Valve for conducting hyperpolarized gas
First Claim
1. A valve assembly for conducting hyperpolarized gas, comprising:
- a valve cover defining first, second, and third cover control gas ports;
a valve body defining first, second, and third stepped piston bores opening on one major surface of said valve body, each said stepped piston bore defining a stem bore portion and a head bore portion;
first, second, and third body gas control ports in fluid communication with the head bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, first, second, and third breathing air ports in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, and an elongate fluid passageway opening on said valve body and in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores; and
a first, second, and third piston slideably supported in said first, second, and third stepped piston bore, respectively, each said piston including a piston head received in the head bore portion of one of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, said piston head sealing each said cover control gas port from its corresponding said body control gas port; and
an elongate piston stem received in the stem bore portion of said one of said stepped piston bores, said piston stem sealing each said body control gas port from its corresponding said breathing air port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The valve of the present invention provides a one-piece valve stem piston having a piston head and a piston stem. The piston head has a larger diameter than the piston stem. The stem incorporates only a single sliding O-ring in the area that seals the gas in the valve cylinder bore. The valve blocks gas flow by sealing against the positioning each O-ring over the gas flow port. This provides the valve with a low sliding friction upon piston movement. Pilot control air pressure is reduced because of the lower friction and due to the air operating on the larger surface area of the piston head. All materials in the construction of the valve are non-metallic.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for conducting hyperpolarized gas, comprising:
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a valve cover defining first, second, and third cover control gas ports;
a valve body defining first, second, and third stepped piston bores opening on one major surface of said valve body, each said stepped piston bore defining a stem bore portion and a head bore portion;
first, second, and third body gas control ports in fluid communication with the head bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, first, second, and third breathing air ports in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, respectively, and an elongate fluid passageway opening on said valve body and in fluid communication with the stem bore portion of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores; and
a first, second, and third piston slideably supported in said first, second, and third stepped piston bore, respectively, each said piston including a piston head received in the head bore portion of one of said first, second, and third stepped piston bores, said piston head sealing each said cover control gas port from its corresponding said body control gas port; and
an elongate piston stem received in the stem bore portion of said one of said stepped piston bores, said piston stem sealing each said body control gas port from its corresponding said breathing air port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification