Abstract: A pipe cutting tool with a tubular housing having cylindrical inner and outer surfaces is provided. The housing includes first and second ends and a cylindrical opening extending from the first end towards the second end. A plurality of openings extend through the first end between the inner and outer surfaces. Blade mounting supports are defined between the openings. A plurality of L-shaped cutting blades are provided having a first leg to be disposed in the blade mounting support and a second leg projecting radially inward from the first leg at one end of the first leg. Inwardly facing edges of the legs of the blade are cutting edges for trimming the plastic pipe. The blade is dimensioned so that the cutting edge of the first leg will project slightly into the interior of the housing when the blade is mounted in the blade mounting support.

Abstract: A filtration system is provided for removing oil and/or hydrocarbons from blige water that collects in the blige of a marine vessel to ensure discharge of oil-free water into the surrounding waters of the vessel. The filtering medium of the system is composed of a mixture of peat, anthracite and bentonite resulting in a composition that is hydrophobic and olephilic. Due to the chemical composition of the medium, it burns efficiently and can be disposed of in the onboard incinerators of the vessel producing over 17,000 BTU's per pound. Also, the filtration system employs full backwash capability for filtering liquids combined with particulates.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic vortex fluid flowmeter (10) includes a sensor housing (12) having a slip-on yoke portion which removably mates with a bluff body conduit connector (14) permanently installed in a fluid conduit to be monitored. An ultrasonic transmitter (22) and receiver (24) are respectively positioned within the legs of the yoke so as pass an ultrasonic wave through vortices (42) shed by the fluid as it flows by a bluff body (36). The slip-on yoke eliminates both the need to shut down fluid flow during meter servicing, and the potential for external contaminants entering the fluid. Control and processing circuitry (100) is disposed within a remotely located circuit housing (38) to improve overall isolation of the sensor from the fluid conduit being monitored. An Exclusive Or gate (44) is used in combination with an optimal phase range detecting means (108) for triggering a 90 degree phase shift whenever the phase difference between the transmitted wave and the received wave approaches 0 or 180 degrees.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic vortex fluid flowmeter (10) includes a housing (12) having a slip-on yoke (16) which removably mates with a bluff body conduit connector (18) permanently installed in a fluid conduit to be monitored. An ultrasonic transmitter (40) and receiver (42) are respectively positioned within the legs of the yoke so as pass an ultrasonic wave through vortices (43) shed by the fluid as it flows by the bluff body (28). The slip-on yoke eliminates both the need to shut down fluid flow during meter servicing, and the potential for external contaminants entering the fluid. The flowmeter further utilizes a simple phase detector formed from an Exclusive Or gate (44) in combination with an optimal phase range detecting means (108). The optimal phase range detecting means triggers a 90 degree phase shift whenever the phase difference between the transmitted wave and the received wave approaches 0 or 180 degrees.

Abstract: A ball valve is provided for precise throttling of fluid through the valve. The valve includes a valve housing having a fluid passageway and a valve seat intermediate the fluid passageway. A valve stem extends through the valve housing into the valve seat and is rigidly connected to a spherical valving member rotatably mounted in the valve seat. The valving member includes a passageway extending therethrough. The passageway is cylindrical from the upstream end substantially to the downstream end. However, the downstream end is partly closed by a spherically generated throttling wall. A generally oblong outlet extends through the throttling wall. The long axis of the oblong outlet is generally orthogonally aligned to the axis of the passageway and to the rotational axis of the valve stem.

Abstract: A restraint coupling assembly is provided for a double containment pipe system having an inner carrier pipe formed from a first thermoplastic material and an outer containment pipe formed from a second thermoplastic material. The restraint coupling assembly includes a carrier component formed from the first thermoplastic material and having a carrier cylinder conforming to the diameter of the carrier pipe, and having a carrier flange extending rigidly outwardly from the carrier cylinder. The restraint coupling assembly further includes a pair of containment components formed from the second thermoplastic material. Each containment component includes a containment cylinder conforming to the diameter of the containment pipe. Each containment component further includes an inwardly extending containment flange having an aperture therein with the diameter of the aperture greater than the outer diameter of the carrier pipe.

