Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a cap comprising: a plane defining an opening and a slidable closure adapted and configured to seal the opening. The slidable closure includes: a projection extending above an external surface of the plane and a flexible seal coupled to the projection and located on an internal surface of the plane opposite the projection. The flexible seal includes: a connection portion coupled to the projection; a sealing portion having a profile that is complementary to a shape of the opening; and a flexible hinge adapted and configured to bias the sealing portion against the internal surface. Another aspect of the invention provides a container assembly including: a container and the cap as described herein coupled to the container.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for drying a hydration system comprises an airflow apparatus comprising a case, a heating element, a fan, a cap for a hydration bladder cap comprising a fluidic connection to bladder and air flow apparatus, a conduit connected to cap and airflow apparatus, conduit further comprising an exhaust vent, a clip connected to a mouthpiece associated with bladder wherein airflow apparatus produces airflow through bladder and mouthpiece, and a rack configured to hold hydration bladder while airflow flow through bladder and mouthpiece.

Abstract: A line marking apparatus, for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, includes a wheeled chassis and a line marking head for dispensing line marking material. The marking head is supported on the chassis for lateral movement relative thereto, which movement is controlled by a controller that includes a detector which is movable with the marking head and is positioned and directed to detect such a beam of radiation, the marking head being movable together with the detector in response to a detected beam. Lateral movement of the marking head is thereby controlled such that the head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the line direction.

Abstract: A gas communication device comprises a main body, at least one gas delivery pipe and a cover. The gas delivery pipe is at least partially disposed in the main body and forms a gas outlet at one end; the cover is movably pivoted to the main body and comprises at least one sealing structure for correspondingly sealing the gas outlet, wherein the cover is movable along an axis relative to the main body and away from the gas outlet so as to break the seal of the sealing structure on the gas outlet such that the cover is rotatable relative to the main body to expose the gas outlet.

Abstract: A manually operable spreader which can be moved from behind on a surface is especially suitable for distributing salt and other particulate materials which tend to conglomerate or clump in a hopper of the spreader. Wheels are mounted to a frame also support the hopper. A horizontal drive shaft between the wheels is coupled to rotate a vertical shaft. A distributor below the hopper rotates with vertical shaft rotation to distribute particulate material which drop via openings in the bottom of the hopper. The vertical shaft extends via a hole in bottom of hopper and carries at the top thereof an auger having a helical vane. The auger is rotatable with the vertical shaft as the spreader is moved on its wheels. The auger circulates the particulate material in the hopper as the spreader moves while directing material in the hopper towards the bottom thereof.

Abstract: Two detectors mounted on footprints (12) and (13) of a plate (5) can be permuted and placed in turn in front of a measuring location set in a plate (1) connected to the plate (5). Concentric sealing joints (24, 25) bound with the plates (1, 5) a closed cavity wherein a vacuum should be created to perform measurements. The joints enable the plate to be mutually moved without sealing loss. The invention is however applicable to any device implying a relative displacement of two parts in front of each other, a stronger pressure existing outside of the parts than between them, which tends to collapse them against each other.

Abstract: A dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container having a tapping column fixed to and extending normal to the top surface of a top plate with an opening and forming an elbow is disclosed. The column has an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head at the elbow. The tapping pinch valve has jaws for receiving in pinching relationship the outlet end of the dispensing line and controlling flow of liquid by varying the distance between the jaws from a closed to an open position. A flexible dispensing line, having inlet and outlet ends, extends in the channel. The outlet end engages the pinch valve, and the inlet end connects to a keg. A device for opening the channel includes the pinch valve so a distance larger than the open position separates the jaws.

