Abstract: A storage rack system to be installed on a floor has a plurality of columns, is more flexible in a down aisle dimension than it is in a cross aisle dimension, and has at least a first column and a second column adjacent one another in the cross aisle dimension. A storage rack vibration isolator for use with this storage rack system comprises at least one seismic vibration absorption and dissipation structure constructed to be located primarily between the first and second columns to reduce the storage rack system's natural frequency in at least the cross aisle dimension. The seismic vibration absorption and dissipation structure includes a first member connectable to the storage rack system and a second member connectable to the floor. At least one column support assembly is mountable to at least the first and second columns to enable them to move with respect to the floor. A structure limits the movement of the first and second columns to substantially the cross aisle dimension.

Abstract: A mobile emergency response platform is based on an all-terrain vehicle of the type that can accommodate at least two persons and has the capability, without requiring in-field modification by an operator, of traversing multiple off-road surfaces that include, at minimum, each of sand, mud, snow, swampland, thickly wooded areas, ice, grasslands, man-made rubble and debris, surfaces having angles of about at least thirty degrees from horizontal, and the floatable operation of the vehicle on waterways. Electronic communication equipment can receive at least two types of wireless communication transmissions. The platform can also transmit at least two types of wireless communication transmissions. The electronic communication equipment can also perform crossover and amplification of different types of signals. An environmental monitoring station is capable of taking in-field measurements of environmental conditions surrounding said platform.

Abstract: A beam and tension rod arrangement is for use with a push back storage rack system. A front beam extends between two front vertical uprights across the loading position of one or more cart lanes. An interior structural cross support extends between two interior vertical uprights that are located at points along the length of each cart lane. Diagonal tension rods extend from each end of the interior structural cross support to points on the front beam's structural angles brackets that are adjacent the middle portion of the front beam. When a loaded cart collides with the front beam, the majority of the collision forces are directed toward the middle portion of the front beam, which exerts diagonal tension forces on the tension rods between the front beam and the interior structural cross support. The diagonal tension rods serve to brace the front beam against flexing, transferring much of the impact strain to the interior structural cross support.

Abstract: A fire fighting apparatus comprising a container with two tanks therein, one holding a quantity of water and another holding a quantity of foaming agent, a pump operated by a gasoline engine, several hoses for directing a water/foam mixture at a fire and for refilling the water tank with water from a source, and a valve system for directing the water/foam mixture through two different hoses at the fire while water from a source is used either directly on the fire or for replacing water taken from the tank. The apparatus is held within a container mounted on casters so that it can be conveniently wheeled about. The unit is adapted for use in areas remote from fire departments.

Abstract: A fire fighting apparatus comprising a container with two tanks therein, one holding a quantity of water and another holding a quantity of foaming agent, a pump operated by a gasoline engine, several hoses for directing a water/foam mixture at a fire and for refilling the water tank with water from a source, and a valve system for directing the water/foaming agent mixture through two different hoses at the fire while water from a source is used either directly on the fire or for replacing water taken from the tank. The apparatus is held within a container mounted on casters so that it can be conveniently wheeled about. The unit is adapted for use in areas remote from fire departments.

Abstract: A temperature compensated fluid meter includes a temperature transducer with a bellows that expands and contracts. Movement of a rod attached to a movable end of the bellows is coupled to a transmission assembly which includes a cylinder and a cone that have a transfer ring mounted between them. The actuator rod is interconnected with the transfer ring to move it substantially linearly and continuously along the axis of the cylinder in response to changes in the temperature of the fluid being measured. This changes the speed of rotation of the cone with respect to the cylinder for a particular volume of fluid as the temperature of the fluid changes. A cone shaft in which the cone is mounted is interconnected with the compensated index within the register so as to substantially linearly and continuously cause the index to record a temperature compensated fluid volume.

Abstract: A wheel and axle assembly for a material handling cart has a wheel with a bearing and an axle that extends through the bearing. The axle has a bolt cavity with female cavity threads and an inside tapered portion. A bolt having male bolt threads and an outside tapered portion engages the female cavity threads. The head of the bolt has a head diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the bearing and therefore locks the bolt in position. When the outside tapered portion of the bolt contacts the inside tapered portion of the bolt cavity, the head of the bolt locks the bearing against a shoulder of the axle. To prevent the bolt from loosening its engagement with the bolt cavity, a locking material is added to the male threads of the bolt.

Abstract: A check valve with an elongated body and a hole extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. A piston assembly is mounted within the body and can include a piston, a check valve seal and a piston spring. The piston spring biases the piston to a first piston location preventing air from flowing from the inlet toward the outlet end. The check valve seal can be positioned on the piston assembly to seal against either a check valve seat or the inside diameter of the hole to restrict air flow when the piston is in the first piston location. Movement of the piston to a downstream piston location can remove the check valve seal from the check valve seat and/or from the inside diameter of the hole, allowing air to flow from the inlet end toward to outlet end.

Abstract: A removable protector for protecting a thermally responsive member of a sprinkler head includes first and second shields each having protective surfaces. The protective surfaces are positioned to protect portions of the thermally responsive members that are exposed to potential contact with objects that are external to the sprinkler head. Each of the shields has a receiving end which slides over the sprinkler head during attachment of the protector. Each of the shields also has a connecting end attached to a cross member which connects the two shields and which provides an appropriate amount of spacing between the shields to permit clearance for accommodating various sprinkler head components when the protector is attached to the sprinkler head. A releasable fastener attaches the protector to the sprinkler head and secures the major protective surfaces of the first and second shields proximate the exposed portion of the thermally responsive member of the sprinkler head.

