Abstract: A heating arrangement for a valve includes a thermally conductive heating wire embedded within a body of the valve. Also provided is a valve body formed by additive manufacture and having a thermally conductive heating wire embedded therein to which electric power is applied to cause the thermally conductive heating wire to generate heat in the valve body. A method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a first gear mechanism comprising first and second gear rings having first and second sets of teeth that engage to lock the first and second parts relative to each other and disengage on operation of an actuator to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force on one of the parts in a first direction, and a second override gear mechanism to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force in a second direction while the first and second sets of teeth are engaged.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly includes a drive shaft and a driven shaft. The drive shaft includes a motor shaft configured to be connected to and rotated by a motor, and a cam shaft connected to and rotatable with the motor shaft. The driven shaft is connected to and rotatable with the cam shaft, and the cam shaft is formed of a dielectric material defining an insulating barrier between the drive and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a plurality of friction pads arranged to be compressed together, the plurality of friction pads comprising alternating first friction pads connected to the first part and second friction pads connected to the second part; biasing means to bias the friction pads into compressed frictional engagement; actuator means to which force is applied by a user; and a force transmission means that translates a first force applied by the user in a first direction to act against the force of the biasing means to release the frictional pads from the compressed frictional engagement to allow the first friction pads to rotate relative to the second friction pads.

Abstract: A valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing body extending along a longitudinal axis X between a first end and a second end and defining a cylindrical passage therethough from the first to the second end; a fluid inlet at the first end for receiving a pressurized fluid; and a fluid outlet provided in between the first and second end of the housing body; and a piston provided in said cylindrical passage, said piston being axially movable between a first position wherein said fluid outlet is blocked by said piston such that the piston blocks the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, and a second position wherein said outlet is not blocked by said piston and a fluid flow path is formed from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly includes a drive shaft and a driven shaft and a dielectric connector positioned between. The connector connects the drive shaft and the driven shaft and includes a body of dielectric material defining an insulating barrier between the drive and the driven shaft. The connector includes a dielectric barrier body having a first side from which a protrusion extends, the protrusion configured to engage in a correspondingly shaped recess formed in one of the drive shaft or the driven shaft, and a second side, opposite the first side, in which is formed a recess shaped to receive a correspondingly shaped protrusion extending from the other of the drive shaft or the driven shaft, the connector providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A multi-way valve assembly includes a valve housing having a plurality of fluid ports, a first valve member having one or more first flow channels defined therethrough and a first shaft, rotation of which causes rotation of the first valve member relative to the housing, the first valve member defining a cavity, and a second valve member arranged within the cavity of the first valve member and having one or more second flow channels defined therethrough and a second shaft. Rotation of the second shaft causes rotation of the second valve member relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a locking mechanism configured to, in a locked position, cause the second valve member to rotate with the first valve member relative to the housing and, in an unlocked position, to permit the second valve member to rotate relative to the first valve member and the housing.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The assembly includes dielectric insulation between the drive shaft and the driven shaft and plurality of electrically non-conductive fastener elements configured to connect the drive shaft to the driven shaft and the dielectric insulation therebetween, in torque transfer engagement, the fasteners located around an outer boundary of the dielectric insulation.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly comprising a drive shaft and a driven shaft and a dielectric insert arranged to be positioned between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, the insert assembly comprising a body of dielectric material shaped to form an insulating layer and configured to engage, respectively, with a first shaped engagement feature on the drive shaft and a second shaped engagement feature on the driven shaft, in torque transfer engagement, the insulating layer providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the driven shaft in torque transfer engagement, the insulating layer providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly, the insert assembly comprising a plurality of elongate pins of dielectric material configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the driven shaft in torque transfer engagement, the pins providing a dielectric barrier between the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a first gear mechanism comprising first and second gear rings having first and second sets of teeth that engage to lock the first and second parts relative to each other and disengage on operation of an actuator to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force on one of the parts in a first direction, and a second override gear mechanism to allow relative movement of the first and second parts by application of a force in a second direction while the first and second sets of teeth are engaged.

Abstract: A rotary recline mechanism for allowing reclining movement of a first part relative to a second part, the mechanism comprising: a plurality of friction pads (10) arranged to be compressed together, the plurality of friction pads comprising alternating first friction pads (10a) connected to the first part and second friction pads (10b) connected to the second part; biasing means (7) to bias the friction pads into compressed frictional engagement; actuator means (5) to which force is applied by a user; and a force transmission means (6,8) that translates a first force applied by the user in a first direction to act against the force of the biasing means to release the frictional pads from the compressed frictional engagement to allow the first friction pads to rotate relative to the second friction pads.