Abstract: A diaphragm valve assembly includes a valve housing having two or more fluid ports and defining both a valve chamber extending therebetween for fluid flow therethrough and an access port leading into the valve chamber. A bonnet covers the access port and defines an opening therein through which a valve stem arrangement extends. The valve stem arrangement includes a valve seat disposed within the valve chamber. The valve stem arrangement is slidable through the opening in the bonnet between a first position, wherein the valve seat is disposed in sealing engagement with a fluid port to thereby define a closed position of the valve assembly, and a second position, wherein the valve seat is disengaged from the first fluid port to thereby define an open position of the valve assembly. A diaphragm surrounds and is attached to the valve stem arrangement to form a seal therewith.

Abstract: A lip assembly for a dock leveler comprises a substantially flat plate forming a lip, and an integral hinge extending for substantially the width of the lip. The integral hinge in a first embodiment is formed by shaping a plate into an arcuate configuration. The integral hinge has a series of slots to engage the hinge lugs and the hinge is welded to said lip along two edges thereof. In a second preferred embodiment the lip assembly for a dock leveler comprises a substantially flat plate forming a lip, a series of hinge lugs attached to on surface of the plate in a spaced arrangement, and an integral gusset extends for substantially the width of the lip. The integral gusset is coupled to each hinge lug and is welded to the lip along a continuous edge thereof.

Abstract: An overhead door for occluding an opening in a structure. The door includes a pair of tracks having inwardly facing surfaces which define a channel. A door panel is located intermediate the pair of tracks and moveable along a predetermined path of travel which is defined by the tracks. A release assembly is borne by the door panel and is operable to releasably engage at least one of the tracks. The release assembly includes a moveable plunger which is received in the channel of one of the tracks and which guides the door panel along the path of travel. The plunger disengages from the channel when force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the door panel.

Abstract: A gear pump having shafts mounted with rolling element bearings and having mechanical seals on the face of the gears provides improved “clean-in-place” ability. Preferably, washer-like seals are mounted on the face of the gears with a suitable adhesive and the cup-like seals are mounted in end housings. The end housings mate with a central housing enclosing the gears, to provide improved assembly.

Abstract: A unique switching valve for use with a multi-chamber adsorbent air and gas fractionation system for controlling the flow of fluid which comprises a valve housing including an inlet port, two outlet ports and an exhaust port and first valve and second valve members in the valve housing which are moveable between a first position and second position for alternately permitting and blocking fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet ports and between the outlet ports and the exhaust port. The first and second valve members include mean for permitting a predetermined controlled flow of fluid between the inlet port and the outlet ports and means for permitting a predetermined controlled flow between the outlet ports and the exhaust port which simplify the design and control of the switching valve by eliminating the need for separate repressurization and depressurization valves.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint for preventing movement of a vehicle from a parked position has a frame mountable at a loading dock to position a vehicle restraint mechanism operably coupled to the frame. The vehicle restraint mechanism has a restraining member with at least one hook movable between a lower inoperative position where said restraining member is out of contact with a vehicle to be restrained and an upper operative position where the restraining member contacts said vehicle and prevents movement from a parked position. A source of power, such as an actuator moves the restraining member upward to the operative position by having linkage coupling the source of power to the restraining member. A resilient member is coupled to the linkage and biases the restraining member into engagement with the vehicle.

Abstract: A dock leveler has a deck pivotally mounted to a frame. A counterbalance mechanism uses a pair of pivoting links connected together at a common point with a tension spring that is coupled at the other end to the deck. The links together with the frame and the deck form a four-bar linkage biased by the spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck.

Abstract: An overhead door having two tracks each of which is designed to be mounted on the side of an opening in a building. Each track has a script-v shape in cross-section, and a groove or channel that runs along its longitudinal axis. One or more panels are positioned between the tracks and coupled to each other. Each panel has a multiple-layer design that provides superior insulation. At least two plungers are positioned on each panel and each plunger has a first end which is biased in a first position. In the first position, the first end of the plunger rides within the channel of the track. The plungers are designed with a low-friction tip that wears away after repeatedly traveling in the channel of the track. The plungers may be designed to release from the track when the panel on which they are mounted is impacted, to rotate in whole or in part as they travel in a channel of a track, or both.

Abstract: A prison door arrangement includes a cavity formed in a side edge of a door; an adapter releasably secured to the door and extending within the cavity; and a strike disposed within the cavity and releasably secured to the adapter. A method for installing a strike within a cavity formed in a side edge of a door of a prison door arrangement includes selecting one of a plurality of different strikes, each strike dimensioned to fit completely within the cavity; based on the selection of the strike, selecting one of a plurality of adapters, each adapter designed to receive one of the strikes; and releasably securing the selected adapter to the door such that the adapter extends within the cavity, and mounting the selected strike within the cavity by releasably securing the strike to the adapter.

Abstract: An overhead door for occluding an opening in a structure. The door includes a pair of tracks having inwardly facing surfaces which define a channel. A door panel is located intermediate the pair of tracks and moveable along a predetermined path of travel which is defined by the tracks. A release assembly is borne by the door panel and is operable to releasably engage at least one of the tracks. The release assembly includes a moveable plunger which is received in the channel of one of the tracks and which guides the door panel along the path of travel. The plunger disengages from the channel when force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the door panel.

