Abstract: A valve, for example a tapered plug valve, having two obturators each rotatable between open and closed positions. The angle between the rotational axes is at least about 90° and may be 180°. The handles used to rotate the obturators are preferably on the same side of the valve.

Abstract: An hydraulic mounting comprises inner and outer rigid members radially spaced apart by an elastomeric member that forms a structural interconnection between the rigid members, a second elastomeric member axially spaced from the first elastomeric member and extending between the rigid members to define a fluid chamber, a rigid separator located within the chamber to divide it into high and low pressure zones, a fluid flow channel for passage of hydraulic fluid between the high and low pressure zones, a flexible member which interconnects between the separator and one of the inner and outer rigid members, and the separator being secured rigidly to the other of the inner and outer rigid members.

Abstract: A valve system for use in batch processing, particularly for preventing exposure of material to the environment during transfer from one container to another. The system in effect comprises two butterfly valve discs (5, 6; 105, 106), one (5; 105) on a container (12; 107) for transporting material to or from a reaction vessel (3; 103) and the other on the reaction vessel (3; 103) itself. Each valve disc (5, 6; 105, 106), when closed, shuts off the container (12; 107) or vessel (3; 103) respectively from the environment. When the container (12; 107) is connected to the vessel (3; 103) a shaft (9; 109) connected to one valve disc (5; 105) interengages with a shaft (10) connected to the other valve disc (6; 1006) to enable the discs (5, 6; 105, 106) to move simultaneously, and material may be transferred from the container (12; 107) to the vessel (3; 103) or vice versa.

Abstract: A tapered plug valve having a plug provided with a separate drive shaft and formed with a channel not connected to the plug but connecting the ends thereof to enable pressure equalization. The channel may be formed by being directly drilled through the plug, or comprise a tube, secured in position by welding in a groove cast in the outer surface of the plug. A non return valve is positioned in the channel to limit pressure equalization from the wider end to the smaller end of the plug.

Abstract: A floor covering comprises a plurality of tread strips of substantially resilient material, each tread strip having a wear layer of a material which provides a fibrous tread surface, and a plurality of spacer strips of substantially rigid material arranged interposed between the tread strips whereby each successive pair of tread strips is spaced apart by an assembly of at least two, typically three of said spacer strips arranged to lie side-by-side with connecting means passing through aligned apertures in the strips.

Abstract: This invention relates to a butterfly valve incorporating means for accurately sensing the position of the valve disc within the valve body. One or two coils are embedded within the valve seal. A current is generated within one of the coils and a sensor connected either to the same coil or the other coil measures the change in induction characteristics of the coil as the disc is moved. The signal sensed by the sensor is indicative of the disc position.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve body, an obturator rotatably mounted in the body and a transducer connected to or located adjacent the obturator in order to determine the position thereof.The transducer may comprise e.g. a potentiometer or a Hall effect device.

Abstract: A floor covering suitable as an entrance mat comprises a plurality of tread strips of substantially resilient and flexible material, each tread strip having a wear layer of fibrous or fibrous like material whereby said tread strips provide a fibrous tread surface, and a plurality of spacer strips of substantially rigid material arranged interposed between the tread strips whereby each successive pair of tread strips is spaced apart by at least two of said spacer strips, and the pluralities of strips being secured together in side by side relationship by connecting means which pass through aligned apertures in the strips, each spacer strip comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and co-planar abutment faces to bear against and provide lateral support to a side face of a tread strip, the maximum spacing of extreme edges of said abutment faces as viewed in cross-section being less than the height of the side face of the tread strip whereby said pairs of spacer strips provide a recess region between a succe

Abstract: A butterfly valve disc has a circular cross-section bore for receiving the end of a drive shaft which engages with a member non-rotatably located in the bore. The member is polygonal and preferably formed with twelve sides and edges, the edges biting into the internal surface of the bore to prevent rotation. The member preferably is of harder alloy than the disc to resist wearing and is formed with a slot extending perpendicularly to the plane of the disc to receive a corresponding tongue formed at the end of the shaft. This arrangement allows a small degree of play so that if the disc is subjected to pressure on one side and therefore bends, the torque required to open the valve is not increased. Alternatively wherein the disc (or another component) is not subject to such pressure the member may be integrally formed with the shaft.

Abstract: A stair cleaning device intended for cleaning the steps and risers of stairs and other confined areas comprises three heads driven by a motor and a belt and pulley system. The belt is toothed on one side and not on the other side so that some slippage can occur. The advantages of this is improved operational comfort and less likelihood of damage to the drive system.

Abstract: A tapered plug valve comprising a tapered plug rotatably mounted within a bore in a valve body to intercept a passageway. Spacing means is provided to limit the amount of axial movement of the plug and biassing e.g. spring means is provided to apply an axial force to the plug.

Abstract: A butterfly valve disc has a circular cross-section bore for receiving the end of a drive shaft which engages with a member non-rotatably located in the bore. The member is polygonal and preferably formed with twelve sides and edges, the edges biting into the internal surface of the bore to prevent rotation. The member preferably is of harder alloy than the disc to resist wearing and is formed with a slot extending perpendicularly to the plane of the disc to receive a corresponding tongue formed at the end of the shaft. This arrangement allows a small degree of play so that if the disc is subjected to pressure on one side and therefore bends, the torque required to open the valve is not increased. Alternatively wherein the disc (or another component) is not subject to such pressure the member may be integrally formed with the shaft.

Abstract: The drive shaft is formed with a longitudinally extending groove and the wall of a blind bore formed in the valve disc for receiving the shaft is formed with a projection which fits in the groove by a punching operation. The mating parts are readily made by conventional metal forming techniques and there is no need to pierce the disc.

Abstract: A valve disc and drive shaft assembly wherein the end of the drive shaft seats in a blind bore at the periphery of the valve disc. The end of the shaft or the base of the bore is formed with a tang, extending perpendicularly to the plane of the disc, seating in an elongated recess in the base of the bore or end of the shaft respectively.

Abstract: A fluid-filled elastomeric mounting for a vehicle suspension comprises an inner rigid member, an outer rigid member which surrounds and is spaced from the inner rigid member, a pair of longitudinally spaced load-bearing annular elastomeric elements which interconnect the rigid members and define a fluid chamber, and in the fluid chamber a partition member secured to the inner rigid member to provide fluid damping in response to relative longitudinal movement of the rigid members, the partition member incorporating an elastomeric buffer arranged to be subject to radial compression when a predetermined level of relative movement of the rigid members is exceeded.

Abstract: To facilitate removal and insertion of filter units from a filter frame structure without need to gain access to the dust side of the filter assembly there is provided a filter frame structure having a support plate formed with openings through which filter units may pass and support bars underneath the support plate to support each filter unit in the region of a respective opening. A removable seal plate is arranged therewith and clamp means is provided for lifting the filter units from the support bars to bring them into sealing engagement with the underside of the seal plate.

Abstract: A filter element for removal of particulate matter from a flow of gas has a plurality of elongate fluid flow passages each defined by porous gas filtration material and arranged as an integral assembly in which the passage lie side-by-side to extend parallel with one another between end regions of the filter element, at least one end of each elongate passage being sealed to prevent free flow of gas to or from the passages, the elongate passages being defined by self-supporting walls of porous gas filtration material and the filter element being substantially rigid or semi-rigid so as to attenuate transverse vibration by no more than 70% between an end of the filter element and a position mid-way between its ends.

Abstract: For use in internally supporting a filter element of the fabric, bag-shape type there is provided a support frame having a border at least a part of which is defined by a single guide strip typically substantially W-shaped in cross-section and which presents two guide channels to face inwards of the frame for the spaced apart support of two mesh layers. A single deformed length of the guide strip may be used to form a base and two side portions of a rectangular shaped support frame.