Abstract: A position detection assembly for detecting a spatial position of a moveable element. The assembly includes a colour sensor and one or more colour indicators provided on a surface of the moveable element. The colour sensor is spaced from the surface of the moveable element and arranged to emit light onto the surface and detect light reflected from the surface and to determine the position of the element based on the reflected light.

Abstract: A valve assembly has a housing and a valve shaft rotatable in the housing. A sensor assembly detects the position of the valve shaft. The sensor assembly has an indicator on the housing; and a position sensor on the valve shaft configured to detect a feature of the indicator to determine the position of the valve shaft.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a movable valve element arranged to move relative to a valve housing between an open and a closed position. The valve housing includes a drainage body provided with drainage holes arranged to allow fluid to drain from the valve assembly from gaps between the movable valve element and the housing via the drainage holes.

Abstract: A heat pump assembly includes a plurality of Peltier devices mounted to receive air from a common air inlet, means for causing a current to flow through the Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a first, hot, side of the Peltier devices, and a plurality of second heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a second, cold, side of the Peltier devices. Each of the first heat sinks defines a respective first channel through which inlet air warmed by the hot side of the Peltier devices flows, and each of the second heat sinks defines a respective second channel through which inlet air cooled by the cold side of the Peltier devices flows.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating assembly arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a motorised drive assembly. The assembly includes dielectric insulation between the drive shaft and the driven shaft and plurality of electrically non-conductive fastener elements configured to connect the drive shaft to the driven shaft and the dielectric insulation therebetween, in torque transfer engagement, the fasteners located around an outer boundary of the dielectric insulation.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes three discrete components assembled in a stack. The three discrete components are: a printed circuit board, pcb, on which are provided electrically conductive tracks which generate heat when electric power is applied to the tracks, the pcb having a first major surface and a second, opposite, major surface and a periphery joining the first and second major surfaces; a heat reflective plate; and a heater assembly housing. The heat reflective plate is sandwiched between the pcb and the heater assembly housing and where the heater assembly housing is configured to fit over the heat reflective plate and the periphery of the pcb to form a closely fitted stack of the three discrete components.

Abstract: A ventilated adjustable headrest may include an adjustable metal insert, a nozzle fixedly attached to the adjustable metal insert. The nozzle may be in fluid communication with a perforated covering and one or more cushion elements. The nozzle may be telescopically coupled to one or more ventilation ducts. The one or more ventilation ducts may be configured to receive forced air from a ventilation system at an air inlet, and may be configured to deliver the forced air to the nozzle.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a valve includes a thermally conductive heating wire embedded within a body of the valve. Also provided is a valve body formed by additive manufacture and having a thermally conductive heating wire embedded therein to which electric power is applied to cause the thermally conductive heating wire to generate heat in the valve body. A method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric barrier and torque transfer member between a drive shaft and a driven shaft of a torque transfer assembly. The method includes assembling the drive shaft and the driven shaft in axially adjacent relationship to one another, the drive shaft and the driven shaft each having a recess formed therein such that when the shafts are assembled, the recesses cooperate to define a chamber extending across the interface between the drive and driven shaft and into the interior of both the drive and the driven shaft. The method further includes injecting a dielectric adhesive or resin material into the chamber to fill the chamber and to extend across the interface between the drive and the driven shaft, and curing the dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier between and to provide torque transfer between the drive and the driven shaft.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes a ball element arranged to be rotated by rotation of a shaft in engagement with the ball element, the ball element having first and second flow channels defined therethrough, a first inlet port at a first end of said first flow channel, a first outlet port at a second end of the first channel, a second inlet port at a first end of the second flow channel and a second outlet port at a second end of the second channel.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor assembly includes a tubular housing arranged to be fitted into a fluid flow path of a system between a fluid line an inlet to a valve (1?), wherein the tubular housing defines an axial flow channel extending through the tubular housing from a first end to a second end, along an axis A, for fluid to flow from the fluid line of the system to the valve inlet, the tubular housing further comprising a sensor channel extending from the second end of the flow channel towards the first end substantially parallel to, and in fluid communication with the axial flow channel, wherein the assembly further comprises first and second sensor parts located in the sensor channel that communicate with each other.

Abstract: A ball shaft includes a ball shaft head part having a top surface and a bottom surface, an axis extending through the top and the bottom surfaces, a passage extending through the head part the passage opening, at a first end, at a first side of the head part and at a second end at an opposite second side of the head part, wherein the head part has flattened outer surfaces at each of the first and second sides and at sides between the first and second sides, the flattened outer surfaces separated by rounded corners.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor assembly includes a first pipe component defining a flow path for the fluid and configured to be attached to a valve to control flow of the fluid from the first pipe component, and a fluid level sensor arranged in or on the first pipe component to detect a level of fluid in the first pipe component and to generate a command signal for operation of the valve according to the level detected. The assembly also includes an insert fitted to an end of the first pipe component and extending axially from the end to be fitted to an inlet of the valve, in use, wherein the insert is configured to secure the first pipe component against rotation relative to the valve inlet when the insert is fitted to the inlet.

Abstract: A multi-way valve assembly includes a valve housing having a plurality of fluid ports, a first valve member having one or more first flow channels defined therethrough and a first shaft, rotation of which causes rotation of the first valve member relative to the housing, the first valve member defining a cavity, and a second valve member arranged within the cavity of the first valve member and having one or more second flow channels defined therethrough and a second shaft. Rotation of the second shaft causes rotation of the second valve member relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a locking mechanism configured to, in a locked position, cause the second valve member to rotate with the first valve member relative to the housing and, in an unlocked position, to permit the second valve member to rotate relative to the first valve member and the housing.

Abstract: A seal for a fluid level sensor assembly mounted in a pipe includes a seal body arranged to be sealingly fitted around a sensor, the seal body having a first side defining a first lip and a second side defining a second lip, the second lip being thinner than the first lip, and a spring mounted to the seal and arranged to move the seal body along the sensor, when mounted around the sensor, such that the second lip provides a seal around the sensor and the first lip wipes the sensor to remove debris thereon.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor assembly includes a first housing part having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid flow channel between the inlet and the outlet. The assembly also includes a sensor housing part formed on or integral with the first housing part and defining a sensing flow channel between a sensor end and a closed end, and has an opening from the sensing flow channel to the fluid flow channel of the first housing part. The assembly also includes level sensor components provided in the sensor flow channel at the sensor end, the level sensor components comprising: an actuator, and a switch component. The actuator and the switch component are arranged in the sensing flow channel such that when the pressure fluid in the fluid flow channel increases to increase the pressure in the sensing flow channel.

Abstract: A rotational valve includes a valve closure element, a shaft, at least one detection element, at least one detection engagement means, at least one first stop and at least one second stop. The shaft is linked to the valve closure element and the shaft can rotate between a closed position and a fully open position. Each detection element comprises an aperture and an indicator element, the shaft extends through the aperture of at least one detection element, and each detection element is in sliding engagement with the shaft. The shaft can rotate relative to the detection element, each indicator element can move between a first and a second indicator position, each indicator element abuts a first stop when in the first indicator position and abuts a second stop when in the second indicator position.

Abstract: A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement.

Abstract: A rotary encoder for a valve comprises a rotatable code plate and an optical detector module comprising one or more optical detectors. The code plate defines a set of voids arranged along a set of one or more concentric circular arcs about an axis of rotation. The voids define an angle-dependent pattern over the set of arcs, the pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sectoral elements (A-O, X). At least two of the sectoral elements, located in non-adjacent sectors of the code plate, are identical, but the pattern is non-repeating over a single full rotation of the code plate about the axis. Each optical detector is aligned with a respective concentric circular arc of the code plate. A controller processes time-varying output signals from the optical detectors to determine successive positions of the rotatable code plate.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting a wye fitting to another fluid conduit part of a fluid system includes the wye fitting, the other fluid conduit part and a clamshell fastener. The wye fitting defines a main fluid flow path along an axis A between a first end and a second end. An end of the wye fitting to be connected to the another fluid conduit part is provided with a plurality of first engagement features arranged circumferentially around the end of the wye fitting and an end of the another fluid conduit part is provided with a corresponding plurality of second engagement features arranged circumferentially around the end of the another fluid conduit part configured to engage with the first engagement features. The clamshell is secured around the end of the wye fitting and the another fluid conduit part over the interface between the first and second engagement features.