Dual valve fitting for enabling quick measurement of pressure

• US 6,009,902 A
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Wei, Veltri, Michael J., Scott, Daniel G., Dimsa, Robert D., Sich, Gary M., Carroll, John B., Johnston, Gregory L., Troiani, Vincent F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/144,608
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.19, 137/614.18, 137/613, 137/614.11, 251/149.6, 251/149.8, 251/149.1
• US Class Current: 137/614.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/28 with fluid cut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 251/90 Valves with o-rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87981 Common actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88046 Biased valve with external operator

Abstract

A dual valve fitting enables pressure within a housing to be quickly measured. The fitting includes a single valve body that defines a passage between its threaded and protuberant ends. The threaded end is designed to screw into a threaded bore of the housing. In an upper section of the passage, a first valve features a poppet head atop a valve stem. The poppet head is seatable against an outer annular valve seat formed in the protuberant end of the passage. A first biasing mechanism compels the poppet head against the outer valve seat so that the first valve is normally closed. In a lower section of the passage, a second valve features a retainer whose top defines a recess that retains a check seal element used for seating against an inner annular valve seat formed in the passage. A second biasing mechanism acts upon the retainer so that the check seal element seats against the inner valve seat thereby rendering the second valve normally closed. The bottom of the valve stem is separated a dead space apart from the top of the check element. When a female coupler of a quick connect device is mated to the protuberant end, the female coupler causes the valve stem to move inwardly so that its poppet head unseats from the outer valve seat and its bottom end moves through the dead space to unseat the check element. This enables air to flow from the housing through the fitting into the female coupler.

Claims

1. A dual valve fitting for enabling quick measurement of pressure contained within a housing, said fitting comprising:

(a) a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough from a protuberant end of said valve body to a threaded end of said valve body, said protuberant end being shaped to mate with a female coupler of a quick connect device, said threaded end for screwing into a threaded bore of such housing;

(b) a first valve situated in an upper section of said flow passage, said first valve including a poppet head at a top end of a valve stem for seating against an outer annular valve seat formed within said flow passage at said protuberant end thereof;

(c) a first means for biasing said poppet head against said outer annular valve seat so that said first valve is normally closed;

(d) a second valve situated in a lower section of said flow passage, said second valve including a retainer that defines in a top end thereof a recess that retains a check seal element therein for seating against an inner annular valve seat formed within said flow passage;

(e) a second means for biasing said retainer so that said check seal element therein seats against said inner annular valve seat thereby rendering said second valve normally closed; and

(f) a bottom end of said valve stem being separated a dead space apart from a top side of said check seal element;

such that mating such female coupler with said protuberant end causes movement of said valve stem with said poppet head thereof unseating from said outer annular valve seat and said bottom end thereof moving through said dead space and pushing to unseat said check seal element thereby enabling flow from such housing through said flow passage into such female coupler.

2. The dual valve fitting recited in claim 1 wherein said first means for biasing includes:

(a) an upper annular spring seat formed on an annular flange disposed within said valve body; and

(b) a first spring disposed concentrically about said valve stem between said upper annular valve seat and an underside of said poppet head to compress said poppet head against said outer annular valve seat.

3. The dual valve fitting recited in claim 1 wherein said second means for biasing includes:

(a) a retaining ring retained within an annular groove formed in said flow passage at said threaded end of said valve body; and

(b) a second spring disposed between said retaining ring and a bottom end of said retainer to compress said check seal element against said inner annular valve seat.

4. The dual valve fitting recited in claim 3 wherein a shaft formed as part of said bottom end of said retainer is concentrically disposed within said second spring and protrudes from said threaded end when such female coupler is mated to said dual valve fitting.