Abstract: A fluid filter assembly having a relief valve for visually indicating when a filter element may be replaced. The fluid filter assembly of the present invention provides a vertical, transparent housing having a fluid inlet for communicating a fluid into the housing and a fluid outlet for communicating fluid downstream of the housing. A filter element is disposed within the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet for filtering the fluid.

Abstract: A container including a rigid plastic pallet and a tubular sleeve positioned in upstanding fashion on the pallet to form the container. The pallet includes a platform portion adapted to receive a lower edge of the tubular sleeve and a plurality of peripherally spaced hollow legs downstanding from the platform portion and each including a bottom wall. The bottom wall of each leg has an outboard upper level portion and an inboard lower level portion. The upper level portion of each leg has an upper face sized to receive a seat section of the lower edge of the upstanding sleeve and a lower face sized to seat a section of an upper edge of the tubular sleeve of a lower container in a stack of containers. The inboard lower level portions are sized to fit within the upper edge of the lower container sleeve to maintain successive sleeves in a stack of containers in alignment and insure that compressive loading in the sleeves in transferred downwardly to the support surface for the stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for moving a member including a first clamp assembled to a fixed surface for selectively clamping the member and a second clamp moveable with respect to the first clamp for selectively clamping the member. A piezo actuator is disposed between the first and second clamps for moving the member in response to expansion of the actuator. Resilient means bias the second clamp toward the first clamp.

Abstract: A coating composition and method for applying the same to a wood substrate. The composition includes a major portion of a drying oil such as tung oil in combination with a minor portion of a drying oil such as linseed oil and a wood penetrating compound such as a castor oil derivative. The material is typically held in a suitable carrier medium such as a volatile organic solvent. The material, when applied to wood substrate provides a coating which is wear resistant, durable under extremes in external temperature and provides a unique and aesthetically pleasing luster finish.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system transports a selectable workpiece from vertically extending storage racks having a plurality of horizontally extending shelves with stationary stacks of workpieces to be processed on each shelf. Each shelf includes horizontally spaced shelf support members defining openings complementary to horizontally extending support members of a carriage. The horizontally extending members of the carriage are insertable between adjacent horizontally spaced shelf members to engage the upper most workpiece supported by the shelf located below the horizontally extending support members of the carriage. Workpiece engaging members operably associate or engage the upper-most workpiece with the carriage for movement vertically and horizontally along the path of travel to a workstation for processing.

Abstract: A circuitboard assembly in which power carrying circuitboard traces between MOSFETs or the like and edge terminals are replaced with metal leadframe structures which also serve to perform a heat dissipation function. Each of the leadframes comprises a first planar portion which is bonded by a thermally conductive epoxy to the top surface of a MOSFET and a second elevated planar portion which extends parallel to but above the circuitboard surface into contact with an edge-mounted terminal header. The leadframes may be provided with support legs as well as additional heat dissipating fins.

Abstract: A fluid coupling between a fluid carrying first component and a second fluid carrying endform is formed by spin welding induced by a bonding material disposed in a recess in the first component which is spin weld compatible with the materials of the first and second component to spin weld join the first and second components together.

Abstract: A guide rail for a roller system having a conveyor frame formed by parallel sidebars, the guide rail includes an elongate member and a plurality of clips welded to a lower edge of the elongate member. Each clip has a U-shaped configuration which is sized for snapping over an upper horizontal edge of the sidebar. The U-shaped clip has an inner flange for positioning adjacent the rollers and an outer flange for positioning along the exterior of the conveyor frame. The outer flange has an angled end directed toward the inner flange to provide stability to the guide rail.

Abstract: A radiant heating system including at least one gas burner and at least one conduit connected to the at least one burner on one end and connected to at least one exhaust tube at an opposite end for transporting hot exhaust gas. Heat is transferred via conduction to an external surface of the conduit. The heat is then radiated omnidirectionaly from the external surface of the conduit as infrared rays. A fan directs a stream of air across the external surface of the conduit to cool the conduit allowing the at least one burner to operate continuously for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A torque prevailing stud having a male component made of a shank with an outer wall that is threaded, a gripping component formed on the shank, and a wedge ramp rolled in a portion of the threaded outer wall. A female component having a body with a threaded bore that is used for engaging the male component. The threaded bore of the female component matingly engages a portion of the threaded outer wall and the wedge ramp when screwed thereon. The wedge ramp forces the threaded bore to conform to the shape of the wedge ramp thereby securing the male and female components together in a torque prevailing fit.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movementthrough a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line.

