Abstract: The present invention relates to a construction machine having a working oil tank and a switching valve to open/close the pilot line of the hydraulic pressure control system, the return oil from the switching valve being put back to the tank at the bottom through a return pipe, wherein a drain pipe is provided at a portion of the return pipe lower than the tank, while a plug for opening/closing the drain pipe at the outlet thereof, the oil in the working oil tank being discharged through the return pipe in a case where the outlet is opened by the plug. This allows the simplification of the configuration of drain passage as well as the improvement of the efficiency of draining works.

Abstract: A tank transport system consisting of a wheeled cart having compartments for holding tanks includes a hose compartment that stores the hoses for the tanks and other associated equipment. The hose compartment includes a flip down door that, in its open position, is disposed substantially horizontally and contains a number of storage slots for holding equipment. A hose storage rack is provided interior of the hose storage compartment for storing the hoses in a wound state. A number of storage areas are also included within the compartment including a bin formed within the hose rack. A pivotable handle is provided that is used to roll the cart on the wheels. Other storage compartments may also be provided external to the hose compartment.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device is provided which comprises a microchannel device for cutting out a certain amount of a sample from a micorochannel by controlling a valve opening. The fluid delivery device has a valve for controlling a flow of a fluid, comprising a flow channel for the fluid, and a valve in the flow channel, wherein the valve operates in accordance with a pressure difference between the upstream side and downstream side of the valve caused by the flow of the fluid through the flow channel, allowing the fluid to flow when the pressure difference is lower than a prescribed value P0, and intercepting the fluid not to flow when the pressure difference is P0 or more.

Abstract: A sewage system for vehicles that includes a waste hose that is extendable and retractable.

Abstract: A liquid-handling apparatus has a liquid switch, which has a first channel branching into a second and a third channel, wherein the channels are formed in a rotation body. The channels are adapted to route a liquid volume from the first channel into one of the second channel and the third channel dependent on whether a Coriolis force and/or an Euler force prevails a centrifugal force or not. A liquid-handling apparatus having such a liquid switch is particularly suited for applications in which different volumes of liquid have to be passed through a stationary phase.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve 1 is provided with a body 2 having a flow-in passage 6, a flow-out passage 7, and a valve seat 8 formed between the passages; a diaphragm 3 installed in the body 2 and permitted to rest on and move away from the valve seat 8; and a driving means 4 installed on the body 2 to allow the diaphragm 3 to rest on and move away from the valve seat 8, wherein synthetic resin films 5 of predetermined thickness are coated on fluid-contacting parts 25 of the afore-mentioned body 2 and diaphragm 3. A diaphragm valve in accordance with the present invention prevents corrosion of the valve members caused by accumulation and adherence of substances produced by thermal decomposition, and prevents clogging caused by substances produced, and prevents seat leakage when applied in the vacuum exhaust system of a semiconductor manufacturing facility.

Abstract: A tank jacket that has a top portion and a body portion made of a durable flexible material such as nylon is dimensioned to fit over the outside of a storage tank. The top portion includes a hole for receiving the regulator assembly. Specifically, the regulator assembly is removed from the tank, typically by unscrewing the assembly from the tank, and the jacket is fit over the tank so that the hole aligns with the tank's fill/dispense port. The regulator assembly is then reattached to the tank to retain the jacket on the tank. The tank jacket supports a hose support assembly for storing the supply hose and a plurality of pockets for retaining various accessories and tools.

Abstract: A pivot assembly provides an economical means for reducing the load on a manually operated hand jack by providing a pivot point on the body of a connecting rod which allows for an additional degree of movement. The pivot assembly may include a thrust bearing to further reduce friction on the connection rod.

Abstract: A bio-battery includes a biomolecular energy source, a first electrode and a second electrode. In some configurations, a bio-battery may also include a first cell containing the first electrode and the biomolecular energy source, and a second cell having a reducible substrate and the second electrode. The first cell can be in ionic communication with the second cell, for example by a proton exchange membrane. Various biomolecular energy sources can be used, including proton donor molecules or electrolytically oxidizable molecules. For example, the biomolecular energy source can be selected from the group consisting of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH), Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADPH) and 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (FADH).

Abstract: An automatic flush actuation apparatus, which is incorporated with a flushing system having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating therebetween, that includes a valve member being moved by a flush lever for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing from the water inlet to the water outlet, and a sensor-operated powering assembly including a relief valve provided at the valve member for controlling the water flowing to the water outlet and an actuator arranged in such a manner that while sensing a presence of a user of the flushing system, the actuator is driven to move the relief valve to an opened position for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing to said water outlet.

