Abstract: An improved rotatable joint for fluid flow therethrough having (a) a housing, (b) a tube fitting axially aligned with the housing, (c) a bearing around the tube fitting and configured to permit relative rotation of the housing and tube fitting, and (d) a seal between the housing and tube fitting, the improvement wherein (i) the housing includes one or more leak detection ports and (ii) the rotatable joint is configured such that any leakage of fluid through the rotatable joint flows first around the seal to the bearing and then through one or more of the leak detection ports to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An improved rotatable joint for fluid flow therethrough having (a) a housing, (b) a tube fitting axially aligned with the housing, (c) a bearing around the tube fitting and configured to permit relative rotation of the housing and tube fitting, and (d) a seal between the housing and tube fitting, the improvement wherein (i) the housing includes one or more leak detection ports and (ii) the rotatable joint is configured such that any leakage of fluid through the rotatable joint flows first around the seal to the bearing and then through one or more of the leak detection ports to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An improved butterfly valve having (a) a valve housing, (b) a valve-plate having a peripheral edge located in a central plane when in a fully-closed position, (c) a valve stem configured to rotate the valve-plate about an axis parallel to the central plane to control flow through the valve, and (d) a valve seat configured to engage the peripheral edge to form a seal when the valve-plate is in closed positions, the improvement wherein the valve seat comprises (1) a resilient sealing member having an inward valve-seating surface engaging the peripheral edge therearound and an opposite outward surface; and (2) a ring structure: (i) having an inner surface adjacent to the outward surface; (ii) having the valve stem passing therethrough along the axis; (iii) divided into two sub-ring portions adjacent to each other with valve-stem-adjacent ends; and (iv) sized to permit central-plane-parallel relative sub-ring-portion displacement perpendicular to the axis, thereby lowering valve actuation force.

Abstract: An improved butterfly valve having (a) a valve housing, (b) a valve-plate having a peripheral edge located in a central plane when in a fully-closed position, (c) a valve stem configured to rotate the valve-plate about an axis parallel to the central plane to control flow through the valve, and (d) a valve seat configured to engage the peripheral edge to form a seal when the valve-plate is in closed positions, the improvement wherein the valve seat comprises (1) a resilient sealing member having an inward valve-seating surface engaging the peripheral edge therearound and an opposite outward surface; and (2) a ring structure: (i) having an inner surface adjacent to the outward surface; (ii) having the valve stem passing therethrough along the axis; (iii) divided into two sub-ring portions adjacent to each other with valve-stem-adjacent ends; and (iv) sized to permit central-plane-parallel relative sub-ring-portion displacement perpendicular to the axis, thereby lowering valve actuation force.

Abstract: An improved rotatable joint for fluid flow therethrough having (a) a housing, (b) a tube fitting axially aligned with the housing, (c) a bearing around the tube fitting and configured to permit relative rotation of the housing and tube fitting, and (d) a seal between the housing and tube fitting, the improvement wherein (i) the housing includes one or more leak detection ports and (ii) the rotatable joint is configured such that any leakage of fluid through the rotatable joint flows first around the seal to the bearing and then through one or more of the leak detection ports to the atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention provides a rotatable joint for use with piping systems, optionally sanitary piping systems such as those used in food processing, pharmaceutical processing, and the like, essentially anything which enters a living body or otherwise requiring a “clean room” manufacturing environment. The rotatable joint offers a structure which can be cleaned in place without disassembling the joint or the piping system in which the joint is embodied. In the joint, a tube fitting fits into a housing, with a seal therebetween, wherein the gap between the fluid-contacting surfaces of the housing and the tube fitting is of limited dimension, and that gap is filled by a circumferential protruding portion of the seal, such that the area of the gap presents only a very small area for potentially housing residual material when the joint is cleaned in place.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with two concentrically disposed corrugated tubes nested one within the other for the flow of two separated fluids through the exchanger. Each tube has convolutions, and fluid openings or passageways exist for directing flow completely through each convolution of each tube for optimum heat exchange. Endplates are provided on the exchanger for assembly, and also for ease of repair and cleaning of the exchanger. The arrangement of the convolutions and openings is such that a cardioid flow pattern is obtained for the maximum efficiency of heat exchange.