US4030520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball-type safety valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-05
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A safety valve has a valve body defining a valve chamber having a longitudinal axis with flow passages at opposite ends of the axis, transverse walls at opposite ends of the valve chamber separating the valve chamber from the flow passages, valve ports through the transverse walls coaxial with the valve chamber, at least one of the valve ports being defined by a frusto-conical valve seat facing the valve chamber and by a cylindrical inner surface between the valve seat and the side of the one valve port opposite the valve chamber, an annular groove formed in the cylindrical surface of the one valve port, a convolute coil spring having a large end coil seated in the annular groove and a small end axially removed from the large end in the direction of the valve chamber and located within the confines of the valve seat, a ball valve of small diameter than the valve chamber disposed in the chamber and movable toward and away from the seat, and a leak passage for bypassing a restricted flow of fluid around the valve when the valve is closed. In one embodiment of the invention both valve ports are similarly defined and both include convolute coil springs so that the valve may operate bidirectionally. In another embodiment, the valve is designed for unidirectional use, however the valve body is generally the same as in the first embodiment except that the convolute spring and seat for same are omitted from the upstream valve port, and in lieu thereof an open ended frust-conical deflector is mounted coaxially within the port so that the deflector diverges toward the valve chamber forming an annular ring of fluid which tends to center the ball valve within the valve chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Asa D. Sands
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/02; F16K15/04; F16K15/048; F16K17/00; F16K17/20; F16K17/22; F16K17/24; F16K17/26; F16K17/28; F16K17/285; F16K17/30; F16K17/34; F16K2200/00; F16K2200/40; F16K2200/401; F16K2200/402; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7847; Y10T137/7848; Y10T137/7849; Y10T137/785; Y10T137/7854; Y10T137/7856; Y10T137/7869; Y10T137/7871; Y10T137/7873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
In a flow operated safety valve, the combination of a valve body defining a valve chamber having a longitudinal axis with flow passages at opposite ends of said axis, a cylindrical inner surface about said valve chamber, transverse walls at opposite ends of said valve chamber separating said valve chamber from said flow passages and defining annular shoulders at opposite ends of said chamber, a valve port through each of said transverse walls coaxial with said valve chamber, at least one of said valve ports being defined by a frusto-conical valve seat facing said chamber and by a cylindrical surface at the end of said valve seat remote from said chamber, an annular groove formed in said cylindrical surface of said one valve port, a convolute coil spring having a large end coil seated in said annular groove and tapering axially in the direction of said chamber to a small end located within the confines of said valve seat, a ball valve of smaller diameter than said chamber disposed in the chamber and movable toward and away from said valve seat, said safety valve body when in normal use being mounted in a flow line with its longitudinal axis horizontal so that said ball valve normally rests on the lowest portion of said cylindrical inner surface of said valve chamber out of contact with said valve seat and said spring, said ball valve being responsive to an excess rate of fluid flow above a predetermined maximum flow rate in the direction of said seat to move against said spring compressing same and seating upon said conical valve seat, thus substantially reducing the flow of fluid through said valve, and restricted leak passage means for bypassing fluid around said ball valve and said valve seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
In a flow operated safety valve, the combination of a valve body defining a valve chamber having a longitudinal axis with flow passages at opposite ends of said axis, a cylindrical inner surface about said valve chamber, transverse walls at opposite ends of said valve chamber separating said valve chamber from said flow passages and defining annular shoulders at opposite ends of said chamber, a valve port through each of said transverse walls coaxial with said valve chamber, at least one of said valve ports being defined by a frusto-conical valve seat facing said chamber and by a cylindrical surface at the end of said valve seat remote from said chamber, an annular groove formed in said cylindrical surface of said one valve port, a convolute coil spring having a large end coil seated in said annular groove and tapering axially in the direction of said chamber to a small end located within the confines of said valve seat, a ball valve of smaller diameter than said chamber disposed in the chamber and movable toward and away from said valve seat, said safety valve body when in normal use being mounted in a flow line with its longitudinal axis horizontal so that said ball valve normally rests on the lowest portion of said cylindrical inner surface of said valve chamber out of contact with said valve seat and said spring, said ball valve being responsive to an excess rate of fluid flow above a predetermined maximum flow rate in the direction of said seat to move against said spring compressing same and seating upon said conical valve seat, thus substantially reducing the flow of fluid through said valve, and restricted leak passage means for bypassing fluid around said ball valve and said valve seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety valve according to claim 1 wherein said leak passage means is a dimpled surface on said ball valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The safety valve according to claim 1 wherein said leak passages means comprises at least one restricted flow by-pass port through the transverse wall in which said at least one of said valve ports is located.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
The safety valve according to claim 1 wherein the other valve port has a frusto-conical flow deflector mounted coaxially therein, spider support means within said other port spacing said deflector from the transverse wall through which said other port passes, said deflector having an open small end within said other valve port remote from said chamber, and an open large end within said chamber, said large end being of a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said ball valve, said deflector causing fluid flowing through said other port in the direction of said chamber to divide and form an annular fluid ring which flows around said ball and a smaller stream which flows axially against said ball, said annular fluid ring tending to lift said ball from the bottom of said chamber and said smaller stream tending to press said valve against said spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The safety valve of claim 1 wherein said valve body includes a pair of laterally flanged coaxial valve sections, and coupling means joining said laterally flanged valve sections, each of said pair of valve sections including one of said opposite flow passages, one of said transverse walls and at least a portion of the cylindrical surface defining said valve chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The safety valve according to claim 1 wherein each said valve ports is defined by frusto-conical valve seat facing said valve chamber and by a cylindrical surface at the end of said valve seat remote from said chamber, an annular groove formed in the cylindrical surface of each of said valve ports, and one of said convolute springs seated in each of said annular grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The safety valve according to claim 6 wherein said ball valve has a dimpled surface, said dimpled surface when seated against one of said valve seats forming said restricted leak passage means for bypassing fluid around said ball valve when seated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |