Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber and having an outer surface, a spud mounted on the outer surface, a jacket surrounding the tank and having an inner surface spaced from the tank outer surface, an opening aligned with the spud, a margin around the opening and converging inwardly toward the tank, insulating material between the tank and the jacket, and a fitting threaded into the spud and having a tapered outer surface which engages the margin to form a seal against the insulating material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filament reinforced plastic pipe including an integral bell, the method comprising the steps of winding a filament bundle, in a plurality of layers, around a mandrel having a cylindrical outer surface to form a pipe including a bell portion having a cylindrical inner surface, and machining the inner surface so that the inner surface is tapered.

Abstract: A method of attaching first and second lengths of fiberglass reinforced plastic pipe, the method comprising the steps of winding the first length of pipe around a metal female member, threading a metal male member onto an end of the second length of pipe, and threading the male member into the female member.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank adapted to hold water, a water outlet communicating with the tank, a water inlet communicating with the tank and communicable with the outlet independently of the tank, and a temperature responsive valve in the tank for permitting unrestricted communication of heated water in the tank with the water outlet when the water temperature in the tank is below a predetermined value, and for restricting communication of heated water in the tank with the water outlet when the water temperature in the tank is above the predetermined value.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber, a combustion chamber for heating water in the water chamber, and a combustion air inlet pipe including an outlet end communicating with the combustion chamber. The inlet pipe also includes an inlet end having a longitudinal axis, and a plate in the combustion air inlet pipe adjacent the inlet end, which plate extends outwardly of the inlet end along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pressure testing apparatus including a twin cylinder accumulator assembly having a first cylinder and a first piston dividing the first cylinder into first and second chambers. The first chamber communicates with a test specimen and contains a first fluid. The twin cylinder accumulator assembly also includes a second cylinder coaxial with the first cylinder and a second piston which divides the second cylinder into third and fourth chambers and which is connected to the first piston by a common piston rod. The fourth chamber communicates with a hydraulic pressure unit and is supplied with alternating high and low pressures to cyclically pressurize the first fluid in the fourth chamber and the test specimen communicating therewith. A switch actuator is mounted on the piston rod for actuating first and second proximity sensors to monitor piston rod movement.

Abstract: A method for assembling a motor vehicle frame including a rail having a generally planar outer surface and upper and lower ends, and a bracket including a wall portion having a lower end, the method comprising the steps of positioning the bracket against the side rail outer surface so that the wall portion extends transversely to the rail outer surface, and welding the bracket to the rail by providing a weld bead along the junction between the wall portion and the rail outer surface and extending the weld bead along the rail outer surface substantially beyond the lower end of the wall portion to the lower end of the rail.

Abstract: An electric water heater tank defines a water chamber having an electrical component extending outwardly of the outer surface of the tank. A spaced outer jacket surrounds the tank and has a opening affording access to the component. A protective dam in the opening bridges the gap between the tank and jacket in surrounding relationship to the component and is covered by a cap extending over the component and engaging the dam. Electrical wires connected to the component extend outwardly of the jacket between the cap and dam. A door covers the cap and dam and is secured to the jacket such that the door engages the cap to force the dam into sealing engagement with the jacket and tank. Foam thermal insulation material fills the space between the jacket and the outer surface of the tank.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank for holding water, a jacket surrounding the tank, foam insulation between the tank and the jacket, a heating element for heating water in the tank, and a thermostat mounted on the tank for controlling the heating element in response to the temperature of water in the tank. The thermostat includes electrically active terminals, leadwires connected to the terminals, an electric circuit reset, and a temperature adjustment dial. The water heater also comprises a protective shield for covering the terminal and preventing foam contact with the terminal. The shield includes a face portion covering the thermostat in spaced relation to the tank. The face portion comprises a first access port for providing operator access to the circuit reset cutoff, and a second access port spaced from the first access port for providing operator access to the temperature adjustment dial. The shield also includes sidewall portions extending between the face portion and the tank.

Abstract: A manifold for a heat exchanger including a plurality of substantially identical heating tubes. The manifold has front and rear walls. The rear wall has therein a plurality of inlet ports, each of which is adapted to be connected to the outlet of one of the heating tubes, the inlet ports being generally equally spaced along the rear wall in the upper half of the manifold. The rear wall also has therein a plurality of outlet ports, each of which is adapted to be connected to the inlet of one of the heating tubes, the outlet ports being generally equally spaced along the rear wall in the lower half of the manifold. The front wall has therein a water inlet opening into both the upper manifold half and the lower manifold half, and a water outlet spaced horizontally from the water inlet and opening into both the upper manifold half and the lower manifold half.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber, a combustion chamber located beneath the water chamber, a flue extending through the water chamber, having a lower end communicating with the combustion chamber, and having an upper end, and a power vent blower assembly including a blower having an inlet and an outlet, and a conduit adapted to communicate with the ambient atmosphere of the water heater, the conduit including a first end communicating with the upper end of the flue, a second end communicating with the blower inlet, and structure for mixing gases from the flue with air from the ambient atmosphere of the water heater, the mixing structure including a first projection extending inwardly and in the direction of gas flow through the conduit on one side of the conduit, and a second projection extending inwardly and in the direction of gas flow through the conduit on the other side of the conduit.

