Abstract: A vapor guard mounted on a gasoline dispenser nozzle includes a collapsible resilient section which provides a limited expansion force enabling the use of a standard gasoline dispenser retainer spring to catch on the vehicle fill pipe flange for hands-free fuel dispensing and straight-pull removal. The expansion force of the collapsible resilient section also is limited to ensure the existence of non-sealing contact between the end of the vapor guard and the fill pipe flange. The vapor guard is sized and positioned on the dispenser to enable the user to see the end of the nozzle as it is inserted into the vehicle fill pipe and aligned with a nozzle port in a restricter plate located in the fill pipe.

Abstract: A service station dispenser for gasoline with a vapor collection system is disclosed which processes the electrical signal typically produced by the fuel meter which represents the volume flow rate of fuel to the tank to control the displacement volume of an electrically driven vacuum pump so that a simple vacuum intake disposed preferably inside, but not sealed with, the filler neck can be used to collect only the vapors displaced from the fuel tank by the fuel. The vacuum pump is controlled by a digital processor which prestarts the vacuum pump after a customer demands dispensing to establish a vacuum at the vacuum intake is established by the time fueling is allowed to take place so as have an immediate vacuum available to assist recovery of an initial rush of vapor displaced by commencement of fueling. Once fuel flow starts, the digital processor operates the vacuum pump to produce a vapor flow rate having a proportional relationship with the flow rate of the fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus for the collection of fuel spillings that originate from fuel dispensing apparatus, including gasoline and diesel fuel service station pumps which incorporates a filtering system for preventing solids from accumulating in the bottom of the spill collection pan and allowing fill material to be placed between the collection reservoir of the spill collecting pan and the fuel pumps which contributes to the fire prevention features of this apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid shutoff safety interlock device is provided which ensures that fluid flow to a filter is stopped prior to filter removal without requiring the use of a complex and expensive filter valve assembly and without requiring any substantial modification of existing components. The invention is particularly, though not exclusively, adapted to fuel dispensing equipment supplied by a remote pump and installed with a filter above and an impact valve below each fluid supply inlet. The liquid shutoff safety device of the present invention is placed between the impact valve and the filter so that in one position the device blocks access to the end of the filter and in another position provides filter access while at the same time tripping the latch arm to close the impact valve.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement relating to adhesion of samples onto a surface for nucleic acid hybridization assay to detect a target polynucleotide. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of adhering a tissue, cell or other target polynucleotide-containing sample to a substrate under nucleic acid hybridization assay compatible conditions. In another aspect, the method comprises a hybridization assay procedure. Also disclosed are kits for performance of such procedures.

Abstract: A protective cover (10) is provided to contain any spillage of liquid during changing of a filter cartridge from a filter canister assembly (12). The cover (10) comprises an elastomer that is resistant to gasoline and oil. The cover (10) is slidably positioned over the filter canister assembly (12) to form a liquid-tight seal. An outlet (30) is provided with a drainage tube (32) to remove any spillage from chamber (28) to a separate container.

Abstract: A device for locking a safety helmet to a vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle. A post extends from the motorcycle and has a pin-tumbler cylinder lock secured to it for receipt of the limbs of a clevis which extend through holes in the helmet so as to lock the helmet to the post when assembled together.

Abstract: Customer dispensing of either unleaded or one of two or more grades of leaded gasoline products is selected by rotatable selector knobs located on the dispenser housing. Individual meters are operative by the leaded and unleaded dispensing systems which are hydraulically isolated from each other. The separate selector knobs are associated with each of the leaded and unleaded dispensing systems and are effective when actuated to render the other system inoperative by an imposed mechanical interlock. Bothe meters operate a common computers for calculating the transaction data of each dispensing sale.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting leaks in an underground piping network supplying liquid petroleum products pumped from an underground storage tank to an aboveground dispenser outlet. A highly sensitive flow detector situated in a parallel looped bypass arrangement is selectively operated for ascertaining existence or non-existence of a piping leak. Following a sufficient time lapse of non-dispensing for enabling temperature stabilization of the piping network to occur, the detector is actuated in a controlled sequence of go, no-go steps that culminates in ascertaining existence or non-existence of a piping leak while at the same time eliminating any false indication occasioned by detector malfunction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire which can be operated in a deflated condition without damage to the tire, wherein the tire has a cord ply, a tread, a ply with wire cords in the crown, and thick sidewalls wherein the cord ply extends from the heel of the bead to a location closely adjacent to the outer surface of the midpoint of the sidewall and then towards the inner surface of the crown. The interior portion of the sidewall rubber has a high dynamic modulus with low hysteresis properties and high aging properties.

Abstract: This invention utilizes beads in sample preparation to increase the precision of nucleotide hybridization assays.