Abstract: Valves having seats and counterseats with various contours are provided. In one embodiment, a valve includes a body and a flow control assembly inside the body. The flow control assembly includes a ball, a seat installed on the ball, and a counterseat. The ball is rotatable between open and closed positions to control flow through the body and the seat and counterseat include mating surfaces that engage when the ball is in the closed position such that the seat seals against the counterseat along the mating surfaces. Further, the mating surface of the counterseat can be a concave surface, the mating surface of the seat can be a convex surface, and at least one of the mating surfaces can have a toroidal contour.

Abstract: A valve upper part for inserting into a sanitary fitting includes a head piece, in which a spindle is pivotably mounted, which protrudes from the head piece at the first end of the spindle and engages with a control disk at the second end of the spindle using a pin, which control disk is in contact with a rotationally fixed passage disk, which has at least one through opening, a gripping part being arranged at the first end of the spindle. The gripping part is designed as a slide, which has a pivot space, which accommodates the first end of the spindle in every pivot position and in which a driver element is arranged, by means of which the spindle is connected to the slide.

Abstract: A valve seat is provided for use in a rotary valve for use in highly corrosive and abrasive applications. The valve seat includes a seat body adapted to selectively engage a portion of the floating ball element. The valve seat also includes a sealing element disposed in a first groove formed in the seat body and adapted to prevent fluid flow between the seat body and the valve body. The valve seat further includes a first bearing disposed in a second groove formed in the seat body, and a second bearing disposed in a third groove formed in the seat body, wherein the second and third grooves are formed immediately adjacent the first groove such that the first and second bearings are disposed immediately adjacent the sealing element.

Abstract: A build material container outlet structure, and a build material nozzle structure is described. The build material container outlet structure comprises a connector to releasably connect to a nozzle structure of an external aspiration system. The outlet structure comprises an aspiration channel to aspire build material from a build material container to the nozzle structure of the external aspiration system. The outlet structure comprises a protrusion protruding from an inner wall of the aspiration channel, to extend into an end portion of a tube of the nozzle structure that is inserted into the aspiration channel and retain a valve element of the nozzle structure in an open configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum valve having a valve seat, which has a valve opening, defining an opening axis, and a first sealing surface, a valve closure having a second sealing surface corresponding to the first sealing surface, a drive unit coupled to the valve closure, which can be moved from an open position, in which the valve closure and the valve seat do not contact each other, to a closed position, in which there is a sealing contact between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface by a seal there between, and the valve opening is sealed gastight as a result. The vacuum valve has at least one temperature sensor, where the temperature sensor is designed and arranged such that, from the temperature sensor, a measurement signal representing thermal information in respect of at least one part of the vacuum valve can be detected.

Abstract: A vacuum valve includes first and second blocks. The first block includes a base portion and a frustoconical guiding portion connected to the base portion and tapering away from the base portion to form a shoulder, and defines a discharging channel extending in the base portion and through the guiding portion, in spatial communication with ambient surroundings, and adapted to permit air to flow therethrough and into the ambient surroundings. The second block has an end surface cooperating with the shoulder to define an opening communicated spatially with the ambient surroundings, and an inner surface connected to the end surface and cooperating with the frustoconical guiding portion to define a spiral fluid channel therebetween. The spiral fluid channel is in spatial communication with the discharging channel and the opening, and is for introducing air into the discharging channel via the opening.

Abstract: A valve sealing arrangement, including a valve body, and a closing member including a closing member contact surface, and a seat, having a center axis, and provided with a sealing portion with a first sealing surface for making contact with the closing member and a back sealing portion with a second sealing surface for making contact with a surface of the valve body. The seat also includes a bellows between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface wherein the bellows including bellow members wherein adjacent bellow walls form either inwardly open fold or outwardly open fold and wherein one or more of the bellow members extends in a direction that is oblique to the center axis of the seat.

Abstract: This document describes devices and methods for reducing liquid spillage, such as fluid coupling devices that include one or more apertures that reduce spillage when the fluid coupling devices are disconnected. In some embodiments, the one or more apertures are designed with features to increase a level of acceleration that liquid within an internal volume of the fluid coupling devices would need to be exposed to in order to spill from the internal volume via the one or more apertures.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body and a valve member extending through at least a portion of the valve body. The valve assembly also includes a seat pocket forming an annular recess in the valve body and a seat arrangement positioned at least partially within the seat pocket. The seat arrangement includes a lower seat extending radially inward from the annular recess toward the valve cavity axis. The seat arrangement also includes an upper seat at least partially overlapping the lower seat, the upper seat extending radially inward toward the valve cavity axis to contact the valve member along a seat face. The seat arrangement further includes an interface seal positioned along an interface between the upper seat and the lower seat, the interface seal receiving a fluid pressure to drive the lower seat radially outward and into the annular recess.

Abstract: A fluid flow control system having a fluid inlet configured to be operatively coupled to a fluid source, a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet such that fluid may exit the system therethrough, a proximity sensor for detecting the position of an object within a region adjacent the sensor, and a flow control device configured to regulate fluid flow between the inlet and outlet in response to object detection by the sensor, wherein the flow control device varies the fluid flow proportional to the detected distance of an object from the sensor. A water flow control system for use in a shower environment is also provided, as well as a shower control system, methods for controlling water flow based on sensing of the presence and location of an object, and methods for reducing water consumption.

Abstract: Methods and systems for oxidizing gas are provided. An example regenerative oxidizer is provided that includes a combustion chamber to heat gas present in the combustion chamber. The regenerative oxidizer also includes a first heat exchange media bed and a second heat exchange media bed, each in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. The regenerative oxidizer also includes a rotary valve disposed at least partially between the first heat exchange media bed and the second heat exchange media bed. The rotary valve may alternate the flow of gas between a first and a second airflow direction. The first heat exchange media bed, the rotary valve, and the second heat exchange media bed are arranged with respect to each other such that the gas pathway between the first heat exchange media bed and the rotary valve and between the second heat exchange media bed and the rotary valve is non-linear.

Abstract: A gravity irrigation system includes a distribution piping having apertures to distribute water to a field, and a valve located upstream of the distribution piping. The valve limits a pressure of the water being delivered to the distribution piping. The system also includes a sump to receive the water at a lowest elevation of the field, a depth sensor disposed within the sump, and a return pump disposed at least partially within the sump to move the water to an elevated portion of the field. The system also includes a motor to drive the return pump, and a power source coupled to a variable frequency drive that powers the motor and controls a motor speed proportionately to an indication of the depth sensor. The system also includes a transfer piping to bring the water from the return pump to a check valve and to the distribution piping.

Abstract: A spacer having a wedge-shaped flat plate portion and an engagement protrusion is interposed between a hole end surface of mounting hole of a valve plate and a rod end surface of mounting portion of a valve rod, which thereby forms a wedge-shaped gap between the spacer and the hole end surface so as to open frontward. A fastening force of a valve-plate fixation screw generates a moment M that deforms the valve plate in a direction of narrowing the gap. At the same time, the engagement protrusion of the spacer is pressed into a wedge-shaped space between the inclined surface portion of the rod end surface and the rear hole-wall surface of the mounting hole, which causes the front hole-wall surface of mounting hole of the valve plate to press the rod front surface of mounting portion of the valve rod.

Abstract: A ball valve for fermentation tank includes a main body, a ball body, and a rotation mechanism. The main body encloses a chamber therein and has a first inlet, a first outlet, and a discharge port therebetween. The ball body has a flow channel with a second inlet, a second outlet, and a liquid intake port. A gap is formed between the ball body and the main body. The rotation mechanism is connected to the ball body to make it rotate. When the ball body is at an open position, the second inlet communicates the first inlet, the second outlet communicates the first outlet, and the liquid intake port communicates the gap. When the ball body is at a washing position, the second inlet and the second outlet face the gap, the liquid intake port communicates the first inlet.

Abstract: A dry disconnect device including a first portion defining an outlet and an outlet portion of a fluid pathway and a female valve disposed within the first portion having an extended position, including the female valve being configured to seal the outlet portion, and a retracted position. A second portion defining an inlet and an inlet portion of the fluid pathway is lockingly engageable with the first portion. A male valve is disposed within the second portion including a male valve transition member configured to translate the male valve from an extended position to a retracted position including the male valve being configured to seal the inlet portion. The extended position of the male valve causes the female valve to transition from the extended position to the retracted position and causes the outlet portion and the inlet portion of the fluid pathway to be in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: An illustrative valve block includes a plate, a fluid transfer block, and a diaphragm. The plate includes a channel configured to receive a first fluid and a recess connected to the channel. The fluid transfer block includes an inlet connection configured to receive a second fluid and an outlet connection. The fluid transfer block also includes a plurality of valve inlet bores connected to the inlet connection. The plurality of valve inlet bores are distributed along at least part of a first curved shape. The fluid transfer block further includes a plurality of valve outlet bores each fluidly connected to the outlet connection. The plurality of valve outlet bores are distributed along at least part of a second curved shape. The diaphragm is between the pressure plate and the fluid transfer block. The plurality of valve inlet bores and the plurality of valve outlet bores adjoin the recess.

Abstract: A gate valve includes a valve plate that opens and closes a gate opening, a valve shaft that is fixed to the valve plate, an air cylinder that includes a drive rod, and a valve moving mechanism that causes, by expanding and contracting movements of the drive rod, the valve plate to move between a hermetically closed position at which the gate opening is hermetically closed by the valve plate and a full open position at which the gate opening is fully opened. A cylinder housing of the air cylinder is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the valve plate that has moved to the hermetically closed position and a lock detection unit that detects a locked state of the valve plate. The locking mechanism includes a lock piston that is capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the cylinder housing. A cam frame that is fixed to the drive rod has an engagement hole. The lock detection unit detects whether the lock piston is in a state of being engaged in the engagement hole.

Abstract: A plurality of bypass lines are configured to selectively engage a corresponding plurality of food flow paths in a food processor. Each bypass line fluidly communicates with an inlet of a pressure regulating valve such that a common pressure occurs at a spaced position in each food flow path providing an equal pressure at the pressure regulating valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing are described. An example load apparatus to load a valve packing includes a guide including a flange and a wall protruding from the flange. The wall defines a cavity to receive a biasing element and a stop movable between a non-active state and an active state. The stop in the non-active state to enable movement of the guide in a first rectilinear direction relative to a longitudinal axis of a packing bore of a fluid valve and the stop in the active state to prevent movement of the guide in the first rectilinear direction. The stop to control an amount of deflection of the biasing element in the first rectilinear direction when the stop is in the active state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a seal member that is applied to a valve assembly. The seal member includes: a cylindrical metal part supporting the seal member and defining a channel through which cooling water flows; and a valve seat provided to surround an outer surface of the cylindrical metal part and keeping the valve assembly hermetic, in which the valve seat has a first sealing portion protruding from a second end of the cylindrical metal part in an opposite direction to a direction in which the cylindrical metal part extends.