Assembly of solenoid-controlled pilot-operated valve

• US 6,685,158 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Parsons, Natan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US10/011,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 251/30.01, 251/30.02, 251/30.03, 251/30.04, 251/30.05, 251/61.1, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 251/30.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/402 acting on a diaphragm

Abstract

A solenoid-controlled pilot-operated valve includes an operator assembly containing a solenoid that operates a pilot valve. The pilot valve in turn controls a pressure-relief opening from a chamber whose pressure tends to hold a main valve closed until the pressure is relieved. The pilot-valve body, which forms the pilot-valve inlet, outlet, and seat is secured to the operator assembly'"'"'s stationary part, and the resultant structure is only then assembled together with the main valve. This enhances positioning repeatability and thus consistency in valve timing.

Claims

1. For assembling a pilot-valve-operated automatic flow controller, a method comprising:

A) providing a main valve assembly that includes;

i) a main valve body member that forms a main-valve inlet, a main-valve seat, a main-valve outlet, a pressure chamber, and a pressure-relief outlet through which the pressure in the pressure chamber can be relieved; and

ii) a main valve member movable between a closed position, in which it seals against the main-valve seat and thereby prevents flow from the main inlet to the main outlet, and an open position, in which it permits such flow, the main valve member being so exposed to the pressure chamber that the contents tend when they are pressurized to urge the main valve member to its closed position and when their pressure is relieved to permit the main valve member to assume its open position;

B) providing a pilot-valve assembly that includes;

i) a pilot body member that forms threads thereon, a pilot-valve inlet, a pilot-valve seat, and a pilot-valve outlet; and

ii) an operator assembly including;

a) a stationary operator-assembly portion that forms threads thereon that are complementary to and so engage the threads formed on the pilot body member as to secure the pilot body member to the stationary operator-assembly portion as to keep the pilot-valve seat in a fixed position with respect to the stationary operator-assembly portion, the stationary operator-assembly portion including a solenoid; and

b) a movable operator-assembly portion driveable by the solenoid between an extended position, in which it seals against the pilot-valve seat and thereby prevents flow from the pilot inlet to the pilot outlet, and retracted position, determined by the location of the stationary operator-assembly portion, in which it is spaced from the pilot-valve seat by a spacing determined by the position of the pilot-valve seat with respect to the stationary operator-assembly portion and thereby permits such flow; and

C) so securing the pilot-valve assembly to the main valve assembly that fluid flowing from the pressure-relief outlet must flow through the pilot-valve inlet, past the pilot-valve seat, and through the pilot-valve outlet, whereby the pilot-valve assembly is positioned to control relief of the pressure in the pressure chamber.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the main valve member is a deformable diaphragm.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pilot-valve assembly includes a diaphragm that isolates the actuator from fluid that flows from the pilot-valve inlet to the pilot-valve outlet.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the pilot-valve assembly includes providing the pilot body member as a part separate from the operator assembly and then securing the pilot body member to the operator assembly before securing the pilot-valve assembly to the main valve assembly.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein the pilot-valve assembly includes a diaphragm that isolates the actuator from fluid that flows from the pilot-valve inlet to the pilot-valve outlet.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein the main valve member is a deformable diaphragm.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein

A) the pilot body member provides a stop surface that so butts against the operator assembly as to prevent the pilot body member from threadedly advancing beyond a stop position; and

B) the step of securing the pilot body member to the operator assembly includes threadedly advancing the pilot body member on the operator assembly until the stop member stops it at the stop position.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the movable operator-assembly portion includes an actuator and a pilot-valve member secured to the actuator.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the actuator consists essentially of ferromagnetic material.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the pilot-valve member consists essentially of resilient material.

11. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the pilot-valve member consists essentially of resilient material.