Abstract: Disclosed is a collapsible hat rack for efficiently and neatly storing a plurality of hats. In particular, the collapsible hat rack may be made up of a base unit, a pivotable arm, a plurality of rungs, and a stopping mechanism. More specifically, the base unit may be mounted on a surface such as a wall or door; and a pivotable frame may be hingedly mounted to a bottom portion of the base unit. Hats may be clamped between pivotable clamping mechanisms that are attached to each of a plurality of rungs disposed between side portions of the pivotable frame. When a top portion of the pivotable frame is rotated away from the top portion of the base unit, the pivotable frame is rotated about an axis at the bottom of the base unit until a stopping mechanism suspends the pivotable frame at a predetermined angle from the base unit.

Abstract: A system for filtering mechanically-induced signal noise from a speed sensor may include a rotating member having at least one target group radially oriented about a center of the rotating member, an inductive speed sensor configured to sense the at least one target group, and two diode pairs each having a first diode and a second diode. The two diode pairs may be operatively connected to the inductive speed sensor and configured to receive a signal having the mechanically-induced signal noise. The system may also include a resistor connecting the diode pairs, a processor connected in parallel with the resistor and configured to receive a signal from the inductive speed sensor. The processor may be configured to receive a signal having reduced signal noise via the diode pairs, and determine a rotational speed of the rotating member based on the signal having reduced signal noise.

Abstract: A variable displacement fuel pump includes a pump body, a barrel disposed within the pump body, at least one piston disposed in the barrel, wherein the at least one piston is configured to reciprocate within the barrel, a hydraulic actuator operatively coupled to the barrel, wherein the hydraulic actuator rotates the barrel to a selected barrel angle relative to the at least one piston, and a position sensor operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator to provide an actuator position parameter.

Abstract: A variable displacement fuel pump includes a pump body, a barrel disposed within the pump body, at least one piston disposed in the barrel, wherein the at least one piston is configured to reciprocate within the barrel, and an electronic control actuator operatively coupled to the barrel, wherein the control actuator rotates the barrel to a selected barrel angle relative to the at least one piston in response to a desired fuel flow.

Abstract: A system for filtering mechanically-induced signal noise from a speed sensor may include a rotating member having at least one target group radially oriented about a center of the rotating member, an inductive speed sensor configured to sense the at least one target group, and two diode pairs each having a first diode and a second diode. The two diode pairs may be operatively connected to the inductive speed sensor and configured to receive a signal having the mechanically-induced signal noise. The system may also include a resistor connecting the diode pairs, a processor connected in parallel with the resistor and configured to receive a signal from the inductive speed sensor. The processor may be configured to receive a signal having reduced signal noise via the diode pairs, and determine a rotational speed of the rotating member based on the signal having reduced signal noise.

Abstract: Disclosed is a collapsible hat rack for efficiently and neatly storing a plurality of hats. In particular, the collapsible hat rack may be made up of a base unit, a pivotable arm, a plurality of rungs, and a stopping mechanism. More specifically, the base unit may be mounted on a surface such as a wall or door; and a pivotable frame may be hingedly mounted to a bottom portion of the base unit. Hats may be clamped between pivotable clamping mechanisms that are attached to each of a plurality of rungs disposed between side portions of the pivotable frame. When a top portion of the pivotable frame is rotated away from the top portion of the base unit, the pivotable frame is rotated about an axis at the bottom of the base unit until a stopping mechanism suspends the pivotable frame at a predetermined angle from the base unit.

Abstract: A method and brush kit for cleaning and improving the roughness average of aluminum or aluminum coated valve cylinders and other open or blind bores in virtually any type of mechanical device by removing burrs and embedded particles within such cylinders and bores wherein the method provides a kit of a predetermined number of cylindrical brushes having metallic or nylon strands that are coated or impregnated with an aluminum oxide abrasive material. The method is particularly adapted for use by technicians in the automotive, marine, farm, aircraft and the like repair industries for treating transmission valve bores or cylinders and other open or blind bores and the like.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for mounting through a wall having a first face and a second face defining a thickness there between. The valve assembly includes a valve body housing having an axially-extending inner bore. A valve body is telescopically received in the inner bore of the valve body housing, such that the valve body is axially movable with respect to the valve body housing. A valve is nested in a recess of the valve body. A locking element selectively engages the valve body housing and the valve body to lock a position of the valve body relative to the valve body housing.

Abstract: A framing system for use in a building structure includes a track having a longitudinally-extending web and a pair of spaced apart legs which extend from the web to form a channel between the web and the legs. One or more longitudinally-extending studs are coupleable to the legs of the track. Each leg of the track comprises a deformable portion, the deformation of which is accompanied by movement of the one or more studs toward or away from the web.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for mounting through a wall having a first face and a second face defining a thickness there between. The valve assembly includes a valve body housing having an axially-extending inner bore. A valve body is telescopically received in the inner bore of the valve body housing, such that the valve body is axially movable with respect to the valve body housing. A valve is nested in a recess of the valve body. A locking element selectively engages the valve body housing and the valve body to lock a position of the valve body relative to the valve body housing.

Abstract: An umbrella comprising an upper canopy attached to a lower canopy, wherein the lower canopy is dimensioned relative to the upper canopy to increase the umbrella's resistance to high wind velocities as compared to conventional umbrellas. In this manner, the umbrella is better capable of maintaining its structural and/or its positional integrity when exposed to high wind velocities as compared to conventional umbrellas.

Abstract: A framing system for use in a building structure includes a track having a longitudinally-extending web and a pair of spaced apart legs which extend from the web to form a channel between the web and the legs. One or more longitudinally-extending studs are coupleable to the legs of the track. Each leg of the track comprises a deformable portion, the deformation of which is accompanied by movement of the one or more studs toward or away from the web.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a substantially non-sag liquid mixture coating on a substantially vertical surface by applying a coating having continuously increasing thickness from one edge to another edge of the liquid mixture composed of at least two miscible liquid components and situating the edge at which the surface tension of the coating liquid mixture will be greater, as the more volatile liquid component evaporates, at a higher vertical position than the other edge.

Abstract: An electric solenoid valve and method therefor including an armature reciprocatably disposed in an axial bore of a housing member having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet coupled to the axial bore at a first end thereof. The armature includes a valve member disposed at a first end portion thereof, and a magnetically attractable second end portion defining a second end thereof disposed toward a fixed core portion of the solenoid. The armature also includes an interior fluid passage with a fluid inlet disposed between the fluid inlet of the housing member and the second end of the armature to couple the interior fluid passage with the fluid inlet of the housing member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating low density solids from an airflow where a first airflow containing low density solids moves through a first conduit at a predetermined velocity and pressure and flows into a separating chamber wherein it is changed into a second airflow at a substantially reduced velocity and pressure to separate a substantial portion of the low density solids and moves out of the separating chamber through one of a second or third conduits as a third airflow at a velocity and pressure substantially the same as that of the first airflow and also passes through filtering apparatus in the second or third conduits to separate additional low density solids out of the third airflow.