Abstract: An automatic control valve is provided for generating power based on fluid flow. In one example, the automatic control valve includes a primary passage including a valve seat disposed between an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat. A valve member is moveable between an open position and a closed position depending on the fluid flow. The automatic control valve includes a rotatable valve stem that is affixed at one end to an impeller and operably affixed to a drive shaft of a generator at the other end. As fluid flows to move the valve member to an open position, the impeller with the rotatable shaft and the drive shaft of the generator rotate to produce electric power.

Abstract: A tank tee assembly includes a tank tee body including a tank tee inlet, a tank tee outlet and a tank tee passageway therebetween. An annular flange is disposed on a peripheral surface of the tank tee passageway. At least one through-hole structure is disposed in the tank tee body downstream of the annular flange. A poppet valve assembly is disposed in the tank tee passageway between the annular flange and the at least one through-hole structure. The poppet valve assembly includes a poppet and a guide. The guide is rigidly secured within the tank tee passageway. The guide includes a guide base. The guide base has an outside diameter that is larger than an inside diameter of the annular flange. The tank tee passageway is free of any threaded connections between the annular groove and the at least one through-hole structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ventilation insert or liner for headwear. The ventilation insert or liner is comprised of a top edge, bottom edge, a backside extending between the top edge and bottom edge, and a front side opposite the backside. The front side has at least one ventilation structure, such as a tube, extending between the top edge and the bottom edge that increases air flow (i.e., ventilation) from a cool area (e.g. below the brim of a hat) to the inside of the headwear. The ventilation insert or liner may comprise a plurality of ventilation structures. The plurality of ventilation structures may comprise a plurality of apertures to increase air flow. The back side may comprise a connection material to affix the vent insert or liner to the inside of the headwear. The ventilation insert or liner may alternatively be inserted into a sweatband found on the inside of most hats.

Abstract: A drain-back valve is provided for draining a submersible pump system in a water well. The drain-back valve includes, for example, a body, an end cap and a plunger assembly. The end cap is inserted into one end of the body includes at least one port that is in fluid communication with an interior passageway of the body. The plunger assembly engages the opposing end of the body. When closed, the plunger assembly prevents water from flowing into the interior passageway of the body. The drain-back valve is activated or opened by dropping a weight into a riser or drop pipe. The weight strikes the plunger assembly and opens the drain-back valve to allow water to flow through the body and out the end cap. This allows well water in the drop or riser pipe to drain back into the water well. With this water drained from the drop or riser pipe, a pump service personnel on the ground surface is able to pull up the pump without the water weight that was in the drop or riser pipe.

Abstract: A drain-back check valve assembly includes a body having a passageway with an inlet and an outlet. A bypass port extends from the passageway to an outer surface of the valve body. A main poppet valve assembly is disposed in the passageway and moveable between a closed position which prevents fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet and an open position which allows fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. The main poppet valve assembly includes a poppet and a spool guide fixed to the poppet. The guide has a sidewall which includes a drain-back port. When the main poppet valve assembly is in the closed position, the drain-back port is aligned with the bypass port. When the main poppet valve assembly is in the opened position, the drain-back port is not aligned with the bypass port.

Abstract: A tank tee assembly includes a tank tee body including a tank tee inlet, a tank tee outlet and a tank tee passageway therebetween. An annular flange is disposed on a peripheral surface of the tank tee passageway. At least one through-hole structure is disposed in the tank tee body downstream of the annular flange. A poppet valve assembly is disposed in the tank tee passageway between the annular flange and the at least one through-hole structure. The poppet valve assembly includes a poppet and a guide. The guide is rigidly secured within the tank tee passageway. The guide includes a guide base. The guide base has an outside diameter that is larger than an inside diameter of the annular flange. The tank tee passageway is free of any threaded connections between the annular groove and the at least one through-hole structure.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use with, for example, variable frequency drives and other applications without the valve becoming misaligned. In one aspect, the valve includes a housing with an inner surface and a passage. A flange within the housing divides the housing into upstream and downstream portions, and extends around the inner surface, defining a valve seat and a valve aperture. A poppet is positioned in the downstream portion. The poppet includes a valve head and a stem extending from the valve head and into the downstream portion, and not through the valve aperture. The valve head is resiliently biased in the closed position against the valve seat to inhibit fluid flow in a first direction. A guide disposed within the housing receives the stem of the poppet valve as the poppet valve moves between an open position and a closed position. The guide is secured into place by a spring clip.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use with, for example, variable frequency drives and other applications without the valve becoming misaligned. In one aspect, the valve includes a housing with an inner surface and a passage. A flange within the housing divides the housing into upstream and downstream portions, and extends around the inner surface, defining a valve seat and a valve aperture. A poppet is positioned in the downstream portion. The poppet includes a valve head and a stem extending from the valve head and into the downstream portion, and not through the valve aperture. The valve head is resiliently biased in the closed position against the valve seat to inhibit fluid flow in a first direction. A guide disposed within the housing receives the stem of the poppet valve as the poppet valve moves between an open position and a closed position. The guide is secured into place by a spring clip.

Abstract: A drain-back valve is provided for draining a submersible pump system in a water well. The drain-back valve includes, for example, a body, an end cap and a plunger assembly. The end cap is inserted into one end of the body includes at least one port that is in fluid communication with an interior passageway of the body. The plunger assembly engages the opposing end of the body. When closed, the plunger assembly prevents water from flowing into the interior passageway of the body. The drain-back valve is activated or opened by dropping a weight into a riser or drop pipe. The weight strikes the plunger assembly and opens the drain-back valve to allow water to flow through the body and out the end cap. This allows well water in the drop or riser pipe to drain back into the water well. With this water drained from the drop or riser pipe, a pump service personnel on the ground surface is able to pull up the pump without the water weight that was in the drop or riser pipe.

Abstract: A drain-back check valve assembly includes a body having a passageway with an inlet and an outlet. A bypass port extends from the passageway to an outer surface of the valve body. A main poppet valve assembly is disposed in the passageway and moveable between a closed position which prevents fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet and an open position which allows fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. The main poppet valve assembly includes a poppet and a spool guide fixed to the poppet. The guide has a sidewall which includes a drain-back port. When the main poppet valve assembly is in the closed position, the drain-back port is aligned with the bypass port. When the main poppet valve assembly is in the opened position, the drain-back port is not aligned with the bypass port.

Abstract: A tank tee assembly includes a tank tee body including a tank tee inlet, a tank tee outlet and a tank tee passageway therebetween. The tank tee body also includes a first tank leg having a first tank leg passageway disposed in fluid communication with the tank tee passageway intermediate the tank tee inlet and tank tee outlet. The tank tee assembly also includes a ball valve assembly including a valve body including a valve inlet, a valve outlet and a valve passageway therebetween. A ball element is disposed within the valve passageway. A ball valve seat is disposed within the valve passageway between the tank tee outlet and the ball element. The valve inlet is in threaded engagement with the tank tee outlet such that the tank tee body urges the ball valve seat into sealing engagement against the ball element.

Abstract: A swing check valve with a combination of a flapper and a spring return mechanism is provided. The spring return mechanism includes a spring housing removeably coupled to a valve cover affixed to a valve body. The spring return mechanism also include at least two springs separated by a spring pivot guide for engaging the flapper to bias the flapper in the closed position against a valve seat.

