Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A self-sustaining lock-out valve which remains open without outside forces as long as sufficient flow is passing across the valve, comprising: a valve body having a bore which is intersected by an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a poppet positioned in the bore; a seat positioned in the bore between the inlet and outlet chamber; spring means urging the poppet into sealing engagement with the seat; a pin means located in the bore in contact with the poppet for urging the poppet toward an open position; servo means for actuating the pin means; an orifice means on the poppet upstream of the seat; a closing area on the poppet creating a force which urges the poppet closed sensing the pressure downstream of the orifice means; an opening area on the poppet creating a force which urges the poppet open, the opening area sensing the pressure upstream of the orifice whereby when there is sufficient flow and pressure drop across the orifice, the force on the opening area exceeds the combined closing area force and the spring force so that the lockout remains open when the force on the pin means drops to zero.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A self-sustaining lock-out valve which remains open without outside forces as long as sufficient flow is passing across the valve, comprising: a valve body having a bore which is intersected by an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a poppet positioned in the bore; a seat positioned in the bore between the inlet and outlet chamber; spring means urging the poppet into sealing engagement with the seat; a pin means located in the bore in contact with the poppet for urging the poppet toward an open position; servo means for actuating the pin means; an orifice means on the poppet upstream of the seat; a closing area on the poppet creating a force which urges the poppet closed sensing the pressure downstream of the orifice means; an opening area on the poppet creating a force which urges the poppet open, the opening area sensing the pressure upstream of the orifice whereby when there is sufficient flow and pressure drop across the orifice, the force on the opening area exceeds the combined closing area force and the spring force so that the lockout remains open when the force on the pin means drops to zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 including a lateral passage means in the poppet connecting the closing area on the backside of the poppet with an area on the front side of the poppet downstream of the orifice means whereby the closing force from said closing area varies with the pressure drop across the orifice means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the orifice means includes an orifice ring positioned in the bore and a first reduced diameter section of the poppet which passes through the orifice ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the orifice means includes an orifice ring positioned in the bore and a first reduced diameter section of the poppet which passes through the stationary orifice ring, the opening area on the poppet comprising a tapered section above said first reduced diameter section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the orifice means includes an orifice ring positioned in the bore and a first reduced diameter section of the poppet which passes through the stationary orifice ring, the opening area on the poppet comprising a tapered section above said first reduced diameter section and a lateral passage in the poppet connecting the closing area on the poppet with an area on the poppet downstream of the orifice means whereby the closing force from said closing area varies with the pressure drop across the orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the contact area between the poppet and seat comprises a flat annular shaped area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A self-sustaining lockout valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the orifice means is variable and includes an orifice ring positioned in the bore and a first reduced diameter section of the poppet which passes through the orifice ring and a second reduced diameter section of the poppet smaller than the first reduced diameter section positioned just downstream of the first reduced diameter section.