US3750694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve operator
Assignee: Henry Pratt Co LLC
•
Filing: 1971-08-09
•
Granted: 1973-08-07
•
Expires: 1991-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A seepage-resistant valve system employing a pressure operated valve operator. A selectively operated valve position control system may apply gas to a piston in a cylinder associated with a housing to move the same to control valve position. The housing is in fluid communication with the cylinder and a back pressure valve is employed so that a positive gas pressure is maintained in both the cylinder and the housing regardless of the position of piston within the cylinder to preclude seepage of ground water into the valve operator.
Inventors
- 👤 D Fawkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/16; F16K31/163; F16K31/1635; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A valve operator for use in a seepage-resistant valve system comprising: a housing journaling a shaft for connection to a valve member; a crank arm secured to said shaft within said housing; a cylinder secured to said housing and in fluid communication with the same; a piston within said cylinder; a connecting rod connected to said piston and to said crank arm; means defining a gas port in the end of said cylinder remote from said housing; and means defining a second gas port in one of the other end of said cylinder and said housing whereby a gaseous atmosphere under elevated pressure may be maintained in said housing and said cylinder to preclude seepage of liquid thereinto and whereby gas under pressure may be selectively applied to said piston to cause the same to rotate said shaft to thereby position a valve secured thereto; a valve casing and a valve member rotatably journaled in said casing for movement between open and closed positions, means coupling said valve member to said shaft; a source of gas under pressure; a pair of gas conduits, each having one end connected to a respective one of said gas ports and their opposite ends connected to a four-way valve; a back pressure valve connected to said four-way valve and vented to atmosphere and means connecting said source to said four-way valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A valve operator for use in a seepage-resistant valve system comprising: a housing journaling a shaft for connection to a valve member; a crank arm secured to said shaft within said housing; a cylinder secured to said housing and in fluid communication with the same; a piston within said cylinder; a connecting rod connected to said piston and to said crank arm; means defining a gas port in the end of said cylinder remote from said housing; and means defining a second gas port in one of the other end of said cylinder and said housing whereby a gaseous atmosphere under elevated pressure may be maintained in said housing and said cylinder to preclude seepage of liquid thereinto and whereby gas under pressure may be selectively applied to said piston to cause the same to rotate said shaft to thereby position a valve secured thereto; a valve casing and a valve member rotatably journaled in said casing for movement between open and closed positions, means coupling said valve member to said shaft; a source of gas under pressure; a pair of gas conduits, each having one end connected to a respective one of said gas ports and their opposite ends connected to a four-way valve; a back pressure valve connected to said four-way valve and vented to atmosphere and means connecting said source to said four-way valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
195 words
A seepage-resistant power operated valve system comprising: a buried valve casing connected in an underground fluid distribution system; a valve member mounted within said casing for movement between open and closed positions; a buried valve operator operatively associated with said valve member for moving the same between said open and closed positions, said valve operator including a fluid-actuated bidirectional fluid motor, and a housing containing said motor; a source of gas under pressure separate from said fluid distribution system; first means for connecting said source to said housing for directing gas under pressure to drive said fluid motor in one direction and for relieving said fluid motor when said motor is driven in the other direction; second means for connecting said source to said housing for providing gas under pressure to drive said motor in said other direction and for relieving said motor when said motor is driven in said one direction; and means associated with said first and second means for establishing a positive back pressure when either said first or said second means is relieving said motor whereby said housing is continuously maintained at a positive pressure to preclude seepage of moisture thereinto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
A seepage-resistant power operated valve system comprising: a buried valve casing connected in an underground fluid distribution system; a valve member mounted within said casing for movement between open and closed positions; a buried valve operator operatively associated with said valve member for moving the same between said open and closed positions, said valve operator including a fluid-actuated bidirectional fluid motor, and a housing containing said motor; a source of gas under pressure separate from said fluid distribution system; first means for connecting said source to said housing for directing gas under pressure to drive said fluid motor in one direction and for relieving said fluid motor when said motor is driven in the other direction; second means for connecting said source to said housing for providing gas under pressure to drive said motor in said other direction and for relieving said motor when said motor is driven in said one direction; and means associated with said first and second means for establishing a positive back pressure when either said first or said second means is relieving said motor whereby said housing is continuously maintained at a positive pressure to preclude seepage of moisture thereinto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said bidirectional fluid motor comprises a double acting cylinder having a reciprocal piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said last-named means comprises a single means alternately connectible to said fIrst and second means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 4 further including a selectively operable valve for alternately connecting a. said first means to said source and said second means to said single means, and b. said second means to said source and said first means to said single means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The valve system of claim 2 wherein said source of gas under pressure comprises a principal source of gas under pressure, and further including a reserve source of gas under pressure connected to said principal source, and indicator means for indicating when said reserve source is at a predetermined point of exhaustion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2028766A
Cited
US2738945A
Cited
US3099287A
Cited
US3379404A
Cited
US3452961A
Cited
US3604679A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |