Abstract: The invention contemplates a check-valve construction which exhibits substantially elevated resistance to onset of unidirectional flow (i.e., to valve opening), as compared with conventional constructions. This elevated resistance to valve-opening is achieved through use of a knuckle joint, connecting the valve member to the valve body and spring-urged to its most-spread condition when the valve member is in its closed position. The invention is shown and described in connection with a check valve having two valve members, each of which derives materially enhanced resistance to valve-opening displacement, through use of a separate spring-loaded knuckle joint associated with each of the respective valve members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing binary code onversion and, in particular, for converting binary input to binary coded decimal (BCD) form. An n-bit decade down counter is preset to establish a basic timing interval during which timing or clock pulses are applied to a binary rate multiplier and a number of output count pulses are generated by the rate multiplier in direct proportion to the value of the binary input number to be converted. An n-bit decade up counter registers a count of the output pulses from the rate multiplier. Since the maximum number of pulses in the basic timing interval, each of which has a weight equal to the least significant bit of the converted binary coded decimal signal, is equal to the maximum value (within one least significant bit) of the binary input number to be converted, the number of count pulses generated by the rate multiplier and registered by the up counter during the timing interval represents the magnitude of the input number itself.