Abstract: An electro-hydraulic control structure having a control input positioning a flapper relative to a nozzle to generate a control output pressure is provided with a squeeze film damper which utilizes the flapper, or an extension thereof, as the movable element of the squeeze film damper. Preferably the flapper is pivoted and forms with the nozzle exhaust passageway a tapered gap receiving a small portion of the nozzle flow which acts as the damping fluid. The majority of the nozzle flow passes through a hollow portion of the flapper located downstream of the nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible sealing ring for a valve having a generally S-shaped cross-section and an extension from one end of that S-shape. The extension is mounted on the valve body and serves as a cantilever means for the sealing ring which is thus sealingly engagable with the peripheral sealing surface of a movable valve member pivotally positioned within the valve passageway. The sealing ring is formed from materials capable of withstanding high temperatures (1000.degree. F.) for sustained periods without impairment of its' sealing capacity. The sealing ring may be used in cooperative combination with other sealing rings, including heat destructible materials such as "Teflon", to form valve seal means effective over a range of temperatures and pressures, including firesafe valve seal means.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of selecting and controlling the mass flow rate of a gas to be substantially constant over extended periods of time at very low flow rates and very low gas partial pressures is disclosed.

Abstract: A back pressure inducer and check valve is disclosed for use with a fluid system having inlet passageway, an outlet passageway and in which fluid flows from the inlet and to the outlet passageway. The back pressure inducer comprises a valve seat secured to the system and having a fluid port fluidly between the inlet and outlet passageways. A valve member is movable between a closed and open position to variably open the fluid port while a spring urges the valve member towards its closed position. Cooperating conical surfaces on the valve member and valve seat form an annular passageway when the valve member is in its open position to produce controlled pressure drops between the inlet and outlet conduit over a wide range of fluid flow rates.

Abstract: A passive solar heating liquid storage tank is formed of multiple thin sheets of thermoplastic or thermoset material to provide a lightweight, inexpensive and high volume tank. The multiple sheets have a plurality of parallel undulations or corrugations transverse to their surfaces. The undulations form spacial wave trains of given amplitude and frequency so that when their peaks are secured together they form generally parallel circular tubes. One of the pair of sheets has a third sheet secured to its surface. The third also has undulations in its surface with spacial frequency at least as great as the frequency of the wave train of the pair of sheets. Peaks of the third sheet are then secured to exterior peaks of the pair of sheets. Such construction forms a tank having the strength of parallel cylindrical tubes but with total volume approaching that of tubes having a rectangular cross-section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic relay valve for regulating output pressure in proportion to a control pressure.The relay valve includes a first piston member which is acted on by the control pressure and a second piston member which is acted on by the input pressure.A compression spring is located between the two relay piston members.The strength of the compression spring determines the height of a predetermined minimum controlled pressure even if the input pressure is subsequently lost or drops to a low value.In addition, the output pressure of a receiver can be maintained at a specific adjustable level which may be below the maximum pressure value of the input pressure due to the compression spring located between the two relay piston members.

Abstract: A fluid pressure equalizing valve adapted for use in hydraulic systems includes a valve body having fluid inlet, working and vent ports, a valve plug in the valve body having a working passageway and a vent passageway formed therein and communicating with the peripheral wall thereof, the plug being rotatable in the valve body between a working position wherein the working passageway is aligned with the inlet and working ports and a vent position wherein the vent passageway is aligned with the inlet and vent ports. The valve plug includes a plurality of orifice passageways formed therein communicating the peripheral wall thereof with the vent passageway, each orifice passageway having a substantially smaller diameter than the working passageway. Means are provided for preventing fluid flow through the orifice passageways when the valve plug is in the working and vent positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid pressure and signal controller (60) that is adapted to regulate a fluid pressure regulator (16) by means of rotation of a cam (24) in response to rotation of a shaft. The controller is additionally provided with means for generating signals at one or more predetermined positions on the cam by movement of an output member (48) that is in contact with a profiled surface (40, 40') of a body member (38) which in turn is caused to move in response to movement of a cam follower (42) that is in contact relationship with the cam. Means are provided such as threads (51) are provided for adjusting the rotative position of the body member with respect to the position of the cam follower to account for any change in the initial position of the cam member and to enable more than one of the signal generation means to be positioned at different locations about the cam.

Abstract: A control component such as a valve or throttle member for a hydraulic system comprises an outer member, and a body portion disposed in the outer member and having an outside surface co-operable with an inside surface of the outer member, the outer member and body portion being movable relative to each other. The flow duct extending between the inlet and outlet of the component includes at least one flow passage which opens at the outside surface of the body portion, and the mouth opening of the flow passage communicates with a curved duct portion which extends at an inclined angle relative to a radial plane through the body portion. The flow section of the or each duct portion decreases towards the tip thereof, to provide finely adjustable control of the flow of fluid through the component.

Abstract: A pneumatic timer has a cylinder (3) containing a piston (4), which is movable upwards and downwards to vary the volume of a chamber (11) below the piston by means of a screw-threaded spindle (7) and a screw-threaded sleeve (9) which is rotatable by a knob (10). Air is supplied to the chamber (11) via an inlet (26) and a long spiral groove (17, FIG. 2) formed in a disc (14), which is incorporated in the piston (4). When the air pressure in the chamber (11) reaches a predetermined value, the valve (5) is actuated by a diaphragm (12) and the time taken for this to happen from initiation of the air supply is varied by moving the piston (4) to alter the volume of the chamber (11). The air flow into the chamber (11) is accurately metered by the groove (17) and may be made much smaller than that through a variable orifice as is done in existing pneumatic timers. The timer is accordingly more accurate and provides longer time intervals than can existing timers of a similar size.

Abstract: The hydraulic distributor, more particularly for power steering systems of vehicles, comprises two rotary members (1-3, 9) which are so designed as to form a substantially disc-shaped cavity (8) divided up in at least one pair of working chambers (28) by arms (13, 14) belonging to one (9) of said members (or rotor). These arms cooperate with inlet (18) and outlet (24) ports in the other member (1) (or stator) so as to form control valve means for controlling activation fluid flow supplied from a pressure generating source (26). The rotor (9) has at least one intermediate arm (33) which extends into each of the chambers of the pair of working chambers (28, 43) and which cooperates with fluid passage ports (36) in the stator in order to form additional fluid flow control valve means.

Abstract: A solenoid control valve comprising a valve body enclosing an armature and reversible valve means including a valve seat adapted to be received within the valve body including at least one flow passage and a movable valve closure element such that when said valve seat is received in one orientation the solenoid control valve is of the normally open variety and when inserted in an opposite orientation said solenoid control valve is of normally closed variety.

Abstract: An injection gas system for downhole equipment such as gas operated pumps or gas lift valves which shuts off injection gas at the surface in response to injection well pressure dropping to a selected amount and after a selected time to permit liquids from the well formation to rise in the well opens the shutoff valve and permits supply gas to be injected into the well. The control valve is closed by gas pressure in response to a Bourdon tube contracting with lower well pressure which activates a timer. As the timer runs down, it controls pressure to open the motor valve.

Abstract: A flexible tube connected to a drop chamber is closed off by a clamping force applied by a pinch clamp. A cam which presses against the pinch clamp to initiate the drop-wise flow of a fluid forms an electrical contact with an extension of the clamp. Prior to the start of drop-wise feed when the cam and clamp are not in contact, the cam is driven toward the clamp at high speed until contact is made, at which point the drop-wise feed begins. At the instant of contact, a control signal is produced in response to which a speed changeover circuit is actuated to drive the cam at low speed, whereby control is executed in such a manner that the fluid drop rate gradually approaches a set drop rate at the low speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved shuttering device for preventing back-flow in air conduits or the like. The device includes an attachment section and a frame section, the latter being provided with a series of elastic lamellae shiftable between blocking and unblocking positions within the frame, the frame having in addition guide plates extending axially of the conduit to prevent transverse currents.

Abstract: A multi-channel, laminar-flow fluid valve has a base portion, a top portion, and an intermediate gasket portion held together by a centrally-located pivot pin. The top portion is rotatable with respect to the gasket and base portions, and has a circular depression or trough concentric with the pivot pin and adjacent to the intermediate gasket. A series of openings are provided through the top portion, equidistant from each other along the trough. A series of ports, aligned with the series of openings, extend from the outside of the top portion for connection to distribution tubes. Inner and outer ridges, concentric with the pivot pin, project from the gasket portion toward the top portion to fit within the inner and outer edges of the trough, respectively. Smaller circular ridges, fitting between the inner and outer ridges, are positioned to align with the series of openings through the top portion.

Abstract: A piston for use in spring-closed valves whose semi-toroidal shape minimizes the possibility of the piston jamming during tipping motions while providing maximum guidance, sealing area and maximum bearing material for resisting side wear.