# US 10,371,272 B2 · Shuttle valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,272 B2 - Document ID: US10371272B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/320,062 - Filed: 2011-10-03 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-04 - Assignees: The Subsea Company - Applicants: Barry J McMiles - Inventors: Barry J McMiles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371272B2 ## CPC - F16K 11/07: with cylindrical slides - F15B 13/028: {Shuttle valves} - Y10T 137/2569: Control by depletion of source - Y10T 137/87692: With common valve operator - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A shuttle valve has a housing with a plurality of inlet ports, an outlet port for fluid flow, and a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of the inlet ports to the outlet port. Each Inlet port has an associated plunger configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of the inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing into any other inlet port. The plungers include male and female mating portions with a radial seal between them. A biasing spring allows one of the plungers to allow backward fluid flow through the associated inlet port when not under pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shuttle valve assembly comprising: a housing with a plurality of inlet ports and an outlet port for fluid flow; said housing having a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of said plurality of inlet ports to said outlet port; each of said plurality of inlet ports has an associated plunger; said plurality of plungers configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of the plurality of inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing via a radial seal disposed between each of said plungers into any other of the plurality of inlet ports; a biasing spring positioned axially in the housing against only one of the plungers to permit backflow through its port when no pressurized fluid flow is present; and one or more of the plurality of plungers includes a male portion and a female portion each having a circumferential outer edge, where the plungers are mated together for selective engagement to each other in a fluid blocking position, each of said plungers having an aperture transverse to each plunger positioned opposite to and accessible through one of each port by a tool to positively mate the male-female connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tool is a wrench. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring to bias one of said plurality of plungers to allow backward fluid flow through the associated inlet port when pressure is vented. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radial seal is positioned between each of said plungers along the circumferential outer edge of each plunger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of said plurality of plungers include a male portion, a female portion, where said radial seal is there-between each of said plungers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has three inlet ports. ### Claim 7 A shuttle valve assembly comprising: a housing having a plurality of inlet ports and an outlet port for fluid flow; said housing having a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of said plurality of inlet ports to said outlet port; each of said plurality of inlet ports has an associated plunger; a plurality of plungers configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of said plurality of inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing into any other of the said plurality of inlet ports via a radial seal between each of said plungers; a biasing spring positioned along a longitudinal axis of the housing against only one of the plungers to permit backflow through its port when no pressurized fluid flow is present; and each of said plurality of plungers includes a male portion and a female portion mated together for selective engagement to each other in a fluid blocking position with said radial seal positioned there-between said plungers about the end circumferential edge of each plunger, each of said plungers having an aperture transverse to each plunger positioned opposite to and accessible through one of each port by a tool to positively mate the male-female connection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of inlet ports are configured linearly one to the other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing has three inlet ports. ### Claim 10 A shuttle valve assembly comprising: a housing with a plurality of inlet ports and an outlet port for fluid flow; said housing having a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of said plurality of inlet ports to said outlet port; each of said plurality of inlet ports has an associated plunger with a radial seal disposed between each inlet port and associated plunger; the plurality of plungers configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of the plurality of inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing into any other of the plurality of inlet ports; a biasing spring positioned in a longitudinal axis of the housing against only one of the plungers to permit backflow through its port when no pressurized fluid flow is present; and said plurality of plungers each includes a male portion and a female portion mated together for selective engagement to each other in a fluid blocking position, each of said plungers having an aperture transverse to each plunger positioned opposite to and accessible through one of each port by a tool to positively mate the male-female connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 10 wherein said plurality of inlet ports are configured linearly one to the other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 10 wherein said radial seal is positioned between each plunger and engaged along the edge of each plunger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 10 wherein the housing has three inlet ports. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The shuttle valve as claimed in claim 10 wherein all of said plurality of plungers include a male portion and female portion, and said radial seal is there-between said plungers.