Abstract: The prompt hot water and water conservation system includes a hot water supply pipe connected to a hot water heater outlet. A discharge faucet is connected to the supply pipe. A return pipe is connected to the supply pipe and to a hot water tank drain. The return pipe carries cooled water to the drain for reheating. Reheated water circulates into the supply pipe. A flow control device, in the return pipe, includes a chamber that houses a sphere. Return water flow moves the sphere toward a stop and permits unimpeded movement of water into the tank drain for reheating. When the faucet is opened, water flows from the tank drain into the flow control device. The sphere is moved to contact a small end of the chamber and substantially stop flow through the return pipe. Water is circulated through the system by increased density of cooled water.

Abstract: The present invention is one that prevents standard gas from remaining in a standard gas line to prevent a concentration of standard gas from being reduced due to adsorption, modification, or the like, and has: a diluent gas line provided with a diluent gas flow rate controlling mechanism; a standard gas line provided with a standard gas flow rate controlling mechanism; an output gas line joined by the diluent gas line and standard gas line and outputs the standard gas having a predetermined concentration; an exhaust gas line connected to an upstream side of the standard gas flow rate controlling mechanism in the standard gas line and provided with an on/off valve and a flow rate control part; and a control part that, depending on a flow rate of the standard gas flowing through the standard gas line or the type of the standard gas, switches on/off the on/off valve.

Abstract: A device for stopping a flow of fluid in a fixed length of tube with an actuator simple in construction is provided. The stopping device is free of direct touch with the fluid inside the tube, expected not to obstruct the flow in the tube as permitted as possible at normal condition, expected to perform both detection and control with a single device, and further invulnerable to kinds of fluids. The device for stopping a flow of fluid includes a tube holder to keep a tube in looped configuration, a movable part pressing the looped configuration of the tube. Pressing of the looped configuration of the tube make a snapped bent to stop the flow of fluid passed through the tube. Putting the movable part back into place results in the tube's returning from the configuration having the bent, allowing the fluid flowing again through the tube.

Abstract: In one featured embodiment, a spring assembly for a valve comprises a spring, a spring seat including a cup-shaped portion for seating one end of the spring, and a ball received within a recess formed within the cup-shaped portion of the spring seat. The ball is defined by a ball diameter. A disc prevents the ball from contacting a piston. The disc is defined by an outer diameter and includes a center opening defined by an inner diameter. A ratio of the inner diameter to the ball diameter is between 0.60 and 0.65.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid supply system wherein liquid, such as for example, a supply of warm water, circulates. Said system consists of thick outer tubes, the inner chamber of said thick outer tubes allowing a liquid to flow through, a thin inner tube is respectively placed inside the outer tube in which the liquid can flow in the direction counter to that in the inner chamber. In the path of at least one outer tube, a first tube branch is introduced enabling the first inner tube to be withdrawn, and in said first branch, at least one functional component, such as a shut-off valve, is introduced into the inner tube and guided to a second tube branch in the path of an outer tube and extends further through said tube branch and then into the inner chamber of the latter outer tube.

Abstract: A ventilation arrangement for the head space of the fuel tank of a vehicle comprises a switchable main valve intended for adjusting an arbitrary pressure in the head space of the tank. By way of the opening position of the main valve, a connection between a connection (5) intended for connection to the head space and a connection (6) intended for connection to the surrounding atmosphere is established, wherein the main valve is assigned a pilot valve, which opens during a first path element of a switching movement, wherein the main valve only opens following this first path element. Because of the small cross section of the pilot valve and the pressure relief that materialized through its opening, the switching power can be reduced and a smaller size drive can be employed.

Abstract: A configurable actuation-orientation valve (100) includes a valve body (120) including a valve bore (126) and a coil (180), a first port (101) and a third port (103) located at a first end (111) and a second port (102) located at a second end (112), a pole piece (138), an armature (130) configured to move in response to energization of the coil (180), and a biasing device (135) between the pole piece (138) and the armature (130). When the biasing device (135) is selected to provide a normally-closed biasing force to the armature (130) then the configurable actuation-orientation valve (100) comprises a normally-closed (NC) valve and when the biasing device (135) is selected to provide a normally-open biasing force to the armature (130) then the configurable actuation-orientation valve (100) comprises a normally-open (NO) valve.

Abstract: A user interface system including a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a first level fluid vessel arranged at a first level within the sheet and a second level fluid vessel arranged at a second level within the sheet, wherein both the first and second level fluid vessels are arranged underneath the surface; a first volume of fluid contained within the first level fluid vessel; a second volume of fluid contained within the second level fluid vessel; and a displacement device coupled to the first and second level fluid vessels that selectively manipulates the first and second volumes of fluid, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface to a first and second stage, respectively or deforming a first particular region and a second particular region of the surface, respectively.

Abstract: A relay includes a balance plug, a vent passage, and a flow passage. The first passage fluidly coupled to the balance plug and the vent passage.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve housing with a recess that is sized to retain a component inserted into the recess. The component has an angled rim configured to dig into the valve housing at the recess.

