Abstract: A thermal insulating sleeve liner for fluid flow devices such as valves and piping used in severe industrial applications is preferably additively manufactured (e.g., by 3D printing) to fit into the bore of a protected fluid flow device. Internal interstices and/or external ribs provide added thermal insulation. An integrally formed end-lip or a separate end-cap secures and/or locates the sleeve liner within the protected fluid flow device between different diameter distal and proximal portions of the bore. If internal interstices are sealed they can be vacuumed or pressurized to enhance thermal insulating properties. Fitted dimensions are sufficiently small to prevent ingress of thermally conductive particles circulating in use within the flow path of the protected flow device. A pressure equalizing aperture can be provided on or through the sleeve if needed in some applications.

Abstract: A two-piece valve shell (body and bolted-on top bonnet) structure reduces possible leakage paths while also providing a top-side ball/stem installation/removal path (when the bonnet piece is not present) to facilitate initial valve assembly as well as subsequent inspection/removal of the ball/stem and other valve internals for conducting valve maintenance without requiring the valve body to be removed from its process connections. Internal wetted valve surfaces are coated with tantalum to provide a tantalum ball valve suitable for use as a sulfuric acid feed valve in severe high-temperature high-pressure industrial processes such as HPAL processes. Sealing cavities created by spaced-apart body-to-bonnet and/or stem-to-bonnet sealing structures can be inertly pressurized to hermetically isolate the sealing structures from ingress/leakage of corrosive process materials.

Abstract: A self-contained electronic steam trap drains condensate from a steam system. The steam trap includes a drain pipe adapted for fluid communication with a steam supply system. Pressure and temperature sensors measure pressure and temperature in an internal passageway of the steam trap. A condensate discharge valve is disposed at or upstream of an output port of the drain pipe. The condensate discharge valve is controlled based on the measured pressure and temperature and a calculated steam saturation temperature. Both a cycling mode and a regulation mode of automatic valve operation are described.

Abstract: A monolithic metal thermal insulating sleeve liner for fluid flow devices such as valves and piping used in severe industrial applications is additively manufactured (e.g., by 3D printing) to fit the bore of a protected fluid flow device. Tessellated support structures obliquely extending between inside surfaces of inner and outer shells provide increased resistance to thermal conduction while also providing increased strength against compression forces. Example support structures include an array of four obliquely oriented elongated members mutually intersecting mid-way between the inside surfaces of inner and outer cylindrical shells. If internal interstices are sealed they can be vacuumed or pressurized to enhance thermal insulating properties. A pressure equalizing aperture can be provided on or through the sleeve if needed in some applications.

Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap includes a lower casing; an upper casing secured with the lower casing; and a mechanism that is operatively secured with the lower casing and the upper casing and that includes a stack of bimetallic strips. The stack of bimetallic strips includes two opposed cantilevered portions separated by a neutral flexion axis thereof. A stem member slidably extends through the stack of bimetallic strips and the lower casing, and a valve portion includes a valve member that is operatively secured to a first end of the stem member and that selectively closes the valve portion with movement of the cantilevered portions of the stack of bimetallic strips.

Abstract: A multiport ball valve body has one entry port and at least two exit ports disposed transversely to the ball valve body entry port. A ball disposed in the body has one entry port and one exit port that is disposed transversely to the ball entry port. The ball can be rotated to selectively align the ball exit port with one of the at least two body exit ports. Holes through the ball admit part of the fluid flow into the cavity between the ball and the body, and internal parts are exposed, such that the cavity and the internal parts are kept flushed.

Abstract: A multiport ball valve body has one entry port and at least two exit ports disposed transversely to the ball valve body entry port. A ball disposed in the body has one entry port and one exit port that is disposed transversely to the ball entry port. The ball can be rotated to selectively align the ball exit port with one of the at least two body exit ports. Holes through the ball admit part of the fluid flow into the cavity between the ball and the body, and internal parts are exposed, such that the cavity and the internal parts are kept flushed.

Abstract: A ball valve sealing ring is provided for sealing between a ball valve member a valve body. The sealing ring may comprise a ring body having a ball valve member-contacting surface and one or more valve body-contacting shoulders for contacting the valve seat. The sealing ring may comprise a resilient ring core for providing bending resistance. The resilient ring core may be at least partially conical and may have a curved cross-section with a convex side oriented towards the member-contacting surface. The cross section may be of a geometry corresponding to the outer contour of the ring body or shoulders and may have ends bent towards the member-contacting surface. The ring core may also have a plurality of apertures spaced about its circumference. The sealing ring may be elastically deflected upon contact with the valve member. Also provided is a ball valve seating arrangement comprising the aforementioned sealing ring.

Abstract: A hydrogen venting device for separating and releasing hydrogen gas from a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and steam generated in nuclear power plants is disclosed. The method includes providing a chamber at a high point in the cooling water circuit, allowing the collection chamber to cool below a gaseous mixture inlet temperature thereby allowing the hydrogen to collect at a first elevation within the collection chamber and condensate of the steam to collect at a second elevation within the collection chamber below the first elevation, and releasing substantially only hydrogen from the collection chamber at or proximal the first elevation when a threshold temperature, less than the first temperature, is reached.

Abstract: A ball valve sealing ring is provided for sealing between a ball valve member a valve body. The sealing ring may comprise a ring body having a ball valve member-contacting surface and one or more valve body-contacting shoulders for contacting the valve seat. The sealing ring may comprise a resilient ring core for providing bending resistance. The resilient ring core may be at least partially conical and may have a curved cross-section with a convex side oriented towards the member-contacting surface. The cross section may be of a geometry corresponding to the outer contour of the ring body or shoulders and may have ends bent towards the member-contacting surface. The ring core may also have a plurality of apertures spaced about its circumference. The sealing ring may be elastically deflected upon contact with the valve member. Also provided is a ball valve seating arrangement comprising the aforementioned sealing ring.

Abstract: A ball valve seat arrangement is provided that permits relief of cavity pressure. The arrangement includes a valve body for receiving a resilient annular seat. First passages in the seat provide communication between the valve cavity, and a space formed between the seat and the valve body. When the cavity pressure reaches a certain level, a sealing point between the seat and the valve body is lost. Communication is thereby provided between the space and the valve passage to achieve cavity pressure relief.

Abstract: A ball valve seat arrangement is provided that permits relief of cavity pressure. The arrangement includes a valve body for receiving a resilient annular seat. First passages in the seat provide communication between the valve cavity, and a space formed between the seat and the valve body. When the cavity pressure reaches a certain level, a sealing point between the seat and the valve body is lost. Communication is thereby provided between the space and the valve passage to achieve cavity pressure relief.

Abstract: A flexible wedge has a pair of pressure retaining plates and a central wedge body therebetween. The pressure retaining plates have inclined seating surfaces on opposed outer faces thereof for mating with corresponding valve seats within the valve body to prevent substance flow therethrough when the gate valve wedge is in the closed position. The central wedge body is disposed between, and integrally links, the pressure retaining plates. The central wedge body defines at least two offset slots which extend partially into the central wedge body from opposed edges thereof and which overlap in a depth-wise direction to define a deflectable web portion between the offset slots.

Abstract: A valve comprises a one piece valve body defining a fluid passage in which a closure member is disposed for selectively allowing and blocking fluid flow therethrough. A top entry stem extends into the valve body to transmit motion to the closure member. An integral external retainer is provided for cooperating with an outer abutment surface of the stem to prevent the same from being blown out of the valve body during use. A thrust bearing is disposed between the abutment surface of the stem and the external retained to reduce the operating torque. The one piece valve body design eliminates the joints and seals which are potential leak paths and the external retainer ensures that the thrust bearing be not influence by the temperature of the processed fluid.

Abstract: A valve including an annular groove in the valve body at the periphery of the valve disc. A fire-safe seal provides a fluid seal between the valve disc and the valve passageway. A seal is disposed in the annular groove having an axial projection for retaining the seal and a sealing surface projecting radially inwardly in the passageway and being engageable by the peripheral edge of the valve disc. This sealing surface has an inverted resilient J-shaped portion. The seal also has a circumferential slot for receiving a metal ring to provide circumferential stability. A retaining ring having a blocking groove extends axially and inwardly thereof for receiving the distal end of the resilient J-shaped portion.

Abstract: A knife valve comprises a body defining a valve seat and a knife blade longitudinally movable by a cylindrical stem in the body for opening and closing a lateral flow passage defined therethrough. The body includes a bonnet with the stem extending therethrough and with circular packing rings being disposed therein around the stem. The valve seat is located on a first side of the blade and in operative proximity thereto. The stem includes a lower head portion which defines an angular surface, whereas a top portion of the blade defines a slot forming an angular surface parallel to the angular surface of the stem head. The stem head is engageable in the slot with the angular surfaces thereof being in sliding contact. Therefore, when the blade is in its closed position, a longitudinal force exerted by the stem on the blade is transferred into a lateral force oriented towards the seat, thereby forcing the blade against the seat in a tight bidirectional seal under a positive torque.

Abstract: A top open ball valve assembly which includes a pair of camming plates, one at the top and one at the bottom of the plug. The camming plates are oval and in their minor axis are clear of the floating valve seats. There are lost motion slots to allow the plug to travel between an open and closed position without moving the camming plates. In the event it is required to retract the valve seats, the plug is rotated more than 90.degree. so as to engage the camming plates to move them so that the major axis of the oval camming plates is aligned with the flow passage of the inlet and outlet ports, and the camming plates engage and retract the floating valve seats. Annular grooves are provided in the valve seat recess and in the valve seat whereby they are radially aligned when the valve seats are retracted, and an elongated coil spring can be inserted in the passage formed by the grooves to block the valve seats in their retracted position.

Abstract: In a ball-type valve having a valve body and an annular seat therein for accommodating the ball, the improvement comprising adapting the seat whereby when the valve is in its open or closed position, the ball compresses the seat to seal the same against the valve body and at the same time tensions the seat to seal thereagainst. Also disclosed is a method of forming a seal between the body of a ball valve and the ball thereof, comprising the steps of providing a seat intermediate the body and the ball and moving the ball toward the body upon assembly of the valve whereby to compress a portion of the seat against the body and at the same time to tension a portion of the seat against the ball, thereby forming the seal between the body and the ball.

Abstract: An arrangement for top entry ball valve, providing relief from seating load when turning the ball to effect either opening or closing of the valve by a handle connected to the ball via a stem.