Abstract: Apparatus for coupling an auxiliary ac power source to electrical circuits in parallel with a primary ac power source comprises a “meter extender” that is adapted for installation installed between a kilowatt-hour meter and socket for the meter. The meter extender comprises contact terminals on one side that mate with contact terminals forming part of the meter socket and additional contact terminals on a second side that mate with contact terminals forming part of the meter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmentally acceptable method of producing glycine betaine esters that produces no toxic by-products during the synthesis. The method produces only product, recyclable material for reuse in the process, and recovered material which can be sold for uses, such as fertilizer.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump assembly (10) for powering a hydraulic torque wrench (24) is air-powered and has hydro-pneumatic control circuitry (39) which continues operation of an air motor (18) which drives the hydraulic pump (16) for a post-advance period after an advance actuator (55) is deactuated. Operation of the pump (16) is continued for a period sufficient to retract a double-acting torque wrench (24), to permit subsequent advances of the wrench (24) within the post-advance period without restarting the pump (16) or to permit a single acting wrench to be moved from one fastener to the next within the post-advance period without restarting the pump (16). Operation of the pump (16) is terminated when the post-advance period expires if the advance actuator (55) is not reactuated, so as to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary heating of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle having a slide-out room section includes an operating mechanism for moving the slide-out room section laterally relative to the stationary room section for expanding the interior volume of the vehicle. The slide-out room section has an outer end which is mounted via a vertically movable connection arrangement to the operating mechanism, and a cooperative support arrangement is provided for the inner end of the slide-out room section to enable the slide-out room section to be vertically dropped when fully extended to place the slide-out room section floor flush with the floor of the stationary room section. The vertically movable connection arrangement includes a support member interconnected with the extension member and movable therewith, and a mounting member secured to the movable room section and engaged with the support member.

Abstract: A control system is provided for positioning between a power source, such as a distributed generator, and a utility or utility grid to control the injection of dc current and even harmonics into the utility or utility grid. In one embodiment, the control system is particularly suited for grid-tied operation and includes a power converter for acting as an ac current source by converting power received from the power source to ac current for transmittal to the utility. The control system further includes a voltage transformer between the power converter and the utility connection to block dc current and isolate the power source from the utility. A feedback control loop is included in the control system to measure, with a pair of current transformers, dc current and even harmonics in the current flowing into (power converter side) and out (utility side) of the voltage transformer.

Abstract: A concrete reinforcement cable tensioner (10) has a cable gripper (60) with its base end (87) mounted to a flange (18) which is secured to the tensioning cylinders (12, 14) by abutting a shoulder on the outside of the cylinders (12, 14). An auxiliary retraction spring (94) is contained in a tubular handle (86) which is fixed to the flange (18) and the spring (94) acts on a rod (92) which extends beyond the handle (86) and has its distal end fixed to a yoke (104) which connects the piston rods (30) of the cylinders (12, 14) and on which a seat (108) for bearing against the concrete slab is mounted. The base ends (24) of the tensioning cylinders (12, 14) are hydraulically connected by a manifold (16) which is common to the cylinders (12, 14) and binds the base ends (24) of the cylinders (12, 14) together.

Abstract: A load distribution unit for a hydraulic vehicle suspension system has a pair of cylinders with each cylinder defined by a block which is common to the cylinders and four cylinder sleeves, two sleeves for each cylinder extending from opposite sides of the block. The sleeves are fixed to the block by an end cap for each sleeve, with fasteners extending from the end cap to the block to compress the associated sleeve between the end cap and the block and estalish a seal between the block and the sleeve and the end cap and the sleeve. The LDU is mounted to the vehicle with a three point mounting, and with the cylinder sleeve cantilevered from the block. A clam shell compartment is mounted and sealed to one of the end caps of each cylinder, which is covered so that its interior is accessible without breaking the seal of the clam shell compartment with the end cap.

Abstract: An electrical circuit finder has a transmitter which is plugged into one of the circuits of a building's electrical system and a receiver which is used to identify other elements of the circuit such as a circuit breaker, fuse, switch, electrical device or outlet. The transmitter induces in the circuit a high frequency current signal which is modulated at a lower frequency. The receiver, including a sensor wand and a receiver housing, is tuned to inductively detect the high frequency when placed in the magnetic field of the circuit and to produce visual and audible signals to the user which vary in intensity according to the detected signal. The user can thereby use his or her visual and/or audio senses to associate a circuit element proximate to the receiver with the circuit element connected to the transmitter.

Abstract: A hydraulic staging jack has a circumferentially grooved cylinder which fits into a base in which two shoes are seated and each shoe has two axially spaced flanges which engage in two axially spaced grooves of the cylinder. Radially outer surfaces of the shoes are axially angled so that moving the shoes axially out of the base causes the shoes to separate radially, thereby disengaging the flanges from the grooves and permitting adjustable axial fixing of the position of the cylinder relative to the base.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive cylinder with a cylinder tube, which at its respective ends has a cylinder base and a cylinder head, thus delimiting a cylinder space. A piston can move to and fro in the cylinder space between the cylinder base and the cylinder head, which piston delimits a head-side chamber and a base-side chamber, which chambers are sealed off from one another by the piston. The piston rod has a free end which is delimited by an end face, which end face is situated in the head-side chamber. At the said free end, the piston rod is provided with a first stop.

Abstract: A valve bank has a coil pack assembly with multiple solenoid coils bound to one another by a single resin body. An L-shaped magnetic (but not magnetized) bracket is also bound within the body and extends between upper pole pieces of the valves and the manifold in which the valves are mounted. A retainer plate holds the valves in the manifold, and helps complete the magnetic flux path circuit from the manifold end of the bracket to the lower pole pieces of the valves. A spring clip helps position the manifold end of the bracket close to the retainer plate. A circuit board for individually energizing the coils is also potted within the resin body.

Abstract: Hydraulic control unit, in particular for the folding roof of a vehicle, comprising a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, a pump for drawing hydraulic fluid out of the reservoir and provided with a delivery port for delivering compressed hydraulic fluid, and also at least one first hydraulic actuator of the double-acting type with a first and a second variable working chamber, which working chambers are separated by a piston and are provided with a first and a second connection respectively for supplying hydraulic fluid to said working chambers, further comprising a control valve assembly with a first exit port and a second exit port, which are connected respectively to the first and the second connection of the first actuator, for controlling the movements of the first actuator. The control valve assembly comprises one or more operable control valves and is designed for selectively connecting one of the two or both exit ports thereof to the delivery port of the pump or the reservoir.

Abstract: A reservoir for a hydraulic suspension system for a motor vehicle has two vents disposed diagonally opposite relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A level sensor and filter are formed which fit together and to the reservoir, with the level sensor extending through and beneath the filter. The bottom of the reservoir tapers so as to direct hydraulic fluid toward the hydraulic fluid pick-up of a pump which is mounted in a sidewall of the reservoir.

Abstract: A combustion powered cooling system (10, 100) includes a power loop (12, 102) and a cooling loop (14, 104). Heat produced by combustion is used to produce superheated steam in a steam generator (18). The steam is used to move a reciprocating steam piston (26) in a power unit (16). Power is transferred from the steam piston through a energy transfer mechanism (44) to a compressor piston (40) in the cooling loop. Refrigerant material in the cooling loop is used to provide air conditioning for a residence or other facility through a chilled water circuit (60). The system is also operative as a heat pump for heating a residence or other facility.

Abstract: A voltage tester has an indicator housing and two separate probes connected to the housing by lead wires. One or more visual indicators are provided on the top surface of the indicator housing which wrap around to the sides and front of the indicator housing, and the bottom of the indicator housing has a clip into which the probe handles may be snapped from the sides of the clip so as to hold the probes beneath the indicator housing with the probe tips extending forward of the indicator housing and spaced a distance apart so as to fit into the blade openings of an ordinary wall outlet.

Abstract: A low profile operating mechanism for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out section of a vehicle body includes a pair of substantially parallel outer rails secured to the vehicle body. Each of the outer rails has an inner end and an outer end. A pair of substantially parallel inner rails are provided for supporting the slide-out section thereon. Each of the inner rails are slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within one of the outer rails. A drive arrangement is secured to the outer ends of each outer rail for selectively moving the inner rails into and out of the outer rails to extend and retract the slide-out section of the vehicle body. The drive arrangement is constructed and arranged to define rearwardly thereof a relatively unobstructed storage space beneath the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle cab suspension unit has a support plate f or fixation to a vehicle frame, an impact plate for fixation to a cab of the vehicle, a pair of air springs supporting the impact plate above the support plate, and a pair of shock absorbers for damping changes in the separation between the impact and support plates. A track arm is pivotally connected between the support and impact plate s for permitting changes in the vertical separation of the plates and restraining lateral motion of the plates relative to one another. A U-shaped crash restraint strap is fixed to the support plate and loops over the track arm to restrain the track arm from excessive pivoting in an angular direction away from the support plate, so as to deform the suspension unit to absorb energy in a crash and resist complete separation of the support and impact plates.