Abstract: A ball valve including upstream and downstream seats and a ball having a flow opening disposed between the upstream and downstream seats. A flow path is defined through the valve only when the ball is disposed in an open position. In one embodiment, when the ball is disposed in a closed position the upstream seat may intermittently disengage from the ball to relieve hydrostatic expansion of a liquid within the ball resulting an increased pressure that is greater than a pressure within a body cavity of the valve outside the ball. In another embodiment, a distance between the upstream and downstream seats is greater than an outer diameter of the ball and the ball engages only one of the upstream and downstream seats when disposed in the closed position and a pressure differential is defined between the upstream and downstream seats. The upstream and downstream seats may each include a partially spherical sealing surface that may have a crenulate configuration.

Abstract: A valve assembly for high pressure applications includes a pre-charge chamber, at least one inlet for pressurized gas to enter the assembly, a system poppet and an outlet for releasing pressurized gas into a desired environment. Pressurized gas can flow through access channels into a single bellows, which expands to move a shaft connected to the system poppet to open the poppet. In another embodiment, the pre-charge chamber compresses a first bellows to expand a second bellows, and vice versa upon reciprocation. The two bellows are hydraulically connected and filled with incompressible fluid. Each bellows has an internal limiting valve to retain incompressible fluid therewithin, and to preclude the complete nesting of either of the bellows. The retained fluid within the bellows maintains an internal pressure to minimize differential pressure, thereby minimizing the risk of bellows failure.

Abstract: A valve assembly for high pressure applications includes a pre-charge chamber in fluid communication with a first bellows, at least one inlet for pressurized gas to enter the assembly, a system poppet and an outlet for releasing pressurized gas into a desired environment. The pre-charge chamber and first bellows are filled with pre-charge gas to a threshold pressure. Pressurized gas can flow through access channels into a second bellows, which expands to move a valve shaft connected to the poppet assembly to open the poppet and allow the release of gas. The expansion of the second bellows pushes incompressible fluid disposed between the two bellows against the first bellows, thus contracting the first bellows. The gas within each bellows maintains an internal pressure equal to the pressure exerted upon each bellows by the incompressible fluid, so as to minimize differential pressure across the bellows in the extended position.

Abstract: A device for expelling/containing a predetermined liquid. The device configured to be built into a liquid tank operable at low or zero gravity and comprising a unitary three-dimensional sponge structure. The sponge structure comprises a set of substantially wire-like elements that extend between a peripheral area of the sponge structure and an area for expelling/containing liquid. The wire-like elements are substantially oriented in the direction of flow of the fluid within the device. The wire-like elements are connected together by crosspieces and are arranged such that the capillary gradient is positive or zero in the direction of flow of the fluid from the peripheral area to the area for expelling/containing liquid.

Abstract: A fuel supplying system includes a primary circuit for delivering fuel from a fuel tank to a primary circuit outlet. The system also includes a first supply circuit connected to the primary circuit outlet, the first supply circuit comprising a first supply circuit pump configured to pump fuel from the primary circuit outlet to engine fuel nozzles. The system further includes a second supply circuit also connected to the primary circuit outlet. The second supply circuit includes at least one actuating device configured to receive power from hydraulic pressure of the fuel. The second supply circuit also includes a second supply circuit pump configured to pump fuel from the primary circuit outlet to an actuating device, wherein the second supply circuit pump is independent from the first supply circuit pump.

Abstract: The present invention regards a valve arrangement comprising a housing and a mainly cylindrical valve element arranged rotatable within the housing, wherein the housing has at least one supply port, at least one exhaust port and at least one outlet/inlet opening. These ports and opening are arranged at a distance from each other along a rotation axis of the valve element. The valve element comprises at least one first bore extending along the rotation axis connecting the supply port with the at least one outlet/inlet opening in one position of the valve element, and at least one second bore extending along the rotation axis connecting the same outlet/inlet opening with the exhaust port in a second position of the valve element, the bores being configured such that they are separated from each other.

Abstract: Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An apparatus includes a cage, a plug having a seal gland and a seal assembly to be at least partially positioned in the seal gland. The seal assembly includes a back-up ring having a wedge-shaped protrusion and a seal defining a wedge-shaped groove to receive the protrusion. A pressure is to act on the back-up ring to urge the protrusion into the groove. An engagement between the protrusion and the groove is to urge the seal into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the cage.

Abstract: A shape memory actuator is described. The shape memory actuator has a supporting body, a driven element slidably mounted on the supporting body for movement between a stable rest position and a stable operative position, a driving element that drives the driven element, the movement of the driving element being determined by a SMA wire and by first resilient return means acting to return the driving element to the rest position upon deactivation of the SMA wire, second resilient return means acting on the driven element in opposition to the SMA wire, engaging means suitable to achieve at the operative position a reversible engagement between the driven element and the supporting body, either directly or indirectly, said engagement being able to resist the action of second resilient return means, and a control system for the engagement and disengagement of the engaging means.

Abstract: A safety valve device as for use with a compressed gas cylinder and/or a control valve comprising a housing unit, a plug with controlled bleed off channels bored into the plug, an actuator, and an actuating rod, which is designed to engage in the event that a control valve is severed from a compressed gas cylinder, at least partially sealing the opening formed in the compressed gas cylinder from the severing of the control valve, and achieving a safer, controlled bleed off of the compressed gas contained therein.

Abstract: A device for taking powder material into liquid including an inlet to which fluidized powder is supplied with a first pressure, an outlet into a liquid tank having a second pressure less than the first pressure, a powder material intake from the inlet to the outlet, a valve for the powder material intake, and a gaseous medium intake with an outlet into the powder intake with a pressure higher than the second pressure, wherein the outlet of the gaseous medium intake is in the powder material intake downstream from the valve. A method including: applying a vacuum or low pressure to the liquid, passing powder material into the liquid through a powder material intake, providing a valve in the powder material intake, and supplying a pressurized gaseous medium into the powder material intake downstream the valve at least partially during closing and/or opening the valve.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to check valve apparatuses and methods. In particular, the present subject matter relates to a flow control device that can be incorporated into a check valve. The flow control device can include a valve seat configured for positioning within an inlet of a check valve, the valve seat defining an opening, a plurality of flow routing vanes at least partially traversing the opening, and a disk movable between a first position and a second position in response to a fluid pressure. When the disk is in the first position, the disk blocks the opening of the valve seat, and when the disk is in the second position, the opening is substantially unobstructed. The flow routing vanes can function to smooth the flow of fluid into the valve, thereby reducing pressure drop, noise, erosion, corrosion, vibration, and cavitations.

Abstract: A thermal management valve module having separate first and second flow chambers is provided, with one or more respective inlets and outlets connected to each of the flow chambers. A first valve body is rotatably positioned in the first flow chamber, and includes a fluid pathway that connects a first and/or third inlet to a first outlet, which allows separate or mixed flows, or blocks the flow, based on the valve body position. A second valve body is rotatably positioned in the second flow chamber, and includes a fluid pathway that connects a second and/or fourth inlet to a second outlet, which allows separate or mixed flows, or blocks the flow, based on the valve body position. At least one actuator controls the positions of the first and second valve bodies.

Abstract: A gate valve is provided with a flapper mechanism that is disposed in the main body of the valve and automatically works to seal and isolate the main body of the valve from a bonnet. The bonnet is isolated without any manual function or operation. When the flapper valve is in a closed position, the bonnet, gate and gate actuating mechanism can be removed from the gate valve body without isolating the gate valve. This enables the bonnet and associated components to be repaired or replaced while water or fluid under pressure continues to flow through the main body of the gate valve.

Abstract: A pressurizable gas reservoir can include a first end member and a second end member that is disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first end member. A flexible reservoir member can extend between opposing first and second ends. The first end secured to the first end member and the second end secured to the second end member. The flexible reservoir member at least partially defines a reservoir chamber between the first and second end members that is capable of storing a quantity of pressurized gas for an extended duration of time. The first and second end members can be maintained in substantially-fixed axial position relative to one another. A suspension system including such a pressurized gas reservoir and a method of assembly are also included.

Abstract: Embodiments of a safety device that provides a failsafe mechanism on valve actuator assemblies. This failsafe mechanism operates in the event of power loss, or other problems and/or failures, that prevent operation of the drive components. In one embodiment, the safety device is configured to couple the drive components with the valve stem. During normal operation, this configuration changes the position of the valve stem in response to motive action of the drive components. In the event of power loss, the safety device is configured to operate independent of the drive components to change the position of the valve stem and, thus, move the valve to a closed or “safe” position.

Abstract: A solenoid section of a solenoid three-way valve includes a yoke attached to a valve housing and formed from a bottomed cylindrical main yoke and an auxiliary yoke closing an open end of the main yoke, a coil assembly inside the yoke, a fixed core slidably fitted into a hollow portion of a bobbin and abutted against a ceiling wall of the main yoke, a movable core facing the fixed core and passing through the auxiliary yoke, and a coil spring compressed between the cores. The fixed core is abutted against the wall by a predetermined spring load and by electromagnetic attraction force between the core and wall based on coil energization. A valve rod is slidably supported in a housing hole, having one end separably abutted against an outer end of the movable core and an opposite end abutted against a valve body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collecting tank for multi-phase mixtures from a hydrocarbon source, having at least one inlet (20) for introducing multi-phase mixtures into the collecting tank (10), and having a plurality of outlet connectors (30), which can be connected to pumps (3) via which multi-phase mixtures are pumped, the outlet connectors (30) being assigned inwardly directed internals (40) which project upwards beyond the collecting-tank base (11) and have a first, upper opening (42) and a second, lower opening (41), wherein the flow cross section of the lower opening (41) is smaller than that of the upper opening (42).

Abstract: A fuel tank structure comprising a fuel tank; a canister that adsorbs evaporated fuel within the fuel tank, and that releases vapor after adsorption of evaporated fuel; a full tank regulating valve within the fuel tank that becomes a closed state due to a float floating in fuel when a fuel liquid surface reaches a full tank liquid level that is set in advance; a communication pipe that communicates the fuel tank and the canister via the full tank regulating valve, a cross-sectional area varying valve that, when tank internal pressure that is applied from inside of the fuel tank increases, reduces a cross-sectional area of a flow path of vapor that flows toward the float; and a suppressing member that is positioned between the cross-sectional area varying valve and the float, and that suppresses airflow from the cross-sectional area varying valve from directly abutting the float.

Abstract: A moisture sensing watering system comprising a central pivot, a water conveyance system, a plurality of wheels, a first at least one moisture sensor coupled with a first wheel, a second at least one moisture sensor coupled with a second wheel, a moisture information converter, and a moisture content provider. The first moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the first wheel and performs a first moisture sensing as a part of the piercing of the ground. The second moisture sensor pierces the ground during each rotation of the second wheel and performs a second moisture sensing as a part of the second moisture sensor piercing the ground. The moisture information converter receives the moisture sensing information and converts the moisture sensing information into a signal. The moisture content provider provides the signal in a user accessible format.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rinsing arrangement (8) for a domestic appliance (1) for the care of laundry items, comprising a rinsing dish (8a) that has an upper portion (8b) and a lower portion (8c) connectable to thereto, wherein a water supply device (8d) having a water receiving tray is formed in the lower portion (8c), and an outlet connector (8e, 8f) is formed on the lower portion (8c), which opens into the water receiving tray, wherein a dividing wall (31) that is separate from the lower portion (8c) and can be attached to the lower portion (8c) is formed, and in the arranged state of the dividing wall (31), a siphon (8n) is formed between the outlet connector (8e, 8f) and a water receiving space (8j) formed in the lower portion (8c). The invention further relates to a domestic appliance (1) having a rinsing arrangement (8).