Abstract: A screen enclosure lighting system includes a housing mounted to the framework of the enclosure. The housing has a base for supporting a light source. The housing also includes a back portion attached to the base and supporting a top cover above the base. A curved window interconnects the base, the back portion and the top covering for projecting light from the light source through of an angle of approximately 180°. Exterior electrical wiring interconnects the light fixtures to an alternating current source.

Abstract: Method of coating pipe having a raised weld bead. Curable resin polymer is applied to the pipe and allowed to bond to form a cured or partially cured polymer layer on the pipe. Powder form adhesive composition is applied on the polymer layer while hot, with fusion into a film bonding to the polymer. Powder form polyolefin is applied to the adhesive while hot with fusion into a film bonding to the adhesive to form a powder-based coating. Following forming of the powder-based coating, the pipe is cooled from the inside. An outer polyolefin covering is bonded to the powder-based coating and the pipe cooled to ambient temperature. This procedure can avoid voids, cavities or pinholes forming in the coating adjacent the weld bead.

Abstract: Method of coating pipe having a raised weld bead. Curable resin polymer is applied to the pipe and allowed to bond to form a cured or partially cured polymer layer on the pipe. Powder form adhesive composition is applied on the polymer layer while hot, with fusion into a film bonding to the polymer. Powder form polyolefin is applied to the adhesive while hot with fusion into a film bonding to the adhesive to form a powder-based coating. Following forming of the powder-based coating, the pipe is cooled from the inside. An outer polyolefin covering is bonded to the powder-based coating and the pipe cooled to ambient temperature. This procedure can avoid voids, cavities or pinholes forming in the coating adjacent the weld bead.

Abstract: The present provides a bondably coated metallic member comprising a metallic member having a low surface energy polymeric coating, said low surface energy polymeric coating having been surface activated on at least a portion thereof, and having on said surface-activated portion a bondable high surface energy polymeric coating. The present invention also provides a bondably-coated metallic pipe comprising metallic pipe having a low surface energy mainline polymeric coating thereon extending over the pipe except at a bare zone adjacent each end of the pipe that is free from said main-line coating; a portion of said mainline coating adjacent each bare zone having been surface activated and having on said surface activated portion a bondable high surface energy polymeric coating.

Abstract: A farm equipment hitch comprises a hitch frame, a lift linkage, a lift cradle, a ram and a plurality of locking mechanisms.

Abstract: A farm equipment hitch comprises a hitch frame, a lift linkage, a lift cradle, a ram and a plurality of locking mechanisms.

Abstract: A portable speed bump unit having a plurality of speed bump cells removably and pivotally connected together to form a single PSB unit of variable length. Each speed bump cell comprises a plastic base having a rectangular footprint, a raised top surface, and a cross-sectional profile that is generally trapezoidal or semi-circular in shape. The speed bump cells are interconnected via one or more hinge bars that are pivotally connected together, thereby allowing two adjacent speed bump cells to be folded together such that an entire PSB unit can be rolled up for easy retrieval, portability, and storage purposes and simply unrolled to an extended position for deployment and use. Alternative embodiments of a portable speed bump unit incorporate safety features, e.g.

Abstract: A tire deflating blade system is disclosed having a plurality of tire deflating blade system modules that can be adjacently and pivotally connected together to form a tire deflating blade system of variable length. Each tire deflating blade system module comprises a base being generally rectangular in shape and having an end profile that is generally trapezoidal in shape. One or more blades are permanently disposed in the base and are rotatably connected to a shaft that runs longitudinally through the base, such that the blades can be moved between a retracted position for storage and an armed position for deflating tires upon the longitudinal movement of the shaft. The blades are very strong having a plurality of sharpened edges and at least two points. A cover plate is positioned over each blade to ensure safety while handling and storing the device while the blades are in the retracted position, thereby preventing anyone and any thing from being cut by the blades.

Abstract: A casing member for forming a connection between tubular sections. The member has heat shrinkable end portions, for connecting on respective adjacent end surfaces of the tubular sections adjacent the joint, and a middle portion for spanning between the end surfaces of the tubular sections. The end portions are formed integrally with at least a portion of the middle portion and have a zone that has a relatively small wall thickness while the middle portion having a relatively large wall thickness. This member may be made by heat shrinking a sleeve on an inner core on a mandrel or by uniting opposed ends of a heat shrink sheet having one or more auxiliary layers bonded to it. The properties of the core or auxiliary layer or layers may be tailored to provide desired properties or capabilities.

Abstract: Process components, containers, and pipes are provided that are constructed from ultra-high strength, low alloy steels containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having tensile strengths greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and DBTTs lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.).

Abstract: A fault tolerant automotive serial communication network includes a central communication node directly connected to a plurality of automotive electronic devices through corresponding interface circuitry including fault tolerant circuitry for detecting a serial communication fault in the corresponding device and for rapidly and substantially unintrusively removing the device from the network for the duration of the detected fault to minimize the impact of the fault on network operation.

