Abstract: An improved capacitance level probe is shown which can be positioned within the return vapor passage of a coaxial vapor recovery refueling system for detecting changes in liquid level within an underground fuel storage tank. The level probe has an outer conductor, a spaced inner conductor, a closed upper end and a lower end with an end opening which allows liquid to enter and leave the interior of the probe as liquid level changes within the underground tank being monitored. A tubular impact vent is located at the upper end of the outer conductor and collects tank vapors from the return vapor passage in order to conduct such vapor pressure to the open interior of the outer conductor above the level of liquid within the outer conductor. This action prevents sudden pressure drops within the outer conductor as the level of fuel changes within the underground storage tank, thereby eliminating inaccuracies in the sensed capacitance of the unit.

Abstract: A liquid level and sampling gauge is shown which includes a stick having a vertical face with a groove formed therein. A transparent sample tube is mounted in the groove and has a bottom opening. A rigid rod is located within the sample tube and has a lower end and an upper end. A valve member is carried on the rod lower end and includes an O-ring which contacts a valve seat provided in the stick lower end when the valve member is moved between an open position which admits liquid to the sample tube and a closed position. A valve operator at the stick upper end moves the valve member between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A method is shown for installing a product monitoring device in an underground storage tank, such as the tanks used to store petroleum products. A product sensor is passed through the annular space defined between the tank riser pipe and fill pipe into the tank interior. The product sensor is used to sense representative characteristics of the product located within the tank interior.

Abstract: The power of computer-based services is made available to telephone subscribers by a telephone station set (10) including a telephone handset (17) for audio transduction, a video output display screen (13) and manual input key facilities (16,20,23) coupled for interaction by a data processing facility (43). All of those elements are included in a common station set housing for programmable interaction under control of the station set user. The input key facilities include a full ASCII key set, additional buttons (30-32) for signaling standard computer service functions, and keys (16) for user selection of predetermined different text portions of the display screen. Also shown are various electrical and mechanical features which facilitate the combining of the functional parts into the common housing and illustrative processes (FIGS. 8-12) for demonstrating the programmable facility interaction.

Abstract: An improvement in an accessory for a garden hose and the like in which an end of the hose is to be connected with a supplementary fitting characterized by a centerpiece adapted to sealingly receive the end of the hose, a gripper for moving longitudinally into gripping relationship with the hose, a turnbuckle for drawing the gripper into gripping relationship with the hose responsive to relative rotational movement of the turnbuckle with respect to the gripper and rotation prevention means to prevent relative rotational movement between the gripper and the centerpiece.

Abstract: A main valve diaphragm closes the liquid inlet to the tank when the latter is full because ballast members associated with a pilot valve have their gravitational effects negated as a result of liquid in the tank being above or at substantially the same level as such members, thereby allowing the buoyancy of a float to maintain the pilot valve closed. On the other hand, when the liquid in the tank drops to a predetermined level, the ballast members become effective to gravitationally operate the pilot valve which in turn releases hydraulic pressure in a chamber above the diaphragm that otherwise keeps the diaphragm seated.

Abstract: A fixedly supported, low cost solar energy collecting device having an elliptical solar reflector is provided which is capable of efficiently collecting and concentrating solar energy during all seasons and sun declinations notwithstanding complete elimination of mechanism for shifting the reflector to follow the sun's path. The collector includes an elongated, trough-like reflector which substantially coincides with a section of a focal end surface of an imaginary elliptical cylinder, with a heat exchange fluid tube positioned along the adjacent focal line of the imaginary elliptical cylinder; in this fashion, solar rays passing through or parallel to the remaining focal line of the imaginary cylinder and striking the reflector are focused onto the heat exchange tube, so that solar energy collection is concentrated without the necessity of precisely orienting the reflector relative to the sun.

Abstract: A mobile tree removing apparatus includes an elongate extensible and retractable boom structure mounted on a vehicle such as a truck. A cutting device is mounted on the outer end of the boom structure and includes a housing having a plurality of cutting members positioned therein. Adjacent cutting members cooperate with each other to cut an entire standing tree including the trunk and limbs thereof into chips. The chips are impelled through a conduit connected to the housing by action of a vacuum pump mounted on a truck.

Abstract: The spray pattern of a shower head may be varied by threading the faceplate of the head axially relative to its housing to change the effective cross-sectional areas of tapered grooves in pattern control elements which project through openings in the faceplate and which rotate as a unit with the faceplate during its manipulation. One embodiment has a mounting ring for the control elements which is rotatably retained on the central arbor of the head by a collar bonded to the tip end of the arbor. A second embodiment has a mounting ring for the elements which is threaded onto the exterior of the arbor in a manner to provide relative linear displacement between the faceplate and the elements when the faceplate is threaded into or out of the arbor, and a third embodiment utilizes a threaded collar at the tip end of the arbor to retain the freely rotatable mounting ring for the elements in place on the arbor.

Abstract: A control for the outlet of a liquid supply tank such as, for example, the water tank of a toilet, utilizes the retention or escape of air trapped above a valve float of the control to seat and unseat the valve against the outlet respectively. One embodiment has a standpipe extending vertically and centrally through the upper air trapping housing of the control for supporting such housing while the float reciprocates slidably along the standpipe between its lowered and buoyed positions. A second embodiment is adapted for use in existing installations wherein the standpipe is offset laterally from the outlet, the standpipe thus extending outside of and supporting the housing while the float is guided in its vertical reciprocation by internal ribs on the housing.

Abstract: A support rod assembly may be mounted between a pair of opposed, spaced-apart surfaces without the use of mounting brackets, screws, nails, or other fasteners by manually rotating the rod relative to a threaded cap at one end of the rod so as to progressively extend the rod from the cap and wedge the assembly tightly between the opposed surfaces in pressure-mounted relationship therewith. The end caps of the assembly are each provided with a spike projecting in coaxial relationship with the rod for penetrating the surfaces during installation, thereby presenting fixed pivot points for the end caps should they tend to rotate with the rod during installation, to the end that "walking" of the rod out of position along the surfaces is eliminated. Components of the assembly are adapted to universally accommodate rods of more than one particular diameter.