Abstract: An apparatus and method for roughening or otherwise changing the gasket face of a bolt-like header plug. This apparatus utilizes a cutting or etching tool that cuts into the originally flat gasket face. A threaded shank formed by a lathe or other screw cutting machine extends from the face and is not useable for modifying the face. Roughening or otherwise modifying of the gasket face is in the form of grooves cut into the face so as to increase the sealing effect of the header plug when in use.

Abstract: An electrical connector for terminating electrical conductors of a multiconductor cable comprises an electrically insulative housing defining an passage for receipt of an electrical connector plug and an open interior compartment, a plurality of electrical contacts supported in the housing, the contacts having first portions accessible through the housing passage and second IDC portions resident in the compartment, an electrically conductive sheet member fully circumscribing a part of the housing in which the contact first portions are resident and partly circumscribing the compartment and a stuffer member closing the compartment and dressing electrical conductors into engagement with the contact second IDC portions.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides for the termination of discrete insulated conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The connector includes an insulative connector housing supporting plural electrical contacts having insulation displacing contact portions. A conductor holding block is movably supported by the housing with respect to the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block includes contact slots for receipt of the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block further includes passages in communication with the contact slots for receipt of the conductors. The conductor holding block is movable between a conductor receiving position and a conductor termination position. The conductor holding block is continuously supported by the connector housing so as to define a conductor support position to temporarily support the conductors against the insulation displacing contact portions without effecting conductor termination.

Abstract: A safety shield, suitable for use in a marine environment, which can be quickly and easily removed from around a coupling or the like that is used to secure a pipeline or hose together. This safety shield can also be used to cover or surround an end fitting or plug in the pipeline or hose. It is used to aid in the containment of any leaking fluid from the coupling or fitting, such escaping fluid being collected in a drip barrel or the like. The shield has an inverted U-shaped housing, open at the bottom, with aligned notches in the front and rear walls for a pipeline with joint to pass through. The housing is fastened to the pipeline by chains or ropes, passing under the pipeline and secured to the front and rear walls of the housing, respectively. A window is included in the top wall of the housing of this shield so that the user can view the fitting or coupling prior to installation and/or removal.

Abstract: A method for forming a welded joint as between first and second electrical conductive members by the use of a radiant energy source, wherein the first member has a higher reflectivity with respect to the radiant energy than the second member, the method comprising the steps of preselecting respective areas of the first and second members for the welded joint, forming an aperture extending fully through a portion of the selected area of the first member, the portion being selected to be of an area less than the selected area of the second member, placing the first member in overlying relation to the second member with the first member portion disposed interiorly of the perimeter of the selected area of the second member and issuing the radiant energy directly onto the first member and concurrently through the first member apertured portion onto the second member. Assemblies for effecting welding operations are provided.

Abstract: A non-contact floating containment or repelling device used to gather, contain or repel a material such as oil that has been spilled on the surface of a body of water. This device consists of a plurality of paddlewheels serially connected along a shaft secured between distant vessels. This shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the paddlewheels which churn the water, thus repelling the spilled material away from the device and toward a central region. By this arrangement, the device itself never becomes contaminated by the spilled material and is sprayed with the churning water, and therefore, should a fire break out, damage to the device is unlikely.

Abstract: A floatation device for safely supporting a person, including paralyzed, disabled, or mobility impaired persons, upon a body of water for exercise or relaxation. This device encloses the person within concentric outer flotation members and a seat assembly from which position the person may float, walk or wade in the water as desired while either being continuously supported or providing only the support required. The outer flotation members are spaced from the user to also enclose him and these outer members provide the buoyancy and stability required for use. If desired, a hand rest can be positioned intermediate the outer flotation members and seat assembly of the floatation device for further ease of use and for grasping purposes.

Abstract: An air-cooled steam condensing module with an integral vent condenser has a steam header, one or more rows of condensing tubes between the steam header and a (generally lower) common condensate header. The module also has at least one row of vent condenser or dephlegmator tubes located adjacent the condensing tubes which connect the lower header to a vent header. The dephlegmator tubes may be of the same or larger diameter than the condensing tubes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separately supporting and sealing a heat pipe within a heat exchanger. For support, the heat pipe with fins thereon passes through a support grid which consists of a series of rings secured or interconnected together. The fins of the heat pipe rest upon these rings of the support grid thereby supporting this region of the heat pipe. To seal these heat pipes in order to prevent any gas escape from the heat exchanger, a tubesheet with openings therein is placed over the ends of the heat pipe. These openings are oversized thus a considerable gap exists between the tubesheet and the heat pipe. This gap is covered or sealed by use of a cover disk which tightly fits around the heat pipe and spans across this gap before it is removably secured to the tubesheet. By this fashion, once the cover disk is removed from the tubesheet, it is a relatively easy task to then remove the tubesheet and the heat pipe from the heat exchanger for maintenance or repair purposes.

