Abstract: A pipe fitting has a body with an internally threaded bore and at least one female starter thread. The at least one female starter thread is disposed either within the bore or immediately outside of the bore. The starter thread is axially aligned with the bore threads. The starter thread is made from a material which is stronger than the material from which the bore threads are made.

Abstract: A pipe fitting has a body with an internally threaded bore and at least one female starter thread. The at least one female starter thread is disposed either within the bore or immediately outside of the bore. The starter thread is axially aligned with the bore threads. The starter thread is made from a material which is stronger than the material from which the bore threads are made. The starter thread most proximate to the threads of the internally threaded bore has a pitch diameter which is at least two percent greater than the pitch diameter of the most proximate thread within the internally threaded bore.

Abstract: A strengthened pipe fitting has an internally threaded surface and a compression band. The compression band is sized to compress the internally threaded surface sufficiently so that the pipe fitting is subjected to a compressive preload. The compression band is covered with a non-corrosive material.

Abstract: A pipe fitting has a body with an internally threaded bore and at least one female starter thread. The at least one female starter thread is disposed either within the bore or immediately outside of the bore. The starter thread is axially aligned with the bore threads. The starter thread is made from a material which is stronger than the material from which the bore threads are made.

Abstract: A zero to 100% continuously adjustable, low deadband, point contact pneumatic level switch is used in conjunction with an electronic controller, a pneumatic-to-current converter and a current-to-pneumatic converter to control brine level in a gravity-fed batch process. The apparatus includes a flapper disc assembly that is free to rotate or spin in place as the mechanism tracks the level of the fluid and a nozzle to seal, expel and transmit a pneumatic signal for measurement or control of fluid level. The flapper disk/nozzle assembly does not come in contact with the controlled fluid.

Abstract: A union fitting replacement nut having a nut body and a peripheral strap. The nut body is formed from a pair of C-shaped members. The nut body is internally threaded to cooperate with the external threads of the union fitting to which the union replacement nut is to be installed. The peripheral strap is typically a steel strap having opposed first and second ends. Attachment means, such as an adjustment screw, is provided to incrementally adjust the tightness of the peripheral strap to rigidly retain the two C-shaped members of the nut body. Once assembled, the union replacement nut can be used in the same way as a prior art integral union nut.

Abstract: A fitting suitable for coupling a plastic pipe to an externally threaded metal element, such as a sprinkler head, comprises a coupling, an external, metallic reinforcing collar on the coupling, an internally threaded insert in the coupling, and an O-ring. The collar is shaped to prevent rotation, and is held in place by a lip on the insert. The O-ring is held in a chamfered recess on the external surface of the insert.

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.

Abstract: A method for molding, in a single integrated operation, a tubular part having an internal recess which may take the form of a groove extending completely around the inside of the part for receipt therein of an O-ring or the like. The method utilizes an apparatus which comprises a core assembly having a longitudinal axis, and base means movable along the axis and defining an annular outer mold surface for forming of the interior wall of the tubular part. The core assembly further includes a plurality of groove-forming segments carried on the base means adjacent to the annular surface and movable between first contracted positions and second expanded positions. In accordance with the method, when the segments are in the contracted positions they do not extend radially outwardly of the annular surface, and the segments may be withdrawn from the molded tubular part by movement along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A corona and associated electrical drive as shown herein, neutralize the static charges on non-conductive sheets or webs. The neutralization of static charge is accomplished by passing the material to be neutralized under a double wire corona. Both wires in the corona are connected to an AC signal. The AC signal drives both wires with a signal that alternates in polarity at frequency f. The wires are spaced apart a predetermined distance calculated from a function dependent upon the frequency of the AC signal and the speed of the paper moving under the corona wires. The predetermined distance is such that a given area of the paper will pass under one wire at a first polarity and under the second wire at the opposite polarity. Further enhancement of neutralization can be accomplished by using a second double wire corona out of phase with the first double wire corona.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding, in a single integrated operation, a tubular part having an internal recess which may take the form of a groove extending completely around the inside of the part for receipt therein of an O-ring or the like. The apparatus comprises a core assembly having a longitudinal axis, and base means movable along the axis and defining an annular outer mold surface for forming of the interior wall of the tubular part. The core assembly further includes a plurality of groove-forming segments carried on the base means adjacent to the annular surface and movable between first contracted positions and second expanded positions. When the segments are in the contracted positions they do not extend radially outwardly of the annular surface, and the surface and segments may be withdrawn from the molded tubular part by movement along the longitudinal axis.