Abstract: The present invention provides for an easily installed ceiling fan. The fan includes a quick connect device for physically mounting the fan blades to a ceiling fan hub. The fan blades can be hung from the drive ring hub in a collapsed, vertical orientation and then quickly snapped into the extended operating position.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart. The sliding support member is held above the bell by telescopic standoffs with a frictional action. A screw is captive within each standoff. As the bell is raised, the part of each standoff fixed to the bell slides upwards until its upper end positions the tip of the screw just in front of a threaded hole in the fixed support channel. Fastening the screws into the threaded holes then both locks the sliding mechanism and attaches the bell directly to the fixed support channel.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing crush tower for a vehicle bumper system includes a tube made of a continuous contiguous material, such as a heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an interconnecting section. The first ring section is heat-treated to a high material strength, such as about 120 KSI tensile strength, which is substantially higher than the second ring section, which is kept at about 60 KSI tensile strength. The interconnecting section has a frustoconically-shaped portion forming a ramp. By this arrangement, upon the bumper system receiving an end impact parallel a length of the tube, the first and second ring sections telescopingly collapse with a predictable and consistent multi-phase deformation sequence where a third ring section forms between the first and second ring sections. A method related to the above is also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a mechanical fastener for attaching a fan blade to a fan blade holder. The fan blade is attached to a fan blade holder by means of a spring clip. The spring clip engages a stud attached to the fan blade holder; the stud extends through an aperture in the fan blade. The invention may contain one or more studs or apertures, and the spring may have an arcuate shape in cross section. Alternatively, the fan is held against the fan blade holder by means of a locking member. The locking member has spring clips attached to it in order to engage a stud extending from the fan blade holder through an aperture in the fan blade. This embodiment may contain one or more studs and locking clips. This embodiment may also contain a cover that slidably engages the locking member.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily installing an overhead electrical device is disclosed. Installation is made easier by forming guide channels in the bell of an electrical fixture and aligning those channels with guides on a plate. When the guide and channels are properly aligned, an electrical connection is made between a plug and receptacle. The plug and receptacle are mounted in the bell and to the junction box. Once the electrical connection is made, the bell is rotated to secure the bell to the guides mounted on the plate.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle having safety features is provided. The plug includes a body, at least two conductors, and a skirt. The conductors extend from the body and are laterally surrounded by the skirt. The skirt is retractable into the body so that when the plug is used with a conventional receptacle, the skirt retracts into the body as the conductors are inserted the sockets of the receptacle, shielding a user from inadvertently touching the conductors. The plug further includes a toggle stop that locks the skirt into its fully extended position for using the plug with a safety electrical outlet assembly of the present invention. The safety outlet assembly includes a cover and a receptacle adapted to be secured to an electrical junction box. The receptacle has a receiver adapted to matingly engage the skirt on the safety plug.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fans and more particularly to the field of ceiling fans with easy install features. Such a fan includes an electrical quick connect device and an articulating fan blade assembly. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan. The fan blade assembly includes a drive hub having a series of slots to receive the neck of a fan blade. The fan blade neck is secured in the slot in a fashion that allows for articulation of the blade relative to the fan or removal of the fan blade from the fan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a mechanical fastener for attaching a fan blade to a fan blade holder. The fan blade is attached to a fan blade holder by means of a spring clip. The spring clip engages a stud attached to the fan blade holder; the stud extends through an aperture in the fan blade. The invention may contain one or more studs or apertures, and the spring may have an arcuate shape in cross section.

Abstract: Various forms of ceiling fan with easy install features are disclosed. The fans include an electrical quick connect device. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan.

