Valve assembly for high-pressure fluid reservoir

• US 8,584,704 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Pifer, Daniel Lee, Mills, Vaughn, Sexton, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDRY, ATIF H
• Application Number:
  US12/749,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 137/601.14, 137/587, 137/630, 137/495, 137/601.21, 137/599.11, 137/599.18, 137/630.14, 137/630.15, 251/129.15, 251/30.04, 251/30.05, 123/516, 123/519
• US Class Current: 137/599.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03302 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03514 with vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/0413 in the form of closure plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0655 Lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0623 characterised by the set value given to the control element
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2587 Bypass or relief valve biased open
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2657 Flow rate responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7837 Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87016 Lost motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8704 First valve actuates second valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87338 Flow passage with bypass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87394 Carried valve is direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

A valve assembly is disclosed for controlling fluid flow between two reservoirs. The valve assembly includes a relief valve arranged inside the housing and configured to open a first fluid flow path when the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value.

Claims

1. A valve assembly configured for controlling fluid flow between a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the valve assembly comprising:

a relief valve configured to open a first fluid flow path when a pressure inside the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value;

a solenoid assembly configured to open a second fluid flow path when a rate of the fluid flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir is above a predetermined reference value;

a housing defining the first and second fluid flow paths; and

a flow restrictor configured to open a third fluid flow path when the rate of the fluid flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir is below the predetermined reference value, and also when the pressure inside the first reservoir is below a second predetermined pressure value;

wherein;

the relief valve and the solenoid assembly are arranged inside the housing;

the solenoid assembly includes an armature configured to selectively open and close the flow restrictor, a solenoid spring configured to generate a force sufficient to close the restrictor by displacing the armature, and a coil configured to energize the armature, overcome the solenoid spring, and thereby open the restrictor; and

the solenoid spring is configured to generate a force sufficient to close the third fluid flow path when the pressure inside the first reservoir is a positive value, but insufficient to close the third fluid flow path when the pressure inside the first reservoir is a negative value.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined pressure value is greater than the second predetermined pressure value.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coil is configured to overcome the solenoid spring when the rate of the fluid flow is below the predetermined reference value.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to urge the flow restrictor to open, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to be normally closed.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing additionally includes the third fluid flow paths, and wherein the flow restrictor is arranged inside the housing.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the relief valve and the flow restrictor includes an inward-sloped pressure seal configured to seal the corresponding relief valve and the flow restrictor against the housing.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the relief valve and the flow restrictor includes a piston, and wherein the piston and the corresponding pressure seal are combined into a unitary piston assembly.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a cover configured to retain the relief valve, the flow restrictor, and the solenoid assembly inside the housing.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the cover engages and interconnects with the housing via a snap-fit.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a static seal configured to seal the cover against the housing.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein the static seal is an O-ring type seal.

12. A valve assembly configured for controlling fluid flow between a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the valve assembly comprising:

a relief valve configured to open a first fluid flow path when the pressure inside the first reservoir is above a first predetermined pressure value;

a solenoid assembly configured to open a second fluid flow path when a rate of the fluid flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir is above a predetermined reference value;

a flow restrictor configured to open a third fluid flow path when the rate of the fluid flow from the first reservoir to the second reservoir is below the predetermined reference value, and when the pressure inside the first reservoir is below a second predetermined pressure value, wherein the first predetermined pressure value is greater than the second predetermined pressure value; and

a housing defining the first, second, and third fluid flow paths, wherein the relief valve, the solenoid assembly, and the flow restrictor are arranged inside the housing;

wherein;

the solenoid assembly includes an armature configured to selectively open and close the flow restrictor, a solenoid spring configured to generate a force sufficient to close the restrictor by displacing the armature, and a coil configured to energize the armature, overcome the solenoid spring, and thereby open the restrictor; and

the coil is configured to overcome the solenoid spring when the rate of the fluid flow is below the predetermined reference value, and the solenoid spring is configured to generate a force sufficient to close the third fluid flow path when the first reservoir is at positive pressure, but insufficient to close the third fluid flow path when the first reservoir is at negative pressure.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a spring configured to urge the flow restrictor to open, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to be normally closed.

14. The valve assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a cover configured to retain the relief valve, the flow restrictor, and the solenoid assembly inside the housing.

15. The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cover engages and interconnects with the housing via a snap-fit.

16. The valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the relief valve and the flow restrictor includes an inward-sloped pressure seal configured to seal the corresponding relief valve and the flow restrictor against the housing.

17. The valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the relief valve and the flow restrictor includes a piston, and wherein the piston and the corresponding pressure seal are combined into a unitary piston assembly.

18. The valve assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a static seal configured to seal the cover against the housing.

19. The valve assembly according to claim 18, wherein the static seal is an O-ring type seal.