Abstract: An unregulated gas valve for a water heater that includes an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve, an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber, a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame, and a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting.

Abstract: A thermocouple mounting assembly is provided. A plurality of retainers includes portions that are interengageable, some portions carried by a body and some portions carried by a thermocouple assembly to effect releasable mounting of a thermocouple assembly to a body. The retainers are constructed and shaped to provide for their formation by a molding process such as die-casting or investment casting, eliminating or substantially eliminating the need for machining of the retainer components. Preferably, there is an audible sound, e.g., click, present to signify when the retainers are interengaged.

Abstract: An unregulated gas valve for a water heater that includes an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve, an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber, a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame, and a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting.

Abstract: A tamper resistant temperature dial and associated method of use is disclosed. This includes a temperature adjustment device associated with a controller for a heating device that includes a rotatable dial for setting temperature in the heating device, a ring that is operatively attached to the rotatable dial or the controller, wherein the ring includes a plurality of notched portions, and a resilient detent having a first portion engagable with at least one of the plurality of notched portions on the ring, a second portion for releasably applying pressure to the resilient detent for disengaging the first portion of the resilient detent from the at least one of the plurality of notched portions on the ring and having a third portion that is operatively attached to the attached to the controller or the rotatable dial. The heating device can be either electric or gas.

Abstract: A bi-directional tamper resistant temperature adjustment controller interface comprises a control dial having an interior face wherein a cylindrical center boss extends therefrom, said cylindrical center boss having a substantially annular cross section, and a central axial bore adapted to receive a rotatable control member and an exterior side wall of the boss has formed therein a first and a second ring of inline recessed notches adapted for resistively engaging a deflecting member. In one embodiment of the invention the first and second ring of inline recessed notches are a first and second ring of directional serrations wherein the first ring of serrations are angularly directed in a first direction to resist rotation of the dial in one direction of rotation and the second ring of serrations are angularly directed in a second direction to resist rotation of the dial in an opposing direction of rotation.

Abstract: An adjustment interface for adjusting a controller teaches a novel apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of a heating device comprising a controller cover panel having a rotatable controller dial; a ring member mounted to axially extend beyond and away from the exterior surface, wherein the ring member has projections radially extending from an exterior perimeter of the ring member; and said rotatable controller is operatively connectable to a rotatable controller adjustment and said control dial operable to effect rotation of the rotatable adjustment member when said control dial is grasped and turned and said control dial having a deflection pin extending therefrom having sufficient length and orientation to crossingly engage the projections extending from the exterior perimeter of the ring member such that the deflection pin resistively engages the projections and flexes to travel radially over and disengaging the projections when the control member is turned.

Abstract: A gas control valve is provided for a gas appliance that includes an electrical cut-off (ECO) switch, and a thermocouple having an electrical terminal. The gas control valve includes a control valve housing having a bore therein, an automatic pilot valve magnet disposed the bore and having an electrical terminal, and a connector apparatus for connecting the ECO switch in a series circuit relationship between the electrical terminals of the thermocouple and the pilot valve magnet. The connector apparatus includes a spacer abutting the pilot valve magnet in the bore, a connector for engaging the spacer through a window in the control valve housing and connecting the ECO switch to electrical terminals of the thermocouple and pilot valve magnet, and a retainer for clamping the spacer against the pilot valve magnet and receiving the thermocouple.

Abstract: First and second connector housings (20, 26) each hold a corresponding set (22, 30) of numerous fibers, that are coupled when their tips (40, 42) abut, in a low-cost and rugged arrangement. The housings are identical and each has numerous bores (50, 52) extending to a mating face (34, 36). Each fiber is fixed in position in one of the bores, by potting material (64). The diameters of the bores are only slightly greater than the diameters of the fibers, so the potting material helps center the fiber in the end of the bore that lies adjacent to the mating face.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector (12) has a terminus (34) lying in a housing passage (44) and biased forwardly by a spring (80), which enables removal of the terminus while the spring remains in the passage, in a compact arrangement. The terminus body has a groove (112) that forms a rearwardly-facing shoulder (120). A retainer (142) includes a clip (102) with tines (110) that engage the shoulder to push the terminus forwardly, the clip being pushed forwardly by a front end (92) of the spring. The retainer includes a sleeve member (100) which is slideable in the terminus passage and has a rear end (94) that abuts the front end of the spring to push the sleeve forwardly, the spring having a forwardly-facing shoulder (104) that abuts the rear end of the clip to push it forwardly. Each of two mating connectors (12, 14) has a spring that biases its terminus toward the other terminus to enable installation of a replacement terminus.

Abstract: A retainer (60) at the rear of each passage (14) that holds an optical fiber terminus (30), abuts the rear end (62) of a spring to normally retain the terminus while allowing its removal, with the retainer being rugged, easily manipulated, and of small diameter to allow numerous passages to lie close together. Each retainer has a primarily cylindrical outer surface (74) but with a pair of projections (80, 82). The rear portion of the passage has a first part (90) through which the retainer can be slid forwardly while the retainer is in an initial rotational orientation. A third passage part (94) receives the retainer and allows it to be turned from the initial orientation (60A) to a lock rotational orientation (60B). A second passage part (92) that lies between the first and third passage parts, allows the projections to move rearwardly into recesses (112) that prevent rotation of the retainer and that have forwardly-facing shoulders (114) that abut the retainer to limit its rearward movement.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a plurality of alignment sleeves (50) that each lies in one of the passages (20) of a connector body (12), with each alignment sleeve being easily replaceable. Each alignment sleeve lies in a mount sleeve (80), with each mount sleeve having a front end with an inner flange (84) that prevents forward movement of the alignment sleeve. Each mount sleeve has a more rearward outer flange (90) forming a forwardly-facing shoulder (94). A retainer (100) includes resilient tines (106) that abut the forwardly-facing flange shoulder to prevent forward movement of the mount sleeve, but with the tines being expandable by a special tool (130) so the mount sleeve and alignment sleeve can be removed and replaced.

Abstract: A retainer (60) at the rear of each passage (14) that holds an optical fiber terminus (30), abuts the rear end (62) of a spring to normally retain the terminus while allowing its removal, with the retainer being rugged, easily manipulated, and of small diameter to allow numerous passages to lie close together. Each retainer has a primarily cylindrical outer surface (74) but with a pair of projections (80, 82). The rear portion of the passage has a first part (90) through which the retainer can be slid forwardly while the retainer is in an initial rotational orientation. A third passage part (94) receives the retainer and allows it to be turned from the initial orientation (60A) to a lock rotational orientation (60B). A second passage part (92) that lies between the first and third passage parts, allows the projections to move rearwardly into recesses (112) that prevent rotation of the retainer and that have forwardly-facing shoulders (114) that abut the retainer to limit its rearward movement.

Abstract: An optical fiber terminus body has a helical spring (32) trapped between front and rear shoulders, with the rear shoulder formed by a thin flange (64) that facilitates mounting of the spring on a one-piece body (40). The thin flange has front and rear surfaces that are angled by no more than about 30° from a radial direction, and the base of the flange has an axial length substantially no greater than the radial length of the flange, to facilitate installation of the spring by turning the spring to thread it past the flange.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector is provided with a frame mount (182) having a passage (200) and a terminus (164) which extends through the passage to position an optical fiber (72) that extends through bores in the terminus, which enables the adjustment of terminus position for optimal coupling of the fiber tip (20) to the tip (22) of a fiber of a mating connector. The terminus has a pair of projections (220, 222) and the walls of the passage have a plurality of recesses to fix the rotational position of the terminus at any of a plurality of rotational positions. The terminus is accurately oriented so its axis extends in a desired direction, by forming a largely forwardly-facing conical surface (214) in the terminus and a corresponding rearwardly-facing conical surface (204) in the walls of the passage, the conical surfaces serving to accurately position the terminus.

Abstract: First and second connector housings (20, 26) each hold a corresponding set (22, 30) of numerous fibers, that are coupled when their tips (40, 42) abut, in a low-cost and rugged arrangement. The housings are identical and each has numerous bores (50, 52) extending to a mating face (34, 36). Each fiber is fixed in position in one of the bores, by potting material (64). The diameters of the bores are only slightly greater than the diameters of the fibers, so the potting material helps center the fiber in the end of the bore that lies adjacent to the mating face.

Abstract: An optical fiber terminus and a connector containing such terminus are provided, with a relatively simple unit (110) that includes the terminus body (30), a helical spring (34) lying around a shaft (32) of the terminus body, and with a retention sleeve device (52) that retains the spring on the shaft prior to mounting the terminus assembly and which thereafter slideably mounts the terminus in a connector housing so the terminus body can slide rearwardly. The shaft is provided with a recess (160) that forms a forwardly-facing shoulder (162). The retention sleeve device lies around the shaft and has at least one tine (152) that extends rearward and at least partially radially inward and against the shaft shoulder, with the tine being biased radially inward.