Valve assembly

• US 6,041,818 A
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parker Hannifin Customer Support, Inc. (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Wells, Michael P., Schadewald, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/139,585
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.05, 137/614.03, 137/614.19, 137/614.04, 251/264
• US Class Current: 137/614.19
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/28 with fluid cut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88046 Biased valve with external operator

Abstract

A valve assembly includes (1) a process valve having an axially adjustable valve stem positioned in a passageway thereof and (2) a service valve for receiving and retaining a male end of the process valve. The valve stem has a poppet mounted for axial movement therein between a first axial position closing the valve stem and a second axially position opening the valve stem. The service adapter has an axially extending pin movable from a retracted position to an extended position engaging and opening the poppet of the axially adjustable valve stem.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a coupling member having

(1) a body with a passageway extending along an axis from an open end and first and second ports communicating with said passageway, at least one of said ports being positioned outwardly of said axis, said first port being spaced axially from said second port, an outwardly facing retention abutment adjacent said open end, an internal annular sealing surface positioned axially between first port and said second port and an outwardly facing annular sealing surface between said retention abutment and said open end; and

(2) a valve stem extending from a leading end to a trailing end axially movable in said passageway from a forward position to a rearward position and including

(i) an external sealing surface in the vicinity of said leading end engageable with said internal annular sealing surface when in said forward position to prevent the flow of fluid between said first port and said second port,

(ii) a central channel extending from said leading end to said trailing end,

(iii) a poppet axially movable in said central channel having an annular seal engageable with said leading end and extending toward said trailing end to an actuation end,

(iv) a first spring yieldingly urging said poppet toward said trailing end to cause said annular seal to sealingly engage said leading end to prevent the flow of fluid through said central channel; and

(b) a service adapter having

(1) a body extending along an axis from a receiving end to an opposing end, said body having an exterior surface substantially parallel to said axis in the area of said receiving end, an interior surface sized to receive said coupling member retention abutment, a plurality of apertures spaced from said receiving end and an annular seal extending inwardly from said interior surface on the opposite side of said apertures from said open end engaged to said coupling member body outwardly facing annular sealing surface;

(2) a release sleeve encircling said exterior surface extending from a forward end in the vicinity of said body receiving end to a rear end, said release sleeve having a first internal surface slideably engaged to said body exterior surface, a second internal surface spaced from said body exterior surface and a shoulder therebetween;

(3) engagement members in said apertures moveable radially inwardly and outwardly from a first position extending inwardly of said interior surface to engage said coupling member retention abutment to a second outward position disengaged from said coupling member retention abutment;

(4) a second spring having a first end supported by said shoulder yieldingly urging said release sleeve to a location at which said first internal surface overlies said apertures and retains said retention members in said first position, movement of said sleeve rearwardly against the yielding action of said second spring disengaging said sleeve first internal surface from said retention members and permitting said retention members to move to said second position; and

(5) an axially extending actuator engageable with said poppet actuation end and axially moveable from a retracted position to an extended position moving said poppet axially to disengage said poppet annular seal from said valve stem leading end.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first port is positioned outwardly of said axis and said second port lies on said axis.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second spring has a second end and said service adapter body has an abutment associated therewith supporting said second spring second end, said abutment extending outwardly radially beyond said body exterior surface.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3, further including a washer between said second spring second end and said abutment.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said service adapter body has a retainer between said receiving end and said apertures, said retainer extending outwardly beyond said body exterior surface to limit axial movement of said sleeve away from said opposing end.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein said retainer comprises a ring positioned in a groove in said service adapter body, said groove positioned between said receiving end and said apertures.

7. A valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein said service adapter body has a retainer between said receiving end and said apertures, said retainer extending outwardly beyond said exterior surface to limit axial movement of said sleeve away from said opposing end.

