US3880398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid fuse
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-08
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1994-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A fluid volume limiting valve operable essentially independently of flow rate through the valve functions to stop the fluid flow when a predetermined volume of fluid has passed therethrough. The valve includes a hollow cylindrical housing having fluid inlet and outlets at opposite ends thereof. A cylindrical valve body is supported within the housing with an upstream end spaced from said inlet and a downstream end in closed communication with said outlet, with a pair of generally triangularly shaped cutouts intermediate opposite ends of the body, and a two-part piston slidably positioned within the body having an upstream fluid impervious portion and a downstream cup-shaped portion having an apertured bottom wall spaced from the upstream portion, whereby fluid flow through the valve produces a pressure drop, causing the piston to shift toward the outlet and eventually interrupt fluid flow therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence M Rubrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:56
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/20; F16K17/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7785
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A fluid volume limiting valve comprising, in combination: a housing having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a hollow cylinder in said housing communicating at one end with one of said ports and at the other end with the interior of the housing, a piston in said cylinder having a wall portion for blocking fluid flow through the cylinder between the interior of said housing and said one port and responsive to fluid pressure differentials therebetween to shift the piston in the cylinder, a lateral opening through a side wall of the cylinder in bypassing relation with said wall portion of the piston for establishing communication between the interior of said housing and said one port, said lateral opening increasing in area from one end to the other in the direction of piston travel, and said piston having a wall portion for gradually blocking said lateral opening during said piston travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fluid volume limiting valve comprising, in combination: a housing having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a hollow cylinder in said housing communicating at one end with one of said ports and at the other end with the interior of the housing, a piston in said cylinder having a wall portion for blocking fluid flow through the cylinder between the interior of said housing and said one port and responsive to fluid pressure differentials therebetween to shift the piston in the cylinder, a lateral opening through a side wall of the cylinder in bypassing relation with said wall portion of the piston for establishing communication between the interior of said housing and said one port, said lateral opening increasing in area from one end to the other in the direction of piston travel, and said piston having a wall portion for gradually blocking said lateral opening during said piston travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said lateral opening increases in area in the direction of and in relation to piston travel sufficient to establish a substantially linear relationship between piston travel and fluid volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined by claim 2 characterized in that said one port is the outlet port and piston travel in a direction to block said lateral opening is travel toward that end of the cylinder communicating with the outlet port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A fluid control valve comprising an elongate cylindrical housing having fluid inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends, a cylindrical valve body extendIng axially within said housing and having a downstream end communicating with said outlet port and an upstream end opening into the housing, a cutout in said valve body intermediate opposite ends thereof increasing in area from the upstream toward the downstream end thereof, a piston in said valve body for slidable movement therein, said piston having a fluid impervious upstream piston portion, a cup-shaped downstream piston portion with an open end adjacent said outlet and an apertured bottom wall adjacent said upstream portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said two piston portions in spacedapart relation, and stop means disposed in the path of said piston upstream thereof for limiting piston movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
A fluid control valve comprising an elongate cylindrical housing having fluid inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends, a cylindrical valve body extendIng axially within said housing and having a downstream end communicating with said outlet port and an upstream end opening into the housing, a cutout in said valve body intermediate opposite ends thereof increasing in area from the upstream toward the downstream end thereof, a piston in said valve body for slidable movement therein, said piston having a fluid impervious upstream piston portion, a cup-shaped downstream piston portion with an open end adjacent said outlet and an apertured bottom wall adjacent said upstream portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said two piston portions in spacedapart relation, and stop means disposed in the path of said piston upstream thereof for limiting piston movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said valve body is supported coaxially in said housing on said end wall defining said fluid outlet port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 5 characterized in that there are two of said cutouts in the valve body and such cutouts are allochirally arranged with the bases lying perpendicular to the body axis and the sides lying in planes defining an acute angle with said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 5 characterized in that the overall length of said piston is equal to or less than the length of that portion of the valve body downstream of said cutouts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said stop means is mounted on said valve body for axially adjustable movement therealong.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 8 characterized in that said valve body has a pair of diametrically opposed elongate slots, and said stop means comprises a pin extending between and engaging said slots, and means are provided for adjustably positioning said pin along said slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said adjustable positioning means comprises an internally threaded collar coupled to said pin for movement therewith, and an externally threaded elongate rod threadably engaged with said collar and projecting through and beyond one of said housing end walls.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |