Abstract: A piping jacket for insulating a piping element to prevent heat transfer and to protect the piping element from moisture and other elements. The piping jacket has a first edge portion with a curved edge and a second edge portion with a plurality of projections that interfere with the curved edge to secure the piping jacket around a piping element when the piping jacket is in a closed position. The piping jacket can have two or more rows of projections along the second edge portion to accommodate piping elements having different outer diameters. The piping jacket can also be formed by two separate body sections positioned around a piping element and pressed together so that projections along a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the inner body section interfere with the curved edges of a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the outer body section.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus for a hose or another suitable tubular member. A coiled band forms an opening within which the hose or other tubular member is positioned. The coiled band forms an inner band, a middle band and a outer band. The middle band is sandwiched between the inner band and the outer band. A retainer is positioned about the inner band and the outer band, to retain the inner band, the middle and the outer band in a sandwiched position with respect to each other. Two or more projections extend radially inward, toward the opening formed by the coiled band, from the inner band. The projections interfere with the retainer to limit movement of the retainer in two directions, opposite to each other, along a longitudinal axis of the band.

Abstract: Bale tie joining devices for joining bale tie ends on top of a bale in a press, and wherein the completed tie joint or knot is visible to a press operator from the top before release of the bale from the press.

Abstract: An ovalized cross-sectional shaped bale-tie wire for use in baling materials includes a body portion and engaging looped members formed at each end of the body portion. The process for manufacturing an ovalized cross-sectional shaped bale-tie wire includes the steps of withdrawing round wire from a wire drum, straightening the round wire, passing the straightened wire through an ovalizing mill to form the ovalized cross-sectional shaped wire, accumulating the ovalized cross-sectional shaped wire, controlling the length of the wire by predeterminely cutting the wire preforming simultaneously the engaging looped members on the trailing end of the leading bale-tie wire and the leading end of the trailing bale-tie wire and bending the looped end portions out of the plane of the body portion of the bale-tie wire.

Abstract: A bale-tie wire for use with press platens in a baling press for baling materials includes a body portion having looped members formed at each end of the bale-tie wire body portion with a portion of each of the looped members bent out of the plane in opposite directions of each of the respective looped ends. Each of the looped members includes rearwardly extending legs which engage the body portion of the bale-tie wire with one of the extending leg portions being substantially longer than the leg portion of the other end looped member to provide a bale-tie wire structure which substantially reduces the force necessary for the engagement of the looped end portions of the bale-tie wire.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a bale of a material within a pair of press platens having a plurality of contoured platen wedges mounted to each of the press platens. The adjacently mounted platen wedges provide bale tie accommodating channels therebetween and permit the insertion of bale ties around the baled material. The platen wedges extend inwardly into the compression chamber engage the corners of the baled material to reduce the girth of the baled material and to provide a more dense bale.

Abstract: A bale tie wire for use in conjunction with press platens in a baling press for baling material includes loop members formed at each end of the tie wire with a portion of each loop member bent out of the plane of each respective loop in opposite directions. Predeterminedly positioned notches are located in the bale tie wire to facilitate insertion and engagement of the bale tie wire about the corners of the baled material to provide alignment of each of the end loop members for proper engagement together.

Abstract: A manual bale-tie joiner tool is adapted to be engageable with the looped ends of the bale-tie wire which has been inserted about a compressed bale of material. Upon the rotational movement of the joiner tool while engaged with the looped ends of the bale tie-wire, the looped ends of the bale-tie wire are interlocked together to retain the bale-tie wire about the compressed bale.

Abstract: A bale-tie interlock device for engaging the looped ends of bale-tie wires about a compressed bale in a baling press includes a U-shaped housing having a plate member extending substantially the length of the housing and substantially across the elongated housing opening which defines a bale-tie wire accommodating channel. Slidably positioned within the bale-tie accommodating channel for longitudinal movement is a shuttle member containing a leaf spring. Stop members are mounted in each end of the U-shaped housing to retain the shuttle member within the bale-tie wire accommodating channel. Integrally mounted to one of the sides of the U-shaped housing adjacent one end of the housing is a hook plate member which is engageable with one of the looped ends of the bale-tie wire. Upon the insertion of one looped end into the U-shaped housing, the leaf spring on the shuttle member biases the looped end of the bale-tie wire to cause the looped end to engage the hook plate member.