Abstract: A liquid storage tank broadly comprising a drum, a bottom chime, and a top chime. The bottom chime and top chime each include drum engaging geometry for positively connecting the chimes to the drum and retaining the chimes on the drum when the drum is holding liquid and subjected to lifting forces. The top chime also includes forklift openings and alignment and anti-rotation geometry configured to prevent the top chime from rotating relative to the drum when the drum is lifted via a forklift fork extending through the forklift openings so that the forklift fork does not damage a top wall or bung openings of the drum.

Abstract: A shell and retainer containment system for storing and transporting bottles, comprising an outer shell and an upper retainer. The outer shell includes a base, a number of sidewalls, and a top rim cooperatively forming a central cavity. The top rim includes a set of handles, a set of forklift fork openings for lifting the outer shell and retainer containment system via a forklift fork, and stacking geometry. The upper retainer secures the bottles in the central cavity and includes a brace and four corner reinforcements. The brace is positioned above the bottles and includes access openings for allowing access to bung openings of the bottles. The corner reinforcements extend upwards toward upper corners of the outer shell and include fastener openings for attaching the upper retainer to the outer shell via fasteners for securing the bottles in the central cavity.

Abstract: A tank for bulk material storage and transport and method for producing same. In an embodiment, a tank is provided that includes a shell having a sidewall, a neck including a first collar, and a tube terminating in a second collar. A frustoconical cap may be secured to the first collar. A substantially conical cap may be secured to the second collar. A liner may be applied to the shell so that the liner substantially covers an interior surface of the sidewall, an interior surface of the neck, at least a portion of the first collar, an interior surface of the tube, and at least a portion of the second collar. Annular thickened segments may be trimmed to prepare the tank for use. The annular thickened segments may be located at an interior joint between the frustoconical cap and the first collar, and/or an interior joint between the substantially conical cap and the second collar. The trimming step may form first and second sealing surfaces of the liner adjacent respectively to the first and second collars.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded part in a mold having an ejector assembly. The ejector assembly includes an ejector arm and mounting structure. The ejector arm has a first end with a tongue that extends partially into a cavity of the mold and an opposite second end with a handle that extends outwardly from the mold cavity. The mounting structure pivotally mounts the ejector arm to the top portion of the mold so that the ejector arm may be pivoted between an operating position and an ejection position.

Abstract: A container for holding and dispensing fluids used in vehicles includes spaced-apart front and back walls; spaced-apart left and right side walls; and spaced-apart top and bottom walls; the front and back walls, left and right side walls, and top and bottom walls together defining an enclosed fluid-containing inner chamber. Two sets of through walls are molded between the front wall and the back wall of the container to define a pair of aligned, circular-shaped, horizontally-extending through-holes between the front wall and the back wall of the container.

Abstract: A pallet comprising an upper deck, a lower deck, a front wall, a rear wall, left and right sidewalls, and interlocking structure. The interlocking structure interconnect two or more pallets without external fasteners or tools and may include a number of spaced apart vertically extending protrusions and a number of recesses positioned between the vertically extending protrusions. The vertically extending protrusions may be equally spaced apart from each other or spaced apart from each other at discrete multiples of a predetermined unit distance. The vertically extending protrusions may be U-shaped teeth or of any other suitable geometry and may partially or fully extend between the upper deck and lower deck. The pallet may engage adjacent pallets via the interlocking structure in an offset arrangement so that the pallets engage opposing walls of a transportation enclosure. This prevents the pallets from shifting laterally during transport.

Abstract: A combination flow control and reverse flow check valve controls the flow of fluid in a desired downstream direction and limits undesired backflow of liquid in an upstream direction into a fluid source such as a reservoir. The flow control and reverse flow check valve may include a housing having a fluid conveying channel with an upstream end configured for mounting to the liquid source and a downstream end for discharging fluids, a flow control valve positioned between the ends, and a check element positioned in the channel between the flow control valve and the downstream end. The check element is advantageously positioned between the flow control valve and the downstream end of the housing to prevent possible contaminants in a backflow liquid from reaching the flow control valve.

Abstract: A pallet comprising a primary body having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a set of lift channels. The upper deck includes horizontally extending upper surfaces and downwardly sloping walls extending from the upper surfaces. The horizontally extending upper surfaces are configured to receive flat objects. The downwardly sloping walls form upper support cradles for receiving horizontally-oriented curved objects thereon. The lower deck includes horizontally extending lower surfaces and upwardly sloping walls extending from the lower surfaces. The horizontally extending lower surfaces are configured to be positioned on flat objects. The upwardly sloping walls form lower support cradles for positioning the pallet on horizontally extending curved objects. The lift channels are vertically spaced from the upper support cradles and the lower support cradles such that the curved objects positioned above and below the pallet will not interfere with lifting forks being inserted into the lift channels.

Abstract: An ejector assembly for removing a molded part from a mold includes an ejector arm and mounting structure. The ejector arm has a first end with a tongue that extends partially into a cavity of the mold and an opposite second end with a handle that extends outwardly from the mold cavity. The mounting structure pivotally mounts the ejector arm to the top portion of the mold so that the ejector arm may be pivoted between an operating position and an ejection position.

