US4090526A — Gas pressure stabilizer system and valve

Claim 1

Independent Claim 353 words

A pressure stabilizer system for beverage container filling apparatus and the like having a filler bowl containing a liquid and a gas of fluctuating pressure over the liquid and a source of pressurized gas; the pressure stabilizer system including a pressure stabilizer valve comprising a valve body having a hollow interior, a diaphragm extending across the valve body interior and dividing the interior into at least two chambers, first port means in the valve body permitting pressurized gas flow between the gas pressure source and a first valve chamber, a one-way conduit connected to the pressure source and to the bowl and permitting the flow of gas from the gas pressure source to the bowl without passing through the stabilizer valve body, a check valve located in the one-way conduit between the bowl on one hand and the pressure source and pressure stabilizer valve on the other hand for checking gas flow from the bowl to the valve body first chamber and checking gas flow from the bowl directly to the source so as to isolate the stabilizer valve body and diaphragm from rapid pressure fluctuations to permit quiet sensitive valve operation, second port means in the valve body, and a two-way conduit connected to the second port means and to the filler bowl for permitting gas flow between the filler bowl and a second valve chamber, pressure relief means having a relief port permitting gas flow between the second valve chamber and the environment outside the valve and including tube means extending into the body interior and terminating in said relief port so as to locate the relief port at a position within the valve to be sealed by the diaphragm when the gas pressure in the first valve chamber urges the diaphragm toward the relief port, yet permitting the relief port to be unsealed by the diaphragm when the gas pressure in the second valve chamber urges the diaphragm away from the relief port and diaphragm spring biasing means engaging the diaphragm and urging the diaphragm away from the pressure relief port to further assist in encouraging quiet, sensitive valve operation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 353 words

A pressure stabilizer system for beverage container filling apparatus and the like having a filler bowl containing a liquid and a gas of fluctuating pressure over the liquid and a source of pressurized gas; the pressure stabilizer system including a pressure stabilizer valve comprising a valve body having a hollow interior, a diaphragm extending across the valve body interior and dividing the interior into at least two chambers, first port means in the valve body permitting pressurized gas flow between the gas pressure source and a first valve chamber, a one-way conduit connected to the pressure source and to the bowl and permitting the flow of gas from the gas pressure source to the bowl without passing through the stabilizer valve body, a check valve located in the one-way conduit between the bowl on one hand and the pressure source and pressure stabilizer valve on the other hand for checking gas flow from the bowl to the valve body first chamber and checking gas flow from the bowl directly to the source so as to isolate the stabilizer valve body and diaphragm from rapid pressure fluctuations to permit quiet sensitive valve operation, second port means in the valve body, and a two-way conduit connected to the second port means and to the filler bowl for permitting gas flow between the filler bowl and a second valve chamber, pressure relief means having a relief port permitting gas flow between the second valve chamber and the environment outside the valve and including tube means extending into the body interior and terminating in said relief port so as to locate the relief port at a position within the valve to be sealed by the diaphragm when the gas pressure in the first valve chamber urges the diaphragm toward the relief port, yet permitting the relief port to be unsealed by the diaphragm when the gas pressure in the second valve chamber urges the diaphragm away from the relief port and diaphragm spring biasing means engaging the diaphragm and urging the diaphragm away from the pressure relief port to further assist in encouraging quiet, sensitive valve operation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 71 words

A pressure stabilizer system according to claim 1 wherein said valve includes a multi-member diaphragm including first and second diaphragm members and the valve further includes means for securing the diaphragm members within the valve body interior in positions to cause the diaphragm to bow convexly toward the relief port, and planar diaphragm stiffener means carried between the diaphragm members for providing a relatively planar diaphragm surface adjacent the relief port.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

A pressure stabilizer system according to claim 2 wherein said pressure stabilizer valve body comprises at least two matable parts, and including clamp means for clamping the diaphragm members between the two body parts in position to cause said convexly bowed diaphragm configuration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

