Abstract: A shipping, storing and dispensing container for a length of longitudinally- and radially-compressible product such as insulated or uninsulated duct for air conditioning systems. The container is adapted to have a lateral dispensing opening formed therein for allowing a desired length of compressed flexible duct or other similar product contained therein to be controllably drawn from the container, and to prevent such product from springing out of the container as a result of its internal compressive forces. The lateral dispensing opening is formed in one side and near one end of the container by punching out a flap defined by partially die-cut lines along one side and near one end of the container. The flap may be frictionally engaged with the edges of the container forming the lateral dispensing opening to close the lateral dispensing opening and re-seal the container.

Abstract: A hose-to-wall fitting for attachment to one end of a current-carrying flexible hose to enable such hose to be connected through a wall-mounted current-carrying inlet valve to both (1) a source of vacuum and (2) dual sources of electrical power, e.g., a high-voltage source for powering a motor or the like, and a low-voltage source for powering a control circuit or the like through a switch built into the handle/wand fitting attached to the other end of the hose. The high-voltage male contacts of the hose-to-wall fitting can be reversed to enable use with the types of inlet valves which incorporate only the connections to the source of vacuum and to the low voltage source, or only the connection to the source of vacuum, the high-voltage connection being made in either case through a short electrical cord to a conventional electrical outlet.

Abstract: An air-conditioning unit which can be converted from a horizontal air flow configuration to a vertical air flow configuration (or vice-versa) at the installation site without any additional parts or special tools. A reversible drain pan and return (intake) air panel forms part of the air-conditioning unit adjacent to a slant-mounted cooling coil, and may be demounted, reoriented and remounted so as to move the return (intake) air panel from one end of the unit to one side of the unit (or vice-versa). The air-conditioning unit is then tilted 90.degree. so as to position the drain pan under the cooling coil.

Abstract: A current-carrying flexible hose having at least two parallel helical support wires, inner and outer plastic strips wrapped helically about the support wires, and at least one pair of helical electrical conductors disposed on opposite sides of one of the support wires and slidably positioned between the inner and outer plastic strips. Each of the helical electrical conductors comprises a conductive element and a plastic dielectric coating disposed around the conductive element. The plastic dielectric coatings are not bonded to the inner and outer plastic strips so that they may slide therebetween.

Abstract: In a nozzle dam assembly wherein a flange ring is affixed around a circular nozzle opening in a chamber wall, a support frame spans and is in non-threaded connection with the ring by releasable pins which carry under tension any load on the frame directed axially out of the nozzle into the chamber, and a circular dam with a sealing diaphragm disposed over it is attachable to the frame with its rim within the nozzle so that inflatable peripheral sealing means on the diaphragm effect the desired seal of the nozzle independent of the aforementioned axial load.

Abstract: A coupling ring is slideably received onto a cylindrical plug shell that is mateable with a receptacle. A removable end piece in the coupling ring end has an internal set of key ways which correspond to a complementary set of keys on the receptacle. The end piece has shallow recesses on its outer surface which align with passageways extending through the coupling ring. Each passageway has a metal ball of such diameter as to have parts thereof extending inwardly of the opening and into the end piece recesses. A locking ring is slidingly received over the outer end of the coupling ring and includes a first portion which contactingly engages each of the metal balls holding them in an inwardly extending relation into the recesses on the outer surface of the releasable portion (locked mode). The locking ring is movable to a second position in which an inner groove is aligned with each of the passageways extending through the coupling ring so as to release pressure on the metal balls (released mode).

Abstract: First and second pairs of rollers are adjustably positionable along a pair of guide tubes within a fluid-filled tank in aligned, end spaced relation. A cylindrical workpiece resting within the interstices of the two pairs of rollers is incrementally rotated by an electro-hydraulic step motor. A sonic transducer scans the workpiece longitudinally with the workpiece being rotatively indexed successively after each scan.

Abstract: The cable shield is removed for a short distance from the end cable wire to be inserted into a contact. A generally circular plate has a flange permitting receipt within the connector part shell and a circumferential spring for insuring continuous electrical contact. A plurality of openings are formed in the plate which align with the individual openings in the connector insert. Each plate opening includes a hollow cylindrical metal tube affixed therein with an internal bore enabling receipt of a cable wire with shield and cladding. A leaf spring contact electrode is secured to the wire shield spaced from the cable wire end and lies within the hollow tube, the prepared end of the wire passing out the other end of the tube for receipt within a contact. The plate with tubes is then fitted within the connector part shell providing termination.

Abstract: A spring mechanism is positioned to hold two members of, e.g., an electrical connector which are moveable relative to each other, securely together and to resist motion of the one element with respect to the other in a decoupling direction until the force exerted on the spring exceeds a predetermined force. At this point, the spring, due to its structure, pops or flips to another position producing a decrease in the overall spring diameter causing the spring to clear retaining grooves in one or both of the two members such that the two members are released.

Abstract: A self-contained tensioner and tightener device for a threaded stud characterized in that an expandable hydraulic tensioning device is disposable between a locking nut and a foundation surface from which the stud projects, and the locking nut and the elements of the tensioning device when removed from the stud are necessarily displaced onto and retained by a take-up finger extending from the tensioning device coaxial with the stud, whereby the entire tensioning and tightening assembly is self-contained and none of its parts necessarily separate from the combination when the combination is removed from the stud.

