# US 11,898,646 B2 · Adjustable valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,646 B2 - Document ID: US11898646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/621,811 - Filed: 2020-06-25 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-25 - Assignees: Intersurgical AG - Applicants: Intersurgical AG - Inventors: David Simon Bottom; Christopher Edgerly Booth; Simon Robert Payne; Richard Francis Bowsher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898646B2 ## CPC - F16K 17/06: with special arrangements for adjusting the opening pressure - F16K 35/10: with locking caps or locking bars - A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves} - A61M 16/206: {Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves} - F16K 1/02: with screw-spindle (F16K1/12 - F16K1/28 take precedence; actuating mechanisms with screw-spindles F16K31/50) - F16K 27/02: of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) - F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves} - A61M 16/0078: {Breathing bags} - A61M 16/01: specially adapted for anaesthetising {(A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence)} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 2205/276: preventing unwanted use - F16K 15/063: {the valve being loaded by a spring} - Y10T 137/7929: Spring coaxial with 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)} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to adjustable flow control valves, for example to an Adjustable Pressure Limiting (APL) valve. The adjustable valve (2) described comprises a valve body (4) comprising a valve seat (6), a valve member (10) movable relative to the valve seat (6), a first valve cap (20), a second valve cap (50) and a biasing element (30) to bias the valve member (10) away from the first valve cap (20). The first valve cap (20) is movable to increase the biasing force applied by the biasing element (30). The second valve cap (50) is engageable with the first valve cap (20) to prevent such movement of the first valve cap (20) beyond a selected position, but to allow movement of the first valve cap (20) in an opposite direction, way from said position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable valve comprising: a valve body comprising a valve seat; a valve member movable relative to the valve seat; a first valve cap; a second valve cap; and a biasing element provided between the first valve cap and the valve member such that the first valve member is biased away from the first valve cap by a biasing force from the biasing element; wherein the first valve cap is movable within a defined range of motion relative to the valve body such that movement of the first cap in a first direction increases the biasing force applied by the biasing element; and wherein the second valve cap is engageable with the first valve cap to prevent movement of the first valve cap in said first direction but to allow movement of the first valve cap in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, within said defined range of motion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the second valve cap comprises a first abutment stop and the valve body comprises a second abutment stop, and wherein abutment of the first and second abutment stops prevents movement of the first valve cap in said first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adjustable valve according to claim 2, wherein the first abutment stop and/or the second abutment stop comprises a projection of material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The adjustable valve according to claim 2, wherein the first and second abutment stops are moved into contact during engagement of the second valve cap with the first valve cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises a screw thread to provide the defined range of motion for the first valve cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable valve according to claim 5, wherein said first direction of movement of the first valve cap comprises clockwise rotation relative to the valve body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the first valve cap and/or second valve cap are configured to resist relative movement of the second valve cap relative to the first valve cap once the second valve cap is engaged with the first valve cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable valve according to claim 7, wherein the first valve cap and second valve cap are sized to engage one another with an interference fit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adjustable valve according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first valve cap and second valve cap comprises one or more engagement features to resist disengagement of the second valve cap from the first valve cap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The adjustable valve according to claim 7, wherein the first valve cap and second valve cap comprise corresponding engagement features to prevent rotation of the second valve cap relative to the first valve cap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body or the first valve cap comprises a plurality of detents to define the plurality of positions of the first valve cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adjustable valve according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of detents are provided by a textured or ridged surface on the valve body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A breathing system comprising a fresh gas inlet, a first outlet connectable to a user interface, and an adjustable valve according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable valve is provided at a second outlet located between the fresh gas inlet and the first outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The breathing system according to claim 14, further comprising a reservoir bag. ### Claim 16 A method of setting an adjustable valve, comprising: rotating a threaded adjuster relative to a valve housing to set a desired valve opening pressure and subsequently engaging a locking cap with the threaded adjuster such that a part of the locking cap abuts a part of the valve housing to prevent rotation of the threaded adjuster in a first direction beyond a point corresponding to the desired valve opening pressure but to permit rotation of the threaded adjuster in a second, opposite, direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the first direction is a clockwise direction and the second direction is a counter clockwise direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein engaging the locking cap with the threaded adjuster permanently secures the locking cap to the threaded adjuster. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the adjustable valve comprises: a valve body comprising a valve seat; a valve member movable relative to the valve seat; a first valve cap; a second valve cap; and a biasing element provided between the first valve cap and the valve member such that the first valve member is biased away from the first valve cap by a biasing force from the biasing element; wherein the first valve cap is movable within a defined range of motion relative to the valve body such that movement of the first cap in a first direction increases the biasing force applied by the biasing element; and wherein the second valve cap is engageable with the first valve cap at a plurality of positions of the first valve cap within the first valve cap's defined range of motion to prevent movement of the first valve cap in said first direction beyond a selected one of said plurality of positions but to allow movement of the first valve cap in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, within said defined range of motion.