High-pressure fluid on/off valve and components and method of use of same
AssigneeFlow International Corporation
InventorsMohamed A. Hashish, Sean R. Schramm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods to improve performance and maintenance of high-pressure fluid systems, such as waterjet cutting systems. Specifically, embodiments of an on/off valve are disclosed that include a valve cartridge and a valve body. The valve cartridge housing a poppet, a seal, and seat, and the valve cartridge being removable from the valve body while the valve body remains coupled to components of the high-pressure fluid system including sources of pressurized air, high-pressure fluid, and a working tool, such as a waterjet cutting head.
Claims15
An on/off valve comprising:
- an on/off valve cartridge comprising:
- a housing having a first surface, a second surface that faces away from the first surface, and a side surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface;
- an internal cavity formed within and enclosed by the housing, the internal cavity including a through hole that extends from a first opening formed in the first surface to a second opening formed in the second surface, the internal cavity further including a non-through hole that extends from a third opening formed in the side surface and intersects the through hole at an intersection;
- a seat positioned within the through hole and below the intersection, the seat including a seat body and a seat hole extending through the seat body;
- a radial seal positioned within the through hole and above the intersection, the radial seal including a seal body and a seal hole extending through the seal body;
- a poppet positioned within the through hole such that a first portion of the poppet contacts the seat and blocks the seat hole, and a second portion of the poppet is positioned within the seal hole of the radial seal, wherein the poppet is movable away from the seat, and an entirety of the poppet is positioned within the through hole between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a seal positioned within the non-through hole between the third opening and the intersection;
- and
- a valve body including:
- a body housing having a first body surface, a second body surface that faces away from the first body surface, a side body surface that extends between the first body surface and the second body surface, and a front body surface that extends between the first body surface and the second body surface and that is angularly offset with respect to the side body surface;
- and
- a body internal cavity formed within and enclosed by the body housing, the body internal cavity including:
- a hub sized to receive the on/off valve cartridge such that the on/off valve cartridge is entirely enclosed within the body housing;
- a body through hole that extends from a first body opening formed in the first body surface, through the hub, to a second body opening formed in the second body surface;
- a body non-through hole that extends from a third body opening formed in the side body surface, the body non-through hole intersecting and terminating within the hub;
- and
- a passage that extends from a fourth body opening formed in the front body surface, the passage intersecting and terminating within the hub, wherein the fourth body opening is sized to permit passage of the on/off valve cartridge into and out of the body internal cavity.
A method of replacing a poppet, a radial seal, and a seat in an on/off valve, the on/off valve including a valve body coupled to a source of pressurized air by a first coupling, and the valve body coupled to a source of high-pressure fluid by a second coupling, the on/off valve including a valve cartridge positioned within an internal cavity of the valve body, the poppet and the seat positioned within an internal cavity of the valve cartridge, the method comprising:
- moving the poppet along a first direction into contact with the seat thereby plugging a seat hole of the seat that extends through a seat body of the seat, wherein plugging the seat hole transitions the on/off valve into a closed configuration;
- moving the valve cartridge through a passage of the internal cavity of the valve body along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, thereby simultaneously moving both the poppet and the seat relative to the valve body;
- moving the valve cartridge through an opening of the valve body, thereby removing the valve cartridge, the poppet, the radial seal, and the seat from the internal cavity of the valve body;
- moving a replacement valve cartridge through the opening, thereby entering the internal cavity of the valve body with the replacement valve cartridge, a replacement poppet positioned within an internal cavity of the replacement valve cartridge, and a replacement seat positioned within the internal cavity of the replacement valve cartridge,
- wherein the first coupling and the second coupling remain coupled to the valve body while moving the poppet along the first direction, moving the valve cartridge through the passage, moving the valve cartridge through the opening, and moving the replacement valve cartridge through the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.