Abstract: An electronic breathing mixture control system which senses and controls oxygen component partial pressure of an underwater breathing mixture. Three oxygen sensors disposed within a mix chamber generate voltages proportional to the oxygen partial pressure in the mixture. These voltages are processed and compared with reference voltages using digital logic circuitry. The resulting processed signals control two light emitting diodes warning the user of improper oxygen partial pressure and in addition control a switch that actuates an oxygen valve which either restricts oxygen flow to the mix chamber or allows more oxygen to flow therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball valve with seats having means to relieve harmful build-up of cavity pressure. The heel of the valve seat has grooves therein allowing cavity pressure to be applied over a portion of the seat surface in a fashion that produces a resultant force in a lip region of the seat. This resultant force causes the lip region of the seat temporarily to move away from the ball and thus vent the cavity pressure to a lower pressure zone.

Abstract: An improved plug valve is of the type that includes a valve body having a bore extending therethrough and a pair of passages intersecting the bore and being substantially normal to the axis of the bore. A valve plug is disposed within the bore for selective rotation between an opened and a closed position to respectively align and misalign a port through the plug with the passages. A first circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore above the port and the passages and a second circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore below the port prevents fluid from escaping from an interior of the plug valve and balances fluid pressure acting on the plug. A circumferential sealing device around the top of the plug prevents ingress of foreign matter into the region of the bore above the first sealing member.

Abstract: A backflow preventing valve has a body with two principal portions made of a glass-fiber reinforced plastic. One portion has an inlet port and an outlet port on a through axis, the ports opening to an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber respectively. An intermediate chamber merges with the inlet chamber at an inlet valve seat and also merges with the outlet chamber at an outlet valve seat, the valve axes and the through axis being coplanar. Inlet and outlet poppet valves are urged toward their respective seats by springs in the intermediate and the outlet chambers. There is a vent chamber open to the atmosphere and having a vent valve seat merging with the intermediate chamber. A poppet vent valve has a stem movable in a guide toward and away from the vent valve seat. The stem is abutted by a diaphragm disposed between an outer diaphragm chamber and an inner diaphragm chamber and is pressed by a diaphragm spring in the inner diaphragm chamber.

Abstract: The ratio between flow rates of divided flow streams established by a flow divider valve is selectively changed through a manually adjustable control valve to establish in adjusted ratio that is maintained constant for any adjusted position of the control valve. The relative flow areas of throttling passages are adjusted by the control valve to establish a predetermined pressure differential causing a corresponding change in restricted flow areas through which the divided flow streams are conducted under the constant flow rate ratio.

Abstract: A ball valve or the like for high pressure operation having a connection between the actuating stem and the body wall which allows tipping of the ball valve under pressure into tight sealing engagement with the sealing ring at the outlet end of the valve. The actuating stem is sealed to a first ring but has clearance with the valve body, and the ring is attached by a bellows or the like, which in turn is connected to the valve body, so that the stem may tip slightly with respect to the valve body.

Abstract: A balanced valve disc and seat structure has a hollow valve disc engageable with the seat and pressure responsive means supported in the disc; the pressure responsive means divides the hollow valve disc into separate first and second chambers with a first aperture in the disc communicating with the first chamber and a second aperture in the disc communicating with the second chamber. A plunger has one end secured to the pressure responsive means with the other end of the plunger extending through the second chamber and the valve seat with means engaging the other end of the plunger when the first chamber has a higher pressure than the second chamber.

Abstract: The method is based on the fact that the particular components are conveyed through separate pipes into a mixing chamber. By measuring the transit time in at least one of the pipes the flowrate can be measured. The flow in the other pipes which is in a fixed ratio to the first flow is then adjusted automatically. For measuring the transit time a heat pulse is injected in at least one of the pipes and the transit time of the heat impulse is measured. The so-measured transit time is converted into an inversely proportional voltage and the flowrate in the other pipes is adjusted proportionally to this voltage. An apparatus is provided for practicing the method. The apparatus comprises flow measuring elements which are electrical connected to control devices which operate flow control devices in the pipes leading to the mixing chamber.

Abstract: In this butterfly valve structure having an elastic sleeve, an outer projection of the sleeve in the free state has the same sectional shape as a groove in the body of the valve. The radial thickness of the seat is at least equal to ten times the depth to which the valve member, when closed, penetrates into the seat. The depth of the groove is at least equal to 4/10 of the minimum radial thickness of the seat. The axial length of the bottom of the groove is of the same order of magnitude as that of the seat. The corners of the groove are rounded. This valve structure is of particular advantage for high temperature and/or when the valve member remains closed for a prolonged period.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement for controlling the flow of fluid in a conduit to be used in combination with a ball valve. The ball valve includes a valve body which has a bore extending therethrough and which also has an inlet and an outlet which are axially aligned and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the conduit. The valve body also has an aperture therein. The ball valve also includes a sperical valve member having a port the axis of which is alignable with the axis of the bore of the valve body and a stem having an inner end mechanically coupled to the spherical valve member and an axially outer end which extends through the aperture of the valve body. The ball valve further includes a device for forming a seal between the aperture of the valve body and the stem.The improvement includes a cylindrical sealing member which has an outer cylindrical sidewall and which is axially aligned with the port of the spherical valve member.

