Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for calibrating a float-type vent valve for use in an automobile fuel tank. The valve is provided with a calibration plate in the lower end thereof below the float, the calibration plate defining an axially-adjustable support for the spring which balances the float. The calibration plate includes a force probe aperture through which a force measuring device of known type can be inserted to measure the downward force of the spring-balanced float at a specified distance from closure, preferably a near-closed position. The calibration plate then is adjusted up or down as needed until a position is determined where the spring-balanced float is properly calibrated, and then the calibration plate is permanently secured in place on the valve body so that the valve remains calibrated.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing decorative plants, particularly, in earth, while allowing for easy removal and replacement of the stored plants, includes a receptacle body which is embedable in the earth, the receptacle body having at least one cavity formed therein for receiving a storage tray, the receptacle body further having a hole formed therethrough below the cavity to allow drainage therefrom. A storage tray is shaped to fit inside the cavity of the receptacle body, and the storage tray has a hollow space formed therein to receive stored plants such as flowers therein. Among other uses, the apparatus hereof is suitable for replaceably holding flowering plants at grave sites, and elsewhere where flower beds are desired.

Abstract: In a two piece valve assembly comprising a non-weldable lower valve body portion inserted into the fuel tank through an opening in the tank wall, and an upper valve body portion or cover made from a weldable material and designed to be connected to the lower valve body portion and welded to the upper surface of the fuel tank wall, an improved assembly structure comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced support/retention tabs formed on the upper end of the lower valve body portion to provide a self-supporting option for the lower valve body so that it may rest with the tabs on the upper surface of the fuel tank when inserted into the fuel tank opening, and/or further to be securely sandwiched between the upper valve body/cover and the upper surface of the fuel tank wall when a weldable portion of the cover is welded to the tank and melts over the tabs, thereby strengthening the connection between the upper and lower valve body portions.

Abstract: A vacuum cup safety device selectively maintains pressure within a vacuum cup for an extended period of time until release of the vacuum is desired. The device includes a housing having first and second apertures extending through a first portion of the housing and in communication with a third aperture extending through a second portion of the housing. First and second seals are positionable within first and second apertures, and extend radially inwardly within the first and second apertures a predetermined distance for defining first and second check valve seats. First and second check valves composed of a hard, polished material are provided within the first and second apertures. Each of the first and second check valves is insertable within the respective aperture of the housing and is reciprocally movable therein between a first position seated with respect to the corresponding check valve seat and a second position longitudinally spaced from the corresponding check valve seat.

Abstract: An onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system for a vehicle fuel system having a fuel tank, a mechanically sealed filler neck which receives a filler nozzle, and a vapor recovery apparatus such as a carbon canister. The system includes a nozzle shutoff line connecting the fuel tank with the filler neck to trigger the automatic shutoff mechanism of the filler nozzle when the level of fuel in the tank reaches a predetermined level. The system also includes a liquid-responsive control valve permitting venting of fuel vapor from the tank during both refueling and normal vehicle operating states when the fuel level in the tank is at or below the full level established by the nozzle shutoff line.

Abstract: A bumper finishing apparatus comprises a guided fixture for carrying a bumper past a fixed rotary finishing head. An external drive moves the fixture as guided by a guide profile to coordinate travel of the bumper past the finishing head so that the finishing head abrades the bumper surface in a manner to achieve the desired finish.

Abstract: A vertical rack-type spline-forming machine based on a novel slide base arrangement comprising a pair of vertical slide bases structurally joined by a symmetrically arranged set of tie bars. The structurally-joined vertical slide bases can be rested in an upright position on a non-structural space frame which provides improved access and lift capabilities to the vertical machine. The machine also includes a novel drive system using independent electric motors, one motor associated with each vertical slide base to drive the rack on that base through a roller screw shaft mechanism. The racks are further electronically synchronized through position signals communicated between the motor drives, and the rack home positions are calibrated with electronic "datums" programmed into the motor drives and capable of being re-calibrated in programmable fashion if one of the racks loses synchronicity.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, efficient and reliable method and apparatus for making decorative moldings used widely in the construction industry. The method comprising the steps of continuously advancing a workpiece in a straight, horizontal plane while preventing lateral horizontal movement and restraining vertical movement, applying a plaster coating material under pressure to the exposed irregular decorative surface of the workpiece and advancing the coated workpiece through a die opening closely conforming to the cross-sectional profile of the workpiece, wherein the cross-sectional size of the die opening relative to the cross-sectional size of the workpiece determines the thickness of the plaster coating material left remaining on the decorative surface of the coated workpiece.

Abstract: A slip ring amplifier has a rotor fixedly mountable on a rotatable tubular member and carrying an amplifier mounted in a recess connected to a sensor fixedly mountable on the rotatable member. A stationarily mounted stator is coupled to the rotor by bearings. A slip ring brush block with leaf contacts is mounted in a cavity between the rotor and the stator. End caps are mounted on opposite ends of the rotor and the stator and fixed to one of the rotor and stator. Labyrinth seals are disposed between each end cap and the stator. In one embodiment, an electrolytic fluid fills the cavity between the rotor and stator and surrounds the brush block and leaf contacts. In another embodiment, a dielectric coating is provided on the leaf contacts. Conductors extend from the leaf contacts through the stator to a connector fixedly mounted on the stator.

Abstract: An edge of a cylinder bore hole of a base plate is folded back on the base plate to form a double-layer folded portion, and a soft member is held in the inside of the folded portion. Folded portions are also formed by folding an outer peripheral edge of the base plate at positions along a straight line which passes through center points of bolt holes which are located at each side of a reference line passing through center points of cylinder bore holes. The straight line is parallel with the reference line. Further folded portions are formed by folding the outer peripheral edge of the base plate at positions along a further straight line which passes through center points of bolt holes which are located at both sides of the reference line so that the further straight line is orthogonal to the the reference line. Rubber beads made of silicon rubber are formed on both joining surfaces of the base plate to bound each of the cylinder bore holes and the bolt holes.

Abstract: A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the lower sheet main body portion. The upper sheet is positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the upper sheet main body portion spaced above the lower sheet main body portion to define a twin sheet platform structure. The lower sheet further includes a tower structure extending upwardly from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to each upper sheet leg.

Abstract: A rectangular box for transporting two pizza pies in a stacked formation formed by a single cardboard blank having scoring and cut-outs for assembling into a dual pizza box. The box has a bottom wall, four side walls and a lid hinged to one of the side walls. When assembled the box has corner shelf supports for positioning a second pizza pie. The shelf supports also provide a stop for the lid of the box to prevent crushing the contents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a sequence of machine operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product includes loading parts at a beginning of a process stream for performing various machining operations on the parts as the parts travel along the process stream. The process stream is defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between opposing work stations for partially machining the parts, and recirculating the partially machined parts along the process stream into a second path portion. The second path portion extends parallel with the first path portion of the process stream in order to provide generally symmetrically opposing machining operations at the opposing work stations along a portion of the process stream. Lift and carry devices engage and move the raw parts and recirculating parts simultaneously between adjacent opposing work stations in step fashion.

Abstract: An adjustable golf swing training apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a support structure for supporting the golf swing training apparatus in a support plane, and a telescopic swing training arm connected to the support structure and further connectable to a golf club shaft. The telescopic swing training arm is magnetically biased toward a predetermined length, whereby the swing training arm is urged toward the predetermined length in response to axial movement thereof in either first or second directions away from the predetermined length. The predetermined length is such as to accommodate a preferred path of travel for a golf club through a portion of a golf swing.

Abstract: A rotary polymeric torque transfer device such as a vehicle timing chain sprocket wherein the sprocket comprises a polymeric body having homogeneous teeth and torque is transferred to the body by a metal non-insert drive member which includes an inner portion defining a hub, a central portion for receiving fasteners for mounting the sprocket upon shaft support structure, and the drive member outer portion includes torque drive elements cooperating with shoulders defined on the polymeric body radially spaced from the body axis of rotation whereby the transfer of torque between the drive member and the polymeric body occurs adjacent the body periphery radially spaced from the rotation axis to increase the length of the moment arm and reduce the torque forces transmitted between the drive member and the polymeric body to prevent excessive stress and wear between these components.

Abstract: A passive inflatable restraining system for a vehicle including a concealed inflatable bag stored in the roof and B-pillar of the vehicle when in the inoperative condition and having one end attached at a central portion of the vehicle and having a second end attached to the B-pillar of the vehicle and further including a sealed tube from the inflatable bag to an inflator concealed at the top of the B-pillar. Upon impact determined by a sensor, the inflator discharges compressed gas through the tube to the inflatable bag which discharges the bag from its concealed portion as it is inflated and projects the inflatable bag over the occupant's head and across his torso in the direction of the dashboard of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorption refrigerating machine and a process for the operation thereof. It can be used as a household cooling appliance, for example as the last link in the cold chain, or for the cooling of medicine or as a refrigerating set of an air-conditioning system, and use in a stand-alone variant without an electrical energy connection is possible. The absorption refrigerating machine has a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber, and a refrigerant-absorbent mixture can be circulated through all three. There is also at least one solar collector for heating to above the refrigerant boiling point and a refrigerant storage unit connected to the condenser. High-pressurized liquid refrigerant is held in the refrigerant storage unit, and an absorbent storage unit and a desorbent storage unit are connected to the absorber.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining at least one longitudinal end of a pipe to a member having a longitudinally extending aperture therethrough includes a unitary, one-piece, elongated body with structure responsive to a crimping operation for lockingly and sealingly engaging with an inner surface of the pipe. The lockingly and sealingly engaging structure can include a reduced diameter portion engagable within the longitudinal end of the pipe and having at least two radially outwardly extending annular ridges or teeth formed on the reduced diameter portion. For lined pipe, the engaging structure can also include a ribbed or barbed portion extending longitudinally outwardly from the reduced diameter portion for sealingly engaging the lining between the ribbed portion and the inner surface of the pipe in response to the crimping operation.

Abstract: A sporting game counting receptacle for retaining and maintaining a running count of captured game. The present invention provides a receptacle having an opening therein wherein a door is connected to the receptacle for movement between a closed position, wherein the door provides closure of the opening, and an open position, wherein a passageway is formed through the opening and into the receptacle. The door is biased toward the closed position and operatively connected to a counter wherein movement of the door from the closed position to the open position indexes the counter to provide a running count of the game placed in the receptacle. The receptacle may comprise an insulated cooler, a live well or any receptacle capable of holding captured game.