Abstract: A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.

Abstract: A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads.

Abstract: A double offset hanger and restrainer device for securely supporting a pipe or the like against undesirable sway and seismic disturbances is provided. The hanger and restrainer device includes a proximal portion mountable to a beam or the like and a specially contoured distal portion with an opening that can receive the pipe in a “snap-on” manner. The snap-on or press-fit feature also provides the advantage of retrofit installation, thereby permitting one or more of the devices to be added on without disassembly of an existing installation.

Abstract: A ball valve has a ball with resilient, opposed facing spaced-apart locking arms which engage a stem having outwardly projecting flanges to allow the stem to be inserted externally into the valve body and snap-locked to the resilient opposed locking arms of the ball. In one embodiment, the stem includes a breakaway groove to prevent over torquing of the stem. In another embodiment, a retainer carrier for the ball includes slots for receiving integrally formed projection tabs on the underside of the valve handle which are spaced and sized to interfit with the slots of the threaded retainer carrier such that, if ball or seal replacement becomes necessary, the valve handle itself can serve as a removal tool for the retainer carrier.

Abstract: A method is provided for marking items by orienting the items so that ink may be printed on the desired area of the items. The items are fed to a printing station and ink of a first color is printed on the items and then dried. The ink is then cured by providing heat to the ink. Also provided is an apparatus for marking differently-shaped items comprising a printing station having an ink printer and a dryer. The apparatus also has a curing tunnel for curing the ink onto the items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a controlled, continuous up-and-down motion of a pop-up sprinkler head device during an irrigation period to approximate a modified sine wave output from the pop-up sprinkler device assuring uniform coverage of an area to be irrigated without excessive watering.

Abstract: A valve housing has three ports with butterfly valves mounted in two of the ports with stems coupled to the valve disks and extending through opposite sides of the housing. A linkage couples the valve stems together at one side of the housing, while an actuator is coupled to at least one of the valve stems on the opposite side of the housing. The linkage and control mechanism can be reversed such that valves can be mounted in an installation either as a left hand or a right hand valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for attachment to a plumbing system having a warm water outlet, for rapidly delivering hot water through the plumbing system to the warm water outlet, comprising a diverter valve attachable to a building water pipe upstream of the warm water outlet for purging cold water from the water pipe, a diverter pipe section extending from the diverter valve, a back flow preventer in flow relationship with the diverter pipe section, and a flow control regulator in flow relationship with the diverter pipe section, whereby a small controlled flow of cold water may be diverted from the water pipe to thereby cause rapid delivery of warm water to the warm water outlet when actuated.

Abstract: A turf irrigation distribution and reservoir product and method ecosystem employing a substantially continuous mat on the soil surface on which turf is placed or produced, the mat having a primary, lateral water distribution structure which distributes water from a water charging inlet throughout the lateral area to the mat periphery where it is restrained, the water then being distributed vertically above and below the lateral distribution structure.

Abstract: An apparatus providing low volume irrigation from a previously installed sprinkler irrigation system including one or more sprinkler heads connected to a water supply conduit. The apparatus includes a manifold (50) having a water distribution passage (34) therein. The water distribution passage (34) includes an inlet end (35) and an outlet end (36) with the outlet end adapted to receive a conveyance channel (38) for distributing water to an emission point (42, 43). A flow control device (39) is associated with the water distribution passage (34) to control the flow rate of water through the passage to a rate exceeding a local hydraulic loading rate of the soil in the area around the emission point (42, 43). The manifold (50) is connected to receive water which is supplied to the sprinkler head through the water supply conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for pad printing inked images onto injection-molded pieces, while they are still in the mold, using a robotics device and an ink transfer mechanism.

Abstract: An irrigation conduit (10) includes a plurality of emitters (11) spaced apart along its length. A conveyance channel (12) is connected to each emitter (11) and is long enough so that a distal end (14) of the conveyance channel (12) may be positioned at or just above the soil surface with the conduit (10) buried below the soil surface. Each emitter (11) or each conveyance channel (12) includes associated with it a flow control arrangement (30) to control the rate of flow through the conveyance channel (12) when water is applied to the conduit (10) at a desired pressure and flow rate. The flow rate through each conveyance channel (12) exceeds the local hydraulic loading rate of the soil adjacent to the conveyance channel (12). The rate in excess of the local hydraulic loading rate causes localized flooding and allows the water to spread out substantially across the soil surface prior to moving downwardly into the soil.

