Methods and systems are provided for a cooling system valve comprising a fusible insert and a heating element coupled to the insert. In one example, in response to an increase in coolant temperature to above a first threshold temperature, a movable element of the cooling system valve may be actuated to a fully open position and in response to an increase in coolant temperature to above a second threshold temperature with the movable element in a fully open position, electric current may be routed through the heating element to heat and melt the fusible insert. By melting the fusible portion, coolant may flow through an opening created in the movable element.

An asparagus harvester includes a chassis movable over a bed of growing asparagus. Spears above a selected height are severed at the ground by a severing assembly. A conveyor receives from a pick-up apparatus and conveys away asparagus spears severed by the severing assembly. The severing assembly includes a severing blade carried by a plunger mounted in a pneumatic cylinder. Conduits couple the pneumatic cylinder to a source of air under pressure through a valve unit operable for actuating the pneumatic cylinder to repeatedly fire and withdraw the plunger for repeatedly moving the severing blade back-and-forth along a stroke path between a raised set position and a lowered severing position proximate to the ground. A heater mounted proximate to the valve unit is configured to sufficiently heat the valve unit to enable the valve unit to operate in the presence of an ambient temperature sufficiently low to impair its operation.

An electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater. The heater may be a strip heater applied to or a coil wrapped around an external surface of the proportional control valve. The system may further include a latching isolation valve. A secondary fluid control branch can be included, and the fluid control branches can be in parallel. The electronic pressure regulation system can be included in an all-electric satellite. Another electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve, the proportional control valve including two independently-controlled coils for magnetostrictive actuation.

A heated faucet cover configured to insulate and protect exterior faucets is disclosed. The cover is configured to provide heat to the faucet when the temperature lowered below a predetermined temperature. The faucet cover includes a housing with an outer shell. The cover further includes a heating system and a control device. The heating system includes one or more heat sources, for example, incandescent bulbs. The heat sources are securely positioned within the cavity of the housing and mounted on bases of the cover, which are electrically connected to the power supply via a power cord. The control device is a thermostatic control element, configured to control the operation of the heat sources. The control device activates the heat sources when the predetermined ambient temperature falls below 35 F. and shuts off when the predetermined ambient temperature is above 45 F., thereby preventing the faucets from freezing in cold weather conditions.

A valve for closing a fluid line, comprising: an inlet element with an inlet line; an outlet element with an outlet line; a closing element which, in a first state, allows a fluid passage between the inlet line and the outlet line and which, in a second state, closes the fluid passage, wherein the closing element, in the first state, is fixedly connected to the inlet element or the outlet element and, in the second state, is detached from the inlet element or the outlet element; an actuator which, when actuated, is configured to move the closing element from the first state towards the second state; and a pretension element which is pretensioned and is configured to move the closing element into the second state after actuation of the actuator.

A diaphragm valve is disclosed. The diaphragm valve may include, a valve body comprising a valve channel, the valve channel including an inlet channel and an outlet channel. The diaphragm valve may also include, a valve seat adjacent to the valve channel and a flexible diaphragm comprising a wetted surface and an opposing non-wetted surface, the flexible diaphragm being disposed adjacent to the valve channel. The diaphragm valve may also include, a flexible heater disposed over the non-wetted surface of the flexible diaphragm, and a valve actuator that is operable to operable to move the wetted surface of the flexible diaphragm into and out of contact with the valve seat. Valve components including a flexible heater and methods for forming such valve components are also disclosed.

A heated throttle valve apparatus is disclosed herein, which includes a valve system with a valve driver configured to provide a rotational force to a valve assembly via a thermal isolating drive coupler configured to prevent the transfer of thermal energy from the valve assembly to the valve driver. The valve assembly includes a valve body and a valve closure member, a valve shaft with a valve shaft heater in a first heating zone and one or more body heaters in a second heating zone, permitting the user to control temperature in the heating zones independently. An electrical conductor strain relief is provided, configured to eliminate strain in the shaft heater electrical conductors when the valve closure member undergoes a change in angular orientation. The electrical conductor strain relief includes a flexible member with a curvilinear shape wound between a first connection area and a second connection area.

A vehicle sensor cleaning system that includes one or more vehicle sensors and a cleaning device. The system may further include an area to accommodate expansion of fluids due to freezing, such as a spring-loaded expansion valve, a floating barb expansion valve, or a three-way valve to a standpipe. The system may include systems and methods to evacuate the manifold such as purging with compressed or ambient air, or a syringe or drain valve mechanism. The system may be heated by a heating device such as a PTC heater, a resistive wire, or a low current coil. The system may provide a track or line to recirculate the fluid. These systems and methods may be incorporated into any portion of the system and in any combination. The systems and methods may be actuated by a mechanical or electrical switch that turns on based on direct pressure as a result of expanding or freezing fluid, in response to input by a temperature, pressure, or other sensor, or in response to automated or user input. The manifold may also comprise various modules and connections to adapt the system to any vehicle as desired.

Provided is a vacuum bellows hot valve with durability and drivability not impaired by increased temperature and voltage of heating means while having a simple, compact structure, the valve also allowing valve's temperature control with high accuracy. In the vacuum bellows hot valve, a stern is provided inside a valve box with an inflow port and an outflow port so as to freely ascend and descend, a bellows is elastically provided to a valve body provided at a lower end of the stem and on an outer circumferential side, of the stem, a cylindrical ceramic heater is arranged between an inner circumference of the bellows and an outer circumference of the stem, and a temperature measuring part of a thermocouple for control is arranged at a position close to the valve body.

A diaphragm valve is disclosed. The diaphragm valve may include, a valve body comprising a valve channel, the valve channel including an inlet channel and an outlet channel. The diaphragm valve may also include, a valve seat adjacent to the valve channel and a flexible diaphragm comprising a wetted surface and an opposing non-wetted surface, the flexible diaphragm being disposed adjacent to the valve channel. The diaphragm valve may also include, a flexible heater disposed over the non-wetted surface of the flexible diaphragm, and a valve actuator that is operable to operable to move the wetted surface of the flexible diaphragm into and out of contact with the valve seat. Valve components including a flexible heater and methods for forming such valve components are also disclosed.