Abstract: An apparatus for use in conjunction with a pressure vessel, having a tubular conduit extending into the interior of the pressure vessel. The outer end of the conduit is rigidly fixed to one end of the pressure vessel in a pressure-tight connection. The inner end of the conduit is attached to a saddle at the other end of the pressure vessel, where the saddle is adapted to slidably receive the conduit such that upon expansion of the pressure vessel due to pressurization, the conduit will move independently relative to the saddle.

Abstract: A hydraulic distribution valve having two substantially identical, molded plastic shells which are joined at their peripheries to form the distribution valve housing. A shaft is journaled within the housing and extends through one of the shells. A rotor is coupled to the shaft and is rotatably disposed within a rotor chamber defined by the housing. Each shell additionally defines a plurality of axially disposed cavities, where at least two of the cavities of the second shell communicate with the rotor chamber. The second shell also defines an inlet which communicates through a gallery which passes through a portion of the shaft and rotor for communication between the inlet and a control port which is defined by the rotor. The shaft and rotor can be rotated to align the exhaust port with a selected cavity to permit communication between the inlet and the selected cavity.

Abstract: A valve made from substantially all plastic parts that has integrally molded valve seats. A unique valve disk comprises two identical, mirror-image, molded plastic parts. The parts are of thin-walled construction but are joined together to give the valve body a substantially thick cross section with elongated shear surfaces in the radial direction. End flanges on the seal disk parts mechanically trap the soft sealing material and provide the maximum depth along the force line of contact between the sealing seat and the seal disk. The valve body has a cylinder and a cylinder cap of identically molded, mirror-image parts which house a diaphragm that overlies a plastic domed piston. The domed piston is provided with radially spaced circular ribs for supporting the diaphragm against excess deflection.

Abstract: A pressure vessel having two separately formed vessel halves which are joined to form a compartment along a juncture, one of the halves further having a service port of a size sufficient to allow an individual to fully enter the vessel for working therein. The compartment is sealed at the juncture by a bonding layer surrounding both sides of the juncture inside and outside of the compartment, and is then wrapped circumferentially with tensioned, resin-wetted fiberglass filament. The vessel may have at least one fitted conduit which communicates with the interior of the compartment, the outer surface of the conduit adjacent to the compartment having an irregular surface which has been wrapped with resin-wetted, tensioned fiberglass filament. The juncture between the conduit and the compartment is overlayed with a layer of fiberglass material and subsequently coated with resin to form a rigid, fluid-tight seal.

Abstract: A movable, submersible, transversely extending bulkhead for use in a swimming pool. The bulkhead has an elongated hollow body with top, bottom, end and side walls and a pair of spaced air chambers positioned toward each of its ends. Positioned between and substantially equidistant from each of the air chambers is at least one core of buoyant material. The bulkhead also utilizes means for selectively controlling the quantity of air and water within the chambers for regulating the buoyancy of the bulkhead. The bulkhead may be moved along the length of a swimming pool through increasing the buoyancy of the bulkhead by displacing the water contained in the chambers, shifting the bulkhead to a new longitudinally spaced position within the pool, and decreasing the buoyancy of the bulkhead by allowing water to reenter the chambers.