Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting CO.sub.2 gas into a bottled liquid to carbonate or maintain carbonation in the liquid. A valved coupling having a conduit extending there through is screwably attached to a P.E.T. bottle substantially filled with liquid. The valve is depressed .while the bottle is squeezed to remove any excess air in the bottle. Regulated CO.sub.2 gas is then fed through a connector that is attached to the coupling to carbonate the liquid. Once carbonated, the connector is removed while the coupling remains in place to maintain carbonation.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying high pressure hydraulic fluid to a hand tool comprises an intensifier having a first relatively large diameter pneumatic cylinder and a second relatively small diameter hydraulic cylinder containing hydraulic fluid. A first piston is operatively positioned in the pneumatic cylinder and mechanically coupled to a second piston operatively positioned in the hydraulic cylinder. An air switching valve is connected between a source of pressurized air and the pneumatic cylinder and has a first air outlet port connected to a first end of the pneumatic cylinder and operative in a pressurizing mode for supplying air pressure to drive the first piston in a direction to pressurize the hydraulic fluid. The valve also has a second air outlet port connected to a second end of the pneumatic cylinder and operative in a depressurizing mode for supplying air for retracting the first piston and depressurizing the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: Bevelled end edges (37, 38) of gasket lengths (21, 36) are fused into miter joints (39) at corners (18) by welding apparatus having jig and clamp sets (64) on plates (49, 50) that are mounted on rails (59, 60) and separated by cam followers (81, 82) which interact against the bias of a spring (87) with a cam (88) which is rotated by a handler (93) on a shaft (73) to set the spacing of the sets (64). End edges (37, 38) are aligned in the spacing gap (54) against surfaces (185, 186) of a sissy bar (180) which is lifted up when the cam (88) is turned to its position of longest spacing. The bar (180) is then lowered and a heater block (29) is moved and locked into an advanced position within the gap (54) pulling a handle (115 of a rod (116), by spring finger (122) which shifts onto a lockwheel (125). The cam (88) is turned to an intermediate spacing position to melt the edges (37, 38) against the block (79), and then moved to a shortest spacing position to fuse the melted edges together.

Abstract: A shearing apparatus coupled to an excavator or similar heavy machinery for severing metal structural materials has a fixed blade attached to a boom and a cutting blade pivotably attached to the fixed blade. An outrigger is secured to the fixed blade in a position to support an end of the material during shearing. The outrigger transfers a rotational torque to the fixed blade to urge it toward the movable blade so as to prevent blade separation during shearing.

Abstract: A portable reel assembly for collapsible fire hose includes a reel formed of a pair of circular end plates coupled by a plurality of radially spaced spokes. The reel assembly is supported within a U-shape carrying handle on an axle extending between distal ends of the handle. The spokes extend through at least one of the end plates forming a plurality of free ends. A locking rod is reciprocally mounted to the handle and positioned for interfering with the free ends of the spokes in a locking position so as to prevent rotation of the reel. In a retracted position of the lock rod, the reel is free to rotate for either collecting or deploying the fire hose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a narrow thermocline in a thermal energy liquid storage tank in a cooling system for a commercial building in which the tank provides cooling liquid, e.g., water, during a peak electricity demand period to allow the building system to reduce its electric demand during such period. The tank incorporates a water distribution system including a generally centrally positioned, vertically oriented pipe extending from a bottom of the tank to about a top of the tank. A flange is positioned about mid-way of the pipe for separating an upper section of the pipe from a lower section. A water return line is coupled to the pipe above the flange and a water extraction line is connected to the pipe below the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced cool water conduits are connected to the pipe generally adjacent the bottom of the tank and a plurality of circumferentially spaced warm water conduits are connected to the pipe generally adjacent the top of the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting a hole in a liner installed in a conduit. Included in the apparatus is a carriage and a cutting head that are rotated to cut the liner. A lateral axis extends through the carriage. A skid constrains the carriage and the cutting head. The cutting head is substantially positioned over the center of gravity of the carriage to provide stability during cutting. The cutting head moves vertically with the use of a cam. The cutter also moves laterally and may rotate about the axis when cutting the hole. Prior to cutting the hole, the skid extends outward to hold the carriage in place. The apparatus also includes a specialized cutter having cutting bars along its outside perimeter and along its top surface.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a fiber optic display screen is disclosed where a fiber is guided onto a revolving drum and disposed into input and output clamps located on the surface of the drum. The fiber guiding device allows the fiber to be precisely located on the surface of the drum in a hexagonal offset pattern in corresponding locals in the input and output clamps. The strand is continuously guided over several layers of long thin rectangular slotted spacers until the desired height of the display is created. The fibers between the output spacers are then cut to form two or more rectangular or square shaped fiber optic display screen apparatus. Large display screens can be constructed by placing several sections of these display apparatus together.

Abstract: A low profile dolly trailer pulled by a cab trailer for hauling large concrete, steel trusses and other material masses. The trailer includes a first frame and second frame. The first frame is supported at one end by the cab trailer and at its other end with an axle assembly. The second frame is pivotally connected adjacent one end to the first frame between the axle assembly and the first trailer, and is connected to a second trailer at its other end. The axle assembly has a wheeled axle that extends through an opening in the second frame to reduce the dolly trailer's profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing traffic citations or the like. An impact printer is supplied which prints with a print head onto an approximately 3.25" wide paper strips and senses the movement of the paper through the printer. A plate is provided to guide paper over the print head. The sensors are removed from the printer. The plate is widened with by attaching material along the plates side to accommodate 4.5" paper. The material is shaped to prevent the paper from squirreling.

Abstract: A height- or width-modulated bar code is decoded by scanning an oblong laser beam across the bar code. Light reflected from the bar code varies in intensity as the laser beam traverses dark and light regions of the bar code. The bar code can be decoded by locating the valleys in the variation of intensity of the reflected light, and comparing the depth of these valleys; the deepest valleys correspond to tall or wide bars and the remainder correspond to short or narrow bars.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing and/or grasping lesions or incisions of luminal tissue is provided. The apparatus has a generally tubular assembly with portions which expand away from each other. The apparatus is inserted into the lumen of a tissue and placed adjacent the area to be sealed. The portions expand to contact the inner wall of the luminal tissue. Energy is delivered with a media through the expanded tubular assembly to heat the tissue to a nondestructive range where the tissue forms a denatured proteinaceous substance. The media delivering the energy is rotated in the expanded tubular assembly to heat different areas of the tissue without moving the tubular assembly itself. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, tubular portions of the assembly are provided which have side edges that slide toward and away from each other. The assembly is placed in the lumen and the tissue edges are inserted into the assembly between the side edge.

Abstract: A tool for tensioning safety cable to a predetermined tension limit and for automatically terminating the cable when the predetermined limit is reached. The tool comprises a rotatable wheel mounted for reciprocating rotation about a point on the tool for incrementally advancing the cable during a drive stroke and a toggle assembly operatively connected to the rotatable wheel for affecting its reciprocal rotating motion. A tension setting mechanism operatively coupled to the toggle assembly for inhibiting rotation of the rotatable wheel when tension on the cable is greater than a preselected value. A clamp is operative in response to inhibited rotation of the rotatable wheel for terminating the cable by crimping a ferrule to the cable while simultaneously severing a free end of the cable.

Abstract: Gas flux rate from a surface is measured using an elongated tubular housing having a lower open end and an upper open end with a support positioned within the housing a predetermined distance from the lower open end. A gas sampling wand extends into the housing from the upper open end and is supported on the support. The wand has a lower open end at the support generally co-planar with the lower open end of the housing. An air baffle is coupled to the upper open end of the housing for reducing velocity and pressure fluctuations of atmospheric air entering the housing from the upper end. A detector is coupled to the wand for measuring the concentration of selected gases within the housing. A funnel-shaped hood circumscribes the lower open end of the wand and increases the sample collection area of the wand. An air pump is coupled to the wand for drawing air and gases into the wand from the area adjacent the lower open end of the housing.

Abstract: A laser heating system projects a beam of optical radiation on a region to be heated. A sensor detects changes in temperature of the region by sensing the black body radiation of the heated region. A control circuit then controls the intensity of the beam as a function of the sensed black body radiation. In another embodiment, the beam is moved among the region and the light intensity of the beam is dynamically controlled.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor head has a hollow frusto-conical housing with parallel inner and outer, upwardly and inwardly inclined walls joined at top and base ends by top and bottom annular flanges, and closed at the top by a central horizontally extending disc portion. The top flange is interrupted at equiangularly spaced intervals by circular openings which, together with an internal annular chamber, present steep angled cavities making angles of about 20.degree. with the rotor cone axis. The housing is capped at its upper end by a circumferentially-extending crown-shaped ring which has a plurality of upwardly and inwardly inclined projections located radially outward of the openings. The projections support the exposed upper ends of tubes placed in the cavities, to guard against neck breakage and stopper dislodgement during spinning.

Abstract: A capping assembly for attachment to a ferrule of a manhole assembly in a tanker truck having a cap which is provided with a central aperture for venting. The cap is further provided with threads for accommodating the threads of the ferrule. A diaphragm having a flexible central member larger than the aperture of the cap and peripheral apertures is fittably connectable to the ferrule and positionable between the cap and the opening of the ferrule. The diaphragm includes an outer circumferential beveled surface for seatingly engaging a beveled upper inner surface of the ferrule.

Abstract: A tool for tensioning safety cable to a predetermined tension limit and for automatically terminating the cable when the predetermined limit is reached. The tool comprises a rotatable wheel mounted for reciprocating rotation about a point on the tool for incrementally advancing the cable during a drive stroke and a toggle assembly operatively connected to the rotatable wheel for affecting its reciprocal rotating motion. A tension setting mechanism is operatively coupled to the toggle assembly for inhibiting rotation of the rotatable wheel when tension on the cable is greater than a preselected value. A clamp is operative in response to inhibited rotation of the rotatable wheel for terminating the cable by crimping a ferrule to the cable while simultaneously severing a free end of the cable. The tool includes an elongated nosepiece having an aperture for receiving the ferrule and passing the cable therethrough.

Abstract: A method for connecting sections of metal conduits extending on opposite sides of a concrete floor in a multi-story building in which the floor is formed by pouring concrete over a form. The method comprises positioning a first section of metal conduit on the form with a first open end against the form and a second open end extending above a height of the concrete to be poured over the form. A removable ring is fitted about the first open end of the first conduit section abutting the form to create an open space circumscribing the first end after pouring of the concrete. A relatively rigid cover is positioned over the second end of the conduit section. A fastener is inserted through the cover and into the form and tightened to compress and hold the conduit section in a fixed position on the form. Concrete is poured onto the form and allowed to harden about the first conduit section. Afterward, the fastener and form are removed to expose the ends of the conduit section.