US 4,284,212 AGranted

Pilot actuated diaphragm valve

AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.

InventorRichard L. Caswell

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Abstract

A diaphragm valve operated by a solenoid pilot for opening and closing the gasoline passage from a pumped inlet to the nozzle of a gasoline dispenser. A valve body forms an internal fluid passage for series installation with that of the dispenser. An annular seat surrounds the body passage at an intermediate location while an upstream facing diaphragm cooperates with the seat to open and close the passage to fluid flow. A spaced apart valve plate in combination with the diaphragm form a liquid tight chamber into which gasoline at the inlet can enter through restrictive one-way orifices. Fluid pressure in the chamber aided by a bias spring urges the diaphragm toward the set in opposition to pump pressure at the inlet. The pilot valve is spring biased toward a closed relation and is loop connected from the chamber to the outlet. Energizing the pilot effects a reduction in chamber pressure enabling relatively greater inlet forces against the diaphragm to move the diaphragm toward open position. The pilot valve also operates as a backflow restrictor from the dispenser hose and in response to an overpressure opens to permit backflow to the chamber. A relief valve located internally of the chamber operates in conjunction with pilot backflow operation to relieve chamber pressure buildup to the inlet.

Claims6

Dependent claims

In a gasoline dispensing system including a plurality of gasoline dispensers, a storage source of gasoline, pump means operable to supply a pressurized supply of gasoline from said storage source concomitantly to all of said plurality of gasoline dispensers when at least one of said dispensers is actuated, each of said dispensers including a nozzle through which to deliver gasoline supplied from said storage source, means to actuate the dispenser for enabling said nozzle delivery and a diaphragm valve operably positioned in series flow relation with the dispenser inlet supplied by said pump means for preventing flow from the pressurized supply to the dispenser when the dispenser is not actuated and to enable flow to the dispenser when the dispenser is actuated, the improvement in which said diaphragm valve comprises in combination:

(a) a body forming an internal fluid passage between an inlet and an outlet for gasoline supplied from the storage source and including a seat defined surrounding said passage at an intermediate location therein;
(b) an imperforate flexible diaphragm supported proximate to said passage with one face exposed to fluid pressure at said inlet and adapted to cooperate with said seat to open and close said passage to fluid flow;
(c) a defined fluid chamber in communication with said inlet providing fluid pressure exposure to the opposite face of said diaphragm;
(d) restrictor means in the fluid flow path between said inlet and said chamber for restricting the fluid flow rate into said chamber;
and
(e) pilot valve means operable by said dispenser actuating means between open and closed positions for conducting fluid flow when open from said chamber to the outlet of said body for enabling relatively greater fluid forces at said inlet to move said diaphragm toward its open position with respect to said seat.

3 more elements

In a gasoline dispenser including an inlet communicating with a storage source supply, a nozzle through which to deliver gasoline supplied from said storage source and means to actuate said dispenser for enabling said nozzle delivery, a diaphragm valve operably positioned in series with the inlet of said dispenser and comprising in combination:

(a) a body forming an internal fluid passage between an inlet and an outlet for gasoline supplied from the storage source and including a seat defined surrounding said passage at an intermediate location therein;
(b) an imperforate flexible diaphragm supported proximate to said passage with one face exposed to fluid pressure at said inlet and adapted to cooperate with said seat to open and close said passage to fluid flow;
(c) a defined fluid chamber in communication with said inlet providing fluid pressure exposure to the opposite face of said diaphragm, one wall of said chamber being at least partially formed by said diaphragm;
(d) a valve plate spaced from said diaphragm at least partially forming a second wall of said chamber;
(e) restrictor means in the fluid flow path between said inlet and said chamber for restricting the fluid flow rate into said chamber, said restrictor means comprising a plurality of restrictive flow orifices extending through said valve plate to inward of said chamber;
(f) check valve means in the fluid flow path from said valve inlet to said chamber preventing backflow from said chamber into said flow path and comprising an elastomeric umbrella unit contiguously skirting said orifices on the chamber side of said valve plate for preventing reverse flow from said chamber through said orifices;
(g) relief valve means extending between said chamber and said flow path for discharging fluid from said chamber to backflow through said flow path in response to a predetermined fluid overpressure in said body outlet;
and
(h) pilot valve means operable by said dispenser actuating means between open and closed positions for conducting fluid flow when open from said chamber to the outlet of said body for enabling relatively greater fluid forces at said inlet to move said diaphragm toward its open position with respect to said seat.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.