Abstract: For a combustion-powered tool, an ignition system is powered by a battery and is arranged so that a sudden discharge of a capacitor, as charged via an oscillator, produces a spark at a spark gap of a spark plug, so that the oscillator is enabled if a trigger switch is closed while a head switch is closed, but not if the trigger switch is closed while the head switch is opened, and if a battery voltage, as monitored, is not less than a reference voltage, and so that a silicon-controlled rectifier, which is arranged to produce a sudden discharge of the capacitor, is switched to a conductive state if the capacitor voltage, as monitored, and is not less than a reference voltage. The head and trigger switches, which are photoelectric, are polled intermittently to determine whether they are closed. Predominantly, solid-state components are used.

Abstract: A composite fastener comprised of a roofing screw and a roofing washer. The screw shank has a leading portion, which is threaded, and a locking portion. The locking portion has a substantially frusto-conical part adjoining the leading portion and an additional part adjoining the screw head. The substantially frusto-conical part defines a major diameter where it adjoins the additional part and a minor diameter where it adjoins the leading portion. Two locking tabs extend from the substantially frusto-conical part, in diametric opposition to each other, in such manner that an imaginary cylinder coaxial with the shank and with a diameter equal to the major diameter divides each tab into a proximal part inside the cylinder and a distal part outside the cylinder. The washer has an aperture with a margin that flexes the tabs to allow the tabs to pass through the aperture.

Abstract: In a strip of collated fasteners, each having a shank and a head, a carrier molded from a polymeric material has a sleeve for each fastener. Each sleeve has an annular portion and a breakable portion, which breaks into two segments as the fastener gripped by such sleeve is driven. The breakable portion, which is notched at one end, has a pair of similar, laterally opposed, outwardly opening, continuously curved concave recesses with open windows, from which portions of the fastener shank emerges. In a fastener-guiding tool, parallel ribs of a guiding device fit into such recesses, into close proximity with the emerging portions, so as to guide the strip between such ribs.

Abstract: An improved method of attaching a roofing membrane to an underlayment and an improved roofing construction made by the improved method. A screw and a composite roofing washer are used to attach the membrane to the underlayment. The composite roofing washer is an interlocked assemblage of a metal roofing washer and a thermoplastic insert. After the screw has been driven, the thermoplastic insert is heated so as to cause some of the material of the thermoplastic insert to flow over the head of the screw, thereby to heat-seal the screw to the thermoplastic insert. The thermoplastic insert may be so heated when the roofing membrane is welded to another like membrane at an overlapped seam.

Abstract: A flexible oriented plastic sheet of high tensile strength and which is resistant to corrosion and highly resistant to splitting when penetrated by a pointed article. The flexible oriented sheet of the invention can be cut into desired shapes and sizes so as to be useful in a variety of applications, such as roofing batten bars and fencing materials, which require high resistance to splitting and fastener pull-through. The sheets are produced by melt extruding and orienting a composition comprising a major amount of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a minor amount of a polyolefin, preferably polypropylene.

Abstract: An end link for a stabilizer bar, a suspension system for an automobile, or for a motor truck, and a method for assembling the end link. A unitary spool has a tubular body and an annular flange at each end. Two annular washers conform in thickness and outer diameter to the flanges. Four annular grommets made of an elastomeric material conform in shape to each other, each having one end adapted to be snap-fitted over one of the flanges or over one of the washers. A bolt, which has a head and a shank with a threaded end, and a nut, which threads onto the threaded end, are used to assemble the end link from a pre-assembled grommet-spool-grommet subassembly, in which a respective one of the grommets is snap-fitted at its snap-fittable end over each of the flanges of the spool, and two pre-assembled grommet-washer subassemblies, in each of which a respective one of the grommets is snap-fitted at its snap-fittable end over a respective one of the washers.

Abstract: Improvements in a fastener-feeding mechanism for a pneumatically powered, combustion-powered, or other rapidly acting, fastener-driving tool comprising a housing structure, a driver, and a magazine, as well as such a mechanism. The housing structure includes a nosepiece defining a drive track. The drive is mounted for repeatable movement along the drive track. The magazine is adapted to store a strip of collated fasteners, e.g., collated nails, such that a leading portion of the strip extends from the magazine. As a component for feeding fasteners individually and sequentially into the drive track from the leading portion of the strip, a pawl has a groove or grooves adapted to receive one such fastener. A fixed structure confines one of two sides of the leading portion of the strip so as to guide such portion. When in an operative position, a hinged structure confines the other side of such portion so as to guide such portion.

Abstract: A machine for fastening one or more layers of roofing material to an underlayment, and a stackable washer therefor. A chute receives a stack of such washers. A shuttle displaces a single washer to a separated position when moved in one direction, to which the shuttle is biased, releases the single washer when moved oppositely. A gate, which cooperates with camming surfaces on the respective washers, restrains the overlying washer in the stack against being displaced with the single washer and restrains the single washer from being displaced from the separated position. Various components are provided by linking a stand-up screw gun of a known type to the shuttle. The stackable washer is embossed so that each such washer and like overlying and underlying washers in a stack contact each other at three or more places, which define tangent planes intersecting planes defined by planar areas on such washers at angles more than 45.degree. but less than 90.degree.

