Abstract: A choke 10 for controlling the flow of fluid along the pressurized flow line includes a body 12 having a fluid inlet aligned with a fluid outlet. A stationary outer sleeve 64 is secured within the body, and has radially opposing sleeve flow ports 102, 104 therein each preferably spaced approximately 90.degree. from the inlet axis. A rotary inner sleeve 56 is mounted within the stationary sleeve and is rotatable about a common sleeve axis 88. The inner sleeve has similar opposing ports 110, 112, so that rotation of the rotary sleeve adjusts the circumferential position of the ports to control the flow of fluid through the choke. An elastomeric seal 130, 132 circumferentially surrounding each sleeve port in one of the sleeves is provided for sealing engagement with the other sleeve. A bonnet cover 20 is removably affixed to the valve body 12 for facilitating removal of both the stationary sleeve and the rotary sleeve.

Abstract: Freeze-up is prevented in a tap pipe connectable to a main liquid supply line, by a liquid circulator directly inside the tap pipe. The liquid circulator is either a Pitot tube that takes advantage of the liquid flow in the main line to establish a circulation in the tap line, or the liquid circulator is a driven pump directly in the tap line. The pump is driven by an electric motor or by a turbine rotor. The turbine rotor may be an axial flow wheel, or a paddle wheel driven by the liquid flow in the main line for driving the pump. The pump itself may be a paddle wheel. The Pitot tube, the turbine rotor, and the paddle wheel are very energy efficient by using the flow or dynamic head in the main line.

Abstract: A modular butterfly valve for interupting the flow of particulate articles such as tablets, capsules, pills, and the like that includes a disk member which is selectively operable between an open position and a closed position. The disk member is pivotly carried by a pair of tranverse apertures of an elastomer valve seat. The elastomer valve seat also includes an outside diameter, and a seat portion. The seat portion includes a pair of sealing lips that are cantilevered at a selected angle from one end of the elastomer valve seat. The sealing lips form a first throat portion and a second throat portion. In the closed position, a first of the sealing lips abuts one side of the disk member while a second of the sealing lips abuts a peripheral edge of the disk member. The valve seat is retained between a housing and a removable clamping ring. The housing is configured for a quick connect coupling arrangement with a delivery end of a supply bin.

Abstract: A regulating valve comprising a housing having a cylindrical valve chamber, the valve chamber being provided with at least one inlet and at least two outlets, the inlet and the outlets being at least partially closeable as needed by a common valve body arranged in the valve chamber and rotatable around an axis, the valve body being operable by an actuator, the inlet and/or at least one of the outlets being surrounded by a sealing device on the side of the housing facing the valve body and the sealing device being able to be brought into sealing engagement with the valve body under elastic preload. The valve body is designed having the shape of the segment of a cylinder and is bounded on the peripheral side by two boundary surfaces which each have an edge on the side facing the housing, the edge overtravelling the inlet during its opening being designed as an efflux edge and having an elliptically shaped recess extending in axial direction.

Abstract: A fluid pressure apparatus of this invention provides advanced control without imposing an excessive burden on a sequencer. When a plurality of fluid pressure apparatuses are connected to one another by manifolds, the individual fluid pressure apparatuses are provided with controller circuits each having a memory inputted with a control step, wherein each of the controller circuits activates each of control valves and a sensor based on an operating instruction issued from the sequencer to thereby execute processes such as confirmation of a controlled state, a trouble decision, etc.

Abstract: A valve comprising a gate closure member which is actuated by a stem that is operatively connected with the valve operator handle at the upper end of the stem and the lower end of the stem connected to a toothed pinion engaging an arcuate toothed rack on the gate thereby rotating the gate, or to a toothed pinion engaging a linearly straight toothed rack on the gate thereby reciprocating the gate across the fluid flow-path in a direction transverse to the stem axis, an when the closure member is a tapered wedge gate, the stem is operatively connected with the valve operator handle by means of a Lift-and-Turn mechanism.

Abstract: A slide valve for pipelines for the transporting of slide-laden gaseous or liquid fluids comprises a slide-valve housing within which a displaceable closure member rests in closing position with its closure surface against an inflated annular packing (66). The annular packing (66) is developed with a circumferential hollow space (82) which is in communication with a connection (78) for a source of pressure. An annular support spring (84) is arranged within the hollow space (82). The spring supports the annular packing (66) in its uninflated starting position, and rests in supporting manner for this purpose with its vertex region directed towards the closure surface of the closure member against the inner circumference of the hollow space (82) of the pressure-relieved, undeformed annular packing (66) which is inserted in the slide-valve housing and rests on all sides against its supporting walls.

