Abstract: A fan blade for an aircraft engine, including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, a pressure side and a blade tip, is provided. The fan blade has a large-area elastomer layer which takes up at least 20% of the surface of the suction side of the fan blade.

Abstract: Methods of, and apparatus for, storing and transporting a hazardous fluid, such as a combustible fuel, include methods and means, respectively, for: (a) treating the fluid to reduce its hazardous condition; (b) storing and/or transporting the treated fluid in such a manner that the risk of its hazardous condition remains reduced; (c) thereafter retreating the fluid to restore it to its original hazardous condition so that the fluid may be used in its restored condition. The hazardous fluid may be treated by adding a substance to, or removing a substance from, the fluid, or by changing the state of the fluid. For example, if the fluid is a fuel, it may be treated by cooling it to near or below its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility, volatility, explosivity and/or ease of ignition.

Abstract: A pressure relief comprises a valve body which includes an inlet bore that is connectable to a flow line, an outlet bore that is connectable to a vent line and a valve bore that extends to between the inlet and outlet bores. A valve member is slidably supported in the valve bore and is moveable between a closed position in which the fluid in the flow line is prevented from flowing from the inlet bore to the outlet bore and an open position in which the fluid in the flow line is permitted to flow from the inlet bore to the outlet bore. A solenoid operated pilot valve is connected to the valve body over the valve bore, and a fluid chamber is located in the pilot valve above the valve member. The fluid chamber is filled with a hydraulic fluid, and the hydraulic fluid in the fluid chamber is operatively engaged with the valve member.

Abstract: A method of cleaning contaminants, including particulate contaminants, from a valve in a fluid system includes moving a valve flow control element of the valve from a first position to a second position in response to a change in a condition in the fluid system other than a change in superheat.

Abstract: There is provided a very reliable three-way solenoid valve that can reliably switch a refrigerant flow passage while ensuring a refrigerant flow rate even under a large-differential pressure environment without increasing the size of an electromagnetic coil and the like. A valve body includes a conduction hole that communicates with a back pressure chamber formed on a side of a second valve element opposite to a second valve seat, a third valve seat that is positioned between the conduction hole and a second outlet, a third valve element that is movably disposed so as to approach and be separated from the third valve seat, a coil spring that biases the third valve element toward the third valve seat, and actuating rods that are interposed between a first valve element and the third valve element.

Abstract: In a method or field device for determining a position of an open/closed-valve positioned by a pneumatic actuating drive and movable to a completely opened open position and a closed position depending on operating requirements, during normal operation a pneumatic working chamber of the actuating drive is pneumatically influenced with an i/p converter such that the open/closed-valve moves to one of the open/closed positions and, in case of a predetermined operating condition, the i/p converter allows the working chamber to vent so that the open/closed valve automatically moves to the other one of the open/closed positions. At least one of pressure prevailing in the working chamber and pneumatic control pressure output at the i/p converter is captured continuously over time, thus obtaining a pressure change over time on the basis of which a physical operational variable of the open/closed-valve is determined.

Abstract: A valve unit for adjusting gas flow to a two-stage combustion apparatus includes a valve member that is moved by a magnetic field generated by a coil to vary gas flow rate through the valve unit, and first and second connectors configured to receive a high-stage activation signal and a low-stage activation signal, respectively. The valve unit includes a valve controller that is configured to control the coil to establish a high-stage gas flow rate while the high-stage activation signal is present, and configured to control the coil to establish a low-stage gas flow rate while the low stage activation signal is present up to a predetermined low stage time limit. The valve controller is further configured to establish at least one gas flow rate between the low-stage and high-stage gas flow rates when the low stage activation signal is present beyond the predetermined low stage time limit.