Abstract: Live swivel coupling device has a hollow first housing and a hollow second housing, each of which is open on opposing ends in a main axial direction. The first has a generally radially symmetrical inner surface, an indentation in the inner surface, and an internal, gasket-holding extension; the second has a generally radially symmetrical outer surface to relate with the inner surface of the first housing and an indentation in the outer surface. The indentations are for retaining the rotatable bearing set when the first and second housings are coupled. At least one rotatable bearing makes up a rotatable bearing set which also serves as a retaining device to hold the housings together in the main axial direction when the housings are coupled.

Abstract: Flexible connector systems are provided for decoupling vibrations between two components of an exhaust system of a vehicle, for example an exhaust manifold and an exhaust down pipe. The flexible connector systems are configured for providing sealed, substantially leak-proof connections which are capable of accommodating axial elongation and contraction, as well as pivoting movements of one component, relative to another component. The flexible connector systems include mating structures which are configured to mate with existing manifold outlet formations, with little or no modification of the exhaust manifold configuration. Ball joint structures and/or resilient mounting materials are used for accommodating pivoting movements. Bellows are provided for accommodating elongation and contraction, while providing sealing enclosure of pipe elements transporting the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A bus bar panel system utilizes a quick acting and simplified fastening system for making connections. The bus bar is preferably pre-perforated along the edges, although holes may be drilled at the time of fastening. The fastening system uses a stud having threads on one end for receiving the usual washers and nut. On the other end, usually away from the installer, the stud is provided with flats which engage an open slot or yoke on a keeper clip. The clip has a gauge flange to engage the edge of the bar or clamp through which the stud extends. The transverse dimensions of the open slot are related to the flats and the length of the slot to the distance of the perforations from the edge of the bar. The clip also includes a spring section which grabs the end of the stud holding the clip in place so that the installer has both hands free to secure the nut and washers.

Abstract: A static seal includes first and second spaced apart walls having a gap therebetween for channeling a pressurized fluid. The first wall includes a recessed seat facing the second wall defined by spaced apart first and second faces joined together at a base. A seal insert is loosely disposed in the seat and is trapped therein by the first and second faces. The first and second faces are shorter than the insert to project a top of the insert above the seat and below the second wall for initially promoting flow of the fluid over the insert top to deploy the insert in abutting contact with both the second face and the second wall to seal the gap.

Abstract: A seal system for a pressure vessel which includes a substantially rigid outer shell with at least one opening therein, an inner liner disposed within the outer shell against the inside surface thereof, an opening aligned with the opening of the outer shell and a boss disposed in the opening of the outer shell. The boss includes a neck portion for fitting in the opening of the outer shell, a flange portion extending outwardly from one end of the neck portion and having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a generally cylindrical hollow substantially aligned with the outer shell opening and having an inwardly projecting annular shoulder. The lip segment of the liner extends radially inwardly under the lower surface of the flange portion of the boss and then upwardly into the hollow of the boss, along the interior wall of the hollow until a portion of the lip segment rests on the shoulder.

Abstract: A tubular frame having a plurality of tubular members and a backing member. The tubular members are held together by round corner members. The corner members have hollow tubular insertion members or legs at one end and "X" or "cross-shaped" insertion members or legs at the other end in order to mate with adjacent tubular frame members. The two insertion members are adapted to be joined to a tubular member in only certain orientations which assists in manufacturing and assembly. The tubular frame members also have elongated channels on one side for mating with the backing member.

Abstract: A rod seal system having a pair of rod seals that form a buffer area between a high pressure area containing working gas and a low pressure area of a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine. A pump that becomes passively charged with working gas at relatively low pressure and which releases working gas at relatively high pressure when actuated is used to force working gas from the buffer area to the high pressure area through a conduit. The working gas may be hydrogen gas and the pump may be a metal hydride pump that is thermally actuated. The low pressure area may contain air and lubricant at atmospheric pressure. A system for separating the lubricant collecting within the buffer area and reintroducing the lubricant into the low pressure area can also be incorporated into the rod seal system.

Abstract: A fence unit extending between vertical posts is formed using extruded plastic top, middle and bottom rails resting on hangers attached to the posts. Each of the rails has parallel side walls as well as top and bottom walls and a pair of internal wall portions extending between the side wall portions. A reinforced member in the form of a channel extends through each of the rails between the internal wall portions. The bottom rail has the top a wall cut away to form a groove while the top rail has the bottom wall cut away to form a groove and the middle rail has both the top and bottom rails cut away in a similar manner. The assembly then includes boards or panels adapted to fit between the top and middle rails and the middle bottom rails and extending into the grooves to abut the adjacent internal wall portions and screw fasteners extend into the rail portions to hold the assembly together as a unit.

Abstract: By providing a locking member having collapsible and bendable arm members which cooperate with a head-bearing fastening member, a unique fastening system is achieved which enables hardware products, such as handles, knobs, locks, brackets, and the like to be easily and quickly mounted to any desired furniture product. In the preferred embodiment, the head-bearing fastener and the locking member are constructed to be axially inserted through the mounting holes formed in the furniture product. Then, by mounting the fastening system to the hardware product and inserting the mounted fastening system through the mounting holes, the hardware product is quickly and easily securely affixed in position as the collapsible and foldable arm members of the locking member are forced outwardly into an overall width greater than the mounting holes during the threaded advance of the fastener with the hardware product.

Abstract: A head gasket and method for making and using the same is provided wherein the head gasket includes a wire ring which has been preflattened. The preflattened ring facilitates broad load distribution and is preferably used in an internal combustion engine having a bi-metallic engine block-head arrangement wherein the head is composed of a soft metal.

