Valve and a method for controlling pressure

A method of controlling a fluid pressure in a valve element, the valve element comprising:

• an inlet configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure;
• a vent that can be blocked or unblocked to vent fluid from the valve element;
• a port at which the fluid is at a second pressure;
• an actuating surface in which the vent is formed;
• a first internal fluid passage connecting the inlet to the vent;
• and
• a second internal fluid passage connecting the port to the first internal fluid passage, wherein the second fluid passage joins and/or is oriented with respect to the first fluid passage at an angle;
• wherein the port is configured, in use, to be closed such that the net flow of fluid into and out of the port is substantially zero, and wherein the valve element is configured, in use, such that the second pressure is substantially equal to the first pressure when the vent is blocked and the second pressure is substantially lower than the first pressure when the vent is not blocked;
• and
• an actuator comprising an actuator surface;
• wherein the inlet is connected to a source of fluid at a first pressure, the method comprising:
• moving the actuator comprising the actuator surface and/or the actuating surface between a first position where the actuator surface substantially blocks the vent, and a second position where the actuating surface and the actuator surface of the actuator are separated such that the vent is not blocked;
• and
• detecting the change in the second pressure at a pressure sensitive device connected to the port.

A valve element comprising:

• an inlet configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure;
• a vent that can be blocked or unblocked to vent fluid from the valve element;
• an internal fluid passage connecting the inlet to the vent;
• a port at which the fluid is at a second pressure, the port joining the internal fluid passage between the inlet and vent at an angle with respect to the internal fluid passage at the joint;
• and
• an actuating surface in which the vent is formed;
• wherein, in use, when the actuating surface comes into close proximity with an actuator surface of an actuator that will substantially block the vent, the second pressure will change.