Abstract: A method of forming a wear resistant component includes providing a base material, depositing a strengthening layer on the base material, and vapor depositing an amorphous diamond layer on the strengthening layer.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for a faucet assembly that includes a mounting plate and a backing plate that clampingly attach to a surface such as a sink, bathtub, countertop or shower wall. The surface includes a large opening through which a user may access the hot and cold water lines with their shut-off valves. The hot and cold water lines are attached through flexible hoses to the faucet assembly. The faucet assembly is attached to the outer mounting plate whereby when the mounting plate is detached from the backing plate the flexible hoses allow the mounting plate with the faucet assembly to be moved away from the surface to access the water lines and/or repair or replace the faucet assembly.

Abstract: A compressed gas storage system includes a gas tank formed for storing therein compressed gas, a gas discharge path provided in the gas tank, a solenoid valve connected to the gas discharge path and disposed in an interior of the gas tank for controlling the flow of compressed gas that goes out of the gas tank and a control unit to which the solenoid valve is connected. An outer circumferential surface of the solenoid valve is covered with a cover, so that a space defined between the cover and the outer circumferential surface is made to communicate with the gas discharge path to thereby form a gas flow path. A heat transfer fin is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cover in such a manner as to extend radially inwardly, so as to be brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A single layer fluid routing device comprising a first channel having a cross-section of a first aspect ratio and a first depth; a second channel having a second cross-section of a second different aspect ratio and a second different depth; wherein the second channel intersects with the first channel from a first point to a second point, the first and second points having different offsets relative to the cross-section of the first channel.

Abstract: In a switching valve containing a valve member for opening and closing a valve seat and a piston for driving the valve member by the action of a pilot fluid pressure inside a valve housing, a magnet for positional detection is attached to the piston, two sensor attachment grooves extending in the direction of the axial line L of the switching valve and having different groove lengths in accordance with the operational position are formed in parallel on the side face of the valve housing, and magnetic sensors are attached at locations on the side of the innermost end wall in the attachment grooves.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrostat for a portable gas range, which prevents the explosion of a gas container by automatically discharging overcompressed gas from the gas container when the inner pressure of the gas container increases to an explosion pressure. The hydrostat includes a body including a gas outlet, which communicates with a gas inlet of the governor valve, and a sealed room, which communicate with the gas outlet. An opening/closing unit is installed within the sealed room of the body such that it can elastically move up and down in order to discharge overcompressed gas by opening the gas outlet when the inner pressure of the gas container reaches or exceeds a threshold value of deformation. A cap is fixed at the bottom of the body so as to support the opening/closing unit and has a discharge hole for discharging overcompressed gas, which escapes the gas container through the gas outlet.

Abstract: The modular plumbing accessary utilizes an open sided box secured during rough-in to and between exposed wall studs. A unitary water pipe and anti-hammer assembly is connected to the box with only an outlet pipe exposed in the box interior. The water inlet pipe and an anti-hammer assembly and its tee connection upstream of the outlet pipe are located outside of the box interior. A drain inlet is also exposed in the box interior. Rough-in connections are made between the building pipes and the respective water inlet and drain outlet pipes at the box. Further, a compression seal shutoff valve will be secured during rough-in to the water outlet pipe within the box interior. The open side of the box faces the sink, making line connections between the sink and the valve and drain inlet easy and reliable.

Abstract: A freeze-thaw valve and a method of micro-machining the freeze-thaw valve is provided and includes a valve housing, wherein the valve housing defines a housing cavity and includes a housing inlet, a housing vent, a capillary tubing inlet and a capillary tubing outlet. A valve body is provided, at least a portion of which is lithographically constructed, wherein the valve body includes a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet and an expansion chamber. The expansion chamber is disposed to communicate the refrigerant inlet with the refrigerant outlet and includes a restriction region having a flow restriction. Additionally, the valve body is disposed within the housing cavity to form an insulating channel between the valve housing and the valve body.

Abstract: A method of simply controlling the flow of fluid in a micro system without using a complicated value structure, comprising the steps of adding the substance transformed from sol-gel by stimulation to the fluid flowing through the micro flow passage of the micro system, and adding the stimulation to the fluid at a desired position on the micro flow passage to transform the fluid into gel for flow control.

Abstract: A plumbing apparatus includes a housing having first and second opposite ends and defining an interior volume therebetween and an inlet fitting connected to the housing and connectable to a fluid source external to the housing. In one embodiment, the plumbing apparatus may also include an outlet fitting connected to the housing, disposed on the exterior thereof and in fluid communication with the inlet fitting; and a hose assembly receivable in the housing for storage, with one end thereof connected to the inlet fitting, and the other end of the hose assembly connectable to the fluid source. The plumbing apparatus may further include a cover member to cover one of the ends of the housing. The cover member may be operable between a closed position preventing access to the interior volume and an open position allowing access to the interior volume. The hose assembly may include a female fitting on said end connectable to the fluid source.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for accurately determining the position of a sliding or rotational sleeve valve in real time are disclosed. The apparatus comprises fiber optic cable based sensors which are either linearly or circumferentially arrayed in the housing that surrounds the sleeve and which can comprise bare cable or cable having fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). As the sleeve slides or rotates within the housing, the sensors in the arrays are deformed, and this deformation can be correlated to sleeve position by assessing the sensor's reflectivity profiles. Deformation of the sensors is achieved by various mechanical and/or magnetic schemes incorporated into the sleeve.

Abstract: A gauge protector that fits over the regulator assembly of a tank and includes a first housing section defining a first cavity for receiving the regulator and a second housing section defining a second cavity for receiving the pressure gauge. The first and second housing sections provide shock protection for the gauge and regulator. The first and second housing sections are rigidly connected to one another and mounted on the regulator assembly such that a force applied to the gauge is at least partially absorbed by the gauge protector and regulator assembly. As a result the force on the gauge is lessened and the integrity of the connection between the gauge and the regulator is maintained.

Abstract: A rotary distribution apparatus includes a fixed inner distribution member (12) with inner conduit zone; a rotatable distribution member (16) rotatable about the fixed inner distribution member; a plurality of fluid distribution chambers (18) located between the fixed inner distribution member and the rotatable outer distribution member; each fluid distribution chamber having a fixed port (20) in the fixed inner distribution member to which a fixed supply or return conduit for a fluid can in use be connected and at least one distribution port (22) in the rotatable outer distribution member; at least one indexing arrangement (24) including a rotatable indexing member (26) and a fixed indexing member (28); a plurality of passageways (30, 32, 38, 40) extending through each of the rotatable and fixed indexing members (26, 28), the plurality of passageways each having indexing ports (30.2, 32.2, 38.2, 40.2) and connection ports (30.1, 32.1, 38.1, 40.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is presented for managing thermal transients, thus providing engineers greater flexibility in designing thermal solutions for applications subject to transient heat-generation. A heat reservoir device for managing a heat input subject to transient conditions includes a heat transfer subsystem having a first end and a second end, where the first end is thermally coupled to the heat input; a heat storage subsystem coupled to the second end of the heat transfer subsystem, where the heat storage subsystem comprises a phase change material responsive to the transient conditions. The excess heat load during transient operation is temporarily absorbed by the latent heat of fusion when the phase change material changes its phase from solid to liquid. Subsequently, the absorbed heat can be released back to the ambient via a heat rejection subsystem. This allows engineers to design smaller heat sinks capable of accommodating given transient conditions.

Abstract: A storage tank for an easily polymerizable compound has acceptance piping and delivery piping with a circulation line directly connecting the acceptance piping to the delivery piping or with circulation lines respectively connecting the acceptance piping to the storage tank and the storage tank to the delivery piping. A method of storing an easily polymerizable compound in the storage tank includes circulating the compound in the storage tank through the circulation line(s), where the compound can be (meth)acrylic acid being produced and/or purified with the temperature of purified (meth)acrylic acid being supplied to or removed from the storage tank being regulated to not be higher than the temperature thereof in the tank. A method of joining pipes for-transporting a corrosive liquid using flanges, bolts, and nuts made of a material having resistance to corrosion by the corrosive liquid.

Abstract: An improved wall faucet, which is to put through the locking ends on both sides of water faucet to connect the locking units and position the water faucet on the shutter of the granite counter; in addition, the locking screw cap would be jointed closely with the non-returning pad after being locked on the locking end of the water faucet to prevent the water's effusion from the locking end. In accordance with the structure, because the locking unit is designed direcly on the locking end to make water can be guided directly and vertically to the locking screw cap and perforation and position the water faucet on the shutter of the granite counter, the interval between the shutter and wall can be shortened properly for saving space and costs in connection materials.

Abstract: An apparatus is shown for attachment to a plumbing system for the rapid on-demand delivery of hot water through the plumbing system to an ultimate point of use. The apparatus includes a diverter valve located in a hot water supply line upstream of the point of use. The diverter valve is actuated for a predetermined interval by a user to initially purge cold water from the hot water line to a drain. After the preset interval, the valve automatically closes. The initial diversion of cold water standing in the water supply line causes rapid delivery of hot water to the point of use once the diverter valve has completed its cycle.

Abstract: An ultrasonically operated valve a source of ultrasonic energy for excitation of a pressurized liquid. The vibration of the ultrasonic horn imparts a pulsing of the pressure of the liquid within the valve. Selection of a sealing mechanism that responds at a different natural frequency than that of the valve body causes the sealing mechanism to unseat and therefore to enable liquid flow. The sealing mechanism will stay unseated as long as the source is imparting energy to the system and therefore inducing pressure pulses in the liquid thus keeping the sealing mechanism away from the valve seat.

Abstract: A valve cover having a valve cover body, preferably of two sections. These sections are placed on either side of a valve. When joined, the sections enclose the valve, but form line apertures around the lines leading to and from the valve. Once the sections are in place, a cap is placed over the sections. The cap is sized to fit the sections tightly and will prevent the sections from separating. The cap may be provided with a tongue in groove mechanism to prevent accidental removal of the cap and to help secure the cap to the valve cover body. The cap and the valve cover body are also preferably provided with locking apertures. When these locking apertures are aligned, the cap may be secured to the valve cover body with a lock. With the valve cover locked in place around a valve, access to the valve is denied.