Abstract: Heat-shrinkable cap comprising a heat-shrinkable tube sealed at one end by heat recovering that end of tube over a dimensionally stable, solid plug. The tube and plug are mutually weldable under heat, or are bonded together, thereby providing an air and water-tight seal at the sealed end. The open end of the cap may be internally coated with adhesive to provide an air and water-tight seal over an object such as a cable-end when the cap is heat recovered over said object.

Abstract: A heat shrinkable wrap-around sleeve comprises a heat shrinkable sheet with a heat stable strip welded on one end. The free end of the heat stable strip is overlapped on the outer side of the opposite end of the sheet and welded thereto by heating applied directly on the outer side. This allows the material of the strip to differ in its properties from the material of the sheet, so that the nature of welded closure can be tailored to particular applications. It also allows manufacture of sleeves having hold-down adhesives applied on them to be conducted with greater ease and economy. The sleeve can be manufactured using continuous welding, for example by heated wedge welding.

Abstract: A fiber optic star and transmission assembly for transmitting optical signals from a plurality of input optic fibers to a plurality of output optic fibers. The assembly comprising a female connector body retaining and positioning a plurality of input and output optic fibers, a convergence connector body having a pair of central cavities with a semi-circular grooves, and wedge means having semi-circular recesses which is inserted in to the cavities to define passageways. The optic fibers are inserted through the passageways which guide the jacketed and stripped ends of the optic fibers into a linear slot at the forward end of the convergence connector. The female connector is slidably connected to the convergence connector. A ribbon retainer housing and a hollow cover means complete the star assembly.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector attaches a fiber optic harness having a plurality of jacketed optic fibers to an optical device that has a flat rectangular contact surface. The connector comprises an outer member that has a plural number of non-linearly arrayed, grooves that receive individual jacketed optic fibers of the harness. An inner member wedge in the rear end of the outer member guides and holds individual jacketed optic fibers in the respective grooves. Each groove converges toward and communicates with a slot at the front end of the connector. The slot receives stripped end portions of the optic fibers and holds them in an abutting linear array for engagement with the flat rectangular contact surface of the optical device. The connector may also include latches for retaining the optic fibers individually and springs for biasing each individual optic fiber into engagement with the flat contact surface of the optic device.

Abstract: A multiple layer wraparound sleeve having a heat shrinkable backing layer and at least one functional layer has the functional layer as a discrete sheet which is connected to one end of the backing layer, and is of at least sufficient length that, when the sleeve is wrapped around the pipe or other substrate at least twice, the functional layer sheet wraps around the substrate first with its ends overlapping and the backing layer wraps around the functional layer sheet with its ends overlapping. This allows wrappings of reduced thickness to be employed without problems of voids occurring between the functional layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A longitudinally heat shrinkable closure sheet has a hold-down adhesive portion adjacent each longitudinal end for application on the exposed end portions a heat shrinkable wrap-around sleeve applied around a pipe or other article to be covered. Heat is applied to the closure sheet in order to weld the adhesive free portion of the underside of the closure sheet to the end portions of wrap-around sleeve. The initial shrinkage of the closure sheet between the hold-down adhesive portions draws it tightly into contact with the upper side of the end portions. Shearing forces are applied between the closure sheet and the end portions firstly as the closure sheet contracts relative to the end portions, and secondly, as the sleeve shrinks, develops hoop stress and stretches the closure sheet, and a high strength fusion bond is achieved between the closure sheet and sleeve.

Abstract: Portable apparatus is provided for terminating a plastic fiber optic cable mounted in a terminal connector by melting the fiber ends to form a smooth, flat end surface on each. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pistol grip, a holder for positioning a connector with the fiber ends protruding therefrom, and a heater. A polished plate is mounted on a trigger-operated holder for movement between a biased position normally engaging the heater and a position engaging the fiber ends. A heater switch energizes the heater; a temperature detector senses when the heater has reached a predetermined high temperature and illuminates an L.E.D. The operator then actuates the trigger to move the plate into engagement with the fiber ends to melt them. When the plate has cooled to a predetermined low temperature, indicating that the fiber ends are solidified, the L.E.D. extinguishes and the trigger can be released. A spring then moves the plate back into contact with the heater and the connector can be removed.

Abstract: A fiber-optic connection system comprises three interfitting plastic parts. A two-piece cable terminal includes a cable receiving body and a terminal body. The terminal body has two spaced projections which mount the fiber ends and has a pair of converging cable guide walls. The cable receiving body has walls with gripper teeth complementary to the guide walls. When two cable strands are introduced and the bodies are interconnected to form the terminal connector, the walls trap the cables. The fiber ends are finished by hot plate melting. The terminal connector is inserted into a header having pockets to mount electro-optical devices. The pockets have integral spring rails to force the devices into contact with the projections containing the fiber ends upon assembly. A series of integral lock tangs and shoulders retain the component parts interconnected to prevent inadvertant disassembly.

Abstract: A star coupler comprises a flexible optical ribbon curved so that input and output fibers attach to the same side of the coupler. A connector mates a linear array of fibers to each end of the ribbon. The side walls of the ribbon are rounded to match the contour of the outboard fibers of each array. The ribbon thickness is about 91% of the fiber diameter to minimize insertion loss.