Abstract: A steering wheel for an automobile including a brittle plastic impact energy absorber disposed on a boss assembly. The absorber is held in a wheel pad by brackets having a front connector and a rear connector. The front connector is engaged with the front edge of a boss plate, and the rear connector with a wall portion of the main body of the steering wheel or with a support provided in the boss assembly. This engagement is easy to achieve reliably only if the wheel pad is forced down into the boss assembly.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a fluid flow shifting valve of a sanitary mixing faucet assembly or the like of, for example, a bathtub and shower, which raises or lowers a flow shifting valve stem guided in the mixing faucet body so as to shift the fluid flow between two outlets, comprises an operating lever pivotally connected to the valve stem and also attached pivotally to a preferably rodlike, centrally located pivot bearing, wherein the lever arm of the operating lever is proportioned so that a reduced applied force is sufficient to effect a shift in fluid flow. Advantageously the operating lever may be provided with a press contact or a lever cap attached to its top for ease of operation. The operating mechanism is essentially integrated in the mixing faucet body so that it does not protrude significantly.

Abstract: A self-contained, operative, valving unit which includes a valve body having inlet and outlet ports, and a rotatable valve plug is securely though removably housed within a valve housing having inlet and outlet ports which are permanently secured to pipes through which the fluid media to be controlled is conveyed to and from the housing, and wherein the entire valving unit, per se, is received within a valving-unit-receptive bore of the valve housing with its inlet and outlet ports in cooperative, aligned, fluid tight relationship with respect to corresponding inlet and outlet ports interiorly of the valve housing whereby the flow of fluid media through the valve housing is controlled by the removable valving unit.

Abstract: A parking brake operating device in which a member having two cams and spring are disposed outside a handle by coaxially securing a sleeve to one end of a plunger, and by providing in the handle a shaft member for insertion into the sleeve as to be supported, cam surfaces on the expanding portion at the end of the shaft member and at the opposite position on the end surface on the handle side of the sleeve, and in the sleeve a spring for pressing these cam surfaces.This structure enables a rotatable connection of the handle with the plunger only when the handle is pulled such that actuation of the parking brake is maintained even when the handle is turned when mistakenly touched by the hands or legs while the parking brake is actuated.

Abstract: A ball valve having an improved relationship between the ball and associated seat rings and an improved seat ring design. The ball is mounted for selective rotation and limited axial movement in a valve body passageway. Seat rings disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the ball about valve inlet and outlet openings each include a ball engaging surface having an arcuate contour. At a relaxed preassembly reference position, the radius of curvature of the ball engaging surface is greater than the radius of curvature of the ball. Frusto-conical disc springs interposed between each seat ring and an associated valve body shoulder additionally urge the seat rings into engagement with the ball. A reinforcing ring disposed at the forward end of each seat ring acts as a rigid bearing surface.

Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided with a single use safety valve composed of a partially buckled, hollow chamber which is susceptible to further buckling at a preselected pressure. The chamber is mounted and elastomerically sealed in an opening in the vessel held in position by a support frame either interior to or exterior of the vessel.

Abstract: A top-entry ball valve 10 comprising a valve body 12 having a chamber 13, flow passages 14, 15, a ball 20 rotatably mounted in the chamber for movement between open and closed positions relative to the passages, and a pair of seat assemblies 50 at opposed sides of the ball which may be loaded into engagement with the ball or disengaged therefrom. Each seat assembly 50 comprises a seat ring 51 having a rear portion 51a, a larger diameter portion 51b which forms a shoulder 51c, and a face seal 59. Three pins 65 in the seat ring 51 in equiangular spaced relation project from the shoulder 51c. A spacer ring 53 sleeved about the rear 51a of the seat ring 51 is provided with recesses 68 adapted to receive the pins 65. The spacer 53 is mounted for movement between a first position where it is engaged by the tips of pins 65 and a second position wherein the pins 65 are in the recesses 68.

Abstract: A valve having a body with an inlet duct, an outlet duct and a plug rotatably disposed in the body. The plug has a port to provide for fluid communication between the inlet and outlet ducts and is movable between an open position wherein the port at least partially registers with both the inlet and outlet ducts to pass fluid through the valve to a closed position wherein no part of the port registers with the ducts, thereby preventing fluid from passing through the valve. The valve has a pressurizable seal between the body and plug, when the plug is at both the open and closed positions. To actuate the seal, a closed hydraulic system is provided. A regulator piston is urged against the pressure of the hydraulic system with a preselected force to regulate the hydraulic pressure. The valve also includes a mechanism to compensate for hydraulic fluid thermal expansion.

Abstract: This programmer control device comprises a programme-cam unit and a reversing cam unit disposed coaxially and driven for step by step rotation by rocking pawls, notably a pawl cooperating with concentric sets of teeth. The beak of this pawl comprises a stud engaging a slot formed in the first portion of a movable deceleration element having its second portion connected to the first portion by a spring and provided with an extension adapted to be locked in its forward or operative position by the movable core of an electromagnet. The slot formed in the first portion is so inclined that upon each backward movement of the pawl the fall of the beak of this pawl behind each tooth is damped out by the stud in sliding contact with the side of the slot, so as to carry along the deceleration element which may be of the frictional contact type.

Abstract: A plug valve assembly employs a stem having a threaded end, and a shiftable locking key to alternatively interengage the plug with either the stem or the bonnet. When the plug is locked to the bonnet by the key, the threaded part of the shaft will initially lift it from its seat; shifting the key will permit the plug to be rotated by the shaft to open the valve, and the interengagement established by the key will enable return of the plug to orient it for closure.

