Abstract: A valve that has at least one internal port on a valve core and at least one an internal slot in a valve body. The valve core is biased into a position wherein the port of the valve core is aligned with a sealing surface of the valve body thereby prohibiting fluid flow through the valve. The valve core is slidable such that the port of the valve core becomes aligned with the internal slot of the valve body thereby allowing fluid flow through the valve. Another valve includes a self-aligning valve seat carrier which is pivotably engaged with a valve core member. The self-aligning valve seat carrier engages a sealing surface in a valve body to prohibit fluid flow through the valve, but the valve core is slidable such that the self-aligning valve seat carrier disengages from the sealing surface in order to allow fluid flow through the valve.

Abstract: A rotatable stopcock for a plug-type coupling with an angled piece for connecting fluid lines. The stopcock including a turning knob portion and an integrally formed hollow pin portion. The knob portion includes two opposing ring segments having detent catches that positively engage a flange ring formed on the coupling housing wall. The pin portion is dimensioned to be received into a contact hole of the plug-type coupling such that rotating the stopcock after insertion causes the hollow pin portion to regulate the fluid flow through the plug-type coupling.

Abstract: A gravity drainage cord formed by braiding a plurality of strands of silk of the type used for surgical sutures, and fitted loosely, in the median region, in a tubular sheath made of a material such as silicone which is adapted to facilitate sliding with respect to tissue, increases biocompatibility and allows optional coupling to mechanical aspiration units.

Abstract: A pair of bone clamps used for open reduction and internal fixation of a fractured bone or osteotomy is interconnected by a lockable, articulating connection apparatus. Each bone clamp includes a primary clamping means for manipulating a bone fragment back into a proper position. Additionally, each bone clamp includes a secondary bone clamping means that provides adequate clamping force for maintaining the reduction so that the primary clamping means can be released. The secondary bone clamping means provides clearance for the positioning and application of a fracture fixation prosthesis to stabilize the reduction during healing. The bone clamps and lockable, articulating connection apparatus together comprise a bone setting apparatus that provides for unconstrained manual reduction and alignment of the bone fracture, locking of the reduction in a fixed position and orientation, and application of a fracture fixation prosthesis, thereby securing the reduction.

Abstract: Valve for the control of large-section flows with high operating frequency, and in particular for compressors or the like, comprising a flow aperture (102; 106) and a closure device (3; 8), said flow aperture comprising one or more orifices (102; 106) formed on a fixed body (2; 6) cooperating with said closure device (3; 8) and introduced into the flow channel (1), said closure device (3; 8) rotating with respect to an axis perpendicular to the plane on which said fixed body (2; 6) lies, and being equipped with driving means (5); said closure device (3; 8) is equipped with at least a hollow (123; 138) on the surface facing said fixed body (2; 6) which houses an insert (113; 118), said insert being formed so as to be substantially complementary with said orifice (102; 106) of said fixed body (2; 6).

Abstract: A fail-safe gate valve for sub-sea use features a floating, pressure biased compensating piston whose movement prevents internal pressure buildup from opening movement of the gate. A pre-charged fluid chamber provides the bias on the balancing piston. Using unequal piston diameters reduces the charge pressure. The balancing piston is not connected to the gate so that internal pressures can be employed to act on a net area, which biases the gate toward its fail-safe position.

Abstract: A locking device for a butterfly type valve is provided with an actuating shaft extending through a bore provided in a conduit in which the valve is located; the inner end of the shaft carries a locking arm that is movable upon rotation of the shaft between a locking and unlocking position relative to the valve.

Abstract: A solenoid valve includes a coil assembly accommodated in a solenoid housing having an end wall at one end thereof. A stationary core is magnetically coupled to the end wall and inserted into one end of a center bore, and a movable core opposed to the stationary core is inserted into the other end of the center bore. A yoke plate opposed to the other end of the coil assembly is coupled to the other end of the solenoid housing, and a collar made of a non-magnetic material adapted to guide the axial movement of the movable core is inserted into the other end of the center bore through a central portion of the yoke plate. A rod operatively connected to the movable core is connected to a valve member accommodated in a valve housing connected to the solenoid housing.

Abstract: An improved microvalve device is configured to provide a more robust and durable operation to withstand the demands of various operating environments. The microvalve may comprise a valve seat and a diaphragm, with the diaphragm operated by an external actuator device, such as a bladder, through various mechanisms of actuation, such as direct and indirect mechanisms, that are separate from the microvalve. Through use of the various mechanisms of actuation, the actuator device is configured to apply forces on the diaphragm to suitably move the diaphragm to open and close the microvalve. The valve seat and diaphragm can be configured to provide the microvalve with a plurality of openings configured to permit flow thereinbetween. In addition, the microvalve may be configured to facilitate uni-directional or bi-directional flow.