Abstract: An electric generator for generating an electrical current that comprises a continuous housing containing equally spaced-apart magnets that pass the continuous housing through the center of a plurality of individual coils in a concentric larger outer housing. To enhance the current generated, a plate is inserted between adjacent coils in the larger housing and the magnets are arranged so that opposite poles are adjacent each other. To further increase current generation, the coils may be cooled so as to reduce any resistance therein.

Abstract: A conduit connector provides for the retentive termination of an electrical conduit to a junction box. The conduit connector includes the connector housing including a conduit receiving end, an opposed conductor egressing end and a central conduit passage therebetween. The housing includes opposed conduit engagement surfaces which are relatively movable towards one another to engage the conduit supported within the passage. Inwardly directed lances are struck from one of the opposed conduit engagement surfaces for biting engagement with the conduit to frictionally retain the conduit within the connector, resisting axial pullout of the conduit therefrom.

Abstract: An outlet box for a conventional electrical receptacle or like includes a rear support bracket extending rearwardly from one side thereof. The bracket is generally L-shaped and can include a weakened portion, to enable it to be bent. The bracket abuts an inner face of a wall panel, to prevent rearward movement of the outlet box. At the front, a frame can be attached to or integral with the side wall of the outlet box, for the mounting of communication cables. For this purpose, the frame can include one or more tabs to which communication cables can be initially secured. The tabs are deflectable internally, to abut the inner face of a wall panel around the outlet box and the frame, to prevent forward movement of the outlet box.

Abstract: A poke-through electrical connector includes an elongate, generally tubular housing member and at least one retaining clip for securing the connector in an interfloor passage. The retaining clip includes a transverse flexure portion and at least one anchor point dimensioned and angled from the flexure portion for substantially radially-directed engagement with the wall of the interfloor passage. Displacement of the anchor point results in a compressive load which causes a bending moment to develop in the transverse flexure portion. The flexure results in application of a reactive retaining force by the anchor point.

Abstract: A cable tray support system supports a plurality of cables and conduits therein. Cable tray support system includes a pair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced rails and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending cable support members extending between the rails. Cable support members include provisions for the secure support of cables within the tray by use of both a cable tie and a pipe strap. Such combination provides greater flexibility to the cable tray of the present invention by allowing several securement techniques within a given cable tray system.

Abstract: An electrical cable strain relief comprises a body defining an elongate panel with latching legs depending from the panel at longitudinally opposed margins thereof, the body having folded portions at laterally opposed margins of the panel, the folded portions extending laterally interiorly of the laterally opposed margins of the panel. The strain relief includes projections or like spacing structure depending from the undersurface of the panel for spacing the folded portions from the undersurface of the panel to facilitate manufacture and cleaning of the strain relief. Where facility for both daisy-chain and end of line applications is desired, the strain relief of the invention includes an elongate slot in the panel thereof and further folded portions at laterally opposed margins of the opening extending laterally exteriorly of the opening.

Abstract: A surge pressure control valve for blocking surge pressures that may occur in a fluid line. This surge pressure control valve contains a fluid biased plunger therein that retracts upon the application of fluid pressure. However, the rate of retraction of this plunger is limited to the rate at which the fluid bias is released by flowing through a relief opening controlled by a needle valve. As this plunger is allowed to retract, it uncovers a passageway connecting the inlet port to the outlet port, thereby permitting fluid to flow through the valve. By such construction, this plunger does not react immediately to the application of pressure, instead, the plunger only gradually retracts (thereby only gradually uncovering the passageway) after fluid is first forced through the relief opening. Thus, this plunger serves the purpose of dampening the effect of any surge pressure that may arise in the line.

Abstract: A shielded housing provides electrical shielding for connection components supported therein. The shielded housing may form a balun for providing impedance matching between a twisted pair cable and a coaxial or twinaxial cable. A shielded balun housing supports balun components including a pair of shielded connector components and an electrical circuit interconnecting the components. The housing includes upper and lower housing members which are secured together in a manner which establishes conductive engagement therebetween. The housing provides electromagnetic shielding between the balun and adjacent components.

Abstract: A portable illumination device for reading material in dark or underlit environments. This illumination device is operable upon the opening of its book-like folded covers and upon the tilting of the device to a pre-set angle or greater to close a circuit containing a mercury tilt switch, battery and sources of illumination. Once the device is properly positioned, the plurality of individual illumination sources are activated to illuminate the reading material placed therein. A reading bar incorporating a magnifying glass can be slid along the reading material so as to magnify or highlight such material for easier reading thereof. The tilt switch and battery power sources are preferably located along the spine of the device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically controlling and tracking information related to business transactions occurring between a provider and a receiver of goods. The business transactions are tracked via an electronic system that includes a provider computer, at least one receiver computer and a business controller in electrical communication with the provider computer and the at least one receiver computer. The method includes an initiation step, step of receiving and retrieving the electronic information by the business controller and processing the electronic information to generate updated electronic information. The information is stored and rendered mutually accessible to the provider computer and the at least one receiver computer substantially simultaneously.