Abstract: A crimping block device comprised of a crimping base block and an upper crimping block constructed to mate with the base. The crimping block base is provided with a plurality of ribs that engage a plurality of crimping troughs on the surface of the crimping block. When the upper crimping block is placed on the base crimping block, the ribs are centered over the crimping troughs. Bolts on each end of the upper crimping block allow it to be screwed down tightly against the base crimping block with the ribs engaging a socket on a connector to securely and completely crush the socket around the cable. Each crimping trough is different in size to accommodate different sized cables. An alternate embodiment includes a handle to be attached to the crimping block device for ease of maneuverability which can be removed when space will not allow the use of a handle.

Abstract: A small portable steam generating system comprised of an elongate cylindrical cylinder having a turbulent baffle circulation system. The steam generator includes a plurality of baffles, having alternating ports spaced along the length of the cylinder. The baffles have ports offset at 180° respectively to each other to provide turbulent flow that speeds up and slows down as it passes through the ports. The series of baffles in the elongate cylinder are mounted around a centrally located heater. The surfaces and ports in the baffles, positioned along the elongate cylinder and heater body, form a diffused turbulent flow of variable length and time as it passes from an input to an output. The steam generating system described herein is fitted with a steam water droplet separation system plus a high pressure steam superheater fitted to an exit tube and a non-conductive high temperature tube for transporting super-heated steam to a surface cleaning applicator.

Abstract: An improved plastic bag sealing apparatus comprised of an improved resilient planar heater formed of a heating wire embedded in a resilient silicon rubber material. The heater is shaped to conform to the flat planar surface of a T-bar shaped heating element, and clamped in place with insulators to provide maximum transfer of heat to a heating edge formed by the web portion of the T-bar. In an optional configuration the heater is in the form of a tubular rod seated in a channel in the T-bar directly above the heating edge for transferring maximum heat to the heating edge. In another optional embodiment, the tubular rod heater is a brass rod covered with intermediate insulating sleeves and spirally wound heating wire. In the latter embodiment the tubular rod heater is inserted in a passageway through T-bar shaped heating element and sealed with a potting compound.

Abstract: A small portable steam generating system comprised of an elongate cylindrical cylinder having a turbulent baffle circulation system. The steam generator includes a plurality of baffles, having alternating ports spaced along the length of the cylinder. The baffles have ports offset at 180° respectively to each other to provide turbulent flow that speeds up and slows down as it passes through the ports. The series of baffles in the elongate cylinder are mounted around a centrally located heater. The surfaces and ports in the baffles, positioned along the elongate cylinder and heater body, form a diffused turbulent flow of variable length and time as it passes from an input to an output. The steam generating system described herein is fitted with a steam water droplet separation system plus a high pressure steam superheater fitted to an exit tube and a non-conductive high temperature tube for transporting super-heated steam to a surface cleaning applicator.

Abstract: An improved plastic bag sealing apparatus comprised of an improved resilient planar heater formed of a heating wire embedded in a resilient silicon rubber material. The heater is shaped to conform to the flat planar surface of a T-bar shaped heating element, and clamped in place with insulators to provide maximum transfer of heat to a heating edge formed by the web portion of the T-bar. In an optional configuration the heater is in the form of a tubular rod seated in a channel in the T-bar directly above the heating edge for transferring maximum heat to the heating edge. The containment of heat and transfer of maximum heat to the T-bar permits a substantial improvement in thermal efficiency and a substantial reduction of power consumption. The heating edge of the T-bar is covered with an easily replaceable heating channel coated with a non-stick, heat resistant material such as polytetraflouroethylene (TEFLON).

Abstract: An improved plastic bag sealing apparatus comprised of an improved heater formed of a heating wire embedded in a silicon rubber material. The heater is shaped to conform to the flat planar surface of a T-bar shaped heating element, and clamped in place with insulators to provide maximum transfer of heat to a heating edge formed by the web portion of the T-bar. In an optional configuration the heater is in the form of a tubular rod seated in a channel in the T-bar directly above the heating edge for transferring maximum heat to the heating edge. The containment of heat and transfer of maximum heat to the T-bar permits a substantial improvement in thermal efficiency and a substantial reduction of power consumption. The heating edge of the T-bar is covered with an easily replaceable heating channel coated with a non-stick, heat resistant material such as polytetraflouroethylene (TEFLON).

Abstract: A fluid flow monitoring system comprised of a permanent magnet mounted on a bendable spring blade that provide an output from a Hall effect transducer as the permanent magnet is deflected toward or away from the transducer. The permanent magnet can be mounted to directly approach the Hall effect transducer or can also be mounted to approach the transducer by a sideways bypass direction. Both the direct motion and sideways bypass direction allows the use of a variety of sizes and shapes of magnets that allow the magnetic field intensity to be modified in any way desired. Various magnet shapes such as cylinders, rectangles, pyramids, triangles or compound magnets from these shapes may be used. The output signal of the transducer is processed through a smoothing filter and circuits that produce a linear output or a stepped digital output. The system preferably uses a resistance/capacitance filter to provide a different time constant for an increasing flow or a decreasing flow.

