Abstract: A plug valve is disclosed having a valve chamber with inlet and outlet flow passages in fluid communication therewith, at least one of the flow passages having a generally cylindrical seat recess formed therein about the flow passage and an axially movable seat assembly disposed therein. The valve includes improved means for biasing the sealing assembly against the plug member and cleaning the space between the sealing assembly and the valve body, namely a plurality of conduits extending from the interior surface of a flow passage to a shoulder surface of its associated seat recess and providing for fluid communication between those surfaces.In the preferred embodiment of this invention, wherein the plug is spherical and rotatably mounted on upper and lower trunnions, the lower end of the lower trunnion is mounted in a trunnion cap, and a limit stop is incorporated therein comprising trunnion.

Abstract: A one-shot pressure relief device which can be hermetically sealed comprising a housing with a port fitting for connecting to a pressure zone to be monitored, the fitting having a passage which leads into a central cavity within the housing from the top side. The cavity is divided and sealed into two portions by a thin metallic membrane fixedly mounted adjacent a snap-acting pressure disc member with a central aperture. A hollow puncture member is positioned in the bottom of the housing in axial registry with the center aperture of the snap-acting pressure disc so that upon an over pressure condition in the monitored zone, the disc will snap over center at a predetermined condition allowing the membrane to move likewise piercing itself on the puncture member thereby venting and relieving the over pressure condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a fluid pressure system from over-pressure, comprising a dome-shaped, reverse acting rupture disk adapted to be installed in an outlet of the fluid pressure system with its convex face resisting the system pressure, the reverse acting rupture disk being adapted to abruptly snap over center when subjected to a pre-determined pressure level, and a knife blade assembly disposed adjacent the back or concave face of the reverse acting rupture disk for cutting it as it snaps over center. The apparatus further includes a dome-shaped, prebulged rupture disk separated from the reverse acting rupture disk by a spacer ring, the prebulged disk having its concave face toward the reverse acting rupture disk whereby the prebulged disk entraps any fluid that may leak past the reverse acting rupture disk and will reliably burst when its concave face is subjected to the system fluid pressure upon the rupture of the reverse acting rupture disk.

Abstract: A single-lever mixing valve having a removable valve-assembly cartridge with means carried by the cartridge for controlling the valves and an operating handle mounted on the outer casing of the fixture for controlling both the volume of flow and mixing ratio.

Abstract: Valve apparatus is disclosed for discharging pressurized fire extinguisher fluid from a container. A valve housing includes a valve body and manifold between which a diaphragm which is removably mounted to facilitate field replacement. The diaphragm comprises a semi-spherical shell which is mounted across a passage in the housing with a concave side of the shell facing the pressurized fluid. The shell is fabricated of a metal which is pre-stressed so that the diaphragm ruptures above a predetermined fluid pressure for relieving over-pressure from the container. A dual seal is formed about the rim of the diaphragm by means of an O-ring and an annular knife edge which are disposed within a recess of the manifold body. The valve body and manifold are secured together in metal-to-metal contact at their interface to prevent leaking. A squib cartridge is mounted in the housing to rupture the diaphragm and permit the fluid to discharge through the passage.

Abstract: A water control valve or faucet is comprised of a body having a through bore in which a spindle is mounted for axial movement between valve open and valve closed positions. A leakage receptacle is provided adjacent one end of the bore for receiving leakage between the spindle and bore and to conduct it to the exterior of a housing which encloses the body and receptacle.

Abstract: A fire hydrant comprising a barrel member having an open upper end with an apertured type closure member detachably secured thereto, the apertured top closure member including a generally flat plate portion and a downwardly extending annular portion. The top closure member is secured to the barrel member by bolt means arcuately spaced therearound and the closure member together with the operating nut define a lubricant reservoir for lubricating the hydrant valve stem and cooperating operating nut. A hold-down nut received in the apertured top closure member holds the operating nut relative to the closure member for rotation and an inverted dish-shaped weather cap is threadedly received on the hold-down nut to protect the bolt means holding the closure member on the barrel as well as to protect the access means for the lubricant reservoir.

Abstract: A valve operator for steam turbine inlet control valves, each of the control valves being set by a corresponding valve cam. The operator comprises pilot operated hydraulic means for positioning the valve cams in a normal or power mode of operation, mechanical means for positioning the valve cams in a back-up or manual mode of operation and manual actuation means for actuating the hydraulic means in a normal mode of operation and, in the event of failure of the hydraulic means, for automatically actuating the mechanical means in a back-up mode of operation. The hydraulic actuator positions the valve cams through a rack and pinion assembly. Both the hydraulic means and the mechanical means are actuated from an input shaft driving a reduction gear box. The mechanical means comprises a dog connected to the output of the gear box and a pin on the cam shaft driven by the dog in the manual mode of operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a valve having means for providing a secondary stem seal in the event the primary packing for the stem is destroyed by heat.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve including a housing, first and second bores in axial alignment in the housing, first and second plungers in the first and second bores, respectively, a third bore in the first plunger, a seal between the first and second plungers with the end of the second plunger being located in communication with the third bore, a first conduit for placing the housing in communication with a source of fluid pressure to expose the first plunger thereto and also expose a portion of the second plunger thereto through the third bore, a shear pin for holding the second plunger in position whereby the fluid pressure on the first and second plungers is exerted on the shear pin, a plurality of radial bores in the housing proximate the seal between the first and second plungers, and a second conduit in communication with the radial bores for conducting high pressure fluid from the housing upon shearing of the shear pin and after movement of the second plunger away from the first plunger.

