US 12,680,617 B2Granted

Compact valve system

AssigneeVirgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.

InventorsAnthony Gemmill, Chris Grainger, Luke Colby

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Abstract

The disclosed technology provides compact valve systems. A disclosed valve system may comprise: (1) a housing comprising apertures to permit a fluid connection between a chamber the housing is positioned within and a cavity of the housing; (2) a secondary valve positioned concentrically outside the housing; and (3) a primary valve comprising a valve seat positioned concentrically within the cavity. When the secondary valve is in a closed position the secondary valve may cover the apertures to block the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity. When the primary valve is in a closed position and the secondary valve is in an open position, a first axial direction-facing surface of the valve seat may be positioned in a second axial direction from the apertures, thus blocking a fluid connection between the chamber and a fluid routing structure positioned in the second axial direction from the valve seat.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A valve system comprising:

a housing comprising one or more apertures to permit a fluid connection between a chamber the housing is positioned within and a cavity of the housing;
a secondary valve positioned concentrically outside the housing, wherein:
when the secondary valve is in a closed position the secondary valve covers the one or more apertures to block the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity, and
actuating the secondary valve into an open position at least partially uncovers the one or more apertures, thus opening the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity;
and
a primary valve comprising a valve seat, wherein:
the valve seat is positioned concentrically within the cavity, and
when the primary valve is in a closed position and the secondary valve is in the open position, a first axial direction-facing surface of the valve seat is positioned in a second axial direction from the one or more apertures, thus blocking a fluid connection between the chamber and a fluid routing structure positioned in the second axial direction from the valve seat.

5 more elements

A valve system comprising:

a housing comprising one or more apertures to permit a fluid connection between a chamber the housing is positioned within and a cavity of the housing;
a secondary valve positioned concentrically outside the housing, wherein:
when the secondary valve is in a closed position the secondary valve covers the one or more apertures to block the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity, and
actuating the secondary valve into an open position at least partially uncovers the one or more apertures, thus opening the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity;
and
a primary valve comprising a valve seat, wherein:
the valve seat is positioned concentrically within the cavity,
when the primary valve is in a closed position and the secondary valve is in the open position, a first axial direction-facing surface of the valve seat is positioned in a second axial direction from the one or more apertures, thus blocking a fluid connection between the chamber and a fluid routing structure positioned in the second axial direction from the valve seat, and
actuating the primary valve from the closed position to an open position comprises translating the valve seat in the first axial direction until a second axial direction-facing surface of the valve seat is positioned in the first axial direction from at least a portion of the one or more apertures, thus opening the fluid connection between the chamber and the fluid routing structure.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.