Kohler Company

Dorner Mfg. Corp.

John C Redding

Wolfgang C Dorner

Kenneth N Hansen

Todd A Eggebrecht

Jeffrey A Schumacher

Ravi Kumar Rajendran

Douglas J Brouwer

A quick connect and disconnect system for a fluid coupling includes an axially extending fitting configured to be secured to a fluid conduit, a clip, and a quick connect and disconnect adaptor. The clip is coupled to the fitting and includes a base, a wing extending from the base, and a first lug extending from the first wing. The quick connect and disconnect adaptor includes a first release tab configured to resiliently deflect through an aperture of the adaptor. The adaptor is configured to transfer a compressive force to resiliently deflect the first lug to move the clip in an axial direction from an installed position to an uninstalled position.

Quick connect release system for a fluid coupling

A quick connect and quick disconnect adaptor for a fluid coupling system is provided. The adaptor includes a first half having a center point, and a sidewall at least partially defining a plurality of bores. Each of the bores contains an aperture, and each of the bores terminates at the center point. The first half further includes a plurality of release tabs. Each release tab is configured to resiliently deflect through an aperture, and each release tab terminates at the center point. The adaptor further includes a second half, which is at least partially symmetric to the first half.

A handle assembly for a rotating shaft which reduces shaft wobble. The handle assembly has a bearing in the form of a split ring which is arcuate in cross section to provide a reduced friction when the bearing is placed between the shaft and a housing axial bore. The handle assembly is employed to engage and rotate the stem of a valve. In a preferred manner, the bearing affords a cavity for a shaft lubricant.

Handle assembly for rotatable stem

Disclosed herein is a mechanism for remotely opening and closing a drain of a basin by means of a flexible rod moving through a non-linear tube. The rod connects a drive member, pushed or pulled by a user, with a member linked to a plug which opens and closes the drain. Within the bend of the tube, the flexible rod and/or tube are configured to leave a void between them in order to reduce friction. The configuration of the rod may include one or more bulbous ends or a lobed cross-section.

Apparatus for opening and closing a drain

An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding aritlce to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifed from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor. As the composite stack approaches the downstream end of the secondary conveyor, the individual articles are separated from the stack and fed to a third conveyor, which conveys the articles in uniformly spaced relation to working equipment.

Apparatus for storing stacks of articles and subsequently unstacking the

An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding article to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifted from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor. As the composite stack approaches the downstream end of the secondary conveyor, the individual articles are separated from the stack and fed to a third conveyor, which conveys the articles in uniformly spaced relation to working equipment.

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Oostburg, WI, United States of America

John C Redding