Lost Motion, Abutment Or Resilient Connection Between Actuator And Valve Patents (Class 251/63.4)
  • Patent number: 6851477
    Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling fluid flow in a well bore. In one embodiment, the subsurface safety valve includes a tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a curved flapper removably connected to the tubular member. The curved flapper is configured to pivot against the tubular member between an open position and a closed position. The subsurface safety valve further includes a hard seat positioned inside the tubular member, in which the hard seat defines a seating surface configured to receive a sealing surface defined on a bottom periphery portion of the curved flapper to form a sealing interface having a slope that varies along the sealing interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Hill, Jr., Robert A. Jancha, Robert C. Henschel
  • Patent number: 6820645
    Abstract: An unlockable non-return valve reduces the tendency of the poppet piston to jam by providing a first insert that has a guide diameter for the poppet piston over just a short section of its end side facing the piston collar, and wherein a supporting ring is arranged axially between the high-pressure seal and the first insert in a receiving element, the diameter of which is substantially smaller than the outside diameters of the inserts, the supporting ring likewise being produced from a metallic material having good sliding properties and being produced with a narrow clearance from the end section of the poppet piston and with a large radial clearance from the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventors: Helmut Behl, Karl J. H. Cords, Dragoljub Djenadija, Helmut Etzel, Frank Hofmann, Michael Reinert, Bruno Schneider
  • Patent number: 6808158
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve control arrangement is provided with a control line of a control cylinder, the control line being connected to a first oil volume, with a first control piston having a first control face and operatively connected to the first oil volume, and with a plunger piston which is arranged between the first control piston and an outlet valve and has a second control face and which is operatively connected to a second oil volume. A first control edge is provided between the control cylinder and the first control piston. The control edge switches a first throughflow connection between the first oil volume and the second oil volume operatively connected to a third control face of the first control piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Volker Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6802295
    Abstract: An air intake shutoff device is disclosed for an engine. The device includes at least two air shutoff valve assemblies. Each of these assemblies has a gate for controlling air flow into the engine. A linkage couples together the gates of each of the air shutoff valve assemblies such that closing of one gate of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies effectuates closing of all other gates of the at least two air shutoff valve assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Matthew Ross Bedwell, Jeffrey Yeager
  • Patent number: 6792844
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for raising and lowering aircraft landing gear (11, 12) includes an actuator (18) which is extendible and retractable to operate the landing gear, the actuator (18) including a movable member (19) in a casing (20), the movable member (19) being moved relative to the casing (20) in a first direction to extend the actuator (18) when fluid under pressure is supplied to a first side (22) of the movable member (19) while fluid is exhausted from a second side (23) of the movable member (19), and the movable member (19) being moved in a second direction to retract the actuator (18) when fluid under pressure is supplied to the second side (23) of the movable member (19) while fluid is exhausted from the first side (22) of the movable member (19), and there being selector valve (25) selectively to supply pressurized fluid to the first (22) or second (23) side of the movable member (19), and a check valve (40) to permit exhausted fluid from at least one of the first (22) and second (23) sides of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell Normalair-Garrett (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Colin Robert Gedge, Andrew Bramwell
  • Patent number: 6736092
    Abstract: In an internal-combustion engine equipped with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the inlet and/or exhaust valves of the engine, the hydraulic system for actuation of the valves includes, for each engine valve, a solenoid valve for controlling the corresponding hydraulic actuator. Each solenoid valve is controlled according to a pre-set control criterion according to the operating parameters of the engine, said pre-set control criterion corresponding to reference operating conditions of the hydraulic fluid and, in particular, to the value of viscosity of the hydraulic fluid, which varies with temperature. The aforesaid control criterion is, however, adjusted according to an estimated deviation between reference operating conditions of the hydraulic fluid and actual operating conditions of the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Perazioni
    Inventors: Fabio Borean, Mitzi Puccio
  • Publication number: 20040051065
    Abstract: A dual-magnet valve unit having a first master magnet ring assembly with an outer casing slidably contained within an outer housing that forms a chamber with the casing of the master magnet ring assembly and a second, slave magnet disk assembly with an outer tube and a poppet member in the form of a cone and displaceable within the inner transport fluid conduit, the inner transport fluid conduit having a valve seat contactable by the cone of the poppet member to block fluid flow through the fluid conduit in one position of the slave magnet disk assembly and displaceable from the cone to pass fluid flow through the fluid conduit in an opposite position of the slave magnet disk assembly, the master magnet ring assembly being displaced by selective supply of a motive fluid to the chamber to displace the master magnet ring assembly from one position to another, which automatically displaces the slave magnet ring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: John P. Petro, Donald Burch, Jeremy F. Mayer
  • Patent number: 6685164
    Abstract: The control valve according to the present invention has a high durability, so that the valve is not easily damaged even in case that the valve is provided in a corrosion gas current path. The valve has a construction such that a diaphragm (4) is contained in the valve body (2), which has a valve chamber (23) between the gas current in path (25) and the gas current out path (26). The diaphragm 4 is urged against an opening (252) formed in the center of the valve seat 231 in the valve chamber (23) to open and close the opening. The valve has a valve control member (5), which has a clamping member (3) to clamp the diaphragm and is made to contact to the diaphragm from outside to open and close the opening. The diaphragm has an urging member (41) made of ceramic, which is fixed to the opening (252) side of the diaphragm so that the resistance to corrosion of the diaphragm is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hamai Industries Limited
    Inventors: Masao Koizumi, Koichi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6666271
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a curved flapper and seat for use in a subsurface safety valve. The flapper is biased to a normally closed position to prevent fluid flow through the wellbore. The curved flapper has a sealing surface for engaging a corresponding sealing surface on a seat when the flapper is in its closed position. The sealing surface of the flapper is configured to contact the sealing surface of the seat along a sinusoidal sealing line, or seam, such that the reactive force from the seat is normal to the sinusoidal seating line. In one aspect, the sealing surface of the flapper has a convex spherical configuration relative to the seat. The sealing surface of the seat, in turn, has a concave conical shape relative to the flapper. When well conditions dictate, a resilient soft seat may optionally be used, and is disposed on the seat proximate the sinusoidal seating line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Deaton, Robert Allen Jancha
  • Patent number: 6659757
    Abstract: A valve for controlling the flow of a high pressure fluid is provided. The valve provides a reliable way of controlling the flow of high pressure fluids in applications requiring multiple cycles where equipment may be exposed to environmentally harsh conditions, such as high temperatures and pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Trexel, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Y. Kim, Theodore A. Burnham
  • Patent number: 6651687
    Abstract: A pressure relief system for detecting and correcting an overpressure situation in a pressurized fluid. The system includes a pressure responsive member such as a buckling pin configured to mechanically collapse when a predetermined force is applied to the member. An actuator assembly axially compresses the member in response to the pressure of the fluid and rotates a first shaft upon mechanical collapse of the member. A bypass valve assembly establishes a bypass path for the fluid upon rotation of a second shaft. A clutch mechanism decouples the first and second shafts prior to and during initial stages of mechanical collapse of the member and subsequently couples the first and second shafts during remaining stages of mechanical collapse of the member. In this way, forces associated with the bypass valve assembly are isolated from the actuator assembly during steady state operation and during the initial stages of mechanical collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Taylor Innovations, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Julian S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6637723
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow. The valve include a support element providing a flow path, at least a portion of the flow path extending along an axis of flow through the valve. A flexible element is compressible against the support element to interrupt the flow path and restrict fluid flow through the valve. An actuating element is movable along the axis of flow to engage and deform the flexible element against the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. L. Pedersen, Steven J. Goldrich, Stephanie J. Moehnke
  • Publication number: 20030111622
    Abstract: A modular, actuated valve controlled by means of pressure fluids comprising a head plate mounted on a housing plate mounted on a base plate, held together by screws, having a piston with attached valve spindle and a pressure relief space provided between the flow passage 28, 29 and the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Jahn, Rainer Krautkramer, Emil Ferver
  • Publication number: 20030107014
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve control arrangement is provided with a control line of a control cylinder, the control line being connected to a first oil volume, with a first control piston having a first control face and operatively connected to the first oil volume, and with a plunger piston which is arranged between the first control piston and an outlet valve and has a second control face and which is operatively connected to a second oil volume. A first control edge is provided between the control cylinder and the first control piston. The control edge switches a first throughflow connection between the first oil volume and the second oil volume operatively connected to a third control face of the first control piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Volker Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6536740
    Abstract: A valve and valve actuator utilizing a disconnected piston design that separates under conditions of excessive actuator internal pressure to prevent overloading and damaging the threaded connection between the valve stem and actuator piston is disclosed. The hydraulically actuated valve actuator comprises a spring housing including a bonnet for coupling the spring housing to a valve. The spring housing includes an upper head and a packing gland that are sealingly attached to the spring housing to form an interior pressure chamber. The interior pressure chamber has a pressure responsive actuator piston disposed therein with a coil spring designed to move the actuator piston from a normally open to a fail closed position. The pressure responsive actuator piston includes a piston and a spring retainer nut that are separable after closing of the valve to prevent ambient pressure acting within the pressure chamber on the pressure responsive actuator piston from overloading the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Jim P. Hademenos, Randall D. Harkins, Thomas P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6517342
    Abstract: A device for igniting fuel, comprising at least one burner, the device comprising ignition means comprising an ignition element, the ignition means further comprising a movable element which is connected to a fluid line, such that a fluid contained in the fluid line, when it flows, creates a pressure difference across the movable element, as a result of which the movable element is set in motion, the movable element being connected with the ignition element, such that the movement of the movable element generates via the ignition element and ignition temperature by means of which the fuel is caused to combust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Gastec N.V.
    Inventor: Geuko van der Veen
  • Patent number: 6422127
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuation arrangement including a double-action working cylinder whose working chambers are in communication via a mutually unseatable check valve with one side of a reversible pressure medium source, respectively, whereby each working chamber is connected to a pressure medium reservoir by a pressure-relief valve or pressurizing valve, and at least one working chamber is furthermore connected to the pressure medium reservoir via an additional pressurizing valve. When an additional pressurizing valve is provided with two different pressure threshold values, the manual force used in emergency operation is therefore clearly reduced after introduction of the manual movement whereby these force levels for both movement directions may be selected independently from the maximum system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hoerbiger Hydraulik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Huber, Bernhard Hollerbach
  • Patent number: 6341758
    Abstract: A novel gas control module switch mechanism includes a diaphragm means, a valve body, a piston means and a fastening means. The diaphragm means has a plurality of diaphragms and a seal plate sandwiched between a first and a second diaphragm. The first diaphragm has a center opening to prevent the first diaphragm from making direct sealing contact. Sealing is done through the seal plate. The seal plate is made of a soft material for obtaining improved sealing effect and longer durability. The valve body has a bulged ring around an opening plane and a bulged body ring for enhancing sealing effect when the seal plate making contact with the bulged ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wun-Chang Shih, Dong-Cheh Ju, Yun-Chuan Tu, Yung-Tien Peng
  • Publication number: 20010054442
    Abstract: An especially for the subterranean mining industry intended non-return valve which is very safe and has a long life-cycle contains a valve piston 10 which is set in a case 18 against the pressure of the valve spring 12 which can be manipulated via the control piston 6. The case 18 contains an inner chamber 19 which is connected to the water release opening and the drilling of the casing via a connecting drilling 25. Thus, a hydraulic damping can be achieved which together with the shape of the valve piston 10 as a plastic piston guarantee for a long life-cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Wolfgang Voss
  • Patent number: 6289926
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough is disclosed. The flapper valve assembly (120) comprises a tubular valve housing having a valve chamber. A valve seat (124) is mounted within the housing. The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126). The valve seat (124) also has an internal load bearing shoulder (134). A flapper closure plate (122) is rotatably disposed within the valve chamber. The flapper closure plate (122) is rotatable between a valve open position in which the flapper closure plate (122) is removed from the valve seat (124) and a valve closed position in which the sealing surface (128) of the flapper closure plate (122) sealingly engages the valve seat sealing surface (126) for preventing flow through the flapper valve assembly (120). The maximum travel of the flapper closure plate (122) in the closed position is defined by the internal load bearing shoulder (134) of the valve seat (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart M. Dennistoun
  • Patent number: 6263910
    Abstract: A valve (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough in downhole applications is disclosed. The valve (120) comprises a valve housing having a valve closure mechanism (122) and a valve seat (124) disposed therein. The valve closure mechanism (122) has sealing surface (128) and a secondary load bearing surface (142). The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126) that mates with the sealing surface (128) of the valve closure mechanism (122). The secondary load bearing surface (142) of the valve closure mechanism (122) mates with a valve secondary load bearing surface (134) which may be supported by the valve seat (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Ray Davis, Stuart Morton Dennistoun
  • Patent number: 6223824
    Abstract: A downhole ball-valve (20) comprises a body (22) defining a bore (32), a valve ball (34) defining a through passage (36) such that the ball (34) may be positioned to permit flow through the body bore (32) or to close the bore, and a sealing assembly (44) located to one side of the ball and defining a valve seat (50, 53) for forming a sealing contact with the ball (34) and a seal between the body and the assembly. A fluid pressure force applied at one side of the ball (34) tends to urge the valve seat (50, 53) towards the ball (34) and a fluid pressure force applied at the other side of the ball tends to urge the ball towards the valve seat. The sealing assembly forms part of a ball carriage which is axially movable in the bore, axial movement of the carriage inducing rotation of the ball between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Barnes Moyes
  • Patent number: 6213106
    Abstract: A fluid operated valve assembly is disclosed including a housing defining a cylinder, a piston arranged for reciprocal motion in the cylinder, a fluid inlet for admitting fluid into the working chamber of the cylinder to cause the piston to be displaced therein, a valve closure, a valve seat and a connector connecting the piston to the valve closure such that the closure is in an open position and the piston is in one end position and the valve closure sealingly engages the valve seat when the piston is in the other end position, the connector having a length which is variable dependent on the fluid pressure in the working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Nils Olof HÃ¥kansson
  • Patent number: 6196261
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough is disclosed. The flapper valve assembly (120) comprises a tubular valve housing having a valve chamber. A valve seat (124) is mounted within the housing. The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126). The valve seat (124) also has an internal load bearing shoulder (134). A flapper closure plate (122) is rotatably disposed within the valve chamber. The flapper closure plate (122) is rotatable between a valve open position in which the flapper closure plate (122) is removed from the valve seat (124) and a valve closed position in which the sealing surface (128) of the flapper closure plate (122) sealingly engages the valve seat sealing surface (126) for preventing flow through the flapper valve assembly (120). The maximum travel of the flapper closure plate (122) in the closed position is defined by the internal load bearing shoulder (134) of the valve seat (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart M. Dennistoun