Abstract: An automatic vent has a cup including a bottom wall, a side wall, an open top, and an inlet for introducing fluid into a compartment defined by the bottom and side walls. A valve assembly of the automatic vent includes a cap disposed over the open top of the cup. The cap has a body with an upwardly facing surface, a downwardly facing surface, a bore formed within the body for enabling fluid communication between the compartment and atmosphere, and an annular rim provided around the bore on the downwardly facing surface. A lever arm is hingedly connected at one end thereof to the body of the cap adjacent the annular rim.

Abstract: The present process for the production of sparkplugs provides coated sparkplugs that are resistant to carbonization or lead fouling of the central ceramic insulator. A liquid metal carboxylate composition is applied to the insulator of the sparkplug and subjected to heat treatment at a temperature preferably above 400.degree. C. to form a durable metal oxide layer on the insulator.

Abstract: A de-aerator apparatus for removing gas from fluid flowing through a pipe includes a housing having a chamber, an inlet connected to an inlet pipe for allowing the passage of fluid into the chamber, an outlet connected to an outlet pipe for discharging fluid from the chamber, and a vent for venting gas from the top of the chamber. The arrangement is such that as fluid flows into the chamber through the inlet and out of the chamber through the outlet, relatively large gas pockets present in the fluid in the chamber rise to the surface of the fluid and exit the chamber through the vent. A device disposed within the chamber has bristles facing the flow of fluid into the chamber through the inlet. The bristles vibrate for merging micro gas pockets present in the fluid with one another to produce large gas pockets which rise to the surface of the fluid within the chamber and exit the chamber through the vent.

Abstract: A power driven valve actuator includes a thermostatic device which is movably supported in a housing to accommodate overtravel of a thrust member against the stem of the valve resulting from excess expansion of a thermostatic element enclosed in the thermostatic device and heated by a heating device. Movement of the thermostatic device trips a dust-tight switch to interrupt power to the heating device, and a spring engaging the thermostatic device returns the thermostatic device to a starting position, so that whenever heat is called for by the thermostat, the thermostatic device cycles in a reciprocating motion within the housing after the valve has been fully opened. The heating device comprises an electric resistance heating element placed in contact with a thermal enclosure of the thermostatic element and covered by an insulating material.