Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively controlling an animal or pet's access to food is provided by a platform that moves with relation to a base. A lever is connected between the chassis of the platform and the base, whereby parallel movement of the chassis towards the base causes an arm of the lever to engage a door adapted to prevent access to the food. An opposing force is provided and preferably adjustable by the user so the user can set the weight sufficient to cause movement between the platform and the base. The device can be constructed either to prevent access or to allow access to the food upon movement of the platform.

Abstract: An elevated-beam cow stall assembly has a plurality of tubular cow stall dividers supported on a single horizontal beam. This provides room for the cow to lunge slightly to assist her in lying down or getting up. In an embodiment, stanchions or brackets are formed of vertical channel members affixed onto the beam. The tubular stall dividers each have an upper and a lower horizontal rail, the ends of which are mounted into the upper and lower ends of the channel member. Short upper and lower channel portions are fastened to the main vertical channel members, web-to-web, and the tubular stall dividers from a facing row of stalls are mounted on these. The brackets or stanchions may be mounted to the beam using square U-bolts, or by other techniques such as welding.

Abstract: A cattle handling system comprises a plurality of stall dividers positioned side by side and extending generally parallel to each other. Brackets for mounting the stall dividers are connected directly to a concrete slab and allow for connection of the stall dividers to the brackets in a one man operation without the need for embedding vertical members in the slab. The position of the brackets are located on the concrete slab by use of a mounting jig. The brackets may have a vertical adjustment allowing for an increase or decrease in the working height of the stall dividers.

Abstract: A combined dwelling and play area for cats and the like includes a base member that has an at least one spherical notch formed therein. The notch extends downwardly from a top surface and terminates above a bottom surface thereof. At least one saucer is seated within the at least one notch. A first housing is connected to the base member and has an open front face positioned along a longitudinal side thereof. A support shaft is conjoined to the housing and extends laterally outward therefrom. A plurality of novelty mobiles is tethered to the shaft and elevated above the base member. A vertically oriented scratch pole is coupled to the base member, and a pillow is seated within the housing. The scratch pole is spaced from the shaft and is statically coupled to a top surface of the base member.

Abstract: An additive tank for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the tank including a flexible bag which contains the additive and is connected to a device allowing the flexible bag to be pressurized in order to meter the additive.

Abstract: The relative combustion phasing of a homogenous charge compression ignition engine is controlled by controlling the introduction of ions and free radicals to cylinders in the engine. The engine has an engine housing with at least a first and second cylinder and an intake system that introduces a combustible mixture of air and fuel to the cylinders. A piston is disposed in each of the cylinders and is operable to compress a combustible mixture until the mixture auto ignites, without the introduction of a spark.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio piston (26) and connecting rod (18) assembly for an internal combustion engine (14) includes an eccentric bushing (28) that carries a piston pin bushing (42) and contains a journaled portion (48) held in the rod bore (24) of the connecting rod (18). The eccentric bushing (28) can be selectively rotated between either of two angle adjusted positions to effect a change in the height of the piston (26) relative to the connecting rod (18), and thus change the compression ratio of the assembly. A latch (50) mechanism is actuated by oil jets (90, 91) external to the connecting rod (18). The latch (50) includes bolts (54, 56) with tapered tips that seat in oblong holes (60, 62) in a flange plate (58) to reduce destructive lash. A resilient stop post (80) bears the brunt of stresses associated with stopping the flange plate (58) during switching events to protect the latching bolts (54, 56).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons. All the pistons may be connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder may be connected to a common joint on the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons may be connected to a common joint on the crankshaft with pullrods. Each opposed cylinder may include an integrated scavenge pump for providing positive intake pressure. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through angular positioning of the journals on the crankshaft.

Abstract: A power-generation device comprising at least one cylinder, at least one cylinder head, at least one piston and an output shaft, having a central axis having a fixed angular relationship to the central axis of the cylinder. A swash plate, having a first swash plate surface having a normal axis disposed at a first fixed angle to the central axis of the output shaft, is fixed to the output shaft. At least one connecting rod is connected to at least one piston. At least one follower is secured to the second end of a connecting rod. The first follower surface contacts, and conforms to, the orientation of the first swash plate surface.