Abstract: An in-line cannula valve assembly for controlling flow through a conduit, comprising a housing, including a collapsible housing part having a flexible wall, joined to a relatively rigid housing part. A first fluid passage in the relatively rigid housing part are provided as a portion of the conduit. A cannula element is positioned with its piercing point end in the second fluid passage, and the opposite end is positioned adjacent the first fluid passage. The cannula element is adapted for longitudinal movement through the first and second passages. A longitudinal groove is defined in the cannula element extending to the opposite end, but terminating short of the piercing point end. Sealing means are positioned about the cannula element. Thus, the cannula element may be positioned in either a first, closed position in which the longitudinal groove is spaced from the sealing means, or a second.

Abstract: A clamp particularly suited for pressure-filled fire hoses has a jaw configuration with three clamping edges with minimum spacing between jaw faces at the clamping edges arranged to effectively close off flow without slipping or twisting, structures for locating one or more hose sizes between the jaws to avoid bunching, and a cast support body and handle arrangement to facilitate operation in either of two positions.

Abstract: It is conventional to supply current to an electromagnet from thermally responsive means including a thermocouple near a standing pilot to hold a safety valve open. Failure of the pilot then causes the safety valve to close, shutting off all combustible gas to the system. Unfortunately, many manual valves may be shut off and turned on a short time thereafter. This permits the pilot to go out and a dangerously large amount of unburned but combustible gas to collect within the combustion chamber. This disclosure includes an interlock located between the safety and manual valves. The interlock does not permit the manual valve to be opened immediately after closure thereof. Reopening of the manual valve is permitted preferably only at or after the closure of the safety valve. Combustible gas thus cannot collect in the vicinity of the main burner if an attempt is made to close and then immediately thereafter to reopen the manual valve.

Abstract: A safe pressure relief assembly of the rupture disc type guards against pressure differentials beyond a predetermined range extending both above and below zero and includes a positive relief disc which is perforated to permit negative flow without rupturing, a sealing disc normally blocking the perforations, a cutting member positioned in spaced relation to the sealing disc and extending a substantial transverse distance thereacross and a sealing disc support member having a stay arrangement projecting into negative supporting engagement with the sealing disc, the stay arrangement having a resistance to collapse sufficient to retain the sealing disc out of contact with the cutting member only up to a predetermined negative pressure. The subcombination of sealing disc, stay arrangement and cutting member is separately useful, especially as a very low pressure relief device.

Abstract: An artefact is provided for use in cases where two bodies are to be connected together by load limiting means.The artefact comprises one portion adapted to be connected rigidly with one of the bodies and a second portion to be associated with the other body and connected in pressure-sensitive or tension-sensitive relationship with the first portion by a connection which incorporates at least one load limiting means which consists of at least two members, one of which is adapted to deform when the load between the two portions exceeds a predetermined value so as to permit of relative movement between the two members.Such artefact is useful in connection with the protection of pressure vessels from excessive build-up of internal pressure since the artefact may be used in securing a blow-off panel to the vessel.

Abstract: A valving mechanism for an automatic filling machine for transferring liquid pre-measured doses to receptacles such as oral dispensers, nebulizer injectors, vials and hypodermic syringes. The automatic filling machine includes a piston type pump which is connected to a supply reservoir for the liquid and to an individual receptacle to be filled by flexible, compressible tubing. Alternately energized alternating current solenoids reciprocate a pivotally mounted lever which alternately closes one of the flexible tubes and opens the other to permit the piston pump to draw liquid from the reservoir and pump it to the receptacle. The valving mechanism includes two adjustable screws, one for each flexible tubing, to pre-compress each tube. Over-compression of the tubes is precluded by an audible warning afforded by the solenoids themselves.

Abstract: An inexpensive adjustable pinch clamp or valve for use on flexible conduits carrying a fluid having an adjustable locking cam to maintain a selected closure of the conduit.

Abstract: A valve assembly for detecting leaks in a fluid system which includes an air-tight liquid chamber defined by a transparent sleeve enclosed within a removable cap having windows formed therebetween, the chamber being at least partially filled with liquid, and a plunger means provided with an orifice, including a tube means arranged to communicate between said orifice and liquid within the liquid chamber, wherein the lower end of the tube means is provided with a restraining and sealing means, whereby the upward movement is restricted thereby, and the liquid chamber is sealed during the open mode of the valve. The terminating end of the tube is formed having a beveled tip to allow ease of fluid discharge therefrom. The valve assembly is connected to the fluid line so as to allow the fluid to pass therethrough unimpeded.

Abstract: A high pressure gas container hermetically confining therein a high pressure gas for inflating instantaneously a safety air bag to protect occupants in a vehicle is provided with an improved discharge valve for blowing out the gas from the container. The discharge valve comprises a sealing disk disposed at a blocking cock portion, which disk has a thick center portion and thin peripheral portion so that the whole disk may be utterly ruptured upon explosion of a detonator disposed adjacent to the thicker portion of the sealing disk. Such complete destruction of the sealing disk will result in a formation of a large opening for blowing out the high pressure gas and hence allows a rapid inflation of the safety air bag due to increased flow rate of the jetted high pressure gas from the container.

Abstract: Constant condenser pressure is maintained in a refrigeration system by modulating the speed of at least one fan motor of an air-cooled condenser coil in response to the temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser coil, the speed varying directly with temperature. Motor speed variations are achieved by controlling the conduction time of a triac which couples the fan motor to a source of alternating voltage. The triac is triggered into conduction at a phase angle, following the beginning of each half cycle of the alternating voltage, determined by the charging rate of a timing capacitor which charges through a photosensitive transistor optically coupled to an LED. Variation of the refrigerant temperature in the condenser coil changes the light emission of the LED and this in turn varies the charging current translated to the capacitor. The greater the temperature, the greater the charging current and the faster the triac conducts following the start of each half cycle.