Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A shuttle valve comprising a tubular body having two coaxial inlets and a transverse outlet, two tubular cages telescopically received in said body respectively in one and the other of said inlets, each cage being internally grooved leaving bearing ribs between the grooves extending in the direction of the axis of the cage, the grooves providing flow passages extending the length of the bearing ribs, a shuttle coaxial with said cages including end portions having cylindrical outer portions axially slidably engaging said bearing ribs, said shuttle including a collar between said end portions having an outer cylindrial surface of larger diameter than the inner diameter of said cages at said end portions adapted to engage the inner ends of said ribs to limit axial travel of said shuttle, each cage carrying at its outer end seal means adapted to engage and seal with the outer periphery of an end portion of said shuttle to close the adjacent inlet port when the shuttle is moved toward such port, each cage carrying at its inner end an annular lip having a cylindrical inner periphery adapted to receive said collar with capillary clearance, said flow passages formed by said grooves between said ribs being always in communication with said outlet even when said shuttle closes the adjacent inlet port, such communication being from the deepest portions of said grooves through said capillary clearance when said collar is engaged with the ends of the ribs forming such flow passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A shuttle valve comprising a tubular body having two coaxial inlets and a transverse outlet, two tubular cages telescopically received in said body respectively in one and the other of said inlets, each cage being internally grooved leaving bearing ribs between the grooves extending in the direction of the axis of the cage, the grooves providing flow passages extending the length of the bearing ribs, a shuttle coaxial with said cages including end portions having cylindrical outer portions axially slidably engaging said bearing ribs, said shuttle including a collar between said end portions having an outer cylindrial surface of larger diameter than the inner diameter of said cages at said end portions adapted to engage the inner ends of said ribs to limit axial travel of said shuttle, each cage carrying at its outer end seal means adapted to engage and seal with the outer periphery of an end portion of said shuttle to close the adjacent inlet port when the shuttle is moved toward such port, each cage carrying at its inner end an annular lip having a cylindrical inner periphery adapted to receive said collar with capillary clearance, said flow passages formed by said grooves between said ribs being always in communication with said outlet even when said shuttle closes the adjacent inlet port, such communication being from the deepest portions of said grooves through said capillary clearance when said collar is engaged with the ends of the ribs forming such flow passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
Valve according to claim 1, the outer peripheral edges of said collar being bevelled to keep the maximum diameter portion of the collar out of contact with the ends of said ribs, thereby to increase the area for fluid flow at the juncture of the inner ends of the flow passages adjacent the collar and the outer periphery of the collar when engaged with the ribs forming the latter flow passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Valve according to claim 1, said lips being axially separated leaving the outer periphery of the collar out of contact with the lips when the shuttle moves through the midportion of its travel from one inlet to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Valve according to claim 1, said shuttle being free to move axially from one inlet to the other with the extent of such axial movement being limited solely by said inner ends of said ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Valve according to claim 1, the entire surface of the shuttle upstream of the shuttle from said seal means being exposed to upstream pressure of the respective inlet port when the shuttle closes such port.