Relief valve

• US 4,078,722 A
• Filed: 10/28/1976
• Issued: 03/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A W Cash Valve Manufacturing Corporation (
• Original Assignee: A W Cash Valve Manufacturing Corporation (
• Inventors: Luckenbill, Lawrence F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/736,379
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 236/92 C, 236/33, 137/471, 137/542, 137/543, 251/214, 267/169, 220/309, 29/173, 29/323
• US Class Current: 236/92.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/003 reacting to pressure and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7932 Valve stem extends through fixed spring abutment

Abstract

An improved relief valve of the type responsive to a predetermined thermal and/or pressure condition. The valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal passage interconnecting the two, a valve seat about the passage and an opening coaxial with the valve seat, a poppet valve within the body, including a stem extending towards the opening and having a pressure responsive surface directed toward the inlet side of the valve seat, a closure disposed within the opening and having a central aperture slidably and sealingly receiving the stem, the closure being formed of a thin, relatively ductile material and having an outwardly extending lip frictionally captured by the body about the opening and sealingly engaging the body thereabout, the closure further including an annular convex ridge inwardly of the lip and within the body and a central pedestal directed oppositely of the ridge. A coil spring is interposed between the pedestal and the poppet valve for biasing the poppet valve against the valve seat. A thermally responsive actuator is carried by the valve body for opening the poppet valve in response to a predetermined thermal condition. A manual actuator is connected to the valve stem externally of the closure. The pressure setting of the valve is obtained by preloading the spring through deformation of the closure after the latter has been secured to the valve body.

Claims

1. A relief valve responsive to a predetermined thermal and/or pressure condition comprising:

a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal passage interconnecting said inlet and outlet, a valve seat within said body and about said passage, and an opening generally coaxial with said valve seat;

a poppet valve within said body and normally closed against said seat, said poppet valve including a stem extending toward said opening and a pressure responsive surface directed toward the inlet side of said valve seat;

a closure disposed within said opening and having a central aperture slidably and sealingly receiving said stem, said closure being formed of a thin, relatively ductile material and having an outwardly extending lip frictionally captured by said body about said opening and sealingly engaging said body about said opening, an annular convex ridge, arcuate in cross section, inwardly of said lip and within said body with its outer portion in contact with the interior of said opening, and a central pedestal directed oppositely of said ridge;

a coil spring interposed between said pedestal and said poppet valve for biasing, in a predetermined amount, said poppet valve against said valve seat;

a thermally responsive actuator carried by said valve body and operatively associated with said poppet valve for opening said poppet valve in response to a predetermined thermal condition; and

a manual actuator connected to said valve stem externally of said closure.

2. The relief valve of claim 1 wherein said valve body is cast and is swaged over said lip.

3. A relief valve responsive to a predetermined thermal and/or pressure condition comprising:

a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal passage interconnecting said inlet and outlet, a valve seat within said body and about said passage, and an opening generally coaxial with said valve seat;

a poppet valve within said body and normally closed against said seat, said poppet valve including a stem extending toward said opening and a pressure responsive surface directed toward the inlet side of said valve seat;

a closure disposed within said opening and having a central aperture and otherwise being imperforate, said closure being formed of a thin, relatively ductile material and having an outwardly extending lip fricionally captured by said body about said opening and sealingly engaging said body about said opening, an annular convex ridge inwardly of said lip and within said body, and a central, frusto-conical pedestal directed oppositely from said ridge, said aperture being disposed in the top of said pedestal;

a guide sleeve secured to said closure within said aperture and slidably and sealingly receiving said valve stem;

said sleeve and the interior of said pedestal defining an annular space;

a coil spring interposed between said poppet valve and said pedestal and having one end received in said annular space and its opposite end abutting said poppet valve oppositely of said valve seat to bias said poppet valve toward said valve seat;

a thermally responsive actuator carried by said valve body and operatively associated with said poppet valve for opening said poppet valve in response to a predetermined thermal condition; and

a manual actuator connected to said valve stem externally of said closure.

4. The poppet relief valve of claim 3 wherein said valve stem is slidably received in a bore in said sleeve, and further including a radially inwardly opening groove in said sleeve about said bore, and an annular seal in said groove and engaging said valve stem.

5. A relief valve responsive to a predetermined thermal and/or pressure condition comprising:

a cast valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal passage interconnecting said inlet and outlet, a valve seat within said body and about said passage, and an opening generally coaxial with said valve seat;

a poppet valve within said body and normally closed against said seat, said poppet valve including a stem extending toward said opening and a pressure responsive surface directed toward the inlet side of said valve seat;

a closure disposed within said opening and having a central aperture and otherwise being imperforate, said closure being formed of a thin, relatively ductile material selected from the group consisting essentially of brass, steel, aluminum and alloys thereof, and having an outwardly extending lip frictionally captured by a portion of said body about said opening swaged over said lip and thereby sealingly engaging said body about said opening, an annular convex ridge, arcuate in cross section, inwardly of said lip and within said body with its outer portion in contact with the interior of said opening, and a central, frusto-conical pedestal directed oppositely from said ridge, said aperture being disposed in the top of said pedestal;

a guide sleeve secured to said closure within said aperture and having a bore slidably receiving said valve stem and a radially inwardly opening groove about said bore receiving an annular seal which in turn sealingly engages aid stem;

said sleeve and the interior of said pedestal defining an annular space;

a coil spring interposed between said poppet valve and said pedestal and having one end received in said annular space and its opposite end abutting said poppet valve oppositely of said valve seat to bias said poppet valve toward said valve seat;

a thermally responsive actuator carried by said valve body and operatively associated with said poppet valve for opening said poppet valve in response to a predetermined thermal condition; and

a manual actuator connected to said valve stem externally of said closure.