# US 2018/0023710 A1 · Valve assembly with adjustable spring seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023710 A1 - Document ID: US20180023710A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/548,431 - Filed: 2016-01-26 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-12 - Assignees: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. - Applicants: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. - Inventors: Mario Padilla; Gary Grenon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023710A1 ## CPC - G05D 16/101: {the controller being arranged as a multiple-way valve} - F16K 3/32: Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow - F16K 11/0716: {with fluid passages through the valve member (F16K11/0704, F16K11/0708, F16K11/0712 take precedence)} - F16K 31/1221: {one side of the piston being spring-loaded} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - 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 assembly includes a valve body, a first spring seat disposed within the valve body, a preload spring disposed within the valve body and mated with the first spring seat, and a second spring seat disposed within the valve body and mated with the preload spring. The second spring seat is adjustably mated to the valve body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly comprising: a valve body; a first spring seat disposed within the valve body; a preload spring disposed within the valve body and mated with the first spring seat; and a second spring seat disposed within the valve body and mated with the preload spring, the second spring seat being adjustably mated to the valve body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an end cap that is mated to the second spring seat and that is fixedly detachable with the valve body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the end cap is fixedly detachable with the valve body via at least one fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the end cap includes at least one elongated slot through which the at least one fastener is fixedly attachable to the valve body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The valve assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the second spring seat is adjustably mounted in the valve body on threads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the end cap is rotatable and the second spring seat is engaged with the end cap in a keyed joint such that rotation of the end cap rotates the second spring seat on the threads to change a position of the second spring seat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the keyed joint includes at least one arm and at least one opening, and the at least one arm extends through the at least one opening such that the end cap and the second spring seat are rotationally locked together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one arm is radially offset from a central axis of rotation of the end cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The valve assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one arm has a tip end that defines a bound of a range of movement of the first spring seat beyond which the first spring seat cannot compress the preload spring against the second spring seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a valve member that is moveable against the preload spring through the first spring seat. ### Claim 11 A valve assembly comprising: a valve body defining at least one valve passage; a preload spring within the valve body, the preload spring including a first end and a second end; a first spring seat within the valve body at the first end of the preload spring; a valve member disposed in the at least one valve passage and moveable against the preload spring through the first spring seat; a second spring seat within the valve body at the second end of the preload spring, the second spring seat being mounted in the valve body on threads; and a rotatable end cap fixedly detachable with the valve body, the rotatable end cap being engaged in a keyed joint with the second spring seat such that rotation of the end cap rotates the second spring seat on the threads to change a set position of the second spring seat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the keyed joint includes at least one arm and at least one opening, and the at least one arm extends through the at least one opening such that the rotatable end cap and the second spring seat are rotationally locked together. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The valve assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one arm is radially offset from a central axis of rotation of the rotatable end cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The valve assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one arm has a tip end that defines a bound of a range of movement of the first spring seat beyond which the first spring seat cannot compress the preload spring against the second spring seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein rotation of the rotatable end cap does not change an axial position of the tip end along the axis of rotation of the rotatable end cap.