Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve seat, a valve body, a valve spring, and a valve guide, wherein the valve seat and/or a valve seat housing in which the valve seat is seated comprises a plurality of grooves; wherein the valve body comprises a first side comprising a valve seat contact surface, and a second side comprising a coupler actuating feature; and wherein the valve guide comprises a coupler, and a plurality of wings, wherein the valve guide comprises a valve guide end distal the coupler, wherein, when the valve guide is coupled to the valve body via the coupler, the valve guide end distal the coupler extends a greater radial distance from the central axis of the valve body than the plurality of wings, and wherein the valve guide can be coupled to or decoupled from the valve body via the coupler by actuating the coupler actuating feature.

Abstract: High-altitude balloons and apparatuses for filling such high-altitude balloons are provided. As an example, an apparatus for filling a high-altitude balloon includes a tube extending through envelope material of the balloon is provided. The apparatus also includes a flange connected to a first end of the tube. The flange is connected to an interior surface of the balloon. A fitting is connected to a second end of the tube. The fitting is configured for attachment with an apparatus for filling the balloon with lift gas. In addition, methods of filling high-altitude balloons with lift gas and methods of manufacturing balloons are also provided.

Abstract: A self-sealing valve comprises a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, a diaphragm and an attachment member. The valve housing is configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit. The diaphragm provides a seal of the fluid conduit. The attachment member is configured to attach portion of the diaphragm to the valve housing. The attachment member and diaphragm are configured to position the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat to seal the fluid conduit in a closed position of the self-sealing valve, and to facilitate pivotal movement of the diaphragm under a bias in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position.

Abstract: An outdoor lighting device includes a housing, at least one power supply device and at least one arrayed lighting unit. The housing has a surface forming at least one reflection zone and the reflection zone includes a lens. The power supply device is arranged inside the housing and has a grounding terminal connected to the housing. The power supply device receives and converts an alternate current power into an output of direct current power. The arrayed lighting unit includes plural arrays of lighting elements and a light-transmitting protection layer. The arrayed lighting unit is arranged inside the housing at a location corresponding to the lens and is connected to the power supply device, whereby the power supply device provides the arrayed lighting unit with the direct current power to energize the arrayed lighting unit to give off light that is reflected by the reflection zone.

Abstract: A valve structure for an air sack comprising an essentially cylindrical tubular part extending hermetically from the inside to the outside of the sack and having external threads on the portion outside the sack, a plug with internal threads to be screwed on the external threads of the tubular part to close the end of the tubular part hermetically, and a filling valve in the middle of the plug. To facilitate and accelerate the discharge of air from the sack, the plug is provided with several air exhaust holes within the area surrounding the filling valve. At the end of the tubular part facing the plug there is an inner, preferably annular flange part, the upper surface of which is pressed hermetically against the lower surface of the plug closing the passage of air from the sack when the plug is entirely screwed in its place.

Abstract: A raft inflation valve assembly comprising a tubular valve body having an air passageway therethrough and a plunger member adapted for selectively preventing or enabling air flow through the valve body. The plunger member is received in the valve body and has a relatively centered, upwardly positioned closed operating state and a relatively skewed, downwardly positioned open operating state.

Abstract: A replaceable inflation valve for a marine fender wherein, in one embodiment, the valve is slidably received in a valve seat formed in the fender, and wherein a bored collar is threadably received in the valve seat to hold a flexible member of the valve in place in the fender. The upper portion of the flexible member of the valve is received within the bore formed in the collar to provide access to the flexible member of the valve when the collar is in place. The flexible member of the valve comprises an elongated tubular member with one open end and one normally closed end. The normally closed end is openable by insertion of a needle valve through a slit therein. Upon removal of the needle valve, the slit closes on itself by reason of the inherent resiliency of the flexible member.

Abstract: A propellant charging head for filling a storing chamber of a propellant storage construction with a charge of propellant and method of making the charging head are provided, the head being adapted to be disposed against the construction and have a projection of the head engage a valve plunger of a valve unit disposed in the passage of the propellant storage construction so that propellant can flow from the head through the open valve unit to the chamber, the head having a generally conical nose-like member that is adapted to seat against a generally conical seat of the construction to fluidly interconnect the head to the passage.

Abstract: A valve for pneumatic tires comprising a stem made of plastics and having at least one longitudinal groove on its inner surface and a plunger having a flange, which has at least one protuberance, and arranged so that the plunger is inserted to the stem by fitting the protuberance of the flange into the longitudinal groove of the stem and that the number of component parts is small and assembly is easy.

Abstract: Device for inflating and deflating an inflatable article. The device has a body affixed to a wall of the inflatable article at a hole therethrough, the device having a tubular insert or nipple sealed to the body and a closure element or plug functioning as a stopper for the nipple, the plug being completely removable from the nipple to deflate the article. The plug has threaded engagement with the nipple, and functions as an inflating check valve when the valve is opened by partially unscrewing the plug from the nipple. The check valve is of novel construction, incorporating an annular seat formed integral with the body of the inflation device, a valve element in the form of a diaphragm on the plug cooperating with such annular seat, and a novel means for manually locally unseating the valve element from the annular valve seat when the plug is partially unscrewed from the nipple.