Abstract: A valve assembly includes a movable valve element arranged to move relative to a valve housing between an open and a closed position. The valve housing includes a drainage body provided with drainage holes arranged to allow fluid to drain from the valve assembly from gaps between the movable valve element and the housing via the drainage holes.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a fluid port having a fluid flow channel defined along an axis, the channel ending in a port opening. The assembly includes: a closure cap extending in a first plane arranged to seat across, and close the port opening, in use, in a closed state, a guide arm extending from the cap in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane; a lifting guide to accommodate and retain the guide arm for movement of the guide arm in the second plane as the cap moves axially away from the opening; and a pivot mechanism between the guide arm and the lifting guide about which the cap is able to pivot relative to the lifting guide to an open position.

Abstract: A demister heater includes a tubular heater body comprising a spirally wound electrical conductor embedded in a tube of high thermally conductive resin. The tubular body is sized to fit within a demister tube through which air passes.

Abstract: A waste tank assembly includes: a tank having a top end configured to be connected, in use, to receive waste via one or more ports, and an open bottom end, the tank defining an interior; a waste cartridge removably received in the tank interior and having one or more ports configured to be fluidly connected to the one or more ports of the tank to receive the waste in an interior volume of the cartridge; and a closure part for securing the waste cartridge inside the tank interior, the closure part openable to allow removal of the cartridge from the tank interior via the open end.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a fluid flow path extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The assembly also includes: a moveable valve member located in the fluid flow path intermediate the inlet end and the outlet end, the moveable valve member being movable relative to the valve body between an open position to allow fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end along the fluid flow path through the open moveable valve member and a closed position to prevent fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end along the fluid flow path; and one or more fluid level tensometer sensors mounted to the moveable valve member and configured to deform to generate an electrical signal in response to a predetermined mass or pressure of fluid acting on the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a ball valve. The sealing arrangement includes a hydraulic fluid injection port configured to receive pressurised fluid from a pressurised fluid source, and a plurality of fluid channels connected to the injection port and configured to be arranged, in use, around the interior of the ball valve to direct the pressurised fluid to a gap between a seal of the ball valve and a housing of the ball valve to exert a force on the seal towards a ball of the ball valve.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a first connector part and a second connector part, each connector part defining a fluid flow passage therethrough configured to together define a fluid flow conduit when the first and second parts are connected together. The connector assembly also includes an extension part mounted around one of the first and the second connector parts. The extension part is arranged to move relative to the connector part around which it is mounted to extend across an interface area between the first connector part and the second connector part and to bridge the first and second connector parts when the first and second connector parts are brought to meet each other to define the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A component comprising a first concentric element and a second concentric element is disclosed. The first and second concentric elements are positioned relative to each other in the positions in which they are to be bonded together. The first concentric element comprises a first bonding portion (48) with a first bonding face (50), and the second concentric element comprises a second bonding portion (58) with a second bonding face (60), a first passage (62), and a second passage (64). The second bonding portion (58) partially surrounds the first bonding portion (48) and the first and second bonding faces (50, 60) face each other. The first and second bonding faces (50, 60) comprise a first and second void face (56, 61) respectively.

Abstract: A vane for use in a rotary vane pump. The vane has a length L extending between a first edge of the vane and a second edge of the vane and a width W extending perpendicular to said length, the width extending between a third edge of said vane and a fourth edge of the vane, and further comprising a channel extending through said vane and provided at a position along said length L of said vane. The channel maybe positioned away from said first and second edges such that said vane has a constant length L along its width. The width of the channel may vary in shape between first and second points along the length of the vane. The channel may have a triangular shape, a rectangular shape or a circular shape. A method for detecting the decrease in length of the vane is also described.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes three discrete components assembled in a stack. The three discrete components are: a printed circuit board, pcb, on which are provided electrically conductive tracks which generate heat when electric power is applied to the tracks, the pcb having a first major surface and a second, opposite, major surface and a periphery joining the first and second major surfaces; a heat reflective plate; and a heater assembly housing. The heat reflective plate is sandwiched between the pcb and the heater assembly housing and where the heater assembly housing is configured to fit over the heat reflective plate and the periphery of the pcb to form a closely fitted stack of the three discrete components.

