A control plate for effecting superior shut-off in a proportional control valve comprises a moveable disk-shaped element that has a flat surface, generally perpendicular to the valve axis of symmetry when closed, and translates toward or away from an orifice surrounded by a narrow lip or orifice ridge. Enhanced leak tightness in the valve shut-off condition is achieved by selectively incorporating into the control plate materials that are softer than the material comprising the orifice ridge.

A valve unit includes a flow path member having an opening surface that has a flow path opening of a liquid flow path, a valve having a sealing surface configured to seal the flow path opening, and a sealing member disposed on one of a peripheral portion of the flow path opening in the opening surface and a portion of the sealing surface facing the peripheral portion. The sealing surface is configured to be moved forward and backward relative to the opening surface to open and close the flow path opening. The sealing member is configured to be in contact with the peripheral portion of the flow path opening and the sealing surface when the valve is closed. The sealing member includes a fluorinated polyether.

A valve unit includes a flow path member having an opening surface that has a flow path opening of a liquid flow path, a valve having a sealing surface configured to seal the flow path opening, and a sealing member disposed on one of a peripheral portion of the flow path opening in the opening surface and a portion of the sealing surface facing the peripheral portion. The sealing surface is configured to be moved forward and backward relative to the opening surface to open and close the flow path opening. The sealing member is configured to be in contact with the peripheral portion of the flow path opening and the sealing surface when the valve is closed. The sealing member includes a fluorinated polyether.

By providing a mountain-shaped mountain portion (5a) protruded from a surface of a plunger (5) facing a valve seat to the inside of a rubber member (8), a dimensional change amount of a valve seat abutting portion (8a) in an opening and closing direction decreases, and thus it is possible to suppress change in characteristic. Also, it is possible to secure a rubber deformation amount sufficient for absorbing impact when the valve seat abutting portion (8a) collides with the valve seat, thereby suppressing an operation sound.

A method for applying a sealing member to a capsule intended for the preparation of a beverage in a device for making beverages, where the capsule includes a body having a bottom wall a side wall and a flange-like rim which extends from the side wall, comprises a step of applying a charge of sealing composition in a viscous state on the flange-like rim and a step of compression moulding the charge of sealing composition against the flange-like rim.

A method of repairing an airship hull of an airship during flight and while the airship is untethered from the ground comprises detecting a breach in a gas barrier bordering an interior volume of the airship, the airship containing a lifting gas wherein the hull of the airship comprises an electrically conductive material and wherein the breach in the gas barrier is detected by detecting changes in an electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive material.

A method of repairing an airship hull of an airship during flight and while the airship is untethered from the ground comprises detecting a breach in a gas barrier bordering an interior volume of the airship, the airship containing a lifting gas wherein the hull of the airship comprises an electrically conductive material and wherein the breach in the gas barrier is detected by detecting changes in an electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive material.

A control plate for effecting superior shut-off in a proportional control valve comprises a moveable disk-shaped element that has a flat surface, generally perpendicular to the valve axis of symmetry when closed, and translates toward or away from an orifice surrounded by a narrow lip or orifice ridge. Enhanced leak tightness in the valve shut-off condition is achieved by selectively incorporating into the control plate materials that are softer than the material comprising the orifice ridge.

A traceable device and procedure suitable for investigating gastrointestinal motility disorders by measuring transit time of the device as it is passed through the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. The device includes a core material configured to be imaged with a gamma imaging process and optionally also an x-ray imaging process, and a sealing material substantially insoluble in gastrointestinal fluids and fully encapsulating the core material.