Abstract: The present invention provides a manual override system for a linear magnetically operated valve assembly having a valve member reciprocally located in a valve body. A first carrier member connected to the valve member mounts a peripheral set of driven magnets. A barrier member surrounds the first carrier member and is hermetically sealed to the valve body. A second carrier member surrounds the barrier member and mounts a set of driven magnets for magnetically inducing following linear movement in the first carrier member and the valve member in response to specific linear movement of the second carrier member. The manual override system includes a piston member reciprocally located in the valve body for linear movement between the valve body and the first carrier member, the piston member having an annular skirt thereon sealingly engaging an inner bore of the valve body and defining first and second sealed chambers on respective sides thereof within the valve body.

Abstract: A manual override for a magnetically operated rotary valve (10) is provided. The valve includes a rotary member connected to an internal carrier (18) that carries a plurality of permanent magnets (20). A rotary drive carrier (22) also carries a plurality of permanent magnets (24) and is separated from the internal carrier (18) by a hermetic barrier member (42). At one end the barrier member (42) is affixed to a rotatable plate member (26) that is held stationary by a removable pin (64) that interconnects the plate member (26) and a support member (56) affixed to the valve body (12). Rotation limit means are constituted by a pin (40) on the driven portion of the valve which is received in a cooperating recess (36) in the plate member (26). If the valve member jams and there is not sufficient magnetically-induced torque to free the valve member then the override of the invention will come into play.

Abstract: A sealed and pressure balanced lubricating system for high pressure rotary equipment includes a housing with a bore divided by a slidable piston into a lubricant chamber and a gas chamber. The gas chamber communicates with an area of the equipment which is exposed to high gas pressure and the lubricant chamber communicates with bearings within the equipment. During operation gas pressure forces the piston against the lubricant to pressure feed the bearings. A relief valve in the piston is opened, after the equipment stops and the pressure therein returns to atmospheric, in the event that pressurized gas has become entrained in the lubricant due to leakage past shaft seals. Such gas forces the piston back towards the gas chamber; the relief valve contacts an actuator and is opened; and the gas escapes to atmosphere through the piston and the gas chamber.

Abstract: A low loss synchronous magnetic drive system for high pressure, high horsepower applications is disclosed. A carrier member driven by a drive motor carries spaced apart sets of drive magnets with the magnets of one set being of opposite polarity to the longitudinally aligned magnets of the other set. An output shaft carrying driven magnets oriented similarly to the drive magnets is also provided. A metallic hyperbaric barrier separates the drive and driven magnets. The barrier includes an outer cylinder having circumferentially spaced, radially directed, narrow slots extending therealong. Within the cylinder is a plurality of axially adjacent annular laminations insulated from each other. During operation the combination of the slotted cylinder, the laminations and the magnet arrangement keeps eddy currents generated in the barrier at a minimum, ensuring a high efficiency drive operable at speeds and pressures heretofore unattainable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for mixing two or more materials normally considered difficult to evenly and homogeneously intermix such as, for example, viscous fluids. The apparatus is also effectively usable to entrain a gas in a liquid and for ceramic particle formation. The mixing portion of the apparatus includes a mixing chamber in the form of a narrow gap between two walls movable relative to one another. The mixing chamber has individual inlets thereto at one end thereof for individually introducing the different elements to be mixed therein and an outlet at the opposite end for discharge therefrom of the mixed elements. The mixing chamber is preferably an annular chamber in the form of a truncated cone and defined by spaced apart walls, one of which is movable relative to the other by rotation. The distance between the walls defining the mixing chamber is preferably selectively adjustable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple pass optical rotary joint which can simultaneously transmit optical signals along two or more channels in either of two directions. The joint uses a rotor and a stator to each of which is connected a plurality of optical fibers. Within the joint reflecting mirrors are used to redirect off-axis optical signals onto the joint axis, with relative rotation occurring while the signals are on-axis. A rotating member for each channel has a mirror for reflecting the on-axis signal portion off-axis to a receptor fiber. Alignment between the rotating member and the receptor fiber, as well as drive for the rotating member, is provided by a pair of magnets of opposite polarity, one being secured to the rotating member and the other being secured to the rotor. The magnetic interaction ensures synchronous rotation of the rotor and the rotating member. Specific embodiments in which transmission losses can be minimized are also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic drive assembly includes a housing having a pair of end flanges, an annular drive member containing a plurality of drive members and internally thereof a driven member containing a plurality of driven magnets. The drive and driven members are bearingly supported by the end flanges so that rotation of the drive member results, through magnetic interaction, on rotation of the driven member. A barrier separates the driven and drive members and extends between the end flanges to hermetically seal the driven member. The barrier is formed from a plurality of abutting axially adjacent annular laminations held in axial compression by the end flanges, the laminations being formed of a non-magnetic material. In one embodiment the laminations have a chevron shape in radial cross-section whereby adjacent laminations are nestable with each other.

Abstract: A torque transmitting assembly for effecting rotation of a valve member such as a butterfly valve is hermetically sealed to the valve housing. It includes a rotor member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets of opposite polarity and a driver magnet assembly having a like plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets of opposite polarity facing the magnets mounted to the rotor. The two sets of magnets are separated by a stainless steel separator which hermetically seals the rotor. The driver magnet assembly is rotatable about the separator so that magnetic coupling forces effect a following rotation of the rotor and hence of the valve member. A magnetic indicator may be used to identify the rotational position of the rotor. The entire assembly is hermetically sealed and no packing is required. The assembly is especially useful to control a valve in a hazardous environment wherein no leakage of the fluid being controlled by the valve member is permissible.

Abstract: A device for detecting and indicating the presence of corrosive fluids in a specified volume, as in the insulating blanket surrounding the pipes in a heavy water plant, is disclosed. The device includes a housing containing a primary indicator such as a bobbin with a long, brightly colored ribbon wrapped therearound, and a secondary indicator. A compression spring abuts the secondary indicator and is held in compression by a corrodable link anchored at one end to the housing and at the other end to the secondary indicator. The link is exposed to the volume being monitored and if there is a corrosive fluid present the fluid will corrode the link until it breaks. The spring force is released to act on the secondary indicator to project the primary indicator from the housing. The ribbon unwinds from the bobbin to provide a visual indication of the presence of the corrosive fluid.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing a high-protein snack food. The method comprises admixing a plastic protein gel with about 17 to 50% by weight, based on weight of the gel, of dry starch or flour to obtain a homogeneous mass of protein gel-starch material which is subsequently extruded into desired shapes and thereafter cooked. Vegetable oil or fat may also be incorporated into the gel-starch material to improve the texture and taste of the final product. Preferred starches or flours include those derived from potato, corn and rice. The plastic protein gel, which is prepared by conventional procedures, may be fish, soybean gel, or mixtures containing both fish and soybean gels with the proviso that all steps prior to cooking must be carried out at a temperature of 5.degree. C. or less when any fish gel is utilized. The cooked product can readily be prepared in the form of chips and can be coated subsequent to cooking with flavoring and/or flavor-enhancing agents.