Abstract: A grip lock connector member which connects a supply pipe from a source of water to a fire sprinkler through an interior grip lock connector. The grip lock connector includes a multiplicity of gripper teeth which form a tight grip connection to the supply pipe. The supply pipe is retained within an interior chamber and grasped and retained by the multiplicity of gripper teeth at the interior end of the interior chamber. A gasket or O-ring directly behind the gripper teeth facilitates a leakproof connection. At its opposite end, the grip lock connector includes female mating threads which receive male threads at a top location of a fire sprinkler.

Abstract: A grip lock connector member which connects a supply pipe from a source of water to a fire sprinkler through an interior grip lock connector. The grip lock connector includes a multiplicity of gripper teeth which form a tight grip connection to the supply pipe. The supply pipe is retained within an interior chamber and grasped and retained by the multiplicity of gripper teeth at the interior end of the interior chamber. A gasket or O-ring directly behind the gripper teeth facilitates a leakproof connection. At its opposite end, the grip lock connector includes female mating threads which receive male threads at a top location of a fire sprinkler.

Abstract: Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14. The gripper washers 22 can be any size and dimension, and made from any material, including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride, or metal. The gripper washers 22 are a washer-like structure, typically a metallic structure that comprises an interior diameter, a concentric inner periphery and an exterior periphery 24. Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14, such that the exterior periphery 24 of the gripper washer 22 is in contact with, or in close proximity to, the shoulder 20 of the gasket retaining ring 18.

Abstract: A telescoping pipe coupling comprising a hollow body, a hollow tubular insert slidably disposed within the body, two gasket wells, two end connectors, one end connector coupled to each end of the telescoping pipe coupling, two gripper washer wells, a gasket for sealing the tubular insert with the body, two gaskets for sealing one or more pipe sections to the telescoping pipe coupling, two gasket retaining rings each comprising a shoulder, two gripper washers retained within the two gripper washer wells each comprising an outer periphery, wherein the shoulder of each gasket retaining ring is adjacent to the outer periphery of a gripper washer.

Abstract: A telescoping pipe coupling comprising a hollow body, a hollow tubular insert slidably disposed within the body, two gasket wells, two end connectors, one end connector coupled to each end of the telescoping pipe coupling, two gripper washer wells, a gasket for sealing the tubular insert with the body, two gaskets for sealing one or more pipe sections to the telescoping pipe coupling, two gasket retaining rings each comprising a shoulder, two gripper washers retained within the two gripper washer wells each comprising an outer periphery, wherein the shoulder of each gasket retaining ring is adjacent to the outer periphery of a gripper washer.

Abstract: The invention is a pipe coupling comprising: a) a cylindrical body for accepting and retaining ends of a pair of spaced apart pipe sections, the cylindrical body comprising two opposed ends; b) an end connector attached to each opposed end of the cylindrical body; c) a gasket disposed within an indentation defined within the interior surface of each of the opposed ends of the cylindrical body; d) a gasket retaining ring disposed between each end connector and gasket, wherein the gasket retaining ring comprises a shoulder; and e) a gripper washer comprising an exterior periphery, the gripper washer disposed between each gasket retaining ring and end connector; wherein the gasket retaining ring shoulder contacts and retains the exterior periphery of the gripper washer.

Abstract: A cartridge casing for rifles is made from a high strength aluminum alloy. A method for making such cartridge casing includes the steps of (a) forming a cylindrical blank from an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength greater than 80,000 psi, and (b) rotating the blank at a rate greater than 500 rpm and forcing the blank into a die, the die having a bore with progressively reduced interior diameters which are less than the external diameter of the blank. In the method, the forcing of the blank into the die results in the finished cartridge casing having a distal end with an external diameter which is less than the external diameter of its proximal end.

Abstract: A cartridge casing for rifles is made from a high strength aluminum alloy. A method for making such cartridge casing includes the steps of (a) forming a cylindrical blank from an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength greater than 80,000 psi, and (b) rotating the blank at a rate greater than 500 rpm and forcing the blank into a die, the die having a bore with progressively reduced interior diameters which are less than the external diameter of the blank. In the method, the forcing of the blank into the die results in the finished cartridge casing having a distal end with an external diameter which is less than the external diameter of its proximal end.

Abstract: An irrigation pipeline has a plurality of emitters equipped with discharge nipples for engagement by flexible hoses to release water at a trickle rate at selected subterranean locations within the radii of the hoses. A plurality of the nipples may be integral with a plastic manifold that is installed between confronting pipe ends and some of the nipples may be blind nipples that are sheared for activation of the emitters as required to meet increased demand for water.