Abstract: A process for forming a durable, resistant oxide coating on zirconium metal or zirconium-based alloys, in which the metal or alloy is heated either rapidly to a predetermined temperature in an oxidizing or non-oxidizing environment or heated rapidly or slowly in an environment substantially devoid of an oxidizing agent until the predetermined temperature has been reached. The base metal can be pure zirconium or a zirconium-based alloy having niobium and/or titanium. The temperature, oxygen level, and time of exposure are controlled to elicit the desired properties. The oxidized specimen is then cooled under controlled conditions to further control the thickness and hardness of the oxide layer.

Abstract: A hose end sprayer has a sprayer lid and a container. The sprayer lid has a cap with a pair of bottle connectors formed of single-ended, fixed diameter, threaded sleeves of different radii mounted on the underside of the sprayer lid's cap. The connectors and a threaded adapter allow the sprayer lid to be connected with containers having mouths of different sizes, including containers in which liquid chemicals are sold. A liquid conduit extends across the cap between a hose inlet on one end and a spray nozzle on the other end, with a siphon tube intersecting the conduit within the periphery of the smaller of the bottle connectors, with mixture of pressurized carrier water entering the liquid conduit at the hose inlet with liquid chemical siphoned from the container through the siphon tube. The chemical/water admixture is expelled from the spray nozzle.

Abstract: A hose end sprayer has a sprayer lid and a container. The sprayer lid has a cap with a pair of bottle connectors formed of single-ended, fixed diameter, threaded sleeves of different radii mounted on the underside of the sprayer lid's cap. The connectors and a threaded adapter allow the sprayer lid to be connected with containers having mouths of different sizes, including containers in which liquid chemicals are sold. A liquid conduit extends across the cap between a hose inlet on one end and a spray nozzle on the other end, with a siphon tube intersecting the conduit within the periphery of the smaller of the bottle connectors, with mixture of pressurized carrier water entering the liquid conduit at the hose inlet with liquid chemical siphoned from the container through the siphon tube. The chemical/water admixture is expelled from the spray nozzle.

Abstract: A hose end sprayer has a sprayer lid and a container. The sprayer lid has a cap with a pair of bottle connectors formed of single-ended, fixed diameter, threaded sleeves of different radii mounted on the underside of the sprayer lid's cap. The connectors and a threaded adapter allow the sprayer lid to be connected with containers having mouths of different sizes, including containers in which liquid chemicals are sold. A liquid conduit extends across the cap between a hose inlet on one end and a spray nozzle on the other end, with a siphon tube intersecting the conduit within the periphery of the smaller of the bottle connectors, with mixture of pressurized carrier water entering the liquid conduit at the hose inlet with liquid chemical siphoned from the container through the siphon tube. The chemical/water admixture is expelled from the spray nozzle.

Abstract: A hose end sprayer has a sprayer lid and a container. The sprayer lid has a cap with a pair of bottle connectors formed of single-ended, fixed diameter, threaded sleeves of different radii mounted on the underside of the sprayer lid's cap. The connectors and a threaded adapter allow the sprayer lid to be connected with containers having mouths of different sizes, including containers in which liquid chemicals are sold. A liquid conduit extends across the cap between a hose inlet on one end and a spray nozzle on the other end, with a siphon tube intersecting the conduit within the periphery of the smaller of the bottle connectors, with mixture of pressurized carrier water entering the liquid conduit at the hose inlet with liquid chemical siphoned from the container through the siphon tube. The chemical/water admixture is expelled from the spray nozzle.

Abstract: An applicator system comprises a reservoir, a conduit extending from a first end at the reservoir to an opposite terminal end, an applicator connected with the conduit, a flow control engaging the conduit, and a holder releasably coupling with the applicator. The applicator has a liquid impermeable back, an opposite porous face, and a plenum. The plenum, situated between the back and face, releasably couples with the conduit terminal end and distributes fluid to the face. The face and plenum may be replaceable and disposable. The holder is a rigid member that releasably couples with the applicator, provides a structural foundation to the applicator, and includes a handle for manipulation by a user. An extension can be employed to connect the flow control to the handle, effectively extending the length of the handle. A helical coil portion of the conduit can be conveniently wrapped around the extension to prevent kinking.

Abstract: A manually pressurizable house and garden tank sprayer employing a separate diluent tank and liquid chemical concentrate container, wherein the concentrate container is mounted to and carried by the diluent container or by a spray wand. The tank containing diluent is pressurized by a conventional hand pump, and the same hand pump pressure pressurizes the concentrate container. The diluent and concentrate chemical are not admixed until just before the liquids are dispensed, so that unused chemicals are not contaminated or diluted until they are used.

