Abstract: A water or other fluid containing system is protected by a thermostatically controlled drain valve having input, output, drain and control ports. A slideable barrier within the valve selectively directs the flow within the valve between the ports. A small coupling orifice through the barrier allows equal static pressures to develop on opposite sides of the barrier, and a thermosensitive relief mechanism at the control port relieves the pressure on one side of the barrier when ambient temperature drops below a predetermined level. Unequal pressures upon the barrier shift the barrier, redirecting the flow within the valve.

Abstract: A two fluid safety valve having a two part housing with a float therein that closes a gas port in response to a liquid head in the valve to prevent fluid from flowing through the gas port but opens the gas port to allow gas ingress or egress when the liquid head is less than a predetermined value. The two part housing comprises two members that are bonded to each other to separate when the pressure in the valve exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A pair of butterfly smoke/fire dampers are mounted on a single frame. Each damper includes a pair of blades which can be locked in the open position and which, when released, rotate about a hinge to the closed position. The frame has a flange around the inner periphery thereof which engages the edges of the blades in the closed position. Each pair of blades are moved to the open position by an operator cable which extends through a first ferrule in the frame, through a second ferrule in one of the blades and thereafter across the blades to a point of attachment complementally located on the opposing blade. The frame ferrule is offset from the blade ferrule whereby withdrawing the cable causes both blades to be drawn toward each other. The blades can be held in the open position by maintaining tension on the operator cable or by a fusible link or other heat responsive latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A solenoid operated shutoff valve for compressed air has a tubular ferromagnetic core which is surrounded by an excitable coil and confines a reciprocable ferromagnetic plunger movable into and from sealing engagement with a fixedly mounted valve seat. The seat is installed in one of two coaxial tubular sections of the core and the other section has an axial opening for admission of compressed air to one end face of the plunger so that the other end face of the plunger normally bears against and seals the fluid evacuating opening in the seat. The periphery of the plunger is formed with straight and/or helical grooves defining discrete paths for the flow of compressed gas from the other section of the core into the opening of the seat when the coil is energized to propel the plunger away from the seat. The plunger may be formed with an axial bore which establishes a further path for the flow of compressed air into the opening of the seat.

Abstract: A valve operator for a normally open valve is maintained in a cocked, ready to close mode by an arrangement which includes a radially contracted, self-expansible split retainer ring backed by a body of fusible material. Should the vicinity of the associated valve be subjected to the heat of a fire, the fusible body will melt out of blocking relation, permitting the split ring to expand free of the operator stem. A cocked spring recovers, axially moving the stem both to shut the valve and to engage a metal-to-metal back seat between the valve stem and valve bonnet. The latter event ensures against leakage even if the fire or wear has ruined the integrity of the usual valve stem packing. The valve operator is further provided with a manual override which permits the valve to be closed and opened, e.g. using a remotely actuated pneumatic operator even while the body of fusible material remains intact and in place.

Abstract: The disclosure of this specification illustrates and teaches the use of a self contained breathing apparatus for attachment to a user's back and incorporates a plurality of tanks having a manifold between them that is common to all with a single filling block leading thereto, and a reserve system mounted at one end thereof. The reserve system comprises a poppet valve which signals a loss in pressure by closing, after which it can then be actuated to open it for supplying the remaining portion of the reserve breathing gas through the manifold.The system also has a first and second stage regulator to provide regulated breathing gas to a user. The first stage regulator incorporates a dynamically balanced piston which is supported by an O Ring or torroidal member that is deformed through its cross section to provide movement to the valving piston. The O Ring is eliptical through its cross section.

Abstract: An improved flow control device for regulating the flow of fluid through flexible tubing wherein the flow control device utilizes a rotatable member with trunnions positioned to be captively guided and rotated along guide surfaces. The rotatable member is easily inserted into the clamp body yet once it is placed therein it is difficult to remove without excessive force. The clamp body affords a rigid structure with the opposing walls being fixed at their ends yet are flexible enough to afford entry of the rotatable member into the clamp body for placement of the trunnions in the guide surfaces. In one embodiment, a ramp means is provided through an infeed section wherein the ridge portions forming the ramp merge with the guide surfaces so that when the trunnions of the roller move up the ramp and onto the guide surfaces, an outward flexing of the clamp wall is effected with a retention of the trunnions on the guide surfaces.

Abstract: An anesthesia apparatus which comprises at least two flow meters, an oxygen gas supply means for supplying oxygen gas to one of said flow meters, a nitrous oxide gas supply means for supplying nitrous oxide gas to another one of said flow meters, at least two flow rate adjustment valves disposed between the one of said flow meters and said oxygen gas supply means and between said another one of said flow meters and said nitrous oxide gas supply means, respectively, each of said flow rate adjustment valve including a valve element having a predetermined shape to vary the rate of flow of each of said gases substantially in proportion to the amount of movement of said valve element, a flow control means connected to said flow rate adjustment valves for actuating said valves, and a flow rate adjustment means operatively connected to said flow control means and operative to set a selected angular position of said flow control means with respect to said flow rate adjustment valves for thereby determining the relati

Abstract: A clamping device for a fluid conduction tube comprises first, second, and third body members which are pivotally interconnected for movement between a generally flat, unfolded position and a folded together position in which the first and second body members generally face each other, and the third body member is generally perpendicularly disposed therebetween. The device may be slidably attached to the tube when the body members are in the unfolded position, and, when the device is in the folded together position, a portion of the tube is clamped between the first and second body members, thereby effectively blocking fluid conduction through the tube.

Abstract: A seating element is positioned in a flow cutoff device. The seating element includes a central opening for conducting fluid flow. The flow cutoff device includes an apertured sealing member which slides across a seating portion of the seating element between open and closed positions. The seating portion includes a rim surrounding the central opening and a transverse surface surrounding the rim. The rim projects axially beyond the junction of the rim and surface. The seating element is mounted under compression so that the transverse surface flexes against the sealing member and functions to scrape away particulate matter when the sealing member is opened and closed, and to prevent twisting of the rim.

Abstract: A dump valve apparatus is described which may be used to drain a chemical reactor tank. The valve includes a valve seat ring having a substantially vertical inner seat surface defining a discharge passage, a valve plug having a substantially vertical outer side surface which fits in the seat ring and a seal formed between such vertical sealing surfaces. The valve inlet and outlet openings are aligned with the vertical discharge passage through the seat ring and the sealing surfaces are vertical to minimize the amount of material deposited thereon. The outer plug side surface slides across the inner seat surface during opening and closing of the valve so that such surfaces wipe each other to remove deposited material and provide a self-cleaning valve. The inner seat surface is provided with a plurality of annular grooves containing elastic sealing members which engage the outer plug side surface to form a liquid tight seal which is resistant to the pressure created by the liquid within the tank.

Abstract: Frangibly connected members and frangible connector inserts for frangibly connecting members, such as self-closing breakaway valve assemblies, provide independently selectable tension and bending separating loads. A frangible connector insert comprises a tension ring having a cylindrical surface closely receiving a moment arm ring having a mating cylindrical surface to establish an axial interface therebetween. Tension-mode frangible screws or pins are disposed across the axial interface, and are preferably evenly arrayed about the tension and moment arm rings. A bending ring is attached to the moment arm ring by bending-mode frangible screws or the like, also preferably evenly arrayed about the bending ring and moment arm ring. The tension and bending rings are attached to members to connect them when provided as a frangible connector insert, or are integral with the members. The tension-mode frangible means break upon application of a given tension load, but do not break upon application of a bending load.

Abstract: An adjustably positionable element having a curved end plate is located in proximity to the conventional rupturable curved disc in a pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders. The end plate serves as one plate of a capacitor and the curved disc serves as the other plate. Impedance variation responsive circuitry senses any change in impedance of the capacitor due to a change in flex of the curved disc brought about by a variation in pressure within the cylinder to which the relief valve is attached. The change in impedance is calibrated to provide an indication of the actual pressure within the cylinder.

Abstract: A drain valve for use in the cooling system of a diesel engine for a locomotive including a valve body having a drain fitting mounted in the bottom portion thereof and a solenoid operated valve assembly mounted therein for opening and closing the drain fitting. A thermostat assembly is removably mounted on the exterior of the valve body in close thermal relationship to the interior of the valve, said thermostat operable to energize the solenoid and open the drain fitting when the temperature inside the valve reaches a predetermined minimum.

Abstract: A novel gate for use in a gate valve is provided with a cylindrical port which extends from the gate's upstream face to a downstream face. Sand grooves are provided on each face and passages extending in a radial direction from the port's cylindrical wall to the grooves are also provided. The passages are thus aligned with their longitudinal axes being generally perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow which enhances flushing of particles such as sand or scale from the grooves. A novel shell core and core box for making same are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns apparatus for draining coolant from the liquid cooling system of a locomotive. The apparatus includes an automatic control which is armed upon shut-down of the engine and drains the cooling system upon the occurrence of freezing temperature conditions. The apparatus must be reset manually, and this requires two distinct manipulations, one of which effects override of the automatic control. Such override action is limited in duration to prevent inadvertent, prolonged disabling of the automatic control. The drain valve is a pilot operated, rotary plug valve. Preferably, the apparatus includes provisions for manually draining the cooling system, for effecting automatic draining by the combined effects of gravity and compressed air, and for providing visual indications of its operating state. Moreover, as far as practical, it is desirable to package the components in a unitary assembly which can be replaced easily and bench serviced and tested.

Abstract: A packer assembly for a blowout preventer having movable rams consisting of two packers, in which the packer assembly is of deformable material for sealing around a well member extending through the preventer and has a variable bore so that it will effectively seal around members, such as pipe, within a range of sizes or diameters. More particularly, each packer includes a main body of deformable material having an arcuate or curved recess with the wall defining said recess forming a sealing surface, and deformable side sealing elements or portions at each side of said recess, said side sealing elements being of a size, configuration and volume which are so related to the deformable material of the main body that when the packer assembly is moved inwardly toward and around a well member or pipe extending through the preventer, a substantially uniform radial displacement of the main body and of the side sealing elements is effected to assure uniform circumferential sealing about said object or pipe.

Abstract: A valve construction having a housing provided with a chamber and ports leading to the chamber and having an axially movable piston unit disposed in the chamber to interconnect certain of the ports together in relation to the axial position of the piston unit that is caused by a condition responsive device operatively associated with the piston unit, the piston unit comprising a plurality of pistons disposed in spaced parallel relation and being secured together to be axially moved in unison in the chamber under the influence of the condition responsive device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fire-tested butterfly valve having a resilient flexible seat member held in place in a valve housing by being clamped between cooperating surfaces of the valve housing and a valve seat retaining ring insert. Also positioned between the housing and the insert is a fusible washer means which has a lower destruction temperature than that of the annular flexible seat. Further, the insert is spring biased toward the fusible washer and valve housing so that when the valve is exposed to fire the fusible washer melts, the insert is biased toward the housing, and as the annular flexible seat is destroyed by heat, an edge of the insert into contact with the butterfly disc to establish a secondary, metal-to-metal, fire resistant seal.

Abstract: A fire hydrant having a generally elbow-shaped hydrant shoe with an improved interior bowl configuration and an improved hydrant valve for minimizing head or flow loss of the fire hydrant between the inlet opening of the shoe and the outlet nozzle positioned on the upper portion of the hydrant barrel. The interior bowl of the shoe, adjacent its inlet, is provided with a diverging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape and, adjacent its outlet, is provided with a converging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape, the transitional surfaces of rotation merging with the shoe's part spherical chamber.