Abstract: Valve and related assemblies, systems, and methods may include a self-cleaning feature that may be configured to at least partially displace material from a portion of the valve. Such valves may be utilized in a pressure exchanger.

Abstract: A water level controller for a hydroponic system includes a float shifting upward and downward with the culture solution, a first magnetic attraction element and an inlet valve for feeding in the culture solution. The float includes a seal and a second magnetic attraction element. The seal closes the inlet valve to stop feeding in water when the float ascends to a high water level, and moves way from the inlet valve to start feeding in water at a low water level. The second magnetic attraction element attracts the first magnetic attraction element to keep the seal closing the inlet valve at the high water level and to keep the seal moving away from the inlet valve at the low water level, until the buoyancy of the float is larger than the magnetic attraction between the second and the first magnetic attraction element thereby causing escape from each other.

Abstract: Provided is an accumulator which can surely discharge a collected fluid material in a first-in first-out manner without causing stagnation of the fluid material. The accumulator includes a housing having a temporarily accumulating space configured to change an inner volume thereof in an axial direction. The housing includes a supply port and a discharge port formed at positions spaced apart from each other in the axial direction and communicating with the temporarily accumulating space. The housing also includes a flow passage for uniformly supplying a fluid material into the temporarily accumulating space through the supply port.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a housing with an input port and a first output port. A piston is disposed within a bore of the housing and includes a bypass via disposed transversely within the bore and a bypass tube disposed longitudinally within the bore. The bypass tube is configured to provide a flow path from the bypass via to a second output port on the bypass tube. The piston includes a sleeve disposed concentrically around the bypass tube. An interior chamber is defined by an exterior surface of the sleeve and an interior surface of the bore of the housing. The piston is configurable between a first configuration that provides a first flow path between the input port and the first output port via the interior chamber and a second configuration that provides a second flow path between the input port and the second output port via the bypass tube.

Abstract: A flush control valve core assembly is provided including a valve core body, a back spring accommodated in the valve core body, a valve piece and a valve shaft. The valve piece includes a discharge hole. A portion of the back spring extends as a pin structure, which is able to slidably move in the discharge hole. The pin structure is formed by a free end of the back spring horizontally bending towards the center, and then bending downwards vertically. The back spring of the flush control valve core assembly has a smaller size, which is more reliable and more easily mounted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for producing a multiple phase confectionery article. The apparatus may include a housing with a chamber, the housing having a first inlet and a first outlet, and a second inlet and a second outlet. A rotary valve may be disposed within the chamber, the rotary valve having a first bore and a second bore. The first bore may provide fluid communication between the first inlet and the first outlet when the rotary valve is in a first position, and the second bore may provide fluid communication between the second inlet and the second outlet when the rotary valve is in a second position. The apparatus may include a dispensing member in fluid communication with each outlet to dispense a continuous confectionery article having sequential amounts of a first confectionery material and a second confectionery material. Each confectionery material may have a different visual and/or organoleptic property.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for selectively controlling a flow of fluid through a fluid flow system is disclosed including a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve seat positioned about the fluid outlet and a sealing diaphragm for cooperating with the valve seat for selectively sealing off fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The diaphragm fluidically separates a pressure chamber from a control chamber within the housing. A central control orifice is formed in the diaphragm for fluidically communicating between the control chamber and the fluid outlet, an armature is reciprocally received in the housing for selectively sealing off fluid communication between the control chamber and the fluid outlet with at least two bleed orifices formed on the diaphragm which fluidically communicate between the pressure chamber and the control chamber.

Abstract: A reaming pin (70) is provided in a control orifice (34) by which pressure from a main chamber (26) is communicated to a control chamber (36) so as to provide force to hold a main valve member in the form of a flexible diaphragm (12) against a valve seat (14) and thus prevent fluid from flowing from the main chamber (26) to an outlet orifice (32). The control orifice (34) is displaced from the center of the diaphragm (12), but the reaming pin is so provided as to cause the variation in the lateral spacing between the pin (70) and the control-orifice walls to be less than it would be if the reaming pin were a straight, inflexible member rigidly mounted perpendicularly to the plane of the valve seat (14). In one version, the pin (70) is mounted on the diaphragm (12) itself and thus moves laterally with it. In another version, the pin (70') is pivotably mounted on the valve body so as to permit such motion.

Abstract: A valve for metering a slurry includes a primary flow path for directing a continual flow of slurry through the valve, a valve stem which extends through the primary flow path and engages a passage in a valve seat for metering a portion of slurry passing through the primary flow path out through a second outlet in the valve. A portion of the valve stem which engages the valve seat passage is cut-away and when placed in communication with the primary flow path allows the flushing of accumulated solids through the valve seat passage to avoid persistent plugging of the valve.

Abstract: A metering valve for controlling fluid flow is provided which includes a piston assembly disposed between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and mounted for relative movement within a tubular unit between a first open mode, a second open mode connecting the fluid inlet and outlet and a close mode. The assembly is biased to assume the close mode and assumes the first open mode when a predetermined first external form is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. The assembly assumes the second open mode when the first external force is enhanced by a predetermined second external force applied to the valve actuating element. When the external forces are released, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode upon successively moving through first and second segments of travel relative to the tubular unit. The rate of travel during the first segment is substantially less than the rate of travel during the second segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing off flow in a pipeline for the purpose of repairing the line includes a combination of a restraining rod and inflation bag which can be installed on either or both sides of the intended site of repair; and a flexible sleeve is provided for use in association with the entry ports and any associated valve members for insertion of the restraining rod and bag to prevent the escape of gas from the line during the insertion procedures. Once the line is repaired, the restraining rod and inflation bag can be removed and the entry ports completely sealed off.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm includes a bleed hole for passing fluid from one side of the diaphragm to the other. A debris arrestor comprising a one-piece flexible tag is inserted into the bleed hole by deforming the tag to pass therethrough. The tag after insertion expands to retain itself in the bleed hole.

Abstract: A solar heating method and apparatus adapted to provide long term optimum efficiency in heat transfer of fluid flowing through a pipe assembly is disclosed. The pipe assembly includes a plurality of longitudinal pipe sections which may be connected either in series or parallel and each longitudinal pipe section has a removable cap or plug at one end thereof for inserting a brush mounted on the end of a rod which is rotated by a power tool for cleaning the inside of each of the sections to prevent the accumulation of excessive scale on the inside of the pipe assembly. In the parallel assembly, each pipe section communicates with a manifold, and a plug assembly is adapted to be inserted into each section to control the flow of fluid from the pipe section to the manifold to provide optimum uniform flow of fluid through each pipe section and to protect the pipe section from erosion.