Abstract: The housing of a distributor valve has a first inlet for admission of a liquid which is maintained at a first pressure, a second inlet for admission of a liquid which is maintained at a higher second pressure, and at least two outlets. The cylindrical valving element has a first passage, one end of which is in permanent communication with the first inlet and the other end of which can be moved into register with a selected outlet in response to rotation of the valving element. The latter has a second passage, one end of which is in permanent communication with the second inlet and the other end of which registers with an outlet other than that which is in register with the other end of the first passage. The second passage and/or the second inlet admits highly pressurized flusing liquid into the clearances between the housing and the valving element to prevent penetration of liquid which is admitted via first inlet.

Abstract: An arrangement for directly transporting manganese nodules obtained in ocean bottom mining, entrained in carrier water, to a ship includes a riser conduit and a submersible motor-pump arrangement located at the ocean bottom and discharging into the riser conduit in continuous operation. The motor-pump arrangement is so designed and operated that the highest possible pressure reduction therein due to changing consistency of the respective flowable medium minus the pressure differential along the characteristic curve of the pump arrangement at most equals, for all operating points along a characteristic control line, the pressure differential between a continuous operating point and the lowest pressure of the corresponding characteristic curve of the riser conduit at the operating limit.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting solid particles from an underground excavation to a level above the ground has a liquid-containing underground vessel which receives solid particles from a conveyor or from lorries and whose lower portion communicates with the receiving ends of two U-shaped pipes having discharge ends connected to a riser. One receiving end is connected with a high-pressure pump for clear liquid when the other receiving end receives a mixture of solid particles and liquid from the vessel, and vice versa. Simultaneously, the discharge end of the pipe which receives clear liquid communicates with the riser to admit the (previously received) mixture of solid particles and liquid while the other discharge end communicates with the intake of a suction pump which delivers clear liquid to the vessel.

Abstract: A gland for compressing packings in the receptacle of a stuffing box has a washer-like stamping made of metallic sheet material and bearing against the exposed side of the outermost packing, and a cupped section whose flange is axially movably secured to the receptacle and whose cylindrical portion is spot welded or riveted to the stamping. The cylindrical portion of the cupped section has reinforcing ribs which extend in parallelism with the shaft or spindle which is engaged by the packing and which may comprise portions extending into the flange substantially radially of the shaft or spindle. The second section is made by deep drawing of corrosion-resistant sheet steel. The inner surfaces of the stamping and second section are out of contact with the shaft or spindle but the periphery of the stamping is in sliding contact with the internal surface of the receptacle.