8. A valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein said service adapter sleeve has an inwardly directed flange adjacent said rear end, said flange defining (i) a cylindrical inner surface facing said service adapter body and (ii) a shoulder, and said service adapter body has (1) an annular groove between said abutment and said opposing end and (2) a retaining ring positioned in said groove extending radially outwardly beyond said flange inner surface, engagement of said flange against said retaining ring limiting axial movement of said sleeve away from said opposing end.

9. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said valve stem has first and second sets of outwardly facing threads and an annular channel between said first set and said second set.

10. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said valve stem central channel has an inwardly extending shoulder spaced from said leading end, said poppet has an outwardly extending flange and said first spring encircles said poppet between said shoulder and said flange.

11. A valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said valve stem central channel is defined in part by an annular wall portion and said poppet includes a plurality of wings extending outwardly from a central portion and at least one of said wings has said outwardly extending flange, said flange cooperating with said annular wall portion to maintain axial alignment of said poppet.

12. A valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said poppet includes (i) a post and said flange extends from said post and (ii) a retainer encircling said post and engaging said inwardly extending shoulder, and said first spring encircles said post between said shoulder and said flange.

13. A valve assembly according to claim 12, wherein said retainer includes an annular surface defining an aperture through which said post extends, said annular surface cooperating with said post to maintain axial alignment of said post.

14. A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a coupling member having

(1) a body with a passageway extending along an axis from an open end and first and second ports communicating with said passageway, at least one of said ports being positioned outwardly of said axis, said first port being spaced axially from said second port, an outwardly facing retention abutment adjacent said open end, an internal annular sealing surface positioned axially between first port and said second port and an outwardly facing annular sealing surface between said retention abutment and said open end; and

(2) a valve stem extending from a leading end to a trailing end axially movable in said passageway from a forward position to a rearward position and including

(i) an external sealing surface in the vicinity of said leading end engageable with said internal annular sealing surface when in said forward position to prevent the flow of fluid between said first port and said second port,

(ii) a central channel extending from said leading end to said trailing end,

(iii) a poppet axially movable in said central channel having an annular seal engageable with said leading end and extending toward said trailing end to an actuation end,

(iv) a spring yieldingly urging said poppet toward said trailing end to cause said annular seal to sealingly engage said leading end to prevent the flow of fluid through said central channel;

(v) said valve stem central channel having a first surface and said poppet having a second surface, said first surface and said second surface being slidably engageable to maintain axial alignment of said poppet; and

(b) a service adapter having

(1) a body extending along an axis from a receiving end to an opposing end, said body having an interior surface sized to receive said coupling member retention abutment, and an annular seal extending inwardly from said interior surface engaged to said coupling member body outwardly facing annular sealing surface;

(2) engagement means for engaging said coupling member retention abutment, and

(3) an axially extending actuator engageable with said poppet actuation end and axially movable from a retracted position to an extended position moving said poppet axially to disengage said poppet annular seal from said valve stem leading end.

15. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said coupling member body has an outwardly facing annular sealing surface between said retention abutment and said open end.

16. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said first port is positioned outwardly of said axis and said second port lies on said axis.

17. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said valve stem has first and second sets of outwardly facing threads and an annular channel between said first set and said second set.

18. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said valve stem central channel has an inwardly extending shoulder spaced from said leading end, said poppet has an outwardly extending flange and said first spring encircles said poppet between said shoulder and said flange.

19. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said valve stem central channel is defined in part by an annular wall portion and said poppet includes a plurality of wings extending outwardly from a central portion and at least one of said wings has said outwardly extending flange, said flange cooperating with said annular wall portion to maintain axial alignment of said poppet.

20. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said poppet includes (i) a post and said flange extends from said post and (ii) a retainer encircling said post and engaging said inwardly extending shoulder, and said first spring encircles said post between said shoulder and said flange.

21. A valve assembly according to claim 20, wherein said retainer includes an annular surface defining an aperture through which said post extends, said annular surface cooperating with said post to maintain axial alignment of said post.