Coaxial Spring Biasing Means Between Valve And Actuator Patents (Class 251/63.6)
  • Patent number: 6793194
    Abstract: An actuator for operation of a valve, said actuator comprising tubular housing, which accommodates therein a piston, mounted with possibility for reciprocating linear stroke motion, an operating rod, which is operatively coupled with the piston and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis upon reciprocating stroke motion of the piston and a cam follower arrangement for transferring the piston reciprocating linear stroke motion into rotation of the operating rod, The actuator is provided with at least two fixing rods for preventing rotation of the piston. The fixing rods are rigidly secured at one end wall of the cylinder. The fixing rods extend parallel to the longitudinal axis and enter into respective blind passages provided at the first piston end to allow the linear stroke motion. The actuator is provided with at least two additional fixing rods, to enable the linear stroke motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: BG Tech Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph Grinberg
  • Patent number: 6783107
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator (20) with a built-in hydrostatic pressure compensator (111) is provided. The actuator (20) includes an actuator housing (30), a compensator cylinder portion (86), a compensator piston portion (94), a first compensator piston chamber (98), a second compensator piston chamber (103), a hydraulic port (106), and a hydraulic via (108). The compensator cylinder portion (86) is located within the actuator housing (30), is fixed relative to the housing (30), and has a compensator cylinder internal chamber (88) formed therein. The compensator piston portion (94) slidably fits within the compensator cylinder internal chamber (88). The first compensator piston chamber (98) is formed between a first side (101) of the compensator piston portion (94) and the compensator cylinder portion (86). The second compensator piston chamber (103) is formed between a second side (102) of the compensator piston portion (94) and the compensator cylinder portion (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: HP&T Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay Chatufale
  • Patent number: 6779774
    Abstract: A metal diaphragm valve for use inter alia in semiconductor facilities. This metal diaphragm valve is so designed as to reduce the fluid resistance of the fluid path from the valve chamber to the outflow path of the body and allows a large quantity of fluid to flow in spite of its small size. The metal diaphragm valve of the present invention comprises a body 2 provided with an inflow path 6, a valve chamber 8 and an outflow path 7 and a metal diaphragm 3, driving means 4 and a ring-shaped groove 5, wherein the diameter D of the inflow path 6 is larger than the width W of the ring-shaped groove 5 and the effective cross-sectional area of the regions where the ring-shaped groove 5 and the effective cross-sectional area of the regions where the ring-shaped groove 5 and the outflow path 7 intersect one another is larger than the transverse cross-sectional area of the outflow path 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventor: Shigeru Itoi
  • Publication number: 20040144938
    Abstract: A pilot operated check microvalve comprises a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve actuator arranged to displace the valve body from the closed position thereof against the valve seat. The area of the valve seat and the portion of the area of the pilot actuator affected in an axial direction by the fluid flowing through the valve seat are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Akselberg
  • Publication number: 20040113109
    Abstract: An electro-hydrostatic actuator having a sealed housing filled with a dielectric fluid. A motor driven pump and electronics for controlling the pump are all immersed in the fluid. The pump is arranged to deliver fluid from the housing to a hydraulic cylinder to control the positioning of the piston rod. A solenoid operated valve is integrated as a bypass or tip valve for quick fail safe position. The actuator is ideally suited to control various types of plunger valves. In one embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic cylinder is located outside of the housing and in another embodiment the cylinder is located inside of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Young & Franklin Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Silva
  • Patent number: 6725661
    Abstract: Valve device for evacuation of a gaseous medium under overpressure from a space (3) includes a valve housing (1a) with an opening (2) to the space (3); a valve disc (6) cooperating with a valve spindle (8), sealing the opening in the closed position of the valve and, disposed in a cylinder (12), a control plunger (13) which, via a spring, biases the spindle and thus the valve disc towards the closed position. When pressure medium with a predetermined control pressure is supplied, the plunger is lifted from the valve spindle, whereupon the force from a balancing spring (11) and the medium pressure in the space (3) act in the valve opening direction, while the force of the control pressure acting on the spindle (8) loads the valve disc in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Nils Olof Hakansson
  • Publication number: 20040056225
    Abstract: A pressurized-fluid-operated actuator has multiple piston surfaces for providing increased output force. The actuator includes a stationary cylinder that contains a movable cylinder having multiple inner chambers separated by stationary inner pistons. The inner chambers are in fluid communication with extension and retraction ports provided in the stationary cylinder wall. Introduction of pressurized fluid into one port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n” piston surface(s) to retract the movable cylinder. Introduction of pressurized fluid into the other port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n+1” piston surfaces to provide an increased output force without increasing the diameters of the cylinders and without increasing the pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Rui Novo, James O. Adas
