Valve

• US 20040182447A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pres Block SpA
• Original Assignee: Pres Block SpA
• Inventors: Nicolino, Aldo
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/513.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1402 having an integral flexible member cooperating with a plurality of seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/148 the closure elements being fixed in their centre
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2200/401 arranged on the closure member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7847 With leak passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7848 Permits flow at valve interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7856 Valve seat formed on or carried by a coupling element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/789 Central mount

Abstract

There is described an ON/OFF valve (1, 1′, 1″) having an outer body (3) defining a fluid flow cavity (2) divided by an intermediate surface (8, 21) into a first and a second chamber (2a, 2b) communicating with each other via an opening section (6, 28) in the intermediate surface (8, 21); a flexible shutter (7) having, on the side facing the first chamber (2a), a membrane portion (17) co-operating elastically, by virtue of a fluid pressure, with the intermediate surface (8, 21) and with the opening section (6, 28) to separate the first and second chamber (2a, 2b) hermetically; and fluid leakage generating means (20, 27) located between the membrane portion (17) of the shutter (7) and the opening section (6, 28), and which are active when the pressure in the first chamber (2a) exceeds the pressure in the second chamber (2b) by an amount equal to or less than a threshold value (P) other than zero.

Claims

1. ) An ON/OFF valve (1, 1′

,

     10) comprising;

an outer body (3) defining a fluid flow cavity (2) divided by an intermediate surface (8, 21) into a first and a second chamber (2a, 2b) communicating with each other via an opening section (6, 28) in the intermediate surface (8, 21); and

a flexible shutter (7) having, on the side facing said first chamber (2a), a membrane portion (17) cooperating elastically, by virtue of a fluid pressure, with said intermediate surface (8, 21) and with said opening section (6, 28) to separate said first and said second chamber (2a, 2b) hermetically;

characterized by comprising fluid leakage generating means (20, 27) located between said membrane portion (17) of said shutter (7) and said opening section (6, 28), and which are active when the pressure in said first chamber (2a) exceeds the pressure in said second chamber (2b) by an amount equal to or less than a threshold value (P) other than zero.

2. ) A valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said shutter (7) comprises a stem (15) extending inside said second chamber (2b);

and in that said membrane portion (17) projects radially from one end of said stem (15).

3. ) A valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said intermediate surface (8, 21) is annular, and centrally defines said opening section (6, 28).

4. ) A valve as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said fluid leakage generating means comprise elastic means (27) which act on said shutter (7) to keep said membrane portion (17) detached by a predetermined amount from said intermediate surface (21);

said threshold value (P) being a function of the rigidity of said elastic means (27).

5. ) A valve as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said elastic means comprise a coil spring (27) housed in said second chamber (2b), engaged by said stem (15), and cooperating at one end with said membrane portion (17).

6. ) A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said fluid leakage generating means comprise at least one groove (20) formed in said intermediate surface (8) and communicating with said opening section (6);

said threshold value (P) being a function of the geometry of said groove (20).

7. ) A valve as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said groove (20) extends from a radially-outer peripheral edge of said opening section (6), and projects radially with respect to said membrane portion (17).

8. ) A valve as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said groove (20) has an open U-shaped cross section.

9. ) A valve as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said opening section (6) comprises two substantially half-moon-shaped openings (10, 11) defining, on opposite sides, a seating portion (12) for said stem (15) of said shutter (7).

10. ) A valve as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said intermediate surface (8) has a number of said grooves (20) equally spaced angularly about a central axis (A) of the intermediate surface (8), and extending radially with respect to said axis (A).

11. ) A valve as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized by comprising a disk-shaped base member (5) housed hermetically in said cavity (2), and which defines said intermediate surface (8) on the side facing said first chamber (2a);

said stem (15) being fitted coaxially through said base member (5).

12. ) A valve as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said membrane portion (17) of said shutter (7) is circular-dome-shaped and convex on the side facing said first chamber (2a).