Abstract: a water softening system includes a water softening resin tank, an anion resin tank in flow communication with the water softening resin tank, an in-line water heater in flow communication with the water softening resin tank and a heat exchanger in flow communication with the in-line heater. A water heater is in flow communication with the heat exchanger and the in-line heater. A plurality of flow control valves are operatively connected to the water heater heat exchanger, in-line water heater, anion resin tank, and water softening resin tank. The flow control valves are configured to control the flow of water through the water softening system.

Abstract: An improved screen tooling for a fiber preforming process, and a durable coating system for such tooling. The coating system comprises a surface layer of a porcelain enamel composition that is generally a borosilicate glass, and preferable contains quartz, borax, boric oxide, potassium nitrate, sodium silicofluoride, and manganese dioxide, and optionally contains titanium dioxide, antimony oxide, cobalt oxide and/or barium oxide. Preferred compositions are dependent in part on the screen tooling material. The invention also encompasses a fiber preforming process that utilizes screen tooling with the coating system.

Abstract: Mechanical and adhesive charged blind fasteners have an annular one way flat or O-ring seal mounted at one end of a cylindrical rivet body sealingly engaged with an axially extending mandrel stem to provide a torodial chamber. The body has radial adhesive-extruding openings therethrough around which a vacuum may be established for initial adhesive charging purposes. For charging, the seal is deflected by the force of a flow of adhesive from a supply responding to the establishment of a positive pressure differential between the supply and the exterior of the body. With the torodial chamber opened, viscous adhesive readily flows therein from the supply. After being filled, the vacuum is terminated and the seal naturally recovers and closes the body to confine the adhesive therein. Adhesive charging can be achieved by other mechanisms that impress a load on the supply to effect seal opening.

Abstract: Mechanical and adhesive charged blind fasteners have an annular one way flat or O-ring seal mounted at one end of a cylindrical rivet body sealingly engaged with an axially extending mandrel stem to provide a torodial chamber. The body has radial adhesive-extruding openings therethrough around which a vacuum may be established for initial adhesive charging purposes. For charging, the seal is deflected by the force of a flow of adhesive from a supply responding to the establishment of a positive pressure differential between the supply and the exterior of the body. With the torodial chamber opened, viscous adhesive readily flows therein from the supply. After being filled, the vacuum is terminated and the seal naturally recovers and closes the body to confine the adhesive therein. Adhesive charging can be achieved by other mechanisms that impress a load on the supply to effect seal opening.

Abstract: An improved screen tooling for a fiber preforming process, and a durable coating system for such tooling. The coating system comprises a surface layer of a porcelain enamel composition that is generally a borosilicate glass, and preferable contains quartz, borax, boric oxide, potassium nitrate, sodium silicofluoride, and manganese dioxide, and optionally contains titanium dioxide, antimony oxide, cobalt oxide and/or barium oxide. Preferred compositions are dependent in part on the screen tooling material. The invention also encompasses a fiber preforming process that utilizes screen tooling with the coating system.

Abstract: A method for attaching a cosmetic body panel to a composite cargo box without inclusion of a conventional integral lip. The cargo box sidewalls are formed without integral lips. A metallic lip member is bonded to the peripheral top rail at the top of the sidewalls, wherein the lip member is configured so as to mimic the surface contour (geometry) of a conventional integral lip, including the slot, notches and wedge shape thereof for like attaching of a cosmetic body panel thereto.

Abstract: Screen tooling having a durable coating system, and a fiber preforming process employing the tooling. The coating system comprises a surface layer of a porcelain enamel composition that is generally a borosilicate glass, and preferable contains quartz, borax, boric oxide, potassium nitrate, sodium silicofluoride, and manganese dioxide, and optionally contains titanium dioxide, antimony oxide, cobalt oxide and/or barium oxide.