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Magician Harry Houdini patented a "Diver's Suit" enabling the wearer to "quickly divest himself of the suit while being submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7334771 | Device for locking and/or sealing a conduit The invention relates to a blocking apparatus for blocking and/or sealing off a line for transporting—preferably hot—media, in particular dust-laden gases, preferably for blocking and/or sealing off a line for transporting hot gases which may be laden with solid... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7328881 | Evacuating valve An evacuating valve includes a chamber port structure to be connected to a vacuum vessel in which a plasma is produce to create a plasma atmosphere, a pump port structure to be connected to a vacuum pump; a valve casing defining a passage connecting the chamber port... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7163186 | Quick-closing valve for the interruption of a fluid flow A valve housing 1 with valve seat 10 incorporated in a fluid line features a closing element 2 with a valve disk 11 and a valve stem 12 extending through and sealed in the housing wall which, on the outer side, is locked by means o... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7126486 | Method and apparatus for moisture detection in exterior sheathing of residential and commercial buildings An automated device monitors moisture content in exterior sheathing of a building for detecting moisture intrusion into the sheathing walls. A plurality of moisture sensors are embedded in selected exterior walls of the building behind the cladding and are adapted t... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7069137 | Valve flow metering control system and method A turbine valve control system is provided. The turbine valve control system includes a variable flow metering device, a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, a fourth sensor, memory, and processing circuitry. The variable flow metering device is capable of... | 06/27/2006 |
| 6837474 | Electrically operated remote trip mechanism and method A mechanism and method for controlling an external member, such as the shut off valve of a steam turbine, from a remote location according to which latching and tripping devices are connected to the plunger of a solenoid so that the control of the external member is... | 01/04/2005 |
| 6820856 | Manually-opened and latchable with only residual magnetism, two-way two-position fluid control valve assembly and methods of operation A disclosed is a 2-way 2-position fluid control valve assembly operable to manually open and automatically block fluid flow therethrough. The fluid control valve assembly includes a valve and an electromagnetic actuator having an armature and a pole piece. The valve... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6470905 | Multifunctional urgent shutoff safety valves The present invention relates to the multifunctional urgent shutoff safety valve for preventing accidents such as gas explosion, fire, etc. in advance. It is installed at the gas supply path. The spool assembly run by earthquake accelerations in case of a... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6286537 | Thermally-actuated switch assembly A thermally-actuated switch assembly is capable of controlling an associated device in the event of a sensed temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold. A first switch in the form of for example a fuse is used to sense the temperature to which the de... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6269830 | Extended area thermal activation device A method for protection of a object subject to damage under thermally hazardous conditions having a triggerable safety appliance in which an elongated shaped memory alloy material having a first end and a second end is extended over an entire area to be p... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6206337 | Automatic flood control ball valve An automatic shutoff valve for shutting off the main water supply to a building in the case of detected water leak. A ball valve is provided with a mounting kit for rendering the valve automatic. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to fit over the va... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6170798 | Fluid detection and shutoff actuation apparatus retrofitable on fluid shutoff valve A fluid detection and shutoff actuation apparatus includes a rotatable plate mountable over a shaft of a shutoff valve, a linear actuator spaced from the plate, a trigger disposed between the actuator and plate, a fluid detector, and a control mechanism c... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6170509 | Safety valve system A safety device for shutting off a gas valve at the detection of a gas leak has an add-on adaptor device having a first knob mounted over an existing gas knob and affixed thereto; a spindle coupled to the first knob, capable of rotating the fist knob, and... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6129333 | Spring locking mechanism Apparatus for rapidly changing the state of a device from an active state to an inactive state. The apparatus includes an inner member slidably contained in an outer member. The member is connected to an actuator and the other to a control for changing th... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6047945 | Electromagnetic valve construction The invention relates to an electromagnetic valve having a passage therethrough and a closure member which is reciprocable between first and second positions in whoch the passage is openend and closed. An electromagnectic controllable actuator effects mov... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6032745 | Valve for fire suppression device A fire suppression valve for use with a cannister of fire suppression material. The valve has a housing with a central connection for attachment to the cannister and communicating with a central chamber. The central chamber has a relatively smaller outlet... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6029947 | Safety valve for fire suppression device A fire suppression valve for use with a cannister of fire suppression material. The valve has a safety shuttle valve located in a discharge port for preventing unintended discharge of fire suppression material in the absence of connection to a discharge h... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5966076 | Fluid leak detector and shut-off device The invention is a shut-off device for a gas or liquid conduit that closes the conduit upon receiving a signal from a leak detector. The shut off device is a spring biased full flow ball valve positioned in the fluid conduit that closes upon receiving a s... | 10/12/1999 |