Abstract: A fastening assembly (1) for fastening a waterproof membrane and thick insulation to a roof deck comprises a screw threaded fastener (2) having a driving head (9), a clamp plate (5) for spreading the clamping load of the fastening assembly over an area of the surface of the waterproof membrane, a clamp tube (4) having a head (19& ) and a foot (18). The foot (18) is arranged to be engaged and held by the head (19) is arranged to engage and hold the clamp plate (5). An expanding auger (3) is formed between a screw thread (7) of the fastener (2) and the foot (18& ) of the clamp tube (4) In use, the auger (3) rotates with the fastener to expand the hole in the waterproof membrane through which the fastener (2) is inserted so that it accommodates the clamp tube (4) of the fastening assembly (1).

Abstract: A fastening assembly for use in attaching articles to soft materials such as gypsum based and light weight concrete roofing. The assembly includes an anchoring element which has a high thread and an axial bore in one end. The thread has an included angle of less than 45.degree. and terminates in a sharp edge at the free end of the anchoring element. A headed screw is driven into the bore and becomes fixed to the anchoring element. A flange is integrally molded and frangibly connected to the bored end of the anchoring element, and becomes a washer upon breaking away therefrom.

Abstract: The apparatus, provided for undersea work, includes a barrel holder, a barrel for guiding a fastener intended to be driven by the gases of a propulsive charge and a percussion system for setting off the charge. The percussion system includes a striker, a bolt for cocking the striker, a tumbler for releasing the bolt, a trigger for actuating the tumbler and a chamber having a liquid intake orifice and a suction orifice. The tumbler is movable in the chamber and the trigger, when operated, closes the intake orifice, pushes back the liquid and moves the tumbler thus allowing percussion of the charge. Upon return of the trigger into the rest and rearming position, the suction orifice makes possible to compensate the leaks in the chamber and to use the apparatus again.

Abstract: A tool for use in dispensing fluids, such a liquid two-part epoxies. The tool has an actuating mechanism which includes a lever which is adjustable to accommodate materials of varying viscosities. Adjustment is achieved by axially moving a bolt within the trigger of the tool, which results in a change in the mechanical advantage thereof.

Abstract: A compact portable wastewater treatment apparatus for treating oil contaminated waste water having a support structure with a containment tank on said support structure for receiving waste water. A mixing means on the support structure is also provided for mixing the waste water with a desired amount of materials to form a flocculent with the oil of the oil contaminated waste water. Furthermore, filters are included on the support structure for filtering the flocculent from the waste water with a pump structure for transporting the waste water within the system.

Abstract: A strip of collated nails for use with a rapidly acting, nail-driven tool. The shank of each nail has a cylindrical portion adjoining the head and a ringed portion and having an axial array of annular rings of an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion. The nails are collated by a pair of tapes, each tape extending across and being adhered to a respective one of diametrically opposed areas on the cylindrical portion of the shank of each nail by an adhesive layer. Each tape and the adhesive layer adhering such tape have a combined thickness covering, on one side of the nail shanks, less than one-half of the difference between outer diameter of the rings and the diameter of the cylindrical portion or cylindrical portions, whereby a nail driven from the strip into a workpiece tends to carry into the workpiece, along with the driven nail, such portions of the tapes and the adhesive layes as are torn from the strip with the driven nail.

Abstract: An indirect firing fastener driving tool is provided including a barrel (51), a piston (6) sliding in the barrel for driving a fastener (3) housed in a fastener guide (7). Between the barrel (51) and the fastener guide (7) are disposed a rigid ring (22) and a resilient ring (24). Inside the resilient ring (24) is disposed a rigid ring (27) for limiting the stroke of the ring (22) intended to be received in a recess (25) provided at the rear part of the fastener guide (7). The head (14) of the piston is of a truncated cone shape and may cooperate with a bore (23) of corresponding shape in the rigid ring (22). The rings serve as absorber for the piston (6) whose stroke is thus controlled.

Abstract: A compositely plated, threaded fastener has zinc plating applied to a threaded fastener core and an aluminum plating is applied to the zinc underplating. Optionally, a polymeric top coat can be applied to the aluminum plating for pigmented appearance. The combination of the composite aluminum and zinc platings not only provide the fasteners with improved corrosion resistance but also provide particularly reduced torque load in driving such fasteners, for example, in drilling applications.

Abstract: A fastening unit with nail anchorage, is provided including a cylindrical body with a head and a support leg. The body includes a surface parallel to its axis for guiding an anchorage nail. The leg includes an expansion surface, slanted in one direction with respect to the axis of the body, and a surface for maintaining the nail under pressure, bent back in the other direction towards the axis of the body. The expansion surface extends between the guide surface and the pressure maintenance surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the coating of a substrate wherein the following chronologically takes place under vacuum conditions: (i) non-oxidized plating material is deposited on the substrate via ion vapor deposition; and (ii) a coating material is chemically bonded with the non-oxidized plating material. The coating material may comprise a primer, which chemically bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the primer-prepared plating material. Said polymer may also chemically bond with the primer. Alternatively, the coating material may comprise an epoxy which forms an organo-metallic bond with the plating material. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating material may comprise boron trifluoride, which chemcially bonds with the non-oxidized plating material, and a polymer, which impregnates the boron trifluoride-prepared plating material.