Minimum cavity relief valve
OwnerMartin P. McCormick, Ryan F. Butlerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure addresses a relief valve suitable for use in systems for delivering relatively viscous fluids. The described relief valve includes a housing and a valve mechanism moveable relative to an opening into the housing to allow or prevent flow from a flow path adjacent the relief valve into and through the housing. The relief valve is configured to minimize, and in many examples, essentially eliminate, a cavity between the housing opening and the adjacent flow path. Elimination of this cavity offers significant advantages as it minimizes or eliminates a location for pumped materials to accumulate and/or cure, which can lead to impairment or disabling of the relief valve operation.
Claims20
A relief valve comprising:
- a housing extending between an inlet end and a second end, the housing having an outlet port formed therein, the housing also having a valve seat at the inlet end;
- and
- a longitudinally moveable valve mechanism assembly within the housing, the valve mechanism moveable between a first position engaging the valve seat to close fluid flow past the valve seat, and a second position spaced from the valve seat to allow fluid flow past the valve seat and to the outlet port.
A flow connector, comprising:
- a T-fitting forming a primary flow path and a relief branch, the T-fitting configured to couple as part of a flow line in which the primary flow path forms a portion of the flow line;
- and
- a relief valve assembly coupled to the relief branch, the relief valve comprising,
- a housing assembly coupled to the relief branch with an opening located adjacent the primary flow path, the housing assembly defining an outlet port,
- a valve mechanism coupled in longitudinally moveable relation to the housing between a first position in which it closes the housing opening and a second, longitudinally offset, position in which it opens the housing opening, allowing fluid communication from the flow line, through the housing opening, to the outlet port, and
- an actuation mechanism controllable from outside the housing to cause movement of the valve mechanism between the first and second positions.
A pumping and spraying system for viscous materials, comprising:
- a material reservoir configured to retain a volume of the viscous material;
- a pump in fluid communication with the material reservoir;
- a flow line coupled to the pump, the flow line defining a primary flow path for the viscous material;
- a relief valve coupled to the flow line, the relief valve including,
- a housing assembly coupled to the flow line with an inlet located adjacent the primary flow path of the flow line, the housing assembly also defining an outlet port;
- a valve mechanism coupled in longitudinally moveable relation to the housing, the valve mechanism moveable between a first position in which it closes the relief valve inlet, and a second, longitudinally offset, position in which it opens the relief valve inlet, allowing fluid communication between the primary flow passage and the outlet port;
- an actuation mechanism controllable from outside the housing to cause movement of the valve mechanism between the first and second longitudinally offset positions;
- and
- a spray mechanism in fluid communication with the pump through the flow line to receive material from the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.