| 5934313 | Fluid flow control valve A fluid flow control valve suitable for fitting to the fuel line (16, 18) of an internal combustion engine has a valve member (12) and a spring (14) urging the valve member (12) to a closed position where the valve member seals against a valve seat (13). ... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5782263 | Flood control device A flood control device 200 which measures the volume of fluid delivered in a continuous steady flow to a house or building and which shuts off the fluid flow if a preset maximum limit is reached, indicating overly high consumption due to a leak, break or ... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5728001 | Remotely trippable and resettable damper A fail-safe closed damper for installation in a system of ducts. The damper includes at least one damper blade connected to a spring-loaded shaft. A power-actuated unit is employed to disengage a coupling which interconnects the spring-loaded shaft to an ... | 03/17/1998 |
| 5697397 | Remote valve control actuator apparatus An apparatus for controlling the a valve by a coded electromagnetic signal comprises a saddle assembly for installation on a valve. The saddle assembly includes an aperture allowing for placement over a valve stem and a valve saddle having two arm element... | 12/16/1997 |
| 5533929 | Remotely trippable and resettable damper A fail-safe closed damper for installation in a system of ducts. The damper includes at least one damper blade connected to a spring-loaded shaft. A power-actuated unit is employed to disengage a coupling which interconnects the spring-loaded shaft to an ... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5396770 | Electrothermal actuator with latch mechanism An electrothermal actuator includes a housing containing a working fluid and a heater disposed in the fluid within the housing. A piston is slidably disposed in the housing for movement in response to heating and cooling of the working fluid. An output me... | 03/14/1995 |
| 5238220 | Manually and electrically controlled butterfly valve A butterfly valve is utilized to control air flow in the environmental control air distribution system of an aircraft. A linkage system enables the valve to be manually controlled under normal conditions but to be shut off remotely in case of an emergency... | 08/24/1993 |
| 5205252 | Engine air shutdown valve An engine air shutdown valve comprising a gate which is movable from a first position wherein the air flow passage of an engine is relatively unimpeded to a second position where the air flow passage is closed thereby terminating operation of the engine. ... | 04/27/1993 |
| 5193993 | Safe gas valve A gas valve having a main valve closure member whose position is controlled both by a pivoting lever arrangement and a thermostatically controlled solenoid. The closure member is biased toward the lever by a spring between the closure member and the lever... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5193780 | Low friction ball valve A low friction ball valve used for instance in an automatic shutoff valve system. The valve mechanism includes a spring loaded ball valve normally latched in the open position which is unlatched and hence closes in one version by the contraction of a BioM... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5152145 | Turbocharger waste gate brake and system therefor A waste gate brake device (50,110,200) for controlling a waste gate (34) of a turbocharger (20) comprising: a housing (52, 112) defining a chamber (54;116) and first opening (58a,b;122) into the chamber; a shaft (60) adapted to be connected to and movable... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5044701 | Elastic body apparatus especially intended for an anti-lock brake system An elastic body apparatus includes a pneumatic pressure sealing member formed of a hollow flexible material and sealing therein a high pressure pneumatic gas, a movable member driven by an external force against the pressure of the pneumatic pressure seal... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5010911 | Electromagnetic valve operator A bi-stable electromagnet operator having an armature plate which is held in a first position by a permanent magnet and in a second position by a spring. An electromagnet is provided to enable the armature plate to move from the first position to the seco... | 04/30/1991 |
| 4974812 | Quick opening solenoid actuated valve A valve for controlling release of a pressurized fluid comprising a housing having a fluid chamber with an inlet and an outlet port. A piston within the housing is slidably movable between a sealed closed position and an open position. A collapsed support... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4945579 | Drain valve activator assembly A drain valve activator assembly for a container such as a bathtub is disclosed. In one embodiment, there is an overflow plate mountable on a side wall of the tub at the overflow outlet. A stem is positioned through the plate so as to rotate on its own lo... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4891994 | Linear electromechanical actuator A linear electromechanical actuator has a spring-loaded plunger disposed in a housing. When a solenoid in the housing is energized, the armature of the solenoid moves linearly and, after some initial "lost" motion, engages and releases the latch mechanism... | 01/09/1990 |
| 4878646 | Pinch valve mechanism for a parenteral infusion system A pinch valve mechanism for a parenteral infusion system is provided which includes a spring-loaded pinch valve. The pinch valve is manually latched to its open position. A bobbin and cam mechanism includes a length of wire which contracts when a current ... | 11/07/1989 |
| 4815697 | Depressurization valve A depressurization valve for use in relieving completely the pressure in a simplified boiling water reactor is disclosed. The normally closed and sealed valve is provided with a valve body defining a conduit from an outlet of a manifold from the reactor t... | 03/28/1989 |
| 4805657 | Method and apparatus for remote control of an underwater valve Improved techniques are provided for opening or closing an underwater valve in a subsea fluid pipeline utilizing an acoustic signal transmitted from the surface to a receiver adjacent the valve. A predetermined torquing force is applied to a shaft directl... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4779839 | System for actuating an electrical valve from a remote location A system for actuating an electrical valve from a remote location with a battery includes an energy storage means for actuating the valve, a charging circuit for charging the energy storage means from the battery to a sufficient potential to actuate the v... | 10/25/1988 |
| 4750705 | Magnetic quick action valve A quick action valve for use with fluid or vacuum lines has a permanent magnet assembly for urging the valve member onto the valve seat. The valve is normally opened and is so designed that after closing it may not reopen of its own accord whatever the la... | 06/14/1988 |
| 4715405 | Solenoid valve, particularly for apparatus for removing a milking set This valve may be used for operating a removing apparatus for a milking set. It has such low energy comnsumption, that simple batteries may be used so that a cow-shed need not be provided with electric current conduits. It is characterized in that the val... | 12/29/1987 |
