Abstract: A switch assembly for electrically coupling and uncoupling a first device to a second device may include a first switch configured to electrically couple and uncouple a first device to the second device, and a first switching barrel. The switch assembly may further include a second switch configured to electrically couple and uncouple a power source to the second device, and a second switching barrel. The switch assembly may also include an isolator barrier separating the first and second switches from one another and the first and second switching barrels from one another. The switch assembly may further include a shaft associated with the first and second switching barrels, such that rotation of the shaft causes angular displacement of the first and second switching barrels, electrically coupling or uncoupling of the first device to the second device, and electrically coupling or uncoupling of the power source to the second device.

Abstract: Support members for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine are disclosed. Embodiments include an engine block with support members extending between portions of the cylinder cavity and/or enhancing coolant flow for cooling the combustion cylinders. Also disclosed are support members for connection to the side walls of the cylinder cavity and support members with ears and/or holes to enhance combustion cylinder cooling. Further disclosed are methods for modifying an internal combustion engine to increase its internal support and/or cooling.

Abstract: The disclosed multi-cylinder, poppet-valved engine, has replacement cylinder sleeves larger than the original sleeves, and laterally supported near their upper ends by an aluminum alloy plate having a continuous flange or boss projecting into the cylinder block. The flange has an inner perimeter surface having a profile fittingly engaging upper exterior cylindrical surfaces of the sleeves providing lateral support to the sleeves and heat transfer from the sleeves to coolant and to the block.

Abstract: The disclosed multi-cylinder, poppet-valved engine, has replacement cylinder sleeves larger than the original sleeves, and laterally supported near their upper ends by an aluminum alloy plate having a continuous flange or boss projecting into the cylinder block. The flange has an inner perimeter surface having a profile fittingly engaging upper exterior cylindrical surfaces of the sleeves providing lateral support to the sleeves and heat transfer from the sleeves to coolant and to the block. The flange further provides a coolant groove that circulates coolant around the perimeter of the cylinder sleeves to further the heat transfer from the sleeves to the coolant and to the block. The plate is sealed to the block and head with a spacing and gasketing to accommodate thermal expansion while avoiding combustion gas leakage at the cylinder sleeve tops.

Abstract: The disclosed multi-cylinder, poppet-valved engine, has replacement cylinder sleeves larger than the original sleeves, and laterally supported near their upper ends by an aluminum alloy plate having a continuous flange or boss projecting into the cylinder block. The flange has an inner perimeter surface having a profile fittingly engaging upper exterior cylindrical surfaces of the sleeves providing lateral support to the sleeves and heat transfer from the sleeves to coolant and to the block.

Abstract: Leakage detection of cargo from the hold of a barge involves a mounting plate to the top hatch of the hold. Two pipes secured to the plate extend to locations near the bottom. Each pipe has a guide tube in it coaxial with the pipe. Each pipe has a float in it received around the guide tube. A float follower is in each tube and magnetically coupled to the float so that the float follower rises and falls with the float. One pipe has an open bottom for cargo to freely move up and down in the pipe as the hold is filled and emptied. The other pipe has a valve at the bottom for admitting cargo from the hold to the pipe at the port of origin of the vessel. Following loading of the cargo, the valve is closed. One embodiment tethers the floats to reels atop the plate. Any change of level of the floats, reflecting a loss of cargo during transit from the port of origin to that of destination, is reflected in relative rotation of the reels and triggering an output signal to an annunciator.

Abstract: A breakaway safety shut-off valve including a valve housing and a detachable end portion connected thereto by a region of reduced strength. The housing includes an axial passage and the detachable portion includes an annular shoulder positioned adjacent the region of reduced strength. A ball is guidably displaceable along a circumferential surface of the axial passage between an open position and a closed position, with a spring engaged between the valve housing and the ball to urge the ball toward the closed position. An insert having a plurality of arm segments is engaged between the ball and the annular shoulder to initially maintain the ball in the open position. At least partial detachment of the detachable portion along the region of reduced strength causes at least one of the arm segments to disengage the annular shoulder to permit the spring to displace the ball toward the closed position.

Abstract: Leakage detection of cargo from the hold of a barge involves a mounting plate to the top hatch of the hold. Two pipes secured to the plate extend to locations near the bottom. Each pipe has a guide tube in it coaxial with the pipe. Each pipe has a float in it received around the guide tube. A float follower is in each tube and magnetically coupled to the float so that the float follower rises and falls with the float. One pipe has an open bottom for cargo to freely move up and down in the pipe as the hold is filled and emptied. The other pipe has a valve at the bottom for admitting cargo from the hold to the pipe at the port of origin of the vessel. Following loading of the cargo, the valve is closed. One embodiment tethers the floats to reels atop the plate. Any change of level of the floats, reflecting a loss of cargo during transit from the port of origin to that of destination, is reflected in relative rotation of the reels and triggering an output signal to an annunciator.

Abstract: A portable tool has a long handle with a fitting for connection to an external pressurized water supply, a hand receiver on the worker end of the handle with a trigger-operated water flow control valve, a rotatable wheel at a distal end of the handle remote from the control and having surface scrubbing elements thereon, a distribution nozzle pivotable in the handle adjacent the wheel to direct high velocity water discharge onto the scrubbing elements, a discharge direction control button adjacent the proximal end, and a control wire coupled to the nozzle and button and operable to direct discharge from the nozzle onto the wheel at selectable radii relative to the wheel rotational axis to change wheel speed, direction and torque.

