Abstract: Provided are portable apparatuses and associated methods for detecting high tension in a cord or hose and triggering an alarm. In one embodiment, a portable tension alarm apparatus is provided that includes an alarm system, a first connection point that is to be affixed to a cord or hose, and a second connection point that is to be affixed to the cord or hose, with slack between the two connection points, and that is attached to a triggering component of the alarm system.

Abstract: Example guards for use with power tools and power tools including such guards. The guards include a collar structured to be removably coupled to a hand-guided electrical tool, a hood coupled to the collar, and a guard ring coupled to the collar via the hood. The guard ring extends entirely around the collar.

Abstract: Example guards for use with power tools and power tools including such guards. The guards include a collar structured to be removably coupled to a hand-guided electrical tool, a hood coupled to the collar, and a guard ring coupled to the collar via the hood. The guard ring extends entirely around the collar.

Abstract: A vessel has an annular upstanding wall and a bottom that together define an inner shell adapted to hold a vessel media. A baffle system is disposed in an interior of the inner shell and comprises a plurality of baffle portions each being generally an elongate planar member with a length edge and a width edge, and a tab projecting from the length edge. Each of the baffle portions is mounted to the upstanding wall at their respective tab with one of the baffle portion above the second baffle portion and a space therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fire hydrant locating system which includes a hydrant locator that facilitates the location of a hydrant by firefighters, particularly in an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine. The hydrant locator as secured to the hydrant cylinder has a low profile. The hydrant locating system includes a transmitter adapted to be located in the emergency vehicle. Upon actuation of a switch in the transmitter in the emergency vehicle a receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator will be activated to set off strobe lights to alert firefighters of the hydrant location. The receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator includes a strobe light structure. The transmitter can be set such that when actuated it will activate only those hydrant locators within a preselected range such as approximately 1500 feet.

Abstract: An improved applanation tonometer for measuring the intraocular pressure of an eye is configured for use with a conventional slit lamp. This applanation tonometer has a force sensor that senses the force applied by an applanation probe to flatten the cornea of the eye, while the cornea is viewed through the probe using the slit lamp. The force sensor generates a signal that corresponds to the applanation force and transmits the signal to a display and/or a data storage device.

Abstract: An improved applanation tonometer for measuring the intraocular pressure of an eye is configured for use with a conventional slit lamp. This applanation tonometer has a force sensor that senses the force applied by an applanation probe to flatten the cornea of the eye, while the cornea is viewed through the probe using the slit lamp. The force sensor generates a signal that corresponds to the applanation force and transmits the signal to a display and/or a data storage device.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube in a heat exchanger for an ice making machine includes a bimetallic heat exchanger tube to improve capacity and wear characteristics of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tube has an outer portion with a first material composition and an inner portion with a second material composition where the first material composition is different from the second material composition. The first material composition is compatible with the refrigerants used in the heat exchanger unit of the ice making machine. The second material composition is compatible with the feed solution being chilled in the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: A silo type storage tank includes a clean-in-place system comprising a flush opening having an edge transition located at about four and one half inches below the weld seam joining the tank top to the sidewall and fed by an upwardly angled channel in the tank sidewall arranged at approximately 23 degrees from the interior surface of the tank sidewall. The edge transition comprises a chamfer along most of the circumference with an undercut formed along the upper portion of said edge transition. Alternately, a second spray or “helper” tube may be provided that has its opening aligned to spray cleaning fluid immediately beneath the flush opening so that cleaning fluid flowing through the tank sidewall opening and the helper tube washes the entire interior surfaces of the tank. In still another embodiment, a spike may be provided in the spray path instead of a helper tube to divert the spray so that a complete clean-in-place function is achieved.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube in a heat exchanger for an ice making machine includes a bimetallic heat exchanger tube to improve capacity and wear characteristics of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tube has an outer portion with a first material composition and an inner portion with a second material composition where the first material composition is different from the second material composition. The first material composition is compatible with the refrigerants used in the heat exchanger unit of the ice making machine. The second material composition is compatible with the feed solution being chilled in the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube in a heat exchanger for an ice making machine includes a bimetallic heat exchanger tube to improve capacity and wear characteristics of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tube has an outer portion with a first material composition and an inner portion with a second material composition where the first material composition is different from the second material composition. The first material composition is compatible with the refrigerants used in the heat exchanger unit of the ice making machine. The second material composition is compatible with the feed solution being chilled in the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: An agitator assembly includes a dynamic or rotary seal which has a pusher for mechanically separating the seal members as the agitator is moved into a clean-in-place orientation. There are three embodiments of the invention, with all embodiments including a pusher mounted on the drive shaft so that as the seal is moved with respect to the drive shaft by either moving the drive shaft or the seal, the pusher engages one of the seal members to mechanically separate it from the other seal member. The pusher preferably comprises a shaft mounted “O” ring in two of the embodiments, and a ring shaped and tapered structure in the other embodiment. The embodiments provide for a seal that has springs located within the tank, a seal with an elastomer to provide the spring sealing force, and a seal with springs located outside the tank.

