Abstract: A valve device includes a relief valve configured to be opened when a pressure in a fluid pressure circuit reaches a predetermined pressure and to relieve a working fluid, a tank passage connected to a tank, a main relief passage connecting the relief valve and the tank passage, and a sub relief passage branching from the main relief passage and connected to the tank passage separately from the main relief passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a secondary liquid container (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular a washing liquid container, with a filler pipe (3) and a filling bleed line (4). The filler pipe (3) and the filling bleed line (4) are connected via one common connection cross section to the secondary liquid container (1) at a single filling and bleeding connection (8) of the latter and are preferably produced in one piece.

Abstract: Determining a biological condition in a mammal by using a cartridge, having fluidic open channels, sealable after receiving a fluid specimen, passing any of the specimen through any of the channels, contacting any reagent stored in a chamber with the specimen in a reaction chamber inducing a reaction and forming a reaction product, a mechanical controller including first urging means applying a force externally onto the chamber to release the reagent, second urging means applying a removable force onto the channels thereby inducing fluidic movement in a first direction in the channels and upon removal of the force causing fluidic movement in an opposite direction, alignment means aligning a reading channel on the cartridge for a detection to take place, an optical reader detecting the reaction product in the reading channel, and a processor receiving data from the optical reader and processing the data to determine the biological condition.

Abstract: A hydraulic system (1) is disclosed comprising a pressure source (2), at least a hydraulic consumer (12, 13), and a pressure booster (16) arranged between the pressure source (2) and the hydraulic consumer (12, 13), wherein inactivating means (17) are provided inactivating or activating said pressure booster (16), said pressure booster (16) and said inactivating means (17) being part of a booster module (11). The operational possibilities of such a hydraulic system (1) should be extended. To this end the booster module (11) is part of a valve block (3), said valve block (3) comprising said booster module (11) and at least one valve module (9, 10) controlling said hydraulic consumer (12, 13).

Abstract: A two-stage control microvalve includes a generally cylindrical housing configured for insertion into a bore in a body of a hydro-mechanical valve system, a pilot microvalve mounted within the housing, and a piloted microvalve mounted within the housing and in fluid communication with the pilot microvalve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a battery (10) filled with a liquid electrolyte (2, 11), wherein the battery (10) comprises a housing (1) having a top side (3) lying at the top in the normal operation of the battery (10) and a bottom side (4) opposite the top side (3), wherein battery electrodes (6) are arranged in the housing (1) and the housing (1) has at least one filling opening (5) for the liquid electrolyte (2, 11), which filling opening is arranged on the top side (3) of the housing (1) or at least above the center of the housing (1), characterized in that liquid electrolyte (2, 11) is fed through the at least one filling opening (5) in such a way that the topmost point (16) of the battery electrodes (6) with respect to the direction of action of gravity is not completely covered with the liquid electrolyte (2, 11) at any time during the process of filling the battery with liquid electrolyte (2, 11).

Abstract: A microfluidic testing cartridge for testing LAL-reactive substances in fluid samples is provided. The cartridge may include at least two (2) testing modules, wherein each testing module includes at least one inlet port for receiving one of the fluid samples, and at least four (4) testing channels in fluid communication with the inlet port. Each of the testing channels may include a metering portion for metering an aliquot of the fluid sample, an analyzing portion, and a mixing portion, wherein a valve is positioned between the metering portion and the analyzing portion to selectively fluidly separate the metering portion from the analyzing portion. The cartridge is insertable into an optical reader which performs optical measurements of the fluid sample within each testing channel during a testing process.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a modular combined electro-hydraulic multi-way valve system using compact two-way cartridge valves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising at least one micro-channel connected at one end to an enclosed area, characterized in that it also comprises an inlet circuit and an outlet circuit connected to the enclosed area and between which the fluid can be discharged without any contact with the micro-channel, wherein at least one of said inlet and outlet circuits can be controlled in such a way that the pressure at the end of the micro-channel can be modified independently from the pressure at the other end of the micro-channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell hybrid vehicle utilizing flooded aqueous battery or batteries operatively coupled to a fuel cell stack, an electric drive motor, and an integrated watering system, the integrated watering system comprising: a heat exchanger configured to extract water from exhaust air from the fuel cell stack; a reservoir, operatively connected to store the water; a sensor, operatively connected to generate a signal based on the flooded aqueous batteries' electrolyte level; a pump, operatively connected to the reservoir and the flooded aqueous batteries; and a system controller, operatively connected to receive and evaluate the signal from the sensor and actuate the pump to move water from the reservoir to the flooded aqueous battery or batteries.

