Abstract: A tap (10) for a gas cylinder has a non-sealing gate valve (44) positioned between an on/off valve (14) and a pressure reducer (18) of the tap. The gate valve (44) is normally in a position with a normal passage area. When the valve (14) is opened the gate valve (44) is rapidly moved by the pressurized gas towards a position with a limited passage area in order to reduce the shock wave applied to the pressure reducer (18). After the pressures on both sides of the gate valve (44) have been balanced, the gate valve returns to its position with a normal passage area.

Abstract: A tap for a gas or liquefied gas cylinder comprises a tap body having a tap stem and a closure element which are engaged directly in a tap body bore without the intermediary of a gland ring. A fixed seat of the tap is formed on a seat tube separate from the tap body. The tap stem, the closure element and the seat tube being adapted to be removably inserted into the tap body bore from the base end thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tap for a gas or liquefied gas vessel having on a conical threaded base of the tap body a clamping ring adapted to be firmly tightened against a neck of the vessel to maintain a tight engagement of the threads of the base and the neck of the vessel in case of application of a strong impact force to the tap exteriorly of the vessel.

Abstract: A high pressure valve for oxygen service comprises a valve body (10) with a gas passage (12) and a valve seat (18) associated with the gas passage (12). An obturation unit (22) is movable between a first position, wherein it is spaced from the valve seat (18), and a second position, wherein it is seated on the valve seat (18). This obturation unit (22) has a sealing surface (24) that is in sealing contact with the seat surface (20) in said second position of the obturation unit (22). A metallic sealing element (32) and a synthetic sealing element (34) co-operate to form the sealing surface (24). The metallic sealing element (32) forms the sealing surface (24) around said inner border of the seat surface (20), and the synthetic sealing element (34) forms the sealing surface (24) towards the outer border of the seat surface (20).

Abstract: A tap for a gas cylinder is provided with a position indicator comprising a cylindrical skirt disposed about a cylindrical support member. The skirt is coupled to an actuating wheel of the tap for rotation therewith and for displacement axially with respect to the actuating wheel along the longitudinal axis of the tap. The support member is mounted on the tap body and, in normal operation of the tap, it is retained in fixed position with respect to the tap body. The skirt has an internal screw thread engaging an externally threaded portion of the support member. In closed position of the tap the skirt masks a signaling portion of the support member. When the actuating wheel is rotated to open the tap the skirt is displaced in a direction to uncover the signaling portion to indicate the open position of the tap. The signaling portion may be colored, for example in red.

Abstract: A gas tank valve comprises a wheel handle mounted on a control stem. The wheel handle can be displaced on the control stem in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stem between a first position, in which the wheel handle is coupled to the stem, with a view to activating it, and a second, uncoupled position, in which the wheel can turn freely on the stem without causing rotational movement of the stem.

Abstract: A tap for a gas or liquid cylinder is provided that comprises an inverted seat primary valve located in a main portion of a tap body and a secondary check valve spring biased into closed position and located below the lower end of a threaded section of a root end portion of the tap body. Both valves are actuated by an elongated stem extending from the main portion of the tap body into the root end portion. When the tap is fixed to a gas or liquid cylinder, the secondary check valve is located in the cylinder, thereby remaining operative when the tap body is sheared-off at a location where it extends out from a cylinder tap aperture.

Abstract: A linear spring-loaded actuator (10) for a valve (12) comprises a housing (14) and an actuating spindle (16) slidably supported in the housing (14). A cap (22) is associated with the housing (14). Spring means (36), arranged in the housing (14), bear on the cap (22) and the actuating spindle (16), so as to exert a spring force on the actuating spindle (16). A thread (26) on the housing (14) cooperates with a thread (24′, 24″) on the cap (22) for screwing the cap (22) on the housing (14) so as to preload the spring means (36) in the housing (14). At least one lock means (40) is associated with one of the threads (24′, 24″) and is capable of deforming this thread (24, 24″) so as to lock it in any position on the cooperating thread (26).

Abstract: A gas cylinder valve comprises a valve body (10) having a valve chamber (30), an inlet passage (28) and an outlet passage (34) therein. An obturating body (38) is movable relative to a valve seat (40) in the valve body. A valve stem (48) is connected to the obturating body for moving the latter between a closed position, wherein the obturating body sits on the valve seat so as to seal gas discharge through the valve seat, and an open position, wherein the obturating body is spaced from the valve seat so as to allow gas discharge from the gas cylinder through the valve seat. A first diaphragm member (50) forms a flexible wall of the valve chamber. It is mechanically connected to the valve stem, so that a reciprocating movement of the valve stem elastically deforms the first diaphragm member. The inlet passage is in direct pressure communication with the valve chamber, so that the valve chamber is under gas cylinder pressure when the valve is closed.

Abstract: Architectural glass panels for use in a wide variety of building wall systems, such as curtain walls and storefronts, which have improved resistance to damage from earthquake and/or other loads that could cause horizontal racking movements of architectural glass panels within their glazing frames are disclosed. Embodiments include various types of architectural glass panels that have material removed at panel corners and are fabricated with smooth edge contours in the corner regions. A preferred embodiment includes various types of architectural glass panels that have rounded corners with or without finished edges.

