Abstract: A mixing valve for a faucet includes a faucet body with a chamber that receives a cartridge. The cartridge has an axially movable bottom section which seats a fixed plate. A movable plate is housed in the cartridge above the fixed plate and is connected to a controlling handle to cooperate with the fixed plate so as to regulate water flow in the mixing proportions. The bottom of the cartridge can axially move and is provided with two seals one operated between the cartridge and the faucet body and the other between the cartridge bottom and fixed plate. The total working area within the seal between the cartridge and faucet is larger than the total working area within the seal between the cartridge and fixed plate so that hydraulic pressure working within these areas finds the hydraulic force which biases the cartridge bottom upward to compress it against the fixed plate and the fixed plate against the movable plate.

Abstract: A pneumatic time delay valve primarily adapted for use in the ejection system of electronic or optical countermeasure devices and the like wherein an explosive squib is employed to create a momentary charge of high pressure gas used to depress the firing pin on the device to activate the device and also to push the device out of an ejection tube. The invention comprises means for splitting the pressurized gas into a first conduit communicating with the firing pin and a second conduit communicating with the device to apply the ejection pressure thereon and a time delay valve disposed within the second conduit for delaying the application of the gas to the device. During the time delay period, a piston is forced down a cylindrical bore forcing metering fluid through an orifice.

Abstract: A concrete slab which has settled is stabilized and may even be lifted by forcing a pier through the slab and into the underlying soil and then attaching the pier at its upper end to the slab. To this end a vertical hole is drilled through the slab as is a smaller oblique hole, with the latter intersecting and passing through the former. Then a jacking unit is attached to the upper surface of the slab around the vertical hole. The jacking unit forces a succession pier sections through the vertical hole and into the underlying soil, with these sections being fitted together end-to-end to form a pier. In time significant resistance is encountered, and at this point, while the jacking unit exerts a downwardly directed force on the pier and an upwardly directed counterforce on the slab, a hole is drilled through the portion of the pier that is within the slab, this being done by using the oblique hole in the slab as a guide for the drill bit.

Abstract: A miniaturized check valve comprises a generally tubular body including a cylindrical base and a guide sleeve of reduced diameter which axially extends from the base. The body forms a an interior valve seat which surrounds an axially extending fluid passageway. The guide sleeve has a plurality of angularly spaced discharge openings and a pair of pilot orifices which are axially spaced from the valve seat. A valve ball is displaced from the valve seat to form a fluid flow path which extends generally axially through the valve seat and into the guide sleeve and thereafter generally radially through the orifices and openings for flow exteriorly of the guide sleeve. The ball is biased by a spring assembly which comprises a pair of axially aligned springs having a relatively low pre-load force and low spring rate.

Abstract: The valve comprises a configuration in which the flow-through paths are more uniformly and smoothly arranged, albeit incorporating additional paths vis-a-vis prior art valves of like overall dimensions. The additional paths are accommodated through reliefs formed in the base of a central guide ring, and scallop cut-outs in the inner-diameter surfaces of buffer plates. Essentially, the flow-through paths are positioned more radially-outward, to facilitate the additional paths near the center, and to reduce the expanse of the otherwise excessive, radially outermost annulus obtaining between the enclosing wall of the valve and the outer, peripheral surfaces of the valving and buffer plates.

Abstract: A light-weight push, pull and/or torsion rod includes a light-weight core, fittings on either end, pins protruding from the outer surface of each fitting, and a tubular strength member surrounding the core and overlapping much of the end fitting. The strength member includes a fibrous braided layer which overlaps and closely captures the protruding tips of the pins to anchor the strength member to the end fitting. In one embodiment, the end fittings are conically tapered from the side adjacent the core and flare out from the narrow end of the cone, and the braid is woven tightly around the conical portion and flared portion of each end fitting so that the strength member abuts or bears against the end fitting when the rod is exposed to tension or compression forces.

Abstract: A quick disconnect coupling device for connecting the vertical pipe from a submersible pump in a sewage system to a horizontal pipe includes male and female coupling members. The female coupling member is connected to the horizontal pipe and is coupled to the male coupling member by guideways which are engaged by guide elements on the male coupling member. The male member includes a pair of coupling elements which are connected together to form a 90-degree coupling. A flap type check valve is clamped between the coupling elements of the male coupling member and permits the flow of waste water through the coupling, but prevents the return flow of waste water to the submersible pump.

Abstract: The servomotor arrangement has a moving system comprising a piston movable in a cylinder. A latching or retaining member movable transversely of the direction of movement of the system is provided to retain or latch the moving system. The latching member is in operative connection with a pressure chamber, and the pressure chamber is in communication by way of a stop member with a pressure medium source and with a pressure medium sink. The latching member is controllable, a feature which has advantages for the operating behavior of the servomotor arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water collecting and spring box and gauging system and water holding tank wherein the spring box is designed to receive and collect water from a source such as a spring. Once collected in the spring box, the water is filtered prior to being directed to a water holding tank that is normally stationed near a point between the spring and location of ultimate use. The spring box includes a water inlet, a drain, and a supply outlet. The flow rate of water from the spring box is controlled by varying the height of the water level maintained in the spring box and by selectively sizing and spacing openings formed in a vertical water filter that is communicatively connected to the supply outlet.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for distributing pressurized fluid, such as air, from a single supply source to a plurality of rotatable screwcapping heads. The valve includes a stationary member axially aligned with a rotatable shaft which has a first surface with first and second arcs formed therein, both of the arcs having an equal radius. The stationary member also has an inlet passage connecting the supply source to the first arc and an outlet passage connecting the second arc to the atmosphere. The valve further includes a support member which is securely fixed to the rotatable shaft and a rotational member which is axially aligned with the rotatable shaft and rotatably fixed to the support member. The rotational member has a first surface which is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the stationary member and has at least two slots formed therein which are arranged on a predetermined radius equal to the radius of the first and second arcs.

