1-12. (canceled)
13. A method of inhibiting sprouting in potato tubers during storage, comprising
simultaneously or substantially simultaneously applying to the potato tubers a composition comprising
i) one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes;
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes;
C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols;
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols; and
ii) one or more sprout inhibitors selected from the group consisting of chlorpropham (CIPC), dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC and said CIPC is applied at a rate of 1-14 mgkg of potato tubers.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said method is carried out when sprouts begin to appear on said potato tubers.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes, said C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic ketones, said C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols, and said C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols are applied indirectly as a result of the application of a precursor compound.
17. The method of claim 13 25, wherein said essential oil is clove oil or mint oil.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is trans-2-nonenal and said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-decen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is DMN; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents 2-decanone and said one or more sprout inhibitors is DIPN; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-decen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is clove oil; said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-nonen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC.
19. A method of inhibiting sprouting in potato tubers during storage, comprising
applying chlorpropham (CIPC) to the potato tubers after wound healing and prior to sprouting at a rate of 1-14 mgkg of potato tubers, and, when sprouts begin to appear,
applying to the potato tubers one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes;
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes;
C3 to C 14 saturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols; and
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of applying CIPC is carried out 2-8 weeks after transfer of the potato tubers to storage.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of applying one or more sprout inhibiting agents is carried out 30-45 days after said step of applying CIPC.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of repeating the step of applying one or more sprout inhibiting agents multiple times during storage of the potato tubers.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of repeating is performed at time intervals of from 4 to 12 weeks.
24. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of applying maleic hydrazide (MH) to the potato tubers prior to harvest.
25. A composition for inhibiting sprouting of potato tubers during storage, comprising
i) one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes;
\u03b1,\u03b2-unsaturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes;
C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic ketones;
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols; and
C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols; and
ii) CIPC.
26. The composition of claim 25, wherein said composition is formulated such that when applied, CIPC is applied at a rate of 1-14 mgkg of potato tubers.
27. The composition of claim 25, further comprising one or more of dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil.
28. The method composition of claim 27, wherein said essential oil is clove oil or mint oil.
29. The composition of claim 25, wherein said composition comprises: trans-2-nonenal plus CIPC; 3-decen-2-one plus CIPC, or 3-nonen-2-one plus CIPC.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising
an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles, wherein the magnet is disk shaped;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and wherein the valve plate has a circumferential edge, and wherein the valve plate is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the circumferential edge of the valve plate.
2. The excess flow valve of claim ,1 wherein the magnet retention structure comprises a plurality of guide protrusions extending from said arms.
3. The excess flow valve of claim 2, wherein the magnet retention structure further comprises a clip portion disposed on at least one of said plurality of guide protrusions that hold said magnet.
4. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising: a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion,and a magnet retention structure; a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles, wherein the magnet is disk shaped; a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and wherein the valve body further comprises at least one contact pad that contacts the valve plate when the valve plate is in the open position.
5. The excess flow valve of claim 4, wherein said at least one contact pad is formed as a protrusion connected to said plurality of arms.
6. The excess flow valve of claim 4, wherein said at least one contact pad comprises a plurality of contact pads, and wherein said plurality of contact pads together contact less than 10% of a surface of the valve plate.
7. The excess flow valve of claim 4, wherein said at least one contact pad comprises at least three contact pads.
8. The excess flow valve of claim 4, wherein said plurality of arms extend upstream and emanate inwardly from the outer peripheral portion to form said at least one contact pad at the point said plurality of arms join the outer peripheral portion.
9. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve plate having an edge; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.
10. The excess flow valve of claim 9, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles.
11. The excess flow valve of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of contact pads that contact the valve plate when the valve plate is in the open position.
12. The excess flow valve of claim 11, wherein the plurality of contact pads are formed as protrusions extending from said plurality of arms.
13. The excess flow valve of claim 11, wherein said plurality of arms extend upstream and emanate inwardly from the outer peripheral portion to form contact pads at the point said plurality of arms join the outer peripheral portion.
14. The excess flow valve of claim 11, wherein said plurality of contact pads together contact less than 10% of a surface of the valve plate.
15. The excess flow valve of claim 9, wherein the magnet is disk shaped.
16. The excess flow valve of claim 9, wherein the magnet is annular.
17. The excess flow valve of claim 9, wherein the magnet retention structure comprises a plurality of guide protrusions extending from said arms.
18. The excess flow valve of claim 17, wherein the magnet retention structure further comprises a clip portion disposed on at least one of said plurality of guide protrusions that hold said magnet.
19. A fluid flow control system, comprising:
a conduit;
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve plate having an edge; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.
20. The fluid flow control system of claim 19, wherein the valve seat is a surface in an inner portion of the conduit.
21. The fluid flow control system of claim 19, wherein the valve seat is disposed such that it terminates substantially at an end of a conduit section.
22. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles that are substantially perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow through the excess flow valve;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.