Pilot operated flow control valve

Claim 2

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a main fluid flow passageway therethrough having upstream and downstream ends with respect to the direction of fluid flow therethrough, a main valve seat in said main passageway between said upstream and downstream ends, a main valve element reciprocable axially of said seat and movable into engagement therewith in the direction of fluid flow to close said main passageway, piston means for reciprocating said main valve element, means defining a piston chamber in said main passageway receiving and reciprocably supporting said piston means, first control fluid passageway means having an inlet end opening into said main passageway upstream from said main valve seat and an outlet end opening into said piston chamber behind said piston means, second control fluid pasageway means having an inlet end in flow communication with said piston chamber and said first passageway means and having an outlet end opening into said main passageway downstream from said main valve seat, said first passageway means having a first valvE seat between said inlet end thereof and said inlet end of said second passageway means, a first valve element engageable with said first seat in the direction of fluid flow through said first passageway means, said second passageway means having a second valve seat, a second valve element engageable with said second seat in the direction of fluid flow through said second passageway means, actuator means for said first and second valve elements including means interconnecting said first and second valve elements for simultaneous displacement of one into engagement with the corresponding valve seat and the other out of engagement with the corresponding valve seat, said means interconnecting said first and second valve elements being rod means, and said actuator means further including means to reciprocate said valve rod means, said valve rod means defining a solenoid armature and said means for reciprocating said valve rod means being solenoid coil means magnetically coupled with said valve rod means.

Claim 3

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a main fluid flow passageway therethrough having upstream and downstream ends with respect to the direction of fluid flow therethrough, a main valve seat in said main passageway between said upstream and downstream ends, a main valve element reciprocable axially of said seat and movable into engagement therewith in the direction of fluid flow to close said main passageway, piston means for reciprocating said main valve element, means defining a piston chamber in said main passageway receiving and reciprocably supporting said piston means, first control fluid passageway means having an inlet end opening into said main passageway upstream from said main valve seat and an outlet end opening into said piston chamber behind said piston means, second control fluid passageway means having an inlet end in flow communication with said piston chamber and said first passageway means and having an outlet end opening into said main passageway downstream from said main valve seat, said first passageway means having a first valve seat between said inlet end thereof and said inlet end of said second passageway means, a first valve element engageable with said first seat in the direction of fluid flow through said first passageway means, said second passageway means having a second valve seat, a second valve element engageable with said second seat in the direction of fluid flow through said second passageway means, actuator means for said first and second valve elements including means interconnecting said first and second valve elements for simultaneous displacement of one into engagement with the corresponding valve seat and the other out of engagement with the corresponding valve seat, said housing means including main valve housing means having said main flow passageway therthrough and first and second pilot valve housing portions mounted on said main valve housing means and spaced apart in the direction of said main fluid flow passageway, said first and second housing portions having axially aligned chambers defining portions of said first control fluid passageway means, said first and second valve elements being respectively in said first and second housing portion chambers, said means interconnecting said first and second valve elements being rod means having opposite ends in said chambers and connected to the corresponding one of said first and second valve elements to support said elements in spaced apart relationship and for movement with one another axially of said housing portion chambers, said rod means including a portion extending between said first and second housing portions, said first and second valve element seats being axially aligned and spaced apart a distance greater than the space between said first and second valve elements, and said actuating means further including means operatively interengaged with said rod portion to selectively displace said rod means in axially opposite directions.

Claim 4

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a main fluid flow passageway therethrough having upstream and downstream ends with respect to the direction of fluid flow therethrough, a main valve seat in said main passageway between said upstream and downstream ends, a main valve element reciprocable axially of said seat and movable into engagement therewith in the direction of fluid flow to close said main passageway, piston means for reciprocating said main valve element, means defining a piston chamber in said main passageway receiving and reciprocably supporting said piston means, first control fluid passageway means having an inlet end opening into said main passageway upstream from said main valve seat and an outlet end opening into said piston chamber behind said piston means, second control fluid passageway means having an inlet end in flow communication with said piston chamber and said first passageway means and having an outlet end opening into said main passageway downstream from said main valve seat, said first passageway means having a first valve seat between said inlet end thereof and said inlet end of said second passageway means, a first valve element engageable with said first seat in the direction of fluid flow through said first passageway means, said second passageway means having a second valve seat, a second valve element engageable with said second seat in the direction of fluid flow through said second passageway means, actuator means for said first and second valve elements including means interconnecting said first and second valve elements for simultaneous displacement of one into engagement with the corresponding valve seat and the other out of engagement with the corresponding valve seat, said housing means including main valve housing means having said main flow passageway therthrough and first and second pilot valve housing portions mounted on said main valve housing means and spaced apart in the direction of said main fluid flow passageway, said first and second housing portions having axially aligned chambers defining portions of said first control fluid passageway means, said first and second valve elements being respectively in said first and second housing portion chambers, said means interconnecting said first and second valve elements being rod means having opposite ends in said chambers and connected to the corresponding one of said first and second valve elements to support said elements in spaced apart relationship and for movement with one another axially of said housing portion chambers, said rod means including a portion extending between said first and second housing portions, said first and second valve element seats being axially aligned and spaced apart a distance greater than the space between said first and second valve elements, and said actuating means further including means operatively interengaged with said rod portion to selectively displace said rod means in axially opposite directions.

Claim 5

The flow control valve according to claim 2, wherein said means operatively interengaged with said rod portion is pivotal lever means.

Claim 6

The flow control valve according to claim 3, and third pilot valve housing means between said first and second housing means, said third housing means supporting said pivotal lever means.

Claim 7

The flow control valve according to claim 4, wherein each said first and second housing means is threadedly interengaged with said third housing means to separably interconnect said first, second and third housing means.

Claim 8

The flow control valve according to claim 2, wherein at least said portion of said rod means defines a solenoid armature, and said means operatively interengaged with said rod portion includes a solenoid winding surrounding said rod portion.

Claim 9

The flow control valve according to claim 6, and third pilot valve housing means between said first and second housing means and supporting said solenoid winding.

Claim 10

The flow control valve according to claim 7, wherein each said first and second housing means is threadedly interengaged with said third housing means to separably interconnect said first, second and third housing means.

Claim 11

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a fluid flow passageway therethrough, said passageway having upstream and downstream ends with respect to fluid flow therethrough, means intermediate said passageway ends providing a piston chamber coaxial with said passageway and having an outer end facing downstream, said passageway including a shoulder spaced downstream from said outer end of said piston chamber and providing a main valve seat coaxial with said piston chamber, a piston reciprocably supported in said piston chamber and having inner and outer faces with respect to said piston chamber, a valve element on said piston forwardly of said outer face, said valve element being movable by said piston into and out of engagement with said main valve seat, said outer face of said piston having a smaller surface area than said inner face, said housing means including first and second valve element chambers laterally spaced from said passageway and axially aligned and spaced apart from one another, said valve element chambers having aligned outlet passageways opening into the axially opposite ends thereof, a reciprocable actuator rod coaxial with said valve element chambers and having opposite ends extending into said valve element chambers through the axially adjacent ends thereof, first and second valve elements respectively in said first and second valve element chambers and connected to the corresponding end of said rod for reciprocating movement therewith, each said first and second valve elements being adapted to engage and close the corresponding outlet passageway, said rod axially spacing said first and second valve elements a distance less than the axial space between said outlet passageways, whereby movement of either of said first and second valve elements to close the corresponding outlet passageway moves the other to open the corresponding outlet passageway, first flow path means for delivering upstream fluid into said first valve element chamber at a location behind said first valve element when said first valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, second flow path means for delivering upstream fluid to said second valve element chamber and said piston chamber, said second flow path means including a portion extending from the outlet passageway of said first valve element chamber and opening into said second valve element chamber at a location behind said second valve element when said second valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, third flow path means for delivering upstream fluid from said piston chamber and second valve chamber through the outlet passageway of said second valve chamber to a location downstream from said main valve seat, and means to reciprocate said rod to alternatively move said first and seCond valve elements to close the outlet passageway of the corresponding valve chamber.

Claim 12

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a fluid flow passageway therethrough, said passageway having upstream and downstream ends with respect to fluid flow therethrough, means intermediate said passageway ends providing a piston chamber coaxial with said passageway and having an outer end facing downstream, said passageway including a shoulder spaced downstream from said outer end of said piston chamber and providing a main valve seat coaxial with said piston chamber, a piston reciprocably supported in said piston chamber and having inner and outer faces with respect to said piston chamber, a valve element on said piston forwardly of said outer face, said valve element being movable by said piston into and out of engagement with said main valve seat, said outer face of said piston having a smaller surface area than said inner face, said housing means including first and second valve element chambers laterally spaced from said passageway and axially aligned and spaced apart from one another, said valve element chambers having aligned outlet passageways opening into the axially opposite ends thereof, a reciprocable actuator rod coaxial with said valve element chambers and having opposite ends extending into said valve element chambers through the axially adjacent ends thereof, first and second valve elements respectively in said first and second valve element chambers and connected to the corresponding end of said rod for reciprocating movement therewith, each said first and second valve elements being adapted to engage and close the corresponding outlet passageway, said rod axially spacing said first and second valve elements a distance less than the axial space between said outlet passageways, whereby movement of either of said first and second valve elements to close the corresponding outlet passageway moves the other to open the corresponding outlet passageway, first flow path means for delivering upstream fluid into said first valve element chamber at a location behind said first valve element when said first valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, second flow path means for delivering upstream fluid to said second valve element chamber and said piston chamber, said second flow path means including a portion extending from the outlet passageway of said first valve element chamber and opening into said second valve element chamber at a location behind said second valve element when said second valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, third flow path means for delivering upstream fluid from said piston chamber and second valve chamber through the outlet passageway of said second valve chamber to a location downstream from said main valve seat, and means to reciprocate said rod to alternatively move said first and seCond valve elements to close the outlet passageway of the corresponding valve chamber.

