Abstract: A thermal energy transfer unit is used in conjunction with a conventional Freon based heat pump system. One or several thermal energy transfer units are operatively interconnected to one or several Freon based heat pump systems and share a common energy storage tank. Each thermal energy transfer unit converts energy from a compressor and condensing coil of the conventional heat pump system and stores it in the common energy storage tank when electricity is in low demand. Each thermal energy transfer unit retrieves stored energy from the common storage tank and provides air conditioning without the use of the compressor when electricity is in high demand. Each thermal energy transfer unit can be disabled to allow the heat pump units to perform as if they and the energy storage tank were not connected. One or all of the units can be disabled without affecting the performance or purpose of the others.

Abstract: A thermal energy transfer unit is provided for conventional Freon air conditioning. One or several thermal energy transfer units are operatively interconnected to one or several conventional air condition systems and share a common energy storage tank. Each thermal energy transfer unit converts energy from the compressor and condensing coil of the conventional air conditioner and stores it in the common energy storage tank when electricity is in low demand. Each thermal energy transfer unit retrieves stored energy from the common storage tank and provides air conditioning without the use of the compressor when electricity is in high demand. Each thermal energy transfer unit can be disabled to allow the air conditioning unit to perform as if they and the energy storage tank were not connected. One or all of the units can be disabled without affecting the performance or purpose of the others.

Abstract: An improved liquid level controller is shown having a pneumatic pilot assembly located outside the main controller housing. A filter housing is also located outside the main housing. The controller internal components include a torque bar acted upon by a displacement member, a lever and an adjustable connector for interconnecting the torque and lever. A biasing spring contacts the torque bar to balance the force exerted on the torque bar by the liquid displacement member. The pneumatic pilot is actuable by it movement of the lever to provide a selectable output for controlling a desired liquid level within the vessel interior.

Abstract: A glycol regenerating system wherein a pressurized reboiler is introduced to a typical prior art system, the pressurized reboiler being in the glycol stream upstream from the conventional atmospheric reboiler. The pressurized reboiler heats the rich glycol coming from the glycol contactor from about 300° F. to 400° F. and keeps the glycol under pressure from about 10-25 psig. in order to first distill and condense VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which constitute non-condensable hydrocarbons and condensable hydrocarbons such as BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) compounds, the components being conveniently under pressure for transporting the components to a desired location.

Abstract: A liquid level controller is shown having a housing with a rear wall. A shaft has a first end which extends through the rear wall to a liquid displacement member located within a liquid containing vessel. A second end of the shaft joins a pair of oppositely extending arms. Each of the oppositely extending arms is rotationally mounted on the housing generally parallel to the rear wall in a bearing. Vertical forces responsive to changes in liquid level act on the displacement member and are transmitted as a force tending to rotate the oppositely extending arms. A lever pivotally mounted to the housing is interconnected with a torque bar which, in turn, connects to the oppositely extending arms of the shaft. A valving assembly is engaged by the lever to provide an output for controlling liquid level within the vessel. The valve assembly includes a pneumatic pilot with a contact point which is engageable by a pin carried on the lever.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a diaphragm actuator valve with a keeper element for controlling the number of active coils in the actuator spring, thus controlling the spring tension. The apparatus is a diaphragm operated process flow valve, the valve comprising a valve body and an actuator. The valve body is made up of a valve stem, a valve plug, and the valve seat. The actuator is made up of a diaphragm element operatively associated with a valve stem, which in turn engages the valve plug and seat. An actuator spring having a plurality of spring coils is used to apply pressure against the diaphragm and valve plug. The actuator spring has a terminal coil adjacent to the diaphragm, and the diaphragm acts upon the valve stem against or with the pressure of the spring depending on how the spring is configured. A housing with an internal profile surrounds the spring.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter for the performance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the coronary or other arteries is provided. The design of the catheter is such that in the deflated or collapsed configuration it defines a very low profile device allowing its delivery to a broader range of blood vessels within the body and the ability to be placed across very severe blockages in any given vascular space. The catheter in its inflated state has an outer surface that resembles standard angioplasty balloons. It has an interior channel through which a guidewire can pass to enable rapid exchange and per-fusion. Optionally, it can also have a second channel in the interior for perfusion. The channels within the balloon are asymmetrically placed (with respect to the shaft), when viewed in cross section, and are comprised, e.g.

