top-to-bottom hardened foam density uniformity. Side edges of the bag may be pleated to increase the sealing area of the foam dam.

Abstract: A composition for use in testing smoke detectors, comprises a polyhydroxy alcohol and a surface-active agent.

Abstract: A lift axle suspension system. In a described embodiment, a lift axle suspension system includes: an axle assembly; an air spring connected between the axle assembly and a bracket attached to a vehicle frame; a trailing arm attached to the axle assembly; and a lift air spring. The lift air spring is connected between the bracket and the trailing arm, so that the axle assembly is lifted when the lift air spring is extended.

Abstract: Methods of releasing a well tool set in a wellbore are provided. In various embodiments, a well tool, such as a packer, is released from sealing and gripping engagement within a wellbore using alternate methods. A dual-string packer is described in which the packer may be released by severing a mandrel of the packer, displacing a piston of the packer, or by displacing a retaining device in a flow passage of the packer.

Abstract: A fuel-fired, power vented water heater has a combustion chamber with an outer wall portion defined by an arrestor plate in which flame quenching air inlet openings are formed. All combustion air entering the combustion chamber must first pass through an air inlet plenum extending outwardly from the arrestor plate and then pass inwardly through the flame quenching openings into the combustion chamber. The air inlet plenum is provided with a normally closed inlet damper which automatically closes during non-firing periods of the water heater to prevent passage of combustion air (and extraneous flammable vapors, if present, adjacent the water heater) into the combustion chamber, and opens during firing periods of the water heater to permit operative combustion air delivery to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A replaceable excavating tooth point is telescoped onto an adapter nose and releasably retained thereon by an elongated, flat connector member having an untapered side periphery. The connector member longitudinally extends through aligned point and connector openings and blocks forward removal of the point from the adapter nose. A transverse point sidewall abutment surface facing one end of the installed connector member prevents it from moving outwardly through one of the point openings, and a rotatable lock member carried by the other end of the connector member and engageable with a groove in the other point opening releasably prevents the connector member from moving outwardly through the grooved point opening. A detent structure releasably holds the lock member in locking and unlocking orientations in which the lock member is prevented from moving parallel to the length of the connector member.

Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.

Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.

Abstract: A rotatable connector pin assembly is disposed within an opening in an adapter nose, with opposite ends of the pin portion of the assembly extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of the adapter nose in axially fixed orientations relative thereto, and is used to captively and releasably retain a replaceable excavating tooth point on the nose. The configuration of the opposite pin ends permits the overall pin assembly to remain in the adapter nose during removal of the point and replacement thereof, with the pin being rotatable between a first orientation in which its ends permit removal of a point from the nose, or installation of a point on the nose, and a second orientation in which the opposite pin ends block removal of the point from the adapter nose.

Abstract: Methods of expanding well tools, which permit operation of the well tools after expansion, are provided. In a described example, a cementing tool includes a valve and a packer. After the cementing tool is expanded, the valve is selectively opened and closed, and the packer is sealingly engaged in a wellbore.

Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.

Abstract: An electric water heater has a tank portion in which water to be heated is stored. The stored water is heated by a vertically spaced plurality of electric heating elements extending into the tank interior. The heating elements are of unequal wattages, and serve unequal volume water zones, but provide equal heating wattage densities in each of the water zones.