Crash proof solenoid controlled valve with manual override valve

• US 5,341,844 A
• Filed: 03/29/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westport Power Inc. (Westport Fuel Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lloyd G. Wass, Michael R. Baird
• Inventors: Baird, Michael R., Wass, Lloyd G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Assistant Examiner(s): s
• Application Number:
  US08/039,935
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 251/144, 251/129.15, 222/3, 222/504, 137/210, 137/613
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/305 with valve member and actuator on the same side of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0651 the fluid passing through the solenoid coil
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0655 Lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0619 with two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0305 Bosses, e.g. boss collars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0391 inside the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures

Abstract

A solenoid controlled valve is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head, which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. An orifice at an inner end of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port. A section of the flow passage near an outer end of the valve seat includes a threaded surface, into which is threaded a manual override valve. The manual override valve is capable of being selectively positioned to block the flow passage between the solenoid valve and the outlet port.

Claims