Abstract: A four-way slide valve including an elongated valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and two working ports. A slide assembly within the body is movable longitudinally to alternatively interconnect the outlet port with one or the other of the working ports. The slide assembly carries two longitudinally spaced-apart first and second pistons which define first and second chambers between the pistons and their respective ends of the valve body. Passageways within the slide assembly provide communication between the first chamber and the outlet port, and a control device, such as a pilot valve within the valve body, selectively provides communication between the second chamber and either the inlet port or the outlet port, so as to cause the slide member to move to one of its extreme positions or the other.

Abstract: A proportional flow valve wherein inlet fluid pressure urges the valve member toward the valve set. A pressure member, which may be a rolling diaphragm, has an effective area about equal to that of the valve orifice and is also subjected to inlet fluid pressure, when the valve is open, to counterbalance the force of the inlet fluid pressure on the valve member. A spring constantly urges the valve member toward the valve seat, to close the valve, and a solenoid actuator, when energized, moves the valve member way from the valve seat against the force of the spring. The distance which the valve member moves from the seat, and hence the rate of flow through the valve, is proportional to the amount of current applied to the solenoid actuator. A pilot valve controls the flow of inlet fluid pressure to the pressure member.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire, a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil, and a non-electrically and non-magnetically conductive material encapsulating the coil and yoke. A pair of terminals connected to the ends of the coil project outwardly beyond an exterior surface of the encapsulation. Any of a variety of electrical connection modules is adapted to receive the coil terminals and electrically connect them to standard electrical connectors projecting from the module. Different modules have different forms of standard electrical connectors, so that regardless of the type of connector available at the source of electric power, a suitable module can be connected to the encapsulated coil for cooperation with the power source connector. The body of each module is formed of resilient material so that when the module is tightly attached to the coil encapsulation, a seal is formed completely surrounding the coil terminals.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire having a central opening, a yoke of magnetic material permanently surrounding the coil, and a stationary armature permanently secured to the yoke and projecting from the yoke into the central opening in the coil. A core tube of non-magnetic material is removably retained within the central opening in the coil, the core tube having a closed end engaging the stationary armature and the core tube being separable from the coil-yoke-armature assembly. A movable armature within the core tube is slidable toward and away from the stationary armature. A stationary armature extension of magnetic material surrounds the exterior of the core tube, the extensions being an element independent of the stationary armature. The extension may be an annular element, coaxial with the core tube, which engages the stationary armature. The extension may be a ring having a wall of uniform or non-uniform thickness along its length.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire wound about an axis, an enclosure for the coil, a receptacle carried by the enclosure for accommodating a mounting member of a device to be controlled by the solenoid actuator, a slideway carried by the enclosure extending transverse to the coil axis, and a fastener movable within the slideway for latching and unlatching the enclosed coil to the device to be controlled. The coil enclosure is a plastic encapsulation, the receptacle is an opening in a surface of the encapsulation, and the slideway is a chamber within the encapsulation intersecting the recess. The mounting member, which may be secured to a core tube within which the movable armature of the solenoid actuator is located, has an annular slot, and the fastener is a clip formed of sheet metal having edges which slide into the slot to latch the enclosed coil to the mounting member.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire, a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil, and a non-electrically and non-magnetically conductive material encapsulating the coil and yoke. A pair of terminals connected to the ends of the coil project outwardly beyond an exterior surface of the encapsulation. Any of a variety of electrical connection modules is adapted to receive the coil terminals and electrically connect them to standard electrical connectors projecting from the module. Different modules have different forms of standard electrical connectors, so that regardless of the type of connector available at the source of electric power, a suitable module can be connected to the encapsulated coil for cooperation with the power source connector. The body of each module is formed of resilient material so that when the module is tightly attached to the coil encapsulation, a seal is formed completely surrounding the coil terminals.

