Abstract: A quick-connect coupling for a gas line has a socket member for connection to a gas line and a nipple for connection to a gas appliance, the nipple being engageable in the socket member for coupling the gas line to the appliance, with a sleeve displaceable between a locking position for securing the nipple in the socket member and a released position in which the nipple is free to be uncoupled from the socket member. A locking member is displaceable along a path of movement into an extended position to retain the sleeve in the locking position. A control knob connected to the gas valve is rotatable for opening and closing the gas valve to control gas flow through the socket member.

Abstract: An adjustable building construction shore has an inner tubular member extending internally of an outer tubular member and displaceable longitudinally of the outer tubular member, the inner and outer members having projecting and recessed longitudinal portions slidably interengaged and preventing relative rotation of the inner and outer tubular members. Openings extending transversely through the inner and outer tubular members are spaced apart longitudinally of the inner and outer tubular members, and retainer members extend through the openings for securing the inner and outer tubular members against relative longitudinal movement. A screw jack supports a lower end of the shore.

Abstract: A backwash system and method for a waste treatment system employ a waste inlet duct extending into an accumulation of microbial growth media particles in a lower region of a tank, with a vertical duct having a duct outlet in an upper region of the tank. A downwardly convergent strainer extends around the vertical duct beneath the duct outlet, with a liquid collector beneath the liquid leakage openings and a liquid outlet from the liquid collector communicating with the exterior of the tank. Compressed air is supplied into the vertical duct to impel the waste water up to the duct outlet and onto the strainer. A solids return duct has an upper end opening through the downwardly convergent strainer and a lower end opening above the accumulation of microbial growth media particles.

Abstract: A latching apparatus for sliding windows or doors, comprising a striker and a latch assembly. The latch assembly comprises a support, a spring biased latch member slideably retained on the support and movable between a latching position in which it engages the striker and a non-latching position, a spring biased retainer connected to the support and movable between a retaining position in which it retains the latch member in the non-latching position and a non-retaining position in which it releases the latch member to move to the latching position. The retainer includes an actuating portion that is externally engageable by the striker as the frames of the closure are slid closed to move the retainer to the non-retaining position. An actuator is connected to the latch member by for returning the latch member to the non-latching position thereby freeing the frames and the retainer.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for inspecting wheel alignment employ an optical target mounted on a wheel of a motor vehicle, a support mounting a camera above ground for generating image information of the optical target that falls within the camera's field of view, and a pivotal connection between the camera and the support,. The pivotal connection allows vertical pivotation of the camera through a range of pivotation sufficient to maintain the target in the field of view of the camera during displacement of the vehicle between raised and lowered positions of a vehicle lift carrying the vehicle. Images of the target captured by the camera are analysed to generate wheel alignment information.

Abstract: A method of treating an animal waste slurry so as to efficiently extract nutrients, and which can be performed in a zero-discharge system, comprises flocculating the slurry, processing, e.g. filtering, the flocculated slurry to separate liquid from solid material, drying the solid material, processing the liquid to extract ammonium, phosphorous and potassium from the slurry, all within 24 hours, and preferably on average within 12 hours, of production of the waste material by animals. Since the urates of potassium and ammonium in the slurry take a few hours to break down, they remain in crystalline form and therefore a larger portion of the total amount of potassium and ammonium in the slurry can be extracted.

Abstract: A toothbrush has a first handle portion containing toothpaste and a movable handle portion projecting longitudinally through an end opening of the first handle portion and forming a ram for expelling the toothpaste through a passage in a bristle end portion of the toothbrush to outlet openings between bristles. The movable handle portion is in two relatively separable parts having mutually interengageable end portions releasably securing the parts together, one of the parts containing a mouthwash chamber with a supply of mouthwash and the other parts containing a floss chamber with a supply of dental floss. The movable handle is readily releasably secured to the first handle portion.

Abstract: In a method of accelerating and pressurizing a fluidized stream of particulate material, e.g. for blast cleaning by ice particles, the stream flows through a constriction in a flow passage. A flow of blast medium is discharged from a blast nozzle at supersonic speed into the fluidized stream so as to form within the fluidized stream a flow front which is impenetrable by the fluidized stream and which co-operates with the constriction to form an effective nozzle for accelerating the fluidized stream. Grounding is provided controlling electrostatic charges for either better work effect or neutralization in unwanted or hazardous conditions, and safety pressure relief, blast intensity control, articulation and changement of final nozzles for effective operation are also provided.

Abstract: An entry port system for connecting a co-axial cable to a printed circuit board within a housing has a terminating connector on the cable at the exterior of the housing and a connector member within the housing and connected to the cable shield. The printed circuit board is secured to the connector member so as to be supported and grounded thereby. A terminal, mounted on the printed circuit board, holds a central conductor of the terminating conductor, which extends through a passage in the connector member, at a spacing from the connector member, so that an air gap surrounds the central conductor in the passage. The size of the air gap is selected so that the entry port system acts as a co-axial transmission system having an impedance substantially equal to that of the cable.