Abstract: A linear spring-loaded actuator (10) for a valve (12) comprises a housing (14) and an actuating spindle (16) slidably supported in the housing (14). A cap (22) is associated with the housing (14). Spring means (36), arranged in the housing (14), bear on the cap (22) and the actuating spindle (16), so as to exert a spring force on the actuating spindle (16). A thread (26) on the housing (14) cooperates with a thread (24′, 24″) on the cap (22) for screwing the cap (22) on the housing (14) so as to preload the spring means (36) in the housing (14). At least one lock means (40) is associated with one of the threads (24′, 24″) and is capable of deforming this thread (24, 24″) so as to lock it in any position on the cooperating thread (26).

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting branch (10) comprising a replaceable insert part (20) which is placed in a chamber (22) in a sealed manner. Said chamber is open in the front and is located inside the connecting branch (10). A ring-shaped sealing surface having a rotating sealing bead (16) is arranged on the insert part (20). The bead can be pressed into a front surface of an axial sealing ring (14) made of a soft metal, said surface being situated opposite the connecting branch, when coupling a connecting nipple (12) to the connecting branch (10). The insert part (20) is advantageously sealed in the chamber (22) by a second axial sealing ring (32) whose sealing surfaces also having sealing beads (34, 36). The insert part (20) can be merely replaced when the sealing bead (16) is corroded or damaged. As a result, a difficult subsequent fashioning of the standard seal bead (16) on the connecting branch (10) is unnecessary.

Abstract: The tap comprises a body (10) containing a closing member for opening or closing the passage of the gas between an inlet connection piece (12) and an outlet connection piece (14), and also a control valve (20) for controlling the flow of the gas between the inlet connection piece (12) and the outlet connection piece (14) and comprising a piston (28) sliding non-sealingly in a cylindrical receptacle (26) and carrying on one of its faces a closing seal (30) for closing the passage of the gas, and a spring (40) stressing said piston (28) axially in the closing direction of the passage.

Abstract: The device is designed for a valve with or without a residual-pressure valve element and is intended to fill the bottle and to create a vacuum therein, optionally through the residual-pressure valve element.It includes a rotary axial shaft (56) with an eccentric tip (58) intended to lift the residual-pressure valve element by rotation of the shaft (56). The rotation of the shaft (56) is brought about by a pneumatic piston (72) which is automatically actuated by connecting the device to a vacuum pump.

Abstract: The device is intended for neutralizing a residual-pressure valve, without the need to remove it, for the purpose of filling the bottle. The device comprises a tubular housing (12) designed to be fastened, in the operative position, to a connection piece (2) of the bottle sealingly and comprising at least one first lateral connector (44) for connection to a gas source, a gripper (20) seated axially in the housing (12) and stressed by a spring (38) so as, in the operative position, to penetrate into the connection piece (2) round the rod (8) of the closing member (6), and an actuator for displacing the gripper (20) axially counter to the action of the spring (38) and for simultaneously closing it so as to drive the rod (8) and lift the closing member (6) from its seat.

Abstract: The tap comprises a closure member (22) in a chamber (20) at the intersection of an axial inlet channel (14) and a radial outlet channel (16), and a valve intended to contain a specific residual pressure in the bottle through the action of a spring (44). This valve consists of an annular cylindrical piston (38) fitted in a leaktight manner in the said chamber (20) downstream of the closure member (22) and defining, around an axial operating rod (28), an annular cylindrical passage space (46) in communication, in the open position, with the outlet channel (16) via at least one radial orifice (48) in the said piston (38). A leaktight seal (50) is provided between the base of the said piston (38) and the head of the closure member (22), whereas the piston is stressed by a spring (44) in the direction of the closure member (22) and comprises means for locking it in a position distant from the said closure member ( 22) against the action of its spring (44).

Abstract: The cartridge has an actuating element (20) designed in the form of a non-return valve, with a widened base (22) forming the closing member and a front part equipped with a peripheral gasket (58) which, in the open position and closed position of the non-return valve, is seated sealingly in a narrowed portion (18a) of a chamber (18).

Abstract: The valve has an outlet safety channel (20) closed by a burstable diaphragm (26) wedged between the body (10) of the valve and a plug (24) fitted detachably in the body (10) of the valve, the said plug (24) comprising an axial passage (28) in communication with the outside and filled with a fusible material (32) up to where it comes into contact with the diaphragm (26). A rubber seal (30) resistant to temperatures above the melting point of the fusible material obstructs the axial passage (28) towards the outside.

Abstract: For the filling and for the vacuum emptying of the gas holder, there is a first connection fitting (12) screwable into the valve body (6) of the valve arrangement (4), with sealing-off points at a first location (34) of the valve body (6) of the valve arrangement (4), while, for the normal gas-extraction mode, there is a second connection fitting (50) screwable into the valve body (6), with sealing-off points at a second location (52) of the valve body (6) of the valve arrangement (4), this second location (52) being situated downstream of the said first location (34). The interior of the valve body (6) between the said first location (34) and the second location (52) is connected by means of a bypass channel (54) to the space between the lower part of the shut-off screw body (10) and the upper part of the residual-pressure valve (8).

Abstract: The valve comprises a rotating operating wheel (32) acting on a closing element (20) inside the body (10) of the valve. In order to enable the wheel (32) to be operated easily and at the same time to prevent accidental opening, the wheel (32) is connected to the closing element via a ratchet system (34) with sawteeth which are oriented so as to prevent the closing element (20) from opening without prior axial displacement of the wheel (32) counter to the action of a spring (44).