ADJUSTABLE VALVE ASSEMBLY

• US 3,707,987 A
• Filed: 08/03/1970
• Issued: 01/02/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Gordon
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Gordon
• Inventors: Gordon, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zobkiw, David J.
• Application Number:
  US05/060,679
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 137/522,542,543,543.23,DIG.2 251/83
• US Class Current: 137/543
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/18 with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/184 Combined check valves and actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7933 Yoke or cage-type support for valve stem
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7939 Head between spring and guide

Abstract

A valve capable of being adjusted so that it can function as a check valve, a throttle valve, or a shut-off valve. A valve housing has an upstream tubular inlet and a downstream tubular outlet coaxial with the inlet to provide a straight-line flow for fluid. Between the inlet and outlet the housing carries a valve seat having an annular seating surface, and a valve member extends across the valve seat and has a closure surface which engages the seating surface when the valve member is in a closed position. A spring continuously urges the valve member toward its closed position so that the function of a check valve is achieved. A shut-off member can be placed in a position maintaining the valve in its closed position, to achieve the effect of a shut-off valve, while an adjusting structure coacts with the shut-off member to adjust the extent to which the valve member can move before engaging the shut-off member so as to achieve in this way the operation of a throttle valve.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a housing having at an upstream end a tubular inlet and at a downstream end a tubular outlet coaxial with said inlet to provide a straight-line throughflow for fluid, a valve seat carried by said housing between said inlet and outlet thereof and having an annular flat seating surface of substantial area directed away from said tubular inlet of said housing, a valve member extending across said valve seat in the path of fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet and having a flat closure surface engaging said seating surface over said substantial area thereof when said valve member is in a closed position preventing flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, and spring means coacting with said valve member for continuously urging the latter into engagement with said seat so that a check valve operation limiting the flow only from said inlet to said outlet is achieved, said valve seat and valve member having said flat surfaces thereof respectively located in parallel planes normal to a common axis inclined to the common axis of said inlet and outlet and forming an acute angle with the latter common axis, a shut-off means coacting with said valve member for maintaining the latter in engagement with said seat so that the function of a shut-off valve is also achieved, adjusting means coacting with said shut-off means for adjusting the distance between the latter and said valve member to provide for said valve member an adjusted degree of opening movement away from said valve seat, to achieve also the operation of a throttle valve, said valve member having a first elongated stem extending along the common axis of said valve member and valve seat and terminating in an end surface directed away from said inlet and a second elongated stem coaxial with said first stem and extending toward said inlet, said shut-off means including an elongated shut-off member engaging said end surface of said first valve stem to maintain said valve member in its closed position, and said adjusting means including an elongated threaded shank portion of said shut-off member and a nut engaging said threaded shank portion, so that said shank portion can be turned to be situated at a selected distance from said end surface of said valve stem, said shut-off member having an exterior portion provided with graduations distributed axially along said latter exterior portion, and an index carried by said housing and coactIng with said graduations for indicating the position of said shut-off member along the common axis of said valve member and valve seat to indicate either the shut-off position or the degree to which said valve member can be displaced away from said valve seat to achieve the action of a throttle valve, first and second spiders respectively carried by said housing and said valve seat, and first and second tubular guides respectively carried by said spiders and surrounding and engaging said first and second stems, respectively, for guiding said valve member for movement precisely along said common axis of said valve member and valve seat.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said common axis of said valve seat and valve member from an acute angle on the order of 45* with that part of the common axis of said inlet and outlet which is downstream of said valve seat.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said shut-off member terminates at the exterior of said housing in a non-circular end portion facilitating the turning of said shut-off member.