Abstract: A compact fluid control valve effects a reliable fluid flow regulation by the use of a shape memory alloy wire. The valve comprises a barrel provided with a base member and a valve body. The valve body is cooperative with the base member to define therebetween a valve opening in the course of an internal flow path through the valve for a fluid. The valve body is movable towards and away from the base member to vary the valve opening for regulating the flow of the fluid. A bias spring urges the valve body for varying the valve opening in one direction. The shape memory alloy wire connects the valve body to the barrel to move the valve body against the bias spring for varying the valve opening when heated. The barrel has anchor members for securing the ends of the wire.

Abstract: A device, a system and a method are provided for controllably releasing a product (26) into a container (10) in which the product (26) is mixed with another product contained within an interior (14) of the container 10. The device (12) releases the product (26) due to variations in temperature or pressure that the system experiences during an autoclaving or sterilization procedure, for example. Materials and shapes of the members (20, 20a, 20b, 22) of the device (12) are selected such that the members (20, 20a, 20b, 22) react or otherwise move within the device in a predetermined manner in response to changes in temperature or pressure. As a result, products (26) within the device (12) may be maintained separately from products within the interior (14) of the container (10) in which the device (12) is held. Prior to administration of a solution within the container (10), the product (26) within the device (12) may be mixed with the solution or other product in the container (10) in a controllable fashion.

Abstract: A genus of integrated valves having an integrated actuator with a thin, flexible membrane formed of silicon driven by pressure of a fluid trapped in a cavity formed by bonding a first and second die. The cavity has a resistor formed therein through which current is driven to cause the pressure to rise and the flexible membrane to flex. Movement of membrane is used to drive a valve element to a position where it unblocks a port to open the valve. This genus includes species such as ultra clean embodiments where a containment barrier keeps ultra clean processing gases confined to a wetted area having materials and bonding agents selected so as to be chemically compatible with the materials and conditions in the wetted area. Low leak species include a compliant material for a valve seat which is deformed by a ridge surrounding a port in the closed position. It is this port which is blocked and unblocked by movement of the valve element to close and open the valve.

Abstract: A stripper/packer which also serves as a blowout preventer includes a split bonnet. The split bonnet comprises a pair of opposed bonnet halves that may be hydraulically actuated into contact with each other and locked in place to form a bonnet over a packer chamber with the body of the packer. The bonnet halves may be locked together by hydraulic actuation of a latch pin or a pair of pins, or a sleeve may be inserted to hold the bonnet halves together. The split bonnet feature provides clear and easy access to a packer element within the packer chamber with coiled tubing or other tubular member through the packer, or with the coiled tubing withdrawn from the packer.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for killing a live well after activation of a well blowout preventer is described. This is achieved by providing apparatus in the form of a shear or kill sleeve (34) in a string (26) above a sub-sea test tree and which is located between the pipe rams (22, 24) and shear rams (18) of a blowout preventer (12). In the event that the shear rams (18) are activated and seal the string above the kill sleeve (34), the sleeve includes a pressure sensitive valve (84) which may be opened, by pressurising between the blowout preventer rams (18, 22), to permit fluid to be pumped from the blowout preventer (12) through the valve (84) and into the string (40), to choke or kill the well. After the well has been killed, the blowout preventer (12) may be opened to permit removal of the well tools. Embodiments of the invention are described.

Abstract: The channels through which ink flows to the firing chambers of an ink-jet printhead are provided with selectively controlled valves for restricting flow at specified times for reducing blowback from the firing chamber while decreasing the turn on energy of the printhead.

Abstract: A resilient sealing insert for use in a ram-type blowout preventer the insert having an outer sealing surface enclosing an angle of less than 180.degree. and sealing faces that extend radially outwardly from the outer sealing surface in a plane substantially normal to the axis of generation of the arcuate sealing surface.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a gas-heatable appliance for personal use as, for example, a curling iron, a curling brush, a hair dryer, an epilating appliance, a domestic appliance, or the like, including a fuel gas reservoir, a combustion chamber, and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for controlling and/or regulating the amount of fuel gas supplied, in particular in dependence upon temperature. There are further provided a valve housing (4) with a gas passageway (5, 15, 16) and a sealing element (6) associated with the gas passageway (5, 15, 16), as well as an actuator (7) for actuating the sealing element (6). The element is configured as a control member actuatable by a user and/or as a temperature-responsive actuator (7). In this arrangement, the sealing element (6) is actuated directly by the actuator (7).

Abstract: A flexible nozzle integrated with a transformable wire which provides for a greater opening of the nozzle during the distribution of a desired contents into a container. The greater opening reduces the velocity of the desired content thereby reducing or eliminating frothing which may hamper the sealing of the container. The transformable wire may be composed of a marmem material or a piezoelectric material. A marmem material is a shape memory alloy. For example, the marmem material may be a nitinol alloy. If a marmem material is utilized, the wire is heated above the marmem material's critical temperature in order to open the nozzle. As the desired contents flow through the nozzle, the marmem material is cooled below its critical temperature and transformed to a second shape thereby closing the nozzle. The process is repeated for each container to be filled with the desired contents.

Abstract: A pressure relief device that is thermally triggered by a shaped memory alloy element. The pressure relief device has a valve body with a passageway that is exposed on one end to a high pressure fluid and on another end to a low pressure fluid. A closure element is moveably mounted with respect to the valve body and operates between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the closure element preferably prevents communication between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid. In the open position, the high pressure fluid is in communication with the low pressure fluid. The shaped memory alloy element either directly or indirectly interferes with movement of the closure element. The shaped memory alloy element preferably interferes with the closure element to retain the closure element in the closed position. Upon thermal activation, the shaped memory alloy element deforms and allows the closure element to move from the closed position toward the open position.

Abstract: A thermally buckling control microvalve including three layers in which the intermediate layer is an electrically conductive one. The left side of the intermediate layer that aligns with an outlet of the lower layer has a suspension supported on both sides by a thin bridge structure. An upper side of the suspension is provided with an electrical thermal membrane which slightly curves upwardly, and a valve nozzle communicating with the outlet of the lower layer is caused to gradually open when actuated. A pressure chamber is disposed above the suspension and the bridge structures and a pressure distribution chamber communicating with the pressure chamber is disposed below.

Abstract: The rubber layer on the ram is reinforced at the sealing areas by forming ribs on the ram core. The ribs function to resist extrusion of the rubber layer when the blowout preventer is subjected to high pressure from the well.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled ram assembly 12 for an oilwell blowout preventer 10 effects the opening and closing of a ram block 30 interconnected with a piston 34. The piston 34 is movable within the ram housing 22 in response to a hydraulic pressure to seal the ram block 30 with an oilfield tubular. The hollow ram shaft 36 having a central bore is sealed with a door 20 pivotally mounted to the BOP body 16 by one or more ram shaft seals 52. The cylindrical bore 60 in the ram shaft 36 is in fluid communication with the central passageway 18 in the BOP body. A ram shaft rod 70 secured to a ram housing end plate 40 extends radially inward into the bore 60 in the ram shaft 36, and is sealed to the ram shaft by one or more rod seals 72. Wellbore pressure within the BOP that opposes ram closing is thus reduced by the sealing area of the rod seal relative to the sealing area of the ram shaft seal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microvalve usable primarily as a pilot lve in pneumatic controls. The prior art solenoid valves used in this field can be miniaturized only at considerably high cost. The microvalve of the invention consists of a first part (1), on the pressure side, with a diaphragm structure (3) as the movable closing component and a second part (2) with an outlet aperture (7) and a seat (5). The diaphragm structure has heating elements and is coated on one side with a material with differing coefficients of heat expansion, in such a way that heating causes the diaphragm to bend against the pressure applied on it. At least one of the two parts has a recess (6) of defined depth arranged in such a way that with the valve closed hollows are formed which are heated by the heating elements. The microvalve described can economically produced with semiconductor technology means and has improved switching properties on account of its combined thermo-mechanical/thermo-pneumatic method of operation.

Abstract: A thermostatic valve has a multi-part valve housing which forms a mixing or distributing chamber which is provided with engine connections for an engine inlet, an engine outlet and a radiator connection. An electrically heatable thermostatic working element is situated in the mixing or distributing chamber, having a housing which is arranged in a stationary manner and to which electric connecting lines are guided from the outside. The thermostatic working element has an extendable working piston which is provided with at least one valve member for adjusting flow cross-sections for flows between the engine inlet, the engine outlet and the radiator connection. The housing of the thermostatic working element is arranged completely in the mixing or distributing chamber. The housing of the thermostatic working element is held on a support of the valve housing which is situated in the mixing or distributing chamber and through which the electric connecting lines are guided to the housing of the working element.

Abstract: A lightweight blowout preventer having a low profile is disclosed. Each of the rams have a sealing ring to be positioned thereabout to seal leaks from occurring between its bonnet and the ram body, thereby permitting the use of only about four connecting bolts for each side of the bonnet to the body and torqued for ordinary holding. A hinge plate is provided to allow selection of the side of the body for two associated bonnets. The hinge plate also is a manifold for the passageways for the hydraulic fluid to the fluid hinges. The hinges each includes a telescopic balancing sub with only one side spring for applying balanced pressure with the applied closing or opening hydraulic fluid to the hinge regardless of whether opening or closing hydraulic pressure is applied. The hydraulic passageways in the bonnets are located between the guideway extensions and the outside surfaces of the bonnets. The hinge plate and the bonnets can be inverted so that they can be mounted on either of two sides of the body.

Abstract: A valve (actuator) for performing pressurization, decompression and pressure maintenance drives plural spools movable up and down within a housing having plural bores by using linear shape memory alloys, and an anti-lock brake system utilizes the valve, in which respective bores have inlets and outlets, a mechanism for holding a lowering state of the spools is installed to the lower portion of the housing, and the spools return to their original positions by bias springs. A master cylinder, a wheel brake and a hydraulic pump are connected to the inlets and outlets of the valve of the anti-lock brake system and an electronic control unit is connected to the shape memory alloys to actuate the shape memory alloys, thereby attaining the operations of pressurization, decompression and pressure maintenance in connection with a brake pressure of the wheel brake.

Abstract: The centrifuge (1) described has at least one device (11,12) designed to control the operation of the centrifuge, the devices being mounted to rotate with the rotating part of the centrifuge and to be operated by a mechanical actuator (13) also rotating with it. Such devices may, for instance, be drain valves, periodically opening discharge valves, sill height adjustment devices, pressure-control devices, temperature-control devices, etc. At least one part of the devices of this centrifuge to be controlled independently of the centrifugal force is designed so that the rotating actuator (13) changes its shape as a function of the temperature and has at least one temperature-specific shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blowout preventer in which a first set of hydraulic ports communicate with either side of a first piston coupled to a first piston rod, a second set of hydraulic ports communicate with either side of a second piston coupled to a second piston rod, and the first and second pistons and associated piston rods may be actuated independent of each other. Each piston rod is coupled to a ram, and preferably, the first piston rod is coupled to a pipe ram and the second piston rod is coupled to a slip ram. A feature of the present invention provides that all of these elements are contained within a single chamber extending laterally of and communicating with the bore of a BOP.

Abstract: A valve for performing pressurization, decompression and pressure maintenance includes linear shape memory alloys. An anti-lock brake system utilizes the valve. The valve has plural spools movable up and down within a housing having plural bores. The respective bores have inlets and outlets. A mechanism for holding a lowering state of the spools is installed to the lower portion of the housing, and the spools return to their original positions by bias springs. In the anti-lock brake system, a master cylinder, wheel brakes and a hydraulic pump are connected to the inlets and outlets of the valve, and an electronic control unit is connected to the shape memory alloys to actuate the shape memory alloys, thereby attaining pressurization, decompression and maintenance of brake pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion nozzle for a gas lighter, particularly a nozzle structure provided with an internal, automatic flame extinguishing device. Within a nozzle cylinder is disposed a second valve for closing a to-be-closed portion under the action of a shape memory member. The second valve is provided with a push-back portion which undergoes an elastic deformation upon closing of the to-be-closed portion and thereby urge the shape memory member in a direction in which the shape memory member is pushed back. This structure permits omission of a return spring and hence reduction in the number of components used; besides, the shape memory member such as, for example, a shape memory alloy coil, can revert to its original shape to a sufficient extent even without imparting a bidirectional property thereto.

Abstract: A ram for a blowout preventer for coil tubing is disclosed. It includes a ram body having a flat face with a semi-circular cavity therein for engaging the flat face of an oppositely facing ram having a semi-circular cavity in its face. A seal member is carried by the ram to engage a seal member carried by the opposite facing ram to prevent the flow of fluid between the rams and a section of coil tubing extending vertically between the rams and encircled by the semi-circular cavities in the faces of the rams. An integral elastomeric pipe guide is carried by the ram to urge the tubing to the center of the preventer. A plurality of slip segments are mounted on the ram in the semi-circular cavity on opposite sides of the seal member to engage the tubing and hold the tubing from moving downwardly or upwardly relative to the ram.

Abstract: An energy-efficient refrigeration system includes an electrically controlled thermal expansion valve disposed in the refrigerant piping so as to control flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration system, and an expansion valve controller coupled to the expansion valve to provide control signals to the valve. The controller includes a refrigerant temperature sensing device coupled to the refrigeration system so as to sense a flow control temperature corresponding to the refrigeration temperature at a flow measurement site so that the controller generates control signals to control valve position to provide optimum refrigerant flow for a particular operational mode of the system. The thermal expansion valve includes a heating element that is responsive to control signals from the controller and that is thermally coupled to a thermal expansion medium so that the medium expands upon application of heat from the heating element.

Abstract: A microactuator preferably in the form of a microminiature valve for controlling the flow of a fluid carried by a flow channel includes a first substrate having a thermally-actuated member selectively operated by a thermal actuator such that the first substrate thereby develops thermal energy, and a second substrate having opposed first and second major surfaces. The second substrate is attached to the first substrate at the first major surface. The second major surface defines an isolation cell for enclosing a volume when the second substrate is attached to the support to thereby reduce the thermal mass of the microactuator and to thermally isolate the first substrate from the support.

Abstract: A blow out preventer is described including a housing with a first annular wedge member fixed to an interior sidewall of the housing. A second annular wedge assembly is provided which includes a plurality of wedge segments disposed within an interior of the housing. The contact face of each of the wedge segments in the second annular wedge assembly is in sliding face to face contact with the contact face of the first annular wedge member. The second annular wedge assembly is movable between an open position spaced from central drill pipe receiving bore and a closed position in sealing engagement with a drill pipe disposed within the central drill pipe receiving bore. An annular piston seal is disposed within the interior at the second end of the housing. The piston has a first contact face and a second contact face. The first contact face engages the second annular wedge assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled blowout preventer 10 and method are disclosed for simultaneously moving two sealing assemblies 24, 27 to seal around an oilfield tubular 15 within the bore 14 of BOP 10. A single manual operator 20 may be rotated to simultaneously move master piston 26 and hydraulically interconnected slave piston 79 inwardly toward bore 14 or outwardly away from bore 14, respectively. BOP 10 is field convertible to purely hydraulic operation by disconnecting the threaded shaft 52 from master piston 26. Hydraulic lines 36 and 40 interconnect between cylinders 30 and 82 to result in simultaneous operation of seal assemblies 24, 27.