Abstract: A pinch valve for use with a liquid dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tube pinching device configured to translate between an open position and a closed position and an electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a valve opening force to the tube pinching device, The pinching device is coupled to a spring device configured to apply a valve closing force to the tube pinching device. The pinch valve is additionally comprised of an operator handle facilitating manual opening of the tube pinching device. The pinching device is rotatable in the valve body. The valve body has a front surface heat sink against which a tube pinching force is applied by a tube pinching device and a rear surface with a concavity configured to receive a tube carrying a heat transferring fluid. The tube pinching device can be operated electrically or manually.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a dispenser for a container. The dispenser includes a base portion couplable to the container. The base portion has a port in it through which fluid exiting the container passes when the base portion is coupled to the container. The base portion also includes an external flexible fluid conduit that is fluidly coupled to the port. The external fluid conduit is located outside of the container when the base portion is coupled to the container. A squeezing element also forms part of the dispenser. The squeezing element is coupled to the base portion and movable between a closed position in which the squeezing element squeezes the external fluid conduit shut to prevent the fluid from flowing through it and an opened position in which the squeezing element is positioned such that the fluid can flow through the external fluid conduit.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the liquid dispenser. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing a liquid storage container. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a removable liquid transport assembly removable from the main housing having a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a riser tube, a reservoir, a reservoir dip tube, a pump head, a pinch tube and a dispensing nozzle that are removable as a single unit from the main housing. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a single self-priming pump. Preferably, the valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve that act in concert to control the flow of liquid between the liquid storage container and the reservoir.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser has containers, sized, shaped and arranged to enclose different volumes but each of the containers has a top with a refill opening that is substantially the same as the top and openings of the other containers. The containers are provided with curving transition sections that taper the sides of the container to increase or decrease the width of the container to provide a smaller or large top sizes as needed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus includes a liquid crystal material container filled with liquid crystal material a gas supply at an upper portion of the liquid crystal material container for pressurizing the liquid crystal material with gas, a needle seat positioned at a lower portion of the liquid crystal material container and having a discharge hole for discharging the liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal material container, a needle having first and second ends positioned within the liquid crystal material container to be movable along upward and downward directions, a first spring positioned at a first end of the needle, a solenoid coil positioned at the upper portion of the liquid crystal material container, a magnetic bar positioned adjacent to the first end of the needle within the solenoid coil for moving the needle along the upward direction by generating a magnetic force when power is applied to the solenoid coil, a second spring positioned around the magnetic bar within the magnetic

Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus and a method of controlling a liquid crystal dropping amount are provided to drop liquid crystal onto a substrate corresponding to at least one unit panel area. In one aspect, the apparatus uses a liquid crystal dispensing unit to dispense liquid crystal. The liquid crystal dispensing unit includes a nozzle having a discharging hole through which the liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate, a needle moveable between a down position in which the needle blocks the discharging hole and an up position in which the needle is separated from the discharging hole, a spring member to bias the needle toward the down position, and a solenoid coil to provide a magnetic force to move the needle to the up position. The dropping amount liquid crystal dispensing unit may be electrically controlled by controlling the solenoid coil or by controlling a gas pressure used to drive the liquid crystal through the discharging hole.

Abstract: A self-closing cap comprising a base having one or more holes and a lid movably mounted about the base. The lid has one or more holes, and is capable of occupying a first open position and a second closed position. In the first open position, the holes of the base align with the holes of the lid. In the second closed position, the holes of the base do not align with the holes of the lid. A spring means is provided between the base and the lid in order to automatically place the lid in the closed position. Further, the underside of the lid is provided with one or more protrusions which seal the holes of the base when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: A dispensing container, such as a double-barrel cartridge used in dispensing dental material, matingly receives a sliding cap that maintains a seal between material in the barrels and the atmosphere. The cap includes a body and a gasket within the body, and the cap also includes a cam portion that shifts the body slightly away from an outlet of the container as the cap is moved toward a closed position to seal the container. Once the cap is in a fully closed position, the cam portion enables the body to shift somewhat closer to the container outlet in order to increase the compression of the gasket between the body and the outlet. Optionally, an orienting section is provided for insuring that the cap is coupled to the container in only one certain orientation, so that the likelihood of cross-contamination of material within the barrels due to residual material on the gasket is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cap having a plurality of readily assembled parts that provide a passage for a beverage or liquid through the cap from the pitcher to the exterior thereof. The cap has a cap body made up of top and bottom portions that are formed so as to snap fit together. The cap body defines an interior cavity or passage from an entry defined by the bottom portion to an exit cooperatively defined by the top and bottom portions. The entry is selectively opened and closed to allow fluid or liquid passage through the cap by a valve that is biased into a closed position. In a preferred embodiment the valve is attached to a plunger having a cylindrical configuration and including a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending shape memory retentive legs that are confined within a receiving collar attached to the bottom portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece plastic cap, the lower part of which, which can be attached to a container opening, is provided with a top wall in which a passage opening is provided, the lower side of which is joined via a dip tube to the container. The top wall is, furthermore, provided with a hole diaphragm which, in the closed position of the upper part, is closed by a sealing spike protruding from its lower side and, in the open position of the upper part, interacts with a valve spike projecting from its lower side which is dimensioned shorter relative to the sealing spike so that, when pressure is exerted on the container, the ventilation valve is closed. A pre-tensioning device of the upper part interacts with the lower part so that, in the closed position of the upper part, a discharge channel in the upper part is pressed with elastic pre-tension sealingly against the top wall and, in the open position of the upper part, sealingly against the edge of the passage opening.

Abstract: A particulate matter dispenser is operated by a push button to move a sliding clamp through a linkage into and out of engagement with an elastic tube at the bottom of a reservoir holding the particulate matter. Coil springs normally bias the sliding clamp into engagement with a fixed clamp or the like so as to hold the tube in a closed position to prevent discharge of material.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein several gas resupply valves for replenishment of lost gas in gas lasers in general and argon ion lasers in particular. The first embodiment uses a valve which controls flow of gas into a metering volume. The metering volume has an aperture therein which is microscopically small and which has a diffusion constant for gas moving through the aperture which is less than the time the valve is held open. The second embodiment uses the same general structure, but separates the soft sealing member of the valve from the solenoid core which moves to open and close the valve. The soft sealing member is attached to the valve body and supported above a valve seat surrounding the opening of the metering volume. The third embodiment uses a thin diaphragm which overlies a flat surface of the valve body in which are formed an input port and an output port. A solenoid applies pressure against the diaphragm to cause it to flatten against the flat surface thereby sealing the valve.

Abstract: A bottom unheading device adapted for unheading vertical vessels such as coking drums. The unheading device includes a cover unit adapted for attachment to a lower flange of a coking drum and which is fastened by a plurality of swing bolts which are disconnected by remotely operated detensioning equipment, and a frame which can lower the cover unit and a carriage which moves it laterally to one side. A chute attached to the frame can be raised into engagement with the coking drum lower flange for removal of coke from the drum. Following such coke removal, the chute is lowered and the cover unit is moved laterally and remotely reconnected to the coking drum lower flange. The invention also discloses a method for remotely operating the unheading device.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprising a metering cylinder having a piston therein, a vertical filling nozzle having an opening at its lower end and forcibly chargeable with a liquid from the metering cylinder by the operation of the piston, a damper for opening and closing the opening of the filling nozzle, a spring biasing the damper so as to hold the damper closed against the gravity acting on the liquid filling the nozzle while the damper is closed with the charging discontinued although permitting the damper to be opened with the pressure of the liquid forcibly charged into the filling nozzle from the metering cylinder, and a closing device adapted to act on the damper in its open state to close the damper when the charging of the liquid is discontinued and adapted to be brought out of action transmitting relation with the damper so as to permit the spring only to hold the damper closed before the charging of the liquid is subsequently started.

Abstract: A two-chamber viscous product dispenser has an internal valve element which includes integral inlet and outlet check valves for the valving of product into the pump chamber and from the pump chamber through a stationary spout. The outlet valve may be in the form of a flap valve having resilient webs for spring biasing the valve to its closed position. Otherwise, the outlet valve may be plate like capable of deforming when opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for regulating the flow of a fluid from a supply conduit at one end of an elongated housing to a nozzle having one or more orifices extending longitudinally of the housing has a partition which is installed in and divides the interior of the housing into a first compartment receiving fluid from the conduit and a second compartment communicating with the orifice or orifices of the nozzle. Two marginal portions of the partition are adjacent the bottom wall of the housing at opposite sides of the nozzle and define with the bottom wall a number of paths in the form of passages and/or channels for the flow of fluid from the first compartment into the second compartment. The inclination of the marginal portions of the partition relative to the bottom wall of the housing is adjustable by hand or by one or more motors to thereby select the rate of fluid flow along the respective path or paths.

Abstract: A nozzle with at least one opening that can be closed off, and especially a nozzle for packaging machines, including those that handle liquid products, with a valve body in the form of a piston that moves back and forth between a retracted position wherein it leaves the opening free and an advanced position wherein it completely closes off the opening. The object is to provide a nozzle with highly effective product-trimming action and continued piston operation even during the sterilization process. A guide for the piston has at least two positioning surfaces that operate in conjunction with two essentially opposite surfaces on the piston and precisely position it in the nozzle opening. The piston is axially divided or slit. Tensioning components force the halves of the piston apart and tight against the walls of the nozzle opening.

Abstract: A tensioning device for a sliding gate on the nozzle of a metallurgical vessel includes for the spring mounting of the tensioning device between a gate housing and a housing cover by means of clamping units that connect such two members and that are hinged, to the housing and cross under housing cover 30 bending springs as hinging shafts for clamping units. This results in a simple construction of the tensioning device due to the two modes of operation of the bending springs.

Abstract: A lid with an adjustable "guillotine"-type pouring arrangement, which is especially adapted for mounting on the primary color or paint containers intended for car bodywork and which are employed in stirring machines. In this lid, a flat spring which is fastened with a rearward portion to the lid, in front of a stirring shaft of the stirring machine includes at its front side, a flange pressing against a sliding element and, at a distance from the fastening location, two vertically flanges arranged on either side of and proximate each of the longitudinal edges of the sliding element. Two helical coil springs are each connected, at the one end, to each of the flanges on the flat spring and, at the other end, to the rearward portion of the sliding element.

Abstract: A self-adjusting refractory joint which finds principle utility in teeming valves in which a pair of overlapping collars are provided on a plate and on the pour tube, the collar on the plate extending downwardly in surrounding relationship to the teeming orifice, and the collar on the pour tube extending from its upper portion in overlapping interfering relationship with the collar on the plate. Ideally the tangent of the angle (theta) of undercut between the respective collars where they overlap is the ratio of the height of the collar of the inner member divided by the radius of the outside diameter (O.D.). In the precast environment, an independent preformed retainer is used to define the extension from the bottom of the plate. In both instances a holder surrounds the extension from the bottom of the plate to essentially the bottom of the plate collar forming member.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle system attached to the outlet of a metallurgical vessel to serve as a gate valve for controlling the rate of pouring of molten metal. A slide plate brick and bottom plate brick, each having a nozzle bore, are relatively rotated in a surface-to-surface contact condition to adjust the degree of communication opening of the nozzle bores. Each of the plate bricks is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof with a flat portion for receiving the driving force for the relative reaction force at each of four locations arranged at angular intervals of 90.degree..

Abstract: A sliding closure unit for controlling the discharge of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel includes a stationary refractory plate, a stationary housing assembly for mounting the stationary refractory plate on the metallurgical vessel, a movable refractory plate, the stationary and movable refractory plates having complementary, abutting relative sliding surfaces, and a movable frame mounting the movable refractory plate for movement with respect to the stationary refractory plate. The movable frame and movable refractory plate are urged toward the stationary refractory plate by levers mounted in the housing assembly for pivotal movement about axles fixed to the housing assembly and extending transverse to the direction of movement of the movable frame and movable refractory plate. Springs are mounted in the housing assembly to urge the levers to pivot about the respective axles toward the movable frame to thereby urge the movable frame and movable refractory plate toward the stationary refractory plate.

Abstract: A sliding closure unit includes a stationary refractory plate to be mounted on a metallurgical vessel, a movable refractory plate, a slide frame supporting the movable refractory plate and movable in a direction of movement between an open position with discharge openings in the movable and stationary refractory plates in alignment and a closed position with the discharge openings out of alignment, and tensioning devices on opposite sides of the movable refractory plates for pressing the movable refractory plate against the stationary refractory plate. The force of the tensioning structures is distributed evenly along the opposite sides of the movable refractory plate by strip members mounted in the slide frame for movement relative in the direction of the thickness thereof. A respective strip member is positioned on each opposite side of the movable refractory plate and is positioned between the tensioning structure on such side and the bottom surface of the movable refractory plate on such side.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing casting nozzles such as immersion nozzles easily, quickly, and reliably.

Abstract: The actuating lever of the dispenser has an integral valve flap which covers the discharge outlet of the dispenser when the lever is in its standby position, and in order to augment the sealing capabilities of such flap during shipment or storage prior to customer acquisition and use of the dispenser, a disposable sealing tape is provided which is factory-installed so as to overlie the outlet between the latter and the covering valve flap. The tape is provided with a layer of adhesive to promote retention of the tape in sealing relationship with the outlet, and a tab portion of the tape extends from the outlet and is adhered to adjacent portions of the dispenser in such a manner as to facilitate grasping and removal by the user.

Abstract: A sliding closure unit includes an upper stationary refractory plate to be mounted on a metallurgical vessel, a movable refractory plate sealed against the upper stationary refractory plate, a slide unit for moving the movable refractory plate in a direction of movement between an open position with discharge openings in the movable refractory plate and the upper stationary refractory plate in alignment and a closed position with the discharge openings out of alignment, a lower stationary refractory plate mounted beneath the movable refractory plate, and tensioning devices for pressing the lower stationary refractory plate against the movable refractory plate. Guide members are provided for relieving the pressure of the tensioning devices on the lower stationary refractory plate upon movement of the movable refractory plate to the closed position, thereby enabling replacement of the lower stationary refractory plate. The guide members are provided on the slide unit and extend in the direction of movement.

Abstract: A tap primarily intended for `bag-in-a-box` constructions including a plunger (80) which is in a barrel (52). A knob (68) is fast with the plunger (80) and is arranged so that it and the plunger perform a spiral movement when it is rotated. The tap includes a seat (66) with which a sealing portion (86) of the plunger (80) co-operates. The inlet to the barrel is through one end thereof and there is an outlet port (64) in the wall thereof. The part of the plunger (80) outwardly of the sealing portion (86) constitutes a wiping edge which moves across the port (64) during opening and closing movement of the plunger (80). A piercing element (94) is provided which, the first time the tap is opened and closed, is forced through the hermetically sealed pouch (P). The tap is leak-proof, does not permit air to enter the pouch P in normal operation and, because of the wiping action provided, does not drip.

Abstract: A tubular dispenser container having a dispensing passageway through a flat end seal provided with a valve formed of confronting, distended side wall portions having differing curvature which portions are flexed to one side of the end seal and to the other side to open and to close the passageway.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle engageable with the pouring nozzle of a ladle that contains molten metal for transporting or pouring purposes, or in the flow passage of a converter so as to allow the outflow of molten metal. The rotary nozzle includes a fixed plate brick, a fixed plate supporting frame, a rotor mounted on the outer periphery of the supporting frame by way of a bearing, and a sliding plate supporting frame holding a sliding plate brick secured to the rotor by means of a hinge so that it can be hingedly opened and closed. Hooks and spring means are carried by the sliding plate supporting frame to thereby prevent lowering of the sliding plate brick and to securely fasten the sliding plate supporting frame to the rotor. Cooperating lugs are carried by a door frame and by the sliding plate supporting frame and hydraulic jacks serve to draw the lugs together to maintain the door frame and the sliding plate supporting frame together when the hooks are released.

Abstract: Plastic dispensing closures adapted for use on bottles containing products such as syrup and the like and which have an integral handle include a snap-on base adapted to be securely attached to the neck of the bottle and shaped to form a pouring spout, and a pivotal lidi based into engagement with the base, the lid having a thumb-engagable extension positioned adjacent to the handle to facilitate opening and closing of the lid. The closures include a non-releasable tear-away inner seal connected to a pull ring, and are attached to the bottle such that they cannot be removed without being permanently deformed, thereby affording a tamper-evident closure. The closures are capable of accommodating a rather large dimensional bottle tolerance, thereby enabling them to be employed on plastic as well as glass bottles. The closures may be formed as either one-piece or two-piece structures.

Abstract: Replaceable collector nozzle for a sliding gate. A pressure plate is provided with a collar or ring or other engaging element with interior securing connectors, and positioned beneath the sliding plate. The collector nozzle at its upper portion is provided with threads or other engaging connectors to engage the pressure plate connectors. Alternatively an interlock comprising cammed members interior of the ring or collar mate with corresponding members at the upper end of the replaceable collector nozzle when it rotatably engages the interior of the collar or ring. The collector nozzle can then be replaced during temporary shut off by twisting with a typical chain wrench and a new collector nozzle inserted without disturbing the mounted relationship of the remainder of the sliding gate and the top plate interiorly of the valve. In a further embodiment the coupling of the collector nozzle is a thrust-type which does not require rotation.

Abstract: A rotary sliding closure unit includes a stationary support frame adapted to be mounted removably adjacent to pouring opening of a liquid melt container. A stationary refractory plate has therethrough a flow passage and has an annular, ring-shaped configuration. The stationary refractory plate is supported by the stationary support frame such that the flow passage is in communication with the pouring opening. A rotary refractory plate is positioned in sliding abutting contact with the stationary refractory plate, has therethrough a plurality of flow passages to be moved selectively into and out of alignment with the flow passage of the stationary refractory plate, and has an annular, ring-shaped configuration. A rotary support frame supports the rotary refractory plate against the stationary refractory plate for rotational movement with respect thereto. The stationary and rotary refractory plates have complementary, annular, abutting relative sliding surfaces.

Abstract: A dispensing valve for use on an inverted bottle of fluent imaging material includes a valve cap which can be threaded to the neck of the bottle. A resilient valve plug is carried on a spindle which extends through an opening in the valve cap. A spring compressed between an enlargement on the spindle and a hub in the valve cap biases the valve plug outwardly into sealing engagement with a valve seat at the interior end of the valve cap. The valve is protected from inadvertent opening by a disc-like clip and an overcap. The clip, which has a diametral slot to accommodate the spindle, is held between an end of the spring and the spindle enlargement. The overcap provides a complete cover for the valve; it can be removed to expose the clip so that the clip can be manually removed to permit the valve to be opened.

Abstract: A valve for dispensing fluidic substance including a valve housing (12) defining a general axial flow path through the housing, a diaphragm (22) disposed in the valve housing substantially transverse to the axial flow path and defining first and second compartments (38, 39) therein, the diaphragm having a surface facing away from the flow path which includes an annular rib (32) and further having at least one aperture (34) disposed through the diaphragm in a peripheral arrangement outside of the annular rib for allowing passage of fluidic substance from the first compartment to the second compartment, a tubular seal mounted to the valve housing and having an inner end (46) which opens to face the annular rib of the diaphragm, an outer end (50), an annular lip (60) defining the inner end of the seal, and being annularly pivotable relative to the pivoting break sealing engagement between the diaphragm and the tubular seal so that fluidic substance in the second compartment is permitted access to the bore (44) o