Abstract: A fluid responsive switch having a pivot arm for monitoring fluid flowing in a conduit or the level of liquid in a container with an improved resilient seal. The pivot arm, in the fluid responsive switch, is mounted in a housing by a pivot pin and a resilient elastomer seal molded around the pivot arm and the pivot pin. To improve the bond of the resilient seal, the surface of the pivot arm is cross-cut to provide a plurality of grooves diagonal to the axis of the pivot arm. A further improvement to the seal is provided by circumferential annular grooves in the pivot arm at each end of the cross-cut surface. The circumferential annular grooves act as retention stops to retain the resilient material in the groove and resist shear stresses and peeling tension and increase the contact surface area of the metal to resilient elastomer bond. The circumferential annular grooves are cut in the surface of the pivot arm at each end of the cross-cut surface to improve the metal to elastomer material bond.

Abstract: A photo detecting flow sensing bending beam fluid flow switch and flow meter system having blocking targets that selectively block the optical path from an emission source to a photodetector. The device provides a system which is very sensitive to fluid flow in a pipe, container or duct by providing a shaped flexible flow sensitive bending beam having a blocking target which is bent so that the portion of the blocking target is displaced between the emission source and a photodetector. The shaped blocking target is configured to either interrupt or permit the transmission of emission from the emitter to the photodetector. The presence or absence of the source represents the presence or absence of a fluid flow rate above or below a selected value thus, performing a fluid flow switch function.

Abstract: A photo detecting flow sensing bending beam fluid flow switch and flow meter system having blocking targets that selectively block the optical path from an emission source to a photodetector. The device provides a system which is very sensitive to fluid flow in a pipe, container or duct by providing a shaped flexible flow sensitive bending beam having a blocking target which is bent so that the portion of the blocking target is displaced between the emission source and a photodetector. The shaped blocking target is configured to either interrupt or permit the transmission of emission from the emitter to the photodetector. The presence or absence of the source represents the presence or absence of a fluid flow rate above or below a selected value thus, performing a fluid flow switch function.

Abstract: An improved plastic bag sealing apparatus comprised of an improved heater formed of a heating wire embedded in a silicon rubber material. The heater is shaped to conform to the flat planar surface of a T-bar shaped heating element, and clamped in place with insulators to provide maximum transfer of heat to the heating edge formed by the web portion of the T-bar. The containment of heat and transfer of maximum heat to the T-bar permits a substantial improvement in thermal efficiency and a substantial reduction of power consumption. The heating edge of the T-bar is covered with an easily replaceable heating channel coated with a non-stick, heat resistant material such as polytetraflouroethylene (TEFLON).

Abstract: A fluid flow monitoring system comprised of a permanent magnet mounted on a bendable spring blade that provide an output from a Hall effect transducer as the permanent magnet is deflected toward the transducer. The permanent magnet can be mounted to directly approach the Hall effect transducer or can also be mounted to approach the transducer by a sideways bypass direction. Both the direct motion and sideways bypass direction allows the use of a variety of sizes and shapes of magnets that allow the magnetic field intensity to be modified in any way desired. Various magnet shapes such as cylinders, rectangles, pyramids, triangles or compound magnets from these shapes may be used. The output signal of the transducer is processed through a smoothing filter and circuits that produce a linear output or a stepped digital output. The system preferably uses a resistance/capacitance filter to provide a different time constant for an increasing flow or a decreasing flow.

Abstract: A variable differential switching apparatus comprising first structure for forming first and second magnetic fields presented sequentially along a travel path, the first field being stronger than the second field; and second structure, including a field responsive element, presented for relative travel along the path in opposite directions, the element and fields and travel path characterized in that as the element encounters the first field during relative travel in one of the directions in unlatched condition, the element is displaced by the first field into a latched condition, and as the element encounters the second field, it remains in the latched condition, and as the element continues to relatively travel in the first direction beyond the second field, it returns to unlatched condition; the element and fields further characterized in that as the element travels oppositely along the travel path, it remains in unlatched condition as the element encounters the second field, and thereafter as the element

Abstract: A liquid flow switch apparatus is provided for connection to ducting wherein liquid flows forwardly. The apparatus comprises: a support body connectible to the ducting; a stem carried by the body to project into a liquid flow zone in the ducting, and a magnetically responsive switch in the stem; a cantilevered arm carried by the body to project into the flow zone upstream of the stem and to be deflected downstream into supported relation with the stem in response to flow impingement on the arm; and a magnet carried by the arm to be displaced by the stem deflection into sufficiently close proximity with the stem and the switch as to effect switch operation.

Abstract: A pivot arm is used in a liquid flow switch or liquid level device to transmit a force generated within a fluid chamber through the wall of the chamber to the outside. A pivot pin pivots the arm in a bore in an insert in the wall and a seal is provided in the form of a rolling diaphragm having its outer periphery sealed to the periphery of the bore and its inner portion sealed to the arm. Rocking movement of the arm is subject to very little resistance by the rolling diaphragm and yet the necessary fluid tight seal is maintained. The rocking movement is protected against contamination by a unique flexible boot and filter combination.