An air conditioner includes a switching valve, a flow rate restricting portion and an on-off valve. The switching valve provided in a flow path between a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a heat exchange portion and a heat exchange portion. During heating operation, the switching valve causes a second connection port, a third connection port and a first connection port to communicate with one another. The flow rate restricting portion and the on-off valve are connected in series between an outlet and an inlet of the compressor during the heating operation, to bypass a part of refrigerant. During defrosting operation of the heat exchange portion, the switching valve is configured such that a fourth connection port and the second connection port communicate with each other, and the third connection port and the first connection port communicate with each other.

A circulation sub including a tubular and a diverter valve are configured to continuously circulate fluid into a drill string. The tubular has a first end connectable to the drill string, a second end connectable to a pipe segment, and a port. The tubular has a fluid path for allowing the fluid to flow from the pipe segment to the drill string and a circulation path for allowing the fluid to flow from the port to the drill string. The diverter valve has a channel in selective fluid communication with the fluid path. The diverter valve is positionable between a flow through position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the fluid path and a diversion position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the circulation path whereby the fluid may continuously flow through the drill string.

A hydraulic control circuit component such as a valve is configured which sliding surfaces. At least one of the sliding surfaces is configured as a single crystal material, such as ruby or sapphire.

A multi-well pad for fracturing a subterranean formation can include a valve assembly that includes a shuttle valve, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, where the inlet is coupled to a fracturing pump, where the first outlet is coupled to a first well, where the second outlet is coupled to a second well, where first shuttle valve has a first position and a second position. The fracturing pump and the first well can form a continuous first path through the valve assembly while closing off a second path between the fracturing pump and the second well when the shuttle valve is in the first position. The fracturing pump and the second well can form a continuous second path through the valve assembly while closing off the first path between the fracturing pump and the first well when the shuttle valve is in the second position.

A shear seal includes a seal plate having a first seal surface and a sliding seal assembly having a second seal surface, and at least one of the first and second sealing surfaces comprise an insert comprising a material different than that of the seal plate or the sliding seal connected to the seal plate or sliding seal assembly by a compressed member disposed between the insert and the adjacent surface of seal plate or sliding seal assembly.

A fluid delivery device includes a tube coupled to an axial manipulator. The axial manipulator includes an elongate member arranged to move axially in a housing. The tube is in fluid communication with a fluid diverter which is arranged to move axially in the housing upon axial movement of the elongate member. Seals are provided to prevent fluid from leaking out of the housing. A fluid port is in fluid communication with the tube via the fluid diverter, such that fluid can flow in and out of the tube via the fluid port and the fluid diverter.

A device and method enable both an automated and a user controlled diversion of fluid flow from a first pathway to an alternate pathway. The automated method relies upon detection of an environmental quality, such as fluid temperature, fluid heat content, fluid viscosity, fluid chemical composition, flow rate, or other detectable parameter. Both the automated diversion and the user controlled diversion rely upon positioning of the piston relative to the two pathways. The piston defines an internal pathway and the position of the piston internal pathway determines whether fluid flows through the first pathway or the alternate pathway. A lever movably couples the piston to an actuator; in the automated method an actuator responsive to its environment moves the lever to reposition the piston. In the user controlled method an override is applied, preferably manually, to reposition the piston to cause the diversion from the first pathway to the alternate pathway.

A chromatography valve for use in fluid analysis and chromatography applications is provided. The valve includes a first body having passages extending therethrough and opening on a flat face of the first body at respective passage ports. The valve also includes a second body engaged with the first body in a sealed relationship, whereby one of the first and second bodies is movable relative to the other one between two or more positions for controlling fluid circulation through the passages. The second body includes at least one cartridge receiving cavity for receiving at least one cartridge removably provided therein. The cartridge has channel(s) for channeling fluid of pairs of the passage ports, depending on the position of the first body relative to the second body, thereby channeling fluid through selected ones of the passages via the at least one channel. A method of operating the valve is also provided.

A multi-valve for distributing at least one fluid, includes a plurality of input channels for supplying a respective fluid, a plurality of output channels for discharging the fluid, wherein a respective input channel can be connected via a plurality of input branches to a respective, substantially coaxially arranged output branch of the respective different output channels, and a switch plate which is arranged in a gap between the input branches and output branches and can be translationally moved transversely to the input branches and output branches in order to open and/or close a connection of the respective input branch to the respectively assigned output branch, wherein the switch plate is connected to an endless belt.

A heating and cooling system includes a compressor having a discharge outlet and a suction inlet; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; a four-way valve including: a body including a first port connected to the discharge outlet, a second port connected to the first heat exchanger, a third port connected to the suction inlet and a fourth port connected to the second heat exchanger; a slider positioned in the body; and an actuator assembly configured to impart linear motion to the slider; and a controller configured to send a command to the actuator assembly to move the slider to one of a first position, a second position or a third position.