Injection or other system with anti-thermal lockdown mechanism and related method
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first valve configured to selectively direct material to first and second outlets;
a second valve configured to block the second outlet, wherein the first and second valves when closed define a dead space comprising a volume between the first and second valves; and
a pressure compensation unit configured to dynamically provide an additional volume for material trapped in the dead space when the trapped material expands.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a first valve configured to selectively direct material to first and second outlets and a second valve configured to block the second outlet. The first and second valves define a dead space that has a volume between the first and second valves. The apparatus also includes a pressure compensation unit configured to dynamically provide an additional volume for material trapped in the dead space when the trapped material expands. The pressure compensation unit could include a piston configured to move within a space of the pressure compensation unit, where increased pressure in the dead space causes the trapped material to push against the piston in order to provide the additional volume for the trapped material. The pressure compensation unit could further include a spring configured to bias the piston and a seal configured to substantially prevent the trapped material from passing the piston and contacting the spring.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first valve configured to selectively direct material to first and second outlets; a second valve configured to block the second outlet, wherein the first and second valves when closed define a dead space comprising a volume between the first and second valves; and a pressure compensation unit configured to dynamically provide an additional volume for material trapped in the dead space when the trapped material expands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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operating first and second valves, wherein material is trapped in a dead space defined by the first and second valves when the first and second valves are closed; and as the trapped material expands, dynamically providing an additional volume for the trapped material to enter in order to maintain a pressure in the dead space below a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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first and second valves configured to create a dead space comprising a volume in which material becomes trapped when the first and second valves are closed; and a pressure compensation unit comprising a piston configured to move within a space of the pressure compensation unit, wherein the pressure compensation unit is configured such that increased pressure in the dead space causes the trapped material to push against the piston in order to provide an additional volume for the trapped material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification