A utility conduit and related methods of assembling lengths of utility conduit with a mechanical spline connector. The utility conduit includes opposed male and female ends, wherein the male end is slidably insertable into the female end of adjacent conduits. The female end includes one or more circumferential sealing channels into which a seal member is positionable and an internal spline groove that is circumferentially defined inside the conduit. The female end includes a wall bore through a conduit wall that intersects with the internal spline groove. The male end includes an exterior spline groove on an exterior of the conduit. A spline can be inserted through the wall bore and into a space cooperatively defined by the internal spline groove and the external spline groove. The spline is inserted such that the spline occupies the space cooperatively defined by the internal spline groove and the external spline groove.

Quick connect fluid connectors with modular connection state sensors removably or detachably mounted thereon. Each modular connection state sensor is configured to sense a connection state of the fluid connector it is mounted on. The connection state sensor indicates that the fluid connector of the first fluid system is connected to the second fluid system prior to initiating fluid flow between the first and second fluid systems. The connection state sensor senses movements of one or more elements of the quick connect fluid connector that is involved in the actual connection of the fluid connector to the second fluid system. The elements that are sensed can be, for example, one or more cylindrical sleeves of the fluid connector or a piston of the fluid connector. Therefore, the connection state of the fluid connectors can be determined accurately.

A fluid line connector and assembly provides remote securement detection and is hence equipped for initial assembly, subsequent quality inspection, and subsequent service techniques that are automated, robotic, and/or autonomous. The fluid line connector includes a body, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, and a switch. The body has a passage for fluid-flow therethrough. The RFID chip has an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. The switch interacts with the antenna to enable the antenna to transmit and receive RF signals, and to alternatively disable the antenna from transmitting and receiving RF signals.

A portable frame is configured to be transported by the forks of a fork lift truck and has hydraulic lines releasably connectable to the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pressure system of the fork lift truck. A valve and a set of hydraulic lines are mounted on the portable frame for releasable connection to the hydraulic fluid lines of a tillage machine so that an inexpensive fork lift truck may be utilized to test operation of hydraulically actuated tillage components.

A portable frame is configured to be transported by the forks of a fork lift truck and has hydraulic lines releasably connectable to the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pressure system of the fork lift truck. A valve and a set of hydraulic lines are mounted on the portable frame for releasable connection to the hydraulic fluid lines of a tillage machine so that an inexpensive fork lift truck may be utilized to test operation of hydraulically actuated tillage components.

A clothes dryer vent connection system 10 includes a vent housing 14 that has a forward inlet for receiving the dryer exhaust and a side outlet for routing the dryer exhaust to an outlet hose. The vent housing 14 includes a flat forward face 18 with a center hole 16 that can be placed in registry with the center opening of a magnetic boot 46 of a connector 24, which is attachable to a clothes dryer vent tube 26. The vent housing 14 is positioned in fixed location so that the clothes dryer vent tube 26 is in alignment with the housing opening 16. As such, the connector 24 attached to the dryer vent tube is also in registry with the housing opening. A secure connection is achieved by placing the magnetic boot 46 of the connector 24 against the housing front face 18 with the center of the boot section 46 aligned with the opening 16 of the vent housing front face 18.

A hose coupling system includes a first hose coupling defining a through passage with first and second open ends, the first hose coupling having a hose fitting at the first open end and a flange at the second open end, the flange having a face defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses. Magnets are disposed respectively within the circumferentially spaced recesses. The hose coupling system further includes a second hose coupling defining a through passage with first and second open ends, the second hose coupling having a hose fitting at the first open end and a body with a face at the second open end, the face defining an annular recess receptive to the flange of the first hose coupling, the body further defining a receptacle for a mount and having a boss protruding outwardly from within the receptacle. A ferromagnetic ring is disposed within the annular recess.

A water delivery device includes a first conduit section and a second conduit section rotatably coupled to the first conduit section by a magnetic joint. The magnetic joint includes a plurality of magnets that cooperatively define a plurality of rotational positions between the first conduit 5 section and the second conduit section.

A liquid dispenser filling hose for use in filling a liquid dispenser with liquid from a liquid reservoir via a pump, comprising: a distal coupler for coupling the filling hose to the liquid dispenser; and a controller arranged to control the pump. The liquid dispenser may be filled using a method comprising: providing a liquid reservoir, a pump and a controller arranged to control the pump, and a filling hose having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the filling hose being coupled to the liquid reservoir; coupling the distal end of the filling hose via a distal coupler to the liquid dispenser; and transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir via the filling hose to an airless liquid container forming part of the liquid dispenser. A system for filling a liquid dispenser, comprising: the liquid filling hose; and a liquid reservoir and/or liquid supply station is also described.

A faucet includes a base and a spout. The base is configured to be coupled to a mounting surface. The spout is rotatably coupled to the base. The spout includes a plurality of magnetic joints each including a different number of magnetic members, and a plurality of conduits rotatably coupled to each other by a magnetic joint of the plurality of magnetic joints. The spout extends from the base to a free end configured to discharge a fluid. The plurality of magnetic joints are arranged such that the number of magnetic members on each magnetic joint progressively increases from the free end to the base.