Abstract: A connector etc. that prevents wrong insertion and does not require large rotation of plug etc., when inserting a plug to a socket, is provided. Plug-in connector 1 comprises pin plug 10 and receptacle 20, and pin plug 10 and receptacle 20 are connected. On pin cover body 14 of pin plug 10, plural pin plug key protrusions 15 are constructed separately along the circumferential direction, and on socket cover 27 of receptacle 20, plural sets 28a-28e of plural key grooves 28 separated along the circumferential direction, that plural pin plug key protrusions 15 fit into each set, are arranged with shifting along the circumferential direction. Receptacle 20 can be substituted by a socket plug 30.

Abstract: A system for locating a malfunctioning bulb in a decorative light string uses an antenna that produces an output signal corresponding to the strength of the electric field produced by a portion of the light string near the antenna. An amplifier is coupled to the antenna to receive the antenna output signal and produce an amplified output signal representing the strength of the electric field. The amplifier includes a negative feedback circuit to improve the stability of the amplifier. A detector receives the amplifier output signal and activates an alarm device when the amplifier output signal is above or below a predetermined threshold representing a known operational condition of the light string.

Abstract: One or more strings of decorative lights are supplied with power by converting a standard residential electrical voltage to a low-voltage, and supplying the low-voltage to at least one pair of parallel conductors having multiple decorative lights connected to the conductors along the lengths thereof, each of the lights, or groups of the lights, being connected in parallel across the conductors. A string of decorative lights comprises a power supply having an input adapted for connection to a standard residential electrical power outlet, the power supply including circuitry for converting the standard residential voltage to a low-voltage output; a pair of conductors connected to the output of the power supply for supplying the low-voltage output to multiple decorative lights; and multiple lights connected to the conductors along the lengths thereof, each of the lights, or groups of the lights, being connected in parallel across the conductors.

Abstract: A repair device for fixing a malfunctioning shunt across a failed filament in a light bulb in a group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs includes a high-voltage pulse generator producing one or more pulses of a magnitude greater than the standard AC power line voltage. A connector receives the pulses from the pulse generator and supplies them to the group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs. The pulse generator may be a piezoelectric pulse generator, a battery-powered electronic pulse generator, and/or an AC-powered electrical pulse generator.

Abstract: A repair device for fixing a malfunctioning shunt across a failed filament in a light bulb in a group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs includes a high-voltage pulse generator producing one or more pulses of a magnitude greater than the standard AC power line voltage. A connector receives the pulses from the pulse generator and supplies them to the group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs. The pulse generator may be a piezoelectric pulse generator, a battery-powered electronic pulse generator, and/or an AC-powered electrical pulse generator.

Abstract: A string of decorative lights comprises a plurality of elongated electrical conductors having multiple electrical lamps connected thereto at intervals along the lengths of the conductors, a small storage compartment for storing spare components for use in the light string, a movable closure for opening and closing the storage compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and to closing the compartment during storage. The storage compartment is attached to the string of decorative lights so that the spare components stored therein are conveniently accessible when needed to replace a component in the light string.

Abstract: A repair device for fixing a malfunctioning shunt across a failed filament in a light bulb in a group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs includes a piezoelectric pulse generator producing one or more pulses of a magnitude greater than the standard AC power line voltage. A connector receives the pulses from the pulse generator and supplies them to the group of series-connected miniature decorative bulbs.

Abstract: Solderless RF power film resistor and termination assemblies which include a flat film resistor or termination pressed by a nonmetallic clamping plate into thermal contact with a base plate functioning as a heat sink. A substrate such as a BeO ceramic substrate provides an RF power film resistor or termination, and has a flat mounting surface positioned against a flat mounting surface of the base plate. A clamping plate clamps the ceramic substrate securely against the base plate, thereby eliminating a soldered interface connection between the flat mounting surfaces of the ceramic substrate and the base plate. The clamping plate includes at least one lug, and the base plate includes at least one lug hole. The lug is larger than, and is plastically deformed into and through the hole to clamp the flat surface of the ceramic substrate securely against the flat surface of the base plate. The hole in the base plate preferably includes an undercut shoulder through and around which the lug is plastically deformed.

Abstract: A gas spring with a piston reciprocable in a chamber of a casing, a sealing assembly at the rear end of the casing through which the piston rod extends, and an end cap closing the rear end of the casing. The sealing assembly has a reinforcing ring having a sealing ring on one side and a wiper on the other side. The sealing ring and wiper are portions of a single body of elastomeric material molded to the reinforcing ring and integrally connected through one or more openings in the reinforcing ring. The casing wall is rolled radially inwardly over the sealing assembly into pressure contact with the reinforcing ring so that the sealing assembly becomes in effect an end cap for the front end of the casing. The rear end of the casing is rolled over the rear end cap by swaging into pressure contact with the end cap. A filler valve is disposed in the end cap.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electromagnetic interference filter comprises the step of disposing electrical components on a base. The components are connected to form an electromagnetic interference filter. The filter is enclosed in a metal case, which is formed by folding a metal sheet around said filter and joining the ends of the sheet together. The metal sheet has an insulating coating disposed on one side to prevent contact between the filter components and the case. The outer surface of the case is sealed with seal tape.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrical capacitor from a wound laminate of conductive and non-conductive materials comprises the steps of enclosing the wound laminate in a sealed chamber; drawing a vacuum on the chamber to evacuate any voids in the wound laminate, and then filling the chamber with a pressurized impregnating gas to fill the evacuated voids in the wound laminate; heating the laminate to a curing temperature; applying schoopage metal to opposite ends of the cured laminate; attaching a pair of electrical leads to the schoopage metal on opposite ends of the cured laminate, and encapsulating the cured laminate in a molded polymer.

Abstract: A gas spring which provides two stages of resistance to axial movement, by a first head and rod slidably disposed within a second rod with a head, with both of the heads subjected to pressurized gas in a common chamber within the cylinder. Preferably, a seal for each provides sealing engagement when the force of pressurized gas acts upon the seal. Hence, the seal provides sealing engagement without being axially compressed and radially expanded. The seal may be used in single stage and two stage gas springs. Desirably, a positive stop for each rod is provided, preferably as a part of the housing for its bearings and seal. Preferably, the seal is a flexible annular sealing element which when viewed in cross section is generally a C-shape, with arms constructed and arranged so that the free edges of the seal are biased into sealing engagement by pressurized gas acting on the arms.

Abstract: A device with one or more actuator racks carried by a housing for reciprocation and each meshing with a separate pinion gear having a non-circular central hole in which a complimentary coupling shaft can be removably received for rotation in unison with the gear(s). The pinion gears are carried and journalled for rotation in the housing by a pair of co-axial bushings with generally opposed and spaced apart axially projecting rims received in mating peripheral shoulders in the side faces of the gears. The gear teeth extend generally axially continuously between their side faces with the shoulders in their side edges. Preferably the radial extent of each shoulder is less than the radial extent of the teeth. When the coupling shaft is removed from the gears each pinion can rotate independently of the shaft and each other to initially position its associated rack at a desired location and when the shaft is inserted in the pinion gears they rotate in unison to simultaneously actuate the rack(s).

Abstract: A valve modular control panel having a gas supply module at one end of a row of valve modules and a bleed module at the other end. Each valve module is individually controlled by its own valve mechanism. Gas under pressure is suppled to all of the valve modules from an inlet in the supply module by a passage running through all of the valve modules and terminating in the bleed module. A bleed passage runs through the valve modules and into the bleed module. All valve modules are bled through the bleed module. The bleed module is also capable of exhausting the supply passage. The panel can be expanded or contracted to include any number of valve modules which are releasably secured together by a series of nuts and tie rods. A protective shield for the panel can be adjusted in size depending on the number of modules in the panel.

Abstract: A gas spring with a piston rod slidably received in a cylinder which defines a chamber in which a gas is compressed when the rod is forced into the cylinder. The gas spring can be operated with either an external source of gas or as a precharged and self-contained unit by changing first and second valves assemblies either of which can be installed in the same cavity in the cylinder. If desired, a check valve can control the bleeding of gas under pressure in the cylinder back to the entrance of the cavity containing one of the valve assemblies through which the cylinder is filled with gas.

Abstract: A gas spring with a piston rod slidably received in a cylinder with a chamber which is charged with a compressed gas. A positive stop is removably received in the cylinder to limit the extent to which the rod can be extended independently of a bearing and seal assembly in the chamber in which the rod is slidably received. An end cap with a filler valve therein is removably received and releasably retained in the cylinder adjacent its other end.

Abstract: A centrifugal filter separator system operable to separate from oil under pressure, contaminants and water. The centrifuged water port of the centrifugal filter separator of the system is coupled to a differential pressure responsive, sensor control, which automatically senses the presence of a layer of centrifuged water against the internal surface of the rotating drum of the centrifugal separator. The sensor control is coupled to a flow control circuit which in conjunction with the differential pressure sensor control causes automatic removal of an existing layer of centrifuged water from the rotating drum via the water exit port of the separator. When there is no adequate depth layer of centrifuged water on the inner surface of the rotating drum, the sensor control deactivates the water removal circuit, while the flow control circuit maintains a minimum generally constant flow of liquid from the water port of the separator for priming purposes.

Abstract: A centrifugal filter separator system operable to separate from oil under pressure solid contaminants, by depositing them on the internal wall of a rotating drum, powered by reaction jet nozzles, while also separating water from oil and extracting it from the rotating drum through a water extraction circuit. A water-oil mixture from the water extraction circuit is passed through a pressurized gravity type separator, from which the separated oil is returned, on a continuous basis, back to the centrifugal filter separator system, while the quantity of the water retained in the gravity type separator is controlled by a water ejecting automatic control, responsive to the position of the water-oil miniscus, or to the position of the layer of water-oil emulsion separating water and oil within the separator.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring for use in absorbing an external force by compressing gaseous fluid trapped therein. The pneumatic spring includes internal valves for recharging and for relieving excessive pressure. In one form, the pneumatic spring comprises an outer housing defining an open-ended outer cylinder and an inner cylinder slidingly and sealingly positioned in the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has a cylindrical side wall and end walls and a rod extends from the inner end wall of the outer cylinder through the inner end wall of the inner cylinder. A piston is fixed on the rod within the inner cylinder, thereby defining a first chamber between the inner end of the outer cylinder and the inner end wall on the inner cylinder and a second chamber between the piston on the rod and the outer end wall of the inner cylinder. The chambers are isolated from one another.