Valve

• US 5,941,505 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arca Regler GmbH
• Original Assignee: Arca Regler GmbH
• Inventors: Nagel, Heinz M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/646,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 137/559, 137/312, 251/335.3, 251/335.2
• US Class Current: 251/335.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 41/12 with approximately flat diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A valve (1) has a valve housing (2) traversed by a through-flow channel (3), a valve seat (5) in the through-flow channel (3), and a closure member (13) movable relative to the valve seat (5), wherein the membrane (28) is attached on the outside to the valve housing (2) and on the inside to the closure member (13), whereby a seal (24) is provided on the side of the membrane (28) facing away from the through-flow channel (3) between closure member (13) and valve housing (2), which encloses a support hollow space (29) together with the membrane (28) filled with a non-compressible deformable support medium, wherein the closure member (13) has a shape such that, on the side of the membrane (28) facing away from the through-flow channel (3), the volume of the support hollow space (29) remains essentially constant during movement of the closure member (13).

Claims

1. A valve, comprising:

a) a valve housing having a through-flow channel;

b) a valve seal in said through-flow channel;

c) a closure member movable relative to said valve seat;

d) a membrane formed from overlying disks, said membrane having first and second sides attached to said valve housing and said closure member;

e) a seal disposed adjacent said membrane first side and engaged with said closure member for defining in said housing a closed space;

f) a non-compressible deformable support medium fills said closed space; and

g) said closure member is shaped so that the volume of said closed space remains constant during movement of said closure member.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein said support medium is an inert fluid.

3. Valve (1) with a valve housing (2) traversed by a through-flow channel (3), a valve seat (5) in the through-flow channel (3), and a closure member (13) movable relative to the valve seat (5), wherein a membrane (28) is attached on the outside to the valve housing (2) and on the inside to said closure member (13), characterized in that the side of said membrane (28) facing away from the through-flow channel (3) is provided with a seal (24) between said closure member (13) and said valve housing (2), which, together with said membrane (28), encloses a closed support hollow space (29) filled with a non-compressible deformable support medium, wherein said closure member (13) on the side of said membrane (28) facing away from said through-flow channel (3) is shaped so that the volume of said support hollow space (29) remains essentially constant during movement of said movement of said closure member (13).

4. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said seal is a soft seal, especially a slide seal (24).

5. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that the support medium is a support fluid.

6. Valve according to claim 5, characterized in that said support fluid is provided with a lubricant.

7. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said membrane (28) is made from a member selected from the group consisting of elastomers silicon, viton, PTFE, and EPDM.

8. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, between said closure member (13) and said valve housing (2) on the side of said seal (24) facing said support hollow space (29), a further seal (25) is provided, whereby both seals (24, 25) enclose a control hollow space (12).

9. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said closure member (13) is shaped as a differential piston (15) in the area of said support hollow space (29).

10. Valve according to claim 9, characterized in that said differential piston (15) has a decreasing cross-section when viewed in said direction of the membrane (28).

11. Valve according to claim 10, characterized in that said differential piston (15) is stepped.

12. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said membrane (28) encloses a hollow space system (35) between the attachment areas.

13. Valve according to claim 12, characterized in that said hollow space system (35) is at a distance from the attachment areas.

14. Valve according to claim 13, characterized in that the hollow space system (35) is delimited by gap holders on the inside and/or on the outside.

15. Valve according to claim 12, characterized in that said hollow space system (35) is connected to a leakage-indication device.

16. Valve according to claim 15, characterized in that gap holders (36) are provided in said hollow space system (35).

17. Valve according to claim 15, characterized in that said membrane (28) is made up of two membrane discs (33, 34) lying one on top of the other and which are at a distance from said hollow space system (35).

18. Valve according to claim 17, characterized in that one of said two membrane discs (33, 34) is indented on said inside.

19. Valve according to claim 15, characterized in that a humidity sensor is connected to said hollow space system (35) and to said leakage-indication device.

20. Valve according to claim 15, characterized in that said leakage-indication device is shaped as a viewing glass (41) that connects to said hollow space system (35).

21. Valve according to claim 20, characterized in that a pressure sensor is in pneumatic connection with said hollow space system (35) and coupled to said leakage-indication device is provided.

22. Valve according to claim 15, characterized in that said hollow space system (35) is made up of channels that are connected to each other.