Abstract: An automatic shut-off nozzle has a first diaphragm responsive to the liquid in the tank being filled reaching a predetermined level to automatically stop flow through the nozzle. Flow also is automatically stopped when a second diaphragm responds to inactivation of a pump supplying the liquid to the nozzle. When a venturi poppet valve is located downstream from a main poppet valve in the nozzle, the venturi poppet valve has a bleed passage extending therethrough to enable the pressure upstream thereof and acting on the second diaphragm to be reduced to zero the pump is inactivated.

Abstract: A towing vehicle that has a tiltable boom includes wheel lift apparatus including a support plate adapted for attachment to the bumper of the towing vehicle and carrying a slideway receiving a vertically moveable slide gate and a lifting beam pivotably mounted on the gate for rotational movement from a stored position within the bed of the towing vehicle to operative positions extending rearwardly of the towing vehicle. The support carries pivotable legs moveable by linkage attached to the beam, the legs having sockets for receiving lugs secured to the beam when the beam is in the operative positions. When the beam is in the operative positions the gate may be lowered to drop the beam for loading a disabled vehicle onto wheel receiving members carried by the beam. The gate is thereafter raised together with the beam for towing the disabled vehicle. The gate is raised and lowered by the tiltable boom or a winching cable and the legs preclude the beam from tilting downwardly.

Abstract: A modular dispensing nozzle particularly adapted for dispensing gasoline and constructed for easy repair and low pressure drop is provided with a novel automatic shut-off mechanism which terminates fluid flow through the nozzle in response to predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for chilling and plasticizing fatty materials, particularly lard, shortening and margarine. The molten fat which generally is at 130.degree.-140.degree. F. is delivered to a feed pump which pumps the molten fat into and through a scraped surface heat exchanger. As normally done, approximately 5-25% by volume of air or inert gas is injected into the molten fat on the suction side of the feed pump, to cause the plasticized fat to be white and opaque, rather than translucent. The molten fat is cooled from 130.degree.-140.degree. F. to approximately 70.degree.-86.degree. F. in the heat exchanger, and is partially crystallized. The cooled, partially crystallized product from the heat exchanger passes directly through a crystallizing element where it is subjected to sufficient shearing forces by the rotational circulation of the product around its own hydraulic center to cause radial mixing of the product to form a fine crystal structure.

Abstract: An improved process for chilling and plasticizing fatty materials, particularly lard, shortening and margarine. The molten fat which generally is at 130.degree.-140.degree. F. is delivered to a feed pump which pumps the molten fat into and through a scraped surface heat exchanger. As normally done, approximately 5-25% by volume of air or inert gas is injected into the molten fat on the suction side of the feed pump, to cause the plasticized fat to be white and opaque, rather than translucent. The molten fat is cooled from 130.degree.-140.degree. F. to approximately 70.degree.-86.degree. F. in the heat exchanger, and is partially crystallized. The cooled, partially crystallized product from the heat exchanger passes directly through a crystallizing element where it is subjected to sufficient shearing forces by the rotational circulation of the product around its own hydraulic center to cause radial mixing of the product to form a fine crystal structure.

Abstract: Liquid flow through an automatic shut-off nozzle is automatically stopped if the fill pipe opening of the tank being filled is not sealed so that vapor return means can carry vapor from a tank being filled to vapor recovery equipment. If the sealing means is not effective when the spout is disposed in a fill pipe opening, a valve, which controls the liquid flow through the body of the nozzle, is automatically shut off.

Abstract: A device for measuring both force and kinetic energy includes a first cylindrical tube with one end closed, which tube is positioned over a calibrated spring that has one of its ends adjacent the closed end of the first tube. The other end of the spring extends beyond the open end of the first tube and is received within a second cylindrical tube mounted to slide over the first tube and having one closed end adjacent the other end of the spring. For measuring kinetic energy an indicator member is positioned about the first tube in such a manner that it is displaceable by contact with the open end of the second tube during compression of the spring and remains on the first tube at the point of maximum displacement when the compression of the spring is relieved. The position of the indicator with respect to the first tube is a measure of the kinetic energy that compressed the spring and the position of the second tube with respect to the first tube is a measure of that static compression force on the spring.

Abstract: An improved O-ring groove for a sealing member, the groove being formed in the sealing surface of the member, the groove in cross-section having an outer portion communicating with the sealing surfaces and an inner portion, the inner portion being of width greater than the outer portion, the juncture of the inner and outer portions providing opposed ledge surfaces, the cross-sectional area of the groove inner portion being greater than that of the outer portion and a gasket preferably in the form of an O-ring received in the groove substantially filling the groove inner and outer portions and normally extending slightly beyond the sealing surface.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off nozzle has liquid flow through its vapor return means automatically stopped when liquid has filled the vapor line sufficiently to move a first valve to block the vapor return line. This blocking of the vapor return line by the liquid increases the pressure in the tank being filled to cause stopping of liquid flow through the automatic shut-off nozzle. If the pressure in the tank increases beyond a predetermined pressure when the first valve is in its blocking position, the increased pressure is vented by a second valve, which is supported by the first valve, moving to an open position. The automatic shut-off nozzle also stops flow in response to the tank being filled to a predetermined level with liquid or to the pressure in the tank exceeding a predetermined pressure even when there is no blocking of the vapor line by the first valve.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the rate of motion of a plunger of a D.C. electro-magnetic solenoid employs a solid state switching device connected in series with the primary winding of the solenoid. The rate of change of the flux in the primary winding induces a voltage in a sensing winding, which voltage is integrated and used to control the "on" time of the switching device so as to control the flux in the main coil.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing nozzle adapted for dispensing gasoline has dual rigid spouts. The inner spout defines a flow passage for a fluid such as gasoline and the area between the two spouts defines an interspoutal passageway for vapor recovery.

Abstract: An improved vapor jacketed cooking vessel having an integrally contained fired-tube vapor generator, thus making it independent of outside vapor supply.

Abstract: An improved butterfly valve having leak detecting means, the valve body having a flow passageway therethrough, and co-axial top and bottom shaft openings and a seat circumscribing the flow passageway, a disc having an uninterrupted circumferential sealing surface having two spaced apart circumferential sealing contacts providing a circumferential valley therebetween. An upper and lower shaft portion is received in the body shaft openings, one of the shaft portions being secured to the disc providing means of positioning the disc and one of the shaft portions having a passageway therein communicating with the exterior of the valve body, the disc having a passageway communicating with the disc circumferential valley and the shaft passageway so that fluid leakage past either one of the disc sealing contacts will be conducted exteriorly of the body as an indication of loss of valve integrity when the valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter assembly for removing solids from an incoming liquid to be filtered. A filter element is fixed substantially coaxially within a housing and spaced from the peripheral wall thereof by an annular solids collection space in turn communicating with a solids outlet. An inlet introduces pressurized liquid to be filtered circumferentially into the solids collection space. A shower assembly rotates coaxially within the filter element and includes an eccentric portion having jets distributed along the length of the filter element and aimed outward close to the inner surface of the filter element. Backwash liquid enters the rotating shower assembly under pressure for continuously pushing solids off the outer surface of the filter element as the shower assembly circumferentially advances in the housing. Filtrate from inside the filter element passes through a filtrate outlet extending from the housing.

Abstract: Combined vapor pump and a liquid driven motor for driving same. A combined motor and pump, as aforesaid, is provided as a compact unit which is of sufficiently simple design, and possessed of sufficiently few parts, as to be economical in manufacture while being effective in operation and capable of long life with a minimum of maintenance. The unit is made in three basic components, namely a motor component, a pump component and a conduit component positioned between the motor and pump components whereby the manufacture and assembly of said components may be carried out quickly and efficiently and whereby, further, a malfunctioning unit can be quickly and easily repaired by replacing in a simple manner the malfunctioning component thereof. Means comprising a chamfer in the body structure adjacent the vanes of the motor are provided to minimize the deleterious effect of dirt or grit entering into the motor from the liquid used for driving same.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off nozzle has a diaphragm responsive to the vapor pressure in a sealed tank to stop the liquid flow through the nozzle when a predetermined pressure exists in the sealed tank. The force of a spring, which acts on the side of the diaphragm not exposed to the vapor pressure in the tank, is adjusted to insure that the flow is stopped at the predetermined pressure.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off nozzle has liquid flow through its vapor return means stopped in response to movement of an actuator by a flexible diaphragm when liquid has filled the vapor line sufficiently to move a float into engagement with the diaphragm. The actuator produces a signal to cause stopping of liquid flow through the nozzle. In another embodiment, a flexible diaphragm is positioned to block vapor flow through the vapor return means when a predetermined quantity of liquid is collected by the diaphragm. The blocking of the vapor return means creates an increased pressure, which can be sensed by a pressure transducer, for example, with the pressure transducer producing a signal to stop liquid flow through the nozzle. The automatic shut-off nozzle also stops flow in response to the tank being filled to a predetermined level with liquid or to the pressure in the tank exceeding a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: An improved arc welding gun includes a quick connect connector, a differential taper cable clamp and an easily operated trigger locking assembly. The quick connect connector includes a current contacting pin which fits within a mating sleeve. The sleeve is provided with a pair of axial slits and is spring biased to firmly grip the contacting pin to provide a low resistance connection. Preferably, the connector is held together by a locking sleeve which can be either connected or disconnected with a fractional rotation of the locking ring. The cable clamp includes two clamping members which fit together to clamp the power conductors of a cable between inner and outer clamping surfaces. The inner and outer clamping surfaces are both conical and are provided with different tapers such that a narrow throat region is formed between the two clamping surfaces near the cable end of the clamp. This differential taper provides a low resistance and a secure grip on the power conductors.