Controlled valve

• US 6,394,412 B2
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Netafim Limited (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Netafim Limited (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Inventors: Katzman, Youval, Ryabtsev, Vladimir, Zakai, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US09/392,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 251/30.01,30.02,300.05,14,331,127,25,129.11,129.03,46 137/110,269,487.5,488,489 138/42
• US Class Current: 251/30.02
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/402 acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7764 Choked or throttled pressure type

Abstract

A hydraulic diaphragm valve comprising a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a diaphragm valve seating between the inlet and the outlet, a sealing diaphragm mounted in the housing and displaceable about the diaphragm valve seating, so as to close and open a flow path between the inlet and outlet, a valve control chamber and a command valve comprising a first duct communicating a one end thereof with the valve inlet, and at an opposite end thereof with a first command valve seating, a second duct communicating into one end with the valve outlet, and at an opposite end thereof, with a second command valve seating. A third duct communicates at one end with the valve control chamber and at its opposite end it selectively communicates with the first and second command valve seatings. A flexible command diaphragm is selectively biased into sealing engagement with one or other of the command valve seatings to effect communication between the third duct and the command valve seating not in seating engagement with the command diaphragm.

Claims

1. A hydraulic diaphragm valve comprising:

a main valve housing having a valve inlet and a valve outlet;

a diaphragm valve seating formed in said housing and located in a flow-path between said inlet and said outlet;

a sealing diaphragm mounted in said housing and displaceable towards and away from said diaphragm valve seating so as to close and open said flow path; and

a valve control chamber defined between said sealing diaphragm and said housing outside said flow-path;

a command valve module associated with said valve housing including a first duct communicating at one end thereof with said valve inlet and at an opposite end thereof with a first command valve seating;

a second duct communicating at one end thereof with said valve outlet and, at an opposite end thereof with a second command valve seating;

a third duct communicating at one end thereof with said valve control chamber and, at its opposite end selectively with said first and second command valve settings, a flexible command diaphragm juxtaposed with respect to said first and second command valve seatings; and

selectively actuatable biasing means for selectively biasing said command diaphragm into seating engagement with either one of said command valve seatings so as selectively to effect communication between said third duct and the command valve seating not in seating engagement with said command diaphragm;

said command valve module;

further comprising a command well structure having located therein said first and second command valve seatings, said command diaphragm being positioned in a mouth portion of said well structure so as to overlie said command valve seatings.

2. A hydraulic diaphragm valve according to claim 1, wherein said command well structure is formed in a separate command valve housing there being provided means for mechanically and hydraulically coupling the command valve housing to said valve housing and wherein said third duct communicates with an aperture formed in said well structure and via a coupling port formed in said command valve module.

3. A hydraulic diaphragm valve according to claim 2, wherein said command housing is formed with first and second enclosures.

4. A hydraulic diaphragm valve according to claim 3 wherein associated with said enclosure are pressure control means for ensuring a substantially constant pressure outflow from said valve.