Abstract: A pressure independent control valve contains a valve body with an inlet, an outlet and a flow channel coupling the inlet to the outlet. A hollow piston is arranged in a seat in the valve body, such that the hollow piston is configured to move. The hollow piston has an enclosure, such that the pressure independent control valve maintains different fluid pressures in the flow channel and inside the hollow piston. The pressure independent control valve contains a chamber and a biasing member to urge the hollow piston towards the chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet and with the inside of the hollow piston, such that the valve applies substantially the same pressure inside the annular channel, at the inlet and inside the hollow piston.

Abstract: A pressure independent control valve contains a valve body with an inlet, an outlet and a flow channel coupling the inlet to the outlet. A hollow piston is arranged in a seat in the valve body, such that the hollow piston is configured to move. The hollow piston has an enclosure, such that the pressure independent control valve maintains different fluid pressures in the flow channel and inside the hollow piston. The pressure independent control valve contains a chamber and a biasing member to urge the hollow piston towards the chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet and with the inside of the hollow piston, such that the valve applies substantially the same pressure inside the annular channel, at the inlet and inside the hollow piston.

Abstract: An actuator having a housing, a connecting element, a shape memory element which changes shape when heated, a heating element and a heat conducting element. The shape memory element is configured in substantially elongate form and is arranged in the housing such that it displaces the connecting element when it changes shape. The heating element, when activated, heats the shape memory element. The heat conducting element is in contact with the shape memory element at least some of the time, at a contact surface which is larger than 0.1 times the total surface of the shape memory element. While in contact with the shape memory element, the heat conducting element bears at least partially displaceably against the latter and has a free surface which is not in contact with either the shape memory element or the heating element that is at least 1.6 times larger than its contact surface.

Abstract: A flow regulating valve combines two throttle locations in a valve housing. One throttle location is always so adjusted that a constant differential pressure prevails across the other throttle location. Therefore at that second throttle location the through flow depends only on the degree of opening and not on the differential pressure. A cone of the second throttle location comprises at least two individual portions which are displaceable relative to each other and by the spacing of which the effective cross-section of the throttle location is variable. That provides a through-flow limiting effect which is not in the form of a stroke movement limitation. Therefore the full adjusting range is available for adjusting the flow. This flow regulating valve is suitable for controlling flows of liquids in heating solutions.

Abstract: A programmable regulating device, preferably for the regulation of a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, is disclosed. The inventive device illustratively comprises a microprocessor, a program and data memory and a service panel which includes a label, selection keys, edit key and display. The contents of the label are variable. A plurality of service cards are assigned to the service panel. Each service card is provided with a number of display lines equal to the number of lines in the label and supports a machine-readable encoding field comprising one or more markings. The service panel is provided with a reading unit by means of which all existing markings can be read. The encoding field of each service card is differentiated by the number and/or varying arrangement of markings, so that the microprocessor is informed through the reading unit and the encoding field as to which service card has been assigned to the reading unit.