Abstract: An automatic venturi vacuum regulator includes a housing having a pressure inlet port and a vacuum outlet port; a venturi vacuum pump within the housing, the venturi vacuum pump configured to receive compressed air from the pressure inlet port in order to generate suction at the vacuum outlet port; a movable piston configured to seal the pressure inlet port from the venturi vacuum pump responsive to a sufficient pressure differential between the vacuum outlet port and the pressure inlet port; and a check valve configured to seal the vacuum outlet port from the venturi vacuum pump to resist loss of vacuum at the vacuum outlet port.

Abstract: A fluid pump inlet stabilizer dampener includes a deformable diaphragm separating an enclosure into a gas chamber and a liquid chamber; and a piston coupled to the deformable diaphragm and being movable with respect to a valve housing, wherein the piston is configured to be positioned in at least first, second, and third positions, wherein in the first position a first fluid flow path from a pressurized gas inlet port to the gas chamber is open, in the second position the first fluid flow path is closed, and in the third position the first fluid flow path is closed and a second fluid flow path that activates a venturi vacuum generator is open.

Abstract: A pulsation dampener includes: a housing having in internal cavity; an expandable bellows positioned within the internal cavity of the housing, the expandable bellows having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable portion between the proximal and distal ends; a bellows support member coupled to an interior side of the distal end of the expandable bellows and extending longitudinally away from the distal end of the expandable bellows toward the proximal end of the expandable bellows; and a cap fixed with respect to the housing and positioned to support the bellows support member when the expandable bellows is in a longitudinally compressed configuration.

Abstract: A flow and pressure stabilization device includes a housing; a first fluid chamber; a gas chamber; a deformable bladder that separates the first fluid chamber from the gas chamber, the deformable bladder comprising a longitudinally protruding portion shaped such that, when a pressure in the gas chamber is greater than a pressure in the first fluid chamber, the longitudinally protruding portion extends toward the first fluid chamber; and a valve in fluid communication with a fluid outlet, the valve including: a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber; a fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid outlet; and a deformable diaphragm positioned adjacent to and biased toward the fluid port.

Abstract: A pressure fluctuations mitigation system for an industrial flow operation is provided. The system includes a bellows assembly positioned within a pressure vessel. The bellows assembly can include two segments that are joined with a center ring to form a seal that allows the bellows assembly performs as would a unitary bellows structure. The bellows assembly encloses an internal space that is fluidically isolated from the interior space of the pressure vessel. The bellows assembly has a corrugated sidewall that extends along a longitudinal axis from a first collar portion to a second collar portion. The sidewall has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The sidewall has an outer diameter of more than 18 inches.

Abstract: A flow and pressure stabilization device comprises a housing; a first fluid chamber; a gas chamber; a deformable bladder that separates the first fluid chamber from the gas chamber and at least partially defines a volume of the first fluid chamber; a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber via a fluid passage; and a variable flow valve in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber, the variable flow valve comprising: a fluid port in fluid communication with a fluid outlet; a deformable diaphragm positioned adjacent the fluid port, the diaphragm at least partially defining a volume of the second fluid chamber; and an outflow control button coupled to the diaphragm and extending at least partially into the fluid port, the outflow control button comprising an at least partially tapered surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system for controlling fluid systems and for remotely controlling fluid control devices. In some described embodiments, the system includes at least one fluid control device, a proportional valve driver coupled to the at least one fluid control device, a wireless network, and at least one user controller device coupled to the proportional valve driver through the wireless network. In some described embodiments, the proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver, a proportional translation unit, and a parameter unit. The proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver operable to establish a communication channel with a user controller, receive a request signal, transmit the request signal to a processor for deconstruction and execution, and transmit a response signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system for controlling fluid systems and for remotely controlling fluid control devices. In some described embodiments, the system includes at least one fluid control device, a proportional valve driver coupled to the at least one fluid control device, a wireless network, and at least one user controller device coupled to the proportional valve driver through the wireless network. In some described embodiments, the proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver, a proportional translation unit, and a parameter unit. The proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver operable to establish a communication channel with a user controller, receive a request signal, transmit the request signal to a processor for deconstruction and execution, and transmit a response signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system for controlling fluid systems and for remotely controlling fluid control devices. In some described embodiments, the system includes at least one fluid control device, a proportional valve driver coupled to the at least one fluid control device, a wireless network, and at least one user controller device coupled to the proportional valve driver through the wireless network. In some described embodiments, the proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver, a proportional translation unit, and a parameter unit. The proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver operable to establish a communication channel with a user controller, receive a request signal, transmit the request signal to a processor for deconstruction and execution, and transmit a response signal.

Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a hydraulic actuator component and an electronic actuator component that are arranged coaxially, each of the actuator components being arranged to control a locking member that retains a movable component. In one version, each of the actuator components can individually engage a mechanical detent to enable unlocking of the movable component, for use, for example, in an uplock mechanism for aircraft.

Abstract: Apparatus for dampening pulsations in a fluid system has a radially expandable tube connected in the fluid system. A flexible outer shell surrounds the tube to form with the tube an annular chamber. The annular chamber is pressurized by a compressed gas or other fluid to dampen fluid pulsations that act upon the tube. Annular end caps connect the tube and the shell. At each end, the tube has an extension with a threaded connection to a bushing; the bushing has a threaded connection to the inner annulus of the end cap.

Abstract: A pressure regulator uses a pliable seal to segregate a pressure confinement volume from the remaining cylinder volume. The pliable seal has a cross section comprising a pair of apexes that are disposed into grooves incorporated into the piston and the cylinder internal wall. The radii of the pliable seal establish a rolling contact to ensure pressure seal in the presence of seal deformation. The seal promotes linear regulator response and minimizes hysteresis causes by frictional forces of prior art piston rings.

Abstract: A slide valve containing a ceramic apertured slide block slidably supported upon a pair of ceramic shear seals so that the slide can reciprocate between an operative and an inoperative position. A roof block also formed of a ceramic material is mounted over the slide block and a roller unit is positioned between opposing surfaces of the two blocks. Control pistons are mounted in cylinders on either side of the slide block. Control circuits are arranged to bring pilot fluid in a selected one of the cylinders to extend the piston housed therein against the slide thus changing the slide position. The control circuits are isolated from other circuits within the valve to prevent contaminants from adversely effecting poppet valves operatively associated with the control circuits.

Abstract: A pump inlet stabilizer for positive displacement reciprocating pumps, which reduces pressure fluctuations at the pump inlet and aids in filling the pump head with fluid during each inlet stroke. The pump inlet stabilizer comprises an accumulator housing with a bladder which creates a gas chamber which is fludically isolated from a fluid chamber within the housing, and a control unit. The control unit consists of a compound pressure gauge to measure positive and negative pressure levels in the gas chamber, a ball valve with an open and closed position for opening or closing an inlet into the gas chamber and a venturi pneumatically coupled to a compressed air source. The control unit is able to use the compressed air source, typically shop air, either to reduce the pressure in the gas chamber or increase the pressure in the gas chamber, depending upon whether the outlet of the venturi is blocked or unblocked.

Abstract: A rotary servo valve includes a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough. A sleeve fits into the bore. The wall of the sleeve is perforated by two groups of port openings, each group includes a plurality of sets of radially-disposed ports. In each group, the central longitudinal axis of one set of ports is radially displaced from the central longitudinal axis of one other set of ports by a preselected angular displacement. At least a third set of ports in one group is in continuous fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid; at least a third set of ports in the other group in continuous fluid communication with a return sump. A hollow rotary control member consists of two internal chambers. Each chamber includes a number of sets of apertures that are radially disposed around the walls of the chambers, spaced-apart by a preselected angular separation.

Abstract: A fluid-conducting swivel includes an upstream conduit, downstream conduit, and support assembly for holding the upstream and downstream conduit with their flow passageways aligned, allowing rotation of one of the upstream and downstream conduit, and maintaining a space between the adjacent ends of the conduit. The upstream conduit includes an acceleration nozzle for accelerating the velocity of the fluid flow to such a velocity that the fluid creates a substantially self-contained fluid jet. The downstream conduit includes a deceleration nozzle for decelerating the velocity of the fluid flow and a downstream throat extending between the deceleration nozzle and the end of the downstream conduit adjacent the upstream conduit. The downstream throat receives the accelerated fluid from the upstream conduit and is sized to substantially prevent expansion of the accelerated fluid and thereby prevent fluid leakage and pressure loss between the upstream and downstream conduit.