Abstract: A valve includes a piezoelectric bar mounted as a cantilevered beam. The free end of the bar is mounted for movement toward and away from a valve seat surrounding a control opening. The beam is initially flexed when in the closed position so as to maintain a fluid-tight seal with the seat. Application of an electrical signal causes the bar to flex further, thereby causing the deflectable beam portion to move away from the valve seat and permitting fluid to flow through the control opening. The beam valve may be designed to provide a substantially constant flow independent of changes in the pressure differential thereacross, and to exert a minimum closing force against a seat to provide a substantially fluidtight seal therewith in the absence of a command signal applied to the bar.

Abstract: A connecting device is adapted to releasably hold a portion of a first object, such as a pilot's oxygen mask, to a portion of a second object, such as a pilot's helmet. The connecting device broadly includes an anchor member mounted on the mask, a housing member mounted on the helmet and having a female passageway, a male member adapted to be inserted into the female passageway, and a cable member having one marginal end portion secured to the anchor member and another marginal end portion secured to the male member. The housing member has a toothed pawl section biased to move into the female passageway. The male member has a ratchet rack adapted to engage the pawl section to prevent unintended separation of the male member from the female passageway. The male member includes a release member movably mounted relative to the rack, and having an operative surface adapted to extend beyond the rack teeth.