Abstract: An irrigation spray head includes a plurality of orifices each for directing irrigation water in a substantially continuous stream to an impact location within an area around the spray head to be irrigated. Each orifice has associated with it a mechanism for adjusting the flow area and thereby adjusting the flow rate through the orifice and the distance between the spray head and the impact location associated with the respective orifice. Each substantially continuous discrete stream emitted through one of the orifices is at a flow rate higher than the local hydraulic loading rate associated with the soil in the respective impact location. Thus, each stream of water from the spray head produces localized runoff and a wide wetting pattern around each impact location. The flow rate for each stream is chosen so that the wetting pattern associated with each impact location combines with the other wetting patterns to substantially cover the entire area to be irrigated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball valve with a shear stem which can be utilized in combination with a conventional ball valve or vented ball valve.The ball valve with a shear stem is utilized with a conventional ball valve or a vented valve assembly including a valve body having a vent hole therein. The ball valve defines a body having first and second flow-through ends with a valve member receiving chamber thereinbetween, and a collar defining a stem receiving passage communicating with the chamber. A valve member such as a ball or cylindrical plug is disposed within the chamber. The valve member has a throughbore therein in operable alignment with the first end second flow-through ends. The vented ball valve embodiment has at least one valve member vent hole through the wall of the valve member in flow communication with the throughbore.

Abstract: Forming a novel double containment polymeric piping assembly by interfitting slidably interfittable polymeric inner pipe components, including a first induction responsive layer therebetween, and slidably interfittable polymeric outer pipe components, preferably including a second induction responsive layer therebetween, to form an inner connection and an outer connection, while causing the inner connection to be axially offset from the outer connection, applying an electrical induction force around the periphery of the outer pipe components, axially aligned with the inner connection but not with said outer connection, and thereby fusing the inner pipe components and the first polymeric layer together, and moving the components relative to said electrical induction force, axially away from the inner connection, and axially aligned with the outer connection, applying an inductive force around the periphery of the outer pipe components, and thereby fusing the outer pipe components and the second polymeric layer

Abstract: The present invention relates to a basement sewer backflow control valve with adapter. A valve such as a ball valve is positioned a sewer line under the floor of a basement with an adapter extending vertically through the basement floor providing a means for opening and closing the valve as needed to ensure flood waters do not backflow into the basement during flooding. The valve and adapter may also be utilized in combination with an in-line check valve. The adapter provides a flush surface with the basement floor.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing (10) defining a housing cavity (18) and at least one connector (15) for connecting the housing to an irrigation conduit (26) so that the housing cavity (18) is exposed to irrigation water flowing through the irrigation conduit (26). A first electrode (13) is positioned within the housing cavity (18) and is made from a growth inhibiting metal. A second electrode (14) is electrically isolated from the first electrode (13) and includes a surface exposed within the housing cavity (18) in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first electrode (13). A voltage source (30) is connected to the first electrode (13) and to the second electrode (14) for applying an electric potential across the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A sillcock which has freeze resistance, backflow contamination resistance and back pressure release from the downstream water, having a resilient, radially compressible and expandable back pressure seal valve which is also axially movable a controlled amount to thereby cover or uncover an inner vent hole between the water passage and a vent passage, to allow pressure release from the water flow passage to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An irrigation apparatus (10) includes a conduit housing (14) with at least one elongated, flexible irrigation conduit (12) received in a retracted position therein. A water supply arrangement associated with the conduit housing (14) allows water to be supplied through the housing to a proximal end (20) of each irrigation conduit (12). Also, a conduit deployment arrangement associated with the conduit housing (14) allows the irrigation conduits (12) to extend from the housing to an extended position in response to water supplied to the housing through the water supply arrangement. In the extended position, each irrigation conduit (12) extends over an area to be irrigated, and emitters along the length of each conduit emit water to efficiently irrigate the area under and immediately surrounding the extended conduit. A conduit retracting arrangement (32) retracts the irrigation conduits (12) back to the retracted position once the water pressure is withdrawn from the device.

Abstract: A method for deploying a work object, connected to a control system by an elongated, substantially flexible conduit, relative to a target, the method including the steps of substantially burying the work object in the earth in a predetermined position relative to the target with the conduit extending upwardly from the work object to the surface of the earth; extending the conduit to the control system substantially across the surface of the earth; and covering the portion of the conduit extending across the surface of the earth to conceal its presence. An apparatus for deploying a work object in an operational position, the apparatus having a housing adapted to be positioned beneath the operational position; a member mounted on the housing and adapted to mount the work object for movement to and from the operational position; and a system connected to the housing for moving the work object to and from the operational position.