Abstract: A heating arrangement for a valve includes a thermally conductive heating wire embedded within a body of the valve. Also provided is a valve body formed by additive manufacture and having a thermally conductive heating wire embedded therein to which electric power is applied to cause the thermally conductive heating wire to generate heat in the valve body. A method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes a ball element arranged to be rotated by rotation of a shaft in engagement with the ball element, the ball element having first and second flow channels defined therethrough, a first inlet port at a first end of said first flow channel, a first outlet port at a second end of the first channel, a second inlet port at a first end of the second flow channel and a second outlet port at a second end of the second channel.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor assembly includes a tubular housing arranged to be fitted into a fluid flow path of a system between a fluid line an inlet to a valve (1?), wherein the tubular housing defines an axial flow channel extending through the tubular housing from a first end to a second end, along an axis A, for fluid to flow from the fluid line of the system to the valve inlet, the tubular housing further comprising a sensor channel extending from the second end of the flow channel towards the first end substantially parallel to, and in fluid communication with the axial flow channel, wherein the assembly further comprises first and second sensor parts located in the sensor channel that communicate with each other.

Abstract: A ball shaft includes a ball shaft head part having a top surface and a bottom surface, an axis extending through the top and the bottom surfaces, a passage extending through the head part the passage opening, at a first end, at a first side of the head part and at a second end at an opposite second side of the head part, wherein the head part has flattened outer surfaces at each of the first and second sides and at sides between the first and second sides, the flattened outer surfaces separated by rounded corners.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor assembly includes a first pipe component defining a flow path for the fluid and configured to be attached to a valve to control flow of the fluid from the first pipe component, and a fluid level sensor arranged in or on the first pipe component to detect a level of fluid in the first pipe component and to generate a command signal for operation of the valve according to the level detected. The assembly also includes an insert fitted to an end of the first pipe component and extending axially from the end to be fitted to an inlet of the valve, in use, wherein the insert is configured to secure the first pipe component against rotation relative to the valve inlet when the insert is fitted to the inlet.

Abstract: A seal for a fluid level sensor assembly mounted in a pipe includes a seal body arranged to be sealingly fitted around a sensor, the seal body having a first side defining a first lip and a second side defining a second lip, the second lip being thinner than the first lip, and a spring mounted to the seal and arranged to move the seal body along the sensor, when mounted around the sensor, such that the second lip provides a seal around the sensor and the first lip wipes the sensor to remove debris thereon.

Abstract: A multi-way valve assembly includes a valve housing having a plurality of fluid ports, a first valve member having one or more first flow channels defined therethrough and a first shaft, rotation of which causes rotation of the first valve member relative to the housing, the first valve member defining a cavity, and a second valve member arranged within the cavity of the first valve member and having one or more second flow channels defined therethrough and a second shaft. Rotation of the second shaft causes rotation of the second valve member relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a locking mechanism configured to, in a locked position, cause the second valve member to rotate with the first valve member relative to the housing and, in an unlocked position, to permit the second valve member to rotate relative to the first valve member and the housing.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a fluid port having a fluid flow channel defined along an axis, the channel ending in a port opening. The assembly includes: a closure cap extending in a first plane arranged to seat across, and close the port opening, in use, in a closed state, a guide arm extending from the cap in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane; a lifting guide to accommodate and retain the guide arm for movement of the guide arm in the second plane as the cap moves axially away from the opening; and a pivot mechanism between the guide arm and the lifting guide about which the cap is able to pivot relative to the lifting guide to an open position.

Abstract: A diaphragm for separating fluid chambers in a fluid assembly. The diaphragm includes a sheet of flexible material having a central region and a peripheral Region, and wherein the peripheral region is provided with a larger dimension peripheral feature extending axially from the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: A vane for use in a rotary vane pump. The vane has a length L extending between a first edge of the vane and a second edge of the vane and a width W extending perpendicular to said length, the width extending between a third edge of said vane and a fourth edge of the vane, and further comprising a channel extending through said vane and provided at a position along said length L of said vane. The channel maybe positioned away from said first and second edges such that said vane has a constant length L along its width. The width of the channel may vary in shape between first and second points along the length of the vane. The channel may have a triangular shape, a rectangular shape or a circular shape. A method for detecting the decrease in length of the vane is also described.