Abstract: A flat plate solar collector system embodying a plurality of individual conventional solar collector panels in which the frames of said panels are provided with notched portions or recesses for the reception of union type pipe couplings joining the headers of adjacent panels to permit the several panels to be assembled in butted side-by-side or precisely contiguous relation. Additionally, cover plates are provided for the recesses to present a unitary appearance to the assembly.

Abstract: In a hose and pipe coupling having a coupling head and a nozzle which is insertable therein and which is lockable therewith by a locking element inserted in the coupling head, wherein the locking element consists of a spring-elastic ring having a slit and onto which are formed two oppositely directed arcuate spring arms embracing the coupling head and starting from the slit, and the coupling head having a slit-shaped circumferential opening for receiving a plug as well as an internal annular groove for the partial reception of the spring-elastic ring, the nozzle at the coupling side being provided with an annular groove for at least partially receiving the spring-elastic ring in the connected condition of the nozzle, wherein the improvement consists of a protective cap displaceably arranged on the coupling head so that after the nozzle and coupling head are connected together, the cap is slid over the elastic ring. The elastic ring includes gripping knobs formed on the outer ends of its spring arms.

Abstract: The invention refers to a plastic pipe or hose connection arrangement for fuel conduits for use in motor vehicles, and in particular for fuel conduits in a fuel injection installation with a hose spout carried by a connecting piece, on to the nipple of which the pipe or hose end is pushed.

Abstract: There is provided a clamping member for attaching one part of a two part coupling device to a conduit, such as a hose, said clamping member comprising a body section having a bore running therethrough and comprising a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being adapted to be connected to one part of the two part hose coupling device.

Abstract: A gap or space existing in thick concrete coating on sea floor pipeline, as at welded joints, is temporarily filled before lowering pipeline to sea floor. The filling can be constituted with hardwood blocks which can be held in place on the pipeline, as at a welded joint, by conventional steel or other banding retention means surrounding the same. Usually, a circumferential gap or space exists between the end of the thick concrete coating on one segment of pipe and the end of a similar coating on another segment of pipe which have been welded together, the circumferential gap or space existing at the welded portions of the two segments. Ordinarily, the filling or blocks will be on the underside of the pipeline thus to allow it to pass over rollers on the pipelaying barge stinger, thus to avoid damage to the yard-applied concrete coating when pipeline is temporarily laid on the sea bottom as when a storm is expected and then subsequently picked up and hauled back aboard the barge.

Abstract: Conduit means interconnect a hydraulic pump and a tank, the pump in turn being drivingly connected with a transmission. The conduit means include first and second conduits in telescoping and sealing relation which allows a degree of misalignment of one conduit relative to another, and allows one conduit to be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the other.

Abstract: A corrosion proof meter riser for attachment to a subsurface polyethylene pipe carrying fluid at high pressure, which comprises a length of selected polyethylene tubing adapted to be attached at a first end to said polyethylene pipe, and heat seal means and cylindrical seal for attaching the second end of the polyethylene tubing to a first end of a selected length of fiberglass tube of substantially the same radial dimensions. The fiberglass tube is molded with a circumferential ridge near its second end. A riser body, comprising a metal pipe of suitable interior diameter has a coupling at one end which is screwed to the pipe. The coupling has an internal shoulder which cooperates with the ridge on the outer surface of the fiberglass tube, so that when the joined fiberglass and polyethylene tubing is inserted into the body, the ridge rests on the shoulder and can be locked in position by a nut to seal that end of the body.

Abstract: A device for connecting successive duct sections, especially between a sea-bed petroleum storage tank and a surface platform, comprising a flexible tubular joint secured at both ends to two cylindrical coupling units slidably mounted respectively within two duct sections to be coupled together, remotely operated means for anchoring each coupling unit within an end-shoe and remotely operated means for forming a tight seal between the external surface of the coupling units and the internal surface of the duct sections.

Abstract: A gas riser apparatus and method for conducting gas from a source of supply to a delivery point such as a meter or the like. The gas riser apparatus is defined by a double walled conduit including an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member. Sealing structure is provided at the double walled conduit for the purpose of sealing the riser apparatus. The method of the invention is directed to method steps for conducting gas from a source of supply below ground level to a delivery point above ground level.

Abstract: A coupling sleeve for joining the ends of two conduits. One end is threaded, the other is unthreaded. The coupling sleeve has a female thread which engages the threaded end. The unthreaded end has a terminal portion of reduced external diameter running to an inwardly displaced groove in which a locking ring is disposed. The end of the coupling sleeve which engages the unthreaded conduit end has a recess in which the locking ring is axially slidable and a flange that engages a full diameter external section of the unthreaded end. The recess is long enough to permit the coupling sleeve to be fully received on the unthreaded conduit end when the female thread is disengaged from the threaded end of the conduit.

Abstract: A swivel connector between a flexible hose and a nozzle has a reduced portion of a first body secured to the nozzle and an enlarged portion of a second body secured to the hose with the first and second bodies, which have an enlarged portion of the first body overlapping a reduced portion of the second body, providing aligned passages therethrough to provide communication between the hose and the nozzle. A plastic thrust bearing is disposed between a metallic ring secured by set screws to the enlarged portion of the first body and a metallic ring mounted by flats on the ring cooperating with flats on the reduced portion of the second body so that each of the rings rotates with the body to which it is connected.

Abstract: An adjustable drop nipple is disclosed for connecting a pendant sprinkler to a sprinkler system. The nipple includes outer and inner telescoped pipes with a gripping means therebetween which permits an adjustment of the telescoped relation of the pipes for a desired position of the pendant sprinkler below a drop ceiling.

Abstract: An expansion joint having a working element of polytetrafluoroethylene is protected from fire by jacketing with an enclosure of refractory material. The jacket has openings through which pipe passes to and from the joint. A gland is inserted within the openings around the pipe for closing most of the gap therebetween while affording sufficient freedom of movement not to interfere with motion of the joint. Each gland is formed from a metal ring, channel shaped, coated on all surfaces with an intumescent material which expands in a fire to seal all remaining gaps between the pipe and the encircling opening in the jacket whereby hot gases are barred from passage. Alternatively, where radial movement is not required, the intumescent material may be coated directly on the refractory material around the opening surrounding the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a splice case for covering the spliced junction or area of two multiwire cables with the advantage of being able to re-enter the splice area without destroying the integrity or the reuseability of the splice case. The splice case includes a tubular cover of resilient elastomeric material over a generally rigid sleeve member and a pair of ribbons positioned therein between to provide a means for rolling the cover back onto the sleeve member.

Abstract: For conveying a fluid from or towards a subsea duct by means of a buoy having universal type joints, the improvement consisting in that the joint pins and the buoy legs have hollow spaces or bores therein to allow fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: This invention relates to connected parts of a long concrete pipe made by connectng some short concrete poles or concrete piles which are separately manufactured. Especially in case that a bending moment acts on an upper part of a concrete pipe having connected parts, in order to increase the strength of the connected part against the bending moment an annular concave part is made on the outer periphery of the joined part of end plates which are fixed to reinforcements at the ends of concrete pipes, and a reinforcing split ring is inserted into the said concave part and is welded to the said end plates.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a sheathed, hollow, cylindrical stick composed of a flexible tube folded by longitudinal shirring, the improvement comprising a cylindrical, flexible jacket means enveloping said stick and projecting over the ends thereof, parts of the projecting portions touching the end walls of said stick with their inner sides, annular disc means on said projecting portions, and said projecting portions being inverted outwardly around said disc means in a manner such that the inner walls, the end surfaces and the outer walls of said disc means are tightly covered, and said inverted portions being parallel to said jacket means and close to the exterior thereof. The invention also includes an embodiment wherein annular disc means are inserted inside the jacket means and adjacent to the end walls of the stick, the projecting portions of the jacket means are inverted around the annular disc means and clamping means are inserted in the opening of the annular disc means.

Abstract: A snap-in connector for coupling a flexible metallic raceway to an electrical enclosure formed from a shell member, to engage the material about the knock-out in an electrical enclosure, and a core member, to engage, hold and ground a flexible metallic raceway. The core member has a cylindrical central portion about which is positioned an inwardly facing rib in the form of a portion of a helix to engage the voids between the covolutions of the raceway to hold the raceway and provide electrical continuity therewith. The shell member and core member are coupled together and provide a first lip to limit connector insertion into the knock-out and in cooperation with latch means to hold the connector to the material about the knock-out while the latch means prevents withdrawal of the connector from the knock-out.

Abstract: A pipe coupling affording electrical continuity between all coupling components despite dielectric pre-coating of the individual components. For rendering the coupling components electrically conductive as where required for cathodic protection in a buried underground installation, conductive elements extending through and about the gasket effect electrical continuity between the follower, middle ring and contained pipe. At the same time, selectively located protuberances on each bolt are bared and reliably penetrate the coating on one follower while the bolt nut on makeup penetrates the bolt thread coating and the opposite follower to respectively insure their conductive continuity in the assembly.

Abstract: A system for joining aluminum pipe designed as a housing for electrical cable surrounded with oil under pressure is provided. The aluminum pipe sections which are to be joined are filament wound. The pipe sections are joined by welding or soldering. Sealing rings are filament wound into bonding engagement with the exterior of each pipe section near the mating ends thereof. The ends of the pipe are bare aluminum. A sleeve encompassing the joined pipes extends over at least the bare aluminum ends of the joined pipe sections. A cavity formed between the sleeve and the joined pipe sections is filled with a thermosetting polymeric compound which is cured. The joint system is designed to prevent both corrosion of the pipe and oil leakage past the sealing rings in the event of failure of a weld or solder joint.

Abstract: A heat recoverable closure article and a method for covering a conduit junction having at least three arms. The article comprises a radially heat-shrinkable tubular member, or a member in sheet form having its opposite edge regions held together to form the tubular member. The member includes a heat-shrinkable aperture with a surrounding wall, the wall being such that, on heating, its height and periphery are reduced.

Abstract: An expansion joint having a first corrugated tubular member including a plurality of ridges and valleys and having connections at each end for connection in a conduit in which a protective member including a second corrugated tubular member is sized to encircle the exterior of the first tubular member and includes a plurality of ridges and valleys mating with the ridges and valleys of the first member. The second protective tubular member receives any material flowing through a leak in the first member and prevent spraying of the material to the surroundings. The second member is flexible for moving with the first member and preferably the second member is transparent whereby leaks in the first member may be visually observed.

Abstract: The irrigation apparatus includes a quick-connect, self-piercing drip emitter insertable in a plastic pipe to effect a controlled, localized trickle of irrigating water. The apparatus is usable either above the surface of the ground or below the surface and may include a protective wrap to keep dirt from clogging the emitter and to spread the flow of irrigating water over a larger area.

Abstract: A cover for covering elbows or angles in tubular conduits formed in the shape of a convoluted sheet of material such as polyethelene, and shaped to form a first stable configuration state fitting part way around the object to be covered. Opposite ends of the cover are caused to encircle the selected portion of the object in a second stable configuration state. In other embodiments, the cover has an integral part thereof, coupling ribs, adhesive, a tongue-in-sleeve or belt-in-loop arrangement or other coupling means or combinations of coupling means by which two opposite ends of the cover are coupled together around an object.

Abstract: A protector for well tools such as drill pipe tubing, and the like, which is positionable about a joint of a drill pipe or tubing and which is moved into pre-determined position on the box-half of a tool joint by the pin-half of the tool joint as it is moved into telescoped and threaded engagement with the box-half.