Abstract: A flow totalizer apparatus for totalizing the volume of fluid flowing through the inventive apparatus. The apparatus includes a cylinder having a first cylinder port at one end and a second cylinder port at an opposite end, a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder, a bistable spring mechanism, a directional control valve and a counter. The bistable spring mechanism has a motion axis with two stable positions therealong and includes a drive pin, a piston slotted bar and a spool slotted bar, both slotted bars slidably connected to the drive pin and aligned with the motion axis. The total volume is estimated by cylinder volume times the number of stable-position changes of the bistable spring mechanism.

Abstract: A flow totalizer apparatus for totalizing the volume of fluid flowing through the inventive apparatus. The apparatus includes a cylinder having a first cylinder port at one end and a second cylinder port at an opposite end, a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder, a bistable spring mechanism, a directional control valve and a counter. The bistable spring mechanism has a motion axis with two stable positions therealong and includes a drive pin, a piston slotted bar a spool slotted bar, both slotted bars slidably connected to the drive pin and aligned with the motion axis. The total volume is estimated by cylinder volume times the number of stable-position changes of the bistable spring mechanism.

Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method for injecting a chemical from a storage tank into a natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas pipeline at a flow-controlled injection rate is provided. The system, apparatus and method including a pair of positive-displacement pumps driven in substantially complementary fashion by a single driver, a controller controlling the driver, and each pump being fed from the storage tank and discharging chemical into the pipeline. The system, apparatus and method may also include a second pair of positive-displacement pumps having substantially similar displacement and operatively connected to the first pair of positive-displacement pumps, the first pair of positive-displacement pumps being driven in a substantially complementary fashion with the second pair of pumps by a single driver or a pair of drivers.

Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method for injecting a chemical from a storage tank into a natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas pipeline at a flow-controlled injection rate is provided. The system, apparatus and method including a pair of positive-displacement pumps driven in substantially complementary fashion by a single driver, a controller controlling the driver, and each pump being fed from the storage tank and discharging chemical into the pipeline. The system, apparatus and method may also include a second pair of positive-displacement pumps having substantially similar displacement and operatively connected to the first pair of positive-displacement pumps, the first pair of positive-displacement pumps being driven in a substantially complementary fashion with the second pair of pumps by a single driver or a pair of drivers.

Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method for injecting a chemical from a storage tank into a natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas pipeline at a flow-controlled injection rate is provided. The system, apparatus and method including a pair of positive-displacement pumps driven in substantially complementary fashion by a single driver, a controller controlling the driver, and each pump being fed from the storage tank and discharging chemical into the pipeline. The system, apparatus and method may also include a second pair of positive-displacement pumps having substantially similar displacement and operatively connected to the first pair of positive-displacement pumps, the first pair of positive-displacement pumps being driven in a substantially complementary fashion with the second pair of pumps by a single driver or a pair of drivers.

Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method for injecting a chemical from a storage tank into a natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas pipeline at a flow-controlled injection rate is provided. The system, apparatus and method including a pair of positive-displacement pumps driven in substantially complementary fashion by a single driver, a controller controlling the driver, and each pump being fed from the storage tank and discharging chemical into the pipeline. The system, apparatus and method may also include a second pair of positive-displacement pumps having substantially similar displacement and operatively connected to the first pair of positive-displacement pumps, the first pair of positive-displacement pumps being driven in a substantially complementary fashion with the second pair of pumps by a single driver or a pair of drivers.

Abstract: A flat-bottom bag is provided having a folded bottom. Improved adhesive patterns are provided on the bag prior to folding. A first adhesive is provided in a plurality of parallel lines interiorly disposed in a bottom end of the bag. The lines are arranged on front and rear walls parallel to the side walls so that one outer line is positioned on each side of the front and rear walls with corresponding inner lines positioned so that when the sides are folded inwardly, each outer line intersects and contacts one respective inner line in an overlapping manner. This arrangement provides a securing of all interior edges of the folded bottom. A second adhesive can be applied to the exterior of the bag to bond front and rear flap extensions to each other and to the folded sides, forming the flat bottom. In an embodiment, an outer bottom flap is formed by slits in the front flap extension.

Abstract: A self-opening style bag formed of a tube with a bottom constructed of folded-inward-portions of side walls and overlying portions of front and rear walls, all folded around a perimeter fold line. The tube provides adhesive strips on portions of the bottom region of the tube to assemble the bottom of the bag wherein at least the front wall and rear wall have transverse adhesive strips applied adjacent the fold line and edge strips along edges in the bottom region. The side walls have adhesive applied along bottom edges thereof. Alternately a heat sealable material is applied over an inside surface of the bag and local heating is used to effect seals. When the side walls are folded inward, they are sealed at all seams in the bottom of the bag to prevent small articles from becoming trapped between seams.

Abstract: A self-opening style bag formed from a paper tube of rectangular configuration wherein portions of the side walls are folded inward to form a bottom and thereafter are surrounded by folded over portions of the front and rear walls to complete the bottom. Front and rear flaps are cut into the front and rear panels and adhesive is applied to inside surfaces of the front and rear walls in a C-shaped configuration around said flaps, folding the side walls and portions of the front and rear walls inwardly forms a seal across the width of the bottom along the front and rear walls and a seam is formed between the folded over portion of the side panels which completes a sealed integrity of the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for flat flexible items is provided having a hopper for receiving a stack of the items, a rotatable cylindrical member positioned to engage a lowermost item of the stack with an outer circumferential surface thereof, a motor for rotationally driving the cylindrical member, a source of vacuum connected to the cylindrical member, at least one vacuum port extending through the outer surface of the cylindrical member which communicates with the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the port, a high friction surface at the outer surface adjacent to the vacuum port, at least one belt carried on the cylindrical member so as not to protrude above the outer surface through a portion of the circumference, the belt also being captured on a pulley member such that the belt extends away from the cylindrical member on a side opposite the portion, at least one pressing roller for pressing against the outer surface of the cylindrical member at the portion.

Abstract: A device and method for positively controlling and rotating an item through a predetermined angle in a plane as said item is moved longitudinally in the plane. Different lateral portions of the item are moved at different speeds in the longitudinal direction to effect the rotation. Preferably a pair of cone shaped rollers are utilized which have a nip formed therebetween, coplanar with the plane of rotation. Alternatively a pair of spaced rollers having different linear surface speeds can be used to move the spaced lateral portions of the item at the different linear speeds. Positive control of the item is provided by opposed rotating members such as opposed belt conveyors or opposed sets of rollers and a mechanism is provided to selectively engage or release the opposed rotating members as required by the rotation of the item.