Alliance Plastics, LLC

Donald C Olson

A flange disc for protecting a flange having an inner annular machined surface surrounded by an outer surface with bolt holes extending through the outer surface and opening to a back surface opposing the outer surface, includes: a disc of flexible material having a size corresponding to a size of the outer surface of the flange to selectively cover the inner surface, outer surface and bolt holes, the disc defining a disc plane; and a plurality of connectors symmetrically located about a periphery of the disc at locations corresponding to at least some of the bolt holes, the connectors being integral with the disc and having, at one end, a resilient hinge portion and, at an opposite end, an engagement portion for engaging the corresponding bolt hole, the connectors rotating about the hinge portion between a transport position in which the engagement portion is in the disc plane and an engagement position in which the engagement portion is angled with respect to the disc plane for engaging the bolt hole.

Flange protector having integral connectors

A separator for a vacuum loading system is located in a flow path of an air/particulate mixture between a loading system and a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump drawing the air/particulate mixture from the loading system through a liquid chamber to trap particulate matter in a liquid while the air in the air/particulate mixture is drawn through the liquid and into an air chamber for return to the vacuum pump. The separator also includes a level detection device within the reservoir for detecting a predetermined level of the liquid in the reservoir and outputting an inlet signal when the actual liquid level is less than the predetermined level; a drain valve in the liquid chamber of the reservoir for selectively draining the liquid filter from the reservoir; an inlet operatively communicating with the level detecting device for introducing the liquid into the reservoir in response to detection of the inlet signal; and a vacuum cutoff operatively communicating with the level detection device for disabling the vacuum pump in response to detection of the inlet signal. A control periodically opens the drain valve for a predetermined time period to drain the liquid from the reservoir. The draining actuates the level detection device to output the inlet signal to open the inlet and activate the vacuum cutoff. The drain valve opens upon completion of the predetermined time period. The vacuum is restarted and the inlet closes when the actual liquid level returns to the predetermined level.

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Erie, PA, United States of America

Donald C Olson