Abstract: A method of entraining a second fluid in a first fluid is provided. The method comprises supplying a first fluid to a processing passage (4) having an inlet (6) and an outlet (8), and supplying an entrainment fluid to a nozzle (10) which opens into the processing passage (4) intermediate the passage inlet (6) and the passage outlet (8). A second fluid which will undergo a change of phase and/or state when added to the first fluid is also provided, and supplied to a first port (22) opening into the processing passage (4) adjacent the nozzle (10). The entrainment fluid is injected from the nozzle (10) into the processing passage (4) so as to form a dispersed phase of the first and second fluids in a continuous vapor phase, and the vapor phase is condensed downstream of the nozzle (10). A device suitable for carrying out such a method is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a control valve assembly and method of fault detection that includes adjusting a valve between an operating position and a fault position in response to various fault conditions. The control valve assembly is adjustable to accommodate fault conditions encountered in a variety of electrochemical deionization systems.

Abstract: A fluid transfer assembly includes a housing within which at least a portion of a pump element can be disposed. The housing includes a first surface and a second surface and defines a cavity therethrough. The housing is configured to be coupled to a reservoir such that the first surface is disposed within an interior volume of the reservoir and the second surface is disposed outside the interior volume of the reservoir. The housing includes a seal portion configured to fluidically isolate the first surface from the second surface. The cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the pump element such that movement of the pump element produces a fluid flow from an inlet opening defined by the first surface and an outlet opening defined by the second surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are various apparatus and method for transferring a hydrocarbon fluid between two bodies. An offloading system for facilitating hydrocarbon fluid transfer between two bodies includes a transfer skid and a lifting system. The transfer skid is movable from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon to facilitate hydrocarbon fluid transfer to and from the first and the second bodies. The lifting system may be provided on the first body, and includes an extendable lifting arm; a spreader frame attachment which includes at least a first and a second lifting device to support the transfer skid, wherein the spreader frame attachment is rotatably coupled to the extendable lifting arm to allow angular or rotatable adjustment of the transfer skid in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: Disclosed are various apparatus and method for transferring a hydrocarbon fluid between two bodies. To this purpose, a transfer skid and transfer hoses are moved from a first body to a second body to be installed thereupon to provide fluid communication between the two bodies. Offloading of hydrocarbon fluid may then take place between the two bodies. Emergency release operation may be triggered during the offloading, where the transfer hoses are disconnected from the transfer skid, and are returned to the first body. Various features of the transfer skid and associated apparatus allow the transfer skid to be installed on the second body with improved mating connections, transfer hoses to be returned to the first body after offloading operation without hydrocarbon fluid leakage, and transfer hoses to disconnect with speed and safety during emergency release operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a flow of gas comprises a spiral path guiding member. The spiral path guiding member comprises at least two groups of guiding plates. Each guiding plate of each group is disposed in an axial direction to form a longitudinal axis. Each group is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. A surface of each guiding plate is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one guiding plate of each group has a guiding plate opening. Guiding plate openings of the guiding plates may facilitate gas to flow in a spiral flow path.

Abstract: Inlet control valves for use with fuel delivery systems are described. An example inlet control valve includes a first body portion having a first coupling to define an inlet of the control valve and one of a plurality of fasteners or a plurality of slots opposite the inlet. A second body portion coupled to the first body portion to define a fluid flow passageway, where the second body portion has a second coupling to define an outlet of the control valve and the other one of the plurality of fasteners or the plurality of slots opposite the outlet. The first plurality of slots receives the first plurality of fasteners when the first body portion is coupled to the second body portion. A valve is pivotally coupled relative to the first and second body portions to control fluid flow through the passageway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum pump, in particular a vane pump, having a pump housing in which an intake chamber is provided, and a pump housing opening which feeds into the intake chamber, wherein an intake check valve is arranged in the pump housing opening and communicates with the atmosphere or feeds into an external vacuum chamber, with the intake check valve being accommodated in a pot-shaped valve housing, and with the pot-shaped valve housing having a housing bottom and a housing jacket, wherein the housing bottom is connectable to the housing jacket and the housing bottom can be snapped onto the housing jacket.

Abstract: A backflow prevention assembly is disclosed including a backflow prevention valve having a valve housing including a valve inlet end and a valve outlet end; a spool spacer of predetermined length having a first end and a second end; an inlet shut-off valve; and an outlet shut-off valve, wherein the spool spacer extends between the backflow prevention valve and one of the inlet shut-off valve and the outlet shut-off valve. The entire assembly, including the backflow prevention valve, the spool spacer, the inlet shut-off valve, and the outlet shut-off valve, is a certified assembly, certified by a certifying authority prior to installation. Methods of manufacturing a backflow prevention assembly and replacing a backflow prevention assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may include a fluid tank, a first manifold, a valve body, a second manifold, and a plurality of conduits. The first manifold may be operatively attached to the fluid tank and have at least two inlets and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the fluid tank. The number of the at least one outlet may be less than the number of the at least two inlets. The second manifold may be operatively attached to the valve body and have at least one inlet in fluid communication with the valve body and at least two outlets. The number of the at least one inlet may be less than the number of the at least two outlets. The plurality of conduits may fluidly connect the at least two inlets of the first manifold and the at least two outlets of the second manifold.