Abstract: A water heater has a heat exchanger positioned within a water tank and connected to an inlet for combustion gases for heating the water within the tank. The heat exchanger has a cylindrical first flue extending downwardly from the inlet with a lower end terminated at a 45-degree first bevel cut. Short fins are fixed to the interior of the first flue. A second cylindrical flue of the same diameter as the first flue extends upwardly parallel to the first flue, and has a 45-degree second bevel cut at its lower end. Longer fins are welded to the interior of the second flue. A cross flue extends between and is directly connected without elbows to the lower ends of the two flues and has 45-degree bevel cuts which are welded to the bevel cuts of the two flues. The right-angle connection of the flues facilitates a compact water heater arrangement.

Abstract: A clamp system includes a grounding plate, a retainer, and a nut. The grounding plate has a first opening to receive a fastener. The retainer has a second opening. The nut fits inside of the retainer and has a third opening configured to receive the fastener.

Abstract: A wire management clip for positioning and securing wires, cables, and other components relative to a rail, such as a rail of a modular rail system. The wire management clip includes a body that defines a passage through which a securing device may be inserted to secure the wires, cables, or components to the wire management clip. The wire management clip includes an interface surface against which the wires press when secured by the securing device. The wire management clip also includes a second interface for frictionally interfacing with the rail to resist movement of the wire management clip after installation on the rail.

Abstract: A method for controlling a dispensing system is provided, including the steps of dispensing, by a dispensing device, a coating material onto a substrate according to a first dispensing operation, inspecting, by an inspection device integrated with the dispensing device, the coating material applied to the first substrate, and altering the first dispensing operation based on the inspecting so that the coating material is dispensed onto a subsequent substrate according to a second dispensing operation. An associated coating machine is also provided.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a base to mount to a surface, a mounting bracket to mount over the base and to the surface, a clamp for attaching to the mounting bracket and securing a rail segment, and a bonding clamp to mount to the rail segment and secure a solar panel module thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for lenticular image printing, the apparatus comprising: a housing enclosing a plurality of rollers and a dye sublimation print head comprising a heating element; wherein the plurality of rollers is configured to load a dye sublimation ribbon into the dye sublimation print head and move an image substrate from a store of image substrate, or a lenticular lens substrate from a store of lenticular lens substrate, to the dye sublimation print head, wherein the dye sublimation print head is configured to use the ribbon to form an image on the image substrate or on a surface of the lenticular lens substrate, the image comprising a plurality of interlaced images; wherein the plurality of rollers is configured to move the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate into contact with the other of the lenticular lens substrate or the image substrate, and wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to secure the lenticular lens substrate to the image substrate to form a lenticular i

Abstract: A mounting system includes a base to mount to a surface, a mounting bracket to mount over the base and to the surface, a clamp for attaching to the mounting bracket and securing a rail segment, and a bonding clamp to mount to the rail segment and secure a solar panel module thereto.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a clamp with a lateral edge support portion that extends in a first direction to support against a lateral edge of the module. A flange extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction to clamp against an upper surface of the solar panel module in coordination with the lateral edge support portion. A nut is configured to align with the clamp. The nut receives a fastener. The nut has an outer surface to engage the second surface of the lateral edge support portion to prevent rotation of the nut. A connection member extends from the nut in a position that is fixed. A head of the connection member is shaped such that, in a first orientation, the head is accommodated passage through a slot in the intermediary member, and in a second orientation, the head is prevented from passage through the slot.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a clamp with a lateral edge support portion that extends in a first direction to support against a lateral edge of the module. A flange extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction to clamp against an upper surface of the solar panel module in coordination with the lateral edge support portion. A nut is configured to align with the clamp. The nut receives a fastener. The nut has an outer surface to engage the second surface of the lateral edge support portion to prevent rotation of the nut. A connection member extends from the nut in a position that is fixed. A head of the connection member is shaped such that, in a first orientation, the head is accommodated passage through a slot in the intermediary member, and in a second orientation, the head is prevented from passage through the slot.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism includes a body defining a first end, a second end, a module engagement component disposed proximate to the first end, and a clamp actuation component disposed proximate to the second end. The module engagement component engages a portion of a solar module frame. The clamping mechanism includes a rail engagement component that engages at least a portion of a rail to which the solar module frame couples. The clamping mechanism includes a fastener that engages the clamp actuation component for imparting movement to the module engagement component such that the module engagement component engages the portion of the solar module frame.

Abstract: An optical bonding machine is provided that includes a robotic placement machine having a Z axis actuator coupled to a first end of a base portion of the robotic placement machine, the Z axis actuator capable of moving up and down a Z axis, and a pick and place plate operably connected to the Z axis actuator, and a vertically oriented adhesive application valve configured to apply an amount of adhesive onto an underside of a substrate, the underside of the substrate facing down when the amount of adhesive is applied, wherein the pick-and-place plate of the robotic placement machine manipulates the substrate within the optical bonding machine such that the substrate receives the amount of adhesive prior to being optically bonded to an other substrate; wherein a movement of the robotic placement machine is controllable over at least 3 axes.

Abstract: A wire management clip for positioning and securing wires, cables, and other components relative to a rail, such as a rail of a modular rail system. The wire management clip includes a body that defines a passage through which a securing device may be inserted to secure the wires, cables, or components to the wire management clip. The wire management clip includes an interface surface against which the wires press when secured by the securing device. The wire management clip also includes a second interface for frictionally interfacing with the rail to resist movement of the wire management clip after installation on the rail.

Abstract: A ballast system includes a first ballast tray and a second ballast tray. The first ballast tray has a first side profile including a south leg connected to a north leg. The second ballast tray has a second side profile that is different than the first side profile. A length of the north leg of the second side profile is greater than a length of the south leg of the first side profile, and a height of the north leg of the second side profile is substantially equal to a height of the south leg of the first side profile. The north leg of the second side profile includes a curvature so as to partially curve toward the south leg of the second side profile.

Abstract: An adhesive application valve comprising an applicator, a Z-axis actuator operably connected to the applicator, wherein the Z-axis actuator and the rotation device are each capable of moving independently of each other to position the applicator in a position to apply an amount of adhesive to a top substrate prior to bonding with a bottom substrate is provided. Furthermore, a machine comprising an end effector, and an adhesive application valve configured to apply an amount of adhesive onto the top substrate, the end effector configured to place the top substrate into a position of engagement with the adhesive application valve, and place the top substrate onto the bottom substrate to facilitate initial contact between the adhesive applied to the top substrate and a fill material applied to the bottom substrate is also provided. A method of optical bonding is further provided.

Abstract: A valve including a feed mechanism, a mixing element operably connected to the feed mechanism, wherein the feed mechanism delivers at least two fluids to the mixing element, the at least two fluids being mixed in the mixing element, and an air cap disposed proximate an outlet of the mixing element to atomize the mixed fluids exiting the outlet of the mixing element, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A valve including a feed mechanism, a mixing element operably connected to the feed mechanism, wherein the feed mechanism delivers at least two fluids to the mixing element, the at least two fluids being mixed in the mixing element, and an air cap disposed proximate an outlet of the mixing element to atomize the mixed fluids exiting the outlet of the mixing element, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a base to mount to a surface, a mounting bracket to mount over the base and to the surface, a clamp for attaching to the mounting bracket and securing a rail segment, and a bonding clamp to mount to the rail segment and secure a solar panel module thereto.