Internal system relief valve

Claim 2

A BORE;

Claim 3

AN OPPOSITELY DIRECTED COUNTERBORE INTERSECTING SAID BORE WITHIN THE BODY, THE BORE AND COUNTERBORE FORMING A HOLE THROUGH THE BODY;

Claim 4

AN OPPOSITELY DIRECTED COUNTERBORE INTERSECTING SAID BORE WITHIN THE BODY, THE BORE AND COUNTERBORE FORMING A HOLE THROUGH THE BODY;

Claim 7

AN OUTLET PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET PORT AND WITH SAID COUNTERBORE;

Claim 8

AN OUTLET PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OUTLET PORT AND WITH SAID COUNTERBORE;

Claim 9

A VOID IN SAID BODY FORMING A CYLINDER;

Claim 10

A VOID IN SAID BODY FORMING A CYLINDER;

Claim 11

A PRESSURE-SENSING PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE COUNTERBORE AND WITH THE CYLINDER NEAR A FIRST END OF THE CYLINDER;

Claim 12

A PRESSURE-SENSING PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE COUNTERBORE AND WITH THE CYLINDER NEAR A FIRST END OF THE CYLINDER;

Claim 13

A RETURN PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE SYSTEM OUTLET PORT AND THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER;

Claim 14

A RETURN PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE SYSTEM OUTLET PORT AND THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER;

Claim 15

A RELIEF PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE AND WITH THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER; B. A FIRST CHECK VALVE INTERPOSED IN SAID OUTLET PASSAGEWAY FOR PERMITTING FLUID FLOW IN THE OUTLET PASSAGEWAY ONLY TOWARD THE OUTLET PORT; C. A SECOND CHECK VALVE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE BORE AND THE COUNTERBORE TO PREVENT FLUID FLOW FROM THE COUNTERBORE TO THE BORE; D. A PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ENDS OF THE CYLINDER; AND E. FLUID-BLOCKING MEANS FOR BEING ACTUATED INTO A BLOCKING POSITION BY MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON TOWARD THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER AND THEREBY FOR PREVENTING FLUID FLOW FROM THE RETURN PASSAGEWAY TO THE RELIEF PASSAGEWAY WHEREIN THE PUMP MAY BE CONNECTED IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNTERBORE AND THE RESERVOIR MAY BE CONNECTED IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE.

Claim 16

A RELIEF PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE AND WITH THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER; B. A FIRST CHECK VALVE INTERPOSED IN SAID OUTLET PASSAGEWAY FOR PERMITTING FLUID FLOW IN THE OUTLET PASSAGEWAY ONLY TOWARD THE OUTLET PORT; C. A SECOND CHECK VALVE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE BORE AND THE COUNTERBORE TO PREVENT FLUID FLOW FROM THE COUNTERBORE TO THE BORE; D. A PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ENDS OF THE CYLINDER; AND E. FLUID-BLOCKING MEANS FOR BEING ACTUATED INTO A BLOCKING POSITION BY MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON TOWARD THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER AND THEREBY FOR PREVENTING FLUID FLOW FROM THE RETURN PASSAGEWAY TO THE RELIEF PASSAGEWAY WHEREIN THE PUMP MAY BE CONNECTED IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNTERBORE AND THE RESERVOIR MAY BE CONNECTED IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE.

Claim 17

a valve seat at the intersection of the cylinder and the return passageway, the valve seat being tapered and positioned to sealingly receive the tapered end of the plunger when sufficient pressure is applied to the piston through the pressure-sensing passageway; b. the pressure-sensing passageway and the outlet passageway each communicate with the counterbore at said shoulder but not at said boss; c. the first check valve is a ball check valve; d. internal threads are provided on said bore; e. external threads are provided around said counterbore; and f. the body has a midsection having a regular hexagonal cross section.

