High-pressure relief belleville valve

Claim 2

A high pressure relief valve, said valve comprising: housing means forming a chamber; an inlet opening formed in said housing for communicating said chamber with a source of pressurized fluid; an outlet opening formed in said housing and communicating with said chamber; a Belleville-type spring washer having convex and concave faces forming a barrier in said housing between said openings; said washer being preloaded and thereby responsive to a predetermined fluid pressure on the concave side thereof to spring back and permit a flow of fluid around the outer diameter thereof; pressure effect reducing means comprising a sleeve member slidably mounted in said housing in annular engagement with said washer; and, means for directing said fluid pressure into contact with a portion of the convex side of said washer to thereby offset the effect of a portion of said fluid in engagement with the concave side thereof.

Claim 3

A high pressure relief valve, said valve comprising: a housing having a chamber formed therein; inlet and outlet openings communicating with said chamber; an annular valve seat disposed in said chamber; support means to form a fulcrum disposed opposite said valve seat in said housing; an annular resilient washer having inner and outer diameters and oppositely directed faces mounted between said support means and valve seat; said washer being supported at one of said diameters by said support means and engaging said valve seat adjacent the other of said diameters to function as a pressure responsive valve element to control flow of fluid between said inlet and outlet openings; said washer being responsive to fluid pressure acting on one of said faces to pivot said washer away from said valve seat to permit fluid to flow thereby; and, an annular sleeve slidably mounted in said housing and sealingly engaging said washer between said valve seat and said fulcrum to reduce the area of effective pressure for actuating said valve.

Claim 4

A high pressure relief valve, said valve comprising: a housing having a chamber formed therein; inlet and outlet openings communicating with said chamber; an annular valve seat disposed in said chamber; support means to form a fulcrum disposed opposite said valve seat in said housing; an annular resilient washer having inner and outer diameters and oppositely directed faces mounted between said support means and valve seat; said washer being supported at one of said diameters by said support means and engaging said valve seat adjacent the other of said diameters to function as a pressure responsive valve element to control flow of fluid between said inlet and outlet openings; said washer being responsive to fluid pressure acting on one of said faces to pivot said washer away from said valve seat to permit fluid to flow thereby; and, an annular sleeve slidably mounted in said housing and sealingly engaging said washer between said valve seat and said fulcrum to reduce the area of effective pressure for actuating said valve.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 wherein said washer is a Belleville-type having convex and concave faces.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein said sleeve engages said convex face to direct pressurized fluid to a portion thereof.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 3 wherein said sleeve engages said concave face to reduce the area of fluid contact therewith.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 3 wherein said washer is supported at the inner diameter and said outer diameter engages said annular seat.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein said sleeve engages the convex face of said washer; and, means to direct pressurized fluid to a portion of said convex face.