Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for punching a cross hole in a workpiece with minimal or no distortion of the hole and the workpiece. According to the method, a cross hole of a given diameter is punched in a workpiece by punching a first hole having a diameter less than the given diameter in the workpiece from a first side thereof, and then punching the first hole again but from a second side of the workpiece opposite the first side at nominally the given diameter to produce the cross hole having the given diameter.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids are disclosed. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by means of a plurality of mechanical vapor recompression evaporators operating in staged array whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Residual fluidizing oil may be removed from the solids by direct contact with a hot blowing gas such as blowing steam. The invention is characterized by the conservation of energy through the use of heat exchangers whereby condensate gives up its heat to the feed.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed which makes connection to one or more unstripped insulated conductors. The connector includes a movable contact assembly disposed in a cavity for movement between open and closed positions. The connector includes a fixed contact electrically coupled to a contact of the movable contact assembly at least in the closed position of the movable contact assembly. The cavity is sealed except for one or more inlets through which one or more conductors are inserted into the cavity for connection. The cavity receives a water-proofing or sealing compound. The connector is constructed so that the cavity volume is constant in both the open and closed positions and during travel of the movable contact assembly. Thereby, compound is not forced out of the cavity when a conductor is connected or disconnected, i.e., when the movable contact assembly is moved. An activator for moving the movable contact assembly is insulated from the contacts of the connector at all times.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for receiving a wire wrapped thereto in wire-wrap fashion and a service wire removably connected thereto. In one application, a number of the connectors are mounted to a terminal block and are used to connect wires of a telephone cable, which are wire-wrapped to the connectors, to respective service wires, which are connected to respective connectors by a fastener arrangement. A connector according to the invention includes a first, electrically-conducting piece having an elongated post configured to receive a wire wrapped thereto in wire-wrap fashion and a second piece not directly fixed to the first piece including structure for connecting the service wire to the connector such that the service wire is electrically connected to the first piece, whereby an electrical path is established from the wrapped wire to the service wire through the first, electrically-conducting piece.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for receiving a wire wrapped thereto in wire-wrap fashion and a service wire removably connected thereto. In one application, a number of the connectors are mounted to a terminal block and are used to connect wires of a telephone cable, which are wire-wrapped to the connectors, to respective service wires, which are connected to respective connectors by a fastener arrangement. A connector according to the invention includes a first, electrically-conducting piece having an elongated post configured to receive a wire wrapped thereto in wire-wrap fashion and a second piece not directly fixed to the first piece including structure for connecting the service wire to the connector such that the service wire is electrically connected to the first piece, whereby an electrical path is established from the wrapped wire to the service wire through the first, electrically-conducting piece.

Abstract: An evaporator having a vertically mounted elongated tubular chamber, a pair of upper and lower tube sheets mounted near the ends of said tubular chamber, each tube sheet having a plurality of openings therein with a plurality of vertical evaporator tubes mounted between the pair of tube sheets, tangentially mounted inlet tubes between the upper tube sheet and a top cover for the tubular chamber, and an inverted cone mounted as a filler piece on the underside of the top cover and having its apex just slightly spaced from the upper tube sheet and its circumferential edge substantially spaced therefrom for effecting a uniform and even flow and distribution to the evaporator tubes of a liquid/solid mixture inputted into the tangential inlet tubes. The elongated tubular chamber is also provided with lateral inlet and outlet openings for inputting/outputting heated and subsequently cooled fluid to flow externally past the evaporator tubes.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for floatingly retaining or captivating at least one fastener is disclosed. The fastener assembly includes a flexible channel member with discrete projections extending from opposed flange portions towards each other and at least one fastener having a base which is captivated between the discrete projections and a web portion of the channel member. The projections extending from at least one flange portion are configured to present a camming surface to a fastener base as it is being inserted into the channel member through the opening between opposed projections to cause the channel member to elastically flex and to move at least one flange portion outwardly to permit the fastener base to be seated in the channel member through the opening. The projections are further configured to present removal of the fastener base from the channel member through the opening as long as the channel member remains unflexed.

Abstract: A locknut having a single-turn thread for securing electrical fittings, threaded conduit and the like to electrical junction boxes and the like is disclosed. The locknut comprises a generally cylindrical portion, a flange portion attached to the cylindrical portion, a plurality of teeth attached to and projecting radially outwardly of the flange portion and axially beyond the end of the flange portion, and a standard thread attached to and extending for substantially only a single turn interiorly of the cylindrical portion. The thread has an included angle corresponding to that of a standard thread, for example, 60.degree.. The teeth seat against a work surface when the locknut is threaded onto the fitting and act as springs which can compensate for a small degree of element loosening by spring recovery. In addition, the thread of the locknut is flexible so that both the teeth and thread act as springs working in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for drying aqueous solids by evaporation using a fluidizing oil and a surfactant wherein the fluidizing oil and surfactant are recovered and recycled separately or together. The aqueous solids may, or may not, have a heavy, natural oil associated with them.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for drying aqueous solids by evaporation using a fluidizing oil and a surfactant wherein the fluidizing oil and surfactant are recovered and recycled separately or together. The aqueous solids may, or may not, have a heavy, natural oil associated with them.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a movable rack from falling down comprises a tubular rail extending horizontally above the movable rack, a pair of U-shaped brackets each of which is provided on a top of the movable rack spaced apart from each other in a direction of the movement of the rack, and a pair of rollers provided in each of the brackets vertically separate from each other. The rollers are so disposed that the tubular rail extends between the rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in an apparatus where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil in a fluidizing tank to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids in a liquid-solid separating means. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact in a deoiler apparatus with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas.

Abstract: A locking device to be locked onto the kingpin of a trailer to prevent its being engaged by the fifth wheel of an unauthorized tractor. The locking device closely encircles the kingpin and houses within an aperture a locking bar that is adapted to be pressed into engagement with the kingpin recess or groove. The outer wall of the locking device casing has a protrusion in the area of the locking bar aperture such that the locking bar and the locking unit disposed therein are recessed within the aperture and thereby protected. The locking bar aperture from the outer end of the locking bar when in the locked position to the outer wall of the protrusion on the casing is counterbored beyond the transverse cross-section of the locking bar.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in a process where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas." The hot, inert blowing gas effects the removal of the residual light oil from the solids.

Abstract: Disclosed are fastener assemblies in which the fastener is captivated in a channel member and is removable through the opening between inturned flange edges of the channel member. Embodiments of a nut retainer assembly and a bolt retainer assembly are disclosed as is an embodiment of a complementary clamping system utilizing a nut retainer assembly and a bolt retainer assembly. In order to facilitate insertion of a fastener through the opening between inturned flange edges of the channel member, at least one of the flats of the base of the fastener includes an inclined portion. Further, in order to facilitate removal of a captivated fastener, at least one of the flats of the base of the fastener includes a cut-out or recessed portion which with the inturned flange edge forms a slot suitable for receiving the tip of a screwdriver.

Abstract: A shiftable article storage device having a plurality of shiftable article storage units each adapted for mounting articles to be stored thereon and provided with a driving source, the article storage units being put together with no interval between each other when not in use but shifted, when an article on one of them is desired to be taken out, in such a manner that an aisle is formed on one side of the one article storage unit to provide access to the article.

Abstract: A shiftable article storage device having a plurality of shiftable article storage units each adapted for mounting articles to be stored thereon and provided with a driving source. The article storage units are put together with no interval between each other when not in use but shifted, when an article on one of them is desired to be taken out, in such a manner that an aisle is formed on one side of one article storage unit to provide access to the article.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recovering clean water and solids from aqueous solids. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids. Those solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact with steam, referred to herein as "blowing steam". The presence of the blowing steam reduces the boiling point of the water-immiscible light fluidizing oil to effect its more efficient removal from the solids. Effluent blowing steam and light oil vapor removed from the solids may be used to supply heat to the overall process.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench which includes a pawl disposed to engage a ratchet gear carrying a drive member formed as a square shank, the pawl being selectively movable by a control rod carried in the midportion of the wrench and terminating close to its handle grasping portion and subject to digital manipulation from a grasping hand there in place. The pawl, as moved by the control rod, may be engaged with the ratchet gear to provide either clockwise or counterclockwise torque on the gear and its drive member or disengaged from the ratchet gear altogether to leave that gear and its drive member in a neutral, free-wheeling condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for dehydrating waste solids concentrates including secondary and digested sewage sludges and those concentrates prone to form emulsions upon the addition of oil are obtained and accomplished by mixing the sludge or other concentrate with fluidizing oil prior to dehydration by heat evaporation to maintain pumpability; recycling a portion of the substantially anhydrous waste solids and oil evaporator output slurry, and admixing it with the fluidizing oil and input sludge or concentrate to regulate the solids content and viscosity of the steady state feed mixture and thereby prevent fouling of the evaporator heat transfer surfaces and convert emulsions to suspensions.