Abstract: An excavating adapter/tooth point assembly has an interfit configuration in which the front end surface of the adapter base has a curved front surface portion that slidingly and complementarily engages a facing curved rear end surface portion of the tooth point. The adapter nose received in the tooth point pocket is somewhat smaller in cross-section that the pocket to permit a limited vertical rocking movement of the point relative to the adapter nose, about a connector structure captively retaining the point on the adapter nose, while transferring rearwardly directed excavating loads on the point to the curved sliding adapter/point interface area. Top and bottom sides Of a rear end portion of the point have curved ear projections which extend rearwardly and outwardly along the adapter base and function as built-in wear guards that protect underlying surface portions of the adapter base.

Abstract: An inner combustion chamber access door member for a fuel-fired water heater has main and pilot burner structures respectively supported thereon by gas supply tubes sealingly extending through and anchored to the door member, and is further provided with a wire pass-through tube and a sight glass opening. After the door member has been externally secured to a side wall portion of the water heater over an access opening therein, with the main and pilot burner structures disposed in the combustion chamber of the water heater, a lighting wand is extended through the sight glass opening to light and test the burners. Subsequently, a sight glass structure is snapped into the sight glass opening to complete the installation of the door/burner assembly. Thermocouple and igniter wires extend through the pass-through tube, and are sealed therein by a laterally split resilient cylindrical sealing plug member.

Abstract: A variable firing rate fuel burner has a tubular body configuration defined by a central pilot tube coaxially circumscribed by intermediate and outer firing tubes. A pilot fuel-air mixture is flowed through the pilot tube and ignited to maintain a pilot flame at the open outlet end of the burner body. During firing of the burner, separate fuel-air mixtures are flowed through an intermediate annulus between the intermediate firing tube and the pilot tube, and an outer annulus between the intermediate firing tube and the outer firing tube. As these fuel-air mixtures exit the burner body they are ignited by the pilot flame, with the fuel-air mixture exiting the outer annulus serving as a flame shaping mechanism to provide the overall burner flame with a controlled, elongated shape. By using two separate fuel-air mixture flows surrounding the pilot fuel-air mixture flow, the firing rate of the burner may be easily modulated, and the burner may be simultaneously operated with two different types of fuel.

Abstract: An inner combustion chamber access door member for a fuel-fired water heater has main and pilot burner structures respectively supported thereon by gas supply tubes sealingly extending through and anchored to the door member, and is further provided with a wire pass-through tube and a sight glass opening. After the door member has been externally secured to a side wall portion of the water heater over an access opening therein, with the main and pilot burner structures disposed in the combustion chamber of the water heater, a lighting wand is extended through the sight glass opening to light and test the burners. Subsequently, a sight glass structure is snapped into the sight glass opening to complete the installation of the door/burner assembly. Thermocouple and igniter wires extend through the pass-through tube, and are sealed therein by a laterally split resilient cylindrical sealing plug member.

Abstract: A suspension system is provided which includes an arm having a zero clearance axle connection. In a described embodiment, a method is provided for manufacturing the suspension system, which method includes the steps of welding an axle connector to an axle, without first pressing the axle connector onto an end of the axle, and without using a clamp to hold the axle connector in contact with the axle, and welding the axle connector to a pivot arm.

Abstract: An event detector and associated methods of protecting systems provide convenient and economical safety features. In a described embodiment, an ignition sequence detector for a boiler system has a microprocessor which is programmed so that an ignition control module of the boiler system is deprived of primary power when an improper sequence of events occurs. The ignition sequence detector includes multiple event detectors interconnected to the microprocessor, and is configured so that it is usable in high RFI environments.

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 s structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system 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: A building construction framing system utilizes studs and joining members which are respectively extruded and molded from a composite plastic/wood flour material. Along its length, each stud has a central web with transverse outer edge flanges and an intermediate transverse flange that defines with the outer edge flanges a separated pair of longitudinally extending lateral pockets on each side of the web. A series of first studs are arranged in a spaced apart, parallel relationship with their opposite ends abutting parallel, spaced apart second and third studs. The joining members are positioned at the opposite ends of the first studs, are recessed in the lateral pockets of the first, second and third studs, and are secured to their adjacent studs using suitable fastening members.

Abstract: A supply canister is partially filled with a refrigerant circuit additive liquid and is partially evacuated. Additive liquid from the canister may be placed into the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system by (1) connecting the canister to the circuit after it has been emptied and a vacuum pressure created therein, (2) connecting the canister to the refrigerant circuit suction line during system operation, or (3) connecting the canister to the suction line with the system off, to thereby force refrigerant from the circuit into the canister, and then starting the system to cause the vacuum pressure in the suction line to draw the contents of the canister into the refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A gauge manifold is connectable to the suction and liquid lines of an air conditioning refrigerant circuit and has a built-in charge level calculator into which system manufacturing and capacity data is enterable. Charging data corresponding to the input data is stored within the calculator and automatically utilized in conjunction with ambient temperature and refrigerant pressure levels sensed by the calculator to generate a visual display indicating whether the circuit's refrigerant charge level is acceptable, high or low for the particular unit or system being checked. If the displayed charge level is high or low, the gauge manifold is additionally connected to a pressurized refrigerant canister or recycling drum and a valve portion of the manifold is operated to add or remove refrigerant to the circuit, via the gauge manifold, as necessary until the calculator display indicates that the circuit is properly charged.