Claim 13

The flow control valve according to claim 9, wherein said means to reciprocate said rod includes pivotal lever means.

Claim 14

The flow control valve according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said rod is a solenoid armature and said means to reciprocate said rod includes solenoid winding means surrounding said rod portion.

Claim 15

The flow control valve according to claim 11, wherein said winding has opposite ends connectable across an electrical power supply, and switch means for reversing current flow through said winding.

Claim 16

The flow control valve according to claim 9, wherein said housing means includes separable first, second and third housing components, said first and second housing components being spaced apart by said third housing component and having ends facing said third housing component, said first and second valve element chambers being defined respectively by bores extending into said first and second housing components from the corresponding one of said ends, said bores each being internally threaded adjacent said ends, and neck means on said third housing component for each of said first and second housing components, said neck means being externally threaded for engagement with the threaded bore of the corresponding one of said first and second housing components.

Claim 17

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a main fluid flow passageway therethrough having upstream and downstream ends with respect to the direction of fluid flow therethrough, a main valve seat in said main passageway between said upstream and downstream ends a main valve element reciprocable axially of said seat and movable into engagement therewith in the direction of fluid flow to close said main passageway, piston means for reciprocating said main valve element, means defining a piston chamber in said main passageway receiving and reciprocably supporting said piston means, said housing means including first and second valve element chambers laterally spaced from said main passageway and axially aligned and spaced apart from one another, said valve element chambers having aligned outlet passageways opening into the axially opposite ends thereof, a reciprocable actuator rod coaxial with said valve element chambers and having opposite ends extending into said valve element chambers through the axially adjacent ends thereof, first and second valve elements respectively in said first and second valve element chambers and connected to the corresponding end of said rod for reciprocating movement therewith, each said first and second valve elements being adapted to engage and close the corresponding outlet passageway, said rod axially spacing said first and second valve elements a distance less than the axial space between said outlet passageways, whereby movement of either of said first and second valve elements to close the corresponding outlet passageway moves the other to open the corresponding outlet passageway, first flow path means for delivering upstream fluid into said first valve element chamber at a location behind said first valve element when said first valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, second flow path means for delivering upstream fluid to said second valve element chamber and said piston chamber, said second flow path means including a portion extending from the outlet passageway of said first valve element chamber and opening into said second valve element chamber at a location behind said second valve element when said second valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, third flow path means for delivering upstream fluid from said piston chamber and second valve chamber through the outlet passageway of said second valve chamber to a location downstream from said main valve seat, and means to reciprocate said rod to alternatively move said first and second valve elements to close the outlet passagewAy of the corresponding valve chamber.

Claim 18

A fluid pressure operated flow control valve comprising, housing means having a main fluid flow passageway therethrough having upstream and downstream ends with respect to the direction of fluid flow therethrough, a main valve seat in said main passageway between said upstream and downstream ends a main valve element reciprocable axially of said seat and movable into engagement therewith in the direction of fluid flow to close said main passageway, piston means for reciprocating said main valve element, means defining a piston chamber in said main passageway receiving and reciprocably supporting said piston means, said housing means including first and second valve element chambers laterally spaced from said main passageway and axially aligned and spaced apart from one another, said valve element chambers having aligned outlet passageways opening into the axially opposite ends thereof, a reciprocable actuator rod coaxial with said valve element chambers and having opposite ends extending into said valve element chambers through the axially adjacent ends thereof, first and second valve elements respectively in said first and second valve element chambers and connected to the corresponding end of said rod for reciprocating movement therewith, each said first and second valve elements being adapted to engage and close the corresponding outlet passageway, said rod axially spacing said first and second valve elements a distance less than the axial space between said outlet passageways, whereby movement of either of said first and second valve elements to close the corresponding outlet passageway moves the other to open the corresponding outlet passageway, first flow path means for delivering upstream fluid into said first valve element chamber at a location behind said first valve element when said first valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, second flow path means for delivering upstream fluid to said second valve element chamber and said piston chamber, said second flow path means including a portion extending from the outlet passageway of said first valve element chamber and opening into said second valve element chamber at a location behind said second valve element when said second valve element closes the corresponding outlet passageway, third flow path means for delivering upstream fluid from said piston chamber and second valve chamber through the outlet passageway of said second valve chamber to a location downstream from said main valve seat, and means to reciprocate said rod to alternatively move said first and second valve elements to close the outlet passagewAy of the corresponding valve chamber.