Abstract: The present invention relates to an aerating fountain for use in aerating water and producing aesthetically appealing water sprays. The fountain has a float with an aperture running through its center. It has an electric motor with an impeller coupled to its shaft. The motor is mounted to the float such that the impeller is adjacent to the float aperture. The fountain has a nozzle plate having a set of nozzles. The nozzle plate is releasably coupled to a top side of the float such that one of the nozzles is disposed directly above the float aperture. The nozzle plate is coupled to the float in such a manner that it may be easily adjusted to bring a different nozzle into alignment with the float aperture.

Abstract: A high-pressure spray nozzle includes a nozzle body with a longitudinal channel formed therein that provides a fluid passageway between an inlet and a mouth zone. The passageway has an inner configuration that includes a shoulder with a generally radiused portion that enables increased force and a more even spray distribution for fluid exiting the mouth zone.

Abstract: An electrostatic spraying device is disclosed having a container (16) for the liquid to be sprayed and a capillary structure (22) extending into the container. To maintain a substantially constant liquid level at the location where liquid is drawn into the capillary structure, the container is partitioned into two chambers, one (68) of which is isolated from atmosphere and the other (66) of which is in communication with atmosphere. The capillary structure (22) extends through one chamber and the arrangement is such that the liquid level at the location where the capillary structure communicates with the liquid is maintained substantially constant over a wide range of variation of the liquid level within the other chamber. The upper end of the capillary structure may be provided with an oblique end face (50; 70, 72) to facilitate dispersal of the spray into the surroundings.

Abstract: A method of killing or controlling vegetation particularly along roadside berms involves the application of pressurized hot water from a moving applicator head in close proximity to the ground. The pressurized hot water is applied as jets of hot water from an applicator head at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. and a flow rate of about 10 liters/minute supplied from one or pumps operating at a pump pressure of between 200 and 1000 psi. The apparatus is mounted on or in a vehicle such as a van, containing a water tank (1), a boiler (2) arranged to heat pressurized water supplied by a pump (4) under pressure to the boiler (2). The pump (4) is a piston pump which supplies the pressurized water through the boiler to a hand held applicator (5) or optionally a towed boom applicator (6). The hand held applicator (5) has an applicator head inside a shroud so that the pressurized hot water is applied to the surface of vegetation as jets of water within the confines of the shroud.

Abstract: A control system is provided for efficiently regulating the discharge of material from a mobile material distribution device having a product tank or bin, a boom with at least one boom section, a plurality of outlet ducts (e.g., nozzles and/or distribution ports) associated with each boom section, shut-off valves for selectively enabling each boom section, and a selectively-movable control valve for regulating the flow of material to the boom sections. The control system includes a boom sensing input for monitoring whether the shut-off valves are open or closed (i.e., whether the associated boom sections are enabled or disabled), and a processing system for maintaining a substantially stable pressure level between the control valve and each shutoff valve by positionally locking the control valve at its last controlled position upon receiving a signal from the boom sensing input indicating the shut-off valves are closed.

Abstract: A housing body of a fuel injector has a multi-part design; it includes a base member and at least one calibrating sleeve. Air is supplied and metered in through the calibrating sleeve, while the base member is used for sealing and attachment purposes. A dimensionally accurate machining of calibrating sleeves can be carried out simply and cost-effectively. The structural design easily yields many different variants. The fuel injector is especially suited for fuel-injection systems of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines having externally supplied ignition.

Abstract: A clip-on straw apparatus permitting persons to drink from a cup, glass, or the like without a need to stabilize the straw by hand.

Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter includes a tube having a plurality of flow control units bonded to its inner face providing a flow control passageway between the interior of the tube and each of a plurality of discharge openings formed through the wall of the tube. Each flow control unit includes a body member bonded to the inner face of the tube, a cover also bonded to the inner face of the tube, and a deformable elastomeric membrane between the body member and cover and defining a pressure-compensated flow control passageway through the flow control unit.

Abstract: A self adjusting jet breaker device for impact sprinklers having a spout connected to a pressurized water supply line using a rotary coupling, a terminal nozzle for generating a water jet, and an oscillating arm having a baffle. The device is arranged on the oscillating arm and includes an active surface adapted to interact with the water jet between two successive oscillations of the arm. The active surface of the device has an angle of inclination with respect to a longitudinal axis of the arm such as to be substantially tangent to the water jet as the first surface moves downward from above. The angle of inclination increases during the entire downward transit and decreases during an upward transit, so as to always receive an upward thrust from the water jet. The device optimally distributes and breaks up the jet, and increases the beat frequency of oscillations of the arm in an automatic manner, i.e. adapting to both high and low jet supply pressures.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid dispensing device for storing and dispensing pressurized fluid, such as water, to individuals during the performance of their particular activity, particularly activities such as cycling, wind surfing, rock climbing, in line skating, auto racing, jogging, and within handicapped populations where hand dexterity is limited. The pressurized fluid dispensing device may be mounted to such mountables as a bicycle frame, wheel chair frame, car dash, and may even be worn on the body by mounting the device to what is commonly known as a water bottle or fanny pack located on the waist of the individual. The device includes a fluid vessel, support cage (optional), male coupling member, a vessel cap with a female coupling member with a check valve incorporated within, tubing, actuateable valve, and a pressure adapter with a check valve. The fluid vessel is pressurized by slidingly inserting the pressure adapter and charging the system with a common air pressurizing system.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly (11) of an adhesive dispensing valve (10) includes a first valve (32) adjacent a discharge orifice (34). The first valve (32) opens to permit the flow of adhesive therethrough and closes to terminate the flow of adhesive in response to respective first and second states of the valve operating module (14). The adhesive dispensing valve (10) has a separable nozzle plate (102) that includes the first valve seat (100) and the discharge orifice (34) and is coupled to a nozzle body (72) with a mounting cap (104). A secondary valve (146) is located upstream of the first valve (32) and permits adhesive to flow therethrough in response to both of the first and second states of the valve operating module. However, as the mounting cap (104) and nozzle plate (102) are removed, the secondary valve (146) automatically engages its valve seat (94), thereby terminating the flow of adhesive while the nozzle plate (102) is removed from the valve body (16).

