US3601156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid control valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-04
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1990-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An in-line fluid control valve for use over a wide range of fluid flow rate and fluid pressure requirements. The valve includes a movable main valve member having a spherically shaped segment. In operation, the main member simultaneously translates and rotates while being guided within a cylindrical cage formed by the inner faces of a plurality of riblike members interposed between the outer valve casing and the main valve member and disposed longitudinally with respect to the flow axis. Simple actuating linkage includes a clevis pivotally coupled to the main valve member or to a piston which extends through a cylindrical cavity in the main valve member to provide a pilot valve for facilitating opening and closing the valve under relatively high fluid differential pressure conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Hookway Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/44; F16K31/53; F16K31/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86928; Y10T137/86936; Y10T137/86944; Y10T137/86976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
An in-line valve for controlling the flow of fluids comprising: a cylindrical casing having inlet and outlet ports, a flow axis being defined therethrough; a plurality of riblike members immovably disposed inside the casing such that said members extend longitudinally with respect to the flow axis, the inner faces of said members defining a hollow cylindrical cage of substantially circular cross section; a movable main valve member having a spherically shaped segment disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and within said cage, the diameter of the spherical segment being approximately equal to the diameter of the cage for enabling smooth sliding motion between the valve member and the inner faces of the riblike members; a frustoconical seat member fixably attached to the inside of the casing and disposed so as to coact with the valve member to provide a fluid seal when the spherical segment of the valve member is in contact therewith; a drive shaft extending through said casing, the longitudinal axis of the shaft being substantially transverse to the flow axis; means connected to said shaft for causing said shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and linkage means connected between said shaft and said valve member for causing said valve member to translate away from said seat in response to a rotation of said shaft, the translation of the valve member being guided in substantially straight line motion longitudinally with the flow axis by the cylindrical cage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
An in-line valve for controlling the flow of fluids comprising: a cylindrical casing having inlet and outlet ports, a flow axis being defined therethrough; a plurality of riblike members immovably disposed inside the casing such that said members extend longitudinally with respect to the flow axis, the inner faces of said members defining a hollow cylindrical cage of substantially circular cross section; a movable main valve member having a spherically shaped segment disposed between said inlet and outlet ports and within said cage, the diameter of the spherical segment being approximately equal to the diameter of the cage for enabling smooth sliding motion between the valve member and the inner faces of the riblike members; a frustoconical seat member fixably attached to the inside of the casing and disposed so as to coact with the valve member to provide a fluid seal when the spherical segment of the valve member is in contact therewith; a drive shaft extending through said casing, the longitudinal axis of the shaft being substantially transverse to the flow axis; means connected to said shaft for causing said shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and linkage means connected between said shaft and said valve member for causing said valve member to translate away from said seat in response to a rotation of said shaft, the translation of the valve member being guided in substantially straight line motion longitudinally with the flow axis by the cylindrical cage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the linkage means includes means for causing said valve member simultaneously to translate and to rotate about an axis transverse to the flow axis away from said seat in response to a rotation of the drive shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 additionally comprising: a pilot valve disposed within the main valve member and actuated by the linkage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the linkage means includes means in response to rotation of said drive shaft for opening the pilot valve before the valve member is caused to move away from the frustoconical seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the linkage means comprises: a first arm, one end of which is fixably attached to said drive shaft; and a second arm, one end of which is pivotally connected to the other end of the first arm, and the other end of which is coupled to said valve member; said first and second arms and said valve member being so arranged that rotation of the drive shaft about its longitudinal axis simultaneously causes rotation of the arms about the pivotal axis and translation of the valve member along the flow axis and rotation of the valve member about an axis transverse to the flow axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein: the valve member includes a cylindrical cavity of varying cross section extending therethrough in a direction between the inlet and outlet ports; and a portion of the second arm adjacent its other end is a solid cylinder of varying cross section having fins disposed thereon, the outer perimeter of said fins corresponding approximately to the shape of the wall of the cylindrical cavity in said valve member, for guiding the second arm through the cylindrical cavity in smooth sliding motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein a portion of the wall of the cylindrical cavity is shaped in the form of a second seat and a corresponding portion of the second arm is shaped in the form of a pilot valve member registered with the second seat so that a fluid seal is provided when the pilot valve member engages the second seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein: the second seat is frustoconical in shape; and the pilot valve member pOrtion of the second arm adapted for engagement with the second seat is in the shape of a substantially spherical segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the first and second linkage arms are arranged so that initial rotation of the arms about the pivotal axis in response to initial rotation of the drive shaft about its longitudinal axis causes the second arm to translate along the axis of the cylindrical cavity, thereby opening the pilot valve; and so that further rotation of the arms about the pivotal axis in response to further rotation of the drive shaft causes a portion of one of the arms first to engage a portion of the valve member and thereafter to push the valve member away from its seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein: the first arm includes a clevis, one end of which is fixably attached to the drive shaft and the other end of which is rounded and is pivotally connected to the second arm; the relative lengths and sizes of the clevis and the second arm being such that initial rotation of the drive shaft first causes the pilot valve to open, and further rotation causes the rounded portion to engage the closest face of the main valve member, and still further rotation of the drive shaft causes the clevis to push the main valve member away from its seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the other end of the second arm engages a portion of the face of main valve member opposite the linkage and pushes thereagainst in response to said further rotation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |