Abstract: The Invention provided is a hydraulic powered down hole reciprocating pump traveling valve component to provided lifting hydraulics on the down stroke using the derived motion and pressure of petroleum liquids and gasses, such as oil, water and natural gas and also utilizing the frictional traveling forces driven by the surface equipment. Designed to utilize the elements within the pumping apparatus to obtain the hydraulic power within and transfer the energy's force to the exposed bottom end of the pressure locked traveling ball valve adjacent within the ball valve containment cage, providing ultimate lifting power to open the ball valve on the initiation of the down stroke. The component consist of a Hollow Hydraulic Power Shaft, Hollow Pressure Motion House, and a Fluid Cavity Power Drag Plunger.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods overcoming the technical challenges in actuating valves of reciprocating compressors used in oil and gas industry are provided. A valve assembly includes an actuator, a shaft, a collar and a thrust bushing. The actuator is configured to generate a displacement. The shaft configured to receive a rotating motion caused by the displacement and to penetrate inside a compressor body of the reciprocating compressor. The collar is located close to a location where the shaft penetrates inside the compressor body. The thrust bushing is located between the collar and the compressor body. The rotating motion actuates a valve closing member of a valve inside the compressor body.

Abstract: The invention is a hydrogen generator including a pump for pumping a liquid from a reservoir to a reaction area, where the liquid reacts to produce hydrogen gas, and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator and a fuel cell stack. The pump is a diaphragm pump with mechanically operated liquid inlet and outlet valves that are opened by cam-operated pushrods, and the pushrods are isolated from the liquid flowpath through the pump by diaphragms. All valves in the liquid flow path between the liquid reservoir and the reaction area are mechanically operated valves.

Abstract: Plunger lift operations are difficult to optimize due to lack of knowledge of tubing pressure, casing pressure, bottom-hole pressure, liquid accumulation in the tubing and location of the plunger. Monitoring the plunger position in the tubing helps the operator (or controller) to optimize the removal of liquids and gas from the well. The plunger position can be tracked from the surface by monitoring acoustic signals generated as the plunger falls down the tubing. When the plunger passes by a tubing collar recess, an acoustic pulse is generated that travels up the gas within the tubing. The acoustic pulses are monitored at the surface, and are converted to an electrical signal by a microphone. The signal is digitized, and the digitized data is stored in a computer. Software processes this data along with the tubing and casing pressure data to display plunger depth, plunger velocity and well pressures vs. time.

Abstract: Microfluidic fluid control devices are provided. One microfluidic fluid control device can be used as a uni-directional valve within a microfluidic system. The invention also provides a microfluidic pump mechanism having two unidirectional valves separated by an expandable reservoir. Such devices may be formed in multiple layers and utilize flexible membranes.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated actuator, for example for controlling operation of a pneumatically driven metering pump for liquids. In a specific embodiment, the actuator is a rotary actuator and includes a piston/cylinder unit coupled at one end to a rack and pinion drive for reciprocating a rotary control valve of the pump, and at its opposite end to a valve which controls the air supply to the main liquid delivery plunger of the pump. The coupling to the air supply valve is designed to allow limited lost motion at each end of the stroke of the piston so as to ensure that the rotary valve is turned before the plunger of the pump begins to move.