# US 11,306,836 B2 · Variable flow poppet valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,836 B2 - Document ID: US11306836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/624,754 - Filed: 2018-06-22 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-23 - Assignees: Graco Minnesota Inc. - Applicants: Graco Minnesota Inc. - Inventors: James R. Ebben; Anthony J. Kuschel; Michael E. Bloom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306836B2 ## CPC - F16K 17/04: spring-loaded - F16K 1/385: {contacting in the closed position, over a substantial axial length, a seat surface having the same inclination} - F16K 27/0254: {with conical shaped valve members} - F16K 39/024: {using an auxiliary valve on the main valve} - 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)} ## Abstract A variable flow poppet valve includes a first stage, a second stage, a bushing disposed in the second stage, and a cap configured to actuate the valve open. The first stage includes an inner valve plug having a head with a first tapered portion and a shaft extending downstream from the head, and a first stage spring disposed within the bushing and extending around the shaft. The shaft is attached to the cap to allow the cap to actuate the inner valve plug to the open position. The second stage includes an outer valve plug having an upstream portion and a second tapered portion extending downstream from the upstream portion. The bushing includes a shoulder, and the cap is configured to engage the shoulder to actuate the outer valve plug to the open position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable flow valve comprising: an outer valve plug comprising: a valve plug body having an upstream portion and an outer plug tapered portion extending from the upstream portion; and a plug passage extending through the valve plug body, the plug passage comprising: a first segment extending into the upstream portion of the valve plug body, the first segment including a first stage seat; and a second segment extending from the first segment; a bushing comprising: an upstream end having a shaft opening extending through the upstream end; a downstream end; and a shoulder extending radially inward and disposed between the upstream end and the downstream end; wherein the bushing is disposed within the second segment; an inner valve plug disposed within the plug passage and extending into the bushing through the shaft opening, the inner valve plug comprising: a head having an inner plug tapered portion configured to mate with the first stage seat; and a shaft extending from the head through the shaft opening; and a cap attached to the shaft and disposed within the bushing; wherein the cap is configured to actuate the inner valve plug between a first stage closed position and a first stage open position and is configured to engage the shoulder of the bushing to actuate the outer valve plug between a second stage closed position and a second stage open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a flange extending radially from the shaft and configured to abut an upstream end of the cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The variable flow valve of claim 2, wherein the inner valve plug further comprises an attachment portion extending from the flange and into a cap bore of the cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, wherein the first segment of the plug passage further comprises a intermediate portion extending between the first stage seat and the second segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The variable flow valve of claim 4, wherein the shaft includes a step, and wherein the shaft has a larger cross-sectional area between the head and the step than between the step and the cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, wherein the outer valve plug comprises an elastomer and the inner valve plug comprises a metal, and the inner plug tapered portion is configured to interface directly with the first stage seat with inner valve plug in the first stage closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises: a cap body; a cap bore extending through the cap body, the cap bore configured to receive the shaft of the inner valve plug; and a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from the cap body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, further comprising: a first stage spring disposed within the bushing and around the shaft, the first stage spring extending between the upstream end of the bushing and the cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The variable flow valve of claim 1, wherein the upstream portion of the outer valve plug includes a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the upstream portion. ### Claim 10 A nozzle for dispensing fluid, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body defining an upstream fluid chamber and a downstream fluid chamber; an outer valve seat extending radially inward from the nozzle body between the upstream fluid chamber and the downstream fluid chamber; a variable flow valve disposed within the nozzle body, the variable flow valve movable between a fully closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, wherein the variable flow valve comprises: an outer valve plug comprising: a valve plug body having an upstream portion and an outer plug tapered portion extending from the upstream portion and configured to mate with the outer valve seat; and a plug passage extending through the valve plug body and including a first stage seat; a second stage spring disposed within the upstream fluid chamber and configured to bias the outer valve plug towards the outer valve seat; a bushing disposed within the plug passage; an inner valve plug disposed within the plug passage and extending into the bushing, the inner valve plug comprising: a head having an inner plug tapered portion, the inner plug tapered portion configured to mate with the first stage seat; and a shaft extending from the head and into the bushing; a cap attached to the shaft and disposed within the bushing; and a first stage spring disposed within the bushing and around the shaft, the first stage spring extending between an upstream end of the bushing and the cap; wherein the cap is configured to actuate the variable flow valve from the fully closed position to the partially open position, where the inner valve plug is displaced from the first stage seat, and from the partially open position to the fully open position, where the outer valve plug is displaced from the outer valve seat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein the plug passage further comprises: a first segment extending into the upstream portion of the valve plug body, the first segment including the first stage seat; and a second segment extending from the first segment, wherein the bushing is disposed within the second segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the first segment of the plug passage further comprises a intermediate portion extending between the first stage seat and the second segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The nozzle of claim 12, wherein the shaft includes a step, and wherein the shaft has a larger cross-sectional area between the head and the step than between the step and the cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein the bushing comprises: an upstream end having a shaft opening extending through the upstream end, wherein the inner valve plug extends into the bushing through the shaft opening; a downstream end; and a shoulder extending radially inward and disposed between the upstream end and the downstream end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein a second stage seat is integral with the nozzle body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein: the nozzle body and a second stage seat comprise a metal; the outer valve plug comprises an elastomer; the inner valve plug comprises a metal; and the outer plug tapered portion is configured to interface directly with the second stage seat with the variable flow valve in the fully closed position and in the partially open position, and the inner plug tapered portion is configured to interface directly with the first stage seat with the variable flow valve in the fully closed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein the shaft includes a flange extending radially from the shaft and configured to abut an upstream end of the cap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The nozzle of claim 17, wherein the inner valve plug further comprises an attachment portion extending from the flange and into a cap bore of the cap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, wherein the second stage spring has a higher spring rate than the first stage spring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The nozzle of claim 10, further comprising: a trigger mounted on the nozzle body; a cam extending through the nozzle body and linked to the trigger; and a push rod disposed in the downstream fluid chamber and connected to the cap; wherein the trigger is configured to drive rotation of the cam, the cam is configured to displace the push rod towards the upstream fluid chamber, and the push rod is configured to displace the cap to actuate the variable flow valve from the fully closed position to the partially open position, and from the partially open position to the fully open position.