Abstract: A safety device for preventing overpressures in low pressure reservoirs receiving compressed gas through a feedline connected to a high pressure source is disclosed including a spherical stopcock in the feedline. A cylinder is provided in pressure communication with the low pressure reservoir with a spring-biased piston arranged within the cylinder. Connected to the piston and projecting from the cylinder is a toothed rack having teeth which intermesh with teeth of a rotatable, toothed segment connected to the stopcock. Motion of the piston, in response to pressure changes in the low pressure reservoir, causes the toothed rack to open or close the stopcock. A hole in the wall of the cylinder allows excess compressed air or gas to escape to the atmosphere in the event that the maximum allowable pressure within the low pressure reservoir is exceeded.

Abstract: A retaining device to hold a butterfly valve stem (26) in the valve body upon a shearing or breaking of the stem. The retaining device is mounted within a bore (38) in the valve body (12) beneath the stem packing and includes pins (44) extending from the stem (26) which engage in abutting relation a support ring (64) mounted in a groove (56) in the bore to restrain any outward movement of the stem.

Abstract: A valve sealing device is proposed consisting of two parts, one of which contacts the body of the valve and is made of an expanded graphite compact or an expanded graphite--inorganic binder composite compact, and the other of which contacts the valve member and is made of a carbonaceous material--metallic material composite, a carbonaceous material impregnated with an inorganic binder, or a metallic material; a valve using such a sealing device is also proposed.

Abstract: A fluid oscillator is shown for producing pulsations in a flow of fluid. The oscillator has a housing which includes a fluid inlet channel for connection to a supply of fluid under pressure, a fluid outlet channel, and a valve chamber located between and communicating with said channels. A valve element is movably located in the valve chamber to alternatively block and unblock the outlet channel to produce the pulsating flow. The valve element moves to a blocking position by a reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel. This reduction in pressure is partly caused by the fluid flowing past the valve element from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. The outlet channel is dimensioned so that the inertia of the fluid therein produces a further reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel, which further reduction in pressure also holds the valve element firmly in the blocking position.

Abstract: An improved pinch valve construction which curtails and prevents end leakage where the valve is joined between two sections of duct or conduit; the valve is especially adapted for usage in large-sized piping such as ducts or conduits having diameters from 8 to 12 feet which carry bulk fluids such as drinking water, raw sewage, etc. The pinch valve configuration has end fittings which are a combination of elements including a clamping ring, which permit the easy fabrication and assembly of the valve components and eliminate the need for costly tooling and castings; standard sized components can be used. The present pinch valve construction is cheaper and better than prior art pinch valves, being less susceptible to leakage, and is readily installed and repaired. Positive control and modulation of fluid flow is attained, and the overlapping ends of the pinch valve members, which straddle the ends of the duct or conduit, assure a strong and fluid-impervious joint.

Abstract: A self-releasing clamp for a fluid carrying hose comprises an inclined guide and a roller carried by the guide which is movable along the guide between a hose releasing position and a hose clamping position. There is a hose support for holding the hose against the roller. A mechanism provides a space between the roller and the hose support when the roller is in the clamping position. The space providing mechanism permits a limited flow of fluid past the clamp to increase pressure in the hose downstream from the clamp when the fluid flow downstream from the clamp is stopped, expanding the hose between the hose support and the roller and moving the roller to the hose releasing position.

Abstract: A clamp with an exposed roller for manually rolling along a flexible tube to express the tube's contents. The stripper clamp is useful for one-handed movement toward a dispensing end of a flexible tube blood reservoir.

Abstract: In a butterfly valve comprising a valve housing including a cylindrical fluid passage and a disc-shaped valve body rotatable within the housing, a hard annular seat provided in the housing and a hard annular rim defined on the periphery of the valve body are adapted to contact one another over the entire circumference when the valve is closed. The valve of the above construction is very easy to manufacture and yet has a good sealing performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a butterfly valve assembly having a stationary valve body formed with an axial fluid flow passage opening and a turnable valve member adapted for full opening, partial opening and full closing of the said passage opening. There is provided further a valve seat ring composed of an inner protecting layer of fluoride containing resin and an outer back-up layer of rubber or its equivalent. According to this invention, at least two parallel ring grooves are provided on the radially outwardly directing surface of the said elastomer layer which has a substantially channel-shaped cross-section embracing a substantial part of the valve body when the valve seat ring is attached in position to the valve body.

Abstract: A valve body for a spherical-shutter valve for gases or fluids is disclosed, said body consisting of two hemispherical hoods enclosing the shutter and to be welded along their great circle, two couples of half-rings being welded in symmetrical positions relative to the sphere equator to provide sealing action: an annular channel is furthermore provided in the meridian direction immediately beneath the welding seam line to prevent welding material from entering the valve interior and to house a photographic film to take nondestructive control pictures.

Abstract: A butterfly valve has its seat formed on a detachable ring which is normal to the axis of the valve body. Both the seat and a co-operating seal on the valve disc have frusto-conical contact surfaces such that with the valve closed these surfaces are on a common cone with an axis inclined to body axis. The disc rotates about an axis offset beyond the larger ends of the contact surfaces and also offset to one side of both the body and cone axes. Operation of the valve and its maintenance are thereby improved.

Abstract: A blowout preventer having a housing with a bore extending therethrough and guideways intersecting the bore, a ram in each of the guideways, a packer in the face of each of the rams, a recess between the back of each packer and the face of the ram into which the packer can expand to partially reduce the sealing pressure on the packers and at least one passage communicating from the bore below the guideways to the recess to transmit well pressure to the recess.

Abstract: An improvement in a flow control device for permitting fine adjustment of flow rates of fluid in tubing and maintaining established rates of flow. The device includes a clamping member pivotally mounted adjacent a clamping surface and a tubing-engaging surface on the clamping member which progressively closes the orifice of tubing as the clamping member is rotated in one direction. Coacting means on the clamping member cooperate with actuating means on a force-inducing member mounted for rotational movement on the body of the device. The coacting means is located at a point from the point of pivotal attachment of the clamping member which is at least twice the distance from the pivotal attachement to the tubing-engaging surface. Thus a large movement at the coacting point translates into a small movement of the tubing-engaging surface and results in fine adjustment of flow rates.

Abstract: A plug valve having a valve body with a cylindrical plug receiving opening extending therethrough having at least one terminal end thereof outwardly chamfered. Fluid inlet and outlet passageways communicate with the receiving opening and are chamfered at the areas of communication therewith. A plug member includes a cylindrical plug portion closely received in the body receiving opening. This plug portion has a transverse fluid flow passage which is selectively rotatable into and out of alignment with the valve body inlet and outlet passageways. Axially spaced apart circumferential sealing members disposed on both sides of the flow passage prevent fluid flow outwardly of the receiving opening. An inlet passageway sealing means disposed in the plug portion side wall intermediate the opposite flow passage ends sealingly surrounds the passageway in the valve closed position.

Abstract: A rotary spherical plug valve having an annular valve seat, a closure member formed as a portion of sphere, support arms for supporting the closure member with one of the arms being connected to a driving shaft at a hub having a hole for admitting the shaft with a slightly larger diameter than the shaft and a force transmitting means in the form of a cylindrical connection member disposed between a semi-cylindrical groove in the shaft and a semi-cylindrical internal recess in the wall surrounding the hole in the hub.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US 79/ 00573 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 6, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 6, 1979 PCT Filed Aug. 6, 1979Conventional directional control valves and the like normally include relatively complex and spatially separated centering and detent mechanisms for selectively maintaining a valve spool at centered and detent-held positions, respectively. Such valves are normally bulky and the casings therefor, primarily since they require machining, cannot be manufactured by die-casting methods. This invention overcomes the above problems by providing for the precise positioning of a valve spool (11) in its centered position by interassociating and engaging a centering mechanism (17) with a detent mechanism (30) by a stop (27), defined on a retainer (24) of the detent mechanism (30).

Abstract: A ball valve assembly that is uniquely suited for use in extremely high and low temperature applications where solid particles are frequently present within a flowing fluid. The valve includes a one-piece ball and stem or shaft element and the bore of that ball together with separate, removable end members, inserted from opposite directions into a passage extending through the valve body, form the valve's fluid-flow path. The valve body includes a second bore which can either extend through the entire valve body, perpendicularly with the other passageway, or can instead extend perpendicularly from that passageway to the exterior of the valve body in only one direction. The ball stem is rotatably retained and sealed in this second bore and the bore is dimensioned so as to be at least as large as the diameter of the ball so that the ball can be removed therethrough.

Abstract: A spring-loaded valve actuator assembly having a hollow handle containing a compression spring urged against a movable piston attached to one end of a cable such that the handle remains in the valve-shut position when the handle is at rest. The other end of the cable is secured to the valve housing at an anchor adjacent to an arcuate guide and is in tension at all times to provide spring compression that normally urges the handle toward the shut position. The handle is connected to a rotatable ball valve contained in a valve housing situated in a conduit pipe fluid line, so that it can rotate the ball valve from the full closed to the full open position. As actuating force on the handle is decreased, the handle moves automatically toward its biased shut position because of the stored compression force of the spring which is constantly exerted against the piston inside the handle.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly that is solids-proof, corrosion-resistant, will maintain seals even under large pressure differentials, and can operate from cryogenic levels to high temperature ranges. An annular recess is formed in the valve body adjacent the ball, and an annular valve seat of rigid material is disposed in the recess. Facing surfaces of the valve body defining the recess and the valve seat are shaped to define a region therebetween having a larger volume (and cross-sectional area) at the high pressure side thereof than at the low pressure side thereof with the transition therebetween. A solid elastic material annular body, such as a sponge graphite body, is disposed in the recess to positively elastically engage the surfaces along the transition upon application of high pressure to the high pressure side of the region, to bias the valve seat into tight sealing engagement with the ball. The surfaces may be beveled, with an angle of convergence of about 2.degree. to 20.degree.

Abstract: A valve intended in particular for closing a container of fluid under pressure, more particularly gas in the liquid and/or gaseous phase, which comprises a seat, a movable sealing valve member mounted so as to bear elastically against the said seat, an elastic element forming a spring and having a fixed portion, and another movable portion supporting the said movable valve member, is characterized in that the elastic element is a spring having a shape permitting axial and radial retraction of the movable valve member in relation to the seat.