Abstract: A butterfly valve is provided having a disc with a hub. The disc is adapted to be rotated between an open and a closed position. A valve seat is adapted to engage the disc in the closed position. A shaft has one end affixed to the hub and extends outwardly therefrom to permit torque to be transmitted to the disc from a point external thereof. The end of the shaft affixed to the hub includes a plurality of splines for securing the shaft to the hub. Each of the splines interfers with the hub by a maximum dimension of 0.030 inches. The hub has a stress that is less than 20,000 pounds per square inch. The shaft is joined to the disc by forming the valve disc with a portion of increased thickness (hub) relative to the main portion of the disc. The portion of increased thickness is formed adjacent the circumference of the disc. A hole is then machined into the portion of increased thickness parallel to the disc, with the hole having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft.

Abstract: A butterfly valve is provided having a disc with a hub. The disc is adapted to be rotated between an open and closed position. A housing has a valve seat that is adapted to engage the disc in the closed position. A shaft has one end affixed to the hub and extends outwardly of the housing to permit torque to be transmitted to the disc from a point external thereof. A seal is provided for preventing fluid from passing between the shaft and the housing. A bearing supports the shaft in the housing at a point where the shaft extends outwardly over the housing. A retaining ring frictionally engages the shaft and abuts the bearing to insure that fluid leaking along the shaft does not eject the bearing and cause injury.

Abstract: A butterfly valve is provided having a disc adapted to be rotated between an open and a closed position. A valve seat made of resilient material is adapted to engage the disc in the closed position. The valve seat has an outer wall surrounding the disc and has an aperture therein. A shaft has one end affixed to the disc and extends outwardly through the aperture. A ring surrounds the valve seat and is permanently affixed thereto for preventing deformation of the outer wall of the valve seat. The ring is made of a material that is much stronger and more rigid than the valve seat and includes a cylindrical lip defining an aperture in the ring. This aperture is in line with the aperture in the valve seat wall with the lip projecting into the aperture in the valve seat wall. A cylindrical collar surrounds the shaft and is positioned within the cylindrical lip and supported thereby. The collar provides a bearing surface for the shaft.

Abstract: In a hydraulic circuit breaker comprising a housing with an inlet orifice connectable to the outlet of a hydraulic pump, a first outlet orifice connectable to the pressure chamber of a hydraulic pressure accumulator, and a second outlet orifice connectable to an open-center hydraulic circuit, a stepped bore in said housing, a piston of the differential type slidable in a fluid-tight manner in said bore and defining therewith an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet orifice and a control chamber, a constriction orifice of variable cross-section being provided between the inlet chamber and the second outlet orifice, and said inlet chamber communicating with said control chamber through a first passage comprising a first restriction and being also connected to the first outlet orifice by a connection comprising a non-return valve, there is further provided a resilient vessel having a variable-volume compartment connected to said control chamber, said vessel being adapted to connect said compartment to a sec

Abstract: Dual overlapping fire protection systems include a liquid supply means for supplying liquid under pressure, first and second branch lines connected to the liquid supply means, a plurality of liquid distribution outlets connected to each of the branch lines and located to provide fire protection to a predetermined area, the outlets connected to each branch being located to provide fire protection to the same predetermined area, activating means for automatically activating at least one of the outlets in each branch when a predetermined temperature is sensed, valve means for selectively disconnecting the liquid supply means from the outlets in each branch. The valve is designed to automatically activate the disconnected branch when one of the outlets in the other branch is activated.

Abstract: Shut-off valve unit for damaged section in multi-sectioned pneumatic braking system for vehicles: each section has a shut-off valve that is spring loaded to close; each valve has an associated pneumatic device for loading the spring of the shut-off valve as a function of the pressure downstream of the shut-off valve; the pneumatic device including a shiftable piston under the control of the pressure associated with the other device for the other section of the braking system, such that shifting of the pneumatic device to its position as caused by elevated pressure in the other section increases the load on the associated spring of the shut-off valve of the respective section.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve normally mounted at a convenient level for manual operation on a machine can be operated by a person's foot as opposed to his hand. Towards this end, there are provided mounting means for mounting the valve in an upside down position at the same level together with an elongated tube extending from the normally existing manually operable portion of the valve vertically downwardly terminating short of the floor. A transverse foot pedal is pivoted to the machine frame at the level of the lower end of the tube, this lower end in turn being pivoted to the same foot pedal at a point spaced from the first pivoting point. The arrangement is such that rocking movement of the foot pedal will actuate the valve in the same manner as manual actuation when the valve was upright.

Abstract: A butterfly valve comprising a valve body provided with a hard body seat having a cylindrical sealing surface, and a valve disc rotatable within the body and provided with a hard disc seat on the periphery thereof. The body seat and the disc seat are adapted to contact each other substantially over the entire circumference. The valve of this invention is capable of good sealing and is opened with a small driving force.

Abstract: The mounting for a motor-pump housing in the bottom opening of a dishwasher chamber consisting of a one-piece elastomer sleeve formed by a large diameter radially outwardly directed top gasket portion, a frusto-conical medial portion and a smaller diameter bottom cylindrical portion. The sleeve medial portion defines with the pump housing a sump for receiving and directing water exiting the chamber and wherein the medial portion is free to flex to substantially obviate the transmission of vibrational energy to the dishwasher casing.

Abstract: A butterfly valve construction for use particularly on pipelines through which fluid under pressure is adapted to flow and to be selectively cut off. The butterfly valve disc is rotatably supported within the valve casing. Within the valve casing at a region whereat the valve disc is adapted to be turned for closing an elastomeric ring is supported and a plurality of clamp ring segments are supported about the casing periphery to abut one face of the elastomeric ring. Each clamp segment is adjustable to a fixed selective position by positively acting means to compress the elastomeric ring against an internal surface of the disc, thereby also extending the ring in a direction toward the valve disc edge when the latter is in a closed position. This extension is adequate to force the elastomeric ring to fit tightly to the valve ring at valve closing times and directly form a tight seal thereto.