Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the rapid, uniform curing of cylindrical, polymeric objects. The invention provides precise, accurate control of both the curing temperature and pressure because the heating system is independent of the pressurization device. Cylindrical polymeric objects are cured by mounting the object on a cylindrical mandrel, applying substantially uniform pressure to the outer surface of the object, typically through an expandable bladder, and supplying curing is heat directly to the object by circulating a liquid heat transfer medium through the bladder or mandrel. Preferably, the expandable elastomeric bladder is mounted coaxially with the mandrel, and is expanded with a suitable liquid or gas to provide the pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable compressibility layer in rollers or flat pulleys. The present invention provides a smooth-surface roller that will "spread" a web being conveyed by a roller, or urge flattening and prevention of wrinkles in the web. It will also assist in the centering of the web being conveyed on web-handling equipment. If a roller is small, it may be used as a flat pulley, wherein the present invention causes a belt to track in the center of the pulley.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided. The branched hose construction comprising a T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate the pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate said pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose construction, insert therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the vacuum cleaner hose construction comprising an elongated vacuum hose having an end and an electrical conductor extending therealong and being provided with an end portion at the end thereof, an electrical terminal connector carried by the hose and being fixed to the end portion, an enlarged cuff disposed onto the end of the hose and covering at least part of the connector to hold the connector and its interconnected end portion in a predetermined position on the hose, and an insert that initially holds the connector and its interconnected end portion in the predetermined position thereof before the cuff is disposed thereon, the insert also being at least partially covered by the cuff.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose construction, terminal connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the vacuum cleaner hose construction comprising an elongated vacuum hose having an electrical conductor extending therealong and being provided with an end portion, and an electrical connector carried by the hose and being fixed to the end portion, the connector having a knife-like portion provided with opposed edges defining sides of a slot therein that has an open end and a closed end. The end portion is disposed in the slot of the connector and is wedged between the opposed edges thereof for providing electrical connection therebetween. The connector has a holding unit carried thereby and having a part thereof disposed adjacent the conductor to hold the conductor in the slot by trapping the conductor between that part and the closed end of the slot.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose construction, terminal connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the vacuum cleaner hose construction comprising an elongated vacuum hose having an electrical conductor extending therealong and being provided with an end portion, and an electrical connector carried by the hose and being fixed to the end portion, the connector having a knife-like portion provided with opposed edges defining sides of a slot therein that has an open end and a closed end. The end portion is disposed in the slot of the connector and is wedged between the opposed edges thereof for providing electrical connection therebetween. The connector has a holding unit carried thereby and having a part thereof disposed adjacent the conductor to hold the conductor in the slot by trapping the conductor between that part and the closed end of the slot.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A railroad track insulator, part therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the railroad track insulator being adapted to hold a railroad rail against its foundation and comprising the combination of a metallic part and a polymeric part secured together so that the polymeric part is adapted to engage the rail. The metallic part has an open ended recess in one of the opposed sides thereof and is defined by a peripheral flange arrangement thereof. The polymeric part has a peripheral edge and is disposed and secured in the recess so as to have the peripheral edge thereof supported by the peripheral flange arrangement of the metallic part.

Abstract: A method of making a branched hose construction is provided and comprises the steps of providing a first tubular member having opposed ends, providing a second tubular member having opposed ends, forming the first tubular member to have an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, providing a joint construction that comprises a tubular insert having opposed ends, joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to the one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, forming the joint construction to further comprise a washer-like member, telescoping the washer-like member on the tubular insert, and mechanically clamping the one tubular member between the washer-like member and the one end of the tubular ins

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a T-connector therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising T-connector having a body portion provided with a pair of substantially oppositely directed legs extending therefrom and an outwardly directed branch leg extending therefrom intermediate said pair of legs, and three tubular hoses respectively telescoped onto the legs to be disposed in fluid communication with each other through the T-connector, the body portion of the T-connector having an annular shoulder adjacent each leg thereof against which an annular end surface of its respective hose abuts and which is of a size that causes the external peripheral surface of that respective hose to substantially mate with and thereby be substantially flush with the external peripheral surface of the body portion that is adjacent that respective hose.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: A railroad track insulator, part therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the railroad track insulator being adapted to hold a railroad rail against its foundation and comprising the combination of a metallic part and a polymeric part secured together so that the polymeric part is adapted to engage the rail. The metallic part has an open ended recess in one of the opposed sides thereof and is defined by a peripheral flange arrangement thereof. The polymeric part has a peripheral edge and is disposed and secured in the recess so as to have the peripheral edge thereof supported by the peripheral flange arrangement of the metallic part. The metallic part comprises a stamping that has a generally L-shaped cross-sectional configuration that defines two legs thereof being disposed at an angle relative to each other, each leg having opposed ends and an outer free end extending between the opposed ends thereof.

Abstract: A laminated printing blanket having compressible and resilient properties and a method for its production are provided. The compressible characteristics are provided by disposing a compressible intermediate layer having voids, between a base ply and a surface layer. The voids in the intermediate layer are produced by dispersing a blowing agent in an elastomer, sandwiching the elastomer containing the blowing agent between two fabric layers, and activating the blowing agent to produce voids. By activating the blowing agent before disposing the intermediate layer between the base ply and the surface layer, the gases from the blowing agent are prevented from migrating to the base ply or to the surface layer.

Abstract: A center plate structure for a railway vehicle is provided which utilizes a polymeric wear-resistant tubular liner disposed in sandwiched relation between a cylindrical outside surface of a center plate of the body of the railway vehicle and a cylindrical inside surface of an upstanding peripheral flange of an associated bolster bowl of a truck of the railway vehicle wherein a continuous uninterrupted metal ring is fixed against a top portion of the inside surface of the flange with the ring serving to engage the top surface of the polymeric liner and prevent vertical cold flow of the polymeric material comprising same from between the cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: A method of resisting wear between a body center plate of a body bolster of a railway vehicle body and a bolster bowl of a truck bolster of a truck of the railway vehicle is provided by disposing a wear resistant tubular liner to be sandwiched between the cylindrical surfaces of the body center plate and the bolster bowl. The tubular liner comprises an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material and has a top surface. A continuous metal ring is fixed to the flange of the bolster bowl against a top portion of the inside surface thereof before the liner is disposed in such bowl. The ring serves to engage the top surface of the tubular liner and prevent vertical cold flow of the polymeric material thereof from between the cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: A clamp for reinforced flexible hose made of a continuous member which is attached to the reinforcement at one or both ends of the hose. Application of force to the clamp expands the hose end to permit insertion or removal of an adjacent member, such as a coupling or fitting.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a current-carrying vacuum hose provided with a hose connector at one end thereof which has a pigtail-free shielded electrical connector assembly which is installed and self locked in position after assembly of the hose connector and which is particularly adapted to be directly connected with a female electrical connector in a housing assembly of a canister-type vacuum cleaner to thereby provide an economical construction which is also of optimum safety due to its self-locking character and shielding of its protruding metal male electrical connector.

Abstract: A machine and method are provided employing an elongate mandrel supported at one end and unsupported at its opposite end and apparatus carried by the mandrel and being movable therealong between the opposite ends with the apparatus supporting material wound thereon to define a length of the tubular conduit and moving out of supporting relation once the conduit moves axially beyond the opposite end, and the mandrel comprises a fixed helical structure supported concentrically around a central part which is rotatable therewithin and with the helical structure defining a helical groove along the mandrel with a plurality of members defining the apparatus and being operatively connected to the central part and movable within the groove upon rotation of the central part with the members supporting material helically wound thereon and moving out of supporting relation by falling within the length of conduit at the opposite end.