Abstract: An automatic cementing system and method are disclosed for precisely controlling the density of a slurry during a continuously mixed cement application. The system includes an input water line and a dry cement hopper for supplying water and dry cement, respectively, to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes two chambers, Chamber A and Chamber B, for thoroughly mixing the water and cement together to form a cement slurry. Chamber B includes a level sensor for measuring the change in slurry level. The input line includes a pump for supplying the water to the mixing chamber, and a flow meter for measuring the rate at which the water is supplied. Similarly, the hopper includes a rotary valve for regulating the rate at which the dry cement is supplied to the mixing chamber and a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the rotary valve. A discharge line with a discharge pump and a discharge flow meter receives and discharges cement slurry.

Abstract: The fuseholder includes a current limiting fuse mounted within a fuse body and a lower contact and hinge assembly. The fuse body has contact assemblies mounted on each end thereof. The lower contact assembly on the fuse body is mounted on a hinge which is rotatably supported on an interchangeable cutout mounting. The current limiting fuse includes a fuse element spirally wound around a spider which extends the length of the fuse body. The fuse element includes a high current fusible element and a low current fuse element. The fusible element includes a plurality of spaced reduced areas and is supported on the spider by support surfaces which are located between adjacent reduced areas of the fusible element. An auxiliary wire also extends the length of the fuse body about the spider.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and effective apparatus and method for strengthening a door frame or similar structure to make the frame less susceptible to being broken when the door is subjected to a violent blow or kick. According to the invention, a fastener is disposed through the doorjamb on each side of the bore that is formed in the facing surface of the doorjamb for receiving the bolt of a deadbolt lock or other latching device. The fasteners are disposed through the doorjamb in bores formed generally perpendicular to the edges of the doorjamb and parallel to the plane formed by the facing surface of the doorjamb. A rigid member connects the fasteners on the inside edge of the doorjamb to provide increased strength to the section of the doorjamb located adjacent to the deadbolt.

Abstract: A power tool handle includes a tapered tubular portion, which contains a battery pack, a motor, and a gear box. The switch for controlling the electricity from the battery pack to the motor is placed over the gear box and extends through the housing.

Abstract: The fuseholder includes a current limiting fuse mounted within a fuse body and a lower contact and hinge assembly. The fuse body has contact assemblies mounted on each end thereof. The lower contact assembly on the fuse body is mounted on a hinge which is rotatably supported on an interchangeable cutout mounting. The current limiting fuse includes a fuse element spirally wound around a spider which extends the length of the fuse body. The fuse element includes a high current fusible element and a low current fuse element. The fusible element includes a plurality of spaced reduced areas and is supported on the spider by support surfaces which are located between adjacent reduced areas of the fusible element. An auxiliary wire also extends the length of the fuse body about the spider.

Abstract: A surge arrester for mounting on a transformer having two line-potential terminals and a neutral terminal. The arrester includes two high energy, low voltage metal oxide varistor disks, each MOV disk having one side connected to an electrode that is electrically connected to one of the line-potential terminals and having the other side of the MOV disks electrically connected to a neutral electrode that is electrically connected to the neutral terminal of the transformer. The MOV disks shunt any current surge to ground upon the application of a predetermined voltage across the disks. In the preferred embodiment, the electrodes and MOV disks are housed within a thermoplastic elastomer housing filled with a potting compound of a resilient elastomeric material. The potting compound completely insulates and seals the electrical connections and MOV disks.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for mounting an object to a support structure includes a hanger strap for gripping the object and a channel member for supporting the hanger strap. The hanger strap includes a lobe disposed about the object and inwardly projecting mounting tabs which engage aligned slots formed in the sides of the channel member. A single fastener is disposed through the hanger strap adjacent to the tabs so as to cause the lobe to simultaneously grip the arrester and to retain the mounting tabs in the slots.

Abstract: A faulted circuit detector having an electrically isolated and remotely positioned indicator detects fault currents in a monitored conductor. When a fault of a predetermined magnitude is detected, a light pulse is transmitted from the detector to the indicator via a fiber optic cable where, upon receipt, the pulse is converted to an electrical pulse causing the indicator to indicate a "fault" state. A reset circuit within the indicator resets the indicator at regular intervals to the "normal" state as long as a predetermined minimum voltage is present on the monitored conductor. A test circuit is also provided to allow service personnel to field test the device with the monitored conductor in an energized state.

Abstract: A non-fragmenting surge arrester with a staged pressure relief mechanism includes a liner with outlets formed in the walls thereof, a gas expansion chamber within the liner and a housing having weakened-wall regions adjacent to the outlets in the liner. Ionized gas formed by an internal failure is vented from the expansion chamber through the outlets and, upon generation of sufficient pressure, fractures the housing at the weakened-wall regions. In this manner, the generated gas forms a lower impedance path for the current which is thereby shunted around the failed internal components, preventing the generation of further internal pressure which could cause a catastrophic failure of the arrester.

Abstract: The sectionalizer control provides a restraint signal responsive to a harmonic current which exceeds a threshold current for less than a preset time.

