Automatic dump valve

An automatic dump valve comprising, in combination:

• an elongated tubular housing defining a longitudinally extending flow passage, said flow passage housing having a sidewall opening defining a dump port in communication with said flow passage, and a sidewall portion constricting said flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region;
• a cover plate mounted on said flow passage housing for movement from a position of sealing engagement with said dump port to an open port position;
• and,
• a linear actuator mounted on said flow passage housing and having a piston assembly coupled in driving relation to said cover plate, said actuator being divided by said piston assembly into a first chamber in fluid communication with said venturi flow region, and a second chamber being connected in fluid communication with an external fluid pressure source, said piston assembly being responsive to a first fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a first direction to open said dump port, said piston assembly being responsive to a second fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a second direction to close said dump port;
• a deflector plate mounted within said flow passage housing and coupled to said piston assembly for movement from a clear passage position to a dump position wherein said deflector plate is extended from said dump port transversely through said flow passage thereby defining a bypass channel for diverting flow through said dump port;
• and,
• control linkage interconnecting said deflector plate and said cover plate for coordinating their movement wherein said cover plate is moved to the position of sealing engagement with said dump port as said deflector plate is moved to the clear passage position, and said cover plate is moved to the open port position as said deflector plate is moved to the dump position.

An automatic dump valve comprising, in combination:

• an elongated tubular housing defining a longitudinally extending flow passage, said flow passage housing having a sidewall opening defining a dump port in communication with said flow passage, and a sidewall portion constricting said flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region;
• a cover plate mounted on said flow passage housing for movement from a position of sealing engagement with said dump port to an open port position;
• and,
• a linear actuator mounted on said flow passage housing and having a piston assembly coupled in driving relation to said cover plate, said actuator being divided by said piston assembly into a first chamber in fluid communication with said venturi flow region, and a second chamber being connected in fluid communication with an external fluid pressure source, said piston assembly being responsive to a first fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a first direction to open said dump port, said piston assembly being responsive to a second fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a second direction to close said dump port, wherein said actuator comprises a tubular pressure chamber housing mounted in spaced relation around the flow passage housing and sealed at one end thereto defining an annular pressure chamber, said piston assembly including an annular piston ring disposed for movement through said annular pressure chamber in sealed engagement with said flow passage housing and said pressure chamber housing thereby dividing said annular pressure chamber into a sealed pressure chamber communicating with said venturi flow region and an open pressure chamber communicating with said external fluid pressure source.

An automatic dump valve comprising, in combination:

• an elongated tubular housing defining a longitudinally extending flow passage, said flow passage housing having a sidewall opening defining a dump port in communication with said flow passage, and a sidewall portion constricting said flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region;
• a cover plate mounted on said flow passage housing for movement from a position of sealing engagement with said dump port to an open port position;
• and,
• a linear actuator mounted on said flow passage housing and having a piston assembly coupled in driving relation to said cover plate, said actuator being divided by said piston assembly into a first chamber in fluid communication with said venturi flow region, and a second chamber being connected in fluid communication with a fluid pressure source, said piston assembly being responsive to a first fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a first direction to open said dump port, said piston assembly being responsive to a second fluid pressure condition in said first chamber to drive said cover plate in a second direction to close said dump port;
• a deflector plate mounted within said flow passage housing and coupled to said piston assembly for movement from a clear passage position to a dump position wherein said deflector plate is extended from said dump port transversely through said flow passage thereby defining a bypass channel for diverting flow through said dump port;
• and,
• means connected to said deflector plate and said cover plate for coordinating their movement wherein said cover plate is moved to the position of sealing engagement with said dump port as said deflector plate is moved to the clear passage position, and said cover plate is moved to the open port position as said deflector plate is moved to the dump position.