The present invention relates to a device and a method for cleaning and sterilizing a filling valve of a beverage filling system for filling a container with a filling product. The device includes a cap for closing a filling product outlet of the filling valve during the cleaning and sterilization, and a valve for opening and closing the through-opening. The cap has a through-opening for discharging sterilization medium during the sterilization. The valve includes a shape-memory material for switching the valve between an open and closed position at a predetermined temperature.

A pressure balanced thermal actuator includes a flow housing having an inlet and an outlet, with the flow housing being affixed at opposing ends to two bellows housings, each of which contains a bellows. An actuation rod is operably coupled to each bellows and contains a fluid passage therewithin. When the temperature of the area surrounding the actuator increases, the pressure inside the bellows housings increases, and exerts a force on the bellows therein, compressing it. As a result, the actuation rod moves from a first position to a second position to align the fluid passage with the inlet and the outlet, enabling the controlled passage of a first fluid from the inlet, and through the fluid passage, to the outlet, to reduce the temperature of the area surrounding the valve assembly. The actuator is unaffected by changes in the ambient pressure, by working equally on two opposing bellows areas.

A hydraulic pump is described, comprising at least one inlet duct for a fluid, at least one outlet duct for the fluid and at least one pumping unit interposed between the inlet and outlet ducts. At least one multifunction valve is interposed between the inlet duct, upstream of the pumping unit, and the outlet duct, downstream of the pumping unit, which valve is configured to divert the flow of fluid from the inlet duct to the outlet duct without the fluid flowing into the pumping unit. The multifunction valve comprises a valve body that defines an inner bypass channel in which a shutter element is axially movable, an actuator member operatively associated with the shutter element and configured to move it from a closing position to an opening position of the bypass channel, and an elastic contrast element operatively associated with the shutter element and configured to keep it in the first closing position of the bypass channel when such shutter element is not actuated by the actuator member. The actuator member consists of a bias spring manufactured with a shape memory alloy, configured to move the shutter element from the first closing position to the second opening position of the bypass channel when a predefined temperature value is reached.

A heat exchanger apparatus having a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, a bypass channel, and inlet and outlet manifolds. A thermal bypass valve assembly is positioned within the inlet manifold, and contains an outer sleeve having a first, second and third apertures axially displaced. An inner sleeve positioned within the outer sleeve and moveable from a first to a second position upon actuation of a first actuator. The inner sleeve has a first orifice on a wall of the inner sleeve and a second orifice defined by the inner sleeve second end. The first orifice aligns with the first aperture in the first position and the second aperture in the in the second position. A second actuator coupled to a stopper that engagingly disengages from the second orifice upon actuation of the second actuator.

Valves may include an opening sized and shaped to permit a subject fluid to flow through the opening when the opening is unobstructed. A heat exchange element may be located proximate to the opening, the heat exchange element positioned and configured to induce a localized phase change in the subject fluid to form and unform a solid plug from the subject fluid around at least a portion of the heat exchange element. A heat transfer rate of the heat exchange element may be variable to control a rate of flow of the subject fluid through the valve by controlling a size of the solid plug from the subject fluid.

The present invention relates to a stop valve for installation in a pipeline, in particular in a pipeline of a nuclear facility, such as a nuclear power plant, or in a conventional chemical reactor and in a conventional power plant, to stop a fluid flow through the pipeline in the event of an operational failure. The valve comprises a valve housing including a flow channel passing through the valve housing, and a closure member arranged at least partially in the flow channel and reversibly transferable between an open position and a closed position such as to open or close the flow channel through the valve housing. The valve further comprises a non-electrically driven actuator mechanism operatively coupled to the closure member for transferring the closure member at least from the open position in the closed position. The actuator mechanism is configured to be activated by a fluid flow through the flow channel reaching or exceeding a switching temperature and/or switching flow rate during operation. In addition, the valve comprises at least one position indicator to indicate whether the closure member is in the open position or in the closed position. The position indicator comprises at least one indicator member movably arranged in or at the valve housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the indicator member is magnetically coupled to the closure member such that the indicator member is magnetically transferred into the first position when the closure member is transferred into the open position, and into the second position when the closure member is transferred into the closed position.

A thermostatic device includes: a housing and a regulator, the one moving in translation with respect to the other in order to regulate the rate of water flow; a thermoactuator comprising a primary part and a secondary part moving in translation depending on the temperature, the primary part and the regulator being translationally fixed; a slide, that can move in translation with respect to the housing and is rotationally fixed with respect to the housing; and an overtravel spring applying a primary return force on the slide. In order to absorb an overtravel of the thermoactuator while improving compactness and the ease of manufacture, the overtravel spring bears against the housing and the thermostatic device comprises a rotary drive part in helical connection with the slide and being fixed in translation with respect to the secondary part.

Two problems with existing electronically controlled mixing valves for domestic use is their size and difficulty accessing and repairing them. Their size means that they often become hidden behind wall linings, and because of the way in which they are plumbed into the pipework of a house, they are difficult to access and remove for repair or replacement. Disclosed is a compact and replaceable mixing valve cartridge that can be mated to a fixed fitting that is permanently plumbed into the pipework of a house. The compact size allows the cartridge to be positioned behind the type of removable face plates that are often installed over existing manually operated mixing valves. Simplified valve actuators and a compact mixing and temperature sensing configuration have facilitated the compact size. The valve cartridge can simply be accessed, unbolted and removed, without the need for extensive plumbing re-work.

A cooling system includes a coolant source to cool down components of a processing chamber and a return line for the coolant coupled between the processing chamber and the coolant source. The return line has a valve, which includes a flow compartment having a first inlet and an outlet that support a default flow rate of the coolant, the flow compartment also having a second inlet. The valve has a plunger with a tip to variably open and close the second inlet to vary a flow rate of the coolant from the default flow rate. The valve has a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring positioned on the plunger between a side of the valve and the tip, the SMA spring attached to the tip to variably withdraw the tip from the second inlet in response to a rise in temperature of the coolant above a threshold temperature value.

Systems and methods for operating a gas-fired appliance such as a gas-fired cooking grill are provided. An embodiment of the system includes a gas burner for heating a chamber of the gas-fired appliance. The system includes a first valve associated with the gas burner to control a gas flow to the gas burner. The system includes a second valve configured to controllably supply gas to the gas burner via the first valve. The second valve is automatically adjustable based on a desired temperature of the chamber and an actual temperature of the chamber.