Strap actuated flapper valve

• US 20070215833A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Circle Seal Controls, Inc. (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Circor International Incorporated
• Inventors: Reinicke, Robert, Schroepfer, David
• Application Number:
  US11/378,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20070215833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/294
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/2007 specially adapted operating means therefor operating means per se F16K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/2035 the axis of rotation having only one bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/122 the fluid acting on a piston F16K31/143, F16K31/163, F16K31/363, F16K31/383 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1635 for rotating valves

Abstract

A valve for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid. The valve includes a valve body and a sealing member pivotably mounted within the valve body. The valve also includes an actuator mechanism that pivots the sealing member from a closed position to an open position to allow flow of fluid through the valve body. The sealing member provides a seal against a portion of said valve body to substantially prevent flow of fluid through the valve in the closed position. A linkage connects the sealing member and the actuator mechanism. The linkage is capable of translating the direction of a force from the actuator mechanism to a direction suitable for pivoting the sealing member toward either the open position or the closed position.

Claims

1. A valve for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid comprising:

a valve body;

a sealing member pivotably mounted within the valve body;

an actuator mechanism arranged and disposed to pivot the sealing member from a closed position to an open position to allow flow of fluid through the valve body, the sealing member providing a seal against a portion of said valve body to substantially prevent flow of fluid through the valve in the closed position; and

a linkage connecting the sealing member and the actuator mechanism, the linkage being capable of translating the direction of a force from the actuator mechanism to a direction suitable for pivoting the sealing member toward one of an open position and a closed position.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the linkage is a strap.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve body includes a drum portion, the drum portion comprising a surface that supports the strap when the strap is translating the direction of force.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein the drum portion includes a stop surface that engages a surface of the valve body when the actuator pivots the sealing member into a fully open position.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes a tension providing device providing a rotational force that pivots the sealing member to a closed position when no additional force is provided by the actuator mechanism.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism is a fluid driven piston actuator.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism is an electromagnetic actuated mechanism.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve body further includes a recessed portion to receive the seal member when the seal member is in the open position and to provide a substantially unobstructed flow path for fluid through the valve body.

9. The valve of claim 1, the valve further comprising a position indicator attached to the valve body and the sealing member and indicating the position of the sealing member.

10. A valve for a space launch vehicle comprising:

a valve body fluidly connected to a liquefied fuel system of a space launch vehicle;

a sealing member pivotably mounted within the valve body;

an actuator mechanism arranged and disposed to pivot the sealing member from a closed position to an open position to allow flow of fluid through the valve body, the sealing member providing a seal against a portion of said valve body to substantially prevent flow of fluid through the valve in the closed position; and

a linkage connecting the sealing member and the actuator mechanism, the linkage being capable of translating the direction of a force from the actuator mechanism to a direction suitable for pivoting the sealing member toward one of an open position and a closed position.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the linkage is a strap.

12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the valve body includes a drum portion, the drum portion comprising a surface that supports the strap when the strap is translating the direction of force.

13. The valve of claim 12, wherein the drum portion includes a stop surface that engages a surface of the valve body when the actuator pivots the sealing member into a fully open position.

14. The valve of claim 10, wherein the sealing member includes a tension providing device providing a rotational force that pivots the sealing member to a closed position when no additional force is provided by the actuator mechanism.

15. The valve of claim 10, wherein the actuator mechanism is a fluid driven piston actuator.

16. The valve of claim 10, wherein the actuator mechanism is an electromagnetic actuated mechanism.

17. The valve of claim 10, wherein the valve body further includes a recessed portion to receive the seal member when the seal member is in the open position and to provide a substantially unobstructed flow path for fluid through the valve body.

18. The valve of claim 10, the valve further comprising a position indicator attached to the valve body and the sealing member and indicating the position of the valve.

19. The valve of claim 10, wherein the liquefied fuel system is at a cryogenic temperature.