# US 2018/0022592 A1 · Valve and a method for controlling pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022592 A1 - Document ID: US20180022592A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/655,176 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-24 - Inventors: Terence K. DEANS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022592A1 ## CPC - B67C 3/12: Pressure-control devices - B65B 31/045: {of Vertical Form-Fill-Seal [VFFS] machines} - B67C 3/286: {related to flow rate control, i.e. controlling slow and fast filling phases} - F16K 1/00: Lift valves {or globe valves}, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces ({in combination with sliding valves F16K3/246, F16K3/267} ; diaphragm valves F16K7/00) - F16K 37/0016: {having a graduated scale} - F16K 37/005: {for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - B65B 3/26: Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled - B65B 3/32: by pistons co-operating with measuring chambers - B67C 3/28: Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves ({B67C3/2617, B67C3/2625, B67C3/2637 take precedence}; valves in general F16K) - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A valve element is provided 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, and a port formed in an actuating surface of the valve element at which the fluid is at a second pressure. A first internal fluid passage connects the inlet to the vent, and a second internal fluid passage connects the port to the first internal fluid passage at an angle with respect to the first fluid passage. The port is configured to be closed such that the net flow of fluid into and out of the port is substantially zero. The valve element is configured such that the second pressure is substantially equal to the first pressure when the vent is blocked and substantially lower than the first pressure when the vent is not blocked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; 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; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, wherein the angle is substantially between 20 and 90 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, wherein the angle is substantially 45 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve element of any of claim 1, wherein the second fluid passage joins the first fluid passage at or in the vicinity of the vent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve element of any of claims 1, wherein the second fluid passage joins the first fluid passage at a location remote from the vent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, wherein the actuating surface is substantially flat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, wherein the valve element is or comprises a valve body, wherein the inlet, outlet, port and internal fluid passages are formed in the valve body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve element of claim 7, wherein the inlet and the port are each located on the same side or different sides of the valve body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second internal fluid passages are or comprise a substantially L-shaped fluid passage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve element of claim 1, further comprising an actuator comprising an actuator surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The valve element of claim 10, wherein, in use, the second pressure is substantially equal to the first pressure when the actuating surface abuts or is separated from the actuator surface by a first gap, and the second pressure is substantially lower than the first pressure when the actuating surface is separated from the actuator surface by a second gap that is larger than the first gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve element of claim 11, wherein the second pressure is negative or a partial vacuum when the actuating surface is separated from the actuator surface by the second gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The valve element of claim 11, wherein the first gap is substantially between 0 and 50 microns, and wherein the second gap is substantially greater than 50 microns. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The valve element of claim 10, wherein the actuator surface is substantially flat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The valve element of claim 10, wherein the actuator is separate from and not coupled to the valve element. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive device is a pressure sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive device is a pressure-operated switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising controlling the movement of the actuator and/or actuating surface based on the detected change in the second pressure. ### Claim 20 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.