Abstract: A solenoid arrangement including a coil of electrically conductive wire and a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil. The coil is completely encapsulated by a thermosetting resin, the resin being located between the coil and the yoke, and the yoke being encapsulated by a thermoplastic resin. Preferably, the thermosetting resin is an epoxy resin, and the thermoplastic resin is nylon. The yoke includes a side wall extending around the entire periphery of the coil, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the side, top, and bottom walls forming a box-like housing which substantially completely encloses the coil. A stationary armature extends from the top wall of the yoke into the center of the spool upon which the coil is wound, and a sleeve for accommodating a core tube extends from the bottom wall into the center of the spool.

Abstract: A valve including a pilot valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and an orifice between the ports surrounded by a valve seat. A valve member is movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat to close and open the valve, respectively. The valve member can be oscillated to permit a reduced rate of flow through the valve. The valve member may be carried by the armature of an electrical solenoid; when the solenoid is energized by full wave AC power, the valve is held open in a stable condition, and when the solenoid is energized by half wave AC power, the valve member oscillates. The valve is used as the pilot valve of a main valve, wherein when the valve member is oscillated to permit reduced rate flow through the pilot valve, the main valve remains closed.

Abstract: A rotary valve includes a rotor having at least one internal flow passageway therein extending between ports for providing communication between various pairs of flow passageways in the body of the valve. The rotor includes an annular surface for sealing engagement with the body, at least one of the rotor ports being disposed on the annular surface. A continuous resilient seal is disposed between the sealing surfaces of the rotor and the body to provide static and dynamic sealing. A spherical surface disposed between the rotary drive and the rotor applies axial pressure to the rotor, the surface accommodating rocking of the rotor to insure uniform loading thereof. Further, loading of the seal between the rotor and body is adjustable externally of the valve.

Abstract: An electrical switching device having an actuator reciprocable between two extreme positions, the switch being open and closed, respectively, when the actuator is in its two extreme positions. An electrical operator, such as a solenoid having a movable armature, responds to successive momentary energizations by moving the actuator first to one extreme position and then the other. The actuator is mechanically held in each extreme position by a spring-biased element which also serves to transmit movement of the actuator to the switch contacts. The actuator may have a cam surface shaped to cause opening and closing of the switch contacts, the cam surface also cooperating with the spring-biased element for urging the actuator toward each of its extreme positions. The switching device may be used for interrupting electric power to a customer of a utility by being located between a watt-hour meter and the customer's load, or in other similar applications.

Abstract: A system for transferring a load from a first to a second AC power source, including a monitor for sensing both power sources and producing an output signal when the differences in voltage, frequency, and phase between the two sources are within prescribed limits. Contacts close, in response to the monitor output signal, to connect the second power source to both the first power source and the load. Other contacts open, to disconnect the first power source from the second power source and load, but only after the second power source has been connected to the first power source and the load. The contact arrangement may include an automatic transfer switch and separate contacts in parallel with one or both sets of transfer switch contacts, or it may involve two independently operable contactors, or it may involve a four position switch.

Abstract: A switch for interrupting electric power to the customer of a utility, the switch including two female contacts for accepting the male plug-in contacts of a watt-hour meter, and two male contacts for insertion into the female contacts which ordinarily receive the male contacts of the meter. A switch is located between one of each female contact and its corresponding male contact, and an operator, such as a solenoid, opens the switch(es) in response to a signal, so as to disconnect the customer's load from the utility source. A latch holds the switch(es) open until another signal causes a second operator, such as a solenoid, to deactivate the latch and permit the switch(es) to reclose. An auxiliary switch in the circuits for energizing the two solenoids deenergizes the first solenoid when the switch(es) are latched open, and deenergizes the second solenoid when the switch(es) become unlatched and move toward their closed condition.

Abstract: A self-cycling valve including a main valve and an operator valve. The main valve comprises a body having an inlet port, an exhaust port, and two outlet ports, and valve elements for controlling communication between each outlet port and the inlet and exhaust ports. The operator valve has a valve member movable between two extreme positions for controlling operation of the valve elements of the main valve. In one extreme position of the valve member, one outlet port of the main valve communications with the inlet port and the other outlet port communicates with exhaust; in the other extreme position of the valve member, the outlet port connections are reversed. The valve member of the operator valve cycles between its extreme positions in response to fluid pressure levels at the outlet ports of the main valve.