Abstract: Safety device for taps provided with a disk shutter sliding in a tubular sector shaped like the arc of a circle, constituting the product outlet duct of a pasteurizing machines used in the production of creams, soups or the like. The shutter disk is connected with an operating lever endowed with a spring pin fitting into suitable hollows obtained on an element with circular sector which is concentric with respect to the rotation axis of said operating lever. Both on the operating lever and in the element with circular sector showing the hollows defining the basic positions of the operating operating lever of the shutter, reciprocal abutment means have been provided, whose purpose is to interrupt the movement of the operating lever on reaching said intermediate position in which a radial opening for product discharge is opened, thus preventing the unintentional overcoming of said position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for stability of a human breast during biopsy and surgical procedures are disclosed. An outward lesion is applied to external surface regions of the breast to facilitate and increase the accuracy of access to lesions and other target sites.

Abstract: In a fuel injection apparatus of an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector, an intake valve device for opening and closing an intake port, and an intake air flow control device arranged in an upstream side of the intake valve device, a fuel injection is synchronized with an intake stroke of the engine. A fuel spray is oriented to an inner wall face which is positioned in an opposite side to an inner wall face of a cylinder heads in a fuel injector side and the fuel spray is transported by an air flow having a strong fluidization which is entered from the intake air control device. In a port injection lean burn engine, an adhesion to the wall face according to the fuel spray can be reduced, and a quality and a formation state of an air-fuel mixture in a cylinder can be improved.

Abstract: A packing system for a gate valve is disclosed which includes a sealing member structured to be positioned between a compression member and packing material housed in a cavity formed in the upper edge of a valve housing to provide even and consistent pressure of the packing material against the gate of the valve, thereby preventing leakage from about the gate of the valve. The packing may also include a gasket between the compression member and sealing member to provide additional sealing assurance.

Abstract: A first displacement mechanism disposed on the axially lower side includes a first piston, a piston rod displaceable integrally with the first piston, and a diaphragm connected to the piston rod. A second displacement mechanism disposed on the axially upper side includes a second piston for moving the piston rod to slide along a through-hole. A displacement amount of the first piston and a displacement amount of the second piston are different.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve actuator with an eddy current clutch is disclosed. The use of the eddy current clutch provides an actuator that can control the rate of closing of the valve in a predetermined linear manner to avoid slamming the valve shut in an emergency shutdown.

Abstract: In a fluid metering device for metering a fluid from a supply source to means of use of this fluid comprising a metering valve able to slide in a sleeve over a travel C, this valve comprising an intake orifice (16) for admitting the fluid from the said supply source and an orifice (18) for ejecting this fluid to the means of use, there are provided means (20) for channelling the fluid intended to allow, during the movement of the metering valve in its sleeve, a sweeping of the fluid over all the contacting surfaces of the valve and of the sleeve. The means of channelling the fluid advantageously comprise a helical groove of width L and of pitch P.

Abstract: The invention relates to an internal-combustion engine, in particular for a motorcycle. The motorcycle engine preferably includes a crankshaft rotatable about an axis, a web coupled to the crankshaft, and curved wall portions surrounding the crankshaft. The web has an outer surface which defines a substantially circular pathway as it rotates about the axis. Oil is preferably flung from the web and the crankshaft into an oil channel which has a longitudinal axis that is substantially tangential to an adjacent portion of the pathway. Additionally, oil which is flung from the web and the crankshaft onto the curved wall portions drains into the oil channel, which leads to an oil-storage tank. Preferably, the housing also includes a balancing shaft with a balancing web rotatable about a second axis, additional curved wall portions surrounding the balancing shaft and the balancing web, and a second oil channel. The balancing web has a balancing web outer surface that rotates along a substantially circular pathway.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intravascular balloon catheter and a method for forming the same. The catheter includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a guidewire receiving lumen extending through at least a distal portion of the elongated shaft; and a balloon on a distal shaft section. A distal portion the guidewire receiving lumen has different stiffness along a length thereof.

Abstract: A dripless hose bib for connection to a pressurized water source pipe. The dripless hose bib has a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a fluid passageway connected between them. The front end of the valve body has an external garden hose thread. A ball valve is positioned in the fluid passageway. An aperture in the top surface of the valve body communicates with the ball valve. A vertically oriented valve stem has its bottom end detachably connected to the ball valve and its top end is connected to a transversely extending lever handle. A valve body plug is screwed into the rear end of the valve body and it in turn has a threaded bore in its rear end that threads onto the pressurized water source pipe.

Abstract: A display frame for securing a document to a rigid surface and a method for using same are disclosed. The frame includes a plurality of fastener elements preferably made from hook type sections of hook and loop fastener material, although magnetic or low tack adhesive fasteners may also be used. The rigid surface may be a portable board or a wall, the same display frame being usable on both types of rigid surface. The fastener elements on the frame limit relative movement between the document and the frame to simplify the attachment of the document and frame to the rigid surface.