Abstract: An optical fiber with a bare end portion is faced-off precisely at 90 degrees. With an unsecured ferrule loosely located on the fiber, the fiber is passed through oversize openings in a fiber holder and a crimping station. The bare fiber portion is located in the interstice of three rods having identical diameters and the assembly is releasably held by jaws in a holding station. The faced-off fiber end is positioned slightly inwardly from the end faces of the rods by a limit pin. The fiber holder is tightened onto the fiber to maintain it in straightened condition and the ferrule is then slid into place over the three rods and included fiber. The crimping station is moved along a track toward the holding station until crimping jaws are positioned about the ferrule, three rods and fiber. Crimping jaws deform the ferrule at several different places firmly securing it in place on the rods.

Abstract: A system of transducers and electrical circuitry connecting with the transducers detects and locates flaws in the metallic walls of vessels used for containing and transporting liquids. An array of transducers is carried by a sled having rollers for facile movement about the surface of the vessel which surface is submerged within the liquid to permit the liquid to provide a sound propagating medium between the transducers and the vessel wall. The transducers are arranged in sets of two transducers, one of which is a transmitting transducer and the other a receiving transducer, the two transducers being positioned in tandem for increased azimuthal coverage of the sonic radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gently holding, lifting and rotating a drum which may contain hazardous waste and may be likely to rupture, characterized in that an open-ended overpack is lowered around the drum and held fixed in relation to the floor while a platform slides beneath the overpack and drum, the overpack then being clamped by a lid against the platform and then elevated and rotated so that the drum therewithin is disposed in an upside-down position.

Abstract: A connector has a coupling ring received about a plug shell, the inner wall surfaces of the coupling ring having a coded arrangement of keyways to insure proper mating with similar coded keys on a proper receptacle. An opening in the coupling ring slidingly receives a metal ball. A notch is formed in a surface of a detent spring arranged such that when the plug shell and receptacle shell are fully mated, the ball is aligned with and can move into a notch in the detent spring. A retainer ring located over the coupling ring lies immediately opposite the opening containing the metal ball. The inner surface of the retainer ring has a groove which on receiving the ball leaves no obstructing part of the ball extending inwardly of the coupling ring. Rotation of the retainer ring can locate either the groove opposite to the metal ball opening or a smaller diameter surface which will cause the ball to lock the connector parts.

Abstract: A pair of hollow cylindrical parts are received onto a shielded cable and can be threaded together to clampingly engage conductive rings pressing them into full circumferential contact with the cable shield. One of the cylindrical parts is secured to a suitable electrical ground point (e.g., welding to deck of ship).

Abstract: A nozzle construction includes a housing having an elongated opening with an end that terminates in a reflector for redirecting ultrasonic signals along a desired direction of transmission. In the same housing, a sonic transducer directs sonic energy toward the reflector, which, after reflection, enters the conical nozzle and leaves the apparatus via a solid liquid stream for acting upon a test piece. Sets of fins are optionally located in the passageway for breaking up any tendency of the liquid to swirl which has been found to degrade the projected liquid column. A further set of fins located in the conical nozzle removes any swirling tendencies introduced between the cylindrical passage and the conical nozzle.

Abstract: A self-locking electrical and mechanical connecting means and method between a helical curved end-portion of a self-supporting resilient, electrical wire-helix of a certain radius and a nominally straight-axis, metal socket-portion of an electrical terminal characterized in that the socket is plastically deformed to self-lock onto the elastically deformed and somewhat straightened wire-helix end-portion.

Abstract: A system for testing the fabrication of objects utilizes echo-sounding techniques. A transmit transducer and a receive transducer which provide a conversion between electric and sonic energies are acoustically coupled to the object under test. A single cable connects the transducers to a single processor which generates, receives and analyzes the signals utilized in the test process. A coupling circuit connects one end of the single cable to the two transducers and isolates a transmitted signal from a received signal so as to permit their communication by the single cable. Within the coupling circuit, a transmitted signal is communicated by a set of serially connected diodes wherein the forward voltage drop is much less than the voltage of the transmitted signal, but greater than the voltage of an incoming signal such as a reverberation of the transmitted signal or a received echo signal.

Abstract: To insure proper alignment of a plug and receptacle connector so that only a correct plug and receptacle are being mated, a set of similarly coded keyways and keys on the connector parts require respective alignment before mating is possible. More particularly, the coupling ring and enclosed plug shell both have a set of keyways (optionally, keys) which must be respectively aligned before the receptacle can be received within the plug shell. A spring biased pawl within a slotted cavity in the coupling ring has parts which upon correct orientation of the ring and plug extend into a recess in the plug shell effectively locking the two together and preventing inadvertent rotation of the coupling ring with respect to the plug shell when the connector parts are unmated. In this way the keyways on the inner surfaces of the coupling ring and plug shell are maintained in properly aligned relation so that they may receive the receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a receptacle including a receptacle shell and a plug including a plug housing, a coupling nut threaded on the plug housing and engaged with a coupling ring, the coupling nut having threaded engagement with the plug housing and the coupling ring having locking flanges engageable with cooperable locking lands on the receptacle shell, the plug and receptacle being adapted to be fully electrically mated and locked by rotation of the coupling ring through about 90 degrees. An arcuate detent member subtending an angle of about 180 degrees is keyed to the plug housing for relative axial movement of the plug housing, and is received within an annular groove in the coupling ring for resilient forcible selective engagement of opposite radially outwardly enlarged ends of the arcuate detent member with two sets of radially outwardly formed recesses in the coupling ring.