Valve assembly
AssigneeUTILX Corporation
InventorsJames Steele, William R. Stagi, Alexander Babchanik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly configured to close off the flow of fluid within a fluid injection assembly includes a fluid column having a first open end and a second open end. A fluid flow path is defined between the first and second open ends of the fluid column, and a saturation valve portion is disposed within the fluid flow path. The saturation valve portion is a first configuration when no fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path, and the saturation valve portion transitions to a second configuration when fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path.
Claims63
A valve assembly configured to close off the flow of fluid within a fluid injection assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
- (a) a fluid column having a first open end and a second open end;
- (b) a fluid flow path defined between the first and second open ends of the fluid column;
- and
- (c) a saturation valve portion disposed within the fluid flow path, wherein the saturation valve portion is a first configuration when no fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path, and wherein the saturation valve portion transitions to a second configuration when fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path.
A discard/vacuum tank subassembly, comprising:
- (a) a discard tank configured to receive fluid from a source;
- (b) a valve assembly, comprising:
- (i) a fluid column having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end in fluid communication with the discard tank and configured to receive fluid from the discard tank when fluid within the discard tank reaches a predetermined threshold;
- (ii) a fluid flow path defined between the first and second open ends of the fluid column;
- (iii) a saturation valve portion disposed within the fluid flow path, wherein the saturation valve portion is a first configuration when no fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path, and wherein the saturation valve portion transitions to a second configuration when fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path;
- and
- (c) a vacuum tank in fluid communication with the second open end of the fluid column.
A fluid injection assembly, comprising:
- (a) a cable having first and second ends;
- (b) a fluid feed tank in communication with the first end of the cable and configured to inject fluid into the cable;
- (c) a discard tank in communication with the second end of the cable and configured to receive fluid flushed from the cable;
- (d) a valve assembly, comprising:
- (i) a fluid column having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end in fluid communication with the discard tank and configured to receive fluid from the discard tank when fluid within the discard tank reaches a predetermined threshold;
- (ii) a fluid flow path defined between the first and second open ends of the fluid column;
- (iii) a saturation valve portion disposed within the fluid flow path, wherein the saturation valve portion is a first configuration when no fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path, and wherein the saturation valve portion transitions to a second configuration when fluid is flowing through the fluid flow path;
- and
- (e) a vacuum tank in fluid communication with the second open end of the fluid column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.