Patent US5118071A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5118071A
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Electronically driven control valve
Assignee: Dr Huelle Energie Engr GmbH
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Filing: 1991-03-05
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Granted: 1992-06-02
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Expires: 2011-03-05
Abstract
Abstract An electronically driven control valve, in particular for refrigeration, comprises a main pipe (2) with two end pieces (4, 6) which can be made into inlet and outlet and an elastic center piece (8) which can be loaded externally with pressure to change its shape and hence its flow cross-section. The main pipe is surrounded in the zone of the elastic center piece by a perforated support tube (10) which in turn is surrounded at a distance by an enclosing tube (12), whereby an impermeably sealed enclosing space (16) is formed between the center piece (8) and the enclosing tube (12). A filling medium (18) in the saturated state is present in that enclosing space. This filling medium can be heated by a heater element to generate a desired vapor pressure and to change the shape of the elastic center piece. The change in shape of the elastic center piece is sensed using an inductive or capacitive pickup (25). The measurement signals from the pickup are analyzed to drive the control valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Zbigniew R. Huelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1919; G05D23/1921; F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/02; F16K11/06; F16K11/078; F16K11/0782; F16K31/00; F16K31/44; F16K31/60; F16K31/605; F16K7/00; F16K7/02; F16K7/04; F16K7/07; F25; F25B; F25B41/00; F25B41/30; F25B41/31; F25B41/33; F25B41/335; F25B41/34; F25B41/355; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/05; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8225; Y10T137/8242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A fluid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid in a piping system by changing the flow cross-section, said fluid control valve comprising: a) a valve body having a pair of end pieces; b) said valve body including casing means for forming a substantially impermeable exterior housing connected to said pair of end pieces; c) a substantially impermeable elastic means for reducing the flow of fluid through the valve body and forming a flexible conduit extending between and connected to said pair of end pieces located interiorly of said casing means; d) filling means operatively connected to said casing including a filling material for producing a change in fluid pressure about said elastic means in response to a change in temperature, so that the change in fluid pressure causes said elastic means to change shape and affect the flow of fluid through said valve body by changing the flow cross-section; e) electrically operated distance measuring means including a first element connected to said elastic means and a second element connected at a fixed position on said valve body for electrically determining the change in shape of said elastic means by electrically measuring the distance between first element and said second element during changes in shape of said elastic means; and, f) whereby, said elastic means can assume an open all the way position, a closed all the way position, or any position in between and said positions can be determined by said measuring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A fluid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid in a piping system by changing the flow cross-section, said fluid control valve comprising: a) a valve body having a pair of end pieces; b) said valve body including casing means for forming a substantially impermeable exterior housing connected to said pair of end pieces; c) a substantially impermeable elastic means for reducing the flow of fluid through the valve body and forming a flexible conduit extending between and connected to said pair of end pieces located interiorly of said casing means; d) filling means operatively connected to said casing including a filling material for producing a change in fluid pressure about said elastic means in response to a change in temperature, so that the change in fluid pressure causes said elastic means to change shape and affect the flow of fluid through said valve body by changing the flow cross-section; e) electrically operated distance measuring means including a first element connected to said elastic means and a second element connected at a fixed position on said valve body for electrically determining the change in shape of said elastic means by electrically measuring the distance between first element and said second element during changes in shape of said elastic means; and, f) whereby, said elastic means can assume an open all the way position, a closed all the way position, or any position in between and said positions can be determined by said measuring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said filling means includes a filling medium source; and, b) said filling medium source is a liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control valve as defined in claim 2, wherein: a) said filling medium source is isobutene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said filling means includes a filling medium source; and, b) said filling medium source comprises at least one sorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control valve as defined in claim 4, wherein: a) the filling medium source is selected from the group comprising carbon and zeolite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said elastic means includes a pair of ends for connection to said pair of end pieces; b) each end of said elastic means is impermeably embedded in a metal ring; and, c) said metal ring is connected to one of said end pieces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said elastic means includes a pair of ends for connection to said pair of end pieces; b) said elastic means includes an annular flange at each of said ends; c) each said flange being impermeably force-fitted between said casing means and said end pieces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control valve as defined in claim 7, wherein: a) an annular ring is located between said elastic means and said casing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) an air-permeable wall forms a perforated support tube between said casing means and said elastic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control valve as defined in claim 9, wherein: a) a porous pipe formed of sintered material extends along a portion of said perforated support tube between said perforated support tube and said casing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control valve as defined in claim 10, wherein: a) said sintered material is gas-permeable and adsorbent-impermeable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a fluid-permeable wall formed of sintered material is located between said casing means and said elastic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a heater element is mounted exteriorly of said casing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein: a) said heater element is mounted annularly on said casing means substantially adjacent one of said end pieces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a heater element is mounted between said casing means and said elastic means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a heater element is integrated into said casing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said casing means if formed eccentrically around said elastic means and forms a pouch for holding the filling medium source; and b) a heater element is mounted to said pouch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said elastic means forms a tube having variable wall thicknesses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said valve body includes an intake opening and an outlet opening; b) said intake opening is of smaller cross-section than said outlet opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control valve as defined inclaim 19, wherein: a) said outlet opening includes an insert having a conical support ring forming a bracing element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said measuring means is an inductive pickup.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control valve as defined in claim 21, wherein: a) said inductive pickup is a cylindrical, elastic, magnetic layer connected to said elastic means; and b) a measurement winding is mounted on the outside of said casing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control valve as defined in claim 22, wherein: a) said measurement winding is a coil surrounding said casing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A control valve as defined in claim 22, wherein: a) said measurement winding is a coil mounted laterally of said casing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said measuring means is a capacitive pickup.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control valve as defined in claim 25, wherein: a) said capacitive pickup includes an elastic electrode connected to said elastic means; and b) electrodes are mounted on said exterior of said casing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said filling medium source is spaces from said elastic means; and b) a passage is located between said filling medium source and said elastic means forming a conduit for the flow of fluid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control valve as defined in claim 27, further comprising: a) a heat feed back element providing a conduit for heat flow from said elastic means to a valve outlet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
159 words
A fluid control valve for changing the flow of fluid through a piping system by reducing the flow cross-section, said control valve comprising: a) a valve body having a pair of end pieces; b) said valve body including casing means for forming a substantially impermeable exterior housing connected to said pair of end pieces; c) a substantially impermeable elastic means forming a flexible conduit extending between and connected to said pair of end pieces; d) filling means for producing a change in fluid pressure about said elastic means in response to a change in temperature, so that the change in fluid pressure causes said elastic means to change shape and effect the flow of fluid through said valve body; e) a perforated support tube extending between said impermeable elastic means and said casing means; and f) a layer of sintered material located between said perforated support tube and said casing means, said layer of sintered material being fluid permeable.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
159 words
A fluid control valve for changing the flow of fluid through a piping system by reducing the flow cross-section, said control valve comprising: a) a valve body having a pair of end pieces; b) said valve body including casing means for forming a substantially impermeable exterior housing connected to said pair of end pieces; c) a substantially impermeable elastic means forming a flexible conduit extending between and connected to said pair of end pieces; d) filling means for producing a change in fluid pressure about said elastic means in response to a change in temperature, so that the change in fluid pressure causes said elastic means to change shape and effect the flow of fluid through said valve body; e) a perforated support tube extending between said impermeable elastic means and said casing means; and f) a layer of sintered material located between said perforated support tube and said casing means, said layer of sintered material being fluid permeable.
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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) | 1995-06-02 | 1995-12-02 | 1996-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-02 | 1999-12-02 | 2000-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-02 | 2003-12-02 | 2004-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |