Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved poppet-type relief-valve construction which features an inlet-port configuration at upstream offset from the valve-closed seat region of the valve. To open the valve, a valve member must be moved by upstream pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold. This valve member integrally carries a specially profiled formation that (a) is upstream from the seat region and (b) coacts with a specially profiled region of inlet port. This action necessarily takes place upstream from the seat region and is such as to provide control of valve operation especially during that fraction of valve-member displacement that spans the "cracking" phase of valve operation. The net result is to avoid development of the "chatter" which customarily characterizes the "cracking" phase of valve operation.

Abstract: The invention provides a two-part casing for a multistage valve, itself configured for noise-reduction. Further noise reduction is achieved by complaint suspension of the valve in a two-part casing wherein separable parts of the casing define a cavity for containing nested stages of the valve. Provision is made for selective adjustment of compressional loading of the compliant suspension.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a valve construction which provides a radially stacked succession of mutually fitted concentric annuli fitted to an inner tubular member which is open at one end for accommodating inlet fluid flow and which is adapted along its bore and at the opposite end to guide a poppet member that is axially positionable in the bore. The tubular member has a circumferentially and axially distributed plurality of like radial passages adapted to be opened and closed in accordance with the guided position of the poppet member. Progressively increasing pluralities of such radial passages characterize each successive annulus, and all annuli are circumferentially channeled to define a manifolded relation between the plural passage discharges from one annulus and the plural passage inlets of the next annulus. Outlet or downstream flow from the valve is taken from a circumferential manifold around the outermost multiple-ported annulus.

Abstract: A jail-cell door is suspended from an overhead carriage, for horizontal displacement between closed and open positions, and an elongate slide bar has a horizontal lost-motion connection to the carriage. The slide bar mounts a reversible electric motor and is continuously engaged to the driven one of two rollers from which the carriage and its cell door are suspended; the shaft for the other suspension roller is journaled in the carriage. For driving the cell door in the door-opening direction, the outer lost-motion limit determines an expanded wheelbase of door suspension, and for driving the cell door in the door-closing direction, the inner lost-motion limit determines a slightly reduced wheelbase of door suspension. The slide bar carries cam formations at or near its respective ends for determining locking-bolt action only at the fully closed and fully open positions of the door, and a deadlock device is pivotally carried at one end of the slide bar, serving the door-closed condition.

Abstract: A pressure-driven fire-suppression valve wherein a single electrical switch is mechanically actuated by coaxially related first and second sealed piston components, which are compliantly loaded in the direction away from switch actuation. The first piston component is of lesser area and has its switch-actuating relation via abutment with the second (larger-area) piston component; this first piston component continuously responds to suppressant-charge pressure, via a pressure-fluid connection to the upstream valve chamber, i.e., to the upstream side of the closed position of the valve member (poppet). As long as this upstream-sensed pressure is above predetermined threshold, the compliant-load force will be overcome, and the switch will be mechanically actuated, but upon leakage below threshold, the mechanical actuation is released, for a change of state at the switch.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a quick-opening valve for release of pressurized gas to suppress a hydrocarbon or the like fire and/or explosion. A piston or poppet-valve member is retained by mechanical-latch mechanism in its readiness condition, normally closing off pressurized liquified suppressant gas against release for fast discharge via a discharge port. Latch release is via short low-friction, low-inertia direct action which is independent of the pressure differential across the valve member.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a prestressed rolling mill incorporating a system of hydraulically operated load-transfer blocks, wherein the blocks are of unitary construction and bodily interposed between vertically opposed regions of upper and lower back-up roll chocks, at the respective inlet and exit sides of each axial end of the mill. Each load-transfer block is inherently self-adapting (at each of a plurality of force-application regions) to such small locally different deformations in the mill frame as result from the block's modulating contribution to net prestressing force; further, each load-transfer block includes its own hydraulic-control system with minimum-displacement actuators whereby a fast time constant of hydraulic response is achieved.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a prestressed rolling mill incorporating a system of hydraulically operated load-transfer blocks, wherein the blocks are of unitary construction and bodily interposed between vertically opposed regions of upper and lower back-up roll chocks, at the respective inlet and exit sides of each axial end of the mill. Each load-transfer block is inherently self-adapting (at each of a plurality of force-application regions) to such small locally different deformations in the mill frame as result from the block's modulating contribution to net prestressing force; further, each load-transfer block includes its own hydraulic-control system with minimum-displacement actuators whereby a fast time constant of hydraulic response is achieved.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a system of relatively wide-range solenoid control of pressure-fluid flow from a high-pressure upstream source to a downstream load. In a first range of relatively low rates of flow, the system utilizes the solenoid to actuate a pilot valve for controlled exclusive delivery of pressure fluid to the load, via a throttling orifice; in a second range of higher rates of flow, the pressure drop across the throttling orifice becomes sufficiently great to enable pilot-delivery pressure, upstream from the throttling orifice, to open a main-valve line from the source to the load. The arrangement is such that solenoid-actuating force variation within the first range produces a first characteristic of flow-rate delivery to the load, and is also such that solenoid-actuating force variation beyond the first range produces a second and steeper characteristic of flow-rate delivery to the load.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an electrically operated valve construction for control of fluid flow wherein an actuator module is adapted for detachable connection to a valve-body module which contains the valve member to be automatically positioned by a driver element of the actuator module. All electronic components for moving the driver element are self-contained in the actuator module, and these elements include a fluid-sensing transducer producing an electrical output, for closure of the control loop. The transducer has sealed exclusive exposure to fluid in the valve-body module via a special port within the confines of the interface between the modules, when the modules are assembled to each other; this port communicates directly with that part of the valve-body passage which is on the downstream side of the valve member.

Abstract: In sheet-rolling mills where the rolls are normally under maximum rolling pressure, the mill is said to be "pre-stressed." Load transfer blocks exert a force to relieve a part of the pre-stress for each particular strip rolling operation. This invention has a combination of hydraulic pressure and gas pressure for providing a controlled substantially unyielding force during a rolling operation, and a yielding shock absorber for preventing full pre-stress load from coming on the rolls when an end of the strip passes the rolls or when a strip breaks.

Abstract: Rolling mills, especially for sheet metal, and also paper, rubber and similar rolling mills, require accurate control of the gap between the rolls since this determines the uniformity of the gauge of the material rolled by the mill. This invention provides a rolling mill with sensors that cooperate with the circumferential surfaces of the rolls, or rigid parts thereof, to detect relative movement of the rolls in directions that affect the roll gap and the gauge of the material being rolled. Response of the sensors operates a transducer to affect automatic correction of changes in the spacing of the rolls from one another.

Abstract: The valve element of this invention is generally cylindrical and has poppet valves at both ends for contact with seats at opposite ends of a chamber in which the valve element moves. Cylindrical side walls at each end of the chamber prevent interflow between ports during movement of the valve element from one end of its stroke to the other. For sub-sea use on offshore drilling well heads, a spring that moves the valve element in one direction is in a chamber sealed from an adjacent chamber to which the ambient sea water has access. Apparatus for pilot operation of the valve element has spaced, aligned bearing guides for guiding the valve element on opposite sides of an intervening chamber that holds the sea water.

Abstract: Rolling mills require uniform temperature control across the width of the sheet in order to roll a flat metal sheet of uniform gauge. This invention provides a rolling mill with spray nozzles that operate in groups to maintain substantially uniform temperature across the width of the sheet metal. Back pressure of the coolant within the cooling spray nozzle adjustment means obtains automatic control of individual nozzle adjustment to make the rate of flow of the coolant to the sheet metal workpiece always obtain substantially uniform temperature of the metal. In place of back pressure, other signal energy supplied to nozzle adjustment can be used. The nozzles are carried by spray boards that adjust to control the angle of impingement of the nozzle sprays against the sheet metal; and there is a novel construction for transmitting liquid between fixed passage to other passages in the angularly adjustable spray boards without the use of hoses.

Abstract: This gas pressure control system is intended primarily for testing gauges by providing an accurate static gas pressure over a wide range, preferably from zero to 10,000 pounds per square inch. The system is equipped with a pressure intensifier that operates automatically to raise the delivery pressure above the supply pressure when necessary. The supply may be a bottle of nitrogen under pressure of two thousand two hundred pounds per square inch, and the pressure intensifier is preferably a cylinder-and-piston motor-pump combination with a displacement ratio such as 70 to 1.