Abstract: A split gland having only three parts to obtain effective stability to relative motion of the constituent half-gland members. A large area clamping ring generates a clamping force effective to maintain the alignment between male and female mirror image half-gland members. Ease of manufacture and use result from the reduction in complexity of the present invention.

Abstract: The connecting end on a coupling sleeve has an annular flange which may be hoved to urge compression stress to an annular deformable sealing ring to establish a seal between the main pipe and coupling sleeve. A stop part flange is positioned to one side of a sealing couple and which may assume a fixed position relative to the wall of the main pipe against which the stop part rests. Pivoted link stretching elements on the coupling sleeve move the insertion end of the branch pipe outwards relative to the wall of the main pipe and provides structure for exerting a compression stress against the resilient sealing ring to effect a seal between the coupling and main pipe.

Abstract: Fence wall construction including panels of polymeric material. The vertical edges of such panels are slotted to accomodate flanges of upright supporting posts. The horizontal edges of such panels are slotted to accommodate added reinforcing flanges. A fence wall is made up of a row of flanged posts, adjacent posts being spaced the width of a panel apart, with each pair of posts having a panel interposed, with the post flanges inserted substantially entirely within the slots on the panel vertical edges and thereby concealed.

Abstract: An assembly of a tubular shaft member (3) preferably of fiber-reinforced plastics material and a hub member (1), the hub member having formations (5, 6) which engage the internal surface of the shaft member, and further having a surface between the formations so as to define an annular space. Passages communicate with such space at the end thereof of greatest resistance to adhesive flow, for injection of adhesive into the space and release of air therefrom, the configuration of the space causing a flow of adhesive during injection thereof which effectively drives all air out of the space. The space is configured, e.g. by being of varying radial dimension, to provide an increasing resistance to flow of adhesive in the space from one end of the space to the other.

Abstract: A water supply hose connecting device for a washing machine which is easy to couple with and release from a water tap and which is capable of preventing water leakage. The water supply hose connecting device for a washing machine includes an upper connecting member for the device in a watertight manner to a water tap, an intermediate connecting member formed with a female threaded portion so as to be threadedly coupled to a male threaded portion formed on the upper connecting member. A lower connecting member is formed with openings and a flange so as to be firmly coupled to the intermediated member. A control member is provided for controlling the coupling and releasing of the intermediate connecting member and lower connecting member.

Abstract: A hose fitting for sealed connection to a hose includes: a first cylindrical member having a small diameter bore portion and a large diameter bore portion connected to the small diameter bore portion. A second cylindrical member is axially slidable within the large diameter bore portion and has a radial flange portion and an axial tubular portion extending from the radial flange portion, the radial flange portion being provided with a sealing member and the axial tubular portion being provided with a sealing member. A sleeve is provided within the large diameter bore portion and has an inclined surface. A collet is provided within the large diameter bore portion and has an outer surface engageable with the inclined surface of the sleeve and radially constrictible when moving axially within the sleeve, the hose being firmly fixed between the collet and the axial tubular portion of the second cylindrical member by axial outward movement of the collet.

Abstract: A tube fitting for joining resinous plastic tubing comprises a fitting body having an opening with a conically shaped camming mouth. A tube extends into the opening. A first ferrule is slidably received on the tube and has an exterior surface which faces the camming mouth. A second ferrule is also slidably received on the tube at a location outwardly of the opening and the first ferrule. The second ferrule has a nose portion which engages the first ferrule adjacent the tube and is snap fitted within a recess formed circumferentially of the tube prior to association of the tube with the fitting. The nose portion of the second ferrule is engaged in the recess in axial driving engagement with the tube prior to make-up of said fitting. A nut member is threadedly engaged with the body for driving the first and second ferrules into the camming mouth during fitting make-up.

Abstract: A coupling device which, as a coupler, provides the necessary strength for coupling deep trench installations of corrugated polyethylene drainage pipes without hanging up during feeding through a trenching tool and also allows the joining of the corrugated polyethylene pipes with various other standard pipe materials inclusive of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyvinyl chloride, by the use of standard marketplace glues, solvents and adhesives. The two halves of the coupling device, when used as a coupler, are placed around two abutted ends of adjacent drainage pipe sections, allowing for three corrugations of each of the two corrugated drainage pipe sections to be surrounded and interlocked with radially inwardly projecting ribs of the coupling device. When used as a coupler, the coupling sections are held in place by a band or tape.

Abstract: A universally articulable supporting sheath comprises an interconnected series of links, each having a convex spherical surface at one end, and a concave spherical surface at its opposite end. The concave and convex surfaces mate with one another to form the sheath. Special links having branch openings may be provided. Various forms of waterproofing seals are provided including O-rings, axially compressed rings, flexible belts, and ridges on the spherical surfaces. The links can be fitted together by thermal expansion. However, an axially split link is also described, which comprises two parts which snap together. The split parts may be molded as a unit with an integral thin wall hinge. The bending characteristics and bending radius of a sheath can be modified by insertion of spacers between the links at selected locations, or by the insertion of pins into radial holes provided in the links.

