Valve assembly for high pressure pump

Claim 2

A valve assembly for a high-pressure pump, said assembly comprising: a valve housing having a central bore centered on a main longitudinal axis and a transverse bore extending radially from said central bore in opposite directions along a transverse axis and subdivided by said central bore into an intake transverse-bore part and an exhaust transverse-bore part, the housing being of a material with a relatively low resistance to erosion; respective intake and exhaust sleeves in said intake and exhaust bore parts; respective intake and exhaust valves in said intake and exhaust sleeves; a flow-splitting sleeve in said central bore and having a pair of lateral branches opening respectively in said intake and exhaust bore parts into said intake and exhaust sleeves, said sleeves being received in the respective bores with radial play relative to the respective axes and forming with the respective bores respective annular chambers that communicate with one another, one of said intake and exhaust sleeves being formed with a radial passage opening into the respective chamber, the sleeves all being of a material with a relatively high tensile strength and resistance to erosion; and seal means including seals engaged between said sleeves and the respective bores for isolating said chambers from communication with said bores and the interiors of said sleeves except through said passage and for pressurization of said chambers by said pump through said passage, whereby there is substantially no flow in the annular chambers.

Claim 3

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said one sleeve formed with said passage is said exhaust sleeve.

Claim 4

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said splitting sleeve is formed with an outwardly open circumferential groove, said intake and exhaust sleeves engaging radially inwardly relative to said main axis against said splitting sleeve at said groove.

Claim 5

The assembly defined in claim 1, further comprising means for biasing said intake and exhaust sleeves radially inwardly relative to said main axis against said splitting sleeve.

Claim 6

The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said means for biasing includes respective intake and exhaust screws threaded respectively into said intake and exhaust bore parts.

Claim 7

The assembly defined in claim 5, further comprising respective intake and exhaust disks sealing fitting in said intake and exhaust bore parts between the respective screws and sleeves.

Claim 8

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said intake and exhaust sleeves is subdivided transversely relative to said transverse axis into a plurality of axially succeeding sections bearing axially on one another.

Claim 9

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said exhaust sleeve has a large-diameter outer end face in flat contact with said housing, a small-diameter inner face in direct flat contact with said splitting sleeve, and a shoulder between said end faces and in the respective chamber.

Claim 10

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said branches form acute angles with said central axis and are angled away from said pump.

Claim 11

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the sleeves are loosely received in the respective bores.

Claim 12

The assembly defined in claim 10 wherein the annular chambers extend generally the full axial length of the respective sleeves.

Claim 13

A valve assembly for a high-pressure pump, said assembly comprising: a valve housing having a central bore centered on a main longitudinal axis and a transverse bore extending radially from said central bore in opposite directions along a transverse axis and subdivided by said central bore into an intake transverse-bore part and an exhaust transverse-bore part, the housing being of a material with a relatively low resistance to erosion; respective intake and exhaust sleeves loosely received in said intake and exhaust bore parts; respective intake and exhaust valves in said intake and exhaust sleeves; a flow-splitting sleeve loosely received in said central bore and having a pair of lateral branches opening respectively in said intake and exhaust bore parts into said intake and exhaust sleeves, said sleeves being received in the respective bores with radial play relative to the respective axes and forming with the respective bores respective annular chambers that communicate with one another and that extend axially generally the full length of the respective sleeves, one of said intake and exhaust sleeves being formed with a radial passage opening into the respective chamber, the sleeves all being of a material with a relatively high tensile strength and resistance to erosion; and seal means including seals engaged between said sleeves and the respective bores for isolating said chambers from communication with said bores and the interiors of said sleeves except through said passage and for pressurization of said chambers by said pump through said passage, whereby there is substantially no flow in the annular chambers.

Claim 14

A valve assembly for a high-pressure pump, said assembly comprising: a valve housing having a central bore centered on a main longitudinal axis and a transverse bore extending radially from said central bore in opposite directions along a transverse axis and subdivided by said central bore into an intake transverse-bore part and an exhaust transverse-bore part, the housing being of a material with a relatively low resistance to erosion; respective intake and exhaust sleeves loosely received in said intake and exhaust bore parts; respective intake and exhaust valves in said intake and exhaust sleeves; a flow-splitting sleeve loosely received in said central bore and having a pair of lateral branches opening respectively in said intake and exhaust bore parts into said intake and exhaust sleeves, said sleeves being received in the respective bores with radial play relative to the respective axes and forming with the respective bores respective annular chambers that communicate with one another and that extend axially generally the full length of the respective sleeves, one of said intake and exhaust sleeves being formed with a radial passage opening into the respective chamber, the sleeves all being of a material with a relatively high tensile strength and resistance to erosion; and seal means including seals engaged between said sleeves and the respective bores for isolating said chambers from communication with said bores and the interiors of said sleeves except through said passage and for pressurization of said chambers by said pump through said passage, whereby there is substantially no flow in the annular chambers.