Abstract: A drop tube/adapter unit, mounted on the riser pipe of a fuel storage tank, defines a fuel inlet path and an annular vapor return path during a loading operation. A vapor valve, provided in the vapor return path, prevents escape of vapors when a loading operation is not taking place. The drop tube is mounted for universally pivotal movement relative to a vapor valve member thereon, so that the vapor valve will reliably close, if the riser tube is out of plumb. A spring urges the drop tube, valve member to a closed position through a spring support. A stop means engages the spring support and precompress this spring, with the spring support positioned to facilitate its attachment to the adapter. The spring support is attached to the adapter by a threaded connection, comprising a threaded portion at the lower end of the adapter. This threaded portion is interrupted by a recess which positions a ring for sealing the adapter to the upper end of the riser pipe, when the adapter is threaded onto the riser pipe.

Abstract: A below grade, spill containment device for connection with the riser pipe of an underground fuel storage tank. The containment device is disposed within and isolated from a manhole, which is mounted in a concrete apron. The containment device comprises a compositely formed container, rigidly mounted on the riser pipe. The container formed of structural synthetic resin material elements held in assembled relation by snap fitted lugs and notches. A lid, for closing the upper, access opening, is mounted on a pivotable arm. A lever pivoted on the arm selectively engage latch means to lock the lid in a closed position. A projection on the lever prevents the manhole cover from seating if the lever is not in its lock position. A valve for draining fuel from the container to the riser pipe is closed when the lid is open and opened when the lid is closed. The manhole and the containment device are packaged in a shipping carton in spaced relation be corrugated paper sheets.

Abstract: A breakaway unit which is adapted to be mounted in series flow relation with a fuel nozzle. The breakaway unit comprises a flex section which assures an axial transmission of forces to a valve section which is separated when a vehicle drives away from a dispensing unit with the nozzle lodged in its fuel tank. The valve section comprises inlet and outlet couplers and means for releasable locking the couplers in an assembled relation. These means comprise fingers which are flexed outwardly when a separating force exceeds a predetermined value. Garter springs embrace the fingers to accurately control at which the couplers will separate. The fingers engage angularly spaced lugs which permit the fingers to be telescoped therebetween and then rotated to a locking position to facilitate reassembly of the couplers with a minimum of effort. Alternate embodiments of the invention disclose other forms of spring means for accurately controlling the force at which the couplers will separate.

Abstract: A surgical drape comprises a main panel and a "critical zone" panel secured thereto. A fenestration is formed by cutting through the "critical zone" panel. The main panel is a light weight fabric having a relatively high coefficient of friction. The "critical zone" panel comprises a barrier panel lying against the main panel and an outwardly facing absorbent panel, having an irregular surface. In an another embodiment, the critical "critical zone" panel is folded to form troughs for capturing liquid incident to a surgical procedure.

Abstract: An emergency valve is provided to shut off the flow of fuel in the event a fuel dispenser is struck with sufficient force to rupture the fuel conduit means therefor. The valve comprises a lower housing connected to a source of pressurized fuel and an upper housing connected to conduit means which extend to a dispensing nozzle. The upper housing has a groove which defines the plane of a weakened portion. When the impacted with a relatively high lateral force, the portion of the upper housing, above the groove, will separate, or break away. A normally open, main control, flapper valve is mounted in the lower housing. A poppet check valve is mounted in the upper housing. When the separable portion of the upper housing breaks away, both the flapper valve and the check valve automatically close to minimize spillage of fuel. A bleed valve is provided to relieve pressure in the fuel conduit means to which the separable portion of the upper housing is connected, in the event a fire occurs upon its breaking away.

Abstract: A sealing unit effects a connection between a loading boom and a manhole on a tank car. Liquids are delivered through the boom into the tank car. Vapors displaced from the tank are transmitted, through the sealing unit, to conduit means, which enable disposal of the vapors without contaminating the atmosphere. The unit comprises an upper plate which rests on the manhole. A sleeve is connected at its upper end to the upper plate and, at its lower end, to a lower plate. A pneumatic motor is actuated to draw the lower plate upwardly. When this occurs, the sleeve is bulged outwardly into sealing engagement with the manhole. Column springs are provided to assure that the central portion of the sleeve will bulge outwardly and provide sealing engagement with manholes of different diameters.

Abstract: A liquid impermeable barrier fabric which resists penetration of liquids under finite hydraulic heads and maintains that capable after upwards of 75 institutional washing/sterilization cycles. The barrier fabric istructurally characterized by a silicone membrane attached to a fabric substrate. The substrate is a tightly woven fabric which is constructed of polyester yarns. Attachment of the membrane to the fabric substrate by a bonding mechanism in which the silicone material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of the looped portions of the yarn, which define the surface of the fabric. This bonding mechanism also includes hydrophilicity of the yarn surfaces with which the silicone is in intimate contact. The fabric is treated with a hydrophilic finish to provide this aspect of the bonding mechanism. This barrier fabric is provided through the use of coating/calendaring apparatus.

Abstract: A drop tube employed in the discharge of fuel into a storage tank of the type having an inlet, riser pipe is described. The drop tube a tubular member and an overfill valve. The overfill valve comprises a valve member having open and closed positions which is controlled by a float mounted thereon. The drop tube is insertable through the riser pipe to a position wherein the float displaces the valve member towards its closed position when the fuel in the tank reaches a desired level. A depression in the tubular member receives the float to facilitate insertion of the drop tube through the riser pipe. The valve member is freely pivotal from its open position to its closed position, being displaced thereto by the force of fuel discharged into the tank. A pressure relief valve provided to reduce the forces on the valve. A bleed valve is also provided for bleeding fuel from above the valve when it is in its closed position.

Abstract: An emergency vent valve for fuel storage tanks comprises a body member and a cover pivotally mounted thereon. The body member has a central passage which is sealed by cover in its closed position. The cover is held in this closed position by resetable latch means, which are responsive to a predetermined storage tank, vapor pressure to release the cover for displacement to an open position. In the open position, the cover is generally upright to provide an alert that the valve has been actuated. The latching means comprise a latch pin, mounted on the cover and a latch link, pivotal on the body member, having a cam surface, which is engaged by the latch pin to hold the cover in its closed position. A screw enables adjustment of the initial position of the latch link to vary the relative angle between the cam surface and the latch pin, to thus adjust the vapor pressure to which the valve is responsive.

Abstract: A surgical gown fabricated of a light weight, woven polyester, is provided with side ties which permit it to be secured to a wearer in accordance with accepted sterile techniques. These ties are joined by a pass card having detachable locking means which engage the side ties and maintain them properly positioned when the gown is folded into a compact package and during the procedure of putting the gown on a wearer. When the gown is preliminarily secured to the wearer, by back ties, the wearer disengages one side tie from the pass card. An unsterile assistant then wraps the gown around the back of the wearer. The wearer then frees the other side tie from the pass card and joins the two side ties to secure the gown on his person. The configuration of the terminal ends of the side ties and the features of the pass card locking means facilitate the use of pass cards with reusable surgical gowns fabricated from woven fabrics.

Abstract: A turret type soap molding machine has a cleaning station at which soap residue is removed from mold cavities. The cleaning station includes reciprocating brushes for cleaning the surfaces of the mold cavities.

Abstract: A breakaway unit which is adapted to be mounted in series flow relation with a fuel nozzle. The breakaway unit comprises a flex section which assures an axial transmission of forces to a valve section which is separated when a vehicle drives away from a dispensing unit with the nozzle lodged in its fuel tank. The valve section comprises inlet and outlet couplers and means for releasable locking the couplers in an assembled relation. These means comprise fingers which are flexed outwardly when a separating force exceeds a predetermined value. Garter springs embrace the fingers to accurately control at which the couplers will separate. The fingers engage angularly spaced lugs which permit the fingers to be telescoped therebetween and then rotated to a locking position to facilitate reassembly of the couplers with a minimum of effort. Alternate embodiments of the invention disclose other forms of spring means for accurately controlling the force at which the couplers will separate.

Abstract: A security grating of the type comprising an openwork grid is described. It comprises horizontal bars and vertical rods. The rods pass through openings in the bars. At the each intersection between a bar and rod, a set of tabs locks the bars against movement relative to the rod. A method is described for making these rods from common, rolled round rod stock. A four element punch is employed to displace, or swage, the rod material outwardly to form the tabs in an economical manner.

Abstract: A poppet valve assembly and method of making same are provided and such assembly comprises a housing; a flow passage in the housing with the passage having a central axis and being adapted to flow a fluid in either direction therethrough; a poppet structure for controlling flow through the passage; a support structure for supporting the poppet structure during movement thereof along the axes; an actuator contact on the poppet structure between its head and stem to enable movement of the poppet structure along the axes; and apparatus for engaging the contact to provide the movement wherein the support structure comprises a cylindrical inside surface provided on the housing and having an axial length generally of the order of several times the particular diameter, and the support structure also comprises a cylindrical outside surface on the stem which slideably engages the inside surface, with the inside and outside surface cooperating and defining sole means confining the poppet structure against movements tra

Abstract: A vapor recovery nozzle, employed in minimizing atmospheric pollution by fuel vapors is described. The nozzle comprises a bellows which is compressed against the fill pipe of a vehicle fuel tank during discharge of fuel therein. The bellows surrounds a nozzle spout to define a vapor return flow path which extends through a nozzle body. The body of the nozzle is compositely formed by a body member and a vapor path cap which compositely define the vapor return flow passage. Flow of fuel is controlled by a control valve which may be opened, or maintained opened, by an operating lever only when a trip mechanism stem is latched in an operative position. A mechanical interlock prevents latching of the trip mechanism stem unless the bellows is compressed in sealing engagement with a fill pipe. When the bellows is so compressed, the trip stem is latched. If the level of fuel in the fill pipe covers the end of the spout, vacuum actuated means unlatch the trip mechanism stem.

Abstract: A containment device for minimizing soil contamination in filling underground storage tanks, comprises a bucket member, a bottom member and a bellows connection between the bottom member and a riser pipe extension. These elements comprise an upwardly open spillage container. A lower bellows connects the bottom member and the riser pipe extension, comprising a lower chamber. The containment device is mounted on the riser pipe of an underground tank by threading the lower end of the riser pipe extension thereon. A valve controlled passage, through the bottom member, permits spilled fuel to be drained from the spillage container into the lower chamber and then through openings in the riser pipe extension into the storage tank. The bottom member is releasably secured to the bucket member and the bellows are releasably clamped to the riser pipe extension, to permit these items to be removed from the bucket member for repair and replacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for the assembly of biscuit and meat sandwiches comprises a feeder station for receiving whole biscuits, a slicer station for slicing the biscuits in half, a separator station for separating the two halves of the biscuit and sending them along separate pathways, and an assembly station having a hold station where precooked meat patties are held and where the biscuit halves and the meat patties are assembled into a sandwich ready for packaging. A series of conveyors transport the food components between the stations.

Abstract: An emergency valve shuts off the flow of fuel in the event a fuel dispenser is struck with sufficient force to rupture the fuel conduit means therefor. The valve comprises a lower housing connected to a source of pressurized fuel and an upper housing connected to conduit means which extend to a dispensing nozzle. The upper housing has a groove which defines the plane of a weakened portion. When the impacted with a relatively high lateral force, the portion of the upper housing, above the groove, will separate, or break away. A normally open, main control, is mounted in the lower housing. A check valve is mounted in the upper housing. When the separable portion of the upper housing breaks away, both the flapper valve and the check valve automatically close to minimize spillage of fuel. A bleed valve is provided to relieve pressure in the fuel conduit means to which the separable portion of the upper housing is connected, in the event a fire occurs upon its breaking away.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining members made of thermoplastic material are provided wherein cut edges of such members and portions of the members adjoining the edges are heated to a selected temperature to define plasticized edge portions and the plasticized edge portions are moved to bring the edges in contact with each other while shielding same from ambient air to thereby enable fusion of the plasticized edge portions with minimum flashing and carbonization of the thermoplastic material. A heating device for use with the apparatus and method of this invention is also provided.

Abstract: Drying/curing apparatus comprises a hot air dryer and a radiation unit for drying water based inks or irradiating ultra violet radiation curable inks printed on a web traveling therepast. A laterally displaceable shutter is interposed between the web and the radiation unit when movement of the web is halted.