Abstract: A valve assembly including a plurality of control systems. A member is included that is actuatable by each of the control systems for controlling operation of the valve assembly. A plurality of tangs is included with at least one tang corresponding to each control system. A plurality of windows each having a shoulder is included, each tang disposed in one of the windows and selectively engagable with the shoulder of the one of the windows. The tangs and the windows are operative together to enable actuation forces to be selectively transferred from any group of selected ones of the control systems to the member via the tangs and the shoulders of corresponding ones of the windows for actuating the member while simultaneously permitting relative movement between the windows and the tangs corresponding to unselected ones of the control systems. A method of operating a valve assembly is also included.

Abstract: A rotary union includes a rotating seal carrier having a rotating seal member connected thereon, and a non-rotating seal carrier having a non-rotating seal member connected thereon. A piston portion of the non-rotating seal carrier has a flow restrictor ring disposed thereon, and both are slidably and sealably disposed within a piston bore formed in a housing. A gap is formed between an outer diameter of the flow restrictor ring and an inner diameter of the piston bore. The enlarged diameter of the piston portion provides a net pneumatic or hydraulic surface that can be acted upon by a fluid at a positive or negative atmospheric pressure present within the piston bore of the housing.

Abstract: A high-pressure fluid conduit that conducts high-pressure fluid from a high-pressure fluid source to a high-pressure fluid container through a hose unit during open or normal operation. This high-pressure fluid conduit has a safety feature that is activated when the high-pressure fluid conduit fails due to exposure to a predetermined force. The safety feature closes off the flow of high-pressure fluid from the high-pressure fluid source and closes off the escape of high-pressure fluid from the hose unit that entered the hose unit during open or normal operation. In addition, when the hose unit fails, fluid flow from the high-pressure fluid source and high-pressure fluid flow from the high-pressure fluid container is prevented.

Abstract: An access system for a pressure controlled environment is disclosed and described. The system can include a pressurized region having a first fluid. The pressurized region can be defined, at least partially, by a barrier separating the pressurized region from a lower pressure region. The system can also include a trap fluidly coupling the pressurized region and the lower pressure region through at least a portion of the barrier. The trap can have a second fluid forming a seal to prevent the first fluid from escaping the pressurized region. Additionally, the system can include at least one cable extending through the trap and the barrier into the pressurized region.

Abstract: A method for channeling hot/warm working fluid includes coupling a first fluid supply path in flow communication with an inlet of a first transparent fluid reservoir to a fluid inlet valve, coupling an outlet of the first transparent fluid reservoir in flow communication to a fluid outlet supply path, coupling a second fluid reservoir in flow communication with the first transparent fluid reservoir, and coupling a second fluid supply path in flow communication with an outlet of the second fluid reservoir to a fluid outlet valve. The method also includes directing working fluid of a temperature that is above a minimum threshold temperature from the fluid inlet valve to the fluid outlet supply path through the first transparent fluid reservoir, and directing working fluid of a temperature that is below the minimum threshold temperature from the first transparent fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet valve through the second fluid reservoir.