Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7997297 | System and method for performing a chemical experiment The invention relates to a system for performing parallel chemical experiments. The system comprises an array of parallel flow through reactors each comprising a reaction chamber, a reactor inlet and a reactor outlet connected to the reactor chamber. Downstream of e... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7516753 | Toilet tank plumbing fixture assembly A plumbing fixture assembly for a toilet tank comprising an upper portion that connects with a valve, a lower portion adapted for engagement with the upper portion, and an attachment pipe that that connects at a first end with lower portion and at a distal end with ... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7392820 | Liquid shut-off valve An automatic shut-off valve suitable for watering of batteries is disclosed. The valve is formed by a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A seat surrounds the outlet. A spring biased piston within the cylinder is movable into and out of sealing engagement with th... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7293577 | Toilet tank plumbing fixture assembly Described is a plumbing fixture assembly 10 for a toilet tank 14 comprising an upper portion 24 that connects with a valve 18, a lower portion 26 that is adapted for engagement with upper portion 24, and an attachment pipe | 11/13/2007 |
| 7243669 | Float-responsive valve with premature closure prevention A float-responsive valve includes a valve actuator that is selectively responsive to operation of a float to move from a first position to a second position in which the valve actuator holds the valve element in its open position. When the valve actuator is in the s... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7216664 | Device for blocking the water outlet of a light liquid separator The aim of the invention is to block the water outflow from a light liquid separator comprising an outflow ascending pipe (1) with a lower inlet (3), and a horizontal output pipe (2). To this end, a blocking element (4) displaced by a flo... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7047999 | Humidification chamber with float-valve having improved float A method is disclosed for the manufacture of a float (30) comprising the following steps: providing a mould (10) having a first enclosure (12) opening into a second enclosure (14) of greater dimensions than the first enclosure (12)... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044165 | Outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet An outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet of a liquid reservoir comprising a restriction plate mountable within the liquid outlet for limiting a flow rate of an effluent. The restriction plate allows a lower passage for the effluent when a first level of ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6971331 | Water dispensing device, kit and method A water dispensing device, an associated kit and a method of using same are disclosed for use in hydrating a pet such as a dog or cat. The water dispensing device includes a base unit slidably attached to a storage vessel. The base unit includes the interconnected c... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6913047 | Drop tube assemblies adapted for use with a liquid reservoir Drop tube assemblies are provided and adapted for use with a liquid reservoir. One exemplary drop tube assembly includes a first conduit, a second conduit and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve member, a float, and a linkage device pivotally conne... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6845782 | Multiple tank circulating fuel system An apparatus and method for the balancing of fuel among tanks in a circulating fuel system. The tanks in the system have both a draw conduit and a return conduit mounted to and extending into the tank. Flow restriction devices are mounted in both the draw and the re... | 01/25/2005 |
| 6670585 | Humidity cabinet with automatic fluid fill system A fluid fill system includes at least one sensor for indicating whether a fluid level in a reservoir is equal to or greater than a predetermined fluid level and a process control. The process control obtains a reading from the at least one sensor at a pre... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6499503 | Backflow valve A backflow valve has a closure gate that is pivotally mounted for movement between an open position in which the closure gate is positioned on a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a flow passage and a closed position in which the closu... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6497143 | Container with automatically controlled discharge for continuous metering of liquid flow Liquid, such as milk, enters the sealed container from an inlet at the top of the container and exits through an outlet at the bottom of the container. The quantity of liquid in the container is sensed and a microprocessor calculates the total volume of l... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6446665 | Backwater valve A backwater valve includes a body having a flow passage extending therethrough with an inlet side and an outlet side. A closure gate is pivotally mounted within the body above the inlet side of the flow passage. The closure gate has an open position above... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6415813 | Shut-off valve for a tank A shut-off valve for a tank, including a filling tube with a filling-side valve seat and a tank-side valve seat. The seats being spaced apart from one another in a throughflow direction of the filling tube. A valve body with a sealing element is movable b... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6318404 | Backflow valve A backflow valve which includes a closure gate pivotally mounted along a substantially vertical pivot axis to one of the opposed sides of the valve body. A closure gate engaging profile positioned in a bottom of the valve body locks the closure gate in th... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6148852 | Sump pit regulating valve A valve assembly that is composed of simple parts is described that is used to provide a sump pit water control device that operates due to the level of water within the sump and not by electricity. This valve assembly includes an adapter in the form of a... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6021807 | Water refilling control mechanism for a water tank A water refilling control mechanism for a water tank comprises a main float sliding along an inlet pipe and further having an extruder located at the bottom thereof for connecting with an extension bar and further connecting to a supporting bar and a wate... | 02/08/2000 |
| 5950692 | Arrangement for limiting the fill level of a fuel tank In an arrangement for limiting the fill level in a fuel tank having a filler neck with a tank inlet end, a valve flap is pivotally supported in the inlet end such that, in an open position, the valve flap is pivoted toward the fuel flow entering the tank ... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5941417 | Fill system equipped with apparatus for continuous controlled inflow to a balance tank A system to be utilized at a dairy in the distribution of a pumpable food product from a storage tank to a filling machine for dispensing into containers. The system includes a balance tank for storing the product on the filling machine. The balance tank ... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5814213 | Skimming apparatus An improved skimming apparatus for skimming a two component liquid includes a housing mounted to a tank below the normal liquid level for the tank, an outlet for pumping fluid from the submerged housing and an intake structure extending upwardly from the ... | 09/29/1998 |
| 5421110 | Electric iron with reservoir fill-check float valve An electric iron includes a soleplate and a housing connected to the soleplate. The housing forms a water reservoir. An opening is formed in an outer wall of the housing. A valve seat is formed adjacent the top of the opening. A float valve having a speci... | 06/06/1995 |
| 5406972 | Backwater valve A backwater valve is described which includes a liquid retaining body having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, opposed sides and an inner chamber. A first flow conduit extends through one of the top of the body and the first end adjacent the top... | 04/18/1995 |
| 5398735 | Filling regulator for liquid storage tank A filling regulator for a liquid storage tank of the type according to which a float is displaced vertically in the float chamber provided in the body of the regulator. The regulator includes a deflector slanted over the inner wall of the body and install... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5388622 | Automatic shutoff valve A two-stage float actuated shut-off valve for use in underground fuel storage tanks utilizes a drop tube coaxially mounted within the storage tank fill pipe. Fuel flowing into the tank is passed through the drop tube which projects downwardly into the int... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5121770 | Hydraulically controlled valve for a cool tower and the like A valve operating on hydraulic pressure for the control of water being deposited onto evaporative pads located on a cool tower. The valve utilizes water flow to fill a basin or tank which is slowly being drained. When the tank is empty, a valve is opened ... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5027870 | Overfill prevention mechanism for storage tanks A float chamber located in generally parallel, laterally spaced relationship to the main liquid flow passageway contains superimposed floats that move along a substantially linear path of travel. The floats cooperate with other control components to effec... | 07/02/1991 |
| 4868933 | Flush control devices A flush control device for controlling the flush operation of a flush toilet having a cistern, a feed water control mechanism fluidly coupled to a water supply pipe and a flush water control mechanism fluidly coupled to one end of a flush pipe, the opposi... | 09/26/1989 |
| 4689472 | Control device for corrosion testing apparatus A control device for a corrosion testing apparatus includes an airtight air saturation tower which is adapted to contain a liquid. A heater is provided in the tower to heat the liquid. A sensor is provided adjacent a wall of the tower, to sense an abnorma... | 08/25/1987 |
| 4627460 | Condensate discharge device for combustion apparatus A condensate discharge device for combustion apparatus which automatically drains condensate from the combustion chamber or flue while preventing escape of gaseous products of combustion. The device includes a housing having an inlet in its upper end conn... | 12/09/1986 |
| 4568369 | Method and apparatus for rapidly altering the temperature of fluid in a closed vessel To alter rapidly the temperature of fluid 3 in a closed vessel 1, a nozzle 6 is disposed above the vessel 1, and an annular cross-section jet 17 of liquid at an appropriate temperature is directed at the vessel 1 so as to form a coherent film 18 covering ... | 02/04/1986 |
| 4461735 | Humidifier with water overflow relief mechanism An evaporative humidifier having a float operated relief mechanism that is normally air tight, and will release excess water from the humidifier, should the water inlet valve malfunction, to preclude liquid water from getting into the stream of air being ... | 07/24/1984 |
| 4318421 | Float controlled syphon valve for swimming pool cover A float controlled valve syphons water out of a swimming pool cover. The syphon valve includes co-operable male and female valve members disposed for mutually relative movement to bring them into and out of mutual engagement to thereby close and open flow... | 03/09/1982 |
| 4187262 | Carbonator and liquid level control A carbonator has a pressure vessel, a nozzle for introducing water and carbon dioxide into the vessel, a water level control including a reed switch and a magnetic float for sensing the level of water and operating the reed switch; a novel housing enclose... | 02/05/1980 |
| 4019454 | Boat plug apparatus A boat plug apparatus is described comprising a boat having a circular drain hole at the exterior of the transom, and a ball which is pivotally attached to the transom exterior on both sides of the drain hole. The ball is positioned to be partially contai... | 04/26/1977 |
| 3985626 | Arrangement for regulating the distillate height level in the degassing stage of an evaporation installation An improved liquid level regulator is associated with the reservoir of a degassing stage of an evaporation installation wherein a pump connected to the output of such degassing stage is effective to propel the distillate at an ideally constant rate out of... | 10/12/1976 |
| 3974654 | Self-regulating tide gate A self-regulating device for controlling the flow of water from a conduit open end into a reservoir or wet marshland and to an outside body of water, such as tidal water, which includes a gate pivotally mounted at its bottom edge so as to be pivotable upw... | 08/17/1976 |