Abstract: A crankcase scavenged two-stroke engine (1) comprises a cylinder (15) including scavenging ports (31, 31?) and at least one exhaust port, a piston (13), a connecting rod (17), a crankshaft (18) and a generally sealed crankcase (16). The crankcase inducts a fuel/air mixture and is connected to the scavenging ports (31, 31?) by means of transfer ducts (3, 3?) which, as the piston (13) is travelling from a lower position towards a higher position, are inducting pure air let in from connecting ports (8, 8?) near the scavenging ports (31, 31?) in the cylinder (15). The transfer duct (3, 3?) volume is less than 20% of a volume swept by the piston (13) during an entire revolution of the crankshaft (18). Recesses (10, 10?) are formed in an outer periphery of the piston (13), said recesses (10, 10?) co-operating with the connecting ports (8, 8?) in the cylinder wall for controlling the filling of the transfer ducts (3, 3?) with air.

Abstract: A method for controlling a variable event valvetrain during engine start and stop is presented. According to the method, valve lift and/or timing can be adjusted to reduce the amount of oxygen pumped into an exhaust gas after treatment system. The method can reduce engine emissions, at least during some conditions, since there may be less oxygen available to alter the operating state of the exhaust gas after treatment system.

Abstract: In an engine in which a lift amount of a valve can be changed continuously, an engine valve operating system including a valve lift-changing mechanism is capable of increasing and decreasing the lift amount of the valve without changing an opening angle for the valve and capable of decreasing a tappet clearance in accordance with a decrease in lift amount of the valve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratio of the tappet clearance to the lift amount at a low valve lift from being increased to minimize the influence of the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to reduce the seating speed of the valve at the low valve lift to prevent the generation of a noise. It is also possible to prevent a reduction in performance of the engine at a high valve lift due to the dispersion of the tappet clearance and to decrease the seating noise of the valve at the low valve lift.

Abstract: A rotational cam can be disposed on a camshaft rotationally driven by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A swing cam can be swingable through the rotational cam. The swing cam has a rotational cam abutment portion which contacts the rotational cam and transmits driving force from the rotational cam to the swing cam. An abutment portion displacing mechanism can be provided for displacing the rotational cam abutment portion to change a relative distance between the rotational cam abutment portion and a center axis of the swing shaft. Changing the relative distance allows changing a lift and the like of a valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable camshaft (1) in which an inside shaft (4) is rotatably mounted with respect to an outside shaft (2). To create a relative rotational movement between the two shafts (2, 4), a hydraulic regulating device (3) is provided at one end of the camshaft (1) and a chain/belt wheel (7) that is connected to a drive, in particular to a crankshaft, via a chain or a belt is also provided. It is essential to the invention here that the chain/belt wheel (7) is designed so that it is rotatable in relation to the regulating device (3) for aligning the camshaft (1) with respect to the drive, and after successful alignment, it is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to either the inside shaft (4) or to the outside shaft (2).

Abstract: An air-intake duct through which air taken in from outside is guided to an air flow rate control device configured to control an amount of air flow that is supplied to an engine of a vehicle, including a pipe-shaped portion that is coupled to the flow rate control device and has an air-intake passage formed therein, a chamber portion that is located upstream of the air-intake passage of the pipe-shaped portion in the air flow and has an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the pipe-shaped portion, and an extended pipe-shaped portion configured to extend continuously from the pipe-shaped portion so as to protrude into an inner space of the chamber portion, the extended pipe-shaped portion forming an extended passage connected to the air-intake passage of the pipe-shaped portion.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders configured to produce an engine output, including adjusting a condition of the engine to achieve combustion by each of spark ignition and homogeneous charge compression ignition, and varying the engine output by at least varying a number of cylinders carrying out combustion.

Abstract: A rotary-piston engine includes at least two rotary pistons, which are located in an essentially spherical housing and which rotate in common about a rotational axis running through the center of the housing, each of the rotary pistons comprising two pistons that are interconnected in a fixed manner, lie diametrically opposite the center of the housing and execute pivoting displacements back and forth in opposite directions about a pivoting axis running perpendicular to the rotational axis, during their rotation. To control the pivoting displacements, the engine is provided with loose spherical or ellipsoidal rotational bodies, which are rotatably mounted in the sliding surfaces of the pistons in respective guide sockets that are hemispherical or ellipsoidal and which engage in at least one guide groove that is configured in the housing. The groove has an essentially hemispherical or ellipsoidal profile.

Abstract: An intake manifold system including an intake manifold and a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel injector located between an inlet and an outlet of the intake manifold. The CNG fuel injector includes a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a seat, a closure member, and a nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the inlet and outlet communicate a flow of gaseous fuel regulated by the closure member. The gaseous fuel passes through the seat, which is secured to a rim surface of a retainer portion of the nozzle, and into a flow passage that further communicates the flow of gaseous fuel into one or more flow channels. The orientation of the flow channels within the nozzle greatly affects the discharge pattern and mixing characteristics of the gaseous fuel within an intake manifold. A method of metering gaseous fuel in an intake manifold having a gaseous fuel supply coupled to a fuel injector is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for determining an internal combustion engine phase. Said device comprises an intake zone, an exhaust zone, at least one camshaft which acts on the gas exchanging valves and whereof the phase can be adjusted relative to that of a crankshaft by means of a phase adjusting device, and at least one sensor whereof the measurement signal enables a specific phase to be determined. The phase adjusting device is controlled in accordance with phase adjustment of the camshaft until detection of a gas reflux from the exhaust zone to the intake zone. A correction value is determined based on the associated specific phase and on a specific allocated phase. In the next operating mode, the respectively specific phase is corrected based on the correction value.

Abstract: A butterfly valve device (1), particularly an electrically actuated butterfly valve device (1) e.g. for use in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine is designed in such a way that the effort required for assembling the intake manifold can be reduced while the requirements regarding dimensional tolerances and tightness can be met and the number of parts is minimized. This aim is achieved by the fact that at least one housing part (3) of the butterfly valve device (1) is embodied monolithically along with an intake pipe (15) that is disposed upstream or downstream of the butterfly valve device (1).

Abstract: An engine control system to adaptively adjust the spark timing values in spark timing tables to achieve a mean best torque. The engine control system utilizes a spark timing module that contains spark timing values as a function of one or more operating conditions of an engine. An ignition module can command spark timing based on the timing values in the spark timing module. The ignition module can adjust the spark timing during engine operation within a predetermined operating window. The spark timing values in the spark timing module can be changed based on changes in engine operation as a result of the adjustment to the spark timing. The adjusting of the spark timing and the replacing of the spark timing values in the spark timing module can allow the spark timing in the spark timing module to be optimized.

Abstract: A method for detecting and controlling the position of a valve actuator is provided. The method includes applying a plurality of signals of different duration and/or magnitude to the valve actuator and measuring a signal from the valve actuator. This signal from the valve actuator is indicative of valve movement for each of the plurality of applied signals. The method further includes adjusting an injection signal to the valve actuator based at least from the measured signals from the valve actuator. This disclosure also applies this method to a solenoid actuator of a fuel injector.

Abstract: A fluid system for an engine is disclosed. The fluid system has a manifold with a plurality ports, and a retention device configured to constrain the manifold relative to the engine in only a single translational direction. The fluid system also has a plurality of tubes configured to communicate fluid from the ports with the engine and to constrain the manifold in the remaining translational directions.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine wherein a direction in which a crank shaft spans is a front and rear direction and a widthwise direction of a cylinder head (1) perpendicular to the front and rear direction is a lateral direction, the multi-cylinder engine comprising the cylinder head (1) which has one lateral side to which an intake-air distributing passage wall (2) and has the other lateral side to which an exhaust-gas converging passage wall (3), a common rail (10) being arranged around the cylinder head (1). In this multi-cylinder engine, the common rail (10) is arranged immediately lateral of the intake-air distributing passage wall (2), thereby positioning the intake-air distributing passage wall (2) between the cylinder head (1) and the common rail (10). Preferably, an intake-air inlet pipe (11) is made to stand up at an upper portion of the intake-air distributing passage wall (2) and is provided with an intake-air flange portion (12), which is positioned just above the common rail (10).

Abstract: The present invention refers to a fuel pressure regulator assembly and method for regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel rail at a predetermined pressure. The fuel pressure regulator includes a housing and fuel cover for containing the fuel pressure regulator and submersing the fuel pressure regulator in fuel at all times. A valve element allows excess fuel to exit the fuel pressure regulator and return to the fuel tank for reuse. The fuel component assembly also allows for a method of reducing turbulent fuel flow and for controlling noise and hydrocarbon emissions. The method is achieved by providing a containment assembly that submerges the pressure regulator in fuel for containing and directing fuel flow path.

Abstract: A fuel supply system is provided for delivering fuel from a tank to an engine of a motor vehicle through a fuel line. The system is provided with a pressure relief valve to divert fuel from the fuel line during engine shut down conditions when fuel flow to the engine is not desired. The pressure relief valve has a fuel outlet that is provided with backpressure during engine operation. The backpressure enables the pressure relief valve to be set at a lower level because the backpressure is added to set point pressure to determine opening of the pressure relief valve. Lowering the set point of the pressure relief valve allows fuel to be diverted from the engine at a lower fuel line pressure. In one embodiment backpressure is provided by fluid communication from a jet pump supplying fuel from the fuel tank to a fuel system reservoir.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle, comprising of an engine, an air intake passage coupled to the engine, an exhaust passage coupled to the engine, a fuel vapor storage system fluidly coupled with the intake air passage and the exhaust passage, said fuel vapor storage system configured to store and release fuel vapors, a control system configured to during a first mode, route exhaust gas from the engine to the fuel vapor storage system via at least the exhaust passage, and during a second mode, route at least fresh air to the fuel vapor storage system to release fuel vapors from the fuel vapor storage system before being inducted into the engine via the air intake passage to be burned.

Abstract: The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine increases a fuel injection amount under predetermined conditions, such as after the start of the internal combustion engine, at cold time, at acceleration requiring time, at gear shifting time from a neutral to a D-range, for example. When the fuel injection amount is increased during execution of air/fuel ratio feedback control, the feedback control follows the increase amount, and executes correction corresponding to the increase amount. Then, at the point of time when the correction corresponding to the increase amount is completed, the increase of the fuel injection amount is stopped quickly. Thereby, the increase of the fuel injection amount is not continued unnecessarily, and therefore useless consumption of the fuel can be suppressed. Also, it becomes possible to start other controls early by finishing increase quickly.

Abstract: A leak detecting apparatus includes a canister adsorbing a fuel vapor evaporated in a fuel tank, a measure passage, a pump connected with the canister through the measure passage, and a pressure senor detecting a pressure in the measure passage. The pump depressurizes the measure passage, the canister, and the fuel tank so that a leakage of the fuel vapor is detected. When a blow-by of the fuel vapor is arisen, the pump is stopped to forcibly terminate a depressurization.

Abstract: To operate an internal combustion engine subvolumes of the fluid flowing into an intake duct in each instance during a predetermined time period are determined for each period. Tank purging values of a characteristic quantity are determined for each period. The characteristic quantity is representative of a tank purging fuel mass, which flowed through the tank purging valve in each instance during the predetermined time period. The successive subvolumes are added together, starting from the currently determined subvolume, to give a total subvolume, until the total subvolume is greater than or equal to an effective intake duct volume downstream of the tank purging valve.

Abstract: A fuel system for improved fuel efficiency may include a fuel injector to transmit fuel in droplet form to a reaction region. A reaction rod may be positioned in the reaction region, where the reaction rod may have a convex end and a concave end. The fuel system may be used with engines such as gasoline engines, turbine engines, diesel engines, and steam engines.

Abstract: A forced air induction system for use with a powered vehicle is disclosed as including a centrifugal supercharger supported by the vehicle's engine and a recirculating induction coolant system that cools the supercharger and the compressed induction fluid provided by the supercharger. The induction coolant system operates by providing coolant to the supercharger and to an intercooler of the forced air induction system. The supercharger case includes internal passageways for cooling the transmission and compressor. The forced air induction system further includes spacers and radiant heat shields for rejecting heat transferred conductively and radiantly from the engine.

Abstract: There is provided a supercharger system for supercharging a vehicle engine includes a first lower intake manifold adapter attached to the vehicle engine. The supercharger system further includes a second lower intake manifold adapter attached to the vehicle engine. The first and second lower intake manifold adapters can be attached to respective first and second cylinder heads of the vehicle engine. The supercharger system further includes a plate situated between the first and the second lower intake manifold adapter, where the plate is adapted to receive a supercharger on a bottom surface of the plate. The supercharger provides compressed air that flows through the first and the second lower intake manifold adapter to the vehicle engine. The supercharger system further includes an upper manifold plenum chamber situated over the plate, where the upper manifold plenum chamber receives the compressed air from the supercharger.

