High flow direct acting valve
First Claim
1. A valve including:
- a valve housing including a first port and a second port, wherein the first port acts as one of an inlet or an outlet and the second port acts as the other of the inlet or the outlet;
a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis;
a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first port and the second port are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first port and the second port are fluidly disconnected;
a cavity that is defined by the first axial end facing toward the valve seat surface;
a self-energizing sealing member that circumscribes the longitudinal axis, wherein the sealing member includes a base portion and a lobe extending from the base portion at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the lobe engages against the valve seat surface to seal against the valve seat surface when the valve member is in the closed position, and wherein the base portion is at least partially disposed within the cavity and includes a lobe end that is a portion of the lobe that extends beyond the cavity;
wherein when the valve member is in the open position a length of the base portion perpendicular to the valve seat surface is greater than a length of the lobe end perpendicular to the valve seat surface; and
a pressure sense port in the valve housing, wherein the pressure sense port is axially opposite the first axial end of the valve member and is fluidly connected to a flow path of the valve member that extends from the first axial end toward the second axial end to allow fluid to flow through the valve member when the valve member moves between the open position and the closed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel valve that may include a self-energizing seal member with a lobe extending toward a valve seat surface, a radially outwardly extending skirt, an axially extending nose, solenoid-operated three-position valve member, a pressure sense port, and/or a pressure pick-up opening. The features of the valve may allow the valve to operate at higher flow rates while requiring less energy to operate, may have a wider pressure and/or temperature operation range, may allow bidirectional fluid flow, may be less expensive to manufacture, and/or may enable a simple and compact assembly of the valve with a pressure sensor. The self-energizing seal member may include a base portion and the lobe extending may extend at an angle from the base portion relative to a longitudinal axis. The lobe may reduce energy requirements to operate the valve compared to larger sealing contact area seals. For example, the lobe may have a small sealing area to allow the valve to be better balanced.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A valve including:
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a valve housing including a first port and a second port, wherein the first port acts as one of an inlet or an outlet and the second port acts as the other of the inlet or the outlet; a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis; a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first port and the second port are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first port and the second port are fluidly disconnected; a cavity that is defined by the first axial end facing toward the valve seat surface; a self-energizing sealing member that circumscribes the longitudinal axis, wherein the sealing member includes a base portion and a lobe extending from the base portion at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the lobe engages against the valve seat surface to seal against the valve seat surface when the valve member is in the closed position, and wherein the base portion is at least partially disposed within the cavity and includes a lobe end that is a portion of the lobe that extends beyond the cavity; wherein when the valve member is in the open position a length of the base portion perpendicular to the valve seat surface is greater than a length of the lobe end perpendicular to the valve seat surface; and a pressure sense port in the valve housing, wherein the pressure sense port is axially opposite the first axial end of the valve member and is fluidly connected to a flow path of the valve member that extends from the first axial end toward the second axial end to allow fluid to flow through the valve member when the valve member moves between the open position and the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19)
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15. A valve including:
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a valve housing including a first port and a second port, wherein the first port acts as one of an inlet or an outlet and the second port acts as the other of the inlet or the outlet; a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis; and a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first port and the second port are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first port and the second port are fluidly disconnected; wherein the valve member includes; a radially outwardly extending skirt that circumscribes the longitudinal axis and is disposed axially between a valve seat engaging surface of the first axial end and the second axial end of the valve member, whereby when a pressure at the second port is lower than a pressure at the first port, and the valve member opens, a high pressure zone forms adjacent the skirt axially between the skirt and the valve seat surface to reduce an amount of force needed to open the valve member.
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16. A valve including:
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a valve housing including a first port and a second port, wherein the first port acts as one of an inlet or an outlet and the second port acts as the other of the inlet or the outlet; a valve seat having a valve seat surface that circumscribes a longitudinal axis; and a valve member that is moveable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the valve member includes a first axial end that faces the valve seat surface and a second axial end that faces away from the first axial end, wherein when the valve member is in an open position, the first port and the second port are fluidly connected, and when the valve member is in a closed position, the first port and the second port are fluidly disconnected; wherein the valve member includes; an axially extending nose that defines a flow path that extends from an opening in the first axial end towards the second axial end to allow fluid to flow within the nose, and the nose extends axially away from the second axial end of the valve member beyond a focal point, wherein the focal point is defined by an intersection of imaginary projection lines that extend along flow paths formed between the valve member and the valve seat surface; whereby when a fluid within the second port has a pressure that is higher than a pressure of fluid within the flow path defined by the nose, and the valve member opens, a high pressure zone forms in the first port about the nose and the flow path receives lower pressure fluid from a low pressure zone that is axially beyond the high pressure zone and that is adjacent the opening in the nose to prevent an increase in the amount of force needed to open the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification