Abstract: A pipe hanger is formed of an elongate stem joined to a flexible, curved, substantially semicircular lower hook portion. The stem has holes therethrough for nailing to a support beam and suspending a run of plumbing piping from the support beam. The hook portion is of commensurate size to the pipe and cradles the pipe in a suspended position. In a preferred embodiment, a tooth extending angularly, outwardly and downwardly from the portion of the stem adjacent to the hook portion cooperates with the hook tip so that there is a snap fit between the tooth end and the hook tip as the pipe is urged therebetween and into a retained, cradling relation in the hook portion. Several alternative embodiments are disclosed which utilize a tooth movable into position over the pipe to hold the pipe in a retained, cradling relation in the hook portion.

Abstract: A composition, method and apparatus for preserving the glossy, smooth exterior finish of a latex balloon wherein the exterior surface of the balloon is coated with an anionic aliphatic dispersion of polyester urethane material and dried. Coating can be accomplished by several methods including dipping in a bath. The coating can be applied either when the balloon is not inflated or inflated. The coating significantly increases the lifetime of the balloon without significantly decreasing buoyancy.

Abstract: A drop chute extension for unloading a shuttle dumping transport vehicle for harvested cotton bolls extends the length of the conveyor dump side wall when unloading the transport vehicle. The extension of the conveyor dump side wall allows cotton to be dumped in the middle and far side of a module builder or trailer. The drop chute extension can be folded over and down into the basket of the dumping transport vehicle, reducing both the transport height and width of the vehicle. The drop chute extension includes two hydraulic extension arm cylinders which cause the door chute to extend or retract and are interconnected with the hydraulic system of the vehicle lift basket. Operation of the basket lift cylinders is precluded until the extension arm cylinders have fully extended the chute door. The drop chute extension is also joined to a second hydraulic system to operate an unloading conveyor which extends into the extension.

Abstract: A trash bag opener and removal apparatus has a feed conveyor, a housing assembly and a discharge conveyor for opening and removing plastic and paper bags filled with material and discharging the material at a chute end of the discharge conveyor. The bags are routed by the feed conveyor into the housing assembly, which has a separate input conveyor, a slicer assembly, a slitter assembly, a bag stripper assembly and first and second paddle wheels. The input conveyor is located proximate to the feed conveyor and travels faster than the feed conveyor to upset the bags and ensure that the bag bottoms are exposed for the slicer assembly. The slicer assembly has a rotating, cylindrical drum with three serrated blades along its length and oscillates to tear the bags open. The paddle wheels retard and assist in moving the bags and refuse from the slicer assembly to the slitter assembly, which has rotating notched disk blades to rip the bags open, and then to the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A combination electrical and suction hose outlet to be mounted to a building wall as part of a central vacuum cleaning system. In such a system, a remote vacuum cleaner suction hose is plugged into the wall outlet and has a power driven brush carpet sweeper end tool. A 110 volt AC line is formed into the hose and extends from the end tool to an electrical receptacle plug in the outlet. To provide a start signal to a central vacuum system motor, 24 volt DC wiring extends from the wall outlet to a motor controller. The high voltage and the low voltage power lines are maintained in electrical isolation by a circuit located at or near the wall outlet and including an optical coupler. When the end tool is turned on, AC flow is sensed by an associated circuit and the optical coupler is activated, causing a short in the DC power line to provide a start signal to the vacuum motor controller. With this system, the vacuum motor is started automatically when the power driven end tool is turned on.

Abstract: A remote control system for actuating a central vacuum system from a remote location such as a vacuum cleaning hose handle that includes an air flow sensor. In the preferred embodiment, a small, lightweight vacuum sensor and a sensor amplifier that is connected to an LED bar graph meter and a comparator circuit are installed in the remote control hose handle. A low voltage power signal is transmitted through the vacuum cleaner hose and to the remote control handle for the purpose of providing electrical current to power the central vacuum system. The vacuum sensor will enable the consumer to instantly know if the vacuum is producing enough air flow to get proper cleanability. The sensor will also notify the consumer if the vacuum cleaner has a full bag or a problem at the vacuum unit, such as a clogged screen.