Abstract: Shower assemblies, mounting hardware and multi-port diverting valves therefor, and methods of installing rain showerhead assemblies. The show assemblies include a bracket assembly that secures to the wall and/or to the ceiling and a rain showerhead assembly supported by the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly reduces off-axis forces against the shower wall and thereby minimizes damage to the shower wall. The bracket assembly may be used to mount a wall-mounted rain showerhead assembly or a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead assembly. A shower arm three-port diverting valve or a shower arm four-port diverting valve may be used with any one of the shower assemblies.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for the position determination of a cylinder piston located in a cylinder liner, said apparatus comprising: a port for coupling an electrical signal into or out of the interior of the cylinder liner, wherein a signal coupled into the interior of the cylinder liner interacts with the cylinder piston. The present disclosure is characterized by a unit for determining the position of the cylinder piston which is connected to the port and which is configured to determine the position of the cylinder piston in the cylinder liner with the aid of a vectorial measurement of a signal decoupled from the cylinder liner.

Abstract: Gripping devices and methods for accommodating a piping (e.g., a pipe stub) having a predetermined size, automatically gripping the piping as the piping is pushed through the gripping device, supporting and securing the piping at a predetermined orientation (e.g., perpendicular) to a through-structure as the piping passes through a hole in the through-structure, and thereafter maintaining the piping at the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: Gripping devices and methods for accommodating a piping (e.g., a pipe stub) having a predetermined size, automatically gripping the piping as the piping is pushed through the gripping device, supporting and securing the piping at a predetermined orientation (e.g., perpendicular) to a through-structure as the piping passes through a hole in the through-structure, and thereafter maintaining the piping at the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: Gripping devices and methods for accommodating a piping (e.g., a pipe stub) having a predetermined size, automatically gripping the piping as the piping is pushed through the gripping device, supporting and securing the piping at a predetermined orientation (e.g., perpendicular) to a through-structure as the piping passes through a hole in the through-structure, and thereafter maintaining the piping at the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for the position determination of a cylinder piston located in a cylinder liner, said apparatus comprising: a port for coupling an electrical signal into or out of the interior of the cylinder liner, wherein a signal coupled into the interior of the cylinder liner interacts with the cylinder piston. The present disclosure is characterized by a unit for determining the position of the cylinder piston which is connected to the port and which is configured to determine the position of the cylinder piston in the cylinder liner with the aid of a vectorial measurement of a signal decoupled from the cylinder liner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for monitoring and balancing the cell voltages of at least two energy storage cells, which are electrically connected in series, of a multi-cell energy storage stack having at least one energy storage element, a voltage measuring unit, a first combinatorial circuit that is connected to each energy storage cell and the voltage measuring unit, a second combinatorial circuit that is connected to the energy storage element, the voltage measuring unit, and the first combinatorial circuit, and controls a control unit, which is connected to the voltage measuring unit and the first and second combinatorial circuit.

Abstract: Gripping devices and methods for accommodating a piping (e.g., a pipe stub) having a predetermined size, automatically gripping the piping as the piping is pushed through the gripping device, supporting and securing the piping at a predetermined orientation (e.g., perpendicular) to a through-structure as the piping passes through a hole in the through-structure, and thereafter maintaining the piping at the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through a drain port of the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the second end of the housing is a clean-out port, the clean-out plug is removably attached to the clean-out port, and the drain port is defined by and through the clean-out plug and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing.

Abstract: Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through a drain port of the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the second end of the housing is a clean-out port, the clean-out plug is removably attached to the clean-out port, and the drain port is defined by and through the clean-out plug and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing.

Abstract: A plug puller device and method for removing a clean-out plug from a drain clean-out and permit draining of a drain line below an obstruction prior to removing the obstruction. The device includes first and second housings. The first housing includes a drain connected to its interior. The first end of the first housing is adapted to be removably attached to the clean-out. The first end of the second housing is removably attached to the second end of the first housing. A rod is slidably received in an opening at the second end of the second housing. A fitting is attached to a first end of the rod for coupling and uncoupling with the plug through movement of the rod. A second end of the rod forms a connector to which a tool can be coupled to rotate the rod.

Abstract: Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends and a drain between the first and second ends and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the preventing and permitting device is within the housing, and the clean-out plug is removably attached to the housing. Alternatively, the preventing and permitting device may be permanently mounted to the clean-out plug.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for monitoring and balancing the cell voltages of at least two energy storage cells, which are electrically connected in series, of a multi-cell energy storage stack having at least one energy storage element, a voltage measuring unit, a first combinatorial circuit that is connected to each energy storage cell and the voltage measuring unit, a second combinatorial circuit that is connected to the energy storage element, the voltage measuring unit, and the first combinatorial circuit, and controls a control unit, which is connected to the voltage measuring unit and the first and second combinatorial circuit.

Abstract: A plug puller device and method for removing a clean-out plug from a drain clean-out and permit draining of a drain line below an obstruction prior to removing the obstruction. The device includes first and second housings. The first housing includes a drain connected to its interior. The first end of the first housing is adapted to be removably attached to the clean-out. The first end of the second housing is removably attached to the second end of the first housing. A rod is slidably received in an opening at the second end of the second housing. A fitting is attached to a first end of the rod for coupling and uncoupling with the plug through movement of the rod. A second end of the rod forms a connector to which a tool can be coupled to rotate the rod.

Abstract: Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends and a drain between the first and second ends and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the preventing and permitting device is within the housing, and the clean-out plug is removably attached to the housing. Alternatively, the preventing and permitting device may be permanently mounted to the clean-out plug.

Abstract: An improved reusable vacuum bag for use in the manufacture of fiber-reinforced composite components, wherein a polyurea-based prepolymer mixture is applied to a prepared surface, such as the surface of an open mold, and allowed to rapidly polymerize under ambient conditions to form the reusable vacuum bag. The polyurea-based prepolymer is made by combining an isocyanate component with a resin blend component, and preferably mixed and dispensed using a spray device. The prepolymer mixture forms a coating that quickly polymerizes at ambient conditions into a flexible vacuum bag having a shape conforming to the receiving surface. The vacuum bag, once formed, may be used repeatedly to fabricate a plurality of composite parts.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the vacuum integrity and extending the useful life of a mold-type forming tool operable with negative pressure, the method comprising: (a) preparing a surface of the tool to receive a sealing coating thereon; (b) optionally applying a primer material to the surface; (c) obtaining a sealing coating having a formulation comprising a urea and polyurethane composition; (d) applying the sealing coating to the surface, over the primer material, prior to the primer material drying, the primer material interacting with and facilitating a bond of the sealing coating to the surface; and (e) curing the sealing coating to effectuate the bond between the sealing coating and the surface, and to seal the surface.

Abstract: Vacuum bagging methods, systems and compositions are provided with enhanced sealing capabilities. Generally, the system and method of the present invention provide for applying a sufficient amount of a sealing layer of resin onto at least one structural component of a vacuum bagging system, over a primer material, which sealing layer can be configured to increase vacuum bagging seal integrity.

Abstract: An applicator attaches spouts and other fitments to paperboard cartons and the like in automated packaging equipment. The applicator features a rotatable and translatable anvil housing having a plurality of radially extending lobes, each lobe having an anvil thereon, said anvil having an energy ring thereon to facilitate ultrasonic attachment of the spout to the carton. A mandrel or other engagement mechanism on each lobe engages and holds spouts for attachment to a container. The anvil inserts a spout into a container hole, and an ultrasonic sealer ultrasonically vibrates the carton wall against the energy ring of the anvil to weld the spout to the carton.