US5694893A — Outward opening valve system for an engine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 220 words

An outwardly opening valve system for an engine comprising: an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, and an intensifier bore that opens to said hollow piston cylinder; said opening including an outward valve seat adjacent said gas passageway; an outward valve member with a valve face, and said valve member being moveable between a closed position in which said valve face is against said valve seat closing said opening and an open position in which said valve face is away from said valve seat; means for biasing said outward valve member toward said open position; an intensifier piston positioned in said intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure within said hollow piston cylinder; a coupling linkage interconnecting said intensifier piston and said outward valve member; an accumulator plunger positioned in said accumulator chamber and moveable between a release position and a storage position; means for biasing said accumulator plunger toward said release position; and a control valve member positioned in said transfer passage and having a first position in which said accumulator chamber is open to said fluid cavity, and a second position in which said accumulator chamber is closed to said fluid cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 220 words

An outwardly opening valve system for an engine comprising: an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, and an intensifier bore that opens to said hollow piston cylinder; said opening including an outward valve seat adjacent said gas passageway; an outward valve member with a valve face, and said valve member being moveable between a closed position in which said valve face is against said valve seat closing said opening and an open position in which said valve face is away from said valve seat; means for biasing said outward valve member toward said open position; an intensifier piston positioned in said intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure within said hollow piston cylinder; a coupling linkage interconnecting said intensifier piston and said outward valve member; an accumulator plunger positioned in said accumulator chamber and moveable between a release position and a storage position; means for biasing said accumulator plunger toward said release position; and a control valve member positioned in said transfer passage and having a first position in which said accumulator chamber is open to said fluid cavity, and a second position in which said accumulator chamber is closed to said fluid cavity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 59 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 1 wherein said coupling linkage includes: a valve plunger with one end attached to said outward valve member and another end contacting a hydraulic fluid in said fluid cavity; an intensifier plunger with one end attached to said intensifier piston and an other end contacting said hydraulic fluid in said fluid cavity.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 wherein said means for biasing said outward valve member includes a first compression spring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 3 wherein said means for biasing said accumulator plunger includes a second compression spring.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 wherein said control valve member is a spool valve member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 wherein said outward valve member is in said closed position when said accumulator plunger is in said release position; and said outward valve member is in said open position when said accumulator plunger is in said storage position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 wherein said fluid cavity is sized such that movement of said outward valve member from said closed position to said open position hydraulically moves said accumulator plunger from said release position to said storage position, and vice versa, when said control valve member is in said first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 further comprising: a re-supply passageway opening to said fluid cavity; a check valve positioned in said re-supply passage an being operable to prevent back flow of said hydraulic fluid from said fluid cavity into said re-supply passage.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 8 wherein said control valve member blocks said re-supply passage to said fluid cavity when in said first position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 52 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 9 wherein said re-supply passage is connected to a source of hydraulic fluid at a pressure; and said pressure is sufficiently high to hydraulically move said outward valve member toward said closed position against the action of said means for biasing said outward valve member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 65 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 8 wherein said control valve member has a third position in which said re-supply passage is blocked and said transfer passage is blocked; said re-supply passage is blocked when said control valve member is in said first position; and said re-supply passage is open to said fluid cavity when said control valve member is in said second position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 2 wherein said engine further includes a drain passage that opens to said accumulator chamber; and said control valve member closes said drain passage when in said second position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 12 further comprising: a re-supply passageway opening to said fluid cavity; a check valve positioned in said re-supply passage an being operable to prevent back flow of said hydraulic fluid from said fluid cavity into said re-supply passage.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 13 further comprising a source of high pressure hydraulic fluid connected to said re-supply passage.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 1 wherein said valve seat is a spring biased floating valve seat.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 1 further comprising a solenoid attached to said control valve member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 16 further comprising a computer in communication with and capable of controlling said solenoid.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 60 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 1 wherein said control valve member moves between said first position and said second position over a time period; said outward valve member moves between said open position and said closed position within said time period; and said accumulator plunger moves between said release position and said storage position within said time period.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 265 words

An outwardly opening valve system comprising: an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, an intensifier bore that opens to said hollow piston cylinder, a drain passage that opens to said accumulator chamber, and a re-supply passage that opens to said fluid cavity; said opening including an outward valve seat adjacent said gas passageway; an outward valve member with a valve face, and said valve member being moveable between a closed position in which said valve face is against said valve seat closing said opening and an open position in which said valve face is away from said valve seat; an intensifier piston positioned in said intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure within said hollow piston cylinder; a coupling linkage interconnecting said intensifier piston and said outward valve member; an accumulator plunger positioned in said accumulator chamber and moveable between a release position and a storage position; a control valve member positioned in said transfer passage and moveable a distance between a first position in which said fluid cavity is open to said re-supply passage and said accumulator chamber is open to said drain passage, and a second position in which fluid cavity is closed to said re-supply passage and said accumulator chamber is closed to said drain passage; and said fluid cavity opens to said accumulator chamber when said control valve member is moving between said first position and said second position over a portion of said distance.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 265 words

An outwardly opening valve system comprising: an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, an intensifier bore that opens to said hollow piston cylinder, a drain passage that opens to said accumulator chamber, and a re-supply passage that opens to said fluid cavity; said opening including an outward valve seat adjacent said gas passageway; an outward valve member with a valve face, and said valve member being moveable between a closed position in which said valve face is against said valve seat closing said opening and an open position in which said valve face is away from said valve seat; an intensifier piston positioned in said intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure within said hollow piston cylinder; a coupling linkage interconnecting said intensifier piston and said outward valve member; an accumulator plunger positioned in said accumulator chamber and moveable between a release position and a storage position; a control valve member positioned in said transfer passage and moveable a distance between a first position in which said fluid cavity is open to said re-supply passage and said accumulator chamber is open to said drain passage, and a second position in which fluid cavity is closed to said re-supply passage and said accumulator chamber is closed to said drain passage; and said fluid cavity opens to said accumulator chamber when said control valve member is moving between said first position and said second position over a portion of said distance.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 86 words

The outwardly opening valve system of claim 19 wherein said coupling linkage includes: a valve plunger with one end attached to said outward valve member and another end contacting a hydraulic fluid in said fluid cavity; an intensifier plunger with one end attached to said intensifier piston and an other end contacting said hydraulic fluid in said fluid cavity; and the system further comprising: means for biasing said outward valve member toward said open position; and means for biasing said accumulator plunger toward said release position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-12-08	2001-06-09	2001-12-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-12-08	2005-06-09	2005-12-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-12-08	2009-06-09	2009-12-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Outward opening valve system for an engine

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