Other

Act Distribution, Inc.

Metlund Enterprises

Lund Company, Ltd.

Spear Harvesters

William J Lund

Dennis K Metzger

A static mixer for liquids or gases includes a housing having a continuous inner surface defining a fluid flow path for liquids or gases, an inlet to the fluid flow path, and an outlet from the fluid flow path, and an insert extending longitudinally through the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The insert is elastically expansive to exert outwardly directed pressure against the continuous inner surface of the housing. In one embodiment, the insert is hollow and has deflectors dispersed therethroughout and each projecting inwardly into the fluid flow path. In another embodiment, the insert includes a helical deflector extending inwardly into the fluid flow path from the continuous inner surface, and helically about a longitudinal axis of the housing.

Static mixer inserts and static mixers incorporating same

An asparagus harvester includes a chassis movable over a bed of growing asparagus. Spears above a selected height are severed at the ground by a severing assembly. A conveyor receives from a pick-up apparatus and conveys away asparagus spears severed by the severing assembly. The severing assembly includes a severing blade carried by a plunger mounted in a pneumatic cylinder. Conduits couple the pneumatic cylinder to a source of air under pressure through a valve unit operable for actuating the pneumatic cylinder to repeatedly fire and withdraw the plunger for repeatedly moving the severing blade back-and-forth along a stroke path between a raised set position and a lowered severing position proximate to the ground. A heater mounted proximate to the valve unit is configured to sufficiently heat the valve unit to enable the valve unit to operate in the presence of an ambient temperature sufficiently low to impair its operation.

Asparagus severing assembly with heated valve unit, asparagus lifting apparatus with asparagus spear guides and interfering member, and asparagus harvester formed therewith

Plumbing apparatus is provided for reducing energy consumption of a hot water heater, the apparatus includes a tank and a buoyant piston movably disposed within the tank and having a perimeter slidably engaging an inside wall of the tank. Water entering a top of the tank pushes the buoyant piston towards a bottom of the tank and at a selected position, grooves are provide in an inside wall of the tank to enable entering water to pass the buoyant piston. When the apparatus is connected between a conventional hot water heater and a cold water source, the water heater is buffered from the cold water source for small draws of water from the hot water heater thus preventing such small draws of water from tripping the water heater thermostat.

Hydrothermal stabilizer

Plumbing apparatus is provided for reducing energy consumption and controlling increases in water pressure of a hot water heater. The apparatus includes a tank and a buoyant piston movably disposed within the tank and having a perimeter slidably engaging an inside wall of the tank. Water entering a top of the tank pushes the buoyant piston towards a bottom of the tank and at a selected position, grooves are provide in an inside wall of the tank to enable entering water to pass the buoyant piston. When the apparatus is connected between a conventional hot water heater and a cold water source, the water heater is buffered from the cold water source for small draws of water from the hot water heater thus preventing such small draws of water from tripping the water heater thermostat. The buoyant piston is designed to enable expansion of tank capacity such that upon increases in water volume due to thermal expansion, pressure within the tank is controlled and rupture of the tank is prevented.

Hydrothermal stabilizer and expansion tank system

A hot water appliance is provided with an accelerated delivery system which includes a pump interconnected between hot and cold water fittings and a control system for causing the pump to circulate water from the hot water fitting into the cold water fitting when the hot water appliance is turned on. Temperature sensor is provided for causing the control system to stop the pump to prevent heated water from being circulated into the cold water fitting. In addition, a hot water demand system may incorporate a sound sensor detecting water flow in a hot water delivery line and a sound-generating element may be provided for providing a characteristic sound in response to water flow in the hot water delivery line.

Hot water demand appliance and system

A method for sealing cable conduits utilizes a spray nozzle which includes at least two compartments for holding chemical compositions in a spaced apart while a piston is utilized for simultaneously forcing the chemical compositions out of the compartments and into an elongate nozzle for commingling the chemical compositions and introducing the commingled compositions into the end of a cable conduit in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of the elongate nozzle to cause complete wetting of the conduit inner surface with the commingled composition before foaming thereof.

Method for sealing cable conduits

A hot water recovery system includes a hot water source; a hot water delivery line connected between said hot water source and at least one plumbing fixture along with a cold water delivery line connection between said plumbing fixture, a cold water source and said hot water source; a pump, interconnected between said hot and cold water delivery lines, enables circulation of water from the hot water delivery line through the cold water delivery line and into the hot water source, thus eliminating the need for a separate recirculation system. A control system causes the pump to circulate water from the hot water line into the cold water line and back to the hot water source when a hot water valve on said plumbing fixture is turned on; and a temperature sensor stops the pump, via the control system, to prevent heated water from being circulated through the cold water delivery lines.

Hot water demand system suitable for retrofit

A syringe-dispensing system includes a housing containing at least one sealed bag of a fluid reactive compound and a nozzle in fluid communication with the housing for providing an outlet from the housing for the compound. A shaft disposed within the housing and attached to a handle for moving the shaft longitudinally within the housing is provided, along with apparatus for piercing the bag upon movement of the shaft in one direction. A piston enables forcing of the compound out of the housing through the nozzle upon movement of the shaft in an opposite direction.

Quick shot single barrel dispensing system

A paper transfer feed separator automatically separates paper-drive edge tear strips from paper forms along perforations. The paper transfer feed separator may be hand-held and motor driven for removing the paper drive edge tear strips after the paper form is removed from a printer, or the like, or incorporated into a printer so that separation of the edge strips occurs simultaneously with printing on the paper. The frame of the separator causes a divergence in the paths of the body of the form and the edge paper strip to cause separation thereby, eliminating the need for knife blades or other elements requiring maintenance.

Paper separator

Paper trimmer for tearing away edges of perforated computer paper

A demand recovery hot water system in accordance with the present invention provides for return of hot water from a plurality of plumbing fixtures to a hot water source. A transfer tank is provided with a movable piston which enables circulation of hot water without significant loss thereof. Continuous circulation is not required thus reducing operating costs.

Demand recovery hot water system

A plumbing system in accordance with the present invention provides for accelerated hot water delivery to a plurality of plumbing fixtures from a hot water source. Flow switch means are provided to enable a pump to circulate hot water to the plumbing fixtures in response to water being withdrawn from a plumbing fixture. In addition, the hot water source may include a hot water recovery apparatus for withdrawing hot water from circulation pipes subsequent to cessation of water flow from a plumbing fixture.

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Stockton, CA, United States of America

William J Lund