Valve stem and assembly

• US 10,228,072 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humphrey Products Company
• Original Assignee: Humphrey Products Company
• Inventors: Tinholt, Thomas H., Larson, Marc R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tietjen, Marina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Paul J
• Application Number:
  US14/930,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 13762548, 13762567, 13762569
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0655 with flat slides
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/044 slide valves with flat obturating members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0218 with only one sealing face
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0227 Packings
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0254 being operated by particular means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0634 with fixed seats positioned between movable valve members

Abstract

A valve includes a valve stem having a shaft and including first and second poppet members with a seal portion extending radially outward from the shaft and disposed on the shaft between the poppet members. The valve further includes a valve body having a valve bore within which the valve stem is disposed for reciprocating axial movement and includes first and second ports that defining passageways through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of the valve bore. The valve body further includes first and second valve seats against which the first and second poppet members selectively seal with the seal portion being in sealing engagement with the valve bore between the ports.

Claims

1. A valve, said valve comprising:

a valve stem, said valve stem being selectively moveable and comprising an elongated shaft and including a first poppet member, a second poppet member and a seal portion on said shaft with said poppet members and said seal portion being disposed on said shaft whereby said shaft, said poppet members and said seal portion integrally move in unison, and with said poppet members and said seal portion extending radially outward from said shaft and said seal portion being disposed between said poppet members wherein said valve stem operates as a pressure balanced valve stem;

a valve body, said valve body including a valve bore within which said valve stem is disposed for reciprocating axial movement and including a first port and a second port with said ports defining passageways through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of said valve bore; and

a first valve seat and a second valve seat against which said first poppet member and said second poppet member respectively selectively seal based on axial movement of said valve stem with said seal portion being in continuous sealing engagement with a sealing bore portion of said valve bore between said passageways to inhibit gas or liquid flowing into or out of said ports from flowing past said seal portion;

wherein when said first poppet member is sealed against said first valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said first port and said second poppet member is not sealed against said second valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said second port, and wherein when said second poppet member is sealed against said second valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said second port and said first poppet member is not sealed against said first valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said first port.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve seats are formed on said valve body.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein said seal portion includes a seal ring circumferentially disposed thereabout, and wherein said seal ring contacts said valve bore for sealing engagement there between.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein said seal portion includes a groove circumferentially disposed thereabout, and wherein said seal ring is disposed in said groove.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein said seal portion includes a pair of angled face portions radially extending from said shaft, with one of said face portions facing said first poppet member and the other said face portion facing said second poppet member.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein said face portions define conical portions disposed about said valve stem.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein said poppet members each include a poppet seal ring circumferentially disposed about said valve stem.

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein said poppet members each include a poppet groove circumferentially disposed about said valve stem, and wherein said poppet seal rings are disposed in respective ones of said poppet grooves.

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein each said poppet member includes an angled poppet face portion radially extending from said shaft, each said poppet face portion facing said seal portion.

10. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises a stem portion within which said valve stem is disposed.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein said valve body comprises a multi-piece body.

12. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve body includes more than two ports, and wherein each said port defines a passageway through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of said valve bore.

13. The valve of claim 1, further including an actuator for actuating said valve stem for axial movement.

14. A valve, said valve comprising:

a valve stem, said valve stem comprising an elongated shaft and including a first poppet member, a second poppet member and a seal portion on said shaft with said poppet members and said seal portion being disposed on said shaft whereby said shaft, said poppet members and said seal portion integrally move in unison, and with said poppet members and said seal portion extending radially outward from said shaft and with said seal portion disposed between said poppet members wherein said valve stem operates as a pressure balanced valve stem;

a valve body, said valve body including a valve bore within which said valve stem is disposed for reciprocating axial movement and including a first port and a second port with said ports defining passageways through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of said valve bore;

a first valve seat and a second valve seat against which said first poppet member and said second poppet member respectively selectively seal with said seal portion being in continuous sealing engagement with a sealing bore portion of said valve bore between said passageways to inhibit gas or liquid flowing into or out of said ports from flowing past said seal portion; and

an actuator, said actuator configured to impart axial movement to said valve stem such that said shaft, said poppet members and said seal portion integrally move together to selectively open and close selected ones of said ports;

wherein when said first poppet member is sealed against said first valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said first port and said second poppet member is not sealed against said second valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said second port, and wherein when said second poppet member is sealed against said second valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said second port and said first poppet member is not sealed against said first valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said first port.

15. The valve of claim 14, wherein each said poppet member includes a poppet face portion radially extending from said shaft and wherein said seal portion includes a pair of expanded seal face portions radially extending from said shaft, with one of said seal face portions facing said poppet face portion of said first poppet member whereby said valve stem is in pressure balanced operation when said first port is closed, and with the other said seal face portion facing said poppet face of said second poppet member whereby said valve stem is in pressure balanced operation when said second port is closed.

16. The valve of claim 15, wherein said seal portion includes a seal ring circumferentially disposed thereabout, and wherein said seal ring contacts said valve bore for sealing engagement there between.

17. The valve of claim 15, wherein said poppet members each include a poppet seal ring circumferentially disposed about said valve stem.

18. The valve of claim 15, wherein said valve body comprises a multi-piece body.

19. The valve of claim 15, wherein said valve body includes a bobbin portion and a valve stem portion with said valve stem disposed within said valve stem portion and wherein said actuator includes coils wound about said bobbin portion, wherein a pole piece and an armature are at least partially disposed within said bobbin portion, and wherein said valve stem is operatively connected to said armature.

20. The valve of claim 19, further including a third port, and wherein said first and second ports are radially oriented relative to said valve bore, and wherein said third port is axially oriented relative to said valve bore.

21. A valve, said valve comprising:

a valve stem, said valve stem being selectively moveable and comprising an elongated shaft and including a first poppet member, a second poppet member and a seal portion on said shaft with said poppet members and said seal portion being disposed on said shaft whereby said shaft, said poppet members and said seal portion integrally move in unison, and with said poppet members and said seal portion extending radially outward from said shaft and said seal portion being disposed between said poppet members wherein said valve stem operates as a pressure balanced valve stem;

a valve body, said valve body including a valve bore within which said valve stem is disposed for reciprocating axial movement and including a first port and a second port with said ports defining passageways through which gas or liquid may flow into or out of said valve bore; and

a first valve seat and a second valve seat against which said first poppet member and said second poppet member respectively selectively seal based on axial movement of said valve stem with said seal portion being in sealing engagement with said valve bore between said passageways, and further including an armature and an actuator, said armature being unitarily formed with said valve stem and said actuator selectively actuating movement of said armature to thereby impart axial motion to said valve stem

wherein when said first poppet member is sealed against said first valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said first port and said second poppet member is not sealed against said second valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said second port, and wherein when said second poppet member is sealed against said second valve seat gas or liquid is inhibited from flowing into or out of said second port and said first poppet member is not sealed against said first valve seat such that gas or liquid may flow into or out of said first port.