Abstract: A distribution class recloser comprises puffer type, compressed-gas circuit interrupters and a spring stored energy operating mechanism. The interrupter includes a single pair of elongated and axially aligned contacts, one of which is moveable and includes a plurality of flexible contact fingers for engagine the stationary contact. The contacts include arcing tips formed on the terminus portions thereof for conducting arcing current. Additionally, the contact fingers on the moveable contact include raised, wedge-shaped electrical connections. When the moveable contact engages the stationary contact, the raised connections flex the fingers outward so as to cause the arcing tips of the moveable contact to move out of contact with the stationary contact to allow the raised electrical connections to carry the continuous current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pig receiver for capturing a pipeline pig as it is discharged or ejected from the pipeline. The receiver is readily attachable, detachable and portable. The receiver includes a webbed conduit made of flexible webbing. The webbed conduit includes a passageway having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the pipeline to which it is attached. The webbed conduit includes longitudinally extending webbings having loops formed in the webbing ends. The receiver is attached to the pipeline flange by a chain disposed through the webbing loops and is secured around the pipeline by a padlock or other fastener. The unattached ends of the longitudinal webbings are drawn together and secured by a closure, preferably a clevis which is disposed through the loops in the unattached ends of the longitudinal webbings.

Abstract: A gapped low voltage bushing (10) comprising a controlled spark gap (1), a metallic arc strap (18), a resistive material (46) and a metallic tank ground pad. Surges entering the transformer on any of the secondary bushings of sufficient magnitude to induce gap sparkover, result in a shunting of otherwise damaging currents safely outside the transformer.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for supplying precisely measured lengths of leader ribbon for use in the assembly of printer ribbon cartridges. The apparatus includes a supply of leader ribbon, an accumulator for retaining a length of the ribbon when it is drawn from the ribbon supply and a drive assembly for drawing a measured length into the accumulator. The drive assembly includes a fixed roller and a pivotable roller positioned on opposite sides of the ribbon path for engaging the ribbon therebetween. A stepping motor is provided for rotating the rollers a prescribed number of revolutions and thereby stuffing a measured length of the engaged ribbon into the accumulator. The apparatus also includes a cutter for severing the measured leader length from the supply ribbon.

Abstract: A two-stage gapped low voltage surge arrester for dissipating transformer secondary side current surges includes an arc strap in series with a resistive grommet. The combination is mounted on the grounded transformer housing adjacent a line potential bushing such that a first spark gap is formed between the bushing stud and arc strap. The resistive grommet is grounded to the transformer ground pad by metallic fasteners such that a second spark gap is formed in parallel with the resistive grommet. Surges entering the transformer secondary winding of sufficient magnitude induce the first spark gap to flash over, shunting potentially damaging currents outside the transformer through the arc strap and resistive grommet. At even higher currents, the voltage across the resistive grommet exceeds the flash over voltage of the second spark gap and shunts the surge around the resistive grommet.

Abstract: An automated system for growing plant material includes an first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers and a second length of membrane material having a plurality of growing chambers filled with the plant material. A media preparation unit mixes stock solutions for dispensing into the growing chambers by a fill unit. A scanner unit determines that a sufficient amount of media has been dispensed within each chamber. A sterilization unit sterilizes the chambers which then pass to a cooling and storage unit until ready for planting with plant material. The second length of plant-filled growing chambers are housed in a plant culture room where the plant material is permitted to grow. A scanner determines the extent of growth of the plant material. Upon the material reaching a predetermined growth, the growing chambers pass to a surface sterilization unit. A cutting unit opens the chambers and the plant material is removed.

Abstract: An explosion-proof enclosure having a side mounted circuit breaker handle 30, and side mounted motor controller reset handle 38. Bolt holes (46) have been eliminated in the vicinity of breaker handle 30 and reset handle 38 to allow rotation of the handles without reducing the width of explosion-proof joint (44) and without increasing the overall width of the enclosure. Mounting breaker handle 30 and reset handle 38 on the side of the explosion-proof enclosure allows the handles to be aligned, adjusted and tested with enclosure cover either in the open or closed position.

Abstract: A universal tool for maintenance and handling of soldering and de-soldering equipment incorporates a holder for cleaning needles that is inserted into a handle. The holder consists of a number of segments, each of which holds one cleaning needle at any time, that are connected to each other by means of an axis of rotation. The segment that contains the desired cleaning needle at any one time is rotated 180.degree. in relation to the other segments from the holder that has been removed from the handle, at which time the holder is inserted into the handle with the unused cleaning needles facing into the handle. The handle has hexagonal openings at both ends, which are used to screw or unscrew nozzles, suction nozzles, and clamping sleeves. The holder can be inserted into one of these hexagonal openings. The holder can also be fitted with a cap that has a slot through which a selected cleaning needle may pass.

Abstract: A fail-safe, non-fragmenting surge arrester includes a liner having outlets formed in the walls thereof for venting ionized gases generated within the liner by internal arcing. The vented ionized gas forms a lower impedance path for the current which is thereby shunted around the failed internal components, preventing the generation of internal pressure which could otherwise cause a fragmenting failure mode of the arrester. The internal components include stacked varistor elements and may include an internal fuse link electrically in series with the varistors.