Abstract: The improvement of a mixing valve for plumbing in which three ceramic valve discs with appropriate control ducts are positioned parallel to one another in reciprocally watertight manner, in a housing with one hot water and one cold water inlet and one outlet, the disc on the inlet side being a stationary bearing disc, while the second disc rests against this first disc and can be turned from outside in order to control the quantity of flow, and the third disc can be slid linearly against the second disc for temperature adjustment by means of a manually adjustable thermostat that operates laterally to the disc axis, said improvement to be achieved in such manner that flow regulation can be simplified, a motor regulator capable of rotating engages with the second disc, the shaft of which said regulator fits into the stationary disc in a rotating manner and is immovably connected with the second disc, and the regulator can be adjusted by means of an electronic and individually adjustable flow regulator.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a way and a means for rendering equal the effect of gravity independent of the mode of installation in flow regulators for gaseous substances, particularly for air in air-conditioning and ventilation installations, and for maintaining the volumetric flow of the gaseous substance at desired magnitude with sufficient accuracy when the differential pressure acting across the flow regulator varies within given limits. The flow regulator comprises an envelope and a regulating member turnably disposed in the flow passage confined by the envelope. The torque produced by the flow of gaseous substance on the regulating member and on the other hand a countertorque dependent on the position of the regulating member cause the regulating member turning in the flow passage to assume a position of equilibrium such that the requisite pressure drop is obtained for maintaining the volumetric flow rate at predetermined magnitude. The regulating member is first balanced, e.g.

Abstract: An improved water supply valve for a fire installation where water is to be supplied through the valve in the event of fire. The valve includes a sensor external of the valve chamber which can magnetically sense the gate of the valve being closed and being useable to provide an alarm activating output signal. The sensor is connectable to a fire installation to give an alarm indication in response to the output signal when the gate is closed.

Abstract: A fuel sender unit is provided for delivering fuel from a conventional fuel tank that may have a resilient bottom wall of the type that deflects under a fuel load. The fuel sender unit includes a support fixture mounted on the fuel tank, a sending unit within the fuel tank for pumping fuel in the fuel tank toward a point of use outside the fuel tank, and an extension apparatus for coupling the sending means to the support fixture for relative movement therebetween. The extension apparatus includes a plurality of fluid-conducting telescoping guide tube assemblies. The sending unit includes a pump and a reservoir cup for accumulating an auxiliary supply of fuel within the fuel tank to maintain a substantially uninterrupted supply of fuel to the pump. The sending unit is lowerable to a variety of depths within the fuel tank to reach and pump fuel accumulating in various regions along the bottom fuel tank wall notwithstanding sagging deformation of said bottom wall.

Abstract: A wafer check valve having an annular housing, closing flaps effective to close a passage through the housing and spring urged to a passage closing position, the flaps being mounted on one or more hinge pins, the or each hinge pin extending at each end into a bore in an insert, the inserts being received in respective slots in the body and including means retaining the inserts in the slots without movement.

Abstract: A horizontally mounted submerisible pump assembly for pumping water from water storage tanks, which pump assembly is characterized by a submersible pump mounted inside a horizontally oriented tube extending through the wall of a water storage tank. A valve is provided in cooperation with the immersed end of the tube to facilitate flow of water into the tube to the pump and the opposite, dry end of the tube is closed by an adapter flange mounted on a length of adapter pipe, one end of which extends into the tube and communicates with the discharge of the pump and the other end of which is flanged to a water distribution line. The water distribution line extends to a conventional pressure tank for distributing water to multiple users on demand. The submersible pump is typically of turbine design and is sized to quickly and efficiently pressurize the water distribution system by pumping water from the storage tank and the flooded tube to the pressure tank.

Abstract: A pressure-driven fire-suppression valve wherein a single electrical switch is mechanically actuated by coaxially related first and second sealed piston components, which are compliantly loaded in the direction away from switch actuation. The first piston component is of lesser area and has its switch-actuating relation via abutment with the second (larger-area) piston component; this first piston component continuously responds to suppressant-charge pressure, via a pressure-fluid connection to the upstream valve chamber, i.e., to the upstream side of the closed position of the valve member (poppet). As long as this upstream-sensed pressure is above predetermined threshold, the compliant-load force will be overcome, and the switch will be mechanically actuated, but upon leakage below threshold, the mechanical actuation is released, for a change of state at the switch.

Abstract: A combination shut off and check valve is disclosed in which the shut off valve function is provided by a manipulable ball closure. A loose ball is contained in a chamber upstream of the ball closure. A seat for the loose ball is provided at the downstream end of this chamber and is located either on the ball closure or on the downstream opening of the chamber. The loose ball will not seat itself ordinarily because the chamber is sufficiently large so as to cause the center of the loose ball to be below the central axis of the ball closure flow hole. A pressure differential in the downstream direction causes the loose ball to roll up an inclined ramp leading to the seat, where it seats in check valve fashion.

Abstract: A distribution fitting primarily useful in connection with drip or seep irrigation can be constructed so as to utilize a series of ports defined by circular holes located immediately adjacent to one another around a spherical wall, each of the ports being constructed so to serve as a compression fitting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent polyurethane foam wall optionally containing microorganisms, and a process for the preparation thereof, and the use of this wall in a biophotoreactor. This wall has pores, in which are distributed microorganisms and the pores are closed on one of the faces of the wall, in such a way that said face is impermeable to liquids and gases, while the other face of the wall has an open porosity. Thus, by circulating a liquid nutrient medium and a gas along the second face of the wall and exposing the first face thereof to light, it is possible to culture microorganisms and collect the metabolites formed by them in the liquid medium.