Fluid handling – Larner-johnson type valves; i.e. – telescoping internal valve...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-04-17
Michalsky, Gerald A. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Larner-johnson type valves; i.e., telescoping internal valve...
C251S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216721
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to pressure-operated control valves and particularly to a pressure operated control valve with a simplified axial construction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A large number of pressure-operated control valves have been developed. In these types of valves, a pressurized fluid (water, air or other liquid or gas) selectively closes or opens a seal in the valve to regulate the flow of liquids or gases through the valve. Two examples of valves which belong to this large family include diaphragm valves (in which a pressurized fluid selectively forces a diaphragm against a valve seat to shut off the flow of a liquid) and globe valves (which have a somewhat globe-shaped housing including a control chamber in which a fluid pressure controls passage of a liquid through the control chamber).
A problem which challenges design of prior art pressure-operated control valves is attaining good flow characteristics, i.e., minimizing pressure drop and turbulence through the valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved pressure-operated control valve with a simplified construction which has significant advantages over prior art control valves. The valve of the present invention is distinguished by its simplistic construction which achieves a low pressure drop through the valve, reduces turbulence of fluid flow therethrough, and greatly reduces manufacturing costs.
The valve of the present invention has a modular construction in which all parts are mechanically linked together by a single shaft bolt. This bolt acts a guide for a cone-tipped piston which is selectively urged by fluid pressure against a valve seat to shut off flow of a liquid or gas through the valve. The piston is the only moving part in the valve. The cone-shaped tip of the piston helps streamline flow through the valve and thereby reduce pressure drop therethrough. In addition, there are several circumferential apertures within the valve housing through which the liquid or gas flows. These apertures help ensure uniform and stable flow.
The valve has inlet and outlet ports which are identical in shape, thereby reducing manufacturing and inventory costs.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the piston tip does not have an O-ring but rather seats against an O-ring secured to the valve seat. This construction educes manufacturing costs and prolongs the service life of the piston-valve seat seal.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a control valve including a housing, a pair of end caps sealingly attached to the housing, each end cap being formed with a bore for flow of a fluid therethrough, a shaft fixedly attached to the end caps and which passes through the housing, a piston housing disposed in the housing and secured between the end caps, the piston housing being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures for flow of a fluid therethrough, a valve seat sealingly secured to one of the end caps, and a piston sealingly disposed in the piston housing, arranged to slide along the shaft and selectively sealingly abut against the valve seat, wherein when the piston does not sealingly abut against the valve seat, a fluid can flow through the bore of one of the end caps, past the apertures of the piston housing, between the piston housing and the housing and out through the bore of the other end cap.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the valve seat includes a seal attached thereto and the piston selectively sealingly abuts against the seal.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the piston includes a generally cone-shaped tip which selectively sealingly abuts against the valve seat.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the piston is formed with an outlet-end facing bore in which is disposed a biasing device which tends to urge the piston towards an inlet end of the valve.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a fluid fitting is attached to and fluidly communicating with the piston housing at an aperture formed in the piston housing near an outlet end of the piston.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention one of the end caps is formed with an inlet port and the other of the end caps is formed with an outlet port, the ports fluidly communicating with the bore formed in the corresponding end cap, and wherein the ports are in fluid communication with the fluid fitting and wherein the ports and the fluid fitting are connected by means of a fluid device. The fluid device may be manually or automatically controlled.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention each end cap is formed with a central bore and a hub which is supported by a plurality of ribs which extend from an inner perimeter of the bore, and the shaft is fixedly attached to the hubs.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the end caps are identical in construction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3617151 (1971-11-01), Scroggins
patent: 5069246 (1991-12-01), Booyens
Bermad
Michalsky Gerald A.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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