Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve spool includes an annular land disposed between said first and second aperture means, said annular land being disposed in sealing engagement with said means for blocking flow through said second aperture means when said valve spool is in said second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve spool includes internal surface means for defining an axially extending passage connected in fluid communication with said first and second aperture means and said priority flow outlet passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second aperture means has a gReater cross sectional area for conducting fluid flow than said first aperture means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve spool has first and second end portions, said means for effecting movement of said valve spool including surface means cooperating with said first end portion of said valve spool to define a first pressure chamber, passage means for connecting said pressure chamber in fluid communication with said inlet passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
247 words
A valve assembly comprising a valve body having an inlet passage adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, an excess flow outlet passage, and a priority flow outlet passage, valve means for dividing a flow of fluid from said inlet passage between said excess flow outlet passage and said priority flow outlet passage, said valve means being operable between a first condition regulating the rate of fluid flow from said inlet passage to said priority flow outlet passage to a first predetermined flow rate and a second condition regulating the rate of fluid flow from said inlet passage to said priority flow outlet passage to a second predetermined flow rate which is less than said first predetermined flow rate, and means for effecting operation of said valve means between said first and second conditions in response to variations in fluid pressure at said priority flow outlet passage relative to the fluid pressure at said excess flow outlet passage, said valve means including first aperture means for porting a flow of fluid from said inlet passage to said priority flow outlet passage when said valve means is in said first and second conditions, second aperture means for porting a flow of fluid from said inlet passage to said priority flow outlet passage only when said valve means is in said first condition, said first and second aperture means being effective to port parallel fluid flows when said valve means is in said first condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
A valve assembly as set forth in claim 6 further including means for effecting operation of said valve means in response to variations in the fluid pressure at one of said outlet passages relative to the fluid pressure at the other of said outlet passages to maintain the flow of fluid to said priority flow outlet passage substantially constant at said first predetermined flow rate when said valve means is in said second condition and to maintain the flow of fluid to said priority flow outlet passage substantially constant at said second predetermined flow rate when said valve means is in said second condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
301 words
A valve assembly comprising a valve body having an inlet passage adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, an excess flow outlet passage, and a priority flow outlet passage, a valve spool movable between a first condition and a second condition, first aperture means providing communication between said inlet passage and said priority flow outlet passage when said valve spool is in said first and second conditions, means restricting flow from said inlet passage to said excess flow outlet passage when said valve spool is in said first condition and allowing flow between said inlet passage and said excess flow outlet passage when said valve spool is in said second condition, means to move said valve spool from said second condition to said first condition, second aperture means providing communication between said inlet passage and said priority flow outlet passage when said valve spool is in said first condition, means for blocking flow through said second aperture means when said valve spool is in said second condition said second aperture means providing a greater flow of fluid from said inlet passage to said priority flow outlet passage than said first aperture means, means to shift said valve spool toward said first condition from said second condition when the pressure of fluid in said priority flow outlet passage is greater than the pressure of fluid in said excess flow outlet passage, means to shift said valVe spool toward said second condition from said first condition when said pressure of fluid in said excessive flow outlet passage is greater than said pressure of fluid in said priority flow outlet passage, and means to restrict the flow of fluid intermediate said first and second aperture means and said priority flow outlet passage when said valve spool approaches said second condition.