Abstract: A self-powered electrical clamp meter measures AC voltages in the range of 6 volts to 600 volts and AC currents in the range of 1 ampere to 300 amperes, and receives operating power from the source of the voltage or current being measured. The clamp meter employs first and second rectifier circuits. One rectifier generates rectified AC power from an AC voltage signal supplied by a voltage probe, and the other rectifier generates rectified AC power from an AC current signal supplied by a current probe. First and second regulator circuits generate regulated DC power from the rectified AC power, and corresponding scaling circuits generate first and second scaled voltage signals whose respective amplitudes are proportional to the output of the corresponding rectifier. A switch selects the first scaled voltage signal when a voltage is being measured, and the second scaled voltage signal when a current is being measured.

Abstract: An overhead door for occluding an opening in a structure. The door includes a pair of tracks having inwardly facing surfaces which define a channel. A door panel is located intermediate the pair of tracks and moveable along a predetermined path of travel which is defined by the tracks. A release assembly is borne by the door panel and is operable to releasably engage at least one of the tracks. The release assembly includes a moveable plunger which is received in the channel of one of the tracks and which guides the door panel along the path of travel. The plunger disengages from the channel when force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the door panel.

Abstract: A dock leveler having a frame, a deck hingedly mounted at on end to the frame and a lip hingedly mounted to the deck at another thereof. The lip has a hinge tube affixed to the lip and a gusset joined to both the lip and the hinge tube. The gusset has an end joining the lip having a width greater than an end joining the hinge tube. The gusset may have a trapezoidal shape and the end of the gusset joining the lip is affixed by two welds each spanning the width of the end joining the hinge tube and disposed between the gusset and the hinge tube. The two welds are joined to each other by extending around edges of the gusset. A single gusset may span the lip and be joined to multiple hinge tubes.

Abstract: A dock leveler, typically powered by an electric actuator or other motive source has a frame and a deck pivotally mounted to the frame. The source of power to move the deck is coupled to the underside of the deck. An extendable lip is pivotally mounted to one end of the deck and an arm assembly is coupled at one end to the lip and at another end to a crank carried by the deck to utilize movement of the deck to raise said lip into an extended position. A cam-latch arm is resiliently coupled to the arm assembly and selectively bearing on the crank by means of a spring coupling to the arm assembly. A linkage is coupled between the frame and said cam-latch arm to urge said cam-latch arm into contact with the crank as the deck is raised. This tends to cause movement between the cam portion and a roller on the crank which in turn provides a component of force to assist in raising said lip into the extended position.

Abstract: A dock leveler having a frame adapted to be fixedly mounted at a dock with a deck, pivotally mounted to the frame at one end thereof, and having a pivotable lip at the other end. A spring is mounted to the deck and the frame and supports the deck. An electric actuator is coupled to the deck and moves the deck from a generally horizontal stored position into an operative position. A control circuit is employed for controlling operation of the electrical actuator. A float member couples the actuator to the frame and carries a sensor. A limit switch is responsive to movement of the sensor so that power is terminated to the actuator when the deck reaches either an operative elevated position or a fully lowered position. In the operative elevated position float is provided by having the float member displaced from the frame to allow the electric actuator to move with the deck without being powered to reposition the system.

Abstract: A dock leveler having a frame adapted to be fixedly mounted at a dock with a deck, pivotedly mounted to the frame at one end thereof, and having a pivotable lip at the other end. A spring is mounted to the deck and the frame and supports the deck. An electric actuator is coupled to the deck and the frame and moves the deck from a generally horizontal stored position into an operative position. A control circuit is employed for controlling operation of the electrical actuator. The actuator carries a limit switch which is responsive to movement so that power is terminated to the actuator when the deck reaches either a stored or operative position.

Abstract: A building panel particularly adapted for horizontal application. The panel presents inner and outer male connectors at the upper edge of the panel, and complimentary inner and outer female connectors at the lower edge of the panel. Gutter means is provided along the upper edge of the panel intermediate of the male connectors. At the opposite ends of the panel, the outer facing sheet presents inturned end portions. Beyond the inturned end portions the foam core and edges of the inner facing sheets are exposed. In a wall structure assembled from a plurality of the panels, horizontal joints between panels and vertical joints between the panel ends are presented. Gasket means is presented in the vertical joint and is configured so as to provide vertically extending discharge channels communicating with the gutter means. Liquids bypassing the outer seals at the joints collects in the gutter means and is directed to the vertical channels for discharge.

Abstract: A chocking device for securing a vehicle at a loading dock having a guide rail mountable to a driveway and a carriage movable on the guide rail. A drive mechanism, which may be hydraulic or electric is employed to advance said carriage from a stored position to a position proximate to a wheel of the vehicle. A chock assembly is pivotedly mounted on the carriage and is movable by the drive mechanism from a retracted position to an engaging position. In one embodiment the chock assembly comprises an arm having a sensor bar to contact one portion of the wheel and a chock plate movable in response to contact of the sensor bar against the wheel to contact another portion of the wheel and block movement of the vehicle. A lock assembly is mounted on the guide rail for movement thereon, and is moved by the drive mechanism into contact with the chock plate to restrain the chock plate in the extended position.

Abstract: A double seat flow control valve includes three pneumatic pistons enclosed within two air chambers to operate upper and lower valve disks for venting operations in addition to valve opening and valve closing operations. An air boost is provided for the upper valve disk to maintain the upper valve disk in a closed position during venting of the lower valve disk.