Self-balancing poppet

• US 20050274418A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Shi Jung
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/505.420
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/303 with a valve member, e.g. stem or shaft, passing through the seat
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/107 with a spring-loaded piston in combination with a spring-loaded slideable obturator that move together over range of motion during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7826 With valve closing bias

Abstract

The present invention is a poppet comprising a stem and a body, with the body having a plurality of channels extending in an longitudinal direction along the periphery of the body. The channels are gas flow conduits that react to the orientation of the poppet and force the poppet to re-align itself during operation with the centerline of the regulator chamber surrounding the poppet. The plurality of channels greatly reduces the contact between the periphery of the poppet and the regulator body. The present invention further includes a bore beginning at the non-stem end of the body and extending in the longitudinal direction within the body of the poppet. The bore can receive a spring for guiding the poppet. By positioning the spring within the poppet, the spring will have minimal contact with the regulator body. The bore avoids the spring from guiding the poppet by its end and adjusts the poppet'"'"'s center of gravity toward where the poppet sits on the seat. The bore is also a part of a dead zone volume that traps debris.

Claims

1. A poppet comprising:

a stem; and

a body, said body having

a first end and a second end, said first end tapering to the stem;

a bore extending in a longitudinal direction from the second end; and

a plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction along the periphery of the body between the first and second ends.

2. The poppet of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels extends linearly along the periphery of the body.

3. The poppet of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of channels has a predetermined length.

4. The poppet of claim 3, wherein the predetermined length is from about the first end to the second end.

5. The poppet of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels has an arcuate shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

6. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the body comprises

a first section near the first end and a second section near the second end, each section having said plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction along the periphery, and

a third section between the first and second sections.

7. The poppet of claim 6, wherein the third section is substantially longer in the longitudinal direction than the first and second sections.

8. The poppet of claim 6, wherein the third section is cylindrical.

9. The poppet of claim 8 wherein

the first section has a first radial length to the plurality of channels in the first section,

the second section has a second radial length to the plurality of channels in the second section, and

the radius of the third section is less than each of the first and second radial lengths.

10. The poppet of claim 9 wherein the first and second radial lengths are equal.

11. The poppet of claim 6, wherein the bore extends through the second and third sections.

12. The poppet of claim 6, wherein the plurality of channels in the first section are aligned with the plurality of channels in the second section.

13. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels is four.

14. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the stem and the body are integral.

15. An apparatus for regulating a fluid, comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber;

a spring in the first chamber;

a piston slidably arranged in the second chamber;

a seat positioned between the first and second chambers; and

a poppet movable in a longitudinal direction in the first chamber for regulating the fluid between the first and second chambers, said poppet having a stem extending through the seat and abutting the piston in the second chamber, a bore receiving the spring and a plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction along the periphery of the poppet.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of channels extends linearly along the periphery of the poppet.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of channels has a predetermined length.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the predetermined length is from about one end to another end of the poppet.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of channels has an arcuate shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the poppet comprises a stem and a body, the body comprises

a first section near a first end and a second section near a second end, each section having said plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction along the periphery, and

a third section between the first and second sections.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the third section is substantially longer in the longitudinal direction than the first and second sections.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the third section is cylindrical.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein

the first section has a first radial length to the plurality of channels in the first section,

the second section has a second radial length to the plurality of channels in the second section, and

the radius of the third section is less than each of the first and second radial lengths.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first and second radial lengths are equal.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the bore extends through the second and third sections.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of channels in the first section are aligned with the plurality of channels in the second section.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second section and the first chamber provide a volume having stagnant high pressure.

28. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the bore is tapered.

29. An alternative fuel vehicle comprising:

an engine operating on an alternative fuel;

a storage vessel storing the alternative fuel;

at least one fuel line communicating with the engine and the storage vessel;

an apparatus for regulating the fuel between the storage vessel and the engine, wherein said apparatus comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, a spring in the first chamber, a piston slidably arranged in the second chamber, a seat positioned between the first and second chambers and a poppet movable in a longitudinal direction in the first chamber for regulating the fluid between the first and second chambers, said poppet having a stem extending through the seat and abutting the piston in the second chamber, a bore receiving the spring and a plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction along the periphery of the poppet.