Abstract: An orbital rod drive arrangement for an orbital tube whip rod heat exchanger includes a single drive plate driving a plurality of countercranks, each countercrank supporting a whip rod from its upper end within a tube and from a radially extending slot therein as it is driven in an orbital manner. The countercrank provides for balancing the whip rods within the tubes by mounting them in an offset manner. Furthermore, the whip rod is suspended as well as driven at its upper end to thereby leave the lower ends of the tubes unobstructed for the free flow of process fluid out the bottom of the tube. The countercrank includes an upper peripheral lip for supporting a single drive plate and the countercrank may be supported by the tube sheet which mounts the uniformly spaced tubes in the heat exchanger vessel. The radially extending slot accommodates migration of the whip rod in a radial direction in response to any buildup of material along the sidewall of its associated tube.

Abstract: An orbital rod drive arrangement for an orbital tube whip rod heat exchanger includes a single drive plate driving a plurality of countercranks, each countercrank supporting a whip rod from its upper end within a tube as it is driven in an orbital manner. The countercrank provides for balancing the whip rods within the tubes by mounting them in an offset manner. Furthermore, the whip rod is suspended as well as driven at its upper end to thereby leave the lower ends of the tubes unobstructed for the free flow of process fluid out the bottom of the tube. The countercrank includes an upper peripheral lip for supporting a single drive plate and the countercrank may be supported by the tube sheet which mounts the uniformly spaced tubes in the heat exchanger vessel. Variations are disclosed for the countercrank including providing different numbers of holes in the countercrank for balancing the whip rod mass about the circumference of the countercrank.

Abstract: A resilient seat gate valve is provided with a housing having an opening for receiving the operating stem for the valve and a cover with a seal for the cover to the housing opening comprising a step peripheral surface and an angled surface located interiorly of the valve housing opening; the cover is provided with a locking mechanism for drawing the opening peripheral surface against the angled surface of the housing lip to compress the seal carried by the peripheral surface of the cover and to effect the attachment of the cover in place without bolts or screws; the valve disc is provided with side edges covered by an elastomer and protected with a fully enclosing, replaceable cap to prolong the life of the valve disc by protecting the elastomer coating from abrasion; a dumbbell dirt and fluid pressure seal O-ring arrangement is provided between the cover and lip of the housing to facilitate insertion and positioning of the seal during installation of the cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a plastic fitting and a line stopping mechanism to a main includes a stopper shaft which is used to remove a completion plug in the fitting during installation, and to control the line stopper mechanism once it is installed within the fitting; a connection between the stopper shaft and an external drive shaft is provided which includes both left and righthanded threads in order to prevent the connection from loosening while it is being torqued in different directions. A method of installing the fitting which includes electric resistance fusing is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ice harvesting/water chiller machine with an improved evaporator assembly having a plurality of plate-type heat exchangers oriented vertically in face-to-face parallel relation. A water reservoir is located above the heat exchangers. Water is distributed from the reservoir downwardly to flow over the outside surfaces of the heat exchangers to effect a substantially even distribution of water over the outside surfaces as it flows downwardly thereover. Cold refrigerant is distributed to the tops of the heat exchangers to cascade downwardly over the inside surfaces of the heat exchangers to effect a substantially even distribution of refrigerant over the inside surfaces as it cascades downwardly thereover. A cold refrigerant feed tube extends across the top of each heat exchanger substantially the entire width thereof. The tube has spaced openings along the tube over substantially the entire width of the heat exchanger which openings communicate with the interior of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A dual-walled coiled plate heat exchanger with vented interface includes four plates of stainless steeel welded together and inflated to form a refrigerant passage between two of the plates, a water passage between another two of the plates, and a vented interface between the two passages such that leakage from either of the passages into the interface is vented to the atmosphere and not to the other passage.

Abstract: A coiled heat exchanger utilizing a sandwich plate type construction with a plurality of spot welds equally spaced throughout, the plate being inflated to expand the passageways therebetween, has fluid tight connections feeding through the outside of the coil for accessing both passageways adjacent and opposite the center divider plate. One or more arcuate slots are punched in the center divider plate and surround a spot weld, with a larger hole punched in the adjacent outer plate and a tube welded against the divider plate to seal the arcuate slot and form a fluid connection between the passageway opposite the divider plate and the outside of the coil.