Abstract: A closure device for use with a motor vehicle master cylinder has a closure member and a retainer arrangement for securing the closure member on the master cylinder. The retainer arrangement comprises a elongate retainer, a first anchor member for securing one end of the elongate retainer relative to the closure member and a second anchor member adjustably engageable with the elongate member for securing the elongate member to the closure member, with the elongate member extending beneath the master cylinder for retaining the closure member on the master cylinder. To facilitate installation without requiring an installer to reach beneath the master cylinder, the elongate member is made of a material which is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting in a cantilever condition when gripped at a spacing from a free end thereof, the elongate member being sufficiently flexible to wrap beneath the master cylinder when secured by the anchor members.

Abstract: A glass fiber open boat hull structure has a lower hull component having a gel-coated outer surface facing outwardly of the hull structure and an upper edge extending along the hull structure, and an upper component extending along and joined to the upper edge of the lower hull component and projecting upwardly. The upper component has a gel-coated inner surface facing inwardly of the hull structure. A sole component mounted on the lower hull component has an upwardly facing gel-coated surface and a peripheral edge portion joined to the lower hull component. An elongate floatation chamber extends along the upper component in a recess formed in an outer surface thereof, and retainer members spaced apart along and connected to the floatation collar and other retainer members spaced apart along and connected to the upper component have apertures extending therethrough. A flexible securement line threaded through the apertures retains the floatation collar in the recess in the upper component.

Abstract: A child-resistant, automatically locking lighter includes a fuel tank having a fuel tank cover, a valve for controllably releasing fuel from the tank, a spark wheel, a flint for generating a spark to ignite released fuel, and lever for opening and closing the valve. A retainer unit mounted on the tank cover includes an abutment and a retainer hook. The lever includes a latch hook extending toward the hook of the retainer unit, and an abutment engageable with the abutment of the lever. A spring mounted between the tank cover and the lever urges the lever into a locked position in which the abutments prevent the lever from pivoting to open the valve. The lever is capable of being manually slid to a released position, in which the abutments are disengaged and the lever is free to pivot to open the valve. As the lever is displaced from the locked to the released positions, the retainer hook and the latch hook engage, to retain the lever in the released position against the force of the spring.

Abstract: A cable stripper for use with a cable anchor has an elongate cutter on a tubular body, the cutter having at one end thereof, an inwardly projecting transverse cutter blade. The cutter and the tubular body are connected so as to allow the cutter to move relative to the tubular body, which is insertable into said passage in the cable anchor, with the cable extending through the tubular body, so as to cause the frusto-conical internal surface to wedge the cutter blade into penetrating engagement with a sheath on the cable.

Abstract: A fluidized particle production system includes a solidifying unit having a forming surface for supporting a solidified layer of a medium, e.g. ice and a treatment apparatus for removing the solidified medium from the solidifying surface and sizing the removed solidified medium into particles of desired dimensions. The treatment apparatus comprising a sizing device co-operating and moving with the solidifying surface for effecting therebetween the sizing of the particles. A housing encloses the solidifying unit and the treatment apparatus and a sweep fluid outlet is positioned to discharge sweep fluid towards the sizing device for fluidizing the particles and transporting the fluidized particles through an outlet duct from the housing.

Abstract: A fly and insect trap for attachment to a depending light bulb has an enclosure of translucent material for installation around the light bulb, the enclosure having an upwardly open top defining an opening for receiving the bulb into the interior of the enclosure with the top spaced outwardly from the bulb to form therebetween an inlet gap for the entry of flies and insects into the interior of the enclosure. A retainer is secured to the enclosure within the enclosure and beneath the opening and resiliently engageable with the bulb for suspending the trap from the bulb.

Abstract: A method of inserting tubing into a live well bore, includes attaching a resilient piston to a lower end of the tubing, lowering the piston into a passage at a well head to locate the piston in a position above a closure which prevents the escape of fluid from the well bore through the passage, sealing the passage around the tubing above the piston and opening a path of communication between the well bore below the closure and a portion of the passage above the piston to equalize the hydraulic pressure above the piston with that below the closure. The closure is then opened and fluid is pumped from a fluid reservoir into the passage above the piston to force the piston and the tubing downwardly in the well bore. Subsequently, the piston and the tubing are allowed to descend under gravity while fluid flows upwardly in the well bore past the piston by deformation of the piston by the pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating waste liquid and solid material comprises an upwardly inclined passage containing an auger for conveying the solid waste material upwardly along the passage, with an inlet opening at a lower end of the passage for receiving a mixture of waste liquid and solid material into the auger, a drainage opening at the lower end of the cylindrical passage for draining liquid from the solid waste conveyed by the auger, and a compactor for receiving the solid material fed upwardly by the auger and compacting the solid waste material. An extruder receives and extrudes the compacted solid waste material from the compactor, and may be arranged to convert the compacted material into pellets.