Abstract: A metallic gasket capable of providing a sufficient sealing capability all around a combustion chamber hole and avoiding such problems that the step of a cylinder block supporting the lower end part of a cast-iron sleeve is damaged by the thermal expansion of the sleeve during the operation, the roundness of a bore is impaired, the cast-iron sleeve is sunk, and a pressure leaks between the fastening bolts, wherein the end part of a shim plate (14) on a combustion chamber hole (12) side is disposed on the upper end surface of the cast-iron sleeve (2) radially outside the outer peripheral position (OL1), the end part of the shim plate (14) more distant from the combustion chamber hole (12) is disposed on the combustion chamber hole (12) side from an outside line (OL2) of the water jacket (4) formed in the cylinder block (1), and a part of a full bead (13) is disposed on the upper end surface of the cast-iron sleeve (2).

Abstract: A decorative fastener assembly including a nut insert and a decorative cap. The cap includes a flatted portion sleeved over a flatted portion of the nut insert and further includes a flange portion proximate its open lower end. An O-ring seal is compressed between the flange of the cap and the circular enlargement of the nut insert to preclude the entry of moisture between the cap and the nut insert. A top end wall portion of the cap is welded to an annular weld projection on the top end of the nut insert in surrounding relation to the central bore of the nut insert. As the weld projection is melted to perform the welding operation, the cap moves further downwardly on the nut insert to further compress the O-ring seal between the cap flange and the circular enlargement of the nut insert. The cap flange portion proximate its open lower end is then crimped over a circular enlargement of the nut insert.

Abstract: The concept of electromagnetic bandgaps (EBG) is used to develop a high quality filter that can be integrated monolithically with other components due to a reduced height, planar design. Coupling adjacent defect elements in a periodic lattice creates a filter characterized by ease of fabrication, high-Q performance, high port isolation and integrability to planar or 3-D circuit architectures. The filter proof of concept has been demonstrated in a metallo-dielectric lattice. The measured and simulated results of 2-, 3- and 6-pole filters are presented at 10.7 GHz, along with the equivalent circuits.

Abstract: A multi-layer tubing composed of a first layer, a second layer and an intermediate layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer. The first layer contains a first melt-processible thermoplastic such as polyamides, thermoplastic elstomers, and mixtures such materials. The second layer contains a second melt-processible thermoplastic chemically dissimilar form the melt-processible thermoplastic employed in the first layer. The intermediate layer is made of a solidified melt-processible thermoplastic solution which contains the first melt-processible thermoplastic and the second thermoplastic such that the first thermoplastic and the second thermoplastic exist as discretely discernable components dispersed relative to one another in an essentially non-homogenous manner.

Abstract: The invention is a ball valve for controlling the flow of fluids between one of two inlets and an outlet. The two inlets are substantially coaxially located, permitting a single inlet point in a fuel supply vessel, yet still allowing two pickup points from within the vessel, such as for a “main” and a “reserve” source. The invention has a particular utility in fuel tanks for providing both a “main” and a “reserve” fuel source, such as for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively positioning a shade along an arcuate path to cover at least a portion of an arched window. The apparatus includes first member immovably associated and spaced from the arched window. The apparatus also includes a second member rotatingly associated with respect to the first member. The second member is rotatable between at least first and second angular positions to move the shade between an extended position and a retracted position. The apparatus also includes members for selectively positioning the shade along the arcuate path including a biasing member and a compressible member.

Abstract: Power train for amphibious vehicle comprises engine aligned with longitudinal vehicle axis, transmission, and power take off mounted between engine and transmission. At least one marine propulsion unit mounted at the rear of the vehicle, is driven by shaft which runs alongside the transmission. Either transmission is offset to axis, and marine propulsion unit is on axis; or transmission is on axis, and the marine propulsion units are offset to axis. The driven road wheels may be the front wheels, the rear wheels, or all four. The engine may be at the front of the vehicle and the transmission at the back. Alternatively, the transmission may drive forward to a differential mounted adjacent to the engine sump, with wheel drive shaft passing through said pump.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of formaldehyde from methyl chloride. In the process methyl chloride is oxidized with air over a catalyst to give formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of two different catalysts is used, one catalyst to promote the hydrolysis of methyl chloride to methyl alcohol, and the other catalyst to oxidize the methyl alcohol so formed to formaldehyde. The reaction kinetics can be regulated by adjusting the proportion of the two catalysts in the mixture. In this manner, the release of heat from the reaction can be controlled and excessive temperatures in the catalyst mixture can be avoided.