The invention relates to a micro-valve (1) comprising a valve ball (2), a valve seat (3) and a nozzle (14). In said valve, the valve seat (3) comprises a sealing region (5) and an outlet region (6) and guide means (40) are provided on the valve seat. The guide element is configured in the valve seat (3) in the form of a guide region (4) or a one-piece guide element (40) located in the vicinity of the valve seat (3). The micro-valves according to the invention exhibit substantial improvements with respect to dynamics, life cycle and stream pattern, In first embodiments, increased wear-resistance is achieved by the integration of guide means, in the form of a guide region (4), into the valve seat, optimizing the dimensions of the transition angle, guide angle and discharge angle. In versions comprising a one-piece guide element (40), wear is reduced by the fact that the ball primarily carries out a sealing function and a guide function to a lesser degree.

A method and apparatus for the singulation of valve plates and/or assembled valves from a lead-frame are described. The method and apparatus utilizes an electric current to fuse tabs which join the valve plate and/or the assembled valve to the lead-frame. The valve comprises a first and second valve plate with offsetting apertures and a flap disposed and movable between the first and second plates.

An iron-based alloy includes (in weight percent) carbon from about 1 to about 2 percent; manganese up to about 1 percent; silicon up to about 1 percent; nickel up to about 4 percent; chromium from about 10 to about 25 percent; molybdenum from about 5 to about 20 percent; tungsten up to about 4 percent; cobalt from about 17 to about 23 percent; vanadium up to about 1.5 percent; boron up to about 0.2 percent; sulfur up to about 0.03 percent; nitrogen up to about 0.4 percent; phosphorus up to about 0.06 percent; niobium up to about 4 percent; iron from about 35 to about 55 percent; and incidental impurities. The chromium/molybdenum ratio of the iron-based alloy is from about 1 to about 2.5. The alloy is suitable for use in elevated temperature applications, such as valve seat inserts for combustion engines.

A shower system and diverter valve assembly. The shower system includes two shower devices. The diverter valve assembly may include a pull diverter valve assembly coupled between a shower arm and a hand shower hose. In operation, by applying a force (e.g., a pulling force), the pull diverter valve assembly selectively directs water flow to the shower head or to the hand shower. The diverter valve assembly may include a toggle diverter valve assembly including a portion coupled to a hand shower.

A method of refurbishing a damaged valve is disclosed that generally includes receiving a valve housing having generally collinear inlet and outlet ports in the side walls thereof and an interior annular face about each of the inlet and outlet ports, the housing comprising a first metal with a yield strength and the side walls having a predetermined thickness, creating an annular groove about an interior annular face of the inlet port, creating an annular groove about an interior annular face of the outlet port, and placing a second metal within each of the annular grooves, the second metal having a yield strength, wherein the yield strength of the first metal is less than the yield strength of the second metal.

A solenoid valve for metering a fluid into an intake tract (1) of an engine, said solenoid valve comprising a solenoid assembly (2), an armature (3) interacting with the solenoid assembly (2) and a stroke-movable valve disc (4) connected to the armature (3) for opening and closing at least one through-flow aperture (6) formed in a valve plate (5).

A plug valve including a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a central chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port. The valve also includes an inlet seal segment within the central chamber and includes a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the inlet port. An outlet seal segment is disposed within the central chamber having a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the outlet port. A plug member is disposed in the central chamber and is moveable between an open position, to facilitate fluid flow through the plug valve, and a closed position, to block fluid flow through the plug valve. First and second side segments are disposed between and interlocked to the inlet and outlet seal segments to encircle the plug member. The side segments are tensioned to preload the seal segments against the plug member to prevent the flow of fluid between the seal segments and the plug member.