Abstract: A fail safe mechanism is provided for locking an actuating piston rod of a fluid operated actuator in a selected axial position in the event of a failure, or significant decrease in, the fluid pressure applied to the actuator. Preferably, a secondary cylinder is provided within the actuator cylinder and is in fluid communication therewith. A piston in the secondary cylinder is biased toward a locking position by a spring and is shiftable toward a released position by the existence of a predetermined amount of fluid pressure in the main cylinder. An annularly extending locking mechanism is provided in surrounding relationship to the actuating piston rod and is radially movable into engagement with a locking shoulder on such piston rod when the rod is shifted to one of its selected axial positions by the application of fluid pressure to the cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for connection along a conduit for free flowing transmission of fluids in a first direction and for selective control of fluid flow in a second direction. The apparatus provides means whereby fluid flow in the second direction in excess of a predeterminable rate of the fluid flow permits a fixed volume displacement of fluid within the conduit without limitation upon the predeterminable rate of fluid flow. The apparatus also defines second means whereby fluid flow in the second direction and within the predeterminable rate of fluid flow permits an unrestricted volume displacement of the fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: An interface assembly is provided for operation with the spool valve elements comprising means which are extendable to the spool and a piston head element within the housing and carried around the extension means for travel along the extension means in response to pressure variation. Spherical means are securable on the piston head together with means for urging the spherical means toward the spool extension means. First and second camways are defined on the extension means for travel of the spherical means which are secured on the piston. A shoulder on the extension means defines the intersection between the first and second camways and resists travel of the piston-housed spherical means along one of the camways when the piston is shifted in a first direction.

Abstract: Valve means associatable with free traveling spherical means are sealing engageable onto and wipable off of companion seats to selectively control flow. A spool permits selective movement of the head means to the seat means and selective engagement of the head and seat means upon shuttling.An interface assembly comprises means which are extendible to the spool and a piston head element within the housing and carried around an extension for travel along the extension in response to pressure variation. The piston head is shiftable in a first direction in response to fluid variation for travel along the extension for transfer of the spherical means within the piston from one camway to another camway without movement of the spool within the housing.

Abstract: A control fluid valve assembly is provided which is respondable to a pressure monitored fluid. The assembly preferably comprises first and second valve seats within a housing. A spool element is shuttleable within the housing near the valve seat by either manual or mechanical manipulation to first and second positions and is responsive to pressure variation within the monitored fluid to shuttle it to a second position. Balls are contained in first and second valve head groups and are carryable by the spool element, the balls being selectively sealingly engagable onto and wipable off of the valve seat means to control fluid flow of the control fluid within the assembly in response to the pressure monitored fluid. A plurality of seals are defined between the housing and the spool means to prevent fluid communication therebetween and to define flow passageways across the spool.

Abstract: A thermally activatable safety valve apparatus is provided with a timing assembly and valve means operationally associated with the timing assembly. First and second fluid transmission means are provided through the apparatus, with one of the first and second fluid transmission means being isolatable by activation of the timing assembly. A thermally activatable trigger means isolates the other of the said first and second fluid transmission means and also initiates the closure of the valve means associated with the timing assembly.