Abstract: A coaxial breakaway coupling and a coaxial hose connect a fuel dispensing pump to a coaxial fuel dispensing nozzle, and the coupling includes first and second tubular valve bodies releasably coupled together by an annular canted coil spring. Each valve body supports therein an axially movable tubular valve member for defining an inner vapor return passage and an outer fuel supply passage, and a vapor return check valve member is supported for axial movement within the vapor return passage upstream of an annular valve seat. All of the valve members are spring biased towards closed positions and move to open positions when the valve bodies are coupled together. When the valve bodies are uncoupled or separate in response to an axial breakaway force, the valve members close, and suction from a vacuum pump connected to the vapor return passage pulls the check valve member towards it closed position against the valve seat. In a modification, the breakaway coupling is integrated with a 45.degree.

Abstract: A valve assembly structure and method for sterilizing multiple environments or containers, such as an isolation barrier and a tank. The valve assembly structure comprises a cylindrical housing with an inner chamber having a first and second opening. The valve assembly further comprises an annular deflatable hollow gasket positioned against the inner chamber for engaging a plug sealing member. The cylindrical housing of the spool may also include a plurality of passages to allow various liquids and gases to be circulated and removed from the inner chamber of the valve assembly. A variety of methods may be employed for adequately sterilizing the valve assembly simultaneously with the multiple sterilized environments or containers. These methods include sterilizing the valve assembly separately through the valve passages in the cylindrical housing of the valve, or sterilizing the valve assembly using the same method or process used to sterilize one or more of the attached containers.

Abstract: A throttle device having a throttle-flap connection piece which is produced from plastic. For an efficient production of the throttle-flap connection piece form plastic in the plastic injection-molding technique, it is necessary to avoid undesirable shrinkage in the pivoting region of the throttle flap and to seal off the bearing arrangements against penetrating plastic during the injection operation. The throttle device includes an annular insertion part which is arranged in the pivoting region of the throttle flap and which, connected to the bearing arrangements is embedded into the throttle-flap connection piece made form plastic, in order to protect the bearing arrangement against penetrating plastic. The injected-round insertion part is suitable for throttle devices which are made from plastic and which are provided for mixture-compressing spark-ignition or air-compressing auto-ignition internal-combustion engines.

Abstract: A sterile surgical drape for use with a system for thermally treating sterile medium is accomplished by a drape including indicia symbolically directing placement of the drape over the system. The system may include a single or plurality of basins for thermally cooling and/or heating the sterile medium. The drape includes various indicia indicating which portions of the drape are placed over the corresponding portions of the thermal treatment system. The indicia may include symbols indicating the center of the basins, the direction to unfold the drape after removing the drape from its package, the proper orientation of the drape when placed on the system, and alignment of the drape on the system such that the drape overhangs the top surface of the system for a sufficient length to reduce the risk of contamination to the sterile medium. The indicia assist the operator in properly aligning and placing the drape over the system to ensure sterility.

Abstract: A sanitary mixer tap contains a first fixed control disc (1) having a first through aperture (4) communicating with a cold water supply and a second through aperture (5) communicating with a hot water supply and laterally inverted in relation to a central plane M--M. Above the first control disc (1) there is a second control disc (2) which can be moved linearly and rotated in relation to the fixed control disc (1) in the prior art manner to alter the quantity and temperature of the mixed water flowing from the mixer tap. The recess (10) in the movable control disc (2), which can be caused to overlap variably with the through apertures (4, 5) in the fixed control disc (1), has a specially shaped control edge (14). This is so designed that, when the sanitary mixer tap is opened, in the centrally rotated position of the movable control disc (2), it first solely brings about an overlap with the through aperture (4) in the fixed control disc (1) connected to the cold water supply.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off valve for a fire hydrant or other device that is vulnerable to breakage, which is attached to a straight-walled fluid carrying pipe, the valve having a pair of separated mounting rings (20 and 22) positioned in the pipe near the breakable device. A cylindrical rod (36) having a frangible end (40) is slideably retained in the middle of the pipe by the rings and a disc (48) is positioned over the rod. A hub (66) is rigidly connected to the rod add a spring over the rod (72) forces the hub away from the ring. A link (60) connects the hub to the disc and the rod is pulled away from ring compressing the spring and opening the valve by positioning the disc parallel to fluid flow within the pipe.

Abstract: The connector assembly provides leak protection to enable the disconnection of a filled or partially filled ink cartridge from an ink-jet printer without leaking ink. The connector assembly includes a valve assembly having a fitment and a valve attached thereto. The valve is movable to close a passageway formed through the fitment when the ink cartridge is disconnected from a coupler connected to the printer. The coupler may be used to open the valve to permit ink flow from the ink cartridge to the printer.

Abstract: Rotatable valve assembly includes a mounting mechanism for rotatably mounting the valve in a housing, the mounting mechanism including a shaft having an outside end extending through the housing. A conversion mechanism converts fluid pressure in the housing into torque exerted on the shaft. A release mechanism is located outside the housing for preventing rotation of the shaft and valve when the torque exerted on the shaft is below a selected magnitude. The release mechanism allows the shaft to rotate when the torque exerted on the shaft exceeds a selected magnitude. A seal is provided for sealing the gap between the housing and the valve in the closed position. The seal has a first portion secured to the housing on a first side of the rotational axis of the valve, a second portion secured to the valve on a second side of the rotational axis, a first transitional portion coinciding with the rotational axis, and a second transitional portion coinciding with the rotational axis.

Abstract: A novel integrated gas panel is described. The integrated gas panel of the present invention, comprises a plurality of individual process gas modules or blocks coupled together with a plurality of gaskets located between them. Each process gas module comprises an upstream isolation valve coupled between a process gas inlet and an MFC inlet. An upstream purge valve is coupled between an upstream purge port and the MFC inlet. A mass flow controller is coupled between the MFC inlet and an MFC outlet. A mix isolation valve is coupled between the MFC outlet and a mix port. The modules are coupled together such that respective ports of each module are in fluid communication with one another to form a common tube or port. Gaskets placed between the various modules either allow or block the flow of gas between ports of adjacent modules. By arranging blocks and gaskets in different ways, gas panels with a wide variety of different functions and capabilities can be easily designed and fabricated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling removal of gaseous cryogen from a continuous tunnel type freezer wherein the cryogen and product to be frozen travel in counterflow heat exchange relation to minimize ambient atmosphere moving into the tunnel and out of the exhaust system with the exhausted gaseous cryogen.

Abstract: A ram-type blowout preventer (10) has a front packing arrangement (24) with a packer assembly (28) therein. Packer assembly (28) includes an elastomeric packer member (30) and a recess (46) defined between plates (32) and (34) adjacent elastomeric packer member (30). A replaceable wear insert (60) insertable within recess (46) has projections (74) on opposed parallel sides (66, 68) of insert (60). Projections (74) include a pair of wedge-shaped projecting portions (76, 78) which press into and deform the adjacent contacting sides (48, 50) of elastomeric packer member (30) for retaining insert (60) in position within recess (46) without any separate preformed receptacles or grooves formed in elastomeric packer member (30).

Abstract: A multiport, diaphragm-sealed valve suitable for use in sampling systems. Using a rotational movement, which can be electrically controlled, the valve operates without leakage or intermingling of transfer fluids to provide a simultaneous seal of all fluid pathways during the switching of flowpaths. multiport, diaphragm-sealed valve suitable for use in sampling systems. Using a rotational movement, which can be electrically controlled, the valve operates without leakage or intermingling of transfer fluids to provide a simultaneous seal of all fluid pathways during the switching of flow paths.

Abstract: A retrofit valve stem seal assembly, which can be retrofitted to existing quarter-turn valves already in service, is provided. The retrofit valve stem seal assembly is added to the valve stem by inserting a valve stem adaptor onto the valve stem and firmly attaching the adaptor to the valve stem. The inner surface of the valve stem adaptor fits on the valve stem. To prevent leaks between the valve stem adaptor and the valve stem, "O" rings are installed in the valve stem adaptor to bear against the valve stem. A rotatable valve stem adaptor includes a sliding tractrix surface for sliding contact with a stem packing. The stem packing includes a complementary tractrix surface for contacting the sliding tractrix surface on the valve stem. Wear between the contacting surfaces is uniform at all points of contact between the sliding tractrix surface and the complementary tractrix surface, creating and maintaining a dynamic seal.