A pressure stabilizer system according to claim 1 wherein said pressure stabilizer valve diaphragm spring biasing means comprises a coil spring surrounding said tube means and engaging the diaphragm, the spring being compressed when the diaphragm is closed against the pressure relief port and urging the diaphragm away from the pressure relief port into a pressure-relieving, port-open position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 338 words

A pressure stabilization system for beverage container filling apparatus and the like, comprising: a filler bowl containing gas of a fluctuating pressure, a source of pressurized gas, a pressure stabilizer valve, the stabilizer valve including a hollow valve body, a diaphragm inside the valve body and dividing the body interior into at least ported and unported chambers, tube means extending through the valve body and into the ported chamber and terminating in a relief port inside the ported chamber, the relief port means in the ported chamber being normally closed by the diaphragm but operable by diaphragm movement to vent gas to the environment outside the valve, spring biasing means in the valve for urging the diaphragm away from the relief port, the system further including a first conduit connected to and permitting flow of gas between the pressurized gas source and the unported valve body chamber to maintain said unported chamber at said gas source gas pressure, and a second conduit connected directly between the filler bowl and the second ported chamber and permitting flow of gas between the filler bowl and the second ported chamber, whereby the valve relief port means is opened by diaphragm port uncovering action and gas venting occurs when the force on the diaphragm exerted by gas pressure in the filler bowl and second ported valve chamber and by the spring biasing means exceeds the force on the diaphragm exerted by gas pressure at the gas source and in the first unported valve chamber, the system further including a one-way conduit connected directly between the gas source and the bowl, without passing through the stabilizer valve, and a check valve operatively included in the one-way conduit adjacent the bowl permitting the flow of pressurized gas from the source to the bowl without passing through the stabilizer valve but checking gas flow from the bowl to the source and to the unported valve body chamber so as to isolate the valve body from rapid pressure fluctuations and to permit quiet, sensitive valve operation.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 338 words

A pressure stabilization system for beverage container filling apparatus and the like, comprising: a filler bowl containing gas of a fluctuating pressure, a source of pressurized gas, a pressure stabilizer valve, the stabilizer valve including a hollow valve body, a diaphragm inside the valve body and dividing the body interior into at least ported and unported chambers, tube means extending through the valve body and into the ported chamber and terminating in a relief port inside the ported chamber, the relief port means in the ported chamber being normally closed by the diaphragm but operable by diaphragm movement to vent gas to the environment outside the valve, spring biasing means in the valve for urging the diaphragm away from the relief port, the system further including a first conduit connected to and permitting flow of gas between the pressurized gas source and the unported valve body chamber to maintain said unported chamber at said gas source gas pressure, and a second conduit connected directly between the filler bowl and the second ported chamber and permitting flow of gas between the filler bowl and the second ported chamber, whereby the valve relief port means is opened by diaphragm port uncovering action and gas venting occurs when the force on the diaphragm exerted by gas pressure in the filler bowl and second ported valve chamber and by the spring biasing means exceeds the force on the diaphragm exerted by gas pressure at the gas source and in the first unported valve chamber, the system further including a one-way conduit connected directly between the gas source and the bowl, without passing through the stabilizer valve, and a check valve operatively included in the one-way conduit adjacent the bowl permitting the flow of pressurized gas from the source to the bowl without passing through the stabilizer valve but checking gas flow from the bowl to the source and to the unported valve body chamber so as to isolate the valve body from rapid pressure fluctuations and to permit quiet, sensitive valve operation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

A pressure system according to claim 5 including means causing the diaphragm member to bow convexly toward and to cover said relief port means when pressures in said two chambers are substantially equal, and diaphragm planar stiffener means for inhibiting diaphragm ballooning into the relief port means when gas pressure in the unported chamber exceeds gas pressure in the ported chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-05-22	1981-11-21	1982-05-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-05-22	1985-11-21	1986-05-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-05-22	1989-11-21	1990-05-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas pressure stabilizer system and valve

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