Abstract: A method including selectively injecting non-cooled exhaust gas into a primary air intake conduit at a first location; selectively injecting cooled exhaust gas into the primary air intake conduit at a second location; and wherein the second location is downstream from the first location with respect to the direction of gas flow in the primary air intake conduit.

Abstract: A power system including an exhaust producing engine, an exhaust system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The EGR system may include an EGR flowpath and an air intake system. The EGR system may also include an EGR valve configured to regulate the flow of exhaust gases through the EGR flowpath. The power system may also include a monitoring system configured to monitor operating parameters of at least two components of the EGR system. The power system may also include a controller configured to determine, based on the monitored operating parameters, a maximum flowrate value for each of the components. Each of the maximum flowrate values may represent the maximum EGR flowrate for that component. The controller may be configured to control the EGR valve, based on the maximum flowrate values, to result in an EGR flowrate no greater than the lowest of the maximum flowrate values.

Abstract: A method and system controls engine-out exhaust species of a combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The method typically includes various combinations of steps such as controlling combustion parameters in individual cylinders, grouping the individual cylinders into a lean set and a rich set of one or more cylinders, combusting the lean set in a lean combustion parameter condition having a lean air:fuel equivalence ratio, combusting the rich set in a rich combustion parameter condition having a rich air:fuel equivalence ratio, and adjusting the lean set and the rich set of one or more cylinders to generate net-lean combustion. The exhaust species may have elevated concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A portable saw has a depth or blade lowering control and an adjustable stop for selecting the maximum depth of the blade to which the blade can be lowered.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a single stone into a regular dodecahedral ornament or a regular icosahedral ornament, and the ornament manufactured according to the method are provided. The method enables the ornament to be manufactured at low costs with ease without using a complicated, numerically computer-controlled shaping machine. The geometric features determining the faces and ridges of a regular dodecahedron or a regular icosahedron are drawn as cutting base lines on each surface of a cubic workpiece. On a face formed by cutting based on the cutting base lines, new auxiliary cutting lines are sequentially drawn by marking. Then, based on these auxiliary cutting lines and the remaining cutting base lines, a possible cut face is determined, which is in turn cut using a cutting tool. The cutting base lines which are erased after each cutting are complemented by auxiliary cutting lines to find a new possible cut face, which is in turn cut in sequence, thereby manufacturing the regular polyhedral ornament.

Abstract: A silicon die having an orifice layer with plural openings formed therein defines a drop ejection device for use in a handheld inhaler. An underlying control layer defines fluid chambers, each carrying a heat transducer. A control system energizes selected heat transducers to heat fluid in the chambers, vaporizing the fluid, which is ejected through the orifices in small droplets.

Abstract: Methods and systems involve monitoring one or more patient conditions using a monitoring device that is fully or partially implantable. Feedback information is developed based on the monitored conditions and is provided to a device delivering therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing. Components of the monitoring device are disposed within an implantable housing that is separate from the housing of the therapy device. The therapy device may comprise a housing that is implantable or patient-external. The feedback information may be used to adjust the sleep disordered breathing therapy.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for the optimized treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The present invention includes a pressure source configured to provide positive airway pressure to a patient who is resting at home. The pressure source receives control signals from control electronics that define a pressure profile to be delivered to the patient. The control electronics select parameters to define the pressure profile based on factors such as a user selection, information received from a sensor, and/or a prescription.

