Abstract: An inflate/deflate valve of a heavy duty design for use during inflation of inflatable devices such as dunnage bags. Such dunnage bags are used in hostile or rough environments where when deflated the dunnage bags are stacked and compressed into storage drums where the inflate/deflate valves may be crushed or forced against the cuttable or ripable dunnage bag material. As a result, a novel and unique design is provided including a valve body, a spring, an optional washer, a spring retainer, a poppet, poppet seal and an o-ring.

Abstract: An improved cross over valve for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically a cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

Abstract: An improved valve and manifold for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically an internal cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

Abstract: An improved cross over valve for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically a cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

Abstract: An inflate/deflate valve of a heavy duty design for use during inflation of inflatable devices such as dunnage bags. Such dunnage bags are used in hostile or rough environments where when deflated the dunnage bags are stacked and compressed into storage drums where the inflate/deflate valves may be crushed or forced against the cuttable or ripable dunnage bag material. As a result, a novel and unique design is provided including a valve body, a spring, an optional washer, a spring retainer, a poppet, poppet seal and an o-ring.

Abstract: An improved valve and manifold for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically an internal cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

Abstract: A raft inflation valve includes a one-piece valve body which is connected to a pressure vessel and which has an inlet communicating with the pressure vessel, a recess for receiving a cartridge having a puncture disc, and a passage which connects the inlet and the recess and which is covered by the puncture disc. The cartridge includes a disc retainer holding the puncture disc in position to block the passage in the valve body, and a bayonet having a cuffing edge which is biased by a spring toward the puncture disc but prohibited from such motion by a ball/link pin held in place by the pull cable ball until the cable is pulled. Once the cable has been pulled to remove the ball, the bayonet is driven by the bias force toward the disc to clearly cut and puncture the disc and permit flow of gas from the pressure vessel through the inlet passage through the disc to the outlet passage in the outlet of the valve.

Abstract: A rock, stump and other debris digger has a plurality of tines for digging, dislodging, and lifting the rock, stump or other debris and a plurality of grapple forks pivotally affixed to the digger frame for grabbing the rock, stump or other debris by pivoting the forks until the rock or debris is pinned therebetween so as to be secured for lifting, moving and/or positioning. The rock digger is attachable to a front end loader, skid steer loader or similar vehicle for use in farming, landscaping, construction, road maintenance, and demolition situations.

Abstract: An aspirator for inflating inflatable devices such as aircraft emergency evacuation slides and life rafts using a quantity of primary gas that is stored in a tank that within the aspirator entrains a secondary gas, typically outside air, as the primary gas flows through the aspirator thereby producing sufficient gas to inflate a large inflatable structure or device as described above. The aspirator typically has injectors therein which act to promote the entrainment of large quantities of the secondary fluid using small quantities of the primary fluid thereby resulting in a large combined flow of gas forcibly flowing into the inflatable structure.

Abstract: An improved capping mechanism which self-aligns as it is tightened irregardless of alignment at the initiation of capping. The capping mechanism being for use with any valve such a pressure relief valve with an outlet including radial vents. The valve body having a plurality of truncated threads about its periphery in between the vents. These truncated threads work in unison with internal threads on the cap.

Abstract: An inlet check valve for use with inflatable buoyancy tubes such as are used on life rafts and escape slides. The inlet check valve being freely rotatable within the flange affixed to the raft fabric thereby allowing for easier packing and deployment due to the design of the inlet check valve to rotate within the flange to seek a lower stress orientation. In addition, the inlet check valve is readily removable from the flange if valve replacement or repair is needed. Furthermore, a manifold may be used which includes multiple inlet check valves coupled together.

Abstract: An improved shutoff valve has an inverted stem/seat design with a removable cartridge including a stem designed to include a high performance polymer tip for use with a compressed fluid cylinder. The high performance polymer tip reduces the likelihood of damage to the valve seating area of the shutoff valve. The removable cartridge with the high performance polymer tip thereon makes replacement quick and easy should the soft tip become damaged. The inverted stem/seat design positions the stem and high performance polymer tip such that the pressurized gas acts in unison with the threaded stem tip in seating the stem rather than acting against the stem.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve for use with inflatable devices such as life rafts and escape slides which provide significant improvement in exhaust flows while maintaining a highly desirable compact configuration, particularly as to the height dimension. The pressure relief valve including a poppet having a protected skirt thereon which is biased within a valve body to maintain pressure within the inflatable device unless a preselected maximum pressure is exceeded whereby the poppet releases and opens a fluid passage to exhaust ports. The protected skirt providing a more efficient and thus improved "pop action" which results in improved low pressure PRV performance.

Abstract: A ball-exchange trailer bitch system having a post for receiving a ball where the ball is removable from the post for exchangeability with different size balls. The system includes at least a double locking feature between the ball and post. The double lock consists of a side pin lock and a ball and cage lock. The system may also include a third lock which includes threads on the post and the ball.

Abstract: A ball-exchange trailer hitch system having a post for receiving a ball where the ball is removable from the post for exchangeability with different size balls. The system includes at least a double locking feature between the ball and post. The double lock consists of a side pin lock and a ball and cage lock. The system may also include a third lock which includes threads on the post and the ball.

Abstract: A thermally activated relief valve is used with a compressed gas storage cylinder. A valve body has a passage for communication with the interior of the cylinder. A metal disc sealing the passage has a first side exposed to the interior of the cylinder and a second side opposite the first side. A cutting end of a movable hollow bayonet is positioned in the passage of the valve body adjacent to the second side of the metal disc. A spring biases the bayonet toward the metal disc. A thermal trigger is operably coupled to the bayonet for holding the bayonet in spaced relation to the metal disc until the thermal trigger reaches a predetermined temperature threshold. Upon reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, the thermal trigger releases the bayonet thereby allowing the cutting end of the hollow bayonet to move toward the metal disc under force exerted by the spring to pierce the metal disc and thereby expose a flow path through the hollow bayonet.

Abstract: A portable quick hitching device connects to a vehicle equipped with a bucket or other attached implement. The base of the device is constructed so as to engage the lip of the bucket and to support a towing ball or wagon hitch pin. A brace attached to an opposing side of the bucket secures the base to the bucket.

Abstract: A thermal relief device releases gas from a storage cylinder when a thermal trigger senses a predetermined temperature threshold. The thermal relief device includes a valve body which has a passage for communication with the interior of the cylinder. A pilot valve assembly is disposed within the valve body and has a popper for blocking the flow path. The poppet has a longitudinal passage extending through the popper. A metal diaphragm sealing the passage of the poppet has a first side exposed to the interior of the cylinder and a second side opposite the first side exposed to the outlet. A hollow bayonet is mounted in alignment with the passage of the popper on the outlet side of the disk and is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the bayonet is spaced from the disk in the passage, and in the second position the bayonet pierces the disk. A spring is used to biased the bayonet toward the disk.

Abstract: A solenoid controlled valve is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head, which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. All orifice at an inner end of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.