Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a tubular member (2) having an axial bore (4) which is selectively opened and closed by a gate valve. The gate valve includes a sliding gate (5), a first actuating stem (9,27) engagable with one side of the gate and a second actuating stem on the opposite side of the gate and also engagable with the gate. The actuating stems can move the gate between open and closed positions, and an intermediate position in which the gate can be run into and withdrawn from a support with the tubular member.

Abstract: Valve, in particular large ball valve for use in oil and gas installations, of the kind comprising a valve member (2) having a through flow passage (6), a movable seat or seal holder (8, 9) and means (11, 12) for moving the holder in directions towards and from cooperating parts (21, 22) of the valve member. At least one opening from the flow passage (6) is surrounded by a protruding edge portion (20) provided with an annular sealing surface (21). A front portion (17) of the seat or seal holder (8, 9) also has an annular sealing surface (18) adapted to cooperate with the sealing surface (21) on the valve member (21) in the open position thereof (FIG. 1B). Outwardly of its sealing surface (18) the front portion (17) has a seal member (19) adapted to cooperate with a second sealing surface (22) on the valve member (2) in the closed position thereof (FIG. 1A).

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, has a valve body within which is mounted a stem support; a plunger with a stem which is movably mounted for movement in the stem support to move a rounded head of the plunger to sealingly contact a sealing surface within the valve body thereby preventing flow through the valve; a piston recess in the stem which receives and holds a top portion of a piston; the piston (or some part connected thereto or formed integrally thereof) held immobile by one or more holding devices (e.g. bars, plates, pins, rods, etc.) which, in one embodiment extend through the piston and into the stem support or into a piston housing and which are frangible, erodible, degradable or destroyable either by action of a hydrostatic head of fluid on a bottom surface of the piston or by chemical or thermal attack and degradation.

Abstract: A treating chamber includes a cooling plate assembly for supporting and cooling a substrate and an auxiliary cooling plate disposed on or adjacent a ceiling of the treating chamber. The auxiliary cooling plate reduces an atmospheric temperature in a space above the substrate supported on the cooling plate assembly to a target temperature to which the substrate is to be cooled by the cooling plate assembly. Consequently, the substrate having undergone a high temperature treatment is cooled quickly to the target temperature, and improved uniformity of temperature distribution is secured over a substrate surface after the cooling step.

Abstract: A water heater having a drain valve coupled to the water heater tank is provided. The drain valve has an inlet coupled to and communicating with the water heater tank, and an outlet aligned with the inlet along a straight line. A ball valve member having an opening formed therethrough is located between the inlet and outlet. A handle is coupled to the ball valve member for opening and closing the valve. The handle may be rotated rapidly 90 degrees between open and closed positions for opening and closing the valve. In the open position, a straight through path extends through the valve by way of the inlet, ball valve opening, and outlet.

Abstract: An oil valve device for removing used oil from a drain pan of a vehicle comprising a cylindrical main body portion of a rigid material which has an input end and an output end and an axial bore extending centrally therethrough for conveying fluid through the main body portion from the input end to the output end. The bore is of a first diameter from the input end to an intermediate extent. The bore has an enlarged diameter from the intermediate extent to a location adjacent to the output end. The bore is of the largest diameter adjacent to the output end. The main body portion has a radial aperture therethrough in the intermediate extent. The main body portion has a threaded exterior on the exterior surface thereof at the input end and at the output end with a large hexagonal shaped nut removably couplable thereto. A housing has a cylindrical exterior surface positionable within the bore at its intermediate extent.

Abstract: A combination oil filter and oil cooler assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a housing mounted to one side of the engine's cylinder block and having provisions for conducting engine coolant and engine oil to and from the engine block to heat exchanger and filter elements incorporated in the assembly. A generally cylindrical heat exchanger mounted within the housing receives the engine coolant and oil and transfers heat from the oil to the coolant. An oil filter mounted to one end of the heat exchanger filters oil before the oil passes through the heat exchanger and into the engine block.

Abstract: A ram of a ram-type blowout preventer is enclosed within an enclosure so that the piston driving the ram is placed parallel to a stationary magnetizable waveguide tube. A transverse ring-like magnet assembly surrounds the tube and is attached to a carrier that, in turn, is attached to the tail of the piston. The magnet assembly longitudinally magnetizes an area of the tube where it is located. A wire running through the tube is periodically interrogated with an electrical current pulse, which produces a toroidal magnetic field about the wire. When the toroidal field intersects with the longitudinally magnetized area, a magnetostrictive acoustical return pulse is reflected back up the tube for detection by a transducer located outside of the enclosure. The time that the acoustical pulse travels from the magnetic field intersection compared to the timing of the electrical pulse on the wire is a measure of distance since the pulse time essentially travels at the speed of light.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly comprising a valve body having a stem passageway in communication with the valve body cavity which contains a closure member for selectively closing or opening the fluid flow passageway intersecting the valve body cavity. A valve operator consisting of a reciprocatable and rotatable stem passing through the stem passageway is connected to the closure member so that when the stem rotates, the closure member rotates together with the stem. The stem is provided with a back-seat and the valve operator reciprocates the stem to unseat and reseat the stem onto the stem seat located on the valve body surrounding the stem passageway in order to seal the stem passageway from the valve body cavity. Sealing of the stem passageway isolates the stem packing from the fluid in the valve body cavity, prevents fugitive emissions related to stem leakage and prolongs the useful life of the stem packing.