Abstract: A rotary nozzle system for metallurgical vessels, especially steel ladles, whose stationary closure portion or part contains a refractory bottom plate and whose rotatable closure portion or part contains a rotatable toothed rim mounted at the stationary closure portion and a refractory slide plate which bears against the bottom plate. There is solved the problem of enabling a rapid, uncomplicated exchange, especially of the bottom plate and the slide plate with the particular task of automatically reestablishing each time a condition which ensures for operational reliability of the rotary nozzle system. This is obtained by constructing the rotatable closure portion or part as a housing having a rigid cover member which is detachably connected at the rotatable toothed rim. Internally of the housing there is located a pressure plate which receives the slide plate.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve mechanism for use in teeming molten metal is provided with apparatus for accurately setting seal pressure between the valve plates and for adjusting the seal pressure during periods of valve operation. The invention enables such adjustments to be made to rectify malfunctions in valve operation without need to terminate teeming and to dismantle the valve mechanism. The invention is particularly advantageous in that the role played by mechanical springs in imparting valve seal pressure is relegated to secondary importance as leakage of molten metal between the plates can be terminated regardless of the operability of the springs.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a clamping force to slide gate valve plates to prevent leakage of molten metal therebetween. The apparatus applies the force uniformly about the annulus of the orifice of the plates and at a location close to the orifice itself, thus providing more effective clamping of the parts together. The apparatus may be either an annular mechanical spring mounted about the orifice of the plates or an annular chamber filled with gas under pressure.

Abstract: A discharge gate clamping device for clamping a lower plate of a discharge gate. A pair of torsion bars are mounted on the side of the lower plate each having a respective first end connected to a crank arm, and each torsion bar has a second end carrying a cam. When the crank arm is rotated the torsion bars rotate for rotating the cams which press against a surface for lifting the lower plate upward. Because each cam is mounted on an independent torsion bar, a uniform pressure is applied to the lower plate of the discharge gate.

Abstract: An outlet assembly for application to hoppers of railroad hopper cars and the like, and slidably mounting a gate for movement between open and closed positions, in which the gate slideway is defined by trackway forming members disposed at either side edge of and across the mid portion of the gate outlet port, and having the respective load supporting surfaces each lined with a special liner formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material that is of dry self lubricating characteristics. The gate side edges ride on the liners of the track forming members at the respective side edges of the outlet port, and the respective gate side edges and the liners supporting same cooperate to effect a bulk material seal at the respective side edges of the gate.

Abstract: This invention provides a rotary slide gate mechanism for use on a pour vessel to control flow of molten metal through at least one outlet in the vessel shell, whereby refractory insert plates which are conveyed by said mechanism, may be moved in very close cooperating contact with a perforated refractory outlet plate for the pour vessel, so as to control the flow of molten metal therethrough.

Abstract: A rotary slide closure for a vessel provided with a fire-proof lining includes a closure block contacting a beveled seat of a seat block and being rotatably mounted relative to the seat block. The closure block and the seat block each have at least one flow-through opening which can be brought into register by turning of the closure block so as to form a pouring channel extending from the center of the closure block. The surface of the seat block forming the beveled seat, faces the interior of the vessel and the closure block contacts the surface forming the bevel seat from the interior of the vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a slide gate mechanism for use on a pour vessel to control flow of molten metal through at least one outlet in the vessel shell, whereby refractory insert plates which are conveyed by said mechanism may be moved in very close cooperating contact with a perforated refractory outlet plate for the pour vessel, so as to control the flow of molten metal therethrough.

Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus and a method of controlling a liquid crystal dropping amount are provided to drop liquid crystal onto a substrate corresponding to at least one unit panel area. In one aspect, the apparatus uses a liquid crystal dispensing unit to dispense liquid crystal. The liquid crystal dispensing unit includes a nozzle having a discharging hole through which the liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate, a needle moveable between a down position in which the needle blocks the discharging hole and an up position in which the needle is separated from the discharging hole, a spring member to bias the needle toward the down position, and a solenoid coil to provide a magnetic force to move the needle to the up position. The dropping amount liquid crystal dispensing unit may be electrically controlled by controlling the solenoid coil or by controlling a gas pressure used to drive the liquid crystal through the discharging hole.