Abstract: A battery watering unit is mounted atop a battery cell, and includes an open-topped vessel having a bottom wall. A side wall arrangement having an opening at the bottom forms a first divider to partition the vessel into a vented portion and an air entrapping portion. A further side wall arrangement having an opening at the top forms a second divider weir and imposes a significant restriction on the flow of electrolyte from the chamber into a pressure-communicating duct within a downpipe via a restricted orifice. The battery cell is topped up via the vessel with electrolyte following a flowpath over the second divider weir and into the downpipe. As the level of electrolyte rises, the lowermost opening in the downpipe is blocked. A further increase in the level of electrolyte forms, via the air-entrapping portion of the vessel, a pressurized air column in the downpipe which is sufficient to prevent further inflow of electrolyte over the second divider weir.

Abstract: A liquid filling device for watering batteries comprises a body having first and second water ports that extend through the body and connect within it to first and second water passages that are independent of one another. A trap is disposed the device at a position below the first and second water passages. A bell chamber is disposed at an outlet of the trap and includes an open end. Water passes through the device via a one of the first or second water passages, through the trap, through the bell chamber and into a battery cell. The device traps a volume of air therein and pressurizes the trapped air, as the electrolyte level in the cell rises to a determined level, to an amount at least equal to the head pressure of water in the device, thereby terminating further water flow into the cell. The device includes a gas vent for releasing gas pressure from the cell to the atmosphere or to collection for further treatment.

Abstract: This invention provides a valveless method and apparatus for high speed switching of liquid flow between intersecting microchannels. Liquid flow is controlled by manipulating external driving pressures. The switch comprises three intersecting microchannels, each having a liquid reservoir at its nonintersecting end for liquid inlet and outlet. It further includes applying a driving pressure to each reservoir switching the driving pressures. The microswitch of this invention operates to establish a liquid flow from a first channel to a second channel by applying a pressure differential between the first and second reservoirs, while simultaneously preventing flow into the third channel by applying a pressure to the third reservoir which equals the pressure at the junction of the three channels. By switching one or more driving pressures, the flow to the second channel can be stopped and the liquid flow redirected to the third channel.

Abstract: A valve for the addition of water to electrochemical accumulator batteries and for maintaining the flow of liquid at a constant level. A membrane in a valve body is biased by means of a spring against a wall arranged concentrically with an inlet orifice, the wall creating an inner chamber of circular cross-section, and an outer chamber which is of annular cross-section and is connected to an outlet connection via a constricted orifice. A spindle at the center of the membrane passes freely through the inlet orifice and exhibits outside the latter a conically enlarged part, the cross-sectional area of which increases in proportion to the distance to the inlet orifice, serving as a valve seat, and which is intended to provide a seal when the spring yields to the membrane.

Abstract: A container for dispensing water into the cells of an electric storage battery and/or simultaneously into several cells, for example, in to all three cells of a 6 volt electric storage battery, from a container having a common water supply, the dispensing occurring through valved fill spouts which may be opened upon moving the container toward the battery with the spouts in the cells of the battery and providing structure whereby water in each cell will stop flowing from the container into the cell when the water rises in the cell to a level sealing the end of the dispensing spout.