US3884259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-way valve for controlling the flow of fluids at cryogenic temperature and at widely different pressures
Assignee: PROCESS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL Inc A CORP OF MASSACHUSETTS
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Filing: 1974-01-21
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A three-way valve suitable for controlling the flow of a cryogenic fluid and of isolating zones of widely different pressures. Concentric valve stems, each terminating in a sealing means capable of making a fluid-tight, line seal between a highpressure zone and an evacuated zone, are moved to alternately open ports to attain fluid communication with a third port. Means are provided to eliminate pressure differentials across the valve stem screw drive means to eliminate gas forces which would otherwise be present in a valve operating between zones of different pressures. The three-way valve is particularly suitable in high-pressure clean up systems incorporating cold charcoal traps in alternating parallel fluid flow paths.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P Hosmer
- 👤 Robert W Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/10; F16K11/20; F16K11/202; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/7036; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87096; Y10T137/87121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A three-way fluid-flow control valve adapted to provide controllable fluid communication between zones of different fluid pressures, comprising in combination a. a valve body having defined therein a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber having a diameter larger than that of said second chamber and being joined thereto by a frustoconically-configured shoulder defining a first sealing surface; b. a first fluid port opening into said first chamber of said valve body; c. a second fluid port communicating with said second chamber of said valve body through a frustoconically-configured shoulder defining a second sealing surface; d. a third fluid port opening into said second chamber of said valve body; e. outer valve stem means terminating within said valve body in a first sealing member configured to make an essentially line sealing contact with said first sealing surface thereby to controllably isolate said first chamber from said second chamber; f. inner valve stem means extending through and coaxial with said outer valve steam means and defining therewith an annular fluid passage continuously in fluid communication with said third fluid port, said inner valve stem means terminating within said valve body in a second sealing member configured to make an essentially line sealing contact with said second sealing surface thereby to controllably isolate said second chamber from said second fluid port; g. first drive means including first screw means adapted to impart axial motion to said outer valve stem means; h. second drive means including second screw means adapted to impart axial motion to said inner valve stem means independent of said first drive means; i. housing means defining fluid-tight screw chamber means around said first and second screw means; and j. fluid passage means providing fluid communication between said first chamber in said valve body and said screw chamber means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A three-way fluid-flow control valve adapted to provide controllable fluid communication between zones of different fluid pressures, comprising in combination a. a valve body having defined therein a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber having a diameter larger than that of said second chamber and being joined thereto by a frustoconically-configured shoulder defining a first sealing surface; b. a first fluid port opening into said first chamber of said valve body; c. a second fluid port communicating with said second chamber of said valve body through a frustoconically-configured shoulder defining a second sealing surface; d. a third fluid port opening into said second chamber of said valve body; e. outer valve stem means terminating within said valve body in a first sealing member configured to make an essentially line sealing contact with said first sealing surface thereby to controllably isolate said first chamber from said second chamber; f. inner valve stem means extending through and coaxial with said outer valve steam means and defining therewith an annular fluid passage continuously in fluid communication with said third fluid port, said inner valve stem means terminating within said valve body in a second sealing member configured to make an essentially line sealing contact with said second sealing surface thereby to controllably isolate said second chamber from said second fluid port; g. first drive means including first screw means adapted to impart axial motion to said outer valve stem means; h. second drive means including second screw means adapted to impart axial motion to said inner valve stem means independent of said first drive means; i. housing means defining fluid-tight screw chamber means around said first and second screw means; and j. fluid passage means providing fluid communication between said first chamber in said valve body and said screw chamber means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second sealing members each comprise an elastomeric annular member having a right-angled configuration formed to have a horizontal ring section and a vertical edge section defining at their external juncture an annular sealing line adapted to make said essentially line sealing contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A valve in accordance with claim 2 wherein said outer valve stem means comprises concentric thin-walled tubings defining an annular volume therebetween, one end plug means sealing off said annular volume at the end of said outer valve stem means terminating within said valve body, and other end plug means sealing off the other end of said annular volume, said one end plug means having a first sealing member-engaging surface external of said annular volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first sealing member-engaging surface of said one plug means has an annular peripheral groove sized to contain said vertical edge section of said first sealing member and a ridge terminating in an annular sealing line and said first sealing member has an annular groove formed into said horizontal ring section when said first sealing member is engaged under pressure with said ridge of said first sealing-member engaging surface, thereby forming a line seal between said first sealing member and said first seal-member engaging surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first drive means includes gear means adapted to engage said first screw means and rotatable drive shaft means extending external of said housing means whereby rotation of said drive shaft means imparts said axial motion to said outer valve stem means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A valve in accordance with claim 5 including thrust bearings associated with said Gear means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A valve in accordance with claim 5 wherein said other end plug means ia a continuation of said first screw means thereby providing a direct connection between said first drive means and said outer valve stem means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A valve in accordance with claim 7 including spacer means affixed to said other end plug means adapted to limit the extent of said axial motion of said outer valve stem means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A valve in accordance with claim 3 including thermal insulation in said annular volume defined within said outer valve stem means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A valve in accordance with claim 2 wherein said inner valve stem means comprises a thin-walled tubing and one end plug means sealing off the volume within said tubing at the end of said inner valve stem means terminating within said valve body and other end plug means sealing off the other end of said volume, said one end plug means defining a second sealing member-engaging surface external of said volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A valve in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second sealing member-engaging surface of said one plug means has an annular peripheral groove sized to contain said vertical edge section of said second sealing member and a ridge terminating in an annular sealing line and said second sealing member has an annular groove formed into said horizontal ring section when said second sealing member is engaged under pressure with said ridge of said sealing member engaging surface, thereby forming a line seal between said second sealing member and said second seal member engaging surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A valve in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second screw means of said second drive means is rotatable within said first screw means and includes rotatable drive shaft means extending external of said housing means whereby rotation of said drive shaft means imparts said axial motion to said inner valve stem means and wherein said valve includes means to effect a fluid seal between said first and second screw means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A valve in accordance with claim 12 including thrust bearing means associated with said rotatable drive shaft means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A valve in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second screw means serves as said other end plug means whereby said inner valve stem means is connected directly to said second screw means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A valve in accordance with claim 14 including spacer means affixed to said second screw means adapted to limit the extent of said axial motion of said inner valve stem means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A valve in accordance with claim 10 including thermal insulation in said volume within said tubing forming said inner valve stem means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A valve in accordance with claim 1 including sleeve means affixed to said housing means and valve stem encasing means extending between said sleeve means and said valve body, said sleeve means and said encasing means defining with said outer valve stem means an annular fluid passage which serves as said fluid passage means providing fluid communication between said first chamber in said valve body and said screw chamber means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3195564A
Cited
US3438220A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |