Abstract: A portable fire fighting and vapor suppression apparatus includes a cart having sides defining an enclosure and is a size so that it can be manually moved by a single individual. The cart includes a bottom having wheels mounted thereon. The cart has an internal partition forming an enclosed storage area that is separate from the rest of the enclosure which forms a sealed holding tank for storing a foam concentrate. An eductor is mounted within the enclosed storage area and has an inlet for connecting to a source of high pressure water. The foam eductor includes a foam mixing portion and a discharge. A foam pickup tube is connected to the foam mixing portion and extends through the internal partition to the form holding tank for sucking foam concentrate as water is forced through the inlet and eductor.

Abstract: A motorcycle comprises a frame assembly, a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame assembly for rotation about a lateral axis and within a vertical plane, two mounting bosses mounted to the frame assembly, and a windshield assembly having two sockets (e.g., substantially U-shaped and defined by two brackets) mounted to the mounting bosses. One mounting boss extends laterally from the assembly in a first direction, and the other mounting boss extends laterally from the assembly in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. The sockets are open ended in the vertical plane to allow the windshield assembly to be removed from the mounting bosses by moving the windshield assembly in the vertical plane.

Abstract: An apparatus and system stores and supplies liquid CO.sub.2 at low pressure for extinguishing fires. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel (13) for storing liquid CO.sub.2 at low pressure, a cooling device (29) in contact with gaseous CO.sub.2 in the vessel to maintain the low pressure, an inlet (24) and outlet (32) to fill the vessel and a supply conduit (17) communicating with a lower portion of the interior of the vessel to allow liquid CO.sub.2 to pass from the vessel and into a reticulation system. A number of pressure vessels can be coupled together through a manifold (165) to provide the required amount of liquid CO.sub.2 to a risk site. Supply valves (18) or manifold valves (173, 174) can be operated by a sensor (175, 176) in a risk site and a logic processor (177) can be used to regulate the valves and thereby the liquid CO.sub.2. The apparatus and system is particularly designed as a replacement for current halon systems which cause damage to the ozone layer.

Abstract: A portable fire extinguisher assembly includes a fire extinguisher with a tank containing fire extinguishing material, a valve for metering release of the fire extinguishing material, and a gauge displaying pressure within the tank, and a docking station in communication with the fire extinguisher. An electronic circuit in communication with the fire extinguisher and the docking station issues a signal upon detection of predetermined conditions, including at least one predetermined internal condition and at least one predetermined external condition. The fire extinguisher electronic circuit includes cooperative male and female electrical/communication connection elements defined by the fire extinguisher and docking station.

Abstract: A motor vehicle transport cover is made of a vapor permeable, water impermeable, synthetic nonwoven sheet. The transport cover includes a mechanism for firmly attaching the nonwoven sheet in a position on a motor vehicle that covers substantially all of the roof, hood, and front bumper fascia of the vehicle and remains attached at air speeds along the major axis of the vehicle of at least 50 mph. The attachment mechanism is readily releasable and it leaves no visible adhesive residue on the vehicle at the moment the nonwoven sheet is removed from the vehicle. The transport cover may be a unitary cover that covers substanstially all of the finished surfaces of a covered vehicle. The transport cover does not prevent driver access to a covered vehicle and it does not unduly obstruct the view of a driver of a covered vehicle.

Abstract: A container comprises a shrink wrap material having a thickness and a height sufficient that, upon exposure to a potential fire source inside of the container, at least a portion of the container shrinks in an amount sufficient to reduce the oxygen supply to the potential fire source inside of said container.

Abstract: A body assembly is for attachment to a tow truck chassis. The body assembly includes a left body unit and a right body unit. Each body unit has a structural unit and a plurality of exterior panels attached to the structural unit. The structural unit is preferably formed from flanged aluminum panels that are attached using adhesive disposed on the flanges. The exterior panels are preferably formed from molded composite panels. The exterior panels are removably attached to allow for simplified repair.

Abstract: A powder coating apparatus feeds fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus which includes a vibratory feeder bowl and a spiral track for delivering a substantially constant supply of powdered coating material to the articles. A sensor is also used to regulate an amount of powdered coating material supplied by an auger to the vibratory feeder. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.

Abstract: In a coating plant, the powder feed device is cooled permanently in order to avoid the deterioration of the powder which could be caused by an excessively high temperature. The air for the fluidization of the powder contained in the reservoir (1) is cool, dry air. A heat exchanger (30) supplies a closed loop circuit which includes an annular cooling chamber (32) and a coil (33) arranged in the path of the powder. The shaft of the worm screw may also be cooled.

Abstract: A fire sprinkler system and method comprising a plurality of water conduits having mounted thereon a plurality of sprinkler assembly receivers, and, removably coupled to the sprinkler assembly receivers, a plurality of bayonet-type quick release removable and locking sprinkler assemblies.

Abstract: A pillar construction for a vehicle body includes a steel pad formed from a resilient sheet steel and disposed between a pillar inner panel of a pillar main body and a pillar trim. In a secondary collision in which the pillar trim is subjected to a force directed outward of a vehicle body and deformed thereby, the steel pad produces a reaction force against deformation of the pillar trim at the initial stage of the secondary collision and substantially no reaction force at the final stage of the secondary collision.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for an expandable vehicle slide-out section includes a pair of inner rail members, each being slidably supported in an outer rail member secured to the vehicle body. Each of the inner rail members has an outer end attachable to the slide-out section. A power drive arrangement includes a drive shaft operably connected with the inner rail members to synchronize travel of each of the inner rail members. The power drive arrangement includes an integral motor-brake having a conveniently accessible release mechanism for selectively releasing engagement of the brake with the drive shaft. A manual override system is adjustably mounted on the drive shaft to extend and retract the slide-out section when the brake is released, should the power drive arrangement become inoperable.

Abstract: A system varies space of a vehicle having a fixed portion and a number of ground engaging wheels coupled to the fixed portion. An expandable portion coupled to the fixed portion moves along a first axis relative to the fixed portion to vary volume of a living space defined by both portions. A pair of moveable, load bearing arms are each coupled to the fixed portion and each have a bearing member that contacts the expandable portion. The bearing member of each of the arms moves relative to both portions along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis during varying of the living space. Another housing system includes an enclosure with a pair of walls that may be selectively coupled together by a latch. In one form, this latch includes a pair of guide rails fixed to one of the walls that define a channel therebetween. One of the rails defines a first notch intersecting the channel. A projection extends from the other wall which defines a second notch.

Abstract: An electric motor for driving an oil pressure pump which feeds pressurized oil to a power cylinder comprises a brushless d.c. motor. An onboard main battery comprises a main battery which is onboard an electrically driven vehicle and which is constructed as a high tension d.c. voltage source delivering a high voltage on the order of 96 to 600V. The battery is directly connected to the motor, and a controller is connected therebetween to provide a pulse width modulated variable voltage signal to the motor from the battery.

Abstract: The fire and explosion suppression system is mounted external to a tank and injects a suppressant medium into the tank via a preformed opening in the tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system includes a container for housing a suppressant medium which includes an opening removably connected to the predefined opening in a tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system also includes an actuator, such as a detonator, for activating the suppressant medium upon detection of a fire or explosion within the tank. The fire and explosion suppressant system further includes a reclosable valve for sealing the predefined opening in the tank wall. The valve includes a valve housing having at least one port and mounted over the opening in the tank wall. The valve further includes a piston disposed within the valve housing for sealing the tank wall opening.

Abstract: A sprinkler head assembly has a stamped mounting element for supporting a thermally activated triggering member in a sprinkler head assembly, and a method forms the same. The mounting element comprises a central base including a seat for supporting the triggering member. A first pair of arms, having a longitudinal extent, extend from a first face of the base at an angle less than 180 degrees. A second pair of arms, having a longitudinal extent, extend from the first face of the base at an angle less than 180 degrees. The longitudinal extent of at least one of the arms is greater than the longitudinal extent of the other arms to define a recess for cooperatively engaging the sprinkler head assembly. The mounting element is stamped from generally planar stock to form arms having varied lengths and, thus, create a saddle-shaped recess that slidably mounts on a frame of the sprinkler head assembly.

Abstract: A hidden storage is for vehicles such as vans and utility/sports utility vehicles without altering the external appearance of the vehicle. The hidden storage is located adjacent one or both sides of the vehicle between a rearmost side door and the rear of the vehicle. The hidden storage is accessible only via one or more hinged contoured side panel sections of the vehicle and which include at least one peripheral edge, and access to the interior of the vehicle does not provide access to the hidden storage area. The hidden storage is provided by a storage box secured to the side of the vehicle and the interior of the storage box is only accessible through opening of an associated hinged section of the side panel of the vehicle, which can be locked shut.

Abstract: An apparatus used to protect a motor vehicle has a low profile housing placed below a rear bumper of the vehicle, and a cover placed within the housing in an accordion-like fashion. In one embodiment, an electric motor drives a roller belt assembly which frictionally engages with the cover to provide a force to aid a user in either the extension from or the retraction into the housing of the cover. In an alternate embodiment, the roller belt assembly includes webbing material geometrically positioned to prevent the cover from becoming entangled in the rollers. At least one roller assembly can be flexibly positioned to permit even force to be applied to the cover during extension from and retraction into the housing even if the cover becomes bunched to one side of the roller assembly. The electric motor is controlled from an extension handle attached to a forward portion of the cover. The extension handle can include self defense and security measures to protect the operator.

Abstract: A weather strip is used for a center pillar having a gradually increasing width downwardly along its length, and a roofline of a motor vehicle. The weather strip includes extruded front and rear roofline weather strips, extruded first and second center pillar weather strips, a molded portion which integrally joins the roofline weather strips and the center pillar weather strips, and a molding mounted on the molded portion between the center pillar weather strips. The center pillar weather strips gradually increase in spacing downwardly along the length of the center pillar. The molding gradually increases in width downwardly along the length of the center pillar. The extruded roofline weather strips are placed in a "T" configured mold, and the extruded center pillar weather strips are also placed in the molded but with the gradually increasing spacing. Material is injected molded between the weather strips to form the molded portion.

Abstract: A motor vehicle transport cover is made of a vapor permeable, water impermeable, synthetic nonwoven sheet. The transport cover is includes a mechanism for firmly attaching the nonwoven sheet in a position on a motor vehicle that covers substantially all of the roof, hood, and front bumper fascia of the vehicle and remains attached at air speeds along the major axis of the vehicle of at least 50 mph. The attachment mechanism is readily releasable and it leaves no visible adhesive residue on the vehicle at the moment the nonwoven sheet is removed from the vehicle. The transport cover does not significantly inhibit access to the covered vehicle and it does not obstruct the view of a driver of the covered vehicle. The transport cover has a front sheet piece made to cover the hood of the covered vehicle and a top sheet piece made to cover the roof of the covered vehicle. Where the covered vehicle is a sedan, the transport cover may also cover the trunk and rear bumper of the vehicle.