A dry sprinkler is provided that includes a conduit with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve positioned near the fluid inlet and a fire sprinkler head that is positioned near the fluid outlet. The fire sprinkler head is operably connected to the valve by a tie. When the fire sprinkler head reacts to an elevated temperature condition, the tie is engaged and is operable to open the valve. In a normal state, before the fire sprinkler head reacts, the tie can be unbiased toward the fire sprinkler head. The tie can also be non-rigid and/or in a non-compressed state within the conduit. The conduit of the dry sprinkler can be flexible.

The present invention relates to inflatable bodies or systems with bounding walls or bladder structures and at least one valve assembly thermally bonded thereto. More particularly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies typically made from a thermoplastic rubber material or the like, which will exhibit significantly increased strength and durability during inflation and while inflated, especially at and around the interface between the air valve assembly and the bounding wall of the inflatable body because of the enhanced strength of the interface through thermal sealing.

A dry sprinkler is provided that includes a conduit with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve positioned near the fluid inlet and a fire sprinkler head that is positioned near the fluid outlet. The fire sprinkler head is operably connected to the valve by a tie. When the fire sprinkler head reacts to an elevated temperature condition, the tie is engaged and is operable to open the valve. In a normal state, before the fire sprinkler head reacts, the tie can be unbiased toward the fire sprinkler head. The tie can also be non-rigid and/or in a non-compressed state within the conduit. The conduit of the dry sprinkler can be flexible.

A fill valve assembly for a toilet tank is described. The fill valve assembly includes a two part design. The fill valve assembly includes a fill valve that connects or engages with a shank. A connection between the fill valve and the shank is located in an interior of the tank, which is easily accessed. The fill valve may be easily replaced by disconnecting the fill valve from the shank.

The present invention relates to inflatable bodies or systems with bounding walls or bladder structures and at least one valve assembly thermally bonded thereto. More particularly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies typically made from a thermoplastic rubber material or the like, which will exhibit significantly increased strength and durability during inflation and while inflated, especially at and around the interface between the air valve assembly and the bounding wall of the inflatable body because of the enhanced strength of the interface through thermal sealing.

In at least some implementations, a solenoid valve includes a housing, a bobbin and an armature. The bobbin is received at least partially within the housing and has a body about which a coil is provided. A fluid flow path including an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat is defined by at least one of the housing or the bobbin, and the armature is moveable relative to the valve seat to control flow through the fluid flow path.

An insert is provided for insertion through an opening in the surface of a conduit, the insert comprising an insert body having first and second open ends defining an axis of flow therebetween. The insert further comprises a valve flap connected to the insert body. The valve flap is moveable between a closed position in which it creates a closure, thereby preventing flow along said axis, and an open position in which the valve flap allows flow along the axis. The valve flap is arranged so that, when in the open position, it is substantially U-shaped in side cross-section and is oriented with respect to the insert body so that said U-shape arches over the axis of flow.

A solenoid valve includes a housing, a bobbin and an armature. The bobbin is received at least partially within the housing and has a body about which a coil is provided. A fluid flow path including an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat is defined by at least one of the housing or the bobbin, and the armature is moveable relative to the valve seat to control flow through the fluid flow path.

A spool assembly for a second stage of a servo valve comprises a spool having an axis (L) and an opening for a feedback member provided in a central region of the spool extending perpendicular to the axis. An adjustable joint is provided within the spool for securing a feedback member relative to the spool, comprising first and second jaw arms being displaceable relative to each other along the axis of the spool. The jaw arms have opposing clamping surfaces, wherein the clamping surfaces are arranged to be drawn towards each other as the jaw arms are drawn away from each other, such that a feedback member can be clamped between the opposed clamping surfaces of the jaw arms and thereby secured relative to the spool.

A method for early detection of control valve diaphragm failure is disclosed. The method includes disposing an elastic sensing element on a diaphragm of a pneumatic control valve, generating, using the elastic sensing element, a baseline sensor record comprising initial elasticity measurements of the diaphragm, generating, using the elastic sensing element and during a useful life of the control valve, a sequence of periodic sensor records comprising periodic elasticity measurements of the diaphragm, generating, in response to any periodic sensor record differs from the baseline sensor record by a pre-determined threshold, an alarm, and performing, in response to the alarm, a maintenance operation of the control valve.