Abstract: A liquid level controller is shown having a housing with a rear wall. A shaft has a first end which extends through the rear wall to a liquid displacement member located within a liquid containing vessel. A second end of the shaft joins a pair of oppositely extending arms. Each of the oppositely extending arms is rotationally mounted on the housing generally parallel to the rear wall in a bearing. Vertical forces responsive to changes in liquid level act on the displacement member and are transmitted as a force tending to rotate the oppositely extending arms. A lever pivotally mounted to the housing is interconnected with a torque bar which, in turn, connects to the oppositely extending arms of the shaft. A valving assembly is engaged by the lever to provide an output for controlling liquid level within the vessel. The valve assembly includes a pneumatic pilot with a contact point which is engageable by a pin carried on the lever.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for controlling tank vapors on a petroleum storage tank of the type having a tank vapor line which leads from the storage tank for transporting relatively low pressure gas vapor to a relatively higher pressure gas sales line. An intensifier piston is installed in the tank vapor line between the storage tank and the gas sales line. The intensifier piston is operated to increase the pressure of the gas vapor exiting the petroleum storage tank to a higher relative discharge pressure, whereby the higher pressure discharge gas can be passed directly to the gas sales line.

Abstract: An autoperfusion dilatation catheter useful in angioplasty comprises a conventional catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon. The catheter is designed such that the balloon, when inflated, has an outer surface relief-structure whereby when this outer surface is fully inflated and exerts pressure on the inner surface of a blood vessel, blood continues to flow between the outer surface of the balloon and the blood vessel surface. Preferably, the relief structure is a channel formed in the outer surface of the balloon by the pressure of a band attached to the catheter and which presses against the outer surface of the balloon.

Abstract: A device and method are shown for controlling tank vapors on a petroleum storage tank of the type having a tank vapor line which runs to a suction scrubber. The scrubber being connected by conduit to a reciprocating compressor which, in turn, is connected to a compressed vapor discharge line for passing compressed vapors to a gas sales line. The reciprocating compressor is operated to draw tank vapor through the suction scrubber and through the reciprocating compressor to discharge vapor through the compressed vapor discharge line. A pneumatic control valve is installed in the tank vapor line for controlling the flow of tank vapors to the suction scrubber. A pilot valve is provided as a part of the pneumatic control valve for controlling the operation of the control valve. The control valve is operated to maintain a vacuum in the tank vapor line between the control valve and the suction scrubber to eliminate the tendency of tank vapor to liquify in the tank vapor line.

Abstract: A flapper actuated pilot valve is shown in which the output pressure from the valve is dependent upon and proportional to the force exerted by the flapper. The valve includes a valve body with upper and lower chambers and an interconnecting gas passage. A spring-biased poppet in the lower chamber has a primary sealing surface for sealing off the lower chamber and a secondary sealing surface which is contacted by a flapper element located in the upper chamber. The flapper element has an interior bore leading to an exhaust port in an upper end of the flapper element which extends through an opening in the valve body. The flapper element is supported within the upper chamber by means of a pressure sensitive diaphragm. The diaphragm area and primary and secondary sealing areas cooperate so that to provide an outlet gas pressure which is proportional to the external force supplied by the flapper upon the flapper element.

Abstract: An improved float actuated pilot valve is shown for use in an oil and gas separator. The pilot valve has a valve body with a gas inlet, a lower chamber communicating with the gas inlet, an upper chamber, a gas outlet, and a gas passage connecting the upper chamber, lower chamber, and gas outlet. An actuator piston is contained within the upper chamber and has a top stem contactable by the flapper arm of a displaceable float located within the separator. The actuator piston also has a bottom stem which is slidably received within a portion of the valve gas passage. A control piston is contained within the lower chamber and has an upper stem in contact with the actuator bottom stem and has a lower stem. The control piston has an upper sealing face which sealingly engages the opening of the gas passage into the lower chamber. A coil spring normally biases the control valve sealing face toward a closed position in contact with the gas passage opening to block the flow of gas from the gas outlet.