Abstract: A thin profile PAPR filter blower system and method of use that operates in conjunction with a thin profile filter cartridge. The design allows an unaided user to swap filter cartridges without compromising the safety of the user, even when the user is located in a contaminated environment. Other components of the system include a blower control mechanism, a short conduit for delivering filtered air to a worn face mask, a self-contained power supply, optional attachment features to secure the system to a wearer's body, features for sealably connecting and replacing filter cartridges, and a quick change locking mechanism to secure and release filter cartridges. An optional remotely located control device is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a medicine to a patient via the patient's respiratory system with control and efficiency. A nebulization catheter is positioned in the patient's respiratory system so that a distal end of the nebulization catheter is in the respiratory system and a proximal end is outside the body. In a first aspect, the nebulization catheter may be used in conjunction with an endotracheal tube and preferably is removable from the endotracheal tube. The nebulization catheter conveys medicine in liquid form to the distal end at which location the medicine is nebulized by a pressurized gas or other nebulizing mechanism. The nebulized medicine is conveyed to the patient's lungs by the patient's respiration which may be assisted by a ventilator. By producing the aerosol of the liquid medicine at a location inside the patient's respiratory system, the nebulizing catheter provides for increased efficiency and control of the dosage of medicine being delivered.

Abstract: A method of mounting a hairpiece including a hairpiece strip of flexible sheet material and hairpiece strands secured to the strip using an anchor tube, includes the steps of providing anchor tube; parting wearer hair along a part line; placing the hairpiece strip against the part line; piercing the hairpiece strip to form a first hair port; drawing a first bundle of wearer hair strands outwardly through the first hair port; fitting the first bundle into the anchor tube and advancing the anchor tube along the first bundle into close proximity with the hairpiece strip; looping the first bundle back toward the strip and outward again through the anchor tube; tying the first bundle to the anchor tube; and crimping the anchor tube to engagingly grip the first bundle and thereby secure the hairpiece strip relative to the wearer scalp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mascara brush. The present invention provides a mascara brush, wherein a single brush rod of the mascara brush is formed with both an application brush part with an application portion for applying a mascara liquid to eyelashes and an arrangement brush part with a comb for arranging the eyelashes in order to simultaneously perform the application of the mascara liquid and arrangement of the eyelashes, thereby conveniently imparting the effects of clean, long lash and curling to the eyelashes through a single process, the structure of the mascara brush is simplified so that a manufacturing process can be relatively simplified, and stability in use can be obtained due to the securely coupled state.

Abstract: An motorized stain-removal brush is provided. A method of using motorized stain-removal brush for cleaning inanimate surfaces is also provided. The motorized stain-removal brush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein, a head having a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. Bristle holders are associated with the head. The motor is operatively connected to the bristle holder.

Abstract: A one compartment dishwasher (1) has a dishwashing compartment, in which spray means (4b) for spraying dishwashing liquid and rinsing liquid are arranged, a dishwashing container (5) and a rinsing container (6). The dishwashing container (5) communicates with the dishwashing compartment to receive through a collecting plate (8) liquid that has been discharged by the spray means (4b). The dishwasher has a recirculation rinsing container (7) for recirculation rinsing liquid which during a pre-rinsing phase preceding the rinsing phase is to be supplied to the dishwashing compartment by the spray means (4b). The collecting plate (8) has a first outlet means (9) which is adapted to conduct collected liquid to the recirculation rinsing container (7), and a second outlet means (10, 11) which is adapted to conduct collected liquid to the dishwashing container (5) when the recirculation rinsing container (7) is filled up.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to umbrellas and, more particularly, to an umbrella having a reflective shaft comprising batteries for powering a plurality of illuminating tubes surrounding the shaft. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Methods and devices for maintaining a minimum pressure of calibration gas, such as in an emission testing system or a similar arrangement, using a double latching valve (DLV). The DLV comprises a body having specific internal passages; a two-way normally closed (blocked) shut-off valve; an enlarged low pressure, sensitive air pilot acting upon the two-way valve; an adjustable sequencing latch valve integrated into the supply latch circuit; and a defined orifice incorporated into the supply latch circuit.

Abstract: An irrigation control valve has two movable members that can independently or in combination block the flow of water in a conduit, or be fully retracted of at some point in-between. A moisture sensitive element is arranged to be placed in contact with the soil and expands or retracts dependent on the moisture within soil adjacent the moisture sensitive element. The moisture sensitive element is connected or coupled to a moisture controlled member. Dependent on the moisture of the soil adjacent the moisture sensitive element, the moisture controlled member is moved further into the conduit with increasing moisture in the soil. The moisture controlled member and an electronically controlled member are located adjacent each other at the conduit. The electronically controlled member determines how far the moisture controlled member needs to move in order to fully block the flow of water in the conduit.