Abstract: An inner combustion chamber access door member for a fuel-fired water heater has main and pilot burner structures respectively supported thereon by gas supply tubes sealingly extending through and anchored to the door member, and is further provided with a wire pass-through tube and a sight glass opening. After the door member has been externally secured to a side wall portion of the water heater over an access opening therein, with the main and pilot burner structures disposed in the combustion chamber of the water heater, a lighting wand is extended through the sight glass opening to light and test the burners. Subsequently, a sight glass structure is snapped into the sight glass opening to complete the installation of the door/burner assembly. Thermocouple and igniter wires extend through the pass-through tube, and are sealed therein by a laterally split resilient cylindrical sealing plug member.

Abstract: A connector pin assembly for releasably retaining a replaceable excavating tooth point on an adapter nose has opposite rigid body portions that are threadingly connected to one another in a manner permitting them to be selectively moved axially toward and away from one another, and a resilient structure captively retained between facing ends of the body portions. The connector pin assembly may be operatively inserted into the aligned point and adapter openings without the need to pound it in. Once the connector pin assembly is in place within the point and adapter openings the rigid body portions are threadingly moved toward one another to thereby compress the resilient structure in a manner forcing it against an interior surface portion of the adapter opening.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dispensing a product from a container into a tire are provided. In a described embodiment, a method of dispensing a product into a tire inflation port includes the steps of attaching a flexible conduit to the inflation port and then operatively attaching the conduit to container of the product. A system for dispensing a product into an inflation port of a tire includes: a container having the product pressurized therein, and a valve selectively permitting and preventing flow of the product from the container; and a conduit assembly including a flexible conduit extending between a container connector and a port connector, the container connector being configured for connection to the container for flow of the product from the container into the conduit, and the port connector being configured for connection to the inflation port for flow of the product from the conduit into the tire.

Abstract: An air conditioning system flush solvent and associated method of flushing air conditioning systems provides enhanced removal of moisture in air conditioning systems. In a described embodiment, an air conditioning system flush solvent consists essentially of a proportion of heptane less than or equal to approximately 70% and a proportion of isopropyl alcohol greater than or equal to approximately 29%.

Abstract: A fuel-fired heating appliance, representatively a gas-fired water heater, has a combustion chamber with an outer wall portion defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate having specially configured louvered combustion air intake openings through which combustion air is flowed into the combustion chamber. The louvered openings function to cause the entering combustion air to undergo directional changes as it inwardly traverses the openings and impart turbulence to the air entering the combustion chamber in a manner substantially inhibiting foreign matter blockage of the plate openings, providing an even combustion air inflow across the perforated plate area, and providing the plate with improved operational temperature uniformity along its sides.

Abstract: A fuel-fired heating appliance, representatively a gas-fired water heater, has a combustion chamber with a flame arrestor plate forming a bottom wall thereof. The arrestor plate has a spaced series of flame quenching perforations therein through which combustion air upwardly flows into the combustion chamber during firing of the water heater. A shield structure within the combustion chamber overlies the arrestor plate perforations in an upwardly spaced relationship therewith and blocks operating scale on the bottom side of the top combustion chamber wall, and/or a flue extending upwardly from the top combustion chamber wall, from falling on and blocking the combustion air transfer perforations in the flame arrestor plate.

Abstract: A power vented, gas fired water heater has a main gas burner disposed within a combustion chamber partially bounded by an arrestor plate having a spaced series of flame quenching combustion air inlet openings therein. To provide for a “soft” ignition of extraneous flammable vapors entering the combustion chamber and to limit the build-up of unignited flammable vapors within the combustion chamber during non-demand periods of the water heater, a non-flame type ignition device is disposed within the combustion chamber and operated at least intermittently during such non-demand periods.

Abstract: Fuel fired power vented and natural draft type water heaters are provided with flammable vapor sensors operative to detect flammable vapors exteriorly adjacent the water heater and responsively preclude fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater. In each water heater a flow tube is extended between the flammable vapor sensor and the draft structure of the water heater and forms a flow path isolated from the combustion chamber of the water heater. In the event that flammable vapors are present exteriorly adjacent the water heater, the forced or natural draft of the water heater creates a biased flow of flammable vapors which is sequentially drawn across the vapor sensor and through the isolated flow path to the draft structure of the water heater.

Abstract: A machine gun, representatively a 30 mm machine gun, is mounted on an outer end portion of a support plank structure projecting out of the cabin area of a helicopter using a roller cradle assembly secured to the outer plank end. A variety of structural improvements are incorporated into the machine gun to (1) reduce its mechanical complexity, (2) reduce its firing recoil to make the gun more suitable for light aircraft mounting, and to improve the gun's firing controllability and accuracy, and (3) to make the gun easily and quickly field strippable, for cleaning, inspection and repair purposes, without requiring the services of a highly skilled armament mechanic or taking the gun to a specialized repair facility.

Abstract: A steerable suspension system which includes a steering lockout feature is provided. In a described embodiment, an engagement member is displaced through an axle of the suspension system to prevent steering of the suspension system. The engagement member engages another engagement member attached to a tie rod of the suspension system.