Scuttling valve
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorLionel L. Woolston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed valve assembly permits the automatic scuttling, or sinking, floatable pressure vessels or other containers, and comprises an extensible, spring-restrained nozzle containing a spring-biased ball seal within a flow passage. Vessel internal pressure extends the nozzle from a retracted position to expose the exterior end of the flow passage. A calibrated restraining spring ring maintains the nozzle retracted and in the extended position during pressure vessel operation. The ball seal is displaced from a nonsealing position against a ball seat to preclude pressure relief through the flow passage. After exhaustion of internal pressure, the bias spring and external water pressure force the ball seal from the ball seat to permit water entry and subsequent sinking of the vessel.
Claims12
A valve assembly for controlling the entry of fluid into a controlled volume comprising:
- a valve housing attachable to a surface defining the controlled volume;
- a piston member slidably positioned within said housing and having a flow passage therein, said member in fluid communication with the controlled volume;
- and
- a ball valve within said flow passage and movable between a first, non-sealing position and a second, fluid sealing position,
- said piston member responsive to pressure within the controlled volume to move outwardly within said housing to place said flow passage in fluid communication with the ambient environment, and
- said ball valve responsive to pressure within the controlled volume to move from said first position to said second position to seal the controlled volume, and returning to said first position upon removal of pressure to permit entry of fluid into the controlled volume.
In combination with a submersible marine apparatus having an internal volume and a source of pressure within the volume, a valve assembly to control automatic flooding of the volume comprising:
- a piston member movable to a position extending from the surface of said apparatus in response to a pressure signal within said internal volume;
- a flow passage within said piston member to provide fluid communication between said internal volume and the ambient environment surrounding said apparatus when said piston member is in the extended position;
- and
- a ball valve movable within said flow passage between a first, non-sealing position and a second, fluid sealing position,
- said valve being displaced from said first position to said second position in response to a pressure signal within said internal volume, and returning to said first position upon release of the pressure signal to permit entry of water into said volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.