Abstract: A position indicator apparatus is provided for rising stem valves. The position indicator apparatus includes a switch having a rotatable switch post. The switch is operatively connected to a power source and to a signal, such that a circuit to the signal is selectively completed or broken depending upon the rotational orientation of the switch post. The switch is rigidly mounted in a selected position relative to a valve housing. A connecting beam extends from the switch post to the valve stem such that movement of the valve stem into or out of the valve housing causes a rotation of the switch post to complete the circuit to the signal for certain positions of the valve stem and to break the circuit to the signal for other positions of the valve stem.

Abstract: A travel stop assembly is provided for a valve and an actuator. The travel stop assembly includes a coupling which can be non-rotatably engaged between the valve stem and the actuator shaft to transmit rotation from the actuator shaft to the valve stem. The coupling includes a flange intermediate its length with a pair of opposed stop surfaces thereon. A pair of threadedly adjustable bolts are mounted intermediate the valve and the actuator for threaded advancement toward or away from the coupling. The bolts are angularly aligned to one another and can be independently advanced or retracted to engage the stop surfaces of the flange on the coupling to control the maximum rotation of the coupling and hence the valve stem.

Abstract: A thermoplastic valve assembly for use in controlling the flow of corrosive fluids comprising a transparent housing having a passageway through which fluid may flow, a transparent ball disposed in the passageway for rotation between an open position and a closed position, and transparent connector means for connecting the valve housing to a pipeline thereby enabling an operator to visually detect alignment of the ball, turbulence in the through passageway and wear and corrosion of the valve components.

Abstract: A double-containment pipe assembly is provided with an inner carrier pipe, an outer containment pipe and supports for maintaining concentrically therebetween. The supports may define resilient support clips of unitary construction. Each resilient support clip includes a mounting portion defining a section of a cylinder from which a plurality of support legs extend. One end of each support leg may be tapered to facilitate insertion into the containment pipe. One end of the support clip may also include a reinforcement flange extending partly thereabout to prevent overstress related damage to the support clip. The support clips may alternatively define unitarily molded planar structures having a circular inner support surface and a plurality of spaced apart outer support surfaces defining arcs of a circle concentric with the inner support surface.

Abstract: A double-containment thermoplastic pipe assembly is provided to prevent against potentially hazardous spills or leaks of chemicals and the like. The double-containment pipe assembly comprises a containment pipe and at least one carrier pipe disposed therein. The carrier pipe is retained in spaced relationship to the containment pipe by support clips with outwardly extending radially aligned legs. Restraint couplings may be disposed at selected locations along the double-containment pipe assembly. The restraint couplings include a carrier portion, a containment portion and a connecting portion extending therebetween. Double-containment pipe fittings also are provided to ensure complete double-containment protection throughout an entire double-containment pipe assembly.

Abstract: A valve stem support assembly is provided to prevent excessive loads on valves caused by very long heavy valve stem extensions. The support assembly includes a support casing surrounding the valve stem extension. A support bracket is rigidly mounted to the casing and extends into proximity with the valve stem extension. A bushing is engaged by the bracket and substantially surrounds the valve stem extension. A support collar is rigidly mounted to the valve stem extension and is disposed in supporting relationship to the bushing and the bracket. The weight of the elongated valve stem extension is transmitted to the bracket through the collar and the bushing to avoid excessive loads on the valve.

Abstract: A double-containment thermoplastic pipe assembly is provided to prevent against potentially hazardous spills or leaks of chemicals and the like. The double-containment pipe assembly comprises a containment pipe and at least one carrier pipe disposed therein. The carrier pipe is retained in spaced relationship to the containment pipe by support clips with outwardly extending radially aligned legs. Restraint couplings may be disposed at selected locations along the double-containment pipe assembly. The restraint couplings include a carrier portion, a containment portion and a connecting portion extending therebetween. Double-containment pipe fittings also are provided to ensure complete double-containment protection throughout an entire double-containment pipe assembly.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for simultaneously operating a plurality of valves. The assembly includes valve stem levers mounted to the valve stems of each of the valves and adapted to rotate with the corresponding valve stems. The valve stem levers are joined to one another by connecting bar assemblies which transmit rotational movement originating in one valve stem lever to the other valve stem levers connected thereto.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve is provided including a motor securely and non-rotatably mounted to the valve and in communication with the valve stem. A cam also is mounted to the valve stem. A limit switch with a cam follower is mounted to the motor gear housing at a plurality of locations so as to assure non-rotatability. The cam follower is disposed to contact and follow the cam, and to provide a signal for stopping the rotation of the valve stem.