Abstract: A lid lifter mount is installed on the hinge pin of a conventional manway lid, and has a compression spring assembly engaging a lever which is also installed on the hinge pin. The lever has a bar engaging a lid hinge arm. A spring force adjustment screw connected to the mount enables adjustment of the amount of lift assist the bar applies to the hinge arm by cam action against the arm as the operator lifts the lid. Two embodiments are shown for attachment to two types of lid hinges.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for generating chlorine from common salt preferably includes a base with a passageway in it, a first liquid-holder extending upward from the base in fluid communication with one end of the passageway, and a second liquid-holder extending upward from the base in fluid communication with the other end of the passageway. An anode and a cathode are disposed in the passageway, with an ion-selective membrane positioned between them. The electrodes preferably include an electrolyte-contacting portion positioned in the passageway, and an electrical connection portion that extends outward away from the passageway. An electrode-holder effective to prevent liquid from leaking out of the passageway is preferably included on each electrode. Sight tubes to facilitate observation of the liquid levels in the liquid-holders are also preferably included, as is a handle to facilitate carrying and/or hanging the generator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the amount of liquid contained in a railroad tank car, or any other liquid storage tank having an interior region defining a predetermined relationship between liquid level and volumetric content. A tube having a closed bottom end is disposed within the tank in a substantially vertical orientation with the closed end of the tube emersed in the liquid and the open end of the tube protruding from the top of tank. An elongate member having a longitudinal edge defining a varying profile corresponding to the predetermined relationship between liquid level and volumetric content is slidably received within the tube. A float is slidable vertically along the exterior of the tube and is magnetically coupled to the elongate member such that as the float rises or falls in response to a change in liquid level, the elongate member will be vertically displaced within the tube.

Abstract: In liquid carrying cargo tanks of barges, with valves located inside the tanks at the bottom, valve position indicator assemblies are mounted at the valve operating shaft, above deck and fixed in position relative to the tank above the top of the tank. Each assembly includes a two-piece gear that is clamped onto the valve operating shaft. A mating gear is mounted on a shaft parallel to the valve operating shaft and having a screw thread on it. A nut mounted on the screw thread has an indicator pointer mounted to it and which moves vertically relative to the screw as the shaft is rotated and advances between a lowermost position on an indicator scale indicating valve closed condition, and an uppermost position on an indicator scale indicating valve open condition, as the valve operated shaft is rotated to operate the valve between the closed position and the open position. Various mounting arrangements are used.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for indicating the amount of liquid contained in a railroad tank car, or any other liquid storage tank having an interior surface defining a liquid level reference point. A readily portable liquid level indicator gauge is provided having a tube defining an opening extending along its length, and an elongate rod slidably received therein. A buoyant member is attached to the rod to cause the rod to be vertically displaced in response to the vertical displacement of the buoyant member resulting from a corresponding change in liquid level. A reference arm is connected to the tube and a portion thereof forms an abutting relationship with an interior surface of the tank at the liquid level reference point. A clamping device connected to the tube is adapted to releasably attach the portable gauge to the tank in a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: Each barge in a group of river-going tanker barges, has a double-hull construction to protect the inner hull and avoid collision-induced cargo spills. The space between hulls is partitioned to individual empty, dry compartments with a vertical, open bottomed, measuring tube fixed in each. A closed-bottom master tube is fixed in one compartment. All tubes have a quick-connect, above-deck, flange to receive an ultrasonic transducer thereon. A hand-held measuring instrument containing a computer and controls and information display contains a transducer which is selectively pulsed to periodically send ultrasonic signals down the tube, and receive echo signals, with elapsed time representing the depth of a signal reflector surface which is the master tube bottom or, for the measuring tubes, the bottom of a dry compartment or the surface of liquid in a leaking compartment. A unique bar code with each tube, distinguishes it and the barge from all others. The measuring instrument includes a code reader.

Abstract: An anchor for a marine vessel has a shank pivotally connected to a fluke allowing pivotal movement therebetween about a pivot axis within a range of motion. The anchor also has a pivot control member engageable between the shank and the fluke to regulate the pivotal movement throughout at least a portion of the range of motion. The pivot control member is elastically deformed as the shank is pivoted relative to the fluke. The anchor has an operational position in which the point of connection of an anchor line to the shank is positioned below a horizontal plane containing the pivot axis.

Abstract: While fluid pressure is present on the upstream side of a ball valve assembly, a jig is mounted to the downstream flange of the ball valve assembly. The jig has two hinged arms. A jack-screw pad engages the ball while one or the other of the arms is positioned at the screw and urged by a jam nut on the screw to force the pad against the valve ball to seal it on the inboard valve seal. Then the outboard seal is removed and replaced during sequential use of the hinged arms to keep the inboard seal holding pressure on the upstream side.

Abstract: A vacuum limiter valve assembly has a valve body screwed into an opening on a cargo tank. It has a relatively soft elastomeric, lightly spring-loaded seal closing the passageway through the valve body between the tank interior and the surrounding environment outside the tank. The relatively small area of the seal which would otherwise be exposed to tank cargo or vapors therefrom, is protected by a shield of material which is relatively inert and unaffected by most known chemicals, but also capable of a sealing function. The shield does not interfere with the normal sealing function, nor does it interfere with the opening of the vacuum limiter valve when needed to avoid development of excessive vacuum in the tank.

Abstract: A railroad tank car containing liquid, has a tube through its top, with the closed lower end of the tube in the liquid. A float slidable along the tube exterior is magnetically coupled to an ultrasound reflector piston inside the tube so that, when the tube is in the liquid in the tank, the float determines the height of the piston inside the tube. An ultrasonic transducer atop the tube sends pulses down the tube and which are reflected by the piston to the transducer. A computer coupled to the transducer determines and displays the liquid level. The piston is cup-shaped with a known distance between reflecting surfaces for use in the computer to produce a display value corrected for temperature variations.