Abstract: A latch having a housing and a latch mechanism located within an interior portion of the housing. The latch mechanism includes an arm, a pair of socket screws, a pair of torsion springs, each of which is connected rotatably to the arm and engages a corresponding one of the pair of socket screws, a bolt mechanism attached rotatably to the housing, and a link attached pivotally to the arm and attached to the bolt mechanism. The socket screws are utilized to adjust loads on the springs. The bolt mechanism is movable between a first position, in which the arm and the link are toggled with one another under the loads of the springs and the bolt mechanism is adapted to engage an external structure, and a second position, in which the link and the arm are untoggled with one another and the bolt mechanism is disengaged with the external structure.

Abstract: A pressure relief door having a panel with an exterior side and an interior side, a pair of pressure relief latches mounted to the interior side of the panel, and a pair of hinges mounted to the panel and each including a lock mechanism mounted thereto. Each of the lock mechanisms includes a mounting bracket. The door is adapted to be installed within a structure and moveable between a closed position, such that the exterior side of the panel is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the structure, the lock mechanisms are engaged with an interior surface of the structure, and the pressure relief latches are engaged with the interior surface of the structure, and an open position, such that the pressure relief latches are disengaged with the interior surface of the structure, while the lock mechanisms remain engaged with the interior surface of the structure.

Abstract: A latch having body with a hook, a handle attached pivotally to the body, and a series of links that facilitate opening and closing the handle. The links include a pair of front links, a pair of back links, and a middle link. The middle link connects the front links and the back links at one end of the middle link and with slots in the front link. The other end of the middle link pivots with the handle via a rivet. The middle link acts as an extended arm to drive the front links and back links for opening and closing the latch. A handle spring provides a means to pop-open the handle. A pair of link covers retains the front links and the back links on the body.

Abstract: A fastener feed apparatus includes a mounting portion and a feed portion attached movably thereto. The feed portion includes a feed body having first and second ends and an internal track extending therethrough. The internal track is sized and shaped to convey a fastener through the feed body. The feed portion also includes a feeding block attached to the second end of the feed body and including a body and a pair of feed fingers, each of which includes a first end attached to the body and a second end. A track is formed between the feed fingers, is sized and shaped to convey the fastener from its first end to its second end, and is contiguous with the internal track of the feed body. The second end of the track includes a retention point. The feed fingers are sized and shaped to retain the fastener at the retention point.

Abstract: A latch including a housing having side members each having an elongated slot, a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing and positioned between the side members of the housing, an adjustment mechanism, and a pin and roller positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the side members of the housing. The adjustment mechanism includes a compression spring, a central cap for receiving the pin and roller therethrough, and a nut for adjusting the load on the compression spring. The bolt is moveable between a first, closed position, in which the pin and roller are engaged with the bolt, and a second open position, in which the pin and roller are disengaged from the bolt. The latch can be opened automatically when a defined load, as adjusted by the adjustment mechanism, is provided on the bolt to disengage the pin and roller from the bolt.

Abstract: A latch including a housing having a cylinder, a compression spring positioned within the cylinder, and a ball positioned at one end of the compression spring, a hook positioned slidably within the housing, and a star wheel positioned around the hook and having a plurality of holes formed therein. The ball under load from the spring aligns with and engages one of the holes of the star wheel to retain it in place. The star wheel is moveable rotatably such that the ball disengages the one of the holes of the star wheel to enable the hook to move axially and be adjusted relative to the housing, and the ball is adapted to engage another of the holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel and prevent inadvertent rotation.

Abstract: A locking member for a fastener, such as a nut or a collar, includes a shank portion and a flanged portion, a bore extending the shank portion and the flanged portion and including a first interior portion located within the shank portion and a containment cavity located within the flanged portion, and an inner wall defining the containment cavity. The containment cavity includes an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the first interior portion of the bore. The inner wall of the containment cavity includes one or a combination of flat/linear surfaces, concave surfaces, and convex surfaces.

Abstract: A latch including a housing having side members each having an elongated slot, a bolt mounted rotatably to the housing and positioned between the side members of the housing, a trigger mounted rotatably to the housing, and a pin and roller positioned slidably within the elongated slots of the side members of the housing. The bolt is moveable between a first, closed position and a second open position. The trigger is moveable between a first position, in which the pin and roller are engaged with the bolt when the bolt is in its first position, and a second position, in which the pin and roller are disengaged from the bolt. The latch can be opened automatically when a defined load is provided on the bolt, or manually by depressing the trigger to disengage the pin and roller from the bolt.

Abstract: System, method and apparatus for measuring electrolysis cell operating conditions and communicating the same are disclosed. The system includes a selectively positionable member coupled to an analytical apparatus, wherein the selectively positionable is configured to move the analytical apparatus into and out of physical communication with a bath. The system may also include a crust breaker for breaking the surface of a bath and an electronic device for measuring bath level.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a process that can be used to remove sulfur dioxide other environmentally hazardous contaminants from a gaseous waste stream while at the same time providing a source of purified water. The process can be used for the desalination of sea or brackish water, or for the concentration of contaminated waste water. The method comprises feeding a gaseous waste stream that comprises sulfur dioxide into a diffusion tower. Feed water is sprayed onto a packing material in the diffusion tower to form a thin film of feed water on a surface of the packing material. Sulfur dioxide diffuses into the thin film of feed water to form water that contains sulfur dioxide. The gaseous waste stream is simultaneously humidified. The humidified gaseous waste stream is then subjected to direct contact condensation to obtain purified water.

Abstract: A fastening system including a fastener and a fastener installation tool. The fastener includes a pin member having an elongated shank portion with a threaded portion, a stop shoulder located at an end of the threaded portion, and a pull portion extending from the stop shoulder. The stop shoulder includes an outer rim and an inner annular wall. The inner annular wall and the inner face form an annular recess. The fastener installation tool includes a puller having a front face. The recess of the fastener is adapted to receive the front face of the fastener installation tool when the puller engages the pull portion of the pin member and facilitates alignment of teeth of the installation tool and pull grooves of the pin member.

Abstract: A handle mechanism includes a gear drive having an interior end and an exterior end; an inside handle fixed to the interior end; a button; a finger; a handle drive; an outside handle; and a spring. The button has an interior end and an exterior end, which is positioned within the exterior end of the gear drive. The handle drive is positioned within the exterior end of the gear drive and is rotatable relative thereto. The outside handle and the handle drive rotate together. The outside handle moves between a first position, wherein it is constrained from rotation, and a second position. The finger is fixed to the exterior end of the button, which moves between a first position, wherein the finger causes the gear drive and the handle drive to rotate together, and a second position. The spring biases the button and the outside handle toward their first positions.

Abstract: A pin latch includes a guide block, a handle having a trigger, and a shear pin housed slidably within the guide block and connected to the handle. The shear pin includes a catch-pin engageable by the trigger, and is slidable between an engageable position and a disengageable position when the handle is moved from a closed position to an open position. Alternately, the pin latch includes a bracket connected to the shear pin and includes a catch-pin, and the handle is moveable to an intermediate position, such that a trigger is disengaged from the catch-pin and the shear pin engages a stop pin. A guide block spring acts on the stop pin to retain releasably the handle in its intermediate position. The guide block includes a finger and the shear pin includes a groove sized and shaped to receive the finger when the pin latch is in an unlatchable position.

Abstract: A rivet includes a pin member having a head and a lock groove, and a lock ring having a flange. The flange of the lock ring is swaged into the lock groove of the pin member and transformed to a bead that engages the lock groove, and a portion of an outer surface of the lock ring deforms and is rotated inwardly. The rivet is installed within a structure such that the head of the pin member is flush with an outer surface of a panel and the portion of the outer surface of the lock ring is flush with an outer surface of another panel. The pin member includes a frangible portion that breaks off when the rivet is installed.

Abstract: A fastening system including a fastener and a fastener installation tool. The fastener includes a pin member having an elongated shank portion with a threaded portion, a stop shoulder located at an end of the threaded portion, and a pull portion extending from the stop shoulder. The stop shoulder includes an inner annular wall extending longitudinally from the end of the threaded portion, and an inner face extending outwardly and obliquely from the shank portion. The inner annular wall and the inner face form an annular receiving area. The fastener installation tool includes a puller having a front face. The receiving area of the fastener is adapted to receive the front face of the fastener installation tool when the puller engages the pull portion of the pin member.

Abstract: A latch including a body and an engagement member adapted to engage releasably a clevis, and a handle with a trigger attached pivotally and is pivotable between a first position, in which the trigger is engaged releasably with the clevis, and a second position, in which the trigger is disengaged from the clevis. The trigger includes a recess that receives a tool to facilitate pivoting the trigger from its first position to its second position. The latch may include a drive and the trigger includes a socket adapted to receive a key that facilitates moving a drive to clear the handle and disengaging the trigger with the clevis to open the handle.

Abstract: New 2xxx aluminum lithium alloys are disclosed. The aluminum alloys include 3.5-4.4 wt. % Cu, 0.45-0.75 wt. % Mg, 0.45-0.75 wt. % Zn, 0.65-1.15 wt. % Li, 0.1-1.0 wt. % Ag, 0.05-0.50 wt. % of at least one grain structure control element, up to 1.0 wt. % Mn, up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to 0.12 wt. % Si, up to 0.15 wt. % Fe, up to 0.10 wt. % of any other element, with the total of these other elements not exceeding 0.35 wt. %, the balance being aluminum.

Abstract: A material handler formed from isotropic textured aluminum sheet rolled by rolls indented with spherical media, such as steel ball bearings, producing a sheet with a low coefficient of friction relative to particulate matter like flour. The slippery sheeting may be used to make tanks, silos, conduits and guides to facilitate storage and flow of the particulate matter.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool includes a nose assembly, first and second cylinders, first and second pistons, and a yoke. The nose assembly is adapted to apply an axial load to a fastener along a longitudinal axis of the nose assembly. The first and second cylinders are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nose assembly. The first piston is disposed within the first cylinder and is movable along a longitudinal axis thereof. The second piston is disposed within the second cylinder and is movable along a longitudinal axis thereof. The yoke connects the first piston, the second piston, and the nose assembly such that motion of one of the pistons along its corresponding longitudinal axis causes motion of the other one of the pistons along its corresponding longitudinal axis and motion of at least a portion of the nose assembly along its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A composite construction for windows and doors has one or more components of the frame and/or window unit fabricated as a composite having a structural foam intermediate member onto which exterior and interior aluminum extrusions are mechanically and adhesively attached. The foam member functions as a structural bridge between the extrusions, as a thermal break and may also provide support for an internal seal to prevent air infiltration.