Claim 18

a valve seat at the intersection of the cylinder and the return passageway, the valve seat being tapered and positioned to sealingly receive the tapered end of the plunger when sufficient pressure is applied to the piston through the pressure-sensing passageway; b. the pressure-sensing passageway and the outlet passageway each communicate with the counterbore at said shoulder but not at said boss; c. the first check valve is a ball check valve; d. internal threads are provided on said bore; e. external threads are provided around said counterbore; and f. the body has a midsection having a regular hexagonal cross section.

Claim 19

a plunger attached to the piston and provided with a tapered end for acting as a valve, and having a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of the piston head;

Claim 20

a plunger attached to the piston and provided with a tapered end for acting as a valve, and having a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of the piston head;

Claim 21

a disc juxtaposed to the boss and seatable against the boss for blocking passage of lubricant between the counterbore and the bore;

Claim 22

a disc juxtaposed to the boss and seatable against the boss for blocking passage of lubricant between the counterbore and the bore;

Claim 23

an oppositely directed counterbore intersecting said bore within the body, the bore and counterbore forming a hole through the body;

Claim 24

an oppositely directed counterbore intersecting said bore within the body, the bore and counterbore forming a hole through the body;

Claim 25

A valve according to claim 1, wherein the means for actuating the blocking means comprises a differential piston.

Claim 26

A valve according to claim 2, wherein the differential piston has a relatively large head subject to pressure developed by the pump and a relatively small head subject to pressure developed in the fluid distribution system.

Claim 29

retaining means for retaining the disc near the boss wherein the exertion of a pressure by the pump causes the disc to seat against the boss.

Claim 30

retaining means for retaining the disc near the boss wherein the exertion of a pressure by the pump causes the disc to seat against the boss.

Claim 31

a valve seat at the intersection of the cylinder and the return passageway, the valve seat being tapered and positioned to sealingly receive the tapered end of the plunger when sufficient pressure is applied to the piston through the pressure-sensing passageway: b. the pressure-sensing passageway and the outlet passageway each communicate with the counterbore at said shoulder but not at said boss; c. the first check valve is a ball check valve; d. internal threads are provided on said bore; e. external threads are provided around said counterbore; and f. the body has a midsection having a regular hexagonal cross section.

Claim 32

a valve seat at the intersection of the cylinder and the return passageway, the valve seat being tapered and positioned to sealingly receive the tapered end of the plunger when sufficient pressure is applied to the piston through the pressure-sensing passageway: b. the pressure-sensing passageway and the outlet passageway each communicate with the counterbore at said shoulder but not at said boss; c. the first check valve is a ball check valve; d. internal threads are provided on said bore; e. external threads are provided around said counterbore; and f. the body has a midsection having a regular hexagonal cross section.

Claim 33

an outlet passageway communicating with said outlet port and with said counterbore;

Claim 34

an outlet passageway communicating with said outlet port and with said counterbore;

Claim 35

A valve according to claim 2, wherein the differential piston has a relatively large head subject to pressure developed by the pump and a relatively small head subject to pressure developed in the fluid distribution system.

Claim 36

a void in said body forming a cylinder;

Claim 37

a void in said body forming a cylinder;

Claim 38

A valve for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a fluid distribution system, the valve comprising: a. pump connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the pump; b. a first check valve; c. a passageway means for conducting fluid between the pump connection means and the inlet of the first check valve; d. system connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the distribution system; e. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the first check valve and the system connection means; f, a second check valve; g. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the second check valve and the pump connection means; h. reservoir connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the reservoir; i. passageway means for conducting fluid between the reservoir connection means and the inlet of the second check valve; j. a body having a sealed bore therein functioning as a Cylinder; k. a piston slidable within the cylinder and sealingly engaged to its wall; l. passageway means for providing fluid communication between the pump connection means and the cylinder at a first end of the piston; m. passageway means for conducting fluid between the system connection means and the cylinder at the second end of the piston; n. fluid-blocking means for preventing flow of fluid out of the first check valve and into the cylinder, said blocking means actuated into blocking position by a sufficient pressure on said first end of the piston; and o. passageway means for conducting fluid from the cylinder at the second end of the piston to the reservoir connection means wherein a pump vacuum draws fluid out of the reservoir through the second check valve and toward the pump, pump pressure forces the fluid through the first check valve and simultaneously actuates the blocking means into blocking position, and pump relaxation permits residual system pressure to move the blocking means to the unblocking position and to exhaust excess fluid into the reservoir.

Claim 39

A valve for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a fluid distribution system, the valve comprising: a. pump connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the pump; b. a first check valve; c. a passageway means for conducting fluid between the pump connection means and the inlet of the first check valve; d. system connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the distribution system; e. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the first check valve and the system connection means; f, a second check valve; g. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the second check valve and the pump connection means; h. reservoir connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the reservoir; i. passageway means for conducting fluid between the reservoir connection means and the inlet of the second check valve; j. a body having a sealed bore therein functioning as a Cylinder; k. a piston slidable within the cylinder and sealingly engaged to its wall; l. passageway means for providing fluid communication between the pump connection means and the cylinder at a first end of the piston; m. passageway means for conducting fluid between the system connection means and the cylinder at the second end of the piston; n. fluid-blocking means for preventing flow of fluid out of the first check valve and into the cylinder, said blocking means actuated into blocking position by a sufficient pressure on said first end of the piston; and o. passageway means for conducting fluid from the cylinder at the second end of the piston to the reservoir connection means wherein a pump vacuum draws fluid out of the reservoir through the second check valve and toward the pump, pump pressure forces the fluid through the first check valve and simultaneously actuates the blocking means into blocking position, and pump relaxation permits residual system pressure to move the blocking means to the unblocking position and to exhaust excess fluid into the reservoir.

Claim 40

a pressure-sensing passageway communicating with the counterbore and with the cylinder near a first end of the cylinder;

Claim 41

a pressure-sensing passageway communicating with the counterbore and with the cylinder near a first end of the cylinder;

Claim 42

A valve according to claim 5, wherein all of said passageway means comprise a plurality of passageways formed in said body.

Claim 43

A valve according to claim 5, wherein the blocking means comprises: a. a plunger fixed to the second end of the piston and having a tapered end; and b. a valve seat into which said tapered end is seatable, the valve seat being positioned at the intersection of said sealed bore and said passageway means for conducting fluid between the system connection means and the bore.

Claim 44

a return passageway communicating with the system outlet port and the second end of the cylinder;

Claim 45

a return passageway communicating with the system outlet port and the second end of the cylinder;

Claim 46

a relief passageway communicating with the bore and with the second end of the cylinder; b. a first check valve interposed in said outlet passageway for permitting fluid flow in the outlet passageway only toward the outlet port; c. a second check valve interposed between the bore and the counterbore to prevent fluid flow from the counterbore to the bore; d. a piston in said cylinder interposed between said ends of the cylinder; and e. fluid-blocking means for being actuated into a blocking position by movement of the piston toward the second end of the cylinder and thereby for preventing fluid flow from the return passageway to the relief passageway wherein the pump may be connected in fluid communication with the counterbore and the reservoir may be connected in fluid communication with the bore.

Claim 47

a relief passageway communicating with the bore and with the second end of the cylinder; b. a first check valve interposed in said outlet passageway for permitting fluid flow in the outlet passageway only toward the outlet port; c. a second check valve interposed between the bore and the counterbore to prevent fluid flow from the counterbore to the bore; d. a piston in said cylinder interposed between said ends of the cylinder; and e. fluid-blocking means for being actuated into a blocking position by movement of the piston toward the second end of the cylinder and thereby for preventing fluid flow from the return passageway to the relief passageway wherein the pump may be connected in fluid communication with the counterbore and the reservoir may be connected in fluid communication with the bore.

Claim 48

A valve, for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a lubricant, and a lubricant distribution system, the valve comprising: a. a body having

Claim 49

A valve, for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a lubricant, and a lubricant distribution system, the valve comprising: a. a body having

Claim 50

A valve according to claim 8, wherein: a. the body has a shoulder formed at the intersection of the bore and the counterbore; b. the second check valve comprises:

Claim 51

A valve according to claim 8, wherein the pressure sensing passageway and the outlet passageway each communicate with the counterbore at said shoulder but not at said boss.