Abstract: A slow-opening valve including a main valve, a chamber for receiving a control fluid other than that controlled by the main valve, and a member within the chamber responsive to the volume of control fluid in the chamber for opening and closing the main valve. A solenoid pump, including an armature and an electrical solenoid for vibrating the armature, produces fluid flow in small increments with respect to the chamber to effect opening of the valve. An auxiliary valve, which opens and closes in response to the position of the solenoid pump armature, controls flow of fluid with respect to the chamber for closing the main valve.

Abstract: A valve having a flexible diaphragm for opening and closing the valve. The diaphragm is biased into valve-closing position by a ridge, formed in the valve body, which presses the diaphragm toward the valve seat. A rigid backup washer is secured to the diaphragm solely by an elastomeric type adhesive. A bleed hole in the diaphragm establishes communication between the valve inlet port and a chamber on the side of the diaphragm opposite the valve seat. The bleed hole is in the margin of the diaphragm which is sandwiched between two portions of the valve body.

Abstract: A control panel, formed entirely of solid state components, for an automatic transfer switch which alternatively connects a load to a normal source of power or starts up an emergency source of power and connects the load to it. The control panel includes monitors for the normal and emergency sources, the monitors having a pickup voltage and a lower dropout voltage, relays for initiating operation of the emergency or normal sources when the normal source drops below the dropout level or the emergency source rises above the pickup voltage or frequency level, and time delay circuits between the monitors and the relays preventing operation of the relays unless the voltage levels exist beyond the time periods provided.

Abstract: A valve, for sequentially operating a plurality of main valves, including a valve body having a plurality of inlet ports for connection to a plurality of main valves, respectively, and a chamber for receiving high pressure fluid from the inlet ports. A pilot valve, which may be operated by a solenoid energized and deenergized periodically by an electric timer, relieves pressure in the chamber each time it opens and permits pressure to build up in the chamber each time it closes. A sequencing valve member permits only one inlet port to be in communication with the chamber each time the pilot valve is opened, so as to relieve pressure in only the main valve connected to that one inlet port. The sequencing valve member may be an apertured rotatable disk slidably engaging valve seats surrounding the inlet ports. An operator responds to successive closings of the pilot valve for indexing the sequencing valve member so that each inlet port in turn communicates with the chamber.

Abstract: A valve member including a flexible diaphragm movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat to close and open the valve, respectively. A rigid support plate rests against the face of the diaphragm opposite the face which engages the valve seat. A stem projects from the plate, through a hole in the diaphragm and into the orifice surrounded by the valve seat. The diaphragm and plate are not rigidly secured together, so that the entire diaphragm is free to flex with respect to the support plate. A pilot passageway may extend completely through the plate and stem. The stem is long enough such that the lower end of the pilot passageway is below the plane of the valve seat even when the valve is open. An abutment, such as an outwardly projecting bead, on the lower end of the stem prevents accidental separation of the plate and diaphragm before they are assembled with a valve.

Abstract: A valve disk assembly comprising an inverted cup-like holder accommodating a resilient disk, and being devoid of any fastening means for retaining the disk in the holder. The disk has a hole extending between its faces through which the region between the disk and the top wall of the holder communicates unobstructedly with the low pressure region surrounded by the valve seat when the disk is seated on the valve seat to close the valve. Sealing means, which may be a peripheral lip carried by the disk, restricts flow of high pressure fluid from beneath the disk into the region between the disk and holder. The top wall of the holder may be imperforate or have a hole aligned with the hole in the disk, depending upon the type of valve with which the disk assembly is used.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly including a plurality of main electrical switches, an operating device for opening and closing the main switches, and a single interrupter switch connected in parallel with the main switches and operable by the operating device. The interrupter switch opens only after any of the main switches opens, so that the single interrupter switch serves as the arcing contacts for all of the main switches. The operating device may include a shaft which is rotatable to operate the main switches and which is shiftable longitudinally to operate the interrupter switch. The shaft may carry a radially projecting follower pin slidable within a fixed guide slot shaped to insure the desired sequence of operation of the plurality of main switches and the interrupter switch. The interrupter switch, which may be a conventional circuit breaker, is a self-contained unit physically separate from the main switches.