Abstract: An electric vehicle comprising a body, an axle rotatably supported by the body, a rotor supported by the body for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a gearing assembly for selectively drivingly connecting the rotor to the axle, and a stator supported by the body. The stator includes a stator core which has a longitudinal opening housing the rotor and which has an outer surface. The outer surface includes upper and lower longitudinally extending recesses oppositely disposed relative to the axis. The stator also includes upper and lower cleats respectively mounted in the upper and lower recesses, the cleats and the longitudinal axis defining a common vertical plane.

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: A vehicle frame (200) has a rear portion with a rear siderail (204) of hat-shape cross-section, and a front portion with a front siderail (202) of C-shape cross-section received within the hat-shaped rear side-rail. The siderails are attached to each other at a joint (206) and have respective vertical sections (208) and (210) in overlapped contact with each other at the joint and providing a first mounting pad (230) of increased stock thickness. A cross member (226) is attached to the siderails at the joint and has a vertical flange (228) in overlapped contact with a respective vertical section (214) of the rear siderail to provide a second mounting pad (232) of increased stock thickness. A spring hanger (218) is mounted to and extends horizontally between the mounting pads.

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 switched reluctance motor (10) provides position and speed detection without a shaft position sensor. At least one of the stator pole faces (54) and/or at least one of the rotor pole faces (60) has an irregularity such as a notch (52 and/or 58) providing a perturbation or blip (70, 82) in the inductance profile (72, 76, 84) of the motor (10) during rotation of the rotor (14) indicative of the position of the rotor (14) relative to the stator (12). The frequency of the perturbations indicates motor speed.

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: 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 motor-pump unit includes a first mounting leg member at the interconnection of the motor and the pump and an outer multiple releasable outer mounting leg member at the outer end of the motor. The releasable leg member permits mounting with spaced supports under the motor or by removing of the outer leg cantilevered motor. The first leg member has a U-shaped base secured to the pump and extended beneath the motor frame adjacent the pump with circumferential spaced depending legs. An extended outer frame of the motor frame has an end notch in the bottom wall portion and the outer leg member has a mounting plate with an edge recess telescoped into the edge of the notch. An end cap has a projection extended into the opposed recess in the plate. The outer leg member has a single depending leg to define a three point mounting of the motor-pump unit. The outer leg member is removed for a cantilevered support and a closure plate is clamped into the notch to close the opening.

Abstract: In a hot water heater (10), a bottom base pad (34) of relatively rigid insulating material has an outer tapered side (38) allowing clearance of the bottom edge (30) of the outer jacket (14) past the top (40) of the peripheral annular portion (36) of the base pad (34) without snagging, to facilitate assembly, and providing decreasing clearance between the tapered side (38) and the jacket (14) as the jacket is slid downwardly.

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 fiber to fiber connection comprising a first optical fiber end, a second optical fiber end, and a connector housing. The connector housing has a connection chamber, a first fiber inlet passage which communicates with the connection chamber and which snugly but slidably receives the first fiber end, and a second fiber inlet passage which communicates with the connection chamber and which slidably receives the second fiber end. The fiber to fiber connection further comprises a shuttle slidably received within the connection chamber and movable between a first fiber connecting position and a second position. The shuttle has a fiber receiving end, and a connection end housing the second fiber end and snugly but slidably received within the first fiber inlet passage so that the second fiber end faces the first fiber end. The fiber to fiber connection further comprises a spring for biasing the shuttle toward the first fiber inlet passage from the first fiber connecting position to the second position.

Abstract: A compression tool (10) crimps both cylindrical (12) and "H" type (75) connectors. The jaws (22) of the compression tool have a first part which is defined by a nib area in which there is a nib (44) on either jaw and a base nib (46) which is moved into the nib area by a yoke (36) which is in turn moved by a manually operated hydraulic section (18) of the tool. Operation of the hydraulic section causes the nibs to converge upon a connector placed therebetween to effect the crimp. Alternatively, a connector, e.g., an "H" type connector, may be placed in a second part of the jaws. The second part includes opposing "C" shaped sections which also effect a crimp in response to the hydraulic operation. Additionally, the tool is adaptable to receive dies (76 and 78) which allow customized crimping and cutting.