Abstract: An integrated plumbing fixture for drains and having a P-trap includes a vent downstream of the P-trap and a plurality of horizontally and vertically oriented outlets upstream and downstream of the P-trap, one of which outlets may be selected to accommodate various on-site constraints and requirements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual valve apparatus for controlling hydraulic flow of liquid under pressure in a pipeline and which closes off the flow of liquid in a manner which minimizes surge pressure in the pipeline. The dual valve apparatus comprises a check valve of the swing-flap type with a pressure relief valve mounted in the check valve member.

Abstract: A bursting disc assembly comprises a generally tubular body provided with an external screw thread and, at one end of the body, a counterbore which forms an annular seat within the body to accommodate at least the peripheral regions of a preferably flat bursting disc; a bursting disc located on the seat and a plug with a longitudinal bore pushed into and a tight fit within the counterbore so as to hold the bursting disc in place, the plug being prevented from rotating with respect to the body by knurls which bite into the walls of the counterbore. In use, the assembly is screwed into the housing of a pressure relief device so that the free end of the plug bears against and forms a fluid-tight seal with an opening in the base of the housing and at the same time, the other end of the plug compresses the bursting disc against the seat so as to form fluid-tight seals between plug, bursting disc and seat.

Abstract: A gas safety valve is provided which has a valve chamber within a housing, and a gas inlet and outlet respectively communicating with an inlet and outlet end of the valve chamber. Valve means are disposed in the valve chamber for allowing gas to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the valve means is in an open position, and preventing gas flow when the valve means is in a closed position at either end of the valve chamber. The valve means may comprise a piston having a tortuous gas transmitting opening therein, the resistance to gas flow caused by the tortuous opening rendering the valve means responsive to slight variations in gas pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet. Resilient means are provided which extend between the outlet and the valve means.

Abstract: To prevent spinning of wheels in all-wheel vehicles, a traction control system is used which, in its simplest form, may use existing wheel speed sensors. If any one, or more, or all of the wheel speed sensors provide output signals representative of spinning of a wheel, for example by providing output signals representative of a substantially higher speed than other wheels, or higher than a reference--indicating that all wheels are spinning--an output signal is generated by the electronic control unit (6) which, in turn, controls application of the wheel brake to the respective wheel, thus preventing its spinning. Spinning of any one wheel, of course, causes loss of traction at another one due to the effect of the normally interposed differentials (4, 5, 3a).

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a pressure relief valve comprises a valve body having an inlet passageway and a valve seat surrounding the passageway, a valve element normally engaging the seat to close the passageway; and a shear mechanism for enabling the valve element to disengage from the seat at a selected relief pressure, the mechanism including a bar that engages the valve element and is pivotally mounted on the valve body to one side of the axis of the passageway, a link also pivotally mounted on the valve body to the other side of the said axis, and a frangible member having a non-circular cross-section and being received in aligned holes in the bar and link, one of which has holes of companion cross-sections with that of the frangible member.

Abstract: A piston type pneumatic powered actuator (9) for operating a valve (10) of the expanding gate type wherein velocity of the piston-stem-gate drive train is maintained substantially constant in the latter stage of the actuator stroke. The actuator (9) includes an assembly of dual pistons (61,75) which are adapted to be driven by fluid pressure in one direction to operate the valve but are returned by spring means (66,67) when the fluid pressure is removed. A drive piston (61) directly connected to the actuator stem (23) is nested within a primary piston (75) which is not connected to the actuator stem (23) but moves the drive piston (61) when actuating pneumatic fluid is applied to the actuator (9). A stop (85) affixed to the primary piston (75) is adapted to cooperatively engage the actuator housing (40) to terminate the stroke of the primary piston (75) prior to termination of the stroke of the drive piston (61).

Abstract: A powered adjuster for a three-point hitch upper arm includes a housing adapted for rotatably supporting a drive hub having opposite ends with oppositely threaded openings for receiving the oppositely threaded connection members of a three-point hitch upper arm. A motor is supported on the housing and a drive connection is provided for rotating the drive hub in response to actuation of the motor. Finally, a coacting guide mechanism is provided on the housing and one of the connections members for preventing relative rotation between the housing and connection member while permitting relative axial sliding movement therebetween to accommodate powered extension and retraction of the upper arm by the adjuster of the invention.

Abstract: A stack fitting (10) and coupling (102) combination adapted to be mounted through a floor (104) in a building to prevent the spread of fire through pipe (100, 103) from below the floor is described. The fitting includes a thermally releasable plug (13) mounted in an extension conduit (12) from a main conduit (11) of the fitting which is activated by a fire to allow the plug to move into the main conduit. The fitting is particularly adapted for multi floor buildings where plastic pipe is to be used.

Abstract: A bidirectional valve useful at all temperatures from cryogenic to extreme fire temperatures. The sealing means for the bidirectional valve comprises a metallic sealing element having a pair of spaced sealing lobes defined thereon which are coated with a Teflon compound. A third sealing lobe is defined on the metallic sealing element between the pair of sealing lobes and is constructed solely of metal. A pair of coated sealing lobes further function as wipers to prevent sand, dirt or similar foreign particles from becoming crushed between the valve disc and metallic sealing lobe during the final closing of the valve. When the valve is exposed to fire conditions, the Teflon coated sealing lobes melt out leaving the metallic lobe as the fire safe sealing lobe.