Flow valves operated by flow transfer means which regulate small flows of control

• US 5,769,387 A
• Filed: 11/20/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Perez C. Sergio
• Original Assignee: Perez C. Sergio
• Inventors: Perez C., Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/754,257
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 251/61.1, 251/61.4, 251/61, 251/61.2, 251/63.5, 251/63.6, 137/522
• US Class Current: 251/61.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1223 one side of the piston being acted upon by the circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1266 one side of the diaphragm being acted upon by the circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/383 the fluid acting on a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/406 acting on a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/17 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure

Abstract

A flow valve operated by a flow transfer controller which regulates a small flow of control in order to produce a pressure differential between the sides of a sealing wall of a piston able to axially move between an open position far from the valve seat and a closed position in contact with the valve seat. The valve of the invention basically consists of a rigid valve body with an opening for a flow inlet and flow outlet. The body of the valve has a main cavity between the inlet and outlet of flow with the valve seat. The valve body comprises an elastomeric body located inside the main cavity to regulate the flow of fluid through the valve. The elastomeric body is hollow and open at an upper end and has a first sealing zone an a lower base of the elastomeric body. Control flow inlet and outlet ducts communicate with the hollow upper portion of the elastomeric body to actuate the valve.

Claims

1. A flow valve, comprising:

a) a valve body including a flow inlet and outlet;

b) a valve seat disposed within an internal portion of said flow inlet;

c) said valve body including a main cavity having a constant cross-section portion and a broadening portion communicating with said flow inlet and outlet, said main cavity being coaxial with said valve seat;

d) an elastomeric body having a hollow and open upper portion, said upper portion being disposed within said main cavity;

said elastomeric body being slightly compressed in an axial direction such that said elastomeric body exerts a force over said valve seat;

said elastomeric body including a first sealing zone, and second radial seal zone;

e) said first sealing zone being located at a lower base of said elastomeric body, being made of a relatively thick mass body with a slightly smaller cross-section than a cross-section of said main cavity, said first sealing zone being disposed within said broadening portion, said first sealing zone including a lower surface having a slightly greater cross-section than the cross-section of said valve seat, and an upper surface having a cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said lower surface;

f) said second radial seal zone being located at said upper portion, and including an external surface having a geometry similar to a side wall surface of said main cavity constant cross-section portion;

said external surface being tight against said main cavity side wall surface;

g) control flow inlet and control flow outlet communicating with said hollow upper portion; and

h) said first sealing zone being movable axially within said constant cross-section portion, away from or toward said valve seat, when pressure within said hollow upper portion is reduced or increased through said control flow inlet and outlet, thereby to open or close said flow valve.

2. The flow valve of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric body includes a third wall zone located in an intermediate section of said elastomeric body;

said third wall zone being made of a relatively thin wall and having a cross-section smaller than said constant cross-section portion and adapted to buckle and transmit axial stresses imposed by the fluid working pressures inside said hollow upper portion.

3. The flow valve of claim 2, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

4. The flow valve of claim 2, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

5. The flow valve of claim 2, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.

6. The flow valve of claim 5, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

7. The flow valve of claim 5, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

8. The flow valve of claim 1, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.

9. The flow valve of claim 1, and further comprising:

a) a movable stem having one end anchored to said first sealing zone; and

b) the other end of said stem projecting out of said valve body through an opening.

10. The flow valve of claim 9, wherein said elastomeric body includes a third wall zone located in an intermediate section of said elastomeric body;

said third wall zone being made of a relatively thin wall and having a cross-section smaller than said constant cross-section portion and adapted to buckle and transmit axial stresses imposed by the fluid working pressures inside said hollow upper portion.

11. The flow valve of claim 10, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

12. The flow valve of claim 10, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

13. The flow valve of claim 10, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.

14. The flow valve of claim 13, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

15. The flow valve of claim 13, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

16. The flow valve of claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.

17. A flow valve, comprising:

a) a valve body including a flow inlet and outlet;

b) a valve seat disposed within an internal portion of said flow inlet;

c) said valve body including a main cavity having a constant cross-section portion and a broadening portion communicating with said flow inlet and outlet, said main cavity being coaxial with said valve seat;

d) an elastomeric body having a hollow and open upper portion, said upper portion being disposed within said main cavity;

said elastomeric body being slightly compressed in an axial direction such that said elastomeric body exerts a force over said valve seat;

said elastomeric body including a first sealing zone, and second radial seal zone;

e) said first sealing zone being located at a lower base of said elastomeric body, being made of a relatively thick mass body with a slightly smaller cross-section than a cross-section of said main cavity, said first sealing zone being disposed within said broadening portion, said first sealing zone including a lower surface having a slightly greater cross-section than the cross-section of said valve seat, and an upper surface having a cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said lower surface;

f) said second radial seal zone being located at said upper portion, and including an external surface having a geometry similar to a side wall surface of said main cavity constant cross-section portion;

said external surface being tight against said main cavity side wall surface;

g) control flow inlet and control flow outlet opening communicating with said hollow portion;

h) a secondary chamber communicating with said control flow outlet opening; and

i) a movable stem having one end anchored to said first sealing zone and the other end extending out of said valve body through said control flow outlet opening and through said secondary chamber, said stem having a variable cross-section portion along an axial direction such that said control flow outlet opening is completely obstructed when said first sealing zone is engaged against said valve seat, thereby permitting said control flow inlet to increase the pressure within said hollow portion, and said flow control outlet opening is partially open when said first sealing zone is disposed away from said valve seat, thereby reducing the pressure within said hollow upper portion.

18. The flow valve of claim 17, wherein said elastomeric body includes a third wall zone located in an intermediate section of said elastomeric body;

said third wall zone being made of a relatively thin wall and having a cross-section smaller than said constant cross-section portion and adapted to buckle and transmit axial stresses imposed by the fluid working pressures inside said hollow portion.

19. The flow valve of claim 18, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

20. The flow valve of claim 18, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

21. The flow valve of claim 18, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.

22. The flow valve of claim 21, wherein said radial seal zone is anchored to a wall of said main cavity.

23. The flow valve of claim 21, wherein said radial seal zone is movable in an axial direction within said constant cross-section portion.

24. The flow valve of claim 17, and further comprising:

a) a compression spring disposed within said elastomeric body;

b) one end of said spring being in contact with an internal wall of said first sealing zone; and

c) the other end of said spring being in contact with said main cavity.