Abstract: A wildlife barrier is provided for preventing certain species of wildlife, such as alligators and turtles, from crossing a boundary between two areas, thereby preventing potentially harmful encounters with humans and other animal species. The wildlife barrier includes one or more sections extending along the boundary, each section including a pair of stakes structured and disposed to be driven into the ground so that an upper portion of the stakes extends vertically above the ground surface. Panels are vertically supported between the stakes on a wire cord pulled taut and secured to the stakes. Spacer elements fitted to the cord maintain the panels at equally spaced intervals, in parallel relation to one another, with the panels hanging from the cord so that a bottom edge of the panels is maintained close to the ground surface.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for connecting a vehicle door lock operator to a vehicle door lock, including a rod having an outer end connected to the door lock, and a hooked inner end. A clip has an outer end pivotally connected to the door lock operator. The clip has a hole between its ends in which the hooked inner end of the rod is engaged. The clip has a sleeve at its inner end for holding the rod engaged in the hole.

Abstract: A seal arrangement provides a reliable and durable seal even around a protruding edge or corner of a rim of a first component that is connected to a second component, for example the rim of an oil pan that is connected to the rim of a crankcase and the rim of the housing of an equipment mount of an internal combustion engine. An angular edge is formed at the intersection of a first sealing surface between the oil pan and the crankcase and a second sealing surface between the oil pan and the equipment mount housing. First and second grooves extend in skew directions and offset from one another along the first and second sealing surfaces, and an offset recess extends along and in the direction of the intersection edge to interconnect the first and second grooves. A rubber-elastic seal member includes major portions received in the grooves and an offset portion received in the offset recess. The seal member is press-sealed against facing complementary surfaces.

Abstract: A screen connector for engaging a cable, including an uncovered cable screen, positioned on a plate member is disclosed. The screen connector includes a clamp clip having at least two clamping legs which are spring-mounted relative to one another. The legs of the clamp clip encompass the plate member or busbar by lying opposite one another on the outside, whereby they engage the busbar from below, preferably by a coupling hook. The screen connector also includes a guide press piece having an outer and inner guide surface which slides along outer and inner guideways of the clamping legs when the guide press piece is moved to enclose the clamping legs. The guideways are shaped on the clamping legs in such a way that the clamping legs can be spring-mounted relative to one another when the guide press piece is in an upper initial position, and consequently can be locked onto the busbar in a perpendicular direction to the upper side of the busbar by means of their coupling hooks.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a volatile liquid from escaping past a rotating shaft mounted within a housing, includes a rotating sealing ring having a seal facing keyed to the shaft and a stationary sealing ring having a seal facing mounted to the housing. The seal facing of the stationary sealing ring is in contact with the sealing facing of the sealing ring keyed to the shaft when the shaft is non-rotating. When the sealing ring is rotated by the shaft the seal faces are disengaged from one another. One of the seal facings of either the rotating or stationary sealing ring includes a plurality of notches positioned on the outer radial edge of the sealing surface at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the perpendicular peripheral surface of the sealing ring.

Abstract: A plant protection device for protecting plants from being eaten or otherwise damaged by animals includes a center support for supporting an umbrella like top frame having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms or rods angularly spaced from one another. Connected to the outer ends of the rods is a cord that provides a closed loop all the way around the center support. Flexible netting completely covers the top frame and extends down from the cord to the ground where it is staked at spaced apart intervals.

Abstract: A cartridge seal having a sleeve for fitting over a pump shaft and, at one end region of the sleeve, a stationary seal whose floating component is biased towards its static component. The cartridge further includes a member longitudinally spaced from the seal, which member and the stationary seal are moveable longitudinally relative to one another. The floating component is biased away from said member and towards the static component, means being provided to limit separation of said member and the stationary seal. The invention therefore provides a complete mechanical seal in one cartridge.

Abstract: Single-plate slide, especially single-plate pipe bridge slide (10) with a slide-plate (16) and if necessary a pipe bridge (20), which is or are movable by means of an actuating device (18, 19) within this casing (11) in order to close or open a fluid passage (17) formed in a casing (11), the slide plate (16) or pipe bridge (20) having lateral seal surfaces which correspond with seal surfaces located on the casing side, especially annular seal surfaces (14, 15). At least one of the seal surfaces (14, 15) on the casing side forms part of a seal ring (23) located in the casing (11), which abuts with resilient pre-stressing on the facing seal surface of the slide plate (16) or pipe bridge (20).

Abstract: A cable anchoring apparatus for detachably attaching a wire cable to a movable member comprises a cable head fixed to the wire cable, a substantially semi-circular-shaped hook formed in the movable member and engageable with the cable head, and a retainer fixed on the movable member. The hook has a first slit and a space for accommodating the cable head. The retainer has an opening overlapped with the space, a notch for communicating the opening to an outside of the retainer, a pair of claws with a sufficient elasticity, and a second slit formed between the claws and communicated with the notch. The gap of the notch and the gap of the second slit are substantially equal to the gap of the first slit. A path is formed between an edge of the opening and the claws and is narrower than the diameter of the cable head. The claws extend distantly from the space.

Abstract: In a pipeline system having a plurality of pipe segments joining a fluid supply tank to a fluid dispenser, the invention includes a pipe coupling assembly for use on at least one terminal end of a fluid transfer pipe, where the transfer pipe has an inner tubular member for transferring fluid and an outer tubular member and an interstitial space therebetween. The coupling assembly comprises a transition coupling for attachment to the pipe segment to provide a first path for the fluid in the inner tubular member and a second path for the interstitial space. The coupling assembly further comprises a transition fitting for attachment to the transition coupling to provide separate paths for the transfer fluid and the interstitial space, where the interstitial space provides a means for performing leak detection or fitting integrity tests during application of either a vacuum condition or pressurized gas input via such selective access.