# US 4,398,559 A · Valve member and assembly with inlet and outlet pressure relief grooves

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- Number: US 4,398,559 A
- Document ID: US4398559A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/420,819
- Filed: 1982-09-21
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1980-09-26
- Assignees: Ball Vavle Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Stuart E. Bunn; Herbert B. Owsley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398559A

## CPC

- F16K 39/02: for lift valves
- F04B 39/1053: {the members being Hoerbigen valves}
- F16K 15/026: {the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open}
- F16K 15/063: {the valve being loaded by a spring}
- F16K 15/066: {with a plurality of valve members}
- F16K 17/04: spring-loaded
- F16K 17/0413: {in the form of closure plates}
- Y10S 137/904: Cushion check valves
- Y10T 137/4372: Line pressure feed
- Y10T 137/785: With retarder or dashpot
- Y10T 137/7861: Annular head
- Y10T 137/7929: Spring coaxial with valve
- 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)}
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A valve assembly and a valve member therefor including a fluid passage in the valve assembly with inlet and outlet portions and a valve seat. The valve member includes a valve member face selectively engaging the valve seat and defining a contact area therebetween with an inlet peripheral edge adjacent the passage inlet portion, and an outlet peripheral edge adjacent the passage outlet portion. An inlet pressure relief groove extends along one of the valve seat and the valve member face from the inlet peripheral edge to an interior portion of the contact area. An outlet pressure relief groove extends along one of the valve seat and the valve member face from the outlet peripheral edge to an interior portion of the contact area. The contact area includes a continuous sealing portion whereat the valve seat and the valve member face are in engagement for preventing fluid flow from the passage inlet portion to the passage outlet portion with the valve member in its closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve member for selectively closing a fluid passage including inlet and outlet portions in a valve assembly having a valve seat, which comprises:
(a) a valve member face engaging said valve seat to define a contact area therebetween when said valve member is in a closed position;
(b) said contact area having inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(c) an inlet pressure relief groove extending along said valve member face from said inlet peripheral edge to an interior portion of said contact area;
(d) an outlet pressure relief groove extending along said valve member face from said outlet peripheral edge to said contact area interior portion; and
(e) said contact area including a sealing portion whereat said valve member face and said valve seat are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve member according to claim 1 which includes:
(a) an inlet pressure intermediate groove extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said peripheral edges and communicating with said inlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The valve member according to claim 1 which includes:
(a) an outlet pressure intermediate groove extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said peripheral edges and communicating with said outlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The valve member according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) said valve member comprises an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The valve member according to claim 4 which includes:
(a) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(b) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(c) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively; and
(b) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The valve member according to claim 5 which includes:
(a) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively; and
(b) inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face and positioned in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The valve member according to claim 6 which includes:
(a) a plurality of said inlet pressure relief grooves extending radially along said valve member face in annularly spaced relation; and
(b) a plurality of said outlet pressure relief grooves extending radially along said valve member face in annularly spaced relation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valve member according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) said valve member comprises a poppet which includes:
(1) a head with said valve member face thereon; and
(2) a guide stem extending from said head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The valve member according to claim 8 which includes:
(a) an inlet pressure intermediate groove extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inlet peripheral edge and communicating with said inlet pressure relief groove; and
(b) an outlet pressure intermediate groove extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said outlet peripheral edge and said inlet pressure intermediate groove, said outlet pressure intermediate groove communicating with said outlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The valve member according to claim 8 which includes:
(a) said head and said stem being coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said poppet;
(b) said valve member face being annular and concentric with said poppet head;
(c) a plurality of said inlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face in annularly spaced relation; and
(d) a plurality of said outlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face in annularly spaced relation.

### Claim 11

A valve member for selectively closing a fluid passage including inlet and outlet portions in a valve assembly having a valve seat, which comprises:
(a) said valve member comprising an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins;
(b) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(c) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(d) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(e) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively;
(f) inner and outer intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively; and
(g) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

### Claim 12

A valve assembly, which comprises:
(a) a fluid passage having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
(b) a valve seat;
(c) a valve member having a valve member face adapted for selectively engaging said valve seat to define a contact area therebetween when said valve member is in a closed position;
(d) said contact area having inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(e) an inlet pressure relief groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inlet peripheral edge to an interior portion of said contact area;
(f) an outlet pressure relief groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said outlet peripheral edge to said contact area interior portion; and
(g) said contact area including a sealing portion whereat said valve member face and said valve seat are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The valve assembly according to claim 12 which includes:
(a) an inlet pressure intermediate groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in spaced relation from said inlet peripheral edge and communicating with said inlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The valve assembly according to claim 12 which includes:
(a) an outlet pressure intermediate groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in spaced relation from said outlet peripheral edge and communicating with said outlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The valve assembly according to claim 12 wherein:
(a) said valve member comprises an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The valve assembly according to claim 15 which includes:
(a) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(b) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(c) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively; