Engine shutdown valves

• US 6,273,053 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JKKB Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: JKKB Holdings Corporation
• Inventors: Krepela, Joseph J., Bozman, Kieran F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai
• Application Number:
  US09/517,860
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198.D, 123/198.F, 251/301, 251/302, 251/303, 251/326, 251/327, 251/63, 251/193, 251/294, 251/297
• US Class Current: 123/198.00D
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/14 the members being slidable transversely of conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0254 being operated by particular means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0281 Guillotine or blade-type valves, e.g. no passage through the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/56 without stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action

Abstract

The shutdown valve design is comprised of a housing in which a gate slides from an open to a closed position in a guillotine type motion. At one end of the housing is an unobstructed bore, which is the air through flow passage, and which has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the guillotine movement of the gate and the main body of the housing. In the closed position, the gate completely obstructs the air flow through passage.

Two compression springs are installed inside the housing so that they push against two extensions on the circumference of the gate, and which force the gate into the closed position if it is not held in the open position by a latching mechanism. The gate is pulled into the open position, against the spring force, by a flexible member (example: steel cable, wire, chain) that is attached to the gate at one end, and to a spool within the housing or alternatively a remote actuator outside the housing, at the other end. Rotation of the spool within the housing wraps the flexible member and pulls the gate into the open position. Similarly, pulling on the flexible member by a remote mounted actuator would also move the gate into the open position. The gate is typically held in the open position by a latching spindle that operates perpendicular to the rotation of the spool within the housing, and which can move via a compression spring into a located mating hole in the circumference of the spool, creating a restriction to the spools rotation. With the spool so restricted, the gate would remain in the open position until the latching spindle is pulled out through manual, electric, or hydraulic/pneumatic means. Similarly, a latching spindle would restrict the movement of a remote mounted actuator, and therefore the valve gate, until released by manual, electric, or hydraulic/pneumatic means.

Claims

1. An engine shutdown valve, comprising:

a housing defining an air flow through passage;

a gate slidable in the housing from a position in which the air flow through passage is open to a position in which the air flow through passage is closed;

a spring mechanism mounted on the housing in a position that urges the gate to the closed position;

a latch having a latch position and a release position;

an actuator for the latch, the actuator being operable to move the latch from the latch position to the release position;

a flexible member connected between the latch and the gate to restrain the gate from being urged to the closed position by the spring member when the latch is in the latch position and to release the gate when the latch is in the release position.

2. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the flexible member is selected from the group consisting of a wire, cable and chain.

3. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the latch is mounted in the housing.

4. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the latch is remotely mounted away from the housing.

5. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the latch comprises:

a spool that the flexible member at least partly encircles;

the spool having a shoulder; and

a spindle, the spindle being engaged with the shoulder in the latch position and being disengaged from the shoulder in the release position, the spindle being actuated by the actuator.

6. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the housing comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, and respective first and second extensions on the gate are received by the first and second sleeves.

7. The engine shutdown valve of claim 6 in which the spring mechanism comprises first and second springs, a first spring being mounted in the first sleeve and engaged with the first extension to urge the gate closed and a second spring being mounted in the second sleeve and engaged with the second extension.

8. The engine shutdown valve of claim 1 in which the gate is mounted for motion perpendicular to the flow through the air flow through passage.

9. The engine shutdown valve of claim 8 in which the flexible member is selected from the group consisting of a wire, cable and chain.

10. The engine shutdown valve of claim 9 in which the latch comprises:

a spool that the flexible member at least partly encircles;

the spool having a shoulder; and

a spindle, the spindle being engaged with the shoulder in the latch position and being disengaged from the shoulder in the release position, the spindle being actuated by the actuator.

11. The engine shutdown valve of claim 10 in which the housing comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, and respective first and second extensions on the gate are received by the first and second sleeves.

12. The engine shutdown valve of claim 11 in which the spring mechanism comprises first and second springs, a first spring being mounted in the first sleeve and engaged with the first extension to urge the gate closed and a second spring being mounted in the second sleeve and engaged with the second extension.

13. The engine shutdown valve of claim 12 in which the latch is mounted in the housing.

14. The engine shutdown valve of claim 12 in which the latch is remotely mounted away from the housing.

15. The engine shut down valve of claim 1 in which the actuator is responsive to an engine operating condition.