Relief valve

Claim 2

A relief valve comprising, a body having a first port, a second port and a valve seat surrounding communication between said ports, a valve member adapted to move to and from engagement with said valve seat, pressure responsive means connected to move said valve member in response to pressure delivered to said pressure responsive means, said valve member defining a recess on the seating side thereof and having a diaphragm secured to said valve member in covering relation to said recess and adapted to engage said valve seat, said valve member also providing communication to said recess from said pressure responsive means whereby when said diaphragm is in engagement with said valve seat, the pressure from said pressure responsive means urges said diaphragm into complete sealing engagement with said valve seat, said diaphragm being spaced from said valve member by said recess in the annular area of said diaphragm opposite the portion of said diaphragm engaging said valve seat, said body also having an annular flat sealing surface surrounding said valve seat and spaced from said valve seat away from said diaphragm, and a seal ring carried by said valve member and adapted to engage said sealing surface when said valve member is in seated position with respect to said valve seat to seal between said valve member and said sealing surface.

Claim 3

A relief valve according to claim 1, including a stop ring secured to said valve member, said stop ring being adapted to engage said sealing surface to limit further seating movement of said valve member.

Claim 4

A relief valve according to claim 2, wherein said stop ring retains said seal on said valve member, and said seal projects from said valve member beyond said stop ring whereby said seal engages said sealing surface on seating prior to the engagement of said sealing surface by said stop ring.

Claim 5

A relief valve comprising, a body having a first port, a second port and a valve seat surrounding communication between said ports, a valve member adapted to move to and from engagement with said valve seat, a bellows mounted in said body and connected to move said valve member in response to pressure delivered to said pressure responsive means, said valve member defining a recess on the seating side thereof and having a diaphrAgm secured to said valve member in covering relation to said recess and adapted to engage said valve seat, said valve member also providing communication to said recess from said bellows whereby when said diaphragm is in engagement with said valve seat, the pressure from said bellows urges said diaphragm into complete sealing engagement with said valve seat, said diaphragm being spaced from said valve member by said recess in the annular area of said diaphragm opposite the portion of said diaphragm engaging said valve seat, a cover secured to said body and closing the opposite end of said bellows from the end connected to said valve member, a fitting extending through said cover to provide communication into said bellows, and a sleeve secured within said bellows and extending axially of said bellows and slidable within said fitting to guide the movement of said valve member to and from engagement with said seat.

Claim 6

A relief valve comprising, a body having a first port, a second port and a valve seat surrounding communication between said ports, a valve member adapted to move to and from engagement with said valve seat, a bellows mounted in said body and connected to move said valve member in response to pressure delivered to said pressure responsive means, said valve member defining a recess on the seating side thereof and having a diaphrAgm secured to said valve member in covering relation to said recess and adapted to engage said valve seat, said valve member also providing communication to said recess from said bellows whereby when said diaphragm is in engagement with said valve seat, the pressure from said bellows urges said diaphragm into complete sealing engagement with said valve seat, said diaphragm being spaced from said valve member by said recess in the annular area of said diaphragm opposite the portion of said diaphragm engaging said valve seat, a cover secured to said body and closing the opposite end of said bellows from the end connected to said valve member, a fitting extending through said cover to provide communication into said bellows, and a sleeve secured within said bellows and extending axially of said bellows and slidable within said fitting to guide the movement of said valve member to and from engagement with said seat.

Claim 7

A relief valve comprising, a body having a first port, a second port and a valve seat surrounding communication between said ports, a valve member adapted to move to and from engagement with said valve seat, pressure responsive means connected to move said valve member in response to pressure delivered to said pressure responsive means, said valve member defining a recess on the seating side thereof having a diameter larger than the diameter of said valve seat, a diaphragm secured to said valve member in covering relation to said recess and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve member also providing communication to said recess from said pressure responsive means whereby when said diaphragm is in engagement with said valve seat, the pressure from said pressure responsive means urges said diaphragm into complete sealing engagement with said valve seat, said diaphragm being spaced from said valve member by said recess in the annular area of said diaphragm on the side opposite the portion of said diaphragm engaging said valve seat, said body having an annular flat surface surrounding said valve seat and spaced below said valve seat away from said diaphragm, a stop ring carried by said valve member having a surface facing said flat surface, and the depth of said recess above said stop ring surface being greater than the spacing of said flat annular surface from said valve seat whereby said stop ring surface engages said annular flat surface to avoid clamping of said diaphragm between said valve member and said valve seat.

Claim 8

A relief valve comprising, a body having a first port, a second port and a valve seat surrounding communication between said ports, a valve member adapted to move to and from engagement with said valve seat, pressure responsive means connected to move said valve member in response to pressure delivered to said pressure responsive means, said valve member defining a recess on the seating side thereof having a diameter larger than the diameter of said valve seat, a diaphragm secured to said valve member in covering relation to said recess and adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve member also providing communication to said recess from said pressure responsive means whereby when said diaphragm is in engagement with said valve seat, the pressure from said pressure responsive means urges said diaphragm into complete sealing engagement with said valve seat, said diaphragm being spaced from said valve member by said recess in the annular area of said diaphragm on the side opposite the portion of said diaphragm engaging said valve seat, said body having an annular flat surface surrounding said valve seat and spaced below said valve seat away from said diaphragm, a stop ring carried by said valve member having a surface facing said flat surface, and the depth of said recess above said stop ring surface being greater than the spacing of said flat annular surface from said valve seat whereby said stop ring surface engages said annular flat surface to avoid clamping of said diaphragm between said valve member and said valve seat.