Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
An improved flow control valve comprising: a hollow valve body having an inlet port and first and second outlet ports; sleeve means mounted in said body having an open end located adjacent said inlet port, a closed end located adjacent said second outlet port, a plurality of first apertures near said open end extending through said sleeve means and arranged to be, at times, in communication with said inlet port, a plurality of second apertures extending through said sleeve means and arranged to be, at times, in communication with said second outlet port, and a plurality of perforations extending therethrough adjacent said first outlet and between said first and second apertures; an annular valve seat in said body encircling said inlet port; an elongated valve member movably located in said sleeve, said valve member having a longitudinally extending passageway therethrough providing communication between the open and closed ends of said sleeve and being of sufficient length to close said perforations, said valve member being engageable with said valve seat to prevent flow from said inlet port to said first outlet port; valve operating means operably connected with said valve member for moving said valve member to a first position in engagement with said seat wherein said first apertures and perforations are closed to flow and said second apertures are open permitting restricted flow from said inlet port to said second outlet port, to a second position wherein said first and second apertures are open permitting restricted flow from said inlet port to both said outlet ports while preventing flow through said perforations, and to a third position wherein said perforations are open and said second apertures are closed permitting substantially unrestricted flow from said inlet port through said perforations into said first outlet port while preventing flow through said second apertures into said second outlet port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
An improved flow control valve comprising: a hollow valve body having an inlet port and first and second outlet ports; sleeve means mounted in said body having an open end located adjacent said inlet port, a closed end located adjacent said second outlet port, a plurality of first apertures near said open end extending through said sleeve means and arranged to be, at times, in communication with said inlet port, a plurality of second apertures extending through said sleeve means and arranged to be, at times, in communication with said second outlet port, and a plurality of perforations extending therethrough adjacent said first outlet and between said first and second apertures; an annular valve seat in said body encircling said inlet port; an elongated valve member movably located in said sleeve, said valve member having a longitudinally extending passageway therethrough providing communication between the open and closed ends of said sleeve and being of sufficient length to close said perforations, said valve member being engageable with said valve seat to prevent flow from said inlet port to said first outlet port; valve operating means operably connected with said valve member for moving said valve member to a first position in engagement with said seat wherein said first apertures and perforations are closed to flow and said second apertures are open permitting restricted flow from said inlet port to said second outlet port, to a second position wherein said first and second apertures are open permitting restricted flow from said inlet port to both said outlet ports while preventing flow through said perforations, and to a third position wherein said perforations are open and said second apertures are closed permitting substantially unrestricted flow from said inlet port through said perforations into said first outlet port while preventing flow through said second apertures into said second outlet port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
The valve of claim 1 wherein said sleeve means includes: a tubular member in said body forming an annular space therebetween and having a radially projecting flange intermediate the ends thereof, said flange sealingly engaging said body between said outlet ports preventing communication therebetween, said plurality of perforations extending through said tubular member adjacent to said first outlet port, said plurality of first apertures extending through said tubular member between said perforations and said open end, and an annular recess in the interior of said tubular member between said closed end and said perforations, said recess having a width smaller than the smallest of said second apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
The valve of claim 2 wherein said sleeve means also includes: a first annular member encircling said tubular member and having an annular groove in one surface thereof in communication with said first apertures; a second annular member encircling said tubular member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced orifices aligned with the annular groove in said first annular member and extending into an annular groove in the opposite surface of said second annular member; and, a third annular member encircling said tubular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced orifices aligned with the annular groove in said second annular member, said orifices extending into an annular groove in the opposite surface of said third annular member, said annular members providing restricted fluid flow from said inlet port, through said first apertures, the orifices in said first, second amd third annular members to said first outlet port when said valve member is in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
The valve of claim 3 wherein said sleeve means also includes: a first disk member encircling said tubular member and having a pair of circumferentially spaced, annular grooves in one surface, the innermost said groove being located in fluid communication with said second apertures, said first disk member also having a plurality of radially spaced orifices extending therethrough in each said annular groove; a second disk member encircling said tubular member and having a pair of circumferentially spaced annular grooves in alignment with the orifices in said first disk member, said second disk member having a plurality of radially spaced orifices extending therethrough in each said annular groove; and, a third disk member encircling said tubular member and having an annular groove in one surface thereof aligned with the orifices in said second disk member, said disk members providing restricted fluid flow through said valve member from said inlet through said second apertures, the orifices in the innermost annular grooves of said first and second disk members, through the groove in said third disk member, and the orifices in the outermost grooves of said second and first disk member into said second outlet port.