Claim 52

A valve according to claim 8, wherein the flUid blocking means comprises: a. a plunger attached to the piston and provided with a tapered end for acting as a valve; and b. a valve seat at the intersection of the cylinder and the return passageway, the valve seat being tapered and positioned to sealingly receive the tapered end of the plunger when sufficient pressure is applied to the piston through the pressure sensing passageway.

Claim 53

A valve according to claim 8, wherein the first check valve comprises a ball check valve.

Claim 54

A valve according to claim 8 wherein: a. internal threads are provided in said bore; and b. external threads are provided around said counterbore.

Claim 55

A valve according to claim 8, wherein the body has a midsection having a polygonal cross section for cooperation with a wrench.

Claim 56

A valve according to claim 14, wherein the midsection has a regular hexagonal cross section.

Claim 57

A valve according to claim 9, wherein: a. The fluid-blocking means comprises:

Claim 58

A valve according to claim 9, wherein a. the fluid-blocking means comprises;

Claim 59

A valve for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a fluid distribution system, the valve comprising: a. pump connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the pump; b. a first check valve; c. passageway means for conducting fluid between the pump connection means and the inlet of the first check valve; d. system connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the distribution system; e. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the first check valve and the system connection means; f. a second check valve; g. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the second check valve and the pump connection means; h. reservoir connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the reservoir; i. passageway means for conducting fluid between the reservoir connection means and the inlet of the second check valve; j. a body having a sealed bore therein functioning as a cylinder; k. a piston slidable within the cylinder sealingly engaged to its wall, having a relatively large head, and having a plunger of appreciably smaller area than said head; l. passageway means for providing fluid communication between the pump connection means and the cylinder at a first End of the piston; m. passageway means for conduction fluid between the system connection means and the cylinder at the second end of the piston; n. fluid-blocking means for preventing flow of fluid out of the first check valve and into the cylinder, said blocking means including said plunger which is actuated into blocking position by a sufficient pressure on said relatively large head of the piston; and o. passageway means for conducting fluid from the cylinder at the second end of the piston to the reservoir connection means wherein a pump vacuum draws fluid out of the reservoir through the second check valve and toward the pump, pump pressure forces the fluid through the first check valve and simultaneously because of the differential piston actuates the blocking means into blocking position, and pump relaxation permits residual system pressure to move the blocking means to the unblocking position and to exhaust excess fluid into the reservoir.

Claim 60

A valve for use with a pump, a reservoir for storing and supplying a fluid distribution system, the valve comprising: a. pump connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the pump; b. a first check valve; c. passageway means for conducting fluid between the pump connection means and the inlet of the first check valve; d. system connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the distribution system; e. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the first check valve and the system connection means; f. a second check valve; g. passageway means for conducting fluid between the outlet of the second check valve and the pump connection means; h. reservoir connection means for fluid connection of the valve to the reservoir; i. passageway means for conducting fluid between the reservoir connection means and the inlet of the second check valve; j. a body having a sealed bore therein functioning as a cylinder; k. a piston slidable within the cylinder sealingly engaged to its wall, having a relatively large head, and having a plunger of appreciably smaller area than said head; l. passageway means for providing fluid communication between the pump connection means and the cylinder at a first End of the piston; m. passageway means for conduction fluid between the system connection means and the cylinder at the second end of the piston; n. fluid-blocking means for preventing flow of fluid out of the first check valve and into the cylinder, said blocking means including said plunger which is actuated into blocking position by a sufficient pressure on said relatively large head of the piston; and o. passageway means for conducting fluid from the cylinder at the second end of the piston to the reservoir connection means wherein a pump vacuum draws fluid out of the reservoir through the second check valve and toward the pump, pump pressure forces the fluid through the first check valve and simultaneously because of the differential piston actuates the blocking means into blocking position, and pump relaxation permits residual system pressure to move the blocking means to the unblocking position and to exhaust excess fluid into the reservoir.