Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A circulating pump having a pump housing made of non-metallic materials, such as plastic, composite or other moldable materials. The use of a non-metallic housing facilitates the use of features which are difficult or expensive to obtain with a metal cast housing. A U-bolt or other clamping member couples the pump housing between the pump motor and a metallic tubular manifold to place the housing in compression between the motor and manifold to virtually eliminate tensile and bending stresses in the pump housing and, thereby, reduce the possibility of structural degradation from exposure of the non-metallic housing to fluids. The manifold has a shaped portion having a planar surface thereon that abuts the housing and provides a surface for one or more sealing members between the manifold and the housing. The metallic manifold allows the circulating pump to be installed in a metallic piping system utilizing conventional installation materials and methods.

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.

Abstract: A step-type vehicle lift is provided with a linkage assembly (20) and horizontally oriented barrier cylinder (228) that enables movement of a barrier plate (102) between a retracted position and a barrier position while the step/platform assembly (24) is in the step position. A hinge (800) that connects the barrier plate (102) to an outer platform member (103) and is provided with at least one laterally extending projection (810). When the step/platform assembly (24) is in the step position, and the barrier plate (102) is moved to the retracted position, the projection (810) on the hinge (800) engages a slot (114) formed in the top of one of a pair of rails (108) that support the step/platform assembly (24), thereby latching the step/platform assembly (24) in the stowed position. When it is desired to extend the step/platform assembly (24) into the platform position, the barrier plate (102) is raised to the barrier position, thereby disengaging the projection (810) from the slot (114) in the rail (108).

Abstract: A vehicle lift for transporting a handicapped passenger between a vehicle and the ground is stowed in an enclosed compartment when the lift is not in use, so that the lift is protected from outside elements such as moisture, dirt, pollution, and snow. Moreover, the lift is suitable for use in a vehicle having a fixed passenger access step. In accordance with the invention, a part of the vehicle staircase is movable between an opened position in which the lift platform is accessible for use to transport a passenger and a closed position in which the lift is enclosed in a compartment beneath the vehicle floor. When the platform is moved to and from the deployed position, the movable part of the staircase is caused to move between the opened and closed positions by a platform-mounted driver that engages a driven member attached to the movable part of the staircase. A biasing member maintains the movable part of the staircase in the opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A sheave is provided with a compliant contact surface such that the sheave is suitable for use with a leaf chain in applications in which the leaf chain is subjected to more than simply a straight tensile pull. Since the sheave contact surface is compliant, any chain leaves that protrude inwardly against the sheave will embed themselves, thus allowing any non-protruding leaf edges to come into contact with the sheave and share the load. In a preferred embodiment, compliancy of the contact surface is obtained by providing a plurality of closely spaced parallel grooves on at least those parts of the contact surface that contact the chain.

Abstract: A vehicle lift (10) for transporting a wheelchair passenger between a ground-level position adjacent the vehicle (12) to a position adjacent to and substantially coplanar with the vehicle floor (14) includes a contact sensor (16) for detecting when the lift platform contacts a curb or other object. A carriage assembly (20) includes a pair of slides (34) that ride on a pair of rails (36). As the platform is lowered, the relative position of the slides (34) and the rails (36) changes. The sensor (16) detects a relative position of one of the slides (34) and the corresponding rail (36). When the sensor (16) detects a relative position of the slide (34) and the rail (36) indicating that the platform has contacted a curb or other object, the sensor (16) generates a control signal. A lift controller (60) stops lowering of the platform in response to the control signal from the sensor (16).

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.

Abstract: A leaf chain drive assembly (20) designed for use with a platform lift of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,228. Leaf chains (72, 120, 208) are used in place of roller chains for transmitting rotational drive between spaced sheaves (50, 60). Each sheave contains a unique projecting lug (52, 54) designed to engage a correspondingly sized connecting link (122) in the associated leaf chain (120) so as to permit drive to be transmitted between the leaf chain and the associated sheave.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift for a vehicle, such as a tour bus, having an elevated seating area and a compartment beneath the seating area. The lift includes a carriage (38) movable into and out of the compartment, a platform (56, 58) on the carriage, and a powered linkage (66, 76, 78) for raising and lowering the platform. The lift also includes stow latch mechanism (200) for securing the platform in the stowed position, and a door interlock system (300) for preventing the vehicle door above the lift from being opened except when the lift is positioned at or near the floor of the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive assembly (250) for use with a platform lift. The assembly includes a set of linkage arms (30, 32) connected between the platform (22) and a stable carriage arm (34). A pair of sprockets (50, 60) connected to the carriage arm at the linkage arm pivot points control the rotation of the linkage arm and the movement of the platform relative to the carriage arm. The sprokets are connected together by a leaf chain assembly (70) so as to show rotation of the sprockets in a simultaneous movement of the linkage arms. A compression spring (260) is attached at one end to the leaf chain assembly and at the other end to the carriage arm. When the platform is moved into the top-most position, the spring is compressed. The platform is lowered by allowing the spring to expand so that it actuates the leaf chain assembly so as to cause the linkage arms to move past their top-center positions; once the linkage arms move past their top-center positions, gravity can then force the platform downwards.

Abstract: A water-driven monitor is provided as a stand-by pre-aimed fire fighting device installed at a fixed location for fire protection of a structure or equipment, such as aircraft, in a hanger structure. The monitor is oscillated by providing a diversion of a minor flow of the water or water/foam to be discharged from the monitor, to reciprocate an annular piston in an annular cylinder in up and down directions. A pair of concentric barrel cams having helical cam tracks therein and a cam ring with attached cam rollers interconnect a fixed base assembly containing the piston and cylinder and a water or water/foam discharge assembly, such that linear piston motion includes oscillatory motion which is transferred to the discharge assembly. A four-way spool valve controls fluid flow to opposite sides of a piston head and a toggle action shuttle actuates the valve spool to reverse the piston movement and the direction of discharge tube oscillation.

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.