Abstract: Improved valve mountings with rotational limiting stops for self-closing breakaway valve assemblies comprising two frangibly connected valve housings each having a rotatable valve member and trigger means holding the valve members open until the valve housings separate. The rotatable valve members have slotted trunnion shafts respectively rotatably received in trunnion bearings mounted to the valve housings. A coil spring is deployed about each trunnion shaft and has one tang end received in the slot of the trunnion shaft to bias the rotatable valve member to its closed position. Indicator shafts keyed with the trunnion shafts are rotatably mounted in the trunnion bearings, the ends of the indicator shafts being exposed to indicate the positions of the valve members.

Abstract: A gas meter riser for conducting gas from an underground source of supply, such as a gas main, to a point of delivery above ground level, such as a meter or the like. The gas riser comprises a substantially totally plastic gas conduit formed by plastic tubing secured at one of its ends to an underground plastic service line. The tubing is surrounded by a protective and supporting metal pipe casing which extends partially above ground level and partially below ground level. The metal pipe casing, its lower end adapted to be disposed below ground level, is moisture sealed about the plastic tubing. The upper ends of the plastic tubing and metal pipe casing are adjacent and structurally secured to each other in sealed fashion by a plastic transition adapter and a cooperating metal fitting. The adapter, at its lower end, is secured to the upper end of the plastic tubing, and, at its periphery, sealingly engages the metal fitting which, in turn, is secured to the upper end of the metal pipe casing.

Abstract: A positive displacement gas meter includes a two-piece composite center casting. The first piece is a center chamber casting which has a lower cylindrical wall partially defining the center chamber and an upper manifold portion defining passages to front and rear chambers defined by diaphragms and front and rear covers secured to the center chamber casting. The second piece comprises a valve chamber manifold casting which mounts to the top of the center chamber casting and defines openings registering with the openings to the front and rear chambers. The valve chamber manifold also partially defines a center chamber and defines an opening thereto, and further at least partially defines an exhaust passage having a collection end adjacent the openings to the chambers and leading to an outlet end. A valve seat having a sliding valve cover is mounted to the valve chamber manifold casting, and a top casting fits thereover and is secured to the valve chamber manifold casting.

Abstract: A temperature controller for use with a fryer of the type comprising a vat containing cooking oil and heater, such as a gas burner or electrical heating element, for heating cooking oil comprises a temperature probe for sensing the temperature of the cooking oil, a temperature selector switch producing a signal corresponding to the selected temperature for the cooking oil and also producing a signal corresponding to a normal temperature approximately 25.degree. below the selected temperature. A heat demand comparator produces a heat demand signal when the temperature of the cooking oil is below the selected temperature. A normal temperature comparator compares the temperature of the cooking oil with the normal temperature and provides a signal when the cooking oil is in the normal temperature range, and a cooking gate inhibits this signal if cooking is taking place in the fryer. A heating element control oscillator provides pulses.

Abstract: A hair cutting appliance comprises a power-driven user-controlled scissors mounted in the cutting chamber of a housing. The scissors are driven in cutting strokes by solenoids. The housing also defines an exhaust chamber, and has a tubular handle adapting the exhaust chamber for connection to a source of suction via a flexible hose. Spacer means are mounted to the housing surrounding an inlet opening to the cutting chamber, and the spacer means may comprise several removably mounted spacer members of differing lengths for selecting a desired hair length. Hair is drawm into the cutting chamber in a path between the blades of the scissors, and the scissors is operated to cut the hair at the length determined by the spacer means. The housing is at least partially transparent so that the cutting of the hair can be seen by the user.

Abstract: Moving automated toll collector apparatus comprises a plurality of automated toll collectors, each having a large hopper presenting a large target for receiving toll coins, driven at spaced apart intervals in a path parallel to a traffic lane of a toll station. Vehicles enter the traffic lane, take a position adjacent one of the automated toll collectors, deposit the toll and depart the toll station without stopping. This improves traffic flow through toll stations and eliminates traffic backups. Control arm units including a control arm extending across the traffic lane may be positioned ahead of each automated toll collector, the control arm unit also being driven in the path along the traffic lane. The control arm units may include signs indicating the toll due and for indicating when the toll has been received. The automated toll collectors are preferably driven about the periphery of an elongated traffic island separating two traffic lanes at speeds from approximately one to ten or twelve miles an hour.

Abstract: Force-resistant locking devices for electric meter boxes with hinged cove or the like, comprise a stud member mounted to a wall of the box and a flange member received on the stud member, the flange member including a flange overlying a marginal portion of the cover to keep it closed. The flange and stud members together define an opening receiving and fully enclosing a utility lock for securing the flange and stud members together. In one embodiment, the flange member is an angle iron with rectangular metal stock welded to one leg, and the stud is cylindrical and received in an opening through the flange member. The lock-receiving opening intersects the stud-receiving opening and the shear strength of the utility lock holds the locking device together. In another embodiment, the flange member is a section of channel iron and receives a rectangular stud, the lock-receiving opening deployed to utilize the shear strength of the lock.

Abstract: Utility type locks have a lock body including a head and a shank, a plunger axially slidably received in the lock body, and locking balls forced outwardly from the shank or retracted within the shank depending upon the position of the plunger. A coil spring biases the plunger away from the head of the lock, and is dimensioned such that it must be fully compressed for the plunger to permit the balls to retract. The plunger face defines a shallow annular groove surrounding a center post which resists picking tools. A preload bushing surrounds the plunger with a deformable lip engaging a shoulder of the plunger. The preload bushing holds the utility lock open with the balls retracted, and application of force to the plunger deforms the lip to release the plunger.

Abstract: Frangibly connected members and frangible connector inserts for frangibly connecting members, such as self-closing breakaway valve assemblies, provide independently selectable tension and bending separating loads. A frangible connector insert comprises a tension ring having a cylindrical surface closely receiving a moment arm ring having a mating cylindrical surface to establish an axial interface therebetween. Tension-mode frangible screws or pins are disposed across the axial interface, and are preferably evenly arrayed about the tension and moment arm rings. A bending ring is attached to the moment arm ring by bending-mode frangible screws or the like, also preferably evenly arrayed about the bending ring and moment arm ring. The tension and bending rings are attached to members to connect them when provided as a frangible connector insert, or are integral with the members. The tension-mode frangible means break upon application of a given tension load, but do not break upon application of a bending load.