Pilot operated shuttle valve
OwnerAndrew Smith, Clay Garrelsinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuation assembly is provided herein that may include a pilot operated shuttle valve. The shuttle valve may rotate a rotation portion of the actuation assembly. When the rotation portion is rotated, different output sources may be opened and/or closed. The shuttle valve may include a shuttle may open and/or close a plurality of outputs. The shuttle may be attached to a plurality of springs, one of which may extend and/or compress based on temperature. When extended and/or compressed, the shuttle may translate within a shuttle pathway to open and/or close the plurality of outputs.
Claims20
A pilot operated shuttle valve assembly comprising:
- a shuttle valve comprising:
- a shuttle;
- a shuttle pathway;
- and
- a plurality of springs, wherein at least one of the plurality of springs is a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring which adjusts in shape based on at least one of pressure, temperature, or force;
- a plurality of inputs for providing fluid to the shuttle valve;
- and
- a plurality of outputs for the fluid from at least one of the plurality of inputs to exit at least one of the plurality of outputs.
A pilot operated shuttle valve comprising:
- a shuttle pathway;
- a shuttle that translates within the shuttle pathway;
- and
- at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) spring which adjusts in shape based on at least one of pressure, temperature, or force applied to the SMA spring by a fluid flowing to the pilot operated shuttle valve via a plurality of inputs;
- wherein the adjustment in shape of the SMA spring causes at least one of:
- a first output of the plurality of outputs to adjust from an open position to a closed position;
- or
- a first output of the plurality of outputs to adjust from a closed position to an open position.
A pilot operated shuttle valve assembly comprising:
- a shuttle valve comprising:
- a shuttle pathway;
- a shuttle that translates within the shuttle pathway;
- a tension spring biasing the shuttle to a first position;
- and
- a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring which adjusts in shape based on at least one of pressure, temperature, or force applied to the SMA spring by a fluid flowing to the pilot operated shuttle valve via a plurality of inputs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.