A pressure relief apparatus for venting a tank comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, a closure member retained, relative to the inlet and outlet ports, for preventing, or substantially preventing, fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, a trigger mechanism including a temperature response portion, and a compartment for receiving pressurized fluid from the outlet port and communicating the received pressurized fluid to the trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism and the closure member are cooperatively configured to release the closure member and establish fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, thereby venting the tank, upon detection of a temperature at or above a predetermined temperature threshold or upon pressurization of the compartment at or above a predetermined pressure threshold.

A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The valve assembly includes a first conduit and a second conduit that is partially received in the first conduit. A valve flap is disposed within the first conduit for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the first conduit for rotation between open and closed positions. The first conduit has first and second slots, each extending from an open slot end to a closed slot end. First and second bushings supporting the shaft are disposed within the slots between the second conduit and the closed slot ends. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first conduit in the closed position to dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.

A transducer for a connection to a fluid pressure source having a mechanism for setting a pneumatic output by way of an electrical input signal. The transducer provides a lower housing assembly and an upper housing assembly. The lower housing assembly comprises lower housing configured to receive a supply nozzle. The supply nozzle fluidly communicates with a supply port and intermittently fluidly communicates with an output port of the lower housing through an internal fluid passageway. The upper housing assembly comprises an upper housing configured to receive a coil and an armature such that the upper housing, coil and armature define a latching electromagnetic circuit that provides alternating contact of the armature with the supply nozzle of the lower housing assembly.

A valve for a pneumatic system, has: a first enclosure defining a first chamber and a first connection port; a second enclosure defining a second chamber and a second connection port; a first shell subjected to a first pressure differential and movable from a default position to a reversed position via snap-through buckling upon the first pressure differential reaching a threshold; and a second shell having a shape different than a shape of the first shell, the second shell resiliently movable from an initial position to a deformed position when subjected to a second pressure differential, wherein a first flow rate of a fluid via the first connection port induces deformation of the second shell followed by a snapping of the first shell thereby generating a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

A control element having a beam member divided into an actuation section and a valve section positioned on opposing sides of a pivot member, in which active control of the actuation section causes buckling of the valve section to bring the valve section from a closed state to an open state or causes relaxing of the valve section to bring the valve section from an open state to a closed state.

An actuator for use with an on/off solenoid configured to maintain a position corresponding to the energized state of the solenoid when the solenoid is de-energized. The actuator is comprised of a guide that rotates a selector between one of two positions each time the solenoid is energized. One position of the actuator places the selector in an extended position and the other position of the actuator places the selector in a retracted position. To move the selector between the first and second positions, the solenoid is momentarily energized, and in each position of the selector, the solenoid is de-energized. The actuator can be coupled to a poppet valve to maintain the valve in one of two positions when the solenoid is de-energized.

A valve includes a valve body forming a channel defining a fluid flow path extending from an inlet port to an outlet port of the valve body via a gallery disposed therebetween, an opening disposed in communication with the gallery, a valve assembly at least partially disposed through the opening and in the gallery, and a set pin having a central longitudinal axis. A valve disc of the valve assembly moves between a first position spaced from a valve seat of the valve body and a second position in contact with the valve seat. The set pin is coupled to and at least partly supported by the valve assembly to maintain the valve assembly in the first position. The fluid flow path allows a fluid to flow through the valve body in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The set pin is adapted to disengage a portion of the valve assembly when contacted by a fluid traversing the fluid flow path in the second direction, allowing the valve disc to move to the second position.

Described is a fail-safe actuating system, comprising an actuator with an actuator housing and an output element. The output element is couplable to a controlled device. The fail-safe actuating system also comprises a biasing element, coupled to the actuator housing, which gets biased by a movement of the actuator housing in a first predefined direction; a locking device that locks the actuator housing for holding the biasing element in a biased state; and a controller configured to operate the actuator in a first operating mode, in which the actuator housing moves with respect to the output element for biasing the biasing element, and in the second operating mode, in which the output element moves with respect to the actuator housing for moving the controlled device.

An opening/closing apparatus for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes: a fuel passage forming portion; an insertion-side opening/closing valve mechanism; a fuel tank-side opening/closing valve mechanism; a liquid discharge path; and an opening/closing valve mechanism that opens and closes the liquid discharge port by a valve body disposed in the fuel passage forming portion, and that includes a moving body movable from a first position where a closing force exerts on the valve body to close the liquid discharge port to a second position where the closing force decreases, the moving body positioned at the first position in a state where the vehicle is stopped, and moving from the first position to the second position when receiving an inertial force due to traveling of the vehicle.

Provided is a piezoelectric actuator that can reduce a risk of air leakage due to weakening of pressing force of a valve element against a valve seat surface and airtightness. The piezoelectric actuator is used for a piezoelectric valve that opens and closes a valve utilizing displacement of a laminated piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric actuator includes: a valve element; a laminated piezoelectric element that generates a driving force, required for operation of the valve element, as a displacement; and a displacement enlargement mechanism that enlarges a displacement of a laminated piezoelectric element and causes the enlarged displacement to act on the valve element. In the piezoelectric actuator, a surface of the valve element to be in contact with a valve seat of the piezoelectric valve is made flat and smooth in a state in which a tensile load is applied to the laminated piezoelectric element.