Pressure Relief Valve Apparatus, System and Method

• US 20190278309A1
• Filed: 03/07/2018
• Published: 09/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vortech Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vortech Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Middlebrook, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/12 operated by movement of casings or tubings
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2037/125 Control for avoiding pump stall or surge
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/36 of positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/38 of Roots type
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/44 Passages conducting the charge from the pump to the engine inlet, e.g. reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/446 having valves for admission of atmospheric air to engine, e.g. at starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/12 Control of the pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 23/00 Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10236 Overpressure or vacuum relief means; Burst protection
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/168 combined with manually-controlled valves, e.g. a valve combined with a safety valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/26 with fluid passages in the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/265 with a sleeve sliding in the direction of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/047 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means F16K31/043 takes precedence
• 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 31/126 the fluid acting on a diaphragm, bellows, or the like F16K31/145, F16K31/165, F16K31/365, F16K31/385 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/165 the fluid acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/44 Mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/445 with exterior sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/5286 comprising a sliding valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/202 : actuated by an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7834 : Valve seat or external sleeve moves to open valve

Abstract

A pressure relief valve is provided. The pressure relief valve includes a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, with the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body. An actuator assembly is attached to the hollow body and a sleeve is slideably positioned about the hollow body, with the sleeve moveably attached to the actuator assembly. During operation, the actuator assembly moves the sleeve from a first position that covers the aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture.

Claims

1. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body;

an actuator assembly coupled to the hollow body; and

a sleeve slideably positioned about the hollow body, and moveably coupled to the actuator assembly;

where the actuator assembly is structured to move the sleeve from a first position that covers the at least one aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture.

2. The valve apparatus of claim 1, where the actuator assembly comprises:

a first pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a first pivot point, the pivot plate including a slot that is sized to receive a pivot pin that extends from the sleeve.

3. The valve apparatus of claim 2, where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a second pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a second pivot point located opposite the first pivot point, and a first strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates.

4. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second strut located adjacent to the first strut, the second strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates.

5. The valve apparatus of claim 1, where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a housing having a diaphragm located within the housing;

a piston located adjacent to the diaphragm;

an actuator shaft having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending from the housing and coupled to the first strut.

6. The valve apparatus of claim 5, where the actuator shaft includes a pivot link at a distal end of the actuator shaft, with the pivot link coupled to the first strut and structured to rotate relative to the actuator shaft.

7. The valve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second seal positioned about a circumference of the hollow body so that a respective portion of the sleeve abuts the first and second seals when the sleeve is in the first position.

8. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body;

an actuator assembly coupled to the hollow body;

a sleeve slideably positioned about the hollow body, and moveably coupled to the actuator assembly;

a first pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a first pivot point, the pivot plate including a slot that is sized to receive a pivot pin that extends from the sleeve;

a second pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a second pivot point located opposite the first pivot point; and

a first strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates;

where the actuator assembly includes a rod that is coupled to the first strut, so that the actuator assembly can move the sleeve from a first position that covers the at least one aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture.

9. The valve apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second strut located adjacent to the first strut, the second strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates.

10. The valve apparatus of claim 8, where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a housing having a diaphragm located within the housing;

a piston located adjacent to the diaphragm;

an actuator shaft having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending from the housing and coupled to the first strut.

11. The valve apparatus of claim 10, where the actuator shaft includes a pivot link at a distal end of the actuator shaft, with the pivot link coupled to the first strut and structured to rotate relative to the actuator shaft.

12. The valve apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first and a second seal positioned about a circumference of the hollow body so that a respective portion of the sleeve abuts the first and second seals when the sleeve is in the first position.

13. A method of changing a pressure in a pressurized system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body;

providing an actuator assembly coupled to the hollow body;

providing a sleeve slideably positioned about the hollow body, and moveably coupled to the actuator assembly; and

moving the sleeve from a first position that covers the at least one aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture, thereby changing a pressure in the pressurized system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing a vacuum to the actuator assembly, where the vacuum causes the actuator assembly to move the sleeve from the first position that covers the at least one aperture to the second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture, thereby changing the pressure in the pressurized system.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing an electric motor in the actuator assembly, where the electric motor causes the actuator assembly to move the sleeve from the first position that covers the at least one aperture to the second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture, thereby changing the pressure in the pressurized system.