Abstract: An automatic locking apparatus releasably locks together a studded end plate connector to a notched vertical frame column of a storage rack. The automatic lock includes a vertical lever positioned adjacent one surface of an end plate connector when the end plate connector is mounted on a vertical frame column. A locking pin and tension support extend from the inside face of the vertical lever through the end plate connector. The tension support has a protruding end extending past the end plate connector and a tension device mounted on the protruding end to create a force for pulling the inside face of the vertical lever toward one surface of the end plate connector. The locking pin has a length that allows it to extend through the top of a notch or other aperture in the frame column when studs of the end plate connector are positioned in the bottom of corresponding notches in the frame column, preventing withdrawal of the studs from the notches.

Abstract: A method of heating an article with microwave energy is described in which a thin layer of highly microwave absorbent powdered material is provided around at least a portion of a container made of microwave transparent material. The article to be heated is placed at a position within the container where the article is adjacent the thin layer of highly microwave absorbent powdered material, and microwave energy is applied to the container.

Abstract: A conveyor system has a load support structure which enables loads to be moved along the conveyor. The load support structure has an input position at which loads can be placed into the conveyor system, an unload position at which loads can be removed from the conveyor system and a load storage area located between the input position and the unload position. The conveyor system also includes a plurality of sensors including an input sensor which senses when a load is at the input position, an unload sensor which senses when a load is at the unload position, and a filled sensor which determines when a pre-selected portion of the load structure has been filled with loads. A propulsion system moves loads along the load support structure. One such propulsion system includes a tram which reciprocates along the load support system. A control system responds to the sensors to cause the propulsion system to move one or more loads to the unload position whenever the unload position is empty.

Abstract: A tool structure or tool insert has a runner system which includes at least one branching runner which branches in at least two directions forming at least a first pair of branch runners for receiving laminar flowing material for the formation of a product. Each branch runner is at a position in the runner system such that it receives material having significantly similar conditions from side-to-side of a bisecting plane of that runner which bisects the cross section of at least a portion of the length of that branch runner. This material also has dissimilar conditions from side-to-side of a perpendicular plane of each branch runner which is perpendicular to the bisecting plane of that runner with the perpendicular plane of each branch runner also bisecting the cross section of the same portion of the length of each branch runner that the bisecting plane bisects.

Abstract: A fitting for retaining a cylindrical tube includes a fitting body having a hole extending through it. The hole includes a cylindrical main cavity located at one end of the body into which an end of the tubing can be inserted. A circular retaining shoulder is located on the tubing so that the shoulder is within the main cavity when the tubing is placed in the fitting. A closure, such as a snap ring, is installed at the open end of the main cavity to hold the shoulder within the main cavity. The closure has a circular hole within it to receive the tubing. An elastomeric seal is mounted within the main cavity between the shoulder and the closure. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the seal cause the seal to be compressed between the tubing and the wall of the main cavity.

Abstract: A replaceable mounting ring is disclosed for use with a water closet coupling which is interposed between a water closet drain and a sewer pipe. The mounting ring fits on a channel in a flange near the inlet end of the water closet coupling. The mounting ring comprises two arcuate members, each having a U-shaped cross section formed by a base and a leg on each side of the base, with the base having a lower surface between the two legs. A corresponding end of each arcuate member has an extension from the lower surface of its base of a size which allows the extension to engage the lower surface of the base of the opposite end of the other arcuate member. These extensions enable the ends of the arcuate members to form a mounting ring having a U-shaped cross section.

Abstract: A plastic mounting ring comprises two plastic arcuate members each having a flat upper profile, a flat lower profile and a predetermined thickness. Each plastic arcuate member has a lip extending radially inwardly with an inside diameter that allows it to engage the sides of the channel formed by the flange on the water closet coupling on which it is to be mounted. A corresponding first end of each arcuate member has a notch out of the lower level of its thickness. A second corresponding end of each arcuate member has an extension, coplanar with its flat lower profile, which engages the lower surface of the base of the opposite end of the other arcuate member. The members are fitted together to form a mounting ring having a flat upper profile and a flat lower profile. The mounting ring can be used to replace a flange formation of an installed water closet coupling without removing the total water closet coupling.

Abstract: A powered pushing unit transfers ads no greater than a predetermined magnitude in one direction along the length of a load transfer system. The pushing unit includes a frame and a source of power for moving the pushing unit back and forth along the length of the load transfer system. A dog for engaging a load is pivotally mounted with respect to the frame. A restricting mechanism applies a load engaging force to hold the dog at a load transfer range of positions until the load is greater than the predetermined magnitude. A toggle joint is mounted between the dog and the frame. The toggle joint forms an angle in a first angular direction to lock the dog in a load engaging position during engagement of a load under the predetermined magnitude. The toggle joint further shifts to form an angle in a second angular direction upon engagement of a load in excess of the predetermined magnitude, thereby allowing the dog to pivot away from the load which is in excess of the predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An electric service load limiter limits the level of current a consumer receives from an electric utility power line. The load limiter is set either at the consumer's location or through a remote control such as an automatic meter reading system in the load limiter. An electronically controlled power relay switch, connectable between the utility power line and the consumer's electric power circuit, couples electric current to the consumer's power circuit and interrupts the flow of current through the consumer's power circuit when the level of current flow exceeds a predetermined maximum level. A sensor produces a sensor signal which is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the consumer's power circuit and is coupled to a logic circuit. The logic circuit compares the resulting sensor signal to a signal representing the maximum current level of the consumer's power circuit, as preselected by the consumer's electric utility company.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for the synthesis of various solids such as diamonds, diamonds films, boron nitride and other similar materials. This invention specifically relates to utilizing novel sources of reaction species (e.g., in the case of diamond formation, novel sources of carbon and/or hydrogen and/or seeds) for the manufacture of various materials and the use of such materials for various commercial purposes.