  • Publication number: 20040046135
    Abstract: A valve is formed to resist snap-action closure forces and provides a smooth closing action to minimize or eliminate water hammer. The valve is opened and closed by modulating the relative air pressures above and below a piston in the valve. Because the air pressures above and below the piston produce partially offsetting forces on the piston, the net closure force on the valve plunger is limited, and the rate of valve closure is reduced enough to achieve the effect of minimizing water hammer. A separate vent port volume may vent to atmosphere to further limit valve closure speed, and to further reduce water hammer. The valve can provide the capability to control the flow of fluids over a wide temperature range over a long service life while reducing or eliminating water hammer. The valve is well suited for use in injection mold temperature control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Horst K. Wieder
  • Publication number: 20040007682
    Abstract: A first piston and a second piston are accommodated in a piston chamber of a cylinder. The first piston is connected to a main valve member which opens and closes a main flow passage. The second piston is connected to a second rod having a stopper whose position can be adjusted. Pressure fluid is supplied to the second pressure chamber to move the second piston forward to a position where the stopper abuts against the abutting portion. In this state, pressure fluid is supplied to the first pressure chamber to move the first piston to a position where the first piston abuts against the second piston, thereby opening the main valve member by a stroke of the first piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Publication number: 20040007683
    Abstract: A hydraulic vapor recovery valve comprising a valve body, a top head assembly, and means for demountably attaching the a top head assembly to the valve body. The top head assembly can be removed from the valve body assembly without requiring substantial rotation of the top head assembly which enables the valve to be easily be removed for cleaning without requiring removal of any attached hydraulic lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Betts Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Lee Willetts
  • Patent number: 6655651
    Abstract: An input port 2 and an output port 3 opening in orientations at 90° from each other are connected by a flow path 4, a valve seat 7 formed around an input-side connecting hole 5 can be opened and closed from inside the flow path 4 by a valve body 8 provided to a tip end of a valve shaft 9 for moving forward and rearward by operation of fluid pressure, the valve body 8 moves across a front of an output-side connecting hole 6 in opening and closing of the valve seat 7, a diameter of the valve shaft 9 is formed to be equal to or slightly larger than that of the valve body 8, and a stroke of the valve body 8 for opening and closing the valve seat 7 is set at an amount required to fully open the output-side connecting hole 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Tokuda, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030213519
    Abstract: An air-blow valve configured for clean-in-place capability is provided. The valve comprises a valve body defining a valve seat and internal fluid passageways. The valve further comprises valve components disposed within the valve body, including a plug, a piston, and a spring. The valve is separately operatively connected to a pressurized-air source and to a sanitizing-fluid source. In operation, the spring biases the piston, causing the plug to engage the seat, to prevent undesired fluid flow between the passageways and the connecting conduits. Alternatively, the spring biases the piston, causing the plug to disengage the seat, allowing fluid flow between the passageways and connecting conduits. Pressurized air is used to space the plug from the seat to achieve flow whenever desired, or alternatively to engage the seat to prevent fluid flow when desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: William R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 6644348
    Abstract: A multiport valve is taught for regulating flow of liquid therethrough originating from at least two sources. The valve includes a three cylindrical valve chambers each having a piston residing therein such that through actuation of the pistons flow through each valve chamber can be permitted or stopped independently. There is an inlet port that tangentially intercepts the first cylindrical valve chamber and there is an outlet port that tangentially intercepts an intermediate cylindrical valve chamber. The design of the three valve chambers and the inlet and outlet ports to the valve chambers effectively eliminates any bubble traps in the valve and allows bubbles to be swept from the valve chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven D. Possanza, Angela H. R. Jones, Brian J. Connolly, Edgar P. Lougheed
  • Patent number: 6601603
