Valve assembly

• US 4,359,203 A
• Filed: 06/15/1976
• Issued: 11/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pharmacia Diagnostics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electro-Nucleonics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cho, Nakwon
• Primary Examiner(s): Weakley, Harold W.
• Application Number:
  US05/696,193
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 251/61.4, 251/158, 251/203, 251/204, 251/196, 251/167, 251/169, 251/197, 251/176, 251/199, 251/63.4, 251/85, 251/337, 251/80, 251/77
• US Class Current: 251/77
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/186 by means of cams of wedge from

Abstract

A valve structure in which a valve member moves into and out of contact with first and second valve seating areas, the valve member contacting the seating areas with different forces. The movable valve member is comprised of block members coupled together so that a change in their relative longitudinal positions produces a corresponding change in their relative transverse positions. A stem member moves the block members to spaced longitudinal positions and produces different longitudinal separating forces between the block member in these positions thereby to urge one of the block members in a transverse direction with different forces against the valve seating areas. The application of forces directly through block members and indirectly through springs is employed to provide different valve seating forces. Block members for valve port blocking and valve port opening are utilized. A shock absorbing structure incorporating a movable spring holder is also utilized.

Claims

1. A valve structure comprising a valve member movable into and out of contact with first and second valve seating areas, first closure means for urging said valve member into engagement with said first valve seating area with a first force, and second closure means for urging said valve member into engagement with said second valve seating area with a second force less than said first force, said valve member comprises first and second block members coupled together so that a change in the relative positions therebetween along a longitudinal direction produces a change in the relative positions therebetween in a transverse direction, a stem member coupled to said first block member for moving it to first and second positions in which said second block member is positioned respectively adjacent said first and second valve seating areas, said stem member urging said first and second block members apart in a first longitudinal sense with a predetermined force when said first block member is in said first position and urging said first and second block members apart in an opposite longitudinal sense with another force less than said predetermined force when said first block member is in said second position thereby to urge said second block member against said first and second valve seating areas with said first and second different forces, said first and second valve seating areas respectively comprise a valve port and a first wall portion of said valve structure, said second block member includes a first part thereof for blocking fluid flow, said first part having sealing means thereon, said sealing means sealingly engaging said valve port when said first block member is in said first position to block fluid flow in said valve port, said sealing means sealingly engaging said first wall portion of said valve structure when said first block member is in said second position, said second block member includes a second part thereof having a fluid passage therethrough, sealing means on said second part, the sealing means on said second part sealingly engaging a second wall portion of said valve structure when said first block member is in said first position, the sealing means on said second part sealingly engaging said valve port when said first block member is in said second position to provide fluid communication between said valve port and the fluid passage through said second part, and said second part is spring-biased to provide the same sealing pressure between the sealing means thereon and said second wall portion of said valve structure and said valve port.

2. A valve structure according to claim 1 in which said first and second block members include V-shaped inclined surfaces thereon mating with each other to provide for said transverse positional change.

3. A valve structure according to claim 1 in which said first and second block members are linked together by diverging links to provide for said transverse positional change.