Self-cleaning valve assembly
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsCharles Long, Phillip Mc Cauley, Scott Mundy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a self-cleaning valve assembly. The valve is adapted to cycle and thereby clean the valve assembly in response to one or more predefined parameters which are programmed into a programmable controller. The valve is additionally configured to cycle according to one or more of several different methods which have been shown to efficiently clean the valve assembly. In this manner, the valve assembly is automatically cleaned improving the efficiency thereof and eliminating stuck valve warranty returns.
Claims20
A method of cleaning a valve assembly operatively connected within a system for affecting system operation, the method comprising:
- providing a valve assembly comprising a hollow valve body defining a valve bore therein and a valve disposed within said valve bore and normally actuatable in response to a desired system operation;
- producing a triggering signal in response to a predefined condition, and
- actuating said valve in response to said triggering signal to dislodge any debris in the valve assembly irrespective of the normal actuation of said valve for a desired system operation.
A self-cleaning valve assembly operatively connected within a system for affecting system operation, the valve assembly comprising:
- a hollow valve body defining a valve bore therein;
- a valve disposed within said valve bore of said valve body and normally actuatable in response to a desired system operation;
- and
- a programmable controller selectively operable to generate a triggering signal in response to a predefined condition, said programmable controller further operable to actuate said valve for self-cleaning in response to said triggering signal irrespective of the normal actuation of said valve for a desired system operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.