Abstract: A below in floor lengthwise interconnected arrangement of wire baskets serving as a repository of cables for computers and like apparatus, in which opposite sides of the baskets are assembled in depending relation from opposite side supports by inverted U-shape hooks thereof being urged in ascending movement through an opening into a compartment of each opposite support bounded by U-shaped edges, and resulting in the inverted U-shapes and upright U-shapes engaging with each other.

Abstract: A corner guard assembly for protecting the corner of a building wall particularly in institutional type facilities from damage due to impacts with wheeled vehicles includes an elongated vinyl corner guard member angled to fit over the corner formed by the intersection of two wall surfaces, the corner member being comprised of two different colors of vinyl plastic material that have been co-extruded to form a single, integrated product. The multi-colored corner guard provides an aesthetically improved corner guard that may be used in a wide range of interior designs. Additionally, the improved corner guard disclosed herein may be used a part of a system of color-coding the hallways of a large hospital or other institutional facility. The corner guard of the present invention may be constructed as either a tape-on corner guard that is mounted by an adhesive directly to the wall surfaces, or constructed as an assembly comprised of a base plate and cover guard.

Abstract: A wall system, comprising a plurality of pile members. The pile members are driven next to each other using a conventional pile driving system. An interlock system locks adjacent pile members together. A flowable hardenable material may be introduced into the pile members to reinforce the wall system. A reinforcing assembly may be inserted into the pile members to provide additional strength to the wall system.

Abstract: An entire structure utilizing fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) pultruded structural shapes is provided for use in decks, docks, and boardwalks. This deck system for building decking, docks, boardwalks, walkways, gazebos, hot tub decks and spas can be built either to and extending from the exterior side of residential or commercial structures or as an independent, freestanding structure. The invention is assembled from FRP pultruded components comprising several systems which include a weight bearing support system, flooring system, safety system, roofing system, and decorative system. Components of the invention including but not limited to vertical support posts, horizontal decking, railing, stairs, gates, doors, frames and supporting members will be manufactured from FRP pultrusion structural shapes and composite sections using corrosion resistant hardware and adhesives.

Abstract: A base sheet for use in retrofitting a new roof over an existing roof includes a polyester support sheet having a layer of flexible foam laminated thereto. The base sheet is laid over the existing roofing, with the foam layer in contact with the existing roofing. A new roofing is then laid over the base sheet.

Abstract: A joint member is provided that can be easily installed, without sacrificing an appearance, in a joint groove required to secure water-tightness between adjoining wall surface facing members of a building. A joint base member 6 is integrally and consecutively installed on a surface of a synthetic resin joiner 4 positioned and provided between wall surface facing members A. The joint base member 6 has right and left side plates 12, two soft sealing tongue flaps 14a and 14b which are protuberantly provided on the outer side surfaces of the side plates and the distal ends of which come in contact with end surfaces of the wall surface facing members, and numerous apertures 16 drilled between the sealing tongue flaps, a sealant 8 being charged in a gap between the side plates.

Abstract: A stud form and system for forming a preformed concrete wall panel having a solid portion and a plurality of vertical concrete studs joined to the solid portion. The stud form includes a substantially U-shaped channel having a face portion that defines an elongated plane and leg portions extending along side of and away from the elongated plane to define a predetermined channel depth. The stud form further includes means for integrally connecting the stud form to the solid portion of the wall panel with the channel opened toward the solid portion.

Abstract: A method for constructing prefabricated modular building panels includes providing a plurality of full wall height panels in several widths and full wall height corner elements which can be assembled to provide walls for a building of almost any size. The method also includes providing less than full height header and sill panels in several widths which can be used to install windows and doors. A window is installed between a header and sill panel having a width which is greater than the width of the window by placing studs between the header and sill panels at each side of the window and at each side of the header and sill panels. A door is installed under a header panel having a width which is greater than the width of the door by building a frame on each side of the door below the header panel. The panels are made with a frame of interconnected steel studs and steel top and bottom tracks.

Abstract: A wall system including a plurality of rectangular rigid prefinished panels mounted on a wall support structure with main runners and cross runners. The main runners serve to lock the panels onto the support structure and with the cross runners serve to prevent the panels from warping due to adverse moisture conditions. The main runners are configured to space the panels from the wall support structure to encourage uniform humidity conditions at the front and rear of the panels. Clips that secure the panels to the main runners are fixed adjacent the top and bottom panel edges at different setoffs to obtain an advantageous nesting of panels for reduced packaging volume.

Abstract: A cladding system for walls or ceilings of a building structure consisting of a panel or panels that are sectioned so as to provide a variety of aesthetics. The sections in the panel may be joined along articulated lines of joinder so that an entire panel comprised of a plurality of sections can be expanded or retracted to either cover or selectively expose the wall or ceiling across which the system is mounted. The sections in a panel may be cellular and may thereby form a honeycomb-type panel, and the materials from which the panels are made may vary between being rigid, flexible, hard, soft, flat, reflective, and the like.

Abstract: A device (10) for fixing facing panels (14) to a wall (16) by means of a transverse support (12), on which the facing panels (14) can be suspended. To render the transverse support (12) stable, the invention proposes constructing the transverse support (12) as a closed, hollow profiled member. This has the advantage that even heavy facing panels (14) can be mounted on the wall (16). Moreover, the invention proposes vertical supports (32) for mounting the transverse support (12), which are to be mounted on the wall (16) at a distance therefrom by means of length-adjustable rods (42), which are pivotally connected to the vertical supports (32) and to the wall (16). A single rod (42) forms a movable bearing (40) and two rods (42) mounted at an angle to one another form a fixed bearing (38). The advantage of this method of mounting the transverse support (12) on the wall (16) is the ease of vertical adjustment and ease with which wall unevenness can be accommodated.

Abstract: A bumper and supporting frame assembly for protecting a column or a corner, or any object which may come in contact with the column or corner. The invention includes tires having hubs or wheels rotatably mounted on a sleeve, i.e. a hollow tube. A pair of frames for mounting around a column, one above the tires and the other below the tires, support the tires in their position as bumpers to protect the column. The frames have tubular protrusions, e.g. pipes, extending towards one another and telescopically engaged. The sleeve is rotatably mounted on the pipes. Energy from an object which strikes the column is dissipated by this rotation of the sleeve relative to the pipes, as well as the rotation of the tires relative to the sleeve. Each frame includes two portions, which are removably attached to one another, allowing for the easy adjustment of the frames along a column. The adjustment of both frames allows for the height of the bumper to be varied on the column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching roof membranes to roof decks. A bridge is placed on flaps created by overlapping portions of roofing material. The bridge is comprised of two end portions which engage the roofing material. A screw is preferably installed through the bridge and into the roof deck. When wind applies force to the roofing membrane, the bridge creates a fulcrum-like effect which helps secure the roof membrane to the roof deck.

Abstract: A grooved construction lumber element for use in constructing lumber structures such as wall framing, roof trusses, load bearing beams, deck and stair railings, and the like, is described. The construction lumber element is comprised of a straight lumber piece having a plurality of spacing grooves disposed in at least one surface of the lumber piece. The spacing grooves have a predetermined depth and are configured to receive therein an associated further lumber element to construct a specific building structure. At least some of the spacing grooves are disposed at common spaced intervals. The lumber element is preferably an elongated straight wood lumber piece of rectangular cross-section and defines opposed flat parallel surfaces and opposed flat parallel side edge surfaces. The spacing grooves are formed in one of the flat surfaces.

Abstract: A building structure having a plurality of alternating siding boards and corner blocks that simulate a hewn log building with dovetail notches and the method of application are disclosed. The corner blocks and siding boards are preformed to fit snugly together at the structure's corner and are attached by wood splines and exterior wood glue. A three legged fastener or “h” clip attaches the siding units to the sheathing in the chink joint. The siding can be speedily erected at the site with a minimum of field cutting on either new or existing buildings.

Abstract: A casement frame for a window formed of a plastic section having a seat region for receiving an edge region of a window pane and a room-side casement region, and at least one heat conducting insert arranged in the plastic section and forming a thermal bridge between the casement and seat regions of the plastic section for conducting room heat to the edge region of the window pane. The plastic section is formed with chambers arranged along its cross section. The heat conducting insert being located in an innermost, or room adjacent, chamber with the heat transfer taking place inside the innermost chamber and the remaining chambers serving as heat insulating chambers.

Abstract: A connector plate, a building component connection and a method for connecting a first building component to a second building component. The first building component has a first web, a first leg extending outwardly from the first web, and a lip protruding from the first leg to define a toe-receiving area between the lip and the first web. The second building component has a second web and a second leg. The connector plate comprises a back plate for attachment to the second web and may include a side flange for attachment to the first web. The back plate includes a toe sized to be received in the toe-receiving area. The connector plate may include a toe flange that is received on the first leg, a bottom flange that is received on the second leg, and a middle flange. The middle flange and the bottom flange define a lip-receiving notch.

Abstract: The invention provides a wall-retaining element, including a three-dimensional body having a bottom portion including a major base surface positionable upon the ground in spaced-apart relationship to a wall to be retained, such that the plane of the bottom portion traverses the plane of the wall; at least one major surface to be covered with soil for applying pressure to the element, and means for attaching one end of a tie rod or a cable to the element and for attaching its other end to the wall. The invention also provides a method for retaining a wall structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for texturing a wall. The method selects a texture pattern and provides a corner bead with the selected texture. After the corner bead is mounted, the same texture pattern is formed on drywall adjacent the corner bead, after which the texture pattern on the drywall is painted along with the corner bead.

Abstract: In a method for making a permeable film, a physical force is applied to a film of a first material containing particles of a second material which is different from the first material. The second material has a higher susceptibility to the physical force than does the first material. Applying the physical force to the film affects the particles which in turn affect the first material of the film, thereby increasing permeability of the film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a pack, particularly intended for undergoing preservation treatment, from at least one film (10) comprising two plastic layers, an upper (11) and a lower (12), which form the outer and inner faces of said pack, and a light-metal central layer (13) sandwiched between said upper and lower layers. According to the invention, prior to the operations to make said pack, a laser beam is applied solely to the lower layer of said film, said lower layer forming the inner face of said pack, in order to produce, virtually in the entire thickness of said lower layer, at least one perforation (14) forming at least one precut line.

Abstract: A plurality of fastener arrangements for use in manufacturing recloseable bags comprising a first fastener and a second fastener connected to the first fastener. Each of said fasteners comprising a male track with a male profile, a female track with a female profile and a slider. The male and female profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The slider is slidably mounted to the fastener for movement between a closed position and an open position. The male and female profiles are engaged to each other while the slider is in the closed position. The male and female profiles are disengaged from each other in response to movement of the slider from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: Packages are each made by clamping a tubularly formed bag-making film, dropping a batch of articles into this film while it is in this clamped condition, and shaking this batch of articles to thereby increase its volume density. This is done once or repeated any number of times. After articles of the final batch are dropped into the film, the clamped condition of the film is released and the articles are dropped further downward to the bottom of the bag being made. The tubularly formed film is thereafter sealed transversely above the articles which have been received to close the bag.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for insertion of coupons or other material into hinge lid pack cigarettes. The apparatus of the present invention inserts the coupons in between the foil wrapped pack of cigarettes and the inner frame portion of the hinged lid pack. The apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a coupon inserter, a third wheel pocket and rail system wherein the pockets travel rotationally with the third wheel after receiving a coupon and thereafter allow the foil wrapped cigarette pack to be inserted thereon. The rail of the hinged lid pack assembly machine has been modified to receive these coupons in conjunction with the coupon multistage inserter or dispenser and all act cooperatively such that the coupons are inserted in timed relation to the rotational speed of the third wheel of the packager.

Abstract: A system for forming particulate material in a bulk form comprises a compression tower having a top and sides depending therefrom. A compression chamber having side walls and an open bottom is reciprocatively mounted to said tower for deposit of loose particulate material therein. The system further includes a first conveyor assembly displaced from said tower. In its extended position, the chamber contacts the first conveyor assembly and the bottom of the chamber is closed thereby. A vacuum blower draws loose particulate material into the chamber through an inlet and compresses it against the first conveyor assembly. A ram assembly within the chamber further compresses the loose material into a bulk form atop the conveyor belt. When the chamber and ram assembly are returned to their retracted positions, the material bulk is transferred downstream by the first conveyor assembly to a space between vertically spaced second and third conveyor assemblies.

Abstract: A vertical pillow type form-fill-seal packaging machine with transverse sealers incorporates a timing controller for adjusting the timing for clamping a tubularly formed film with the sealers such that articles being dropping in to be packaged will not be caught in between. A display device displays a time axis or parallel axes. along which markers indicate the times of arrival of the falling articles to be packaged and the sealers at the clamping position for the sealers. As the user moves the marker for indicating the arrival time of the sealers, the timing controller adjusts the operating mode of the sealers such that the sealers will clamp the film at the time specified by the user according to the displayed time of arrival of the articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for riding an animal using a rope that assists a rider in maintaining balance on the animal but allows the rider to be quickly separated from the animal if a limb of the rider becomes caught in the rope when the rider is thrown from the animal and a latch in the rope that allows such release. The apparatus and the method of its use involve a rigging that can be cinched about the body of such an animal, that includes a holder or handle interfittingly engaged by a limb of the rider while mounted on the animal to aid the rider in remaining balance on the animal, and that further includes a latch that is normally closed but that can be released either by the rider if possible or by an attendant or otherwise if the limb if the rider is entangled with and caught in the rigging when the rider is thrown from the animal whereby the rider and the rigging can be pulled from or otherwise separated from the animal.

Abstract: An oil drain valve and oil sight gauge assembly for an internal combustion engine of an implement such as a lawnmower. The oil drain valve includes a valve member disposed in a valve body attached to the engine housing and disposed above the mower deck. The valve member may be selectively moved to allow oil to drain from an oil sump in the engine crankcase through a drain opening disposed below the mower deck. The valve member is retained in the valve body when the oil drain valve is opened to prevent the valve member from being lost. The oil sight gauge is internally vented to the crankcase to provide an accurate indication of the oil level in the crankcase, and is visually associated with the oil drain valve to provide an operator with a visual confirmation that all of the oil has been drained from the crankcase.

Abstract: A cutting device for a cutting machine including a driver driven by a drive shaft, a support structure secured to the driver and at least one drive device intended to drive a cut product toward the rear of the cutting machine. The drive device includes at least two drive walls which extend approximately right around the support structure and which are fixed removably to the support structure by assembly elements.

Abstract: A multi-string lawnmower that has a multi-tiered housing to which is mounted to at least one electric motor coupled to a battery. There are a plurality of mandrel shafts arranged in rows mounted to bearings on the underside of the housing. The mandrel shafts are associated with roller guides and engage a serpentine belt, that is powered by the at least one electric motor. The serpentine belt imparts rotational motion to the mandrel shafts such that adjacent shafts rotate in opposite directions. The cutting elements or strings are attached to the mandrel shafts and are held in place by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A foot pedal lift system is provided for the mower deck of a lawn or garden tractor. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor and is linked to the linkage arms which suspend the mower deck from the frame. The pedal is movable between a depressed forward position to raise the mower deck to a transport position and a retracted rearward position to move the mower deck to a lower removal position. The pedal can be locked in the depressed or retracted positions by a latch pivotally mounted on the exterior of the tractor console. Engagement and disengagement of the latch with the foot pedal is controlled by a handle mounted on the console connected to the latch by an elongated connecting rod. Pulling upwardly on the handle locks the latch into engagement with the foot pedal in both the depressed and retracted positions. Pushing downwardly on the handle disengages the latch from the foot pedal so that the mower deck is free to move upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: A lawn rake includes a number of tines attached onto a rake member, and a single presser bar disposed across the tines and secured to the rake member for easily and quickly securing the tines to the rake member. A number of seats are formed on the rake member, the presser bar is engaged through the seats. The rake member has one or more spring latches engaged with the presser bar for securing the presser bar to the rake member. The tines each includes a bent end engaged into the rake member for being solidly secured to the rake member.

Abstract: On a common production line, a twist-free assembly station, at which various wires are assembled without individually twisting is followed by a twisting station at which a cable formed by the wires is twisted at least once.

Abstract: A rocker joint pin for use in a chain to articulately interconnect link plates of the chain has a beveled edge at opposite end faces thereof. The beveled edge is formed by forming a V-shaped groove transversely across a surface of a continuous wire and subsequently severing the wire at the bottom of the V-shaped groove.

Abstract: A device for discharging hot air for a jet engine air inlet cowl, with a deicing circuit. The air inlet cowl for a jet engine, the leading edge of which is hollow and swept with a flow of deicing hot air, includes orifices for discharging the hot air flow to the outside of the leading edge, which form an arrangement such that at least two pressurized hot air jets passing through two adjacent orifices have, downstream of a calibration piece in which the orifices are made, different inclinations with respect to the calibration piece.

Abstract: A retainer segment is provided for a swirler assembly having first and second members, such as a primary and secondary swirler or a swirler body and floating ferrule, disposed in sliding engagement with each other. The two members are maintained in sliding engagement by two of the retainer segments which are joined to the second member and engage the first member. Each retainer segment is an arcuate member defining inner and outer curved edges and first and second ends. Each end has a concave cutout formed therein to reduce weld joint and bending stresses that occur from the forced vibration of the retainer segments.

Abstract: A heavy duty diesel engine having an exhaust system incorporating a catalyst to convert NO to NO2 and a particulate trap on which soot particles are continuously oxidized, and a portion of the exhaust gases are recirculated through a cooler and exhaust gas flow valve before being mixed with air and fed to the engine cylinders. The system also incorporates a sensor to detect the amount of NOx in the exhaust to adjust the gas flow valve, thereby adjusting the portion of recirculated exhaust gas fed to the engine cylinders.

Abstract: An engine control system of an internal combustion engine coupled to a NOx trap uses a integrated difference between NOx exiting the trap and NOx entering the trap to determine NOx storage capacity. NOx exiting the trap is measured by a NOx sensor downstream of the trap. NOx entering the trap is determined based on engine operating conditions. The values are integrated until the ratio of NOx exiting to NOx entering reaches a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The characteristics of an output of an exhaust gas sensor with respect to an air-fuel ratio of an engine are expressed according to a quadratic function, and the parameters of the quadratic function are sequentially identified according to a sequential identifying algorithm using data of the output of the exhaust gas sensor and data of an output of an air-fuel sensor which detects the air-fuel ratio of the engine. Deterioration evaluating parameters whose values change as the deterioration of a catalytic converter processes are sequentially determined from the identified values of the parameters of the quadratic function, and the deteriorated state of the catalytic converter is evaluated based on the determined deterioration evaluating parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling reductant injection upstream of a selective reduction catalyst (SCR) to overcome NOX inhibiting effects by injecting reductant in an amount proportional to engine out NOX concentration when the NOX concentration is above a predetermined level and injecting predetermined amounts of reductant into the SCR catalyst when engine out NOX concentration is below the predetermined level such as when the engine is idling or decelerating.

Abstract: A built-up airgap-insulated exhaust manifold of an exhaust system of a motor vehicle includes at least two exhaust pipes with an inlet flange attached in each case to one end and to be fastened to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The exhaust pipes include a pipe bend and at least one branched pipe piece connected to the latter. If a plurality of branched pipe pieces are arranged they are connected to one another in a row and the last pipe piece in the row forms a header connected at one end to the exhaust tract leading further on in the exhaust system. The exhaust manifold has at least one exhaust pipe, which is designed as a double pipe with airgap insulation between an outer and an inner pipe, and possessing at least one exhaust pipe without an air insulation gap. The outer pipe and the inner pipe of the airgap-insulated exhaust pipe bear against one another at the end which is plugged together with and welded to an associated inlet flange.

Abstract: A hydrostatic vehicle drive has a control (5) for controlling an output torque of the drive and another control device (5) for controlling the output torque of a hydrostatic drive, the control device (5) having a controllable pressure-limiting valve (6) by means of which the working pressure can be adjusted and which is used for sensitive control of the output torque of a hydraulic motor (3). The pressure-limiting valve (6) can be controlled by a proportionally adjustable pressure-reducing valve (7).

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle axle assembly for a vehicle such as a grass mowing lawn or garden tractor comprising a housing for an internally disposed hydrostatic transmission having a variable-displacement hydraulic pump fluidly connected to a fixed-displacement hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being connected by differential gearing to axle shafts supported in the housing. The housing is formed by three housing members, two of which are preferably separable on a parting plane coincident with the longitudinal axes of the axle shafts. One of the housing members being provided with an opening to allow a portion of one of the other housing members to extend through, and where the extending housing member contains within its interior a number of internal fluid passages for fluidly connecting the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmission generally comprises a sump containing hydraulic fluid, a charge pump in flow communication with the sump for creating high pressure hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid, a center section having hydraulic porting formed therein, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor drivingly connected to the hydraulic pump through the hydraulic porting, and a manifold defining a gallery for storing the high pressure fluid. The gallery is in flow communication with the charge pump and the hydraulic porting.

Abstract: A thermal energy conversion device includes a heat converter composed of a medium containing portion (10) that does not substantially change in capacity and a variable portion (11) that is changeable in capacity, an operating portion composed of a piston (13), a pivot lever (15), and a driving lever (16), a first conversion and storage portion formed of a movement barrel (21), and a second conversion and storage portion formed of a power generator (30). When the ambient temperature changes, heating medium contained in the medium containing portion (10) changes in volume, and the capacity of the variable portion (11) is changed, thereby operating the piston (13). Motion of the piston (13) is stored in a mainspring disposed in the movement barrel (21) via the pivot lever (15) and the driving lever (16), and power is generated in the power generator (30).

Abstract: A variable nozzle turbocharger (12) creates engine boost. Boost is controlled by controlling the position of vanes within turbocharger. A processor develops a control signal (29) for controlling vane position. The processor develops a value for desired boost and processes that value with a value. corresponding to the amount of boost being created by the turbocharger to generate error data (48A) defining error between the amount of boost being created by the turbocharger and the desired boost, and the processor develops a component of the control signal by P-LI-D processing (62) of the error data. Other components of the control signal are a feed-forward value from a look-up table (34) and a value from an overspeed protection function (60).

Abstract: An improved dual-stage, dual-mode turbine combustor capable of reducing nitric oxide (NOx) emissions is disclosed. This can-annular combustor utilizes multiple, single wall sheet metal combustor liners, generally annular in shape, and each liner having multiple hole film cooling means, which includes at least one pattern of small, closely spaced film cooling holes angled sharply in the downstream direction and various circumferential angles for improved liner cooling and improved fuel/air mixing within the liner, resulting in lower NOx emissions.

Abstract: An improved bulkhead for dual fuel industrial and aeroengine gas turbines, that may be formed by one or more bulkhead elements. Each element has a fuel-air channel, having an inlet for introducing air and an outlet for exiting a fuel-air mixture. Each element further includes at least one manifold for introducing a liquid or a gaseous fuel into the fuel-air channel. The channel and the manifold are formed by a plurality of etched layers of macrolaminate or platelet material. Each element may further include an air cooling channel for cooling the backside of the bulkhead. The bulkhead may be used in can and in annular combustors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas turbine (4) having a turbine stage (24) which has a guide blade (26) and a feed (32) for cooling air (K) with a cooling-air outlet (34). The turbine stage (24) can be cooled by the cooling air (K), the cooling-air feed (32) having means via which a predeterminable pressure of the cooling air (K) can be set at the cooling-air outlet (34).

Abstract: A compact, volatile organic compound removal system is presented. The system has a metal condensation plate and a cooling source in intimate thermal contact with the metal condensation plate. The metal condensation plate has a channel formed in the plate, an inlet in the condensation plate for introducing a gas carrying volatile organic compound vapors into the channel, a high surface area metallic structure, such as foamed metal or metallic fins, in intimate contact with the walls of the channel, an outlet in the condensation plate for removing the gas from the channel and a drain in the condensation plate for removing volatile organic compound condensates from the channel. The cooling source cools the channel walls and the high surface area metallic structure so that the volatile organic compound vapors condense on the high surface area metallic structure to be removed from the gas.