Abstract: A fluid pump includes a pump head having an inlet for receiving fluid at a first pressure and an outlet for outputting fluid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Pressurized fluid is directed through a first passage to the outlet without the pressurized fluid leaving the pump head prior to reaching the outlet. A second passage directs pressurized fluid to a fluid circulation path which is at least partially external to the pump head with the fluid circulation path terminating adjacent the outlet. Pressurized fluid passing through the first and second passages is directed to the outlet without being re-pressurized by the pump head. The first and second passages are in opposed relation to one another to provide balancing of thrust produced by the flow of pressurized fluid through the passages. An electric motor drives the pump head. The fluid circulation path may include portions of the electric motor.

Abstract: A pump head for a fluid pump driven by a motor includes an inlet for receiving fluid at a first pressure and an outlet for outputting fluid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. A relief valve cavity formed in the pump head housing includes a first portion in fluid communication with the inlet and a second portion in fluid communication with the outlet. A relief valve is disposed in the relief valve cavity with no portion of the relief positioned to block or otherwise impede the normal flow of fluid through the inlet or outlet.

Abstract: A motor pump is provided in which the motor rotor is optimally force balanced for enhanced operation. The motor pump includes a pump head for pressurizing a fluid, and an electric motor drives the pump head. High pressure fluid is circulated through the motor air gap. The shaft of the motor rotor is axially movable with respect to the pump head such that the motor rotor is effectively floated in high pressure fluid as the fluid flows through the motor.

Abstract: A fluid impermeable barrier is provided to protect the rotor of an electric motor. The barrier includes a body portion with a relatively large opening at one end to receive the rotor laminations and a smaller opening at the other end to receive one end of the rotor shaft. With the body portion positioned about the laminations, a cap with an outer perimeter and central opening is slid down the other end of the rotor shaft to close the large opening in the body portion. The assembly is completed by sealingly attaching the outer perimeter of the cap to the large opening in the body portion and sealingly attaching the smaller openings in the cap and body portion to respective portions of the rotor shaft. Thus, the fluid impermeable rotor barrier includes no more than two parts that are assembled onto the rotor using no more than three areas of attachment.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of an overheat condition in a fluid pump includes a pump head for receiving a fluid at a first pressure and outputting the fluid at a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure. A motor is positioned adjacent the pump head to drive the pump head to pressurize the fluid. A single overheat sensor senses an overheat condition in the pump head and an overheat condition in the motor. When a threshold temperature is sensed by the overheat sensor, a switch is activated to prevent operation of the motor. In one embodiment, the overheat sensor and switch are integral and may, for example, take the form of a bi-metal switch formed in the stator windings of the motor. In alternate embodiments, the overheat sensor and switch are separate.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a fluid pump motor includes an electric motor for driving a pump head to pressurize a fluid. A liner is positioned in the motor air gap to prevent pressurized fluid from contacting one or more magnetic field producing elements of the stator. The liner includes a thin wall to minimize the air gap distance. The liner wall is made thin enough that, under loading of the pressurized fluid, the liner wall deforms and bears against one or more of the field producing elements of the stator for structural support. The liner is preferably fabricated as a single metal part using a deep drawing process that results in a can having opposed open and closed ends with a substantially uniform cross-section between the open and closed ends of the can.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for conductive liquids having a bias ring to prevent false “full” indications. The sensor is an inexpensive conductive probe that can be installed in any tank or container used to contain a conductive liquid. The build up of residue such as sludge on the inside of the container wall and probe pieces can cause a short between the probe and ground. This situation will result in falsely showing that the level of the liquid being measured is at least at the minimum predetermined requirement even though the actual level may be far less than that amount. The bias ring is a metal ring that is placed around the insulating base of the sensing probe between the probe tip and the top inside of the tank. The probe is then given a charge (positive for negative ground systems) which interrupts the current path between the sensing tip of the probe and ground via the conducting residue. Consequently, the sensor will read correctly despite the conductive residue that may be present.

Abstract: A plastic caster has two legs for mounting a wheel(s) and a fork assembly with a bearing housing portion formed around a bearing assembly with inner and outer ring-shaped raceways and bearings evenly dispersed in a cage between the inner and outer raceways. A top-plate has an extension which extension engages the inner raceway permitting the top plate and fork assembly to independently rotate about the second axis. A retention plug is mated with an opening in the extension preventing disengagement of the top-plate from the inner raceway thereby securely attaching the top-plate to the inner raceway.

Abstract: A brake for a caster having a caster wheel with a wheel hub axially mounted to a fork. The brake includes a leg adapted to pivotally engage the fork of the caster. When the brake is mounted to the caster, the leg wedges between the fork and the wheel hub to frictionally arrest the motion of the caster wheel.

Abstract: A surface mount electronic reed switch component (10) is provided having lead wires (12, 14) the outer ends of which are formed into associated loops (32, 34) that extend transversely to the seating plane (36) of the reed switch (10) to provide one or more stable surface mount feet (58) without undue bending stresses on the leads (12, 14) to thus avoid adversely affecting the switch gap (28) defined by the inner ends (22, 24) of the leads (12, 14).

Abstract: A pump includes a coaxially integrated pump bypass/relief valve element of high density polymer material seats against a hard metallic sleeve that is pressed into a first counterbore around the bypass flow channel with an interference fit. That axial end of the sleeve bearing the valve seat face projects, for a substantial proportion of the sleeve length, beyond the first counterbore shoulder into a second counterbore space to provide an annular space around the outside diameter surface of the sleeve to free the seat face end of the sleeve from direct structural restraint.

Abstract: An improved tree stand for supporting and stabilizing a tree therewithin without the requirement of a trunk-encircling ring. The stand comprises a bowl and a plurality of legs, each leg carrying a trunk clamping screw at an inner end and received through one of a plurality of apertures provided in the bowl rim. Radially extending struts pivotally connected to the legs are urged into compressive engagement with a sidewall portion of the bowl by the engagement of the clamping screws with the trunk.