Abstract: An assembly for quickly and easily mounting fan blades to a ceiling fan. The assembly includes a plurality of blade holders and a quick-connect mount. Each blade holder includes a coupling tongue having a locking groove located in its upper surface. The quick-connect mount is mountable to a driven part of the ceiling fan and includes a blade holder support and a cover. The blade holder support has a plurality of receivers for receiving the coupling tongues of the blade holders. The cover is rotatably attached to the blade holder support upwardly adjacent the support. The cover has a downwardly-depending skirt around its outer periphery and an annular blade lock on the surface adjacent the blade holder support. The skirt has a notch and the blade lock has a gap that are in radial alignment with each other and are selectively alignable with the receivers upon rotation of the cover and the support relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the propensity of fuel materials to leave deposits in compression ignition engines is disclosed. The apparatus consists of a closed chamber fitted with conduits to supply fuel composition, air, and other test fluids to its interior, and arranged to contain or substantially contain a substrate. Substrate is placed in the chamber to provide interaction between a fluid passing through and the substrate. Substrate may be a monolithic machined element or a collection of discrete bodies. The chamber conduits are connected to at least two metering devices, one controlling fuel and one air flow, whereby the substrate is exposed to measured quantities of fuel compositions and air. Heating devices are in thermal communication with the substrate and the source of air provided to the chamber, thus providing a method of controlling the temperature of the substrate and air flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A mounting device for mounting an electrical fixture to an overhead support and electrically connecting the fixture to an electrical supply. The mounting device includes a mounting plate, a coupling plate, an electrical receptacle and an electrical plug. The device also includes a cap for covering receptacle terminals and a ball and socket support for the fixture. The mounting plate attaches to a junction box and contains the receptacle, which connects to an electrical supply. The coupling plate attaches to an electrical fixture and rotatably engages the receiving plate. The plug is rotatably secured to the coupling plate and includes a plurality of electrical conductors and a skirt surrounding the conductors. The receptacle includes a body having a plurality of sockets for receiving the conductors and an outer periphery shaped to slidably engage the inner periphery of the plug skirt. Rotation prevention screws may be used to avoid plate separation.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle having safety features is provided. The plug includes a body, at least two conductors, and a skirt. The conductors extend from the body and are laterally surrounded by the skirt. The skirt is retractable into the body so that when the plug is used with a conventional receptacle, the skirt retracts into the body as the conductors are inserted the sockets of the receptacle, shielding a user from inadvertently touching the conductors. The plug further includes a toggle stop that locks the skirt into its fully extended position for using the plug with a safety electrical outlet assembly of the present invention. The safety outlet assembly includes a cover and a receptacle adapted to be secured to an electrical junction box. The receptacle has a receiver adapted to matingly engage the skirt on the safety plug.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle having safety features is provided. The plug includes a body, at least two conductors, and a skirt. The conductors extend from the body and are laterally surrounded by the skirt. The skirt is retractable into the body so that when the plug is used with a conventional receptacle, the skirt retracts into the body as the conductors are inserted the sockets of the receptacle, shielding a user from inadvertently touching the conductors. The plug further includes a toggle stop that locks the skirt into its fully extended position for using the plug with a safety electrical outlet assembly of the present invention. The safety outlet assembly includes a cover and a receptacle adapted to be secured to an electrical junction box. The receptacle has a receiver adapted to matingly engage the skirt on the safety plug.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of ceiling fans and includes a first plate (16) attached to a ceiling junction box and a plug plate (42) to be rotatably joined to the first plate and fixed in a final position by locking screws (70) that pass through apertures (64, 66) in one plate and into bores (38, 40) in the other plate. The locking screws (70) are usable to fix a fan bell to the plug plate. The plug plate (42) includes slidably engageable flat contact strips (204a, 204b). The plates include an initial orientation key (206) for fitting into an oval opening (214) and the first plate may include a spring biased shock protector for blocking access to live contacts (204a) when the plates are not connected. The plates (300, FIGS. 16, 17) may be formed in slidably adjustable sections for use with different size fan bells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fans and more particularly to the field of ceiling fans with easy install features. Such a fan includes an electrical quick connect device and an articulating fan blade assembly. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan. The fan blade assembly includes a drive hub having a series of slots to receive the neck of a fan blade. The fan blade neck is secured in the slot in a fashion that allows for articulation of the blade relative to the fan or removal of the fan blade from the fan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling stepmotors having a broad range of applications including fuel control for gas-turbine engines, and operating powered automatically controlled doors for mass transit vehicles is disclosed. Step motor control through analysis of the motor winding currents during application of controlled voltage pulse provides a basis for evaluating shaft torque conditions at the motor load without return or feedback signals from the driven load. This type of current analysis utilizing digital techniques provides a convenient, reliable, and economical means for detecting stepmotor output shaft position and loading. Detection and recognition of output shaft load or drive requirements is then utilized in a control system wherein functional requirements of the system including motion and/or torque requirements of the shaft output load can be controlled in accordance with desired system operation.

Abstract: A traction load meter system for displaying information concerning the amount of current energizing electric motors which drive a locomotive. These motors have power and braking modes and have a continuous current rating. The system includes a current-to-frequency converter for providing an output signal having a frequency corresponding to the amount of current drawn by the motors. Electronic logic circuitry is included for receiving this output signal and being responsive thereto to provide outputs indicating whether the locomotive is in the power or braking mode, the amount of current being drawn, whether this amount is above the continuous rated current for the motors, and the period of time the above-rated condition has existed. Additionally, the meter system includes a display panel connected to the logic circuitry and adapted to be mounted in a cab of the locomotive for displaying to the engineer the aforementioned outputs of the logic circuitry.