Abstract: A locking mechanism for a valve device, which includes a valve body for opening and closing a fluid path, for retaining the valve body at a predetermined opening position, the valve device further including a gear wheel to which rotational driving force of a rotational driving source is transmitted and a rack section having rack teeth provided thereon for meshing engagement with the gear wheel and configured to convert rotational movement of the gear wheel into linear movement and move together with the valve body. The locking mechanism for a valve device includes: a ball abuttable with a wall face of the rack section; and a spring member configured to press the ball toward the wall face; the valve body being retained by frictional force generated when the ball is pressed against the wall face of the rack section.

Abstract: An assembly for actuating a valve that is in a differential screw assembly when the valve is in a portion of its stroke that experiences high resistance. The actuating assembly is selectively changeable into a direct drive configuration when the valve is in a lower resistance portion of its stroke. A sliding sleeve moves axially within the actuating assembly and has a profile that is strategically dimensioned to change the actuating assembly configuration.

Abstract: A valve actuator for a rotary valve includes a piston and housing assembly, wherein axial movement of the piston along a bore of the housing causes an actuator rod to twist or rotate about an axis of the bore. The rotary motion of the actuator rod is caused in some arrangements by axial rotation of the piston along a helical housing wall and/or by axial rotation of a generally helical shape of the actuator rod engaged with a central opening through the piston.

Abstract: A female quick-connect coupling element for releasably joining pipes for pressurized fluid having a fluid flow duct and a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the duct, wherein the valve has a first piston and a second piston that are mounted to move along a common axis (Y-Y?) relative to a body of the female element and wherein the first piston cooperates with a valve seat within the body of the female element, so as to close the valve, while the first and second pistons are interconnected via a mechanical link assembly and each of the pistons defines one of two opposite surfaces in contact with the fluid when the valve is open and wherein the mechanical link assembly is disposed outside the fluid flow duct.

Abstract: A flow control valve is provided in a manner to be capable of locking a position of a differential screw easily without displacing a position adjusted valve element body. The valve element body is brought into or out of contact with a valve seat provided between a first port and a second port, and is connected to an operation member. The operation member is movably inserted into a cover and urged to a direction toward the valve seat by an urging member. A position of the operation member is adjusted by a differential screw, and accordingly a position of the valve seat is adjusted. A rotation member for exerting a rotation force on the differential screw is slidably mounted in the cover along a moving direction of the operation member without rotating. A locking portion is provided in the rotation member to engage with the cover without rotating when the operation member is slid along its moving direction.

Abstract: A valve control device includes an operating stem, a valve top plate, a valve seat rubber, a valve bottom plate, and a valve seat ring. The valve top plate has a conical base with at least three stabilizer arms extending therefrom. Each of the at least three stabilizer arms has a flat outer surface. The valve bottom plate secures the valve seat rubber between the valve bottom plate and a flat bottom surface of the valve top plate. The valve bottom plate, the valve seat rubber, and the conical base are mounted on the operating stem. The valve seat ring has multiple slots, with each of the slots corresponding to one of the at least three stabilizer arms. A standpipe drain system, a method of draining a standpipe, and a locking fire hydrant with a valve access channel drain also are described.

Abstract: The invention discloses a tap (10) for controlling liquid flow. The tap (10) has a tube (14) with first (16) and second (18) opposite open ends, an inlet opening (20) leading into the tube between the first and second open ends, and an outlet opening (16) defined by the first open end (16), which outlet opening (16) serves as an outlet from the tube (14). The tap (10) further includes a first valve seat (36), formed between the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (16), and a second valve seat (38), formed between the inlet opening (20) and the second open end (18). A closure member (42) is sealingly slidably movable in the tube (14) and is provided with a first circumferential sealing edge (60), the first sealing edge (60) being adapted to removably abut against the first valve seat (36). The closure member (42) is further provided with a second circumferential sealing edge (66), the second sealing edge (66) being adapted to removably abut against the second valve seat (38).

Abstract: A pressure reducer has a housing with inlet and outlet sockets, a partition between said inlet and outlet sockets, and an accommodation socket. The partition defines an aperture aligned with the accommodation socket. A pressure reducer insert is inserted into the accommodation socket and the aperture. The pressure reducer insert has a tapering, funnel-like insert housing, a valve seat, and webs for connecting the insert housing with a valve seat sealingly mounted in the aperture. A regulating diaphragm closes the open end to define a controlled pressure chamber which communicates with an outlet chamber. A cap encloses a biased helical spring and a bias setting threaded spindle rotatably mounted in the cap. A setting knob is axially movable between a first position non-rotatably coupled with the cap, and a second position rotatable relative to the cap where rotation of the knob rotates the bias setting spindle and adjusts the pressure setting.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell and associated array are disclosed. The DRAM cell (300) includes a storage capacitor (304) and a pass transistor (302). The pass transistor (302) includes a source region (322), drain region (320) and channel region (324). A top gate (318) is disposed over the channel region (324) and a bottom gate (310) is disposed below the channel region (324). The top gate (318) and bottom gate (310) are commonly driven to provide greater control of the pass transistor (302) operation, including an off state with reduced source-to-drain leakage. The DRAM array (400) includes memory cells (414) having pass transistors (500) with double-gate structures. Memory cells (414) within the same row are commonly coupled to a top word line and bottom word line. The resistance of the top and bottom word lines is reduced by a word line strap layer (600). The DRAM array (400) further includes a strapping area that is void of memory cells.

Abstract: A single slot valve shaft is in a vacuum body between adjacent vacuum chambers, such as a process module and a transport module. Separate valves are provided on the single shaft actuator for each of two valve body slots, each body slot being closed or opened according to the position of the single shaft. The separate valves allow a vacuum condition to be maintained in the transport module while an adjacent process module is open to the atmosphere for servicing. The single shaft allows access to an open valve for servicing the open valve by way of stops that limit drive travel and hold the valve in an open, but not vertically-spaced, position relative to a respective slot. The open valve is easily reached by a gloved hand of a service worker. The single shaft is mounted on a first cradle, and the first cradle is mounted on a second cradle. Two separate shaft drives move the two cradles to position the single shaft to locate the valves between the slots to open one slot and close the other slot.

Abstract: A single slot valve shaft is in a vacuum body between adjacent vacuum chambers, such as a process module and a transport module. Separate valves are provided on the single shaft actuator for each of two valve body slots, each body slot being closed or opened according to the position of the single shaft. The separate valves allow a vacuum condition to be maintained in the transport module while an adjacent process module is open to the atmosphere for servicing. The single shaft allows access to an open valve for servicing the open valve by way of stops that limit drive travel and hold the valve in an open, but not vertically-spaced, position relative to a respective slot. The open valve is easily reached by a gloved hand of a service worker. The single shaft is mounted on a first cradle, and the first cradle is mounted on a second cradle. Two separate shaft drives move the two cradles to position the single shaft to locate the valves between the slots to open one slot and close the other slot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve handle for preventing a valve from being accidentally turned on. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve handle comprises a fixing ring which mobilizes the valve stem, so as to drive the stem up and down, the fixing ring having at least one stopper; and the valve handle has a knob housing that covers and mobilizes the fixing ring, and has at last one protrusion having a first perpendicular plane and a slant plane. The slant plane and the perpendicular plane work with the stoppers on the fixing ring to ensure that the valve can be easily closed but is difficult to open.

Abstract: The invention pertains to semiconductor circuit components and capacitors. In another aspect, the invention includes a capacitor including: a) a first capacitor plate; b) a first tantalum-comprising layer over the first capacitor plate; c) a second tantalum-comprising layer over the first tantalum-comprising layer, the second tantalum-comprising layer having nitrogen; and d) a second capacitor plate over the second tantalum-comprising layer. In another aspect, the invention includes a component having: a) a first tantalum-comprising layer; and b) a second tantalum-comprising layer over the first tantalum-comprising layer, the second tantalum-comprising layer having nitrogen.

Abstract: A multi-bit trench capacitor having first and second storage nodes provided in the lower region thereof is described. The storage nodes are separated by a dielectric layer that separates the sensing voltage into upper and lower ranges corresponding to data stored in the first and second storage nodes.

Abstract: A water proportioning device for steam irons, has a valve (52) arranged between a water reservoir (1) and a steam-generating chamber (2). The valve includes a valve member (5) having a valve opening (7) and a valve pin (9) in sealing engagement within the valve opening (7) and provided with a longitudinal groove (15). The valve pin (9) is rotatable within the valve opening (7) and movable from a closed position into an open position and vice versa by a rotary motion. The valve member (5) includes a skirt (6) encompassing the valve pin (9) and having a radial opening (18). In the closed position, one end of the longitudinal groove (15) is within the skirt (6), while in the open position the end of the longitudinal groove (15) is in communication with the opening (18) in the skirt (6).

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly comprising a valve body having a stem passageway in communication with the valve body cavity which contains a closure member for selectively closing or opening the fluid flow passageway intersecting the valve body cavity. A valve operator consisting of a reciprocatable and rotatable stem passing through the stem passageway is connected to the closure member so that when the stem rotates, the closure member rotates together with the stem. The stem is provided with a back-seat and the valve operator reciprocates the stem to unseat and reseat the stem onto the stem seat located on the valve body surrounding the stem passageway in order to seal the stem passageway from the valve body cavity. Sealing of the stem passageway isolates the stem packing from the fluid in the valve body cavity, prevents fugitive emissions related to stem leakage and prolongs the useful life of the stem packing.

Abstract: The combination of a fluid conductive pipe line and an in-line valve adapted to open and close the fluid passage in said line, said valve having an external handle operatively connected to open and close the valve, said handle having an enlarged free end forming a foot pedal and being positioned such that the handle can be pivotally rotated to close said valve by foot or other pressure on said foot pedal.

Abstract: A valve, which is especially suited for use in connection with a urine bag, has a cylindrical valve body, which is displaceably and rotatably mounted in a tubular valve housing having a transverse flow passage defined therein. A projection formed at one end of the valve body may be brought into engagement with a cut-out or notch in the adjacent end of the valve housing. In this position in which the projection engages with the notch, the valve is open, because the transverse bore of the valve body is aligned with the flow passage. The valve may be closed by displacing the valve body in relation to the valve housing so as to bring the projection out of engagement with the notch, and the valve body may be rotated in relation to the valve housing, if desired. The engagement between the projection and the notch ensures that the transverse bore of the valve body extends coaxially with the flow passage in the open position of the valve.

Abstract: A safety valve is disclosed which may be installed on an offshore wellhead above the tubing head and below the Christmas tree. The valve has a housing with upper and lower vertical passages and a lateral housing passage. A cylindrical gate is disposed within the lateral passage and includes a "T" shaped passage therein. The gate may be moved laterally and angularly within the lateral passage. During completion or workover of the well, the gate is moved laterally until the upper and lower vertical passages are in full open communication to run drills, hangers or other large diameter devices into the well via a BOP which may be attached to the top of the housing. During normal production, the gate may be laterally moved into the intersection of the vertical and lateral passages and the small through head part of the "T" passage serves to provide a vertical flow path through the production bore which is sealed off from the larger upper and lower vertical passages.

Abstract: A valve for use in an apparatus for supplying molten metal by means of a siphon to a furnace. A valve formed by a tube provided with two flanges is placed at the upper part of the siphon, this tube extending by a certain length below the level of the flanges, so as to form an annular space with each of the branches of the siphon in which the gas is trapped during decanting, which prevents the gaskets from being in contact with the molten metal.

Abstract: A position indicator is used to indicate the opened and closed positions of a rising stem valve. A sleeve is provided which is adapted to be attached to a handwheel and turns with the handwheel. A tubular shell is provided which is adapted to be attached to the valve stem and to be disposed within the sleeve so that it raises, lowers and rotates with the stem. At least one magnet is supported within the sleeve to rotate therewith. First and second reed switches with associated wiring are supported by the shell to be raised and lowered relative to the magnet for closing of the switches at the opened and closed valve positions.

Abstract: An improved plug valve has means for operating a stem and plug assembly therein, including a sleeve secured within an opening in a valve cover plate, and a tubular gland which is threadably engaged in the sleeve and which coacts with upper and lower stop means incorporated into the stem to raise and lower the plug. Annular sealing rings are employed between the valve stem and the gland and between the gland and the sleeve to prevent leakage, especially when the plug is in a raised position. The upper end of the gland is shaped to receive means for turning the gland to thereby raise or lower the valve stem and plug assembly. A lock nut is rotatable about the gland and selectively against the upper end of the sleeve, whereby the gland may be tightly secured in the sleeve to thereby hold the plug in a sealing position within the valve bore.

Abstract: A frost-free hydrant includes a reservoir below the frost line which is completely sealed from ground water and which is emptied by a venturi in the valve when the hydrant is used. An indicator raised by a float warns of undue accumulation of water in the reservoir and seals the air vent to the reservoir. An actuating handle for the valve is depressed to permit water to flow and may be swung laterally in either direction to hold any adjustment from trickle to full flow. Anti-siphoning openings are included in the valve actuating rod.

Abstract: An operating device for a double drum winch that has a hydraulically operated clutch, a brake and a hydraulic pressure variable control valve, and a single control lever connected to the hydraulic pressure variable control vavle to enable the operation of a hook and boom by one control lever so as to simplify the function and uses of the winch.