Abstract: A fuel valve includes a housing defining a ported standpipe portion for extending upwardly into a fuel tank at a bottom opening thereof. The standpipe sealingly receives a ported and relatively rotational valving member, which also carries a respective resilient sealing collar aligned with and sealingly cooperating at each of the ports of the valving member. The valving member is selectively rotational and may be positioned relative to the standpipe portion in order to stop fuel flow through the valve, or to selectively allow fuel flow through the valve from one or more separate levels of fuel in the fuel tank. A handle on the exterior of the fuel valve provides for selective rotation and positioning of the valving member, and the fuel valve itself may be selectively and conveniently rotated relative to a fuel nipple attached to the fuel tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plumbing apparatus that includes an offset or tangential T-fitting providing for offsetting a branch pipe from a run pipe in end elevation view, and for the branch pipe to intersect the run pipe orthogonally in side elevation view. That is, the branch pipe may intersect the run pipe substantially tangentially, so that an arrangement of plumbing fittings and devices may be nested into a thinner wall or into a smaller dimension of space than would be the case if a conventional T-fitting were employed. By use of the inventive T-fitting a considerable savings in materials of construction may be realized in the construction of swimming pools and spas, for example. Particularly, the present inventive offset or tangential T-fitting provides for the installation of bubble jet fittings and associated piping into a comparatively thin (i.e., about 6 inches thick) dam wall between a swimming pool and spa.

Abstract: A voltage control apparatus (10) for an HID lamp includes a voltage control transformer circuit (20), and is connected between supply mains (22) and a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp. The HID lamp is started at full line voltage, and after a sufficient operating interval ensuring that the lamp has achieved a sustaining temperature, the operating voltage applied to the lamp is reduced, effecting considerable savings in energy use, with little or only an acceptably small decrease in light output from the lamp. Further, the voltage control apparatus include a circuit portion responsive to voltage transients on the AC line, and which effects restarting of the HID lamp in the event a voltage transient occurs which is sufficiently long (i.e., about ½ cycle) as to extinguish the HID lamp.

Abstract: A smooth-bore plastic tubing with helical support bead is resistant to collapse and incorporates plural electrical conductors outside of the tubing bore and insulated from ambient, and from one another. The conductors may have a desired relatively high thermal conductivity to tidal air flow within the tubing, while also having a comparatively high thermal resistance to ambient. A method for making the tubing includes extruding a molten thermoplastic ribbon with an elevated plateau portion defining plural conductor-receiving grooves. The plastic ribbon is wrapped to form a tube and plural conductors are embedded in the grooves of the plateau portion. A molten thermoplastic bead is then applied atop the plateau portion providing a smooth-bore unitary flexible tubing structure with both inside and outside surfaces which are substantially free of crevices or recesses which could retain soil or bacteria.

Abstract: A voltage control load center (10) includes plural modular voltage control transformer circuits (20), and is connected between supply mains (22) and a load (L) including one or more high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. The lamps are started at full line voltage, and after a sufficient operating interval ensuring that the lamps have achieved a sustaining temperature, the operating voltage applied to the lamps is reduced, effecting a considerable savings in energy use, with little or an acceptably small decrease in illumination provided by the lamps. Because the voltage control transformer circuits (20) are modular, voltage control load centers (10) suitable for a variety of differing requirements may be quickly, easily, and inexpensively fabricated and installed without the need for the conventional requirement of a custom (i.e., application specific) transformer design and fabrication, which conventional requirements are both time and labor intensive.

Abstract: A decorative, disguised “mirror” interface apparatus appears to the uninformed as merely a decorative mirror, but includes an audio/visual output, the video display device of which is concealed behind a two-way mirror. So, when the video display is emitting light users of the apparatus can see the images provided by the display device through a two-way mirror material. Also, a transparent touch screen input device is associated with and overlays the two-way mirror material so that users of the interface apparatus may make inputs by simply making touches to selected locations of the “mirror.

Abstract: A seismic energy damper includes a pair of structure members subject to relative motion during a seismic event, and a pair of friction washers each fixed to a respective one of the structure members and moving relative to one another during the seismic event. A tie bolt resiliently urges the pair of friction washers toward frictional cooperation, and a friction member cooperates with the pair of friction washers to dissipate seismic energy.

Abstract: An improved spoon apparatus and method includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon bowl with food. At the initiation of the food scooping motion, essentially immediate clutching of the spoon bowl to the handle portion is effected by a fine-dimension ratchet structure of the inventive spoon. However, as soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is unclutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal like a pendulum so as to remain level from side to side irrespective of rotation of the handle portion as a user moves the loaded spoon to the user's mouth. A unique combination of gravitationally induced torque as well as a gravitational force vector are utilized to effect unclutching of the spoon bowl from the handle portion.

Abstract: A modular turbine generator includes both a turbo generator, and electrical power conditioning and control circuitry. During conditions of high ambient temperature the turbo generator may lose both power output and efficiency, while the electrical circuitry suffers from shortened service life or failure because of the high temperatures experienced. In order to preserve power output and efficiency for the turbo generator, as well as extending the service life span for the electrical power conditioning and control circuitry, a dual function evaporative cooler is provided. This cooler provides evaporatively cooled air both to the turbine engine and to the electrical circuitry by utilizing a single evaporative pad, along with a single water source and recirculation pump, all received in a compact cabinet.

Abstract: A racetrack designed to accommodate various types of auto racing class including Indy, CART, Formula 1 etc. is disclosed. The race track of the present invention is a continuous closed circuit track with at least two loops which loop about a common center area and with track passing over itself at least once by a nonlevel crossing such as an overpass so that the track does not have a level crossover and thereby allowing a vehicle making an entire circuit of the track the option of only making turns in one direction and not passing over any portion of the track more than once is a single circuit of the track.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for moving and placing in hard to reach locations granular and other particulate material such as sand, gravel, earth and similar materials. The system includes an improved auger for moving the material and an improved rotary airlock mechanism designed to withstand the abrasive action of the particulate material and at the same time move the material several hundred feet through a flexible conduit for placement in a pre-designated location. A system and apparatus is also disclosed for transporting on one vehicle all of the devices needed at a remote site for operation the particulate placement system, including a front loader.

Abstract: An improved spoon apparatus and method includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon bowl with food. At the initiation of the food scooping motion, essentially immediate clutching of the spoon bowl to the handle portion is effected by a fine-dimension ratchet structure of the inventive spoon. However, as soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is unclutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal like a pendulum so as to remain level from side to side irrespective of rotation of the handle portion as a user moves the loaded spoon to the user's mouth. A unique combination of gravitationally induced torque as well as a gravitational force vector are utilized to effect unclutching of the spoon bowl from the handle portion.

Abstract: An improved, non-conductive electrical junction box includes a wall defining an insert recess. An insert member is received into the insert recess and defines a conduit socket in order to provide for an end portion of an electrical conduit to be joined with the junction box, providing for electrical wiring to pass between the conduit and the junction box.