Abstract: A hose end sprayer comprising a sprayer lid and container includes multiple bottle connectors formed of single-ended, fixed diameter, threaded sleeves of different radii mounted on the underside of the cap of the sprayer lid. The connectors allow the sprayer lid to be connected with containers having mouths of different sizes, including containers in which liquid chemicals are sold. A liquid conduit extends across the cap between a hose inlet on one end and a spray nozzle on the other end. A siphon tube intersects the conduit within the periphery of the smallest of the bottle connectors. The siphon tube carries liquid chemical from a container connected to the sprayer lid, such as a bottle of concentrated liquid, into the liquid conduit, where the liquid mixes with carrier water entering the liquid conduit at line pressure from an external hose connected to the hose inlet. The liquid carrier water mixture is then expelled from the nozzle.

Abstract: A sprayer including a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid. The sprayer container has at least a portion thereof including thermochromic color-changing properties. The sprayer container includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A spraying gun is connected to the sprayer container, with the spraying gun including a trigger for selectively spraying pressurized fluid in the sprayer container onto a predetermined object. The sprayer container indicates the amount of fluid in the sprayer container by a color change line located at a transition line between the fluid and gas within the sprayer container when fluid is located within the sprayer container, thereby causing a top area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the gas to be a first color and a bottom area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the fluid to be a second color.

Abstract: A sprayer including a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid. The sprayer container has at least a portion thereof including thermochromic color-changing properties. The sprayer container includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A spraying gun is connected to the sprayer container, with the spraying gun including a trigger for selectively spraying pressurized fluid in the sprayer container onto a predetermined object. The sprayer container indicates the amount of fluid in the sprayer container by a color change line located at a transition line between the fluid and gas within the sprayer container when fluid is located within the sprayer container, thereby causing a top area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the gas to be a first color and a bottom area of the sprayer container having the interior surface adjacent the fluid to be a second color.

Abstract: A sprayer kit comprising a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid, a hand pump for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container and a fluid transfer device. The fluid transfer device is configured to be inserted into an opening in a commercial container, with the fluid transfer device being adapted to transport fluid from the commercial container to the sprayer container. The hand pump is adapted to be alternatively placed in the sprayer container for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container and placed in the fluid transfer device for pressurizing the fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through the fluid transfer device and into the sprayer container.

Abstract: There is presented an electric motor having a drive shaft, an armature and commutator assembly fixed on the drive shaft, a housing disposed around the assembly, and an endframe fixed to the housing. The endframe is provided with a journal in which is mounted a bearing supporting the drive shaft. Further disposed in the endframe are brushes in contact with a commutator portion of the assembly, and brush tubes for supporting the brushes. A brush retainer is mounted on the journal and has a face portion overlying a face portion of the bearing. The journal is provided with ribs which extend axially of the retainer. The ribs are engaged with the retainer, which is plastic, and hold the retainer in non-rotative fashion with the retainer face portion abutting an end of the commutator portion.

Abstract: There is presented an electric motor having a drive shaft, an armature and commutator fixed on the drive shaft, a metal housing disposed around the armature, permanent magnets disposed between the armature and the housing, and an endframe fixed to the housing. A discrete brush card is fixed to the housing and has a central cylindrical portion for retaining the commutator, and brush tubes extending radially from the central portion. The brush tubes are adapted to retain brushes and brush springs for urging the brushes into engagement with the commutator. The brush card is provided with tab portions having orifices therethrough and elastomeric grommets mounted thereon, the grommets having openings extending therethrough and aligned with the tab orifices. The endframe is provided with posts extending from an end wall thereof. The grommet openings are configured to receive, respectively, the posts to lock the grommets onto the posts.

Abstract: There is presented an electric motor having a drive shaft, an armature and a commutator fixed on the drive shaft, a housing disposed around the armature, magnets disposed between the armature and the housing, and an endframe fixed to the housing. The endframe has therein a journal for retaining the drive shaft, brushes for contact with the commutator, and shunts and terminals connected to the brushes. In the endframe are brush tubes for slidably retaining the brushes and coil springs for urging the brushes into engagement with the commutator. Each brush tube has one of the coil springs therein, an outer end, side, front and rear walls sufficiently closed to prevent egress of the coil spring, and an open inner end through which one of the brushes engages the commutator. An internal wall of the brush tube is provided with a barb integral therewith and extending inwardly of the brush tubes to overlie a portion of the coil spring proximate the brush tube outer end.