Abstract: A rotary nozzle for a high pressure cleaning apparatus has a liquid driven rotor inclined to the axis of the rotor housing in which it is received and an O-ring engaging an annular region of the housing to drive the rotor so that it orbits the axis of the housing since either the drive ring or the annular region engaged thereby of the housing for elastically deformable, the speed of the rotor is reduced by deformation work.

Abstract: Apparatus including a monitor and a portable ground base comprising a liquid-carrying conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is adapted to receive a liquid (such as water) from a supply, and the outlet end is attached to the intake of the monitor. The conduit of the base includes an intermediate portion that is normally close to the support or ground when the ground base is in the normal operating position. Mounted within the conduit is a valve that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The valve is biased toward the closed position by a mechanism including liquid flow through the conduit and a spring. A trip catch is connected between the valve and the conduit for releasably holding the valve in the open position to permit flow through the conduit.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprising a body portion having a nozzle at one end and a cap assembly supported thereon at an opposite end, the cap assembly supporting a spray plate located downstream of the nozzle, the spray plate having a plurality of stream distributing grooves formed on one side thereof configured to cause the spray plate to rotate when struck by a stream emitted from the nozzle; and wherein the spray plate includes a mounting shaft extending from the spray plate and having a part spherical head received within a bearing cage in the cap assembly, the bearing cage including a bearing separator holding a plurality of ball bearings in a substantially horizontal array arranged about a longitudinal center axis of the sprinkler, the part spherical head located centrally above and in engagement with the plurality of ball bearings, thereby permitting the spray plate to wobble as it rotates.

Abstract: A spray device, especially for agricultural use, includes a centrifugal compressor which sends compressed air to at least one injector (20) placed upstream of the throat (16) of a convergent-divergent, so as to entrain the surrounding air by a venturi effect. The convergent-divergent may itself be of flattened shape, but it is preferred to group several parallel convergents-divergents (14) together along a line parallel to the maximum extension of the section of the air stream to be created. The device includes blowing panels (7), with a box-type structure, which have the convergents-divergents passing through them in leak-tight fashion. The internal volume of the box structure (7) constitutes a compressed air manifold connected, on the one hand, to the compressor and, on the other hand, to the injectors (20) by pipes (21, 22, 23).

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a disposable fastener which is adaptable to many different size tubes. The fastener comprises a creasable strip portion having dead fold properties and a tab portion. The tab portion is attached to the creasable strip portion and has a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface. The tab portion extends from the creasable strip portion. A method for attaching a fastener of the type described above is also disclosed. There is also provided a fastener with no adhesive properties and a method for using the same with a collapsible tube.

Abstract: A method of forming a shock-free supersonic elliptic nozzle, in which the nozzle to be designed is divided into three sections, a circular-to-elliptic section which begins at a circular nozzle inlet, an elliptic subsonic section downstream from the circular-to-elliptic section and a supersonic section downstream from the elliptic subsonic section. The maximum and minimum radii for each axial point in the circular-to-elliptic section and the elliptic subsonic section are then separately determined, the maximum and minimum radii being the radii for the widest part of an elliptic cross-section and the narrowest part of the elliptic cross-section, respectively. The maximum and minimum radii for each axial point in the supersonic section are determined based on the Method of Characteristics, Then, each of the three sections are based on the maximum and minimum radii for each axial point in the section. The resulting nozzle is acoustically superior.

Abstract: A sensing arrangement is disclosed for use in a pallet dispenser or the like, to determine whether a pallet is present or not. A body, having a shaped engagement surface, displaces in the plane of the pallets upon sliding engagement by a pallet, and suitably has side faces angled in both the horizontal and vertical planes, and a front face.

Abstract: A faucet with a vacuum breaker for a pull-out spray head plumbing fixture is provided. The vacuum breaker is placed in the faucet housing immediately under a valve unit and has fluid inlets and an outlet all passing therethrough. The vacuum breaker also has a multiplicity of openings extending through a base portion. A flapper gasket is stretch fitted over the base portion. The vacuum breaker affords ease of installation and removal. A check valve is placed immediately adjacent to the vacuum breaker.

Abstract: A water dispensing apparatus having a cabinet providing a water bottle holding compartment having a deployable ramp to assist in loading an upright water bottle into the cabinet, a front mounted alcove with a paddle switch having a stepped outer surface to allow activation by small and large diameter containers, an electrical interlock switch for avoiding inadvertent dispensing of hot water, and a reserve tank having a low water level alarm switch activating a light annunciator and a vent check valve arrangement for venting the reserve tank during water flow. The cabinet is adapted to receive a filter unit in lieu of a water bottle.