Valve

• US 8,496,026 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isentropic, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Isentropic, Ltd.
• Inventors: Howes, Jonathan Sebastian, Macnaghten, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARSS, KEVIN R
• Application Number:
  US12/747,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 251/89, 251/175, 251/206, 251/326, 137/625.3, 137/625.33
• US Class Current: 137/625.3
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/14 with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0254 being operated by particular means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/029 with two or more gates
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/188 by means of hydraulic forces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7837 Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86734 With metering feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86759 Reciprocating

Abstract

A valve comprising a first pan (10′) defining a first array of apertures (20′) and a second part (50) defining a second array of apertures (60′), the first pan (10′) being moveable relative to the second part (50) between a first configuration in which passage of a fluid through the valve is substantially prevented and a second configuration in which passage of fluid is allowed. In one embodiment, the first pan (10′) comprises a flexible plate-like member configured to engage a sealing face of the second part (50) when in the second configuration and lock in the second configuration in response to a pressure differential across the valve. The plate-like member is sufficiently flexible to conform to a profile of the sealing face in response to a pressure differential across the valve.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a first part defining a first array of apertures and a second part defining a second array of apertures, the first part comprising a flexible plate-like member and being moveable laterally relative to the second part between a closed configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are not registered and passage of a fluid through the valve is substantially prevented and an open configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are registered and passage of fluid is allowed;

wherein the first part is constrained to move substantially parallel to a surface defined by the sealing face of the second part by a retaining plate, and

wherein the valve is provided on a piston such that the second part comprises a piston face.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the retaining plate comprises a foraminous screen configured to substantially cover the flexible plate-like member.

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the retaining plate comprises a substantially planar body.

4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an expansion valve.

5. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a compression valve.

6. A valve comprising a first part defining a first array of apertures and a second part defining a second array of apertures, the first part comprising a flexible-like member and being moveable laterally relative to the second part between a closed configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are not registered and passage of a fluid through the valve is substantially prevented and an open configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are registered and passage of fluid is allowed;

wherein the first part comprises more than one moveable valve plate, which are configured in one layer or in multiple layers, and

wherein the valve is provided on a piston such that the second part comprises a piston face.

7. A valve according to claim 6, wherein the first part is configured to move linearly relative to the second part.

8. A valve according to claim 6, wherein the first part comprises a pair of moveable plates, each plate of the pair comprising a sub-set of the first array of apertures.

9. A valve according to claim 8, wherein each plate of the pair is configured to seal a different group of apertures in the second array of apertures.

10. A valve according to claim 8, wherein each plate of the pair is configured to seal a different section of the same group of apertures in the second array of apertures.

11. A valve according to claim 8, wherein the pair of moveable plates move in opposite directions to one another as the first part moves between the closed and open configurations.

12. A valve according to claim 8, wherein the first part is configured to move linearly relative to the second part and comprises two further pairs of moveable plates, each pair being associated with a different axis, with each plate in a pair of moveable plates being configured to move in opposite directions along its respective axis.

13. A valve according to claim 8, wherein the first part is configured to move linearly relative to the second part and comprises three further pairs of moveable plates, each pair being associated with a different axis, with each plate in a pair of moveable plates being configured to move in opposite directions along its respective axis.