    Abstract: An air-blow valve configured for clean-in-place capability is provided. The valve comprises a valve body defining a valve seat and internal fluid passageways. The valve further comprises valve components disposed within the valve body, including a plug, a piston, and a spring. The valve is separately operatively connected to a pressurized-air source and to a sanitizing-fluid source. In operation, the spring biases the piston, causing the plug to engage the seat, to prevent undesired fluid flow between the passageways and the connecting conduits. Pressurized air is used to space the plug from the seat to achieve flow whenever desired. Periodic selective movement of the piston to space the plug from the seat, enables the cleaning solution to pass through the body and clean the internal passageways, the seat, and the plug, thereby rendering unnecessary disassembly of the valve and/or removal of the valve from the connecting conduits during valve cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: William R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 6598849
    Abstract: A fail-safe gate valve for sub-sea use features a floating, pressure biased compensating piston whose movement prevents internal pressure buildup from opening movement of the gate. A pre-charged fluid chamber provides the bias on the balancing piston. Using unequal piston diameters reduces the charge pressure. The balancing piston is not connected to the gate so that internal pressures can be employed to act on a net area, which biases the gate toward its fail-safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Loc C. Hoang, Jim E. Kilmoyer
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20030052293
    Abstract: To provide a maintenance-easy two-port valve capable of easily assembling and disassembling a valve body and a bonnet, and preventing the bonnet from being detached from the valve body by an erroneous operation. In a two-port valve 1 having attachment means for detachably attaching a bonnet 21 to a valve body 2, the attachment means includes a plurality of shafts 16 fixedly attached to a valve body 2 and each having an engagement groove 17 on an upper end portion, a handle 31, a plate 41 rotatably provided between an upper end portion of the bonnet 21 and the handle 31 and having an engagement groove 43 engaged to or disengaged from the retaining groove 17 by rotating the plate 41, and an engagement pin 35 engaged with an engagement hole 44 provided in the plate 41 at a push-down position of the handle 31, transmitting the rotation of the handle 31 to the plate 41 and fixedly attached to the handle 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Enzaki, Toyonobu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6494229
    Abstract: In a vacuum valve including a main flow path and an auxiliary flow path for connecting a chamber port and a pump port in parallel, a main valve body for opening and closing a main valve seat in the main flow path, and an auxiliary valve body for opening and closing an auxiliary valve seat in the auxiliary flow path, the main valve body includes, in addition to a valve sealing member for opening and closing the main valve seat in a poppet manner, a flow rate adjusting portion in a gradually-tapered shape to be fitted in an inner hole of the main valve seat and the flow rate adjusting portion functions to gradually increase an exhaust flow rate when the main valve body opens after opening of the auxiliary valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Patent number: 6491059
    Abstract: A smooth exhaust valve includes a main flow path having a large cross-sectional area and an auxiliary flow path having a small cross-sectional area for connecting a first port and a second port in parallel, a main valve body for opening and closing the main flow path, an auxiliary valve body for opening and closing the auxiliary flow path, a first piston for opening and closing the main valve body, a second piston for opening and closing the auxiliary valve body, a first spring device for repulsing the main valve body in a valve-closing direction, a second spring device for repulsing the auxiliary valve body in a valve-closing direction, and an adjusting rod mounted to a valve casing so as to be operated from outside to move forward and rearward and for changing a compressed amount of the second spring device by operation of forward and rearward movements of the adjusting rod to adjust a repulsing force of the second spring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Patent number: 6488258
    Abstract: A releasable check valve for use with very high system pressures. The check valve is formed such that the poppet piston is relatively smooth-running and that good action and a long service life of the seals are obtained, wherein the receiving bore has essentially the same diameter in the region of the inserts and between the inserts. A spacer bushing is arranged axially between the inserts, in which bushing the piston collar can move separating the two annular spaces on both sides of it fluidically from each other. The bore can be machined from one side, so that the inserts are centered precisely with respect to one another and the poppet piston is guided precisely. This reduces the risk of jamming and the risk of an uneven load on the seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventors: Jörg Dantlgraber, Falk Müller
  • Patent number: 6478043
    Abstract: An opening/closing valve comprises a valve body having a first port and a second port for allowing a pressure fluid to flow therethrough, a valve disk for opening/closing a communicating passage between the first port and the second port in accordance with a displacement action of a piston rod, first to third heaters provided on an outer wall surface of the valve body, for heating the valve body, and thermistors for controlling the heating temperatures of the first to third heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuneo Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20020139948
    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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Jim P. Hademenos, Randall D. Harkins, Thomas P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6454237
    Abstract: An air actuated internal valve for a cargo container. The valve generally includes a valve base having a valve disk seat and a line connector extending therefrom. A valve stem having a first end is fixed to the valve base and a valve disk is slidingly mounted on the valve stem. A cylinder assembly is connected to the valve disk and a piston is positioned within the cylinder assembly and fixed to a second end of the valve stem. An air passage communicates through the base and the valve stem in order to provide air to an air space between the piston and a top internal portion of the cylinder assembly. When pressurized air is introduced into the air passage, the cylinder assembly (and thus the valve disk) moves upward, unseating the valve disk from the valve seat. This opens the valve and allows fluid to flow there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan VanDeVyvere, Robert David Weichers, Brent Stewart Hanson
  • Patent number: 6422531
    Abstract: A valve insert comprises a bushing assembly, a piston assembly and a spring. Its design prevents non-longitudinal movement of the piston assembly as it is moved within the longitudinal bore of the bushing assembly. This virtually eliminates the bell clapper effect commonly suffered by many of the valve inserts currently used in the industry. The design of the valve insert also avoids the pressure imbalances inherent to the prior art valve inserts. The valve insert is designed to fit snugly and sealingly within a suitable borehole, such as the fill and cut-out boreholes of an ECP manifold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Wabtec Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Sich
  • Patent number: 6416034
    Abstract: A vent valve insert comprises a bushing assembly, a piston assembly and a spring. It is designed to fit snugly and sealingly within a suitable borehole, such as the vent borehole of an ECP manifold assembly. The bushing assembly defines a longitudinal bore within which the piston assembly is situated. When pilot pressure is applied to its top surface, the piston assembly is forced to an open position wherein fluid is allowed to flow through the vent valve insert. Absent pilot pressure acting against the top surface, the spring acts to force the piston assembly upward within the longitudinal bore. Secured to the bottom portion of the piston assembly, an annular sealing member is carried upward so that its flat surface seats against a raised inner portion of an annular valve seat. The vent valve insert is thus normally biased to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Wabtec Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Sich
  • Patent number: 6405535
    Abstract: A turbocharger comprises a compressor wheel (6) mounted within a compressor housing (5) having a pressurized air outlet, a control valve (12) for regulating the pressure of air supplied from the compressor housing outlet, and pressure operated actuating means (13) mounted to the turbocharger for actuating the control valve. The actuator comprises a case (16) defining a pressure chamber and an inlet for delivering pressure to the chamber, and a substantially rigid connecting pipe (23) of well defined shape extending from the actuator inlet to the compressor housing (5). The end of the connecting pipe (23) remote from the case (16) communicates with the compressor outlet to deliver pressure to the actuator inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: James A. McEwan
  • Publication number: 20020033462
    Abstract: In a vacuum exhaust valve in which a valve seat in a flow path connecting a chamber port and a pump port is opened and closed by a valve body, a flow rate adjusting portion in a gradually-tapered shape to be fitted in an inner hole of the valve seat is provided to the valve body in addition to a valve sealing member for opening and closing the valve seat in a poppet manner and the flow rate adjusting portion functions to gradually increase an exhaust flow rate when the valve body opens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Publication number: 20020033461
    Abstract: In a vacuum valve including a main flow path and an auxiliary flow path for connecting a chamber port and a pump port in parallel, a main valve body for opening and closing a main valve seat in the main flow path, and an auxiliary valve body for opening and closing an auxiliary valve seat in the auxiliary flow path, the main valve body includes, in addition to a valve sealing member for opening and closing the main valve seat in a poppet manner, a flow rate adjusting portion in a gradually-tapered shape to be fitted in an inner hole of the main valve seat and the flow rate adjusting portion functions to gradually increase an exhaust flow rate when the main valve body opens after opening of the auxiliary valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Publication number: 20020027211
    Abstract: A smooth exhaust valve includes a main flow path having a large cross-sectional area and an auxiliary flow path having a small cross-sectional area for connecting a first port and a second port in parallel, a main valve body for opening and closing the main flow path, an auxiliary valve body for opening and closing the auxiliary flow path, a first piston for opening and closing the main valve body, a second piston for opening and closing the auxiliary valve body, a first spring device for repulsing the main valve body in a valve-closing direction, a second spring device for repulsing the auxiliary valve body in a valve-closing direction, and an adjusting rod mounted to a valve casing so as to be operated from outside to move forward and rearward and for changing a compressed amount of the second spring device by operation of forward and rearward movements of the adjusting rod to adjust a repulsing force of the second spring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Kajitani
  • Patent number: 6305836
    Abstract: A homogenization valve includes a housing and stacked valve members within the housing. The valve members have central holes therethrough defining a high pressure volume. Each valve member includes a valve seat defining, with a valve surface, gaps through which fluid is expressed radially from an inside high pressure volume to the outer low pressure volume. An actuator closes one end of the central volume and acts on the valve members to control the width of the gaps. A pressure barrier is positioned within the central volume to reduce the force from the central volume acting on the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: APV North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Jarchau
  • Publication number: 20010023929
    Abstract: An input port 2 and an output port 3 opening in orientations at 90° from each other are connected by a flow path 4, a valve seat 7 formed around an input-side connecting hole 5 can be opened and closed from inside the flow path 4 by a valve body 8 provided to a tip end of a valve shaft 9 for moving forward and rearward by operation of fluid pressure, the valve body 8 moves across a front of an output-side connecting hole 6 in opening and closing of the valve seat 7, a diameter of the valve shaft 9 is formed to be equal to or slightly larger than that of the valve body 8, and a stroke of the valve body 8 for opening and closing the valve seat 7 is set at an amount required to fully open the output-side connecting hole 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Tokuda, Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010019116
    Abstract: A structure of a fluid passage output port of a fluid-operated apparatus comprises a first valve body composed of a resin material and formed with a fluid passage for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough; and a fluid passage output member formed of a resin material to have a substantially cylindrical configuration separately from the first valve body and screwed into a hole of the first valve body by the aid of a male thread; wherein a primary seal portion which intersects an axis of the fluid passage output member and a secondary seal portion which is substantially parallel to the axis are provided at a connecting portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 6276492
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for dispensing a lubricant. The assembly comprises a housing with a cavity and a nozzle member connected to the housing. The housing further includes a lubricant passage connectable to a source of pressurized lubricant and a fluid pressure inlet passage connected to a source of fluid pressure. The assembly further includes a piston member having a predetermined configuration with a first side in fluid communication with the fluid pressure passage and a second side and having a piston cavity formed within. There is a first bore extending through the piston. A retainer member is connected to such first side of the piston member. A valve device is biased by an urging device against the first bore preventing grease from exiting. Another urging device biases the piston to such closed position. A push rod is disposed within the first bore and extends a predetermined distance beyond an end of the second side of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: John B. Carroll
  • Patent number: 6244739
    Abstract: A homogenization valve includes a housing and stacked valve members within the housing. The valve members have central holes therethrough defining a high pressure volume. Each valve member includes a valve seat defining, with a valve surface, gaps through which fluid is expressed radially from an inside high pressure volume to the low pressure volume. The actuator acts on the valve members to control the width of the gaps. The valve member includes circumferentially spaced, compressible spacing elements to maintain the gap. The actuator controls substantially all of the gap widths by compressing the spacing elements. Annular springs are positioned within the high pressure volume in spring-grooves in the valve members to align adjoining pairs of valve members to maintain the stacked member configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: APV North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jarchau, Harald O. Korstvedt, Blaine Potter
  • Patent number: 6244563
    Abstract: An automatic two-stage switching valve includes a valve stem which normally closes a fluid passage by a spring force; a cylinder adopted to accommodate the valve stem; a large flow rate piston and a small flow rate piston that are provided on the valve stem and are slidably fitted in the cylinder; a large flow rate pilot pressure chamber formed in the cylinder; a small flow rate pilot pressure chamber formed in the cylinder; a stopper adopted to restrict the movement of the small flow rate piston; a pilot pressure source adopted to apply the pilot pressure simultaneously to both the large and small flow rate pilot pressure chambers; and a restrictor provided in a connection passage that connects the pilot pressure source to the large flow rate pilot pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Fujikura Rubber Ltd., Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventor: Takashi Ejiri
  • Patent number: 6244562
    Abstract: A multistage switching valve includes a valve stem which is adapted to open or close a fluid passage, a biasing biasing means for biasing the valve stem in a direction to close the fluid passage, a plurality of pistons which are relatively slidably fitted onto the valve stem at different axial positions to provide different flow rates, a plurality of stops which are provided on the valve stem to move the valve stem in a valve opening direction opposite to the direction of the movement of the valve stem caused by the biasing biasing means, together with the pistons when the pistons are moved in the valve opening direction, a valve opening means for exerting a pilot pressure in the valve opening direction on each piston, and a flow rate controller for individually restricting the axial displacements of the pistons in the valve opening direction. A two-stage switching valve and a toggle type two-stage switching valve are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Fujikura Rubber Ltd., Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventor: Takashi Ejiri
  • Patent number: 6237693
    Abstract: A subsurface well safety valve having a flow tube telescopically movable in a housing for controlling the movement of a valve closure member. A piston and cylinder assembly actuates the flow tube and is in communication with hydraulic control fluid from the well surface on one side and a gas biasing chamber on the second side and includes a spring acting on the flow tube to close the valve. An equalizing system equalizes fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston and cylinder assembly in the event of a failure in the seal between the piston and cylinder thereby allowing the spring to close the valve. The equalizing system uses fewer components than previous designs and utilizes a new reference chamber design that allows the reference chamber and the piston to be positioned within the same axial length reducing the overall length of the safety valve over previous designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Camco International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Deaton
  • Patent number: 6237893
    Abstract: An operationally improved gas powered metal discharge valve is disclosed having fewer non-welded internal parts to release pressurized gas into a storage vessel containing granular material for the purpose of aiding flow of the granular material from the storage vessel. Structural modification of the valve construction and the physical connection of said valve to the storage vessel are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Myrlen, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Rose, Leonard Rose
  • Patent number: 6238080
    Abstract: A homogenization valve includes a housing and stacked valve members within the housing. The valve members have central holes therethrough defining a low pressure volume. Each valve member includes a valve seat defining with a valve surface, gaps through which fluid is expressed radially from an outside high pressure volume to the central low pressure volume. The actuator acts on the valve members to control the width of the gaps. A counterbalancing mechanism reduces the amount of actuator force required to maintain a predetermined homogenization pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: APV North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Jarchau
  • Patent number: 6230736
    Abstract: A double-seat valve more particularly usable for the control of fluids to be kept separate in the chemical and foods sector is described, which has a valve housing (2) forming a first and a second housing spaces. There are two series-positioned valve bodies (10, 11) movable relative to one another and axially with respect to the valve housing, which define between them a leakage cavity (12) open to the environment of the valve. Each of the valve bodies has at least one sealing groove (15, 16) open to a housing-fixed valve seat or face (5) and in which is placed a seal (13, 14). According to the invention, the sealing grooves (15, 16) are connected in fluid-conducting manner through the associated valve bodies (10, 11) to the leakage cavity (12). The valve satisfies the highest possible hygienic demands, has little or no tendency towards contaminant deposition in the sealing area and can be rapidly and effectively cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Gebr. Rieger GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Scheible, Tai Luong Du
  • Patent number: 6186163
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a double seat valve with means for preventing leakage. A shared drive unit is provided for the actuation of the two valve disks (6, 7). This drive unit contains a cylinder (17) with a first work piston (18) which is loaded at both sides by pressure springs (29, 22) and is fixedly connected with the valve stem or valve shaft (13) of the lower valve disk (7), this valve disk (13) penetrating the upper valve disk (6) and its tubular shaft (14) in a telescoping manner, the shaft, in turn, projecting into the cylinder (17) by its upper end and having an abutment (28) at that location for the lower pressure spring (29) which presses the upper valve disk (6) into its seat (8), and a second work piston (36) which acts on the tubular shaft and is movable on the tubular shaft is arranged under the first work piston (18) in the cylinder (17), and a third work piston (30) which acts on the lower valve disk is arranged above the first work piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alfa Laval LKM APS
    Inventor: Søren Borg
  • Patent number: 6182678
    Abstract: Apparatus for safely installing and removing spring loaded failsafe valve actuators. The apparatus includes a frame that retains a compression spring in a loaded condition between a cover plate fastened to the top wall of the frame and a spring seat slidably contained inside the frame. The spring seat is attached to the valve stem for moving reciprocally therewith between a closed and an open position. The stem is connected to the extendable rod of a remotely controlled actuator that is mounted in the cover plate and arranged to move the stem between the closed and open positions. In the event the actuator fails while the valve is in an open position, the compressed failsafe spring is released to rapidly close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Young & Franklin, Inc.
    Inventors: Weijian Ma, Gabriel Silva