Abstract: A circuit (10) for operating a bi-directional air motor (12) of a valve closure system for enabling a tank valve to be discretionally operated to either open or closed condition either at the tank by attending personnel or from a remote location, with the capability of closing the tank valve in the event of emergency from a remote location in the absence of attending personnel. The circuit can be constructed using two commercially available valve assemblies ((24, 26).

Abstract: An air motor (34) is arranged at a right angle to the valve stem (54), through a right angle gear drive (36) that provides torque amplification. A bracket (40) associates the motor with the valve body (48), having a flat ring (68) that fits over the valve body and has clearance notches (94) providing circumferential indexing. Semi-circular locking plates (66) are axially adjacent the ring and pivoted for swinging between a locking position where they fit in a groove (59) in the valve body and an unlocking position where they are free of the groove. Each locking plate has several through-holes through any of which a locking pin (42) can pass to lock the locking plate in locking position. Each locking pin protrudes axially beyond the ring to present interference with the valve body preventing the bracket from turning when the motor operates.

Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing railway tank car valves (V1, V2, V3, V4) characterized by a series of novel adapters (180, 240, 242, 244, 252, 254) for enabling one valve closure assembly to turn the handles of various different valves, including soft-seat valves and hard-seat valves.

Abstract: A valve closure assembly (50) for remotely and automatically closing a railway tank car valve (V1, V2, V3, V4), characterized by improved convenience in mounting on a tank car dome (160) and adaptability to various dome geometries, valve configurations, and car-to-car dimensional variations. A clamp assembly (52) mounts assembly (50) on dome (160). An adapter (180) operated by a motor (58) turns a valve handle (A1, A2, A3, A4) when motor (58) runs. A positioning mechanism (54) selectively positions adapter (180) relative to clamp assembly (52) to establish a spatial relationship between them for enabling clamp assembly (52) to be placed at a desired location on the dome wall (162) and adapter (180) to engage a valve handle. Positioning mechanism (54) comprises three degrees of freedom of motion for establishing the spatial relationship of adapter (180) to clamp assembly (52), two of which are in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A valve closure system for rotating a rotatable actuator of a valve relative to a body of the valve to operate the valve from open to closed. The system contains a motor having a rotatable shaft, a mounting that comprises plural parts including a bracket, for associating the motor with the valve, and a coupling for coupling the motor shaft to the valve actuator to impart rotation of the motor shaft to the valve actuator to operate the valve closed. The bracket comprises a plate having a surface defining a notch that has a) an entrance at a perimeter of the plate and b) a shape enabling the plate to associate with the valve body by i) disposing the plate alongside the valve body with the notch entrance aligned with the valve body and ii) then moving the plate laterally of the valve actuator axis to cause of the valve body to pass through the notch entrance and enter the notch.

Abstract: A horizontal pass, multiple packed-bed gas scrubber features relatively low pressure drop flow paths for both the gas flow and the scrubbing liquid flow, allowing large scale mass transfer of solute from the gas to the liquid. The scrubber is volumetrically compact, yet possesses extremely high scrubbing efficiency of large gas flow rates. Each packed bed comprises packing that is wetted by liquid emitted from low pressure drop orifices in piping near the top of the packing. The piping is supported by baffles that extend into the packing so as to force back into the packing any gas that seeks to avoid the packing by flowing through any void, or inadequately wetted, zone at the top of a bed.