Abstract: To detect the volume of gas remaining in a gas bottle or a fixed tank of a system for supplying liquefied gas as fuel for a combustion engine, a positive temperature coefficient (or PTC) probe (16) is placed in the gas feed line (12) between the gas source and the combustion engine. The PTC probe (16) detects the change of phase, from the liquid phase of the liquefied gas to the gaseous phase, in the feed line (12) and delivers an electrical signal to an electronic circuit that triggers a visual or audible signal in response to the detection of the phase change.

Abstract: Fuel cell catalyst layers, and related systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve device for regulating a fluid, particularly a gaseous fluid, in a conduit portion, comprising a valve body fixed to a support spindle extending transversely into said portion and mounted with the ability to rotate therein, said conduit portion comprising, on either side of said spindle, opposing internal steps forming two bearing surface portions for corresponding edge parts of said valve body, in the closure position thereof, each step extending substantially over approximately half of the internal circumference of the conduit portion in the region of the mounting position of the support spindle.

Abstract: An apparatus for sampling or feeding a flowable material through a wall of a vessel or conduit includes a body having a collection chamber formed therein. A passage has an opening operatively connected to the collection chamber. An orifice is formed in the body and is in communication with the collection chamber. The orifice is located generally adjacent the opening of the passage. A sealing device is mounted to the body to seal and unseal said orifice. Furthermore, at least a portion of the opening of the passage is located flush with or on a process side of the wall of the vessel or conduit when the apparatus is mounted to the wall of the vessel or conduit.

Abstract: A fuel tank made of a plastic material and fitted with at least one fuel accessory attached to an inside surface of a wall thereof, wherein the fuel accessory is attached to a predetermined site at the inside surface by fusion welding. Further there is disclosed a fuel accessory for attaching to a site at an inside wall portion of a plastic material fuel tank, comprising a housing formed with an engaging surface attachable to the site. The engaging surface is fitted with a fusion melting element for fusion welding the fuel accessory to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A system and method for dewatering a subsurface vault housing a portion of a pipeline is provided. The dewatering system includes a fluid inlet pipe adapted for fluidly communicating with the pipeline and redirecting fluid being transported by the pipeline to a fluid pump system. The fluid pump system includes a pump capable of being operated solely by the redirected fluid for removing fluids, such as water, from within the subsurface vault. A fluid outlet pipe in fluid communication with the fluid pump system returns fluid not used to operate the fluid pump system back to the pipeline for being transported downstream from the dewatering system. A liquid level sensor is used for generating and transmitting a signal to a valve when the water within the subsurface vault exceeds a predetermined level for permitting the redirected fluid to flow to the fluid pump system.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices that include a reset lockout mechanism are provided. The GFCI comprises a reset button which is selectively blocked from resetting the GFCI.

Abstract: A chip resistor includes a resistor element of a rectangular solid made of an alloy composed of high-resistant metal and low-resistant metal. The resistor has connection terminal electrodes disposed at the ends of the resistor element that are spaced longitudinally of the rectangular solid. The resistance of the chip resistor is lowered without incurring an increase in the temperature coefficient of resistance and the weight. A plating layer is formed on the resistor element, where the plating element is made of pure metal having a lower resistance that that of the alloy constituting the resistor element.

Abstract: A high pressure valve assembly (10) comprising a valve sleeve (14) and a valve body (16) slidably mounted in the valve sleeve (14) is disclosed, the valve body (16) and valve sleeve (14) each having first ends (18, 56) and second ends (20, 58). A sidewall (22) extends between the valve sleeve first end (18) and second end (20) which sidewall (22) has an inner surface (24) and an outer surface (26) and at least one opening (30) therethrough. The sidewall (22) also includes at least one channel (40) having a first end (42) facing the inner surface (24) at a first location closer to the first valve sleeve end (18) than to the second valve sleeve end (20) and a second end (44) facing the inner surface (24) at a second location closer to the second valve sleeve end (20) than to the first valve sleeve end (18). A method of using the valve assembly (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided. The handheld electronic device includes a keyboard assembly, a display positioned adjacent the keyboard assembly, a processor structured to receive inputs from the keyboard assembly and to output to the display as a function of the inputs, the processor further structured to run a disambiguation routine. The keyboard assembly includes a printed circuit board, a primary conductor portion, a secondary conductor portion, and a keyboard assembly. The printed circuit board has a plurality of electrical contacts. The conductor assembly has a plurality of primary conductors and a plurality of secondary conductors, each the primary conductor and secondary conductor structured to correspond to, and engage and close, at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts. The keyboard assembly has a plurality of keys each having one or more indicia thereon.