Abstract: A pallet comprises a deck having an upper support surface; a plurality of support members depending from the deck; pallet stacking structure for retaining a second pallet stacked on the pallet, and tray retaining and stacking structure for retaining a tray on the pallet. The pallet stacking structure includes a plurality of first recessed regions formed in the upper support surface for receiving support members of a second pallet stacked on the first pallet. The tray retaining and stacking structure includes a plurality of second recessed regions formed in the upper support surface of the pallet for receiving the legs of a tray when the tray is supported on the pallet. The second recessed regions are formed within the outer boundaries of the first recessed regions and are deeper than the first recessed regions.

Abstract: A cable reel assembly includes a fluted drum; a pair of circular flanges removeably attached to opposite ends of the drum; and a number of elongated rods that connect the flanges to the drum. The drum and flanges are preferably rotationally molded of synthetic resin materials and are partially hollow so as to minimize their weight.

Abstract: An interlocking support foot and a container assembly including the support foot permits the support foot to be threaded onto a container but resists loosening of the foot by reverse rotation of the support foot once installed onto the container. The support foot is preferably molded of synthetic resin as a unitary member including a body, a threaded connector and at least one, and preferably a circular array of teeth radially spaced from the connector. The container is complementally configured to include a plurality of support areas for threadably receiving the support foot and provided with a threaded receiver and a radially spaced notch. When the support foot is installed on the support area of the container, the tooth engages the notch and resists reverse rotation of the foot.

Abstract: A combination flow control and reverse flow check valve controls the flow of fluid in a desired downstream direction and limits undesired backflow of liquid in an upstream direction into a fluid source such as a reservoir. The flow control and reverse flow check valve may include a housing having a fluid conveying channel with an upstream end configured for mounting to the liquid source and a downstream end for discharging fluids, a flow control valve positioned between the ends, and a check element positioned in the channel between the flow control valve and the downstream end. The check element is advantageously positioned between the flow control valve and the downstream end of the housing to prevent possible contaminants in a backflow liquid from reaching the flow control valve.

Abstract: An interlocking support foot and a container assembly including the support foot permits the support foot to be threaded onto a container but resists loosening of the foot by reverse rotation of the support foot once installed onto the container. The support foot is preferably molded of synthetic resin as a unitary member including a body, a threaded connector and at least one, and preferably a circular array of teeth radially spaced from the connector. The container is complementally configured to include a plurality of support areas for threadably receiving the support foot and provided with a threaded receiver and a radially spaced notch. When the support foot is installed on the support area of the container, the tooth engages the notch and resists reverse rotation of the foot.

Abstract: A combination flow control and reverse flow check valve controls the flow of fluid in a desired downstream direction and limits undesired backflow of liquid in an upstream direction into a fluid source such as a reservoir. The flow control and reverse flow check valve may include a housing having a fluid conveying channel with an upstream end configured for mounting to the liquid source and a downstream end for discharging fluids, a flow control valve positioned between the ends, and a check element positioned in the channel between the flow control valve and the downstream end. The check element is advantageously positioned between the flow control valve and the downstream end of the housing to prevent possible contaminants in a backflow liquid from reaching the flow control valve.

Abstract: A pipe float is configured for receiving a pipe therein and providing buoyancy for maintaining the pipe along the surface of a body of water. The pipe float has an inner surface presenting a central passage adapted for receiving the pipe, the inner surface including a plurality of preferably substantially planar, longitudinally extending panels which provide a continuous inner surface. Adjacent panels are angularly oriented relative to one another, and the pipe float is preferably provided as a plurality of pipe float sections assembled together whereby one panel of a pipe float section is preferably oriented at an obtuse angle to an adjacent panel of that pipe float section. The panels may be of different transverse dimensions whereby the passage has a greater transverse dimension G which is substantially greater than a smaller transverse dimension S, with the outer diameter D of the pipe received in the passage being of a value equal to or smaller than G and greater than or equal to S.

Abstract: A slide valve assembly is provided for selectively dispensing dry goods from a hopper. The slide valve assembly is readily attached and detached from the hopper and is readily disassembled and reassembled to facilitate cleaning and/or servicing. Preferably, the slide valve assembly includes a panel secured to spaced support rails, a movable valve panel for opening and closing of the dispensing portion of the hopper, and a collar retainer for releasable attachment to the dispensing portion of a hopper. The slide valve assembly may be attached, detached, assembled, and disassembled substantially without the use of tools or separate fasteners, to minimize the risk of creating a contamination hazard for the goods dispensed from the hopper, while still allowing for secure attachment to the hopper.

Abstract: A protection and containment system for co-packaged containers is provided which includes a hollow primary container, a top protector complementally configure to fit atop the primary container, and at least one retainer coupled to the top protector for holding a secondary container. The primary container has a circumscribing upright sidewall and an opening configured for receiving material to be stored in the container. The top protector includes a side wall and at least a pair of spaced-apart opposed risers, most preferably provided as one of four corner modules, the risers extending upwardly from the primary container above the opening and presenting a gap between the risers which is sized and configured for receiving the secondary container. Several retainers can be provided, either to hold the secondary containers in different gaps, or provided in tandem to hold two secondary containers adjacent to one another in or proximate a single gap.

Abstract: A barrel rack is provided for supporting a plurality of barrels thereon, and preferably also for being stacked atop barrels to stabilize them and permit the support of additional barrels. The barrel rack is preferably a unitary member molded of synthetic material, and may be symmetrical about a horizontal plane extending through its center. It is provided with a plurality of cradle beds which support the barrel in an elevated position and permit the circulation of air around the barells stored thereon. The barrel rack may receive casters permitting the barrel rack to be used as a transport device for moving barrels received thereon.