Abstract: A check valve is provided which may be installed horizontally or in other non-vertical orientations, and used with variable frequency drives and other applications without the valve becoming misaligned. In one aspect, the valve includes a housing with an inner surface and a passage. A flange within the housing divides the housing into upstream and downstream portions, and extends around the inner surface, defining a valve seat and a valve aperture. A poppet is positioned in the downstream portion. The poppet includes a valve head and a plurality of guide legs extending from the valve head and into the downstream portion, and not through the valve aperture. The valve head is resiliently biased in the closed position against the valve seat to inhibit fluid flow in a first direction. A guide disposed within the housing receives the plurality of guide legs of the poppet valve as the poppet valve moves between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided which, in one aspect, includes a check valve in series with a butterfly valve without the need for a spacer or spool piper separating the check valve and butterfly valve. In one example, check valve may include a poppet comprising a plurality of guide legs extending into the downstream portion of the check valve. Butterfly valve may include at least a portion of a rotating disk is disposed within a downstream portion of the check valve. The plurality of guide legs may include distal ends that are configured or contoured to avoid interference with the rotating disk of the butterfly valve.

Abstract: A swing check valve with a combination of a flapper and a spring return mechanism is provided. The spring return mechanism includes a spring housing removeably coupled to a valve cover affixed to a valve body. The spring return mechanism also include at least two springs separated by a spring pivot guide for engaging the flapper to bias the flapper in the closed position against a valve seat.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use with variable frequency drives and other applications. In one aspect, the check valve provides a poppet guided by a poppet guide in at least two locations to ensure stability between fully open and fully closed positions. In another aspect, the check valve includes a poppet guide adapted to receive a poppet in a stem receiving channel, the stem receiving channel including guide vanes engaging the poppet and auxiliary channels for self cleaning. The check valve may also include a valve seal. In one embodiment, the valve seal is an o-ring received by a poppet head, based of the poppet guide and valve seat. The valve seat and/or the base may include expansion channels to receive a portion of the valve seat during compression when the check valve is in a closed position.

Abstract: A back pressure valve comprises a pressure regulator housing affixed to a pressure controller housing and a diaphragm disposed between the pressure regulator housing and the pressure controller housing. In one aspect, the back pressure valve includes a valve member moveable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The pressure regulator housing includes an inlet chamber communicating with an outlet chamber through at least one fluid passage in a sleeve. The valve member includes a stem connected to a valve head. The valve head includes an outer surface that is received and guided during movement by an inner surface of the sleeve. Upper and lower outer surface of the valve head provide stability to the valve member during opening and closing of the back pressure valve.

Abstract: A check valve is provided which may be installed horizontally or in other non-vertical orientations, and used with variable frequency drives and other applications without the valve disk becoming misaligned. In one aspect, the valve provides a housing with an inner surface and a passage, a flange within the housing which divides the housing into upstream and downstream portions, and extending around the inner surface, defining a valve seat and a valve aperture, a poppet positioned in the downstream portion, including a valve disk and a valve stem extending from the valve disk, the valve disk engaging the valve seat, being moveable, and being resiliently biased in the closed position against the valve seat to inhibit fluid flow in a first direction, and a guide removably mounted on the inner surface of the housing, the guide receiving the valve stem of the poppet valve as the poppet valve moves.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use with variable frequency drives and other applications. In one aspect, the check valve provides a poppet guided by a poppet guide in at least two locations to ensure stability between fully open and fully closed positions. In another aspect, the check valve includes a poppet guide adapted to receive a poppet in a stem receiving channel, the stem receiving channel including guide vanes engaging the poppet and auxilliary channels for self cleaning.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use with variable frequency drives and other applications. In one aspect, the check valve provides a poppet guided by a poppet guide in at least two locations to ensure stability between fully open and fully closed positions. In another aspect, the check valve includes a poppet guide adapted to receive a poppet in a stem receiving channel, the stem receiving channel including guide vanes engaging the poppet and auxiliary channels for self cleaning. The check valve may also include a valve seal. In one embodiment, the valve seal is an o-ring received by a poppet head, based of the poppet guide and valve seat. The valve seat and/or the base may include expansion channels to receive a portion of the valve seat during compression when the check valve is in a closed position.