Abstract: An adjustable water heater stand including three substantially identical support members each fabricated from sheet metal. The support members each include a central sheet section, an outer leg for supporting the stand and an inner end portion extending at a 60.degree. angle from the sheet section. The support members are positioned with their inner end portions abutting the sheet section of an associated support member so that the sheet sections form an equilateral triangle. The triangle is contracted or expanded to adjust the stand to accomodate variously sized water heaters, and fasteners are used to secure the support members in the desired arrangement.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber, a generally cylindrical combustion chamber located beneath the water chamber and centered on a generally vertical axis, a plurality of flues communicating with the combustion chamber and extending through the water chamber, and a single power burner for directing a flame into the combustion chamber. The power burner includes a nozzle centered on a generally horizontal axis intersecting the chamber axis. A flame deflector made of a refractory material is located in the combustion chamber. The flame deflector has a substantially hemispherical upper portion and a generally cylindrical lower portion centered on a common, generally vertical axis.

Abstract: An electric water heater includes a cylindrical tank with an inner surface defining a water chamber having a central vertical axis. Three sets of three electric immersion heating extend radially inwardly into the water chamber from the inner surface. The heating elements of such set define generally horizontal planes vertically spaced apart along the vertical axis. The heating elements of each set lie in angularly spaced generally vertical planes intersecting the central axis and being spaced approximately 120.degree. apart with the inner ends of the respective heating elements being in overlapping spaced relationship along the vertical axis to provide the most heat at the center of the chamber where it is most needed.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank including an outer surface, and including an inner surface defining a water chamber, an electrical component extending outwardly of the outer surface of the tank, an outer jacket surrounding the tank and having therein an opening affording access to the electrical component, a door which is mounted on the outer jacket and which covers the opening, a dam which is located within the opening and surrounds the electrical component, which extends between the tank and the outer jacket, and which includes a portion extending between the door and the outer jacket, and insulating material located between the tank and the outer jacket and outside of the dam.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a combination chamber, a gas burner located in the combustion chamber, a gas inlet pipe communicating with the burner, a gas valve for opening and closing the inlet pipe, and a sensor which is in contact with the inlet pipe and which is operably conneted to the gas valve for closing the valve when the temperature of the pipe exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank which is adapted to contain water and which has an outer surface, a spud mounted on the outer surface of the tank, a jacket surrounding the tank, having an inner surface spaced from the outer surface of the tank, and having therein an opening aligned with the spud, a member connected to the spud, insulating material between the tank and the jacket, and an annular seal for sealing the opening from the insulating material, the seal surrounding the member, having a radially inner portion captured between the member and the spud, and having a radially outer portion engaging the inner surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A pressure responsive switch apparatus comprising a housing including a wall defining a passageway having an end adapted to communicate with a source of fluid under pressure, a switch supported by the housing, an actuator which is movably supported by the housing and which includes an end extending into the passageway, an actuator for actuating the switch in response to movement of the actuator, and a cup-shaped member detached from the actuator and located within the passageway and between the actuator and the end of the passageway for sealingly engaging the wall and moving the actuator away from the end of the passageway in response to pressure from the fluid source.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a compartment including a frame, a pair of contacts supported by the frame, a first rail which is fixed to the frame and which has an end, and a second rail supported by pivotal movement relative thereto between a horizontal position wherein the second rail extends forwardly from the end of the first rail and in substantially colinear relation to the first rail, and a vertical position wherein the second rail extends in transverse relation to the first rail, and a drawout circuit breaker assembly including a circuit breaker having thereon a pair of contacts, the assembly being movable along the first and second rails when the second rail is in the horizontal position, being movable along the first rail so as to move the circuit breaker assembly contacts into and out of engagement with the compartment contacts, and being movable entirely onto the first rail so that the second rail is movable from the horizontal position to the vertical position.

Abstract: A switch apparatus comprising a fixed tubular contact having an inner end, a movable tubular contact having an inner end and being movable between a closed position wherein the inner ends of the contacts overlap and an open position wherein the inner ends of the contacts are spaced apart, a piston fixed to the movable contact for movement thereiwth, a cylinder slideably receiving the piston and cooperating with the piston to define a variable volume pressure chamber which decreases in volume as the movable contact moves from the closed position to the open position, and a housing fixed to the piston and having an inner surface which cooperates with the piston to define an arc chamber containing the inner end of the movable contact, the housing having therein an aperture through which the fixed contact extends when the movable contact is in the closed position, and the arc chamber communicating with the pressure chamber so that gas is forced from the pressure chamber into the arc chamber when the movable conta