Abstract: A low restriction valve is provided for mounting to the end of a tube. The valve includes a valve body formed of an elastomeric material which may flex to conform to the shape of the end of the tube to thereby form a seal between the valve and the tube. In addition, a regulator portion is provided and includes a disk portion and a stem extending from the disk into the valve body. The disk is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve body such that the disk may move from a position spaced from an end of the valve body allowing fluid flow to a position in contact with the end of the valve body to prevent back flow of fluid.

Abstract: A marine exhaust system is provided for separating the gas from the water of gas/water mixture produced by a marine engine, and expelling the gas a sufficient distance from the hull of a boat to place it outside of the turbulent boundary layer surrounding the hull and the low pressure area following behind the boat. A nozzle having a variable outlet area is mounted amidship on the hull for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the exhaust system in order to expel the gases a maximum distance from the boat. In addition, apparatus is provided for removing the water from the exhaust system prior to the gases reaching an acoustical chamber for attenuating exhaust gas noises.

Abstract: A marine exhaust system is provided for separating the gas from the water of gas/water mixture produced by a marine engine, and expelling the gas a sufficient distance from the hull of a boat to place it outside of the turbulent boundary layer surrounding the hull and the low pressure area following behind the boat. A nozzle having a variable outlet area is mounted anidship on the hull for maintaining a predetermined pressure within the exhaust system in order to expel the gases a maximum distance from the boat. In addition, apparatus are provided for removing the water from the exhaust system prior to the gases reaching an acoustical chamber for attenuating exhaust gas noises.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve assembly for allowing fluid flow in a first direction and for preventing fluid flow in a second, opposite direction including a valve housing having first and second ports opening into the housing. A flow regulator is positioned within the housing and includes an outer wall which is formed as a substantially cylindrical member. The regulator includes a pair of semi-circular valve lips which are oriented in converging relationship to each other to form an outlet slit at one end of the regulator. The valve lips are connected to the outer wall by a pair of concave connecting walls wherein the lips and connecting walls form a pair of cavities on either side of the outlet slit. A pair of elongated projections are located along diametrically opposing sides of the outer wall for biasing the outer wall inwardly whereby a biasing force is applied to close the lips.

Abstract: A metal insert is provided for use in forming an elastomer-tipped armature to a precise length. The insert is formed as an elongated member with a central hole passing through its length, and an elastomer element is molded within the hole. A circumferential groove is formed in the exterior surface of the insert to create a weakened "hinge" point in the insert wall such that, as mold elements for forming the elastomer element engage opposing ends of the insert, the insert may be compressed longitudinally at the groove to thereby decrease the overall length of the completed armature to within a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for allowing fluid flow in a first direction and preventing fluid flow in a second direction. The valve assembly includes a housing for enclosing a substantially circular regulator assembly which extends diametrically across the housing. The regulator assembly comprises a hub portion which is positioned centrally within the housing and connecting members which extend radially toward a rim portion which is supported by the housing. The hub portion supports a disk-shaped substantially inflexible portion of the regulator assembly which extends over the connecting members to engage the rim portion and thereby prevent fluid flow in the second direction. The connecting members of the regulator assembly are adapted to flex and allow the disk portion to move off of the rim and thereby allow fluid flow through the valve in the first direction.

Abstract: A composite elastomer-tipped tubular metallic device for armature and check valve applications has a hollow tubular metal body and a generally spherical elastomer ball fitted into an end of the body so as to project outwardly beyond the body end. Also, the body of the device has a seat structure provided internally at the end thereof which is adapted to capture and retain the ball in the body end. In several embodiments of the device, the seat structure is defined by a pair of axially spaced annular ribs formed internally in the body at the end thereof, with the ribs projecting radially inwardly toward a central axis of the tubular body. In one embodiment, one of the ribs may be formed as a split ring received in an annular groove in an interior surface of the hollow body.

Abstract: A metering valve assembly for dispensing measured quantities of an aerosol from a pressurized container comprises a housing constructed for sealed attachment to a pressurized container and having therein a partition wall of resilient material enclosing a metering chamber. An operating member is supported in the housing for movement between charging and dispensing petitions. In the charging position of the operating member, a charging connection is established between the interior of the pressurized container and the interior of the metering chamber to fill the chamber with a pressurized charge. In the dispensing position of the operating member, the metering chamber is shut off from the interior of the container and connected to a dispensing outlet, whereupon the pressure within the container will collapse the resilient partition wall and thereby force the contents of the metering chamber to the dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A combined air vent and overpressure relief valve for a submersible pump includes a single tubular housing to be inserted in an opening in the upper end wall of a chamber on the outlet pressure side of the pump. The upper end of this housing has a vent hole therethrough, and inside the housing is an annular valve seat facing upwardly. A valve disk within the housing is proportioned to move lengthwise thereof toward and away from the valve seat but is normally biased into sealing engagement with the seat by a spring within the housing. This valve disk has a bleed hole therethrough, and a valve ball is caged in the lower part of the housing, below the valve seat for movement into and out of sealing engagement with the lower end of the bleed hole in the valve disk as the pressure within the chamber rises and falls.

Abstract: A flow control for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid through a flow passage over a range of varying line pressures resembles a Belleville washer and is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness range from 40 Shore A to 50 Shore D. The control has a circumferential outer rim and a dome-shaped contour within the rim which provides an apex, a concave downstream surface and a convex upstream surface, with the fluid flow passage extending through its apex. This flow control does not require interaction with a specifically designed seat but can simply be mounted across the flow passage which it is to control by retaining its rim portion upstream from the flow passage to be controlled.

