Pilot operated valve with variable piston orifice
First Claim
1. A valve assembly comprising a valve body with an inlet and an outlet port, a partition wall having a valve seat separating said valve body into a first flow passage and a second flow passage;
- a piston, having a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in said valve body, said piston being gradually movable between a first position and a second position;
a modulating plug in conjoining contact with said piston, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and gradually movable between an open position, permitting fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage, and a closed position engaging said valve seat, blocking fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage;
a valve cover adjoining said valve body; and
a throttling member connected with said valve cover and extending into said througlibore and substantially closing said orifice, adapted to insure a gradual alteration of the cross-sectional area of said orifice upon reciprocation of said piston between said first and second positions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly having a valve body, a piston, a modulating plug, a valve cover adjoining the valve body, and a throttling member. The valve body has an inlet and outlet port, a partition with a valve seat separating the valve body into a first and second flow passage. The piston has a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in the valve body and movable between a first and second position. The modulating plug, in abutting contact with the piston and reciprocably mounted in the valve body, gradually moves between an open position, permitting a main fluid flow, and a closed position engaging the valve seat, blocking the main fluid flow. The throttling member is adapted to insure a gradual alteration of the cross-section of the orifice upon piston movement. A method of gradually opening the valve assembly modulating plug is also set forth.
21 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A valve assembly comprising a valve body with an inlet and an outlet port, a partition wall having a valve seat separating said valve body into a first flow passage and a second flow passage;
- a piston, having a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in said valve body, said piston being gradually movable between a first position and a second position;
a modulating plug in conjoining contact with said piston, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and gradually movable between an open position, permitting fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage, and a closed position engaging said valve seat, blocking fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage;
a valve cover adjoining said valve body; and
a throttling member connected with said valve cover and extending into said througlibore and substantially closing said orifice, adapted to insure a gradual alteration of the cross-sectional area of said orifice upon reciprocation of said piston between said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a piston, having a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in said valve body, said piston being gradually movable between a first position and a second position;
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13. A valve assembly comprising:
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a valve body with an inlet and an outlet port having a partition wall with a valve seat separating said valve body into a first flow passage and a second flow passage; a piston, having a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and movable between a first position and a second position; a modulating plug in abutting contact with said piston, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and gradually movable between an open position, permitting fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage, and a closed position engaging said valve seat, blocking fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage; a valve cover adjoining said valve body; and a throttling member, connected to said valve cover and extending into said throughbore and through and substantially closing said orifice, adapted to insure a gradual alteration of the cross-section of said piston orifice upon reciprocation of said piston between said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of gradually opening a modulating plug of a valve assembly, said valve assembly including a valve body having a main fluid flow passage extending therethrough, a valve cover, a throttling member connected to said valve cover, a reciprocable piston having a throughbore including an orifice, which receives said throttling member therethrough, said modulating plug having an upper end in abutting contact with said piston, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. directing a flow of pilot fluid into a restricted gap adjoining an outer end of said piston; b. increasing said pilot fluid forces on a first end of said piston, gradually moving said piston and said modulating plug, reciprocably mounted in said valve body, between a first position and a second position, wherein said first position includes having said throttling member substantially closing said throughbore piston orifice; c. equalizing the forces acting upon said modulating plug; d. gradually increasing the pilot fluid flow forces indirectly acting upon the upper end of said modulating plug such that said modulating plug gradually moves to a fully opened position; and e. gradually opening said main fluid flow passage within said valve body. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A valve assembly comprising:
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a valve body with an inlet and an outlet port having a partition wall with a valve seat separating said valve body into a first flow passage and a second flow passage; a piston having a throughbore including an orifice, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and movable between a first position and a second position; a modulating plug in abutting contact with said piston, reciprocably mounted in said valve body and movable between an open position, permitting fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage, and a closed position engaging said valve seat, blocking fluid flow from said first flow passage to said second flow passage; a valve cover adjoining said valve body; and a throttling member, connected to said valve cover, adapted to insure one of a linear and non-linear altering of said piston orifice cross-sectional area upon movement of said piston wherein said throttle substantailly closes said orifice. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification