Self-draining pressure actuated valve

Claim 2

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having a stationary valve seat member therein provided with a valve seat face, an axially movable closure member having a part thereof engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby move the closure member to closed position in which said closure member engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat member to act against the closure member to move it away from said valve seat member to open position, resilient means operatively interposed between the valve seat member and the closure member operable upon predetermined travel of the closure member toward the valve seat member to oppose continued movement of the closure member toward closed position.

Claim 3

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having a stationary valve seat member therein provided with a valve seat face and having an axial cylindrical surface, an axially movable closure member having a part thereof engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having an element provided with a cylindrical surface slidable with respect to said cylindrical surface of the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby move the closure member to closed position in which said closure member part engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat member to act against the closure member to move it away from said valve seat member to open position, one of said cylindrical surfaces encircling the other in said closed position, and being axially spaced therefrom in said open position, and resilient means operatively interposed between the valve seat member and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to move the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 4

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having a stationary valve seat member therein provided with a valve seat face and having an axial cylindrical surface, an axially movable closure member having a part thereof engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having an element provided with a cylindrical surface slidable with respect to said cylindrical surface of the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby move the closure member to closed position in which said closure member part engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat member to act against the closure member to move it away from said valve seat member to open position, one of said cylindrical surfaces encircling the other in said closed position, and being axially spaced therefrom in said open position, and resilient means operatively interposed between the valve seat member and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to move the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein the resilient means comprises a spiral coil spring substantially frustoconical in outline when unstressed.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 in which a portion of one cylinDrical surface is encircled by the other when the parts are in drain position.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 2 wherein a spring is provided in the chamber to move the closure member toward closed position, and wherein said resilient means opposes the action of said spring in moving the closure member to drain position.

Claim 8

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having a stationary valve seat member therein provided with a horizontal valve seat face and having a vertical cylindrical bore, a vertically movable closure member having a part thereof engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having a guide element provided with an outer cylindrical surface slidable within said cylindrical bore in the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby depress the closure member to closed position in which said closure member part engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat member to act against the closure member to lift it away from said valve seat member to open position, said guide element in said closed position extending into said cylindrical bore and in said open position being spaced above the valve seat face, and resilient means operatively interposed between the valve seat member and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to lift the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 9

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having a stationary valve seat member therein provided with a horizontal valve seat face and having a vertical cylindrical bore, a vertically movable closure member having a part thereof engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having a guide element provided with an outer cylindrical surface slidable within said cylindrical bore in the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby depress the closure member to closed position in which said closure member part engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat member to act against the closure member to lift it away from said valve seat member to open position, said guide element in said closed position extending into said cylindrical bore and in said open position being spaced above the valve seat face, and resilient means operatively interposed between the valve seat member and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to lift the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein the resilient means comprises a spiral coil spring substantially frustoconical in outline when unstressed.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 in which the outer cylindrical surface of the guide element is partially received within the cylindrical bore of the valve seat member when the parts are in drain position.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 wherein the spring encircles a stationary vertical stem fixed relative to the valve seat member, the stem being slidably received in a central opening in said guide element.

Claim 13

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having an inlet and an outlet and a stationary valve seat member positioned therebetween, said member being provided with a seat face and having a cylindrical bore, an axially movable closure member having a disc engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having a guide element engaging the disc and having an outer cylindrical surface slidable within said cylindrical bore in the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby move the closure member to closed position in which said disc engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat to act against the closure member to move it away from said seat to open position, said guide element in said closed position extending into said cylindrical bore and in said open position being axially spaced from the valve seat, said guide element also having a central axial opening positioned radially within said outer cylindrical surface, and axial stem fixed centrally to the valve seat member and slidably received in said opening, the stem extending axially beyond the valve seat face, and resilient means operatively interposed between the stem and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to move the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 14

In a pressure actuated valve, the combination of: a body having an inlet and an outlet and a stationary valve seat member positioned therebetween, said member being provided with a seat face and having a cylindrical bore, an axially movable closure member having a disc engageable with said valve seat face to form a seal, said closure member having a guide element engaging the disc and having an outer cylindrical surface slidable within said cylindrical bore in the valve seat member, means whereby the closure member forms a wall of a pressure chamber within the body, supply passage means serving to admit fluid pressure into said chamber and thereby move the closure member to closed position in which said disc engages said valve seat face, means for venting the chamber to permit pressure fluid upstream from the valve seat to act against the closure member to move it away from said seat to open position, said guide element in said closed position extending into said cylindrical bore and in said open position being axially spaced from the valve seat, said guide element also having a central axial opening positioned radially within said outer cylindrical surface, and axial stem fixed centrally to the valve seat member and slidably received in said opening, the stem extending axially beyond the valve seat face, and resilient means operatively interposed between the stem and the closure member operable in the absence of fluid pressure to move the closure member to a drain position intermediate said open and closed positions.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 wherein the clearance between said central axial opening and said stem comprises a portion of said supply passage means.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 10 wherein the resilient means comprises a spiral coil spring substantially frustoconical in outline when unstressed.

Claim 17

THe combination of claim 10 in which the outer cylindrical surface of the guide element is partially received within the cylindrical bore of the valve seat member when the parts are in drain position.