Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

Abstract: A connector assembly including a connector body having a coupling end and sealing means. A collet couples to the connector body and has resilient fingers. An adjustment ring has a stop and defines guide tracks. A collar has protrusions coupled in the guide tracks. A ferrule is slidingly housed within the collar and adjustment ring. A locking split ring clips onto the adjustment ring to limit travel of the collar. In a locked position, the locking split ring is installed and a pipe, inserted into the connector body is retained in place by the resilient radially inward fingers of the collet and sealed by the sealing means. In the released position, the collar has been moved to force the ferrule into the collet to splay the resilient fingers such that the pipe is freely insertable and removeable from the connector assembly.

Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve including a cold water bypass passageway controlled by a pressure-operated check valve that opens upon a failure of a hot water supply to the valve for use with safety devices, such as eyewash and drench shower stations. The thermostatic mixing valve allows the continued delivery of cold water upon a failure of a hot water supply. The lack of hot water causes a cold water valve opening to be closed by a thermal motor, which retracts upon the lack of hot water, yet the bypass passageway is adapted to allow cold water to bypass the thermal motor-controlled cold water valve opening and be directed to the outlet of the valve.

Abstract: An excess flow valve including: (a) a housing including: an inlet portion; and ii) an outlet portion coupled to the inlet portion to define an interior having a passageway between an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one of the inlet and outlet portion defines a valve seat and an annular channel; and (b) a unitary plunger including: a valve portion defining an aperture; a rim surrounding the valve portion; and an expandable portion extending between the valve portion and the rim, wherein the rim seats within the annular channel to fix the plunger such that the valve portion is set apart from the valve seat for allowing the passageway to be normally open, and as a flow through the fluid passageway exceeds a predetermined level, the expandable portion extends so that the valve portion couples to the valve seat to at least partially close the passageway.

Abstract: A valve assembly having a first valve defining an inlet connected to the inlet supply and an outlet connected to the concentrate chamber, a second valve defining an inlet connected to the permeate chamber and an outlet connected to the faucet, and a third valve defining an outlet connected to drain, a port connected to the concentrate chamber, and an inlet connected to the inlet supply. The port is selectively in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and inlet. When the faucet opens, the first valve opens, the second valve has permeate flowing, and the third valve opens a flowpath between the third valve port and the inlet due to pressure dropping in the second valve. When the faucet closes, the first valve closes and the third valve opens another flowpath between the third valve port and outlet due to pressure created in the second valve.

Abstract: A fluid distribution system including an elongated manifold defining fluid ports, lengthwise ridges, and radial ridges. Label plates couple to the manifold and have a planar body with a front side for indicating information related to the respective port. A finger extends from each label plate and has two inwardly turned prongs for coupling to a first lengthwise ridge. The prongs form a space for capturing a radial ridge. A collar also extends from the planar body for coupling to the port. The planar body also has three stiffening bars on a back side thereof. Each stiffening bar includes a feature for coupling to a second lengthwise ridge on the manifold body.

Abstract: A method of producing a scale-control resin including combining in an aqueous solution a cation-exchange resin and a weak-acid anion mineral or salt having a multivalent cation to allow ion exchange between the resin and the multivalent cation. The cation-exchange resin may a weak-acid ion exchange resin. The method may further include adding a strong-acid salt having the same multivalent cation as the weak-acid anion mineral or salt to the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A filter assembly including first and second mating parts and a seal received in a groove of the first mating part. The seal includes a main body and a resiliently flexible, sloping skirt that extends from one side of the main body to a distal end spaced from the main body. The seal is sized so that the resiliently flexible skirt normally extends out of the groove of the first mating part when the skirt is not biased towards the main body. When the first mating part is slid against the second mating part, the second mating part causes the distal end of skirt of the seal to be biased into the groove and towards the main body of the seal.

Abstract: A toilet fill valve having a mechanism for preventing leakage from a tank of the toilet between flush cycles. The mechanism includes links that are normally locked to prevent the fill valve from opening. The links are operatively connected to a handle of the toilet such that the links are unlocked and allow the fill valve to open only when the handle of the toilet is purposely operated to initiate a flush cycle. Otherwise, the links do not allow the fill valve to open even if water leaks from the tank and causes a float of the fill valve to be lowered.

Abstract: A fluid distribution system including an elongated manifold defining fluid ports, lengthwise ridges, and radial ridges. Label plates couple to the manifold and have a planar body with a front side for indicating information related to the respective port. A finger extends from each label plate and has two inwardly turned prongs for coupling to a first lengthwise ridge. The prongs form a space for capturing a radial ridge. A collar also extends from the planar body for coupling to the port. The planar body also has three stiffening bars on a back side thereof. Each stiffening bar includes a feature for coupling to a second lengthwise ridge on the manifold body.

Abstract: A shut-off valve for use in a reverse osmosis filtering system including a housing defining an interior in fluid communication with a water inlet, a water outlet, and a permeate inlet, the housing having a fluidic network with a flowpath that connects the water inlet and the water outlet, a diaphragm plate forming a portion of the fluidic network within the interior, a piston within the interior for selectively opening and closing the flowpath, and at least one diaphragm coupling to the piston and the diaphragm plate such that as permeate pressure changes occur at the permeate outlet, the piston rocks between opening and closing the flowpath based on deflection of the at least one diaphragm in response to the permeate pressure changes.

Abstract: A trench drain assembly including a flow channel and a frame for supporting the channel in a trench. Sidewalls of the frame have a gradually increasing height between ends of the frame so that the frame creates a gradual slope for the assembly to properly drain. In addition, sidewalls of the frame include spaced lugs that extend outwardly and sidewalls of the channel include spaced lugs that extend inwardly to create an interference fit with the lugs of the frame so that the channel can be easily attached to the frame. During assembly, the frame is lowered onto the channel so that the lugs of the frame are received between the lugs of the channels and the frame is then slid with respect to the channel until the lugs of the frame are positioned below the lugs of the channel to secure the frame to the channel.

Abstract: A filter head including a lid extending along a central axis. The lid includes a filter bowl receptacle positioned coaxially about the central axis, a central receptacle positioned coaxially within the filter bowl receptacle, and an intermediate receptacle positioned coaxially between the central receptacle and the filter bowl receptacle. A conduit portion connects to the lid and extends along another axis that is normal to the central axis of the lid. The conduit portion includes a first pathway extending between the first end and the filter bowl receptacle, a second pathway extending between the first end and the central receptacle, a third pathway extending between the second end and the central receptacle, and a fourth pathway extending between the second end and the intermediate receptacle. Couplings allow the filter head to be pivoted about the central axis of the conduit portion.