Abstract: A variable flow valve assembly is disclosed, and includes a main body and a piston. The main body defines a chamber, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a wall located between the inlet port and the outlet port. The wall defines a metering orifice for selectively allowing a medium to flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The piston is moveable within the chamber of the main body in a plurality of partially open positions to vary the amount of medium flowing through the modulation orifice.

Abstract: Check valve units having one or more sound attenuating members are disclosed. A check valve unit includes a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber in fluid communication therewith thereby defining a flow path from the inlet port through the chamber to the outlet port. The chamber includes first and second valve seats and has a sealing member disposed therein that is moveable from a position seated on the first valve seat to a position seated on the second valve seat. A sound attenuating member is disposed in the flow path downstream of the chamber, within the chamber, or both. In another embodiment, the check valve unit includes a Venturi portion in fluid communication with the chamber. The Venturi portion has a fluid junction with the flow path downstream of the chamber or forms the discharge section of the Venturi portion thereby defining the outlet port.

Abstract: A sprung gate for a valve having an endless elastic band sandwiched between first and second gate members that each define an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof, which collectively form a passage through the sprung gate. The first gate member includes a fastener connected to a fastener receiving member of the second gate member thereby securing the first and second gate members together as a unit. This sprung gate unit is operatively connected to an actuator for linear translation within a pocket of a conduit to control fluid flow through the conduit. This assembled device may be manufactured using spin welding to sealingly mate the conduit to a housing enclosing the actuator.

Abstract: An engine system having a flowpath between a junction upstream of a turbocharger and an intake manifold that includes an ejector and an aspirator connected in parallel relative to one another within the flowpath is disclosed. The motive flow through the ejector is in the opposite direction relative to the direction of the motive flow through the aspirator, and both the ejector and the aspirator have a suction port fluidly coupled to a device requiring vacuum. The engine system also includes a first check valve disposed in control of the motive flow through the ejector and a second check valve disposed in control of the motive flow through the aspirator and may also include a control valve in fluid communication within the flowpath upstream or downstream of the ejector and the aspirator that controls the flow into and/or out of both thereof.

Abstract: Valves having a sprung gate of various constructions are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sprung gate includes a first endless elastic band having an inner perimeter defining an open space sandwiched between a first gate member and a second gate member that each define an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof. The first endless elastic band is sandwiched therebetween with its open space oriented for alignment with the opening in both of the first and second gate members, which are aligned with one another to form a passage through the sprung gate. In one aspect, the first endless elastic band in positioned inward a distance from the outer sides of the first and second gate members and spaces the first gate member a distance apart from the second gate member thereby defining a channel having a bottom defined by the first endless elastic band.

Abstract: Hydrogen and carbon are produced by decomposing natural gas or methane in a field of barrier discharge non-thermal plasma The apparatus for carrying out this process has two concentric elongated electrodes, one internal and one external, and a dielectric barrier between them, so arranged that there is a suitable gap between the internal electrode and the barrier. A high voltage pulser is connected to the electrodes and, when powered, creates the barrier discharge non-thermal plasma in the gas passing through the gap, thus decomposition this gas into its components, namely hydrogen and carbon.

Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.

Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.

Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end sumtrace thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.