Abstract: A combination seal and check valve to be mounted in a filler pipe of a fuel tank to minimize the escape of vapor from the tank when its cap is removed, typically during refueling, comprises an annular body of elastomeric material which includes an internal annular lip for sealing around the outer surface of a fuel nozzle, and an integral check valve portion at the axially inner end thereof. This check valve portion includes at least three gusset members which are of such configuration and proportions that when a fuel nozzle is inserted through the unit, the gusset members are deflected radially outwardly to open a passage through the check valve without being stretched or otherwise distorted by passage of the fuel nozzle therepast.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed which allows fluid flow in a first direction and prevents fluid flow in a second, opposite direction comprising a valve housing having an upper section, a lower section and a longitudinal axis therethrough. The upper section includes an inlet end and a pair of opposite facing walls, generally equally spaced from the longitudinal axis and arranged in a diverging relationship away from the inlet end. The upper section further includes opposite facing walls, generally equally spaced from the longitudinal axis and generally perpendicular to the diverging walls. The inner surfaces of each diverging wall includes an outer perimeter and a concave surface extending inwardly from the perimeter. A flow regulator and valve support is disposed longitudinally within the upper section of the valve housing for supporting an elastomeric valve member within the upper section.

Abstract: A valve stem seal for an intake or an exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine consists of an elastomeric portion, an insert and a retaining member. The elastomeric portion and insert are interconnected and the elastomeric portion has a cylindrical wall engaging the valve stem. Both the elastomeric portion and insert portion are positioned on the top surface of the valve guide boss and retained thereon by a retaining member which engages the boss.

Abstract: A check valve for sealing a fluid supply while permitting selective withdrawal of fluid includes a tubular side wall defining an insertion end and a supply end. A diaphragm is connected to the side wall and extends across the tube interior to close the interior. The diaphragm defines a slit therein extending diametrically across the diaphragm. The diaphragm is defined as a concave surface toward the insertion end of the side wall. A housing secures the side wall, encloses the supply end thereof, and exposes the insertion end. A port extends through the housing to communicate with the supply end.

Abstract: An exhaust muffler for a marine engine comprises a first vertically oriented tubular member having a lower end sealingly extended through the bottom of a main body chamber and an upper end extending upwardly through the top of the chamber. A second tubular member surrounds and is spaced from the first tubular member for forming a passage therebetween, and has its upper end sealingly extended through the top of the chamber and its lower end extending to a point below two chamber inlets, yet spaced from the bottom of the chamber. A cap seals the upper end of the second tubular member to invert upwardly flowing exhaust gases and cooling fluid within the passage between the first and second tubular members downwardly into the first tubular member for discharge from the muffler.

Abstract: A carburetor for a motor vehicle includes a float chamber, a float assembly, a fuel inlet fitting for directing fuel flow along a fuel path, a needle valve for cooperating with the float assembly, and a needle valve seat within the fitting for containing the needle valve. To solve an intermittent problem with the needle valve sticking in its seat, whereby the vehicle engine cannot be started, a check valve member is disposed within the fuel path upstream from the needle valve. The valve member is of the duckbill type, and is disposed with the closed, duckbill end directed toward the needle valve. Connection of a fuel line fitting to the fuel inlet fitting clamps the valve member in place.

Abstract: A fuel filler pipe seal includes upper and lower portions and a sealing lip positioned at the juncture of the upper and lower portions to engage an outer surface of a fuel nozzle and prevent the escape into the atmosphere of fuel fumes during a fueling operation. The lip lies in a plane which intersects a groove formed in an outer surface of the seal to receive a seat formed on a mounting bracket mounted in an upper end of the filler pipe, and the upper portion of the seal has an umbrella valve formed integrally with it which covers a vent opening in the bracket and is preloaded to release at a predetermined pressure. By positioning the sealing lip adjacent the seat-receiving groove a better seal with a fuel nozzle is formed, premature release of the umbrella valve is avoided, and damage to the seal when the nozzle is thrust into the filler pipe is minimized.

Abstract: A method for forming annular bands to be used on rotors of electrodynamic machines for retaining windings on the rotors against centrifugal forces generated by rotation comprises winding a continuous single strand, ideally a single filament, of resinated reinforcing material onto a mandrel to form at least one, substantially continuous layer of the resinated reinforcing material along the mandrel, which layer of reinforcing material is cured to form a solidified cylindrical body, removed from the mandrel and circumferentially cut to form the annular bands. The annular bands are then pressed onto the rotor of an electrodynamic machine, with the resulting banded portions of the rotor preferably being resinated and cured to secure the bands to the rotor.

Abstract: An early warning system detects the failure of a marine cooling system by monitoring a resistance ground signal generated by a sensing element inserted into the cooling system. An alarm is given upon the detection of an increased resistance value of the resistance ground signal due to cessation or a severe reduction of water flow through the cooling system and hence contacting the sensing element. The sensing element is preferably inserted into the exhaust system portion of a marine engine cooling system and a detection circuit is connected to the sensing element. An alarm signal is generated by the detection circuit if insufficient water flow is present to maintain a low resistance value for the resistance ground signal generated by the sensing element. Such low resistance signal is maintained either by the electrical conduction of the water or the cooling effects of the water on the sensing element.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for permitting relatively free flow in a first direction and for preventing flow in the path in a second, opposite direction. The assembly includes a resilient flow regulator including a pair of lips arranged to define a normally closed slit at the outer ends of the lips. An annular flange extends outwardly about the opposite end of the regulator. A housing outlet portion defines a housing interior having an outlet port and an open sealing end, with an annular collar disposed outwardly about the sealing end. The regulator is disposed within the housing outlet portion with the flange contained within the collar. A cover plate is attached to the collar for securing the regulator and for sealing the housing. The housing outlet portion defines a first sealing ring and the cover plate defines a second sealing ring such that the first and second sealing rings are disposed on opposite sides of the flange.