Abstract: A method of making an automotive heat exchanger comprises the steps of assembling a heat exchanger core having a plurality of interleaved tube and fins disposed between a pair of endsheets and expanding the diameter of the tubes a predetermined distance by forcing an expansion tool therethrough. The tubes of the heat exchanger include a plurality of internal projections of predetermined height and the expansion process decreases the height of the projections by less than 25% of its original height. A heat exchanger formed in accordance with this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a valve with a rotary actuating shaft includes a top seal formed of a plastic diaphragm and a metal diaphragm, both of which are in sealing relationship with the actuating shaft. The metal diaphragm has a cantilever supported lip that is spring fitted into resiliently biased relationship with the actuating shaft. The sealing surface of the metal diaphragm provides a fire-tested seal in the event that the seal of the plastic seal is destroyed by fire.

Abstract: A solenoid valve incorporates a pressure chamber with passage to an inlet port, a pressure chamber with passage to an outlet port, and an electromagnetically-actuatable valve arrangement fitted in the fluid line between the two pressure chambers. The chambers are manufactured inside a housing inserted into a housing cavity bored into a mounting block. The opening or closing of the valve arrangement switches fluid lines, wherein each pressure chamber is fitted on either side in the axial direction with a seal in which the pressure-subjected area of each seal is virtually equal. Each pressure chamber is connected with passage to a corresponding inlet or outlet port. Thus, no axial force in any one direction is generated no matter how high the pressure becomes within a pressure chamber.Further, a pair of solenoid valves can be inserted face-to-face on either side of a housing cavity bored through the full length of the mounting block.

Abstract: A refrigerator evaporator is formed in a spread serpentine configuration having a plurality of straight tube segments and a plurality of bent tube segments where each one of the straight tube segments is joined at an acute angle to at least one other straight tube segment. The straight tube segments are arranged in a number of planar rows which are adjacent and parallel to one another. Approximately 25-50 percent of the cross-sectional area of the evaporator is not occupied by tubing or any attached fins. A cross flow blower disposed at one end of the evaporator draws air longitudinally over the evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerator having coaxial, but oppositely directed, fans pulls air over refrigeration coils and perpendicularly across articles to be refrigerated supported by an endless conveyor belt. The endless conveyor belt is supported and impelled by a carousel that turns on a stationary frame.

Abstract: An avionic tray has a base plate for supporting a line replaceable unit (LRU) and a plenum beneath and substantially coextensive in length with the base plate to provide for discharge of coolant air from the plenum into the LRU. The base plate has an opening leading to the plenum and the cylindrical casing of a motor driven fan is coupled to the base over the hole for air from the fan to be discharged into the plenum. The outlet end of a ram tube is coupled coaxially with the fan casing to increase the volume that would be delivered without the ram tube. The inlet end of the ram tube is preferably cut at an angle relative to a plane to which the axis of the tube is perpendicular so the inlet is elliptical rather than circular. The fan is mounted to a special transition adapter in some cases. The adapter is configured to provide a clearance space for cables that run out of the rear side of a connector block on whose front side connector prongs on the LRU are inserted.

Abstract: Plastic ball valve, with a spherical shut-off member which is provided with a passage and is rotatably accommodated in a cylindrical inner housing, and is coupled to a jack. The inner housing is accommodated in a cylindrical outer housing provided with two connection sockets. The shut-off member is retained in the inner housing by two annular retaining parts lying on either side of the shut-off member. Each retaining part is provided with one or more radially projecting and resilient hook ribs which are accommodated in a peripheral groove formed on the inside, and near one end of the inner housing. The outer housing consists of an essentially cylindrical intermediate housing to which an end flange of a cylindrical connection socket is fixed on either side.

Abstract: A valve, such as a compressor or line service valve, for use in refrigeration or air conditioning fluid circuits having an improved flow for improved energy efficiency is disclosed. The valve incorporates a rotary ball member with a 90.degree. fluid passage diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the fluid line that it services. Rotation of a primary actuator stem rotates the ball member to open and close the valve. An annular ball seal provides a seat against which the ball may be positively sealed. A secondary stem is aligned on an alternate axis from the primary stem that is preferably collinear with a fluid line. The secondary stem effectuates a positive engagement between the rotary ball member and the ball seal. A plunger cooperates with locator indentations and a groove in the rotary ball member to center the ball within the valve and align its fluid passage with fluid line connectors.

Abstract: A valve operating mechanism which opens and closes a passage communicating to a cavity by contraction and restoration of a packing, with little mechanical movable parts for the opening/closing operation.

Abstract: A ball valve construction particularly suited for forming large diameter ball valves includes a main valve body formed from extruded plastic pipe and having a central through passage with a valve ball mounted centrally therein. An operating stem extends from the ball outwardly of the main body. First and second separate seat retainer rings are positioned on opposite sides of the valve ball. Each retainer ring has an outer surface carrying a seal for engaging the wall of the through passage for preventing fluid flow between the retainer rings and the wall of the through passage. Each retainer ring further defines a spherical seat surface positioned and sized to sealingly engage the valve ball. Adjustable tie rod members join between the retainer rings to cause the seat surfaces to engage the valve ball with a predetermined sealing force.

Abstract: A unified block integral bleed system for use with valves such as plug-type valves wherein pressure release flow occurs through a manifold port mounting arrangement which accesses upstream, downstream and body cavity portions of the valve and provides atmosphere taps as well without external piping. Such a manifold integral body bleed system provides internal flow channels and is preferably configured as the bonnet of the valve but could also be configured for example as the lower plate of the valve. In fact, any valve component which provides inherent access to the upstream and downstream throats and the central body cavity could serve as the bleed system manifold component as well.