Abstract: An actuator for performing a function at a predetermined temperature includes an actuator assembly with a resiliently expandable element and a device for liberating hydrogen gas into a sealed system formed in part by the element. When the hydrogen gas pressure in the system becomes sufficiently high, the element expands to perform the function. The resiliently expandable element is a piston or a bellows and the device for liberating hydrogen gas is a hydride sensor assembly.

Abstract: A microprobe comprises a base, a microcantilever extending in a plane from the base, and a probe tip projecting from the microcantilever out of the plane. The microcantilever is a bimorph structure comprising first and second layers made from materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and an integrated heated element for supplying heat to the microcantilever. The probe tip is made from silicon and comes to a radius that can be controlled to atomic sharpness (<1 nm) if desired. Alternatively, the probe tip is a planar structure. Desirably, the microcantilever is made from a metal, such as aluminum, and silicon oxide as the materials of the two layers. The heating element comprises a line or ribbon of a conductive material, such as polysilicon which is in contact with one of the two layers, and supplies heat, thereby causing the probe tip to traverse an arc and bring it into contact with a material under investigation.

Abstract: An air bag system (10) includes an inflator (14) containing ignitable gas generating material (60) which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the air bag (12). The system (10) further includes a collision sensor (96), a first actuator assembly (64) and a second actuator assembly (62). The collision sensor (96) senses a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration which is indicative of a collision, and provides a collision signal upon sensing such deceleration. The first actuator assembly (64) ignites the gas generating material (60) in response to the collision signal. The second actuator assembly (62) ignites the gas generating material (60) when the ambient temperature of the inflator (14) reaches a predetermined elevated level. The second actuator assembly (62) includes a bi-metal disk (112) which deflects from a concave shape to a relatively convex shape when the ambient temperature increases to the predetermined elevated level.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for prevention of a shocking torque in a clutch mechanism includes a housing having a chamber, the housing including an inlet port for being connected with the master cylinder and an outlet port for being connected with the release cylinder. A valve member is slidably disposed in the chamber to partition the chamber into a first chamber and a second member. The valve member includes a restricted passage connected to the first chamber and the second chamber when the valve member is closed. A first elastic member biases the valve member toward a closed position and a second elastic member biases the valve member in the counter direction of the biassing direction of the first elastic member. A wall member is disposed between the outlet port and the valve member for directing fluid flowing from the outlet port to the valve member.

Abstract: A heat sink (14) provides thermal communication between an actuator (18) and fluid controlled by a valve (12) which is flowing through a conduit (10). The actuator includes a vessel which is defined on its largest surfaces by plates (22, 50) of beryllium oxide thermally conductive ceramic covered with thermally conductive, relatively electrically non-conductive nichrome foil (24, 26). Longitudinal sides (30, 32) of the vessel are also relatively non-conductive. A thermally and electrically conductive core, such as accordion pleated beryllium copper foil (44) or a carbon fiber mat (82, 116) is disposed in the chamber. Electrical current flows through the core itself (FIG. 4) or through electrically insulated heating wires (80) (FIG. 5) or through an electrically insulated heating surface layer (FIG. 6) causing resistance heating and melting of a non-gaseous polymeric phase change compound (46). The resistance heating current is inductively induced in the embodiment of FIG. 8.

Abstract: An electrically heatable thermostatic valve for a coolant circulating system of an internal-combustion engine in which the housing of a thermostatic working element is arranged in a stationary manner and is provided with feed lines for a heating element. The valve elements of a main valve and of a bypass valve are arranged on the working piston of the working element, the valve element of the main valve being designed such that the housing of the thermostatic working element is situated in the cold coolant flow when the main valve is closed.

Abstract: A valve construction and method of assembling the same are provided, the valve construction having a deflector unit for directing fluid flow from the inlet of the housing means of the valve construction away from an operating part of a bimetallic lever means of the valve construction that controls a valve seat means thereof, the deflector unit having a part engaging one of a top and bottom edge of a screen at the inlet of the housing means so as to hold another part of the deflector unit in a cantilevered manner in the internal chamber of the housing.

Abstract: An electrically controlled modulating pressure regulator in which a main valve regulates fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet in response to a control pressure produced by a servo valve which is responsive to the outlet pressure and the force applied by a regulator spring to a diaphragm carrying the servo valve closure element. Deformation of the regulator spring can be varied by an electrical actuator in the form of a wire segment of a shape memory alloy through which electric current can be passed to vary its temperature and length.

Abstract: A fluid-flow regulating device is comprised of (a) a plurality of driving mechanisms each of which has a chamber, a diaphragm disposed at an opening of the chamber, a light-heat conversion substance accommodated in the chamber, and an operating fluid stored in the chamber, (b) a fluid-flow passage along which the plurality of driving mechanisms are arranged in such a manner that each of the diaphragm is opposed to the fluid-flow passage, (c) a plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the plurality of the chambers, and (d) a controller having a plurality of optical sources corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers which are set to be turned on and turned off in order to move an amount of fluid through the fluid-flow passage in any one of the normal and the reverse directions.

Abstract: A micro-actuator includes force elements and compensation elements arranged on a bending element such that a change in the environmental temperature does not cause any flexing of the bending element.

Abstract: A microminiature valve includes a crystalline substrate having a flow via and a raised valve seat structure. The valve seat structure has a planar bearing surface. The inner edge of the bearing surface defines an orifice to the flow via. The flow via has a varying cross sectional area and is narrowest at the orifice. From both the inner and outer edges of the bearing surface, parallel sloped walls along {111} planes are formed by an anisotropic etch. The microminiature valve has a high ratio of the area of the flow via at the orifice to the area within the outer edges of the valve seat structure.

Abstract: An improved ram-type blowout preventer having an improved resilient ram packer which includes an upper retainer plate and a lower retainer plate which each have a front face with a central recess therein, a back and sides, resilient end elements bonded between the plates at the sides and having facing surfaces extending from front to back and a resilient insert shaped to be positioned between said plates and between said end elements with sides mating with the shape of the facing surfaces of the end elements.

Abstract: In a fluid valving system, binary fluid control lines are connected in parallel between a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet. Each line has a binary valve and a metering orifice for passing a predetermined rate of fluid flow. The rates are in a geometric progression in factors of two. An analog fluid control line is connected in parallel with the binary lines, and has a continuously adjustable flow rate regulator for passing any selected rate of fluid flow up to a maximum at least equal to the largest increment of rate change in the binary lines. The regulator is formed of a miniature solid state device. A controller sets each binary valve open or closed, and sets the regulator for a selected flow rate, such that cooperative settings provide for a smoothly variable rate of total fluid flow.

Abstract: A sub-miniature valve which provides an actuator of shape memory alloy film coupled so as to move a poppet adjacent to a valve port. The shape memory alloy film actuator is thermally cycled through its phase change transition temperature, resulting in either a contraction or elongation of the actuator. This causes the poppet to move relative to the port and either increase or decrease fluid flow. The shape memory alloy film is biased toward its deformed position when cooled below its transition temperature. The valve can be electrically operated with commonly available voltages, including those used for micro-electronics. The relatively large forces and displacements achieved using the shape memory alloy film provide less restriction and greater flow than in other similarly sized valves.

Abstract: A flow control device includes a housing with separate main flow and flow control (servo) passages between an inlet port and an exit port. A control chamber in the housing is in fluid communication with the servo passage. A flexible membrane forms a partition between the main flow passage and the control chamber. The servo passage includes a variable servo orifice upstream of the control chamber and a fixed orifice downstream of the chamber. When the servo valve is open to permit passage of fluid into the control chamber, the resultant pressure on the membrane maintains the main valve closed. The main valve opens in response to closing the servo valve. The fixed orifice has a profile sufficiently small to provide for an acceptable leak or continuous fluid flow through the device when the servo valve is open, and further provides for a soft start when the servo valve is closed to open the main valve.

Abstract: An electrically operated thermally responsive valve having a bimetal operator arm heated by an electrical resistance heater for deflection to move a resilient poppet between an open and closed position on a valve seat for controlling flow to the valve outlet port. The base or active portion of the bimetal arm is formed of a first bimetal material with linear deflection properties up to 700.degree. F. for valve operation. The outboard end or compensator portion of the bimetal arm is formed of a second bimetal material having linear deflection properties up to 300.degree. F. for ambient compensation, but very low deflection properties at valve heater temperatures in the range 300.degree. F.-700.degree. F. for minimizing overcompensation from heating of the outboard portion due to heat transfer from the active portion.

Abstract: A microactuator of a silicon substrate having a frame with a central circular flexible diaphragm suspended from the substrate by a hinge. The hinge is a layer of silicon dioxide of uniform thickness which is formed by etching a groove in the silicon substrate and then conformally forming a silicon dioxide layer of uniform thickness in the groove. The substrate backside is then etched to the desired diaphragm thickness, exposing the bottom portion of the silicon dioxide layer which thereby becomes the hinge. Further a split hinge structure includes two such hinges which are parallel in part and so overlap in length, with a silicon bridge portion of the diaphragm lying therebetween. The electrical traces which extend from the frame to the central portion of the diaphragm are deposited on the silicon bridge, minimizing the mechanical stress on the traces due to hinge flexing.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve includes a valve disk having a labyrinthine partition extending from its face. The partition describes a closed shape. The partition faces a valve seat. The range of control over the flow rate of a fluid is controlled by the length of the partition. Partition lengths are created by their shapes. Several complex shapes, giving rise to differing partition lengths are disclosed. An actuator urges the valve disk toward the valve seat to provide final control of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A rotary blowout preventer is provided having a resilient sealing body which is deformed about a drill string or sealing by means of a tapered actuator cone. The actuator cone is driven by a piston which is responsive to annulus pressure and which is also selectively responsive to opening and closing pressures such as for test cycling. A bearing box assembly is interposed between the piston and the actuator cone, thus enabling the actuator cone and resilient primary packing to rotate along with the drill string. The primary packing incorporates a replaceable, tubular central resilient secondary packing section which is supported in place by a releasable hanger assembly. The primary packing is rotatably driven by a bearing supported drive assembly incorporating drive dogs which establish driving relation with the sealing rubber thereof. The blowout preventer also incorporates an internal packing which may be controllably hydraulically energized in the event the packing should develop a leak during use.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.

Abstract: An actuator includes a closed space defined by a deformable member in which an amount of thermally expansible gas is filled. In the closed space, there is also a substance which changes the light into the heat. A control device is set to establish the supply of the light into the closed space. Upon turning-on of the control device, the substance changes the supplied light into the heat, resulting in that the resultant heat brings the expansion of the gas. Thus, the member is brought into deformed condition. The deformation can be used as a force for operating a specific element.

Abstract: The invention comprises a linearly actuated valve which includes a valve body, a valve seal linearly movable with respect to the body between closed and open positions, a spring and a shape memory alloy wire. The spring both biases the valve toward the closed position, and forms a part of the electrical circuit providing current to the shape memory alloy wire. The valve seal may be accurately positioned between the closed position and the open position by applying a pulse frequency modulated electrical current to the spring and the shape memory alloy wire. The electrical circuit is continuously closed and is comprised entirely of electrical conductors having no sliding electrical contacts to eliminate arcing and sparking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micromechanical manipulator composed of substrate 1, heating lements and a manipulator arm 2 which is based on the principle of the bimaterial effect. Prior art bimaterial manipulators execute movements perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. However, it is often desirable to have a manipulator which executes movements in the surface of the substrate. The invented manipulator is based on the substrate surface counteracting steering of the manipulator arm with mechanical resistance, which leads to bulging and shortening of the effective length of the arm and thereby to movement in the surface of the substrate. The invented manipulator arm is suited as a drive means for elements, such as toothed disks or joints, which are movably disposed in the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.