Self-balancing poppet

• US 7,222,836 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Shi Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle; Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/865,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 137/505.42, 137/625.33, 251/318, 251/321.I, 251/356
• US Class Current: 251/321
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/303 with a valve member, e.g. stem or shaft, passing through the seat
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/107 with a spring-loaded piston in combination with a spring-loaded slideable obturator that move together over range of motion during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7826 With valve closing bias

Abstract

The present invention is a poppet comprising a stem and a body, with the body having a plurality of channels extending in an longitudinal direction along the periphery of the body. The channels are gas flow conduits that react to the orientation of the poppet and force the poppet to re-align itself during operation with the centerline of the regulator chamber surrounding the poppet. The plurality of channels greatly reduces the contact between the periphery of the poppet and the regulator body. The present invention further includes a bore beginning at the non-stem end of the body and extending in the longitudinal direction within the body of the poppet. The bore can receive a spring for guiding the poppet. By positioning the spring within the poppet, the spring will have minimal contact with the regulator body. The bore avoids the spring from guiding the poppet by its end and adjusts the poppet'"'"'s center of gravity toward where the poppet sits on the seat. The bore is also a part of a dead zone volume that traps debris.

Claims

1. A poppet positioned in a regulator body having at least one inlet passageway, said poppet comprising:

a stem; and

a body, said body having

a first end and a second end, said first end tapering to the stem;

a first section near the first end and having an outer diameter, a second section near the second end and having an outer diameter and a third section between the first and second sections, said third section having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameters of the first and second sections;

a bore extending in a longitudinal direction from the second end; and

a plurality of channels extending in the longitudinal direction only along the periphery of the first section and the periphery of the second sections,

wherein said at least one inlet passageway intersects said bore at said third section.

2. The poppet of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels extends linearly along the periphery of the first section or the periphery of the second section.

3. The poppet of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels has an arcuate shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

4. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the third section is longer in the longitudinal direction than each of the first and second sections.

5. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the third section is cylindrical.

6. The poppet of claim 1 wherein the outer diameters of the first and second sections are equal.

7. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the bore extends through the second and third sections.

8. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a plurality of channels extending along the periphery of the first section and a plurality of channels extending along the periphery of the second section and wherein the plurality of channels in the first section are aligned with the plurality of channels in the second section.

9. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels comprises at least four channels along the periphery of the first section.

10. The poppet of claim 1, wherein the stem and the body are integral.