Abstract: A valve comprising sealing members configured to allow the valve to achieve an open position, a closed position, lower seat clean position and an upper seat clean position is described. A method including opening a valve, closing a valve, moving the valve to a lower seat clean position, and moving the valve to an upper seat clean position is described.

Abstract: A tire mounting tool configured to maintain a tire with respect to a wheel during a tire mounting process includes a wheel holding portion configured to be affirmatively held with respect to a rim of a wheel. The tire mounting tool further includes a handle portion configured to connect to and hold, at least in part, the wheel holding portion, and a tire holding portion configured to limit movement of the tire with respect to the rim of the wheel.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a body structure having a proximal inlet tube and a distal outlet tube separated by a valve cylinder portion, a flow control valve situated in the valve cylinder portion, the flow control valve including a valve plug and an actuator shaft, and an actuation control pivotally mounted to the body structure, wherein rotational movement of the actuation control exerts an axial force against the actuator shaft to move the valve plug through the valve cylinder portion and open fluid communication between the proximal inlet tube and the distal outlet tube. A bead seating system includes means for establishing fluid communication between a container of pressurized fluid and a valve assembly, means for transferring rotational movement of a actuation control pivotally mounted on the valve assembly into an axial force, means for establishing fluid communication between the container and a bead seating tool via the valve assembly.

Abstract: A cooling tower system is disclosed. The cooling tower system includes a first heat exchanger that receives a process fluid from a first fluid circuit, and receives a working fluid from a second fluid circuit, thereby effecting thermal communication between the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. The first fluid circuit includes a heat source disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger, and a cooling tower unit configured to transfer heat from the process fluid to a flow of ambient air. The second fluid circuit includes a waste heat expansion engine disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger in a direction of working fluid flow. The waste heat expansion engine is configured to extract power from the working fluid and transfer at least a portion of the power extracted to a component of the cooling tower unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic flow sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a manifold; a hole in the manifold in fluid communication with a fluid pathway; a poppet valve in the hole in the manifold configured to move when fluid in the pathway flows; and a proximity switch configured to detect movement of the poppet valve. A method of operating a hydraulic circuit may also be provided.

Abstract: An extendable handled tool may include: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of the hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; a tooth connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and a locking ring mounted on the shaft, the locking ring configured to fit with the tooth to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. A method of extending a handle on a tool may also be provided.

Abstract: A tire spoon holder is provided. The tire spoon holder may include: a first and second handle; a first and second jaw, each jaw connected to at least one of the handles wherein the jaws are configured to come together when the handles are moved toward each other; and a loop attached to at least one jaw or handle. A method of attaching a tire spoon to a wheel rim may be provided. The method may include: attaching a tire spoon holder to a wheel rim; slipping a tire spoon through a loop in the tire spoon holder; and inserting a flat portion of the tire spoon between a tire and the wheel rim.

Abstract: A cooling tower system is provided that can exhibit increased energy efficiency. The cooling tower system includes a cooling tower unit, an expansion engine and a power operated component such as a fan or pump. The process fluid is first used to heat a working fluid for an expansion engine before being sent to the cooling tower for cooling. Power generated by the expansion engine is utilized to operate a component of the cooling tower such as a fan or a pump. The cooling tower is also utilized to provide cooling to condense the working fluid from a vapor to a liquid form cooling tower is used to remove waste heat from a process fluid.

Abstract: A cooling reservoir may be provided. The cooling reservoir may include: a generally polygon shaped container having sides that define at least two corners; a fan configured to blow air across two sides that define one of the corners; and cooling fins attached to the sides. A method for making a cooling reservoir may be provided. The method may include: providing generally polygon shaped container having sides that define at least two corners; mounting a fan to blow air across two sides that define one of the corners; and attaching cooling fins to the sides.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are developed to improve accuracy of diagnostic tests for A/C systems. In particular, a refrigerant recovery unit may have its hoses pre-charged with a refrigerant to a predetermined pressure or amount before performing the diagnostic tests on the A/C system of the vehicle. For example, a predetermine amount of refrigerant may be injected into the hoses of the refrigerant recovery unit to pre-charge them. The pre-charged hoses of the refrigerant recovery unit may prevent a refrigerant flow from the A/C system to the hoses connected thereto before the diagnostic tests are implemented and thus, improve the accuracy of the diagnostic tests.

Abstract: A tire spoon may be provided. The tire spoon may include: a bar; and a spoon portion at one end of the bar, the spoon portion having two outer side edges and a middle portion located between the two outer side edges, and at a given cross section of the spoon portion, the middle portion cross sectional thickness is greater than a cross sectional thickness of the two outer side edges. A method of forming a tire spoon is provided. The method may include: providing a spoon portion on an end of a bar; and forming the spoon portion to have middle section that has a thicker cross section than either side portion of the spoon portion.

Abstract: A compressed gas powered machine is provided. The machine includes: an outlet and a hollow member fluidly connected to the outlet and configured to receive gas expended from the machine through the outlet the hollow member defining holes oriented to allow the gas contained in the hollow member to blow on various parts of the machine.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.

Abstract: A system for generating power from a low grade heat source includes a heat source inlet, heat sink inlet, heat exchanger unit, and a heat engine. The heat source inlet conveys a flow of a heated fluid into the system. The heat sink inlet conveys a flow of a cooled fluid into the system. The heat exchanger unit is configured to rotate. A portion of the heat exchanger unit alternates between thermal contact with the heated fluid and thermal contact with the cooled fluid in response to being rotated. The heat engine is configured to generate power in response to the heat exchanger unit being rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of deploying a desuperheater with a Seat-Ring designed to provide coolant injection at high temperature differential. The present invention's robust design provides for a high level of flexibility that allows operating at high temperature differentials between the coolant and the superheated fluid. The desuperheater Seat-Ring is made as a split hollow ring with a perpendicular slit traversing the ring's circumference. The opened slit design provides a high level of flexibility, which allows the seat ring to sustain severe temperature extremes by reducing thermal stress. The coolant is supplied to the seat ring through a specially designed coolant nipple liner connected to the seat-ring.

Abstract: A solidification system is provided and includes a crucible, heater, insulation, movable insulation, and radiation regulator. The crucible is configured to retain a volume of silicon. The heater is to heat the crucible. The heater being configured to provide sufficient heat to melt the volume of silicon. The insulation is to reduce heat loss from a first portion of the crucible. The movable insulation to regulate heat loss from a second portion of the crucible. The radiation regulator is to regulate radiant heat loss over the second portion of the crucible. The radiation regulator is configured to modulate a size of an opening in the radiation regular through which radiant heat dissipates from.

Abstract: A circularly polarized patch antenna uses a square quarter-wavelength conductive plate, spaced away from a slightly larger backing conductor. Excitation uses a coaxial feed stem pair, whereof respective inner conductors join the patch at orthogonal locations on a reference circle, and outer conductors intrude past points of joining to the backing conductor to establish gaps that interact with patch and backing conductor size and spacing to jointly establish terminal impedance. A parasitic element in the propagation path broadens bandwidth, while a frame behind serves to define a cavity reflector. A power divider behind the frame converts a single applied broadcast signal into two equal signals with orthogonal phase, which signals are delivered to the feed stems with equal-length coaxial lines.

Abstract: An air/refrigerant heat exchanger includes a plurality of coiled tubes. A first tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a phase change material therein. A second tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of cooled refrigerant flowing therethrough and the first tube is in thermal contact with the second tube. A third tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of air flowing therethrough and the third tube is in thermal contact with the first tube and the second tube.