Abstract: A pressure relief valve for use with flexible containers is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve chamber, a valve chamber seat with an inlet gas port or ports to the interior of the container and a resilient diaphragm floating within the chamber. The valve seat is shaped with a generally flat diaphragm-engaging surface in a central area of the diaphragm where the inlet gas port(s) are located, and at least one surface that does not generally engage the outer portion of the diaphragm, such that a diaphragm floating in the valve chamber engages a central portion of the valve seat surface stopping the passage of gases in or out of the container before a certain pressure is reached, but permitting the passage of gases from within the flexible container as pressure builds, while preventing the flow of atmospheric gases into the container.

Abstract: A solenoid including an armature movable in an armature room, and a coil which can be flowed through by current. When flowed through by current the armature moves. The armature immerses in a control cone. The mean gap width between the armature and the control cone changes with the immersion path of the armature in the control cone.

Abstract: Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention include switches that can be opened and closed to allow or block the flow of fluid through a channel in response to the pressure level in a gate of the switch. The microfabricated fluidic switches may be coupled together to perform logic functions and Boolean algebra, such as inverters, AND gates, NAND, gates, NOR gates, and OR gates. The logic gates may be coupled together to form flip-flops that latch signals. The present invention also includes microfabricated fluidic pressure multipliers that increase the pressure in a second chamber relative to a first chamber. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention also include high or low pressure sources. A pressure source of the present includes a pump coupled to a reservoir through unidirectional valves. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention may also include devices that perform analog functions such as switching regulator.

Abstract: Provided is a reversing valve that can reverse flow in a refrigeration system. The reversing valve includes a valve body extending between a first end and an opposing second end. Multiple ports are disposed through the first and second ends. In one aspect, to reduce the pressure drop across the valve body, flow is channeled generally straightly between the ends. This is accomplished by a valve member defining a channel that is coupled to a port at the first end while pivotally movable to intersect different ports at the second end. Flow direction in the system is determined by which port at the second end is intersected. In another aspect, to move the valve member, the reversing valve includes a permanent magnet joined to the valve member and an electromagnet extending partly around the valve body. Applying different polarities to the electromagnet moves the permanent magnet and the valve member.

Abstract: Micro-valves and micro-pumps and methods of fabricating micro-valves and micro-pumps. The micro-valves and micro-pumps include electrically conductive diaphragms fabricated from electrically conductive nano-fibers. Fluid flow through the micro-valves and pumping action of the micro-pumps is accomplished by applying electrostatic forces to the electrically conductive diaphragms.

Abstract: A cut valve preventing fuel overflow from a fuel tank to a fuel gas passage includes a float moving upward and downward corresponding to a surface of the fuel, a cone formed to an upper surface of the floater to move with the float, at least one link formed to an upper surface of the float to move with the float, and a cap disposed to intercept a fuel gas passage by a movement of the cone when the surface of the fuel moves upward and comprising at least one rod inserted to the at least one link.

Abstract: In order to minimize shift shocks during R?N and D?N manual shifts, in a manual valve of a hydraulic control system of a continuously variable transmission including a valve body having one input port and two output ports and a valve spool having a first land and a second land connecting the input port with one of the two output ports or completely blocking the input port from the two output ports, each land includes slots configured such that inner ends of the slots can be connected to the output ports in a neutral state.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of moving a shiftable valve member into a closed position, the shiftable valve member mounted in a valve housing having a bore and being moveable between at least one open and at least one closed position relative to the bore, includes at least one elastically deformable member that extends at least partially around the circumference of the bore and is disposed at least partially in a cavity in the valve housing. Each elastically deformable member is elongated, has first and second ends and is connected to the shiftable valve member at one location and to the valve housing at least one other location. Each elastically deformable member is torsionally loaded to provide biasing, closing force to the shiftable valve member to assist in moving the shiftable valve member into a closed position and retaining it in the closed position.

Abstract: A sprinkler of the compressed strut and lever type wherein the motion of the lever is limited is disclosed. The sprinkler includes a compression member that compresses a strut against a sealing member that closes the outlet of the sprinkler. One end of a lever is positioned between the compression member and the strut. The opposite end is positioned in proximity to an abutment surface on the sprinkler. The opposite end is engageable with the abutment surface which limits motion of the lever and maintains an offset between the strut and the compression member that renders the strut and lever an unstable mechanism. A frangible link extends between the strut and the lever. The link separates in response to an increase in temperature indicative of a fire condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting fluid into a machine are disclosed. A fluid injector is disclosed having a nozzle body with first and second body portions and at least one fluid injection orifice within the second body portion. The nozzle body may be configured for transmitting fluid from the first body portion toward the orifice. The fluid injector may also include a check member movably arranged inside the nozzle body for affecting fluid flow through the orifice and having a contoured outer surface defining (i) a recessed region and (ii) a generally convex region forming at least a portion of the recessed region.

Abstract: A surface heating system consists of a support and a heating layer that contains an electrically conductive plastic. The heating layer is formed by a flexible film. A heatable object made as such a surface heating system. A method for producing a surface heating system, where a heating layer containing an electrically conductive plastic bonded to a support, and where the heating layer is formed by initially applying an electrically conductive, especially a foam plastic material onto the support and then hardening the plastic material on the support. Alternatively, the method produces a surface heating system with a heating layer of an electrically conductive plastic is bonded to a support. The heating layer is produced from an electrically conductive, especially a foam plastic material, and then arranged on the support. Another alternative of the method consists of bonding a heating layer with an electrically conductive plastic to a support. A fabric is produced as the support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically heatable glazing panel comprising a substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating layer which is adapted to be electrically heatable and is divided into a plurality of zones, some heatable and some non-heatable. The glazing panel according to the invention is preferably a side window which may be used for de-misting or de-icing purposes.

Abstract: A hair cutting apparatus comprising a structure (126), a portion (1216) of which being adapted for placement against a skin surface where hair is to be cut, a heat generator comprising one or more heat elements (1214) positioned to touch said hair and heated to a temperature sufficient to cut hair, at least one of said heat elements being juxtaposed with said portion and a controller that controls the power source to provide pulsed heating of said one or more heat elements.

Abstract: An electrical resistance heating element having a glow zone and two power supply terminals. The glow zone of the element is tubular. A tubular union is provided between each of the power supply terminals and a respective end of the glow zone, wherein the inner diameter of the union is smaller than the inner diameter of the glow zone. A transition region extends between each union and a respective glow zone end and has a progressively decreasing wall thickness in the direction from the union toward the glow zone.

Abstract: An open coil resistance heater assembly is made for universal mounting between left and right hand installations in an appliance or other equipment. The heater assembly has its coils arranged symmetrically about a bisecting plane of the heater assembly and/or a center line of its terminal assembly aligned with the bisecting plane. The symmetrical coil arrangement and/or bisected terminal assembly allow the heater to be used in right hand or left hand installations.

Abstract: An overheating protection system for a control unit includes an interrupter element, which, in its initial position defined with respect to a circuit board, electrically connects the opposite facing ends of at least one track on the circuit board, and an actuating element which is activated with the overheating of the transistor, and which on actuation against the interrupter element takes effect and releases it at least so far from the tract that the electrical connection is interrupted. A preassembled actuating unit for the interrupter element of the overheating protection is comprises an accommodation housing, in which an actuating element is accommodated and which can be brought into interaction with the interrupter element and which is held releasably by a one-piece latching element formed on the accommodation housing under pretension. An electrical heating device with a control unit protected against overheating is also provided.

Abstract: A heating device is constructed such that a heating member made of nickel-chromium or a high melting point metal is held in an electrically insulating member made of an oxide or nitride, and a solder connecting layer consisting of a nickel layer serving as buffer layer and a nickel plating layer serving as solder uniting layer is formed on a surface of the electrically insulating member corresponding to a slender portion of the heating member. An adhesion between the solder connecting layer and the electrically insulating member holding the heating member is thereby improved so that the heating device is achieved as having a high reliability and at the same time as capable of improving heat conducting performance from the heating member to a heated body.

Abstract: A heating structure and its temperature control method having therein a heat generating line and a controller. The heat generating line includes a PTC element and a short circuit line serially connected having an insulating fusible layer separating them. When a user sets a heating temperature, electric current is conducted to heat the PTC element, alternative string wave signals input into an AC phase shaping circuit and an AC phase delay shaping circuit are converted into square wave signals; and by measuring with a microprocessor at a given time the phase shift between the two phase shaping circuits to control the switch of a trigger circuit, the PTC element can keep on heating or reduce its temperature to therefore keep the heat generating line at a predetermined working temperature. The structure is applicable to heat generating devices such as electric ovens and heating blankets etc.

Abstract: A flexible body has a conductive resistance pathway which includes conductive resistance flexible strands of material connected in series between two supply bus flexible strands of material, and a temperature dependent variable resistance pathway with temperature dependent variable resistance flexible strands of material electrically connected in series by connection bus flexible strands of material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball heater comprising a rectangular container, the interior of which is outfitted with at least one heating element and rails for holding golf balls. One end of the container includes a sliding door for retrieving a heated golf ball. On one side of the container, a control box is outfitted with circuitry to cooperatively work with sensors in the container for purposes of selectively activating the heating element(s) according to whether or not the sliding door is open or shut and whether or not the temperature inside the container is within the optimal temperature range.