Counter-Biased Valve and Actuator Assembly
AssigneeSynapse Engineering, Inc.
InventorPeter Johann Medina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve actuator assembly, counter-biased by a working fluid (or gas) pressure, is disclosed. The valve actuator assembly comprises a valve and a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. A port is defined axially through the valve and actuator that communicates a working fluid (or gas) pressure acting on the valve face to a counter-biasing chamber inside an actuator housing. This design eliminates, reduces, or overcomes a force acting on a face of the valve by communicating a common working pressure of the fluid (or gas) to a substrate on the actuator with a resultant force vector opposite the valve face.
Claims11
A valve actuator assembly, comprising:
- an actuator housing;
- an actuator piston disposed within the actuator housing, the actuator piston comprising a first port formed through the actuator piston, the actuator piston further defining a counter-biasing chamber and a control chamber with respect to the actuator housing, the counter-biasing chamber connected to the first port;
- a pressure control port, connected to the control chamber, for passing a pressure control signal to the control chamber;
- and
- a valve comprising a second port formed axially through the valve, the second port at least partially aligned with the first port.
A valve actuator assembly, comprising:
- an actuator housing;
- a actuator piston disposed within the actuator housing, the actuator piston and actuator housing defining a counter-biasing chamber and a control chamber;
- means for passing a pressure control signal to the control chamber;
- a valve in contact with the actuator piston, the valve having a valve face;
- and
- means for equalizing a pressure exerted on the valve face, the means for equalizing formed through the valve and actuator piston.
A method for controlling flow, comprising:
- providing a valve assembly to control fluid or gaseous flow from a first conduit to a second conduit, the valve assembly comprising:
- an actuator housing;
- an actuator piston disposed within the actuator housing, the actuator piston comprising a first port formed through the actuator piston, the actuator piston further defining a counter-biasing chamber and a control chamber with respect to the actuator housing, the counter-biasing chamber connected to the first port;
- and
- a valve comprising a second port formed axially through the valve, the second port at least partially aligned with the first port;
- and
- operating the valve by applying a pressure control signal to a pressure control port on the actuator assembly, the pressure control port connected to the control chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.