A pressure gauge system for a tank with a variable flow rate that provides a user with an indication of how much usable time is left in a pressurized gas tank given a particular selected flow rate or operational condition and what pressure of gas is left in the tank.

According to one embodiment a gas tap is provided that includes a manually operable shaft having a first end coupled to a regulating element and a second end configured to be coupled to a knob that can be operated by a user. The shaft includes a first locking element, and the gas tap includes a second locking element. The shaft is rotational between an initial angular position and a final angular position, and is axially movable when it is arranged in the initial angular position between a first axial position in which the first locking element and the second locking element cooperate with one another, preventing the shaft from being able to rotate, and a second axial position in which the shaft is able to rotate. The user has to pull on the shaft in order to move it from the first axial position to the second axial position.

A flow control apparatus includes a pressure regulator fluidly coupled to an inlet region and an outlet region and configured to reduce a pressure from a first value in the inlet region to a second value in the outlet region, where the second value is lower than the first value; and a variable area orifice disposed between the outlet region and an outlet opening of the apparatus, wherein a flow rate of a gas is controlled by the variable area orifice and is discharged from the apparatus to a gas supply line. A free area of the variable area orifice that is disposed between a movable element and a surface of the variable area orifice is configured to change linearly in response to a translation of the movable element relative to the surface.

A gas valve for a cooking appliance is provided and includes a valve housing defining a valve chamber therein. A plug is disposed within the valve chamber. A valve stem interacts with the plug such that rotation of the valve stem correspondingly rotates the plug to selectively permit a flow of gas through the gas valve. The valve stem is axially translatable between a locked position wherein rotation thereof is inhibited and an unlocked position wherein rotation thereof is permitted. A first spring exerts a compressive force against the valve stem, toward the plug, to bias the valve stem into the locked position. A second spring exerts a compressive force against the plug in order to seat the plug within the valve chamber regardless whether the valve stem is in the locked or the unlocked position.

A flow regulating valve, including a valve member, a plug member, a connecting member, a fixed base, and a stepper motor. The valve member has a chamber respectively communicating with an inlet hole and an outlet hole thereof. The plug member has an axial bore and a flow regulating structure, the axial bore corresponding to the outlet hole and the flow regulating structure corresponding to the inlet hole. The connecting member is disposed at a side of the plug member and at least a part of the connecting member is exposed to the outside. The fixed base has a through hole, a wall of which is provided with a first block section and a second block section. A space is formed between the first block section and the second block section, and a block of the connection member is located in the space to limit a rotating angle of the plug member. The stepper motor has a rotating shaft connected to the connecting member and a modular flow regulating valve is formed.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for valve trim apparatus for use with control valves are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a valve body including a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet. The example apparatus also includes valve trim positioned in the fluid flow path, the valve trim including first passageways that extend from the inlet to a first expansion cavity and second passageways that extend from the first expansion cavity to the outlet.

A pressure gauge system for a tank with a variable flow rate that provides a user with an indication of how much usable time is left in a pressurized gas tank given a particular selected flow rate or operational condition and what pressure of gas is left in the tank.

Gas flow control valves comprising a valve housing including a cylindrical interior passage, and a housing opening extending from the interior passage through the housing. The gas flow control valve further comprises a cylindrical rotary valve element including a sidewall, and a rotary valve element opening extending through the sidewall. The valve element is rotatably received within the interior passage of the valve housing, such that the housing opening may be selectively aligned with the rotary valve element opening, and an area of overlap of the housing opening and the valve element opening may be varied by rotating the valve element within the interior passage of the valve housing.

A multifunction valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, and outlet and an interior chamber. A flow control gate is disposed within the interior chamber and is rotatable through an arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet providing a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve. A method of modulating a fluid flow rate includes directing fluid flow through a multifunction valve from an inlet to an outlet, the multifunction valve including a flow control gate, adjusting the flow rate through the multifunction valve by rotating a control shaft to position the flow control gate to variably occlude the outlet of the fluid control valve.

A plug member of a gas valve, having an axial bore, a first bore and a second bore located in a radial direction thereof to respectively communicate with the axial bore, and a first guiding slot and a second guiding slot recessed into an outer peripheral surface thereof. The first bore is larger than the second bore, and communicates with one end of the first guiding slot, while another end thereof is near the second bore. The first guiding slot becomes narrower from the first end to the second end. The second guiding slot has one end communicating with the second bore, and another end located between said first end and said second end.