Abstract: A bleed-down connector assembly is described which employs a rotatable cap for controlling the axial movement of the conduit in the connector housing between the sealed and bleed-down positions. The cap is mounted concentrically over the housing for both rotational and axial movement with respect to the connector housing. The cap includes a wall portion which is formed to engage a retainer associated with the connector assembly for retaining or maintaining the conduit in the housing. The housing is formed to provide a ramp of varying axial length and the cap is formed with a plurality of depending spring-like tabs which engage the ramp and limit the axial movement of the cap with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A bow string prop for archery bows comprising an elongated, rigid member having an inner end adapted to frictionally engage the handle portion of the bow and an outer end adapted to engage the bow string to hold the string in a drawn condition. The bow may be tensioned by use of the archer's foot and leg muscles with relatively little effort by the user, and once the bow string is fully drawn the bow prop is interposed and retained between the bow and the bow string retain the bow string under tension and the bow flexed. The bow is aimed and fired in the usual manner as drawing the bow string slightly further back allows the prop to fall to the ground, and the arrow is released in the normal manner.

Abstract: A sleeve adapter (S) for locating a throughpipe (24) in a structural member (18). The sleeve adapter (S) comprises an annular apertured hub (2) having a central axis .alpha., a first annular surface (4) adjacent a first face of the hub (2) sloping inwardly toward the axis, a second annular surface (8) adjacent a second face of the hub (2), and a third annular surface (12) intermediate the first (4) and second (8) surfaces of a smaller diameter than the second annular surface (8). The adapter (S) also comprises a mechanical joint gasket (6) engaging the first annular surface (4) which locates a throughpipe (24) concentric with the central axis, a push-on gasket (10) engaging the second annular surface (8) which locates a sleeve pipe (14) concentric with the central axis, and a pressure device for urging the mechanical joint gasket (6) against the first annular surface (4) and the throughpipe (24).

Abstract: A tube coupling comprises first and second coupling components each having flow passages terminating in openings formed in transversely extending sealing end faces positioned in aligned face-to-face relationship. First and second threaded nut members are associated with the coupling components and cooperate to drive the sealing end faces together. An annular drive member is located between the first nut member and the first coupling member for conducting axial forces from the first nut member to the first coupling component while preventing relative rotation between the first coupling component and the second nut member. To accomplish this function the drive member has a tapered exterior which wedges in a tapered recess in the second nut member.

Abstract: A technique for making a connection to an object, for example a tube, comprises positioning a shape memory alloy collar around the tube, the collar having two circumferentially extending teeth formed in its internal surface. One of the teeth is caused to bite into the external surface of the tube by heating the collar to cause it to shrink, using the shape memory properties of the alloy. The other tooth is caused to bite into the external surface of the tube by mechanically deforming the collar by drawing a tapered sleeve axially over it. Axial force can be applied to the tube through the collar.

Abstract: Each half of a bifurcated circumferential clamp includes a pair of spaced apart internally oriented semicircular ridges for engaging grooves formed at the end of abutting pipes. Teeth extending adjacent the ridges penetrate the groove walls to physically lock the clamp with the pipes. A circular gasket bridging the abutting pipes and held in place by the clamp seals the junction between the pipes.

Abstract: A compression union for joining two tubing segments together in a sealing relationship. Each segment has a head and a compression shoulder, and a sealing face. A first and second nut are threadedly joined and compress the segments together. The segments pass through respective nuts. A thrust cap is adapted to be firmly clamped. It includes an axially-extending tongue fitted into a respective axial spline, so that tightening the nut together exerts only axial force on the sealing faces, and the thrust cap prevents counter-rotation of the tubing segments relative to one another.

Abstract: A one piece female coupling member (24) having a front end and back end, the female coupling member (24) defining a path (34) for the flow of fluid therethrough. A male coupling member (22) having a front end and a back end and defining a path (32) for the flow of fluid therethrough, the front end of the male coupling member (22) being insertable into the front end of the female coupling member (24). A seal (36) cooperates with an external surface of the male coupling member (22) and an internal surface of the female coupling member (24) for providing a fluid tight seal therebetween. A one piece quick connecting/disconnecting clip member (26) is slidably mounted in a slot (58) of the female coupling member. The clip member (26) is slidable between a connecting position wherein it engages the male coupling member and a disconnecting position wherein it is disengaged from the male coupling member, the clip member (26) being biased toward the connecting position by a resilient biasing member ( 74).

Abstract: A baseball pitching machine including a metal cart that rides on a plastic elliptical track wherein the metal cart carries a baseball and is controlled by a series of switches that command a rectangular-shaped electromagnet mounted on the plastic track and having an opening. The electromagnet is turned on via a switch and the metal car accelerates toward the electromagnet till it engages a projection mounted on the track which turns off the electromagnet. The momentum gained by the cart then carries the cart to a curve of the elliptical track where the baseball is projected as the cart goes around the curve of the track. After the cart protects the ball the metal cart proceeds along the track to the starting point where the cart is ready to reload with another baseball and the operation starts over with the switching on of the electromagnet.

Abstract: An archery support stand is set forth wherein a table member includes a top surface with arrow securement plates positioned along the top surface of the table member adjacent forward side surfaces thereof with bores positioned for receiving and securing the arrows for storage. A "U" shaped bracket includes a lower pivot block with an arcuate upper face with a lock pin spaced from the arcuate forward face provided with a through-extending bore through a free end thereof for receiving a lock to latch a bow therewithin. A bifurcated clamp member positions and secures a lowermost end of the associated bow within the support stand.

Abstract: A screwed pipe joint with a bell for connecting two pipes of a drill pipe string.