Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A valve structure for dumping actuating fluid in an actuator system comprising: a valve body; a first portion of said valve body defining a drain cavity for drainage of the actuating fluid from said actuator system; said drain cavity having an actuating fluid inlet passage fluidly communicable with said actuator system and a fluid outlet passage; a second portion of said valve body defining a control fluid cavity; said control fluid cavity having a control fluid inlet passage and a control fluid outlet, said outlet fluidly communicable with said drain cavity; a valve stem; means to slidably support said valve stem within said drain cavity in said control fluid cavity; a first closure member secured to one end of said stem to block and unblock said actuating fluid inlet passage in said drain cavity; a piston member secured to the opposite end of said stem in said control fluid cavity; a second closure member slidably disposed around said shaft in said control fluid cavity; said second closure member cooperating with said piston member to block and unblock said control fluid outlet in response to the pressure of the control fluid in said control cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A valve structure for dumping actuating fluid in an actuator system comprising: a valve body; a first portion of said valve body defining a drain cavity for drainage of the actuating fluid from said actuator system; said drain cavity having an actuating fluid inlet passage fluidly communicable with said actuator system and a fluid outlet passage; a second portion of said valve body defining a control fluid cavity; said control fluid cavity having a control fluid inlet passage and a control fluid outlet, said outlet fluidly communicable with said drain cavity; a valve stem; means to slidably support said valve stem within said drain cavity in said control fluid cavity; a first closure member secured to one end of said stem to block and unblock said actuating fluid inlet passage in said drain cavity; a piston member secured to the opposite end of said stem in said control fluid cavity; a second closure member slidably disposed around said shaft in said control fluid cavity; said second closure member cooperating with said piston member to block and unblock said control fluid outlet in response to the pressure of the control fluid in said control cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The structure recited in claim 1 and further including a spring member disposed within the valve body; the force from said spring acting on the stem and the force of the control fluid acting on the piston member, cooperatively biasing the first and second closure members to their respective blocking positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure recited in claim 1 wherein the second closure member is disposed between a shoulder on the valve stem and the piston member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure recited in claim 1 wherein an annular bushing member is disposed within the valve body to slidably guide the valve stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure recited in claim 4 wherein a plurality of apertures are annularly disposed in the periphery of the bushing member in a direction parallel to the central axis of the valve structure, said apertures providing fluid communication between the drain cavity and the control fluid cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The structure recited in claim 1 wherein an annular bushing member is secured to the valve body, said member being partially disposed in each of the first and second portions to slidably receive the valve stem; a plurality of axially extending apertures being annularly disposed in said bushing member, providing fluid communication between the drain cavity and the control fluid cavity; and the second closure member being disposed between said bushing member and the piston member to block said apertures and prevent fluid communication between the two cavities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure recited in claim 6 wherein the valve stem has an annular shoulder which is in a spaced relation with the second closure member when the first closure member is in the blocking position to allow the stem and first closure member to move before the shoulder engages and lifts the second closure member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure recited in claim 1 and further including sealing means to substantially prevent control fluid leakage from the control cavity to the area between the piston member and the second closure member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure recited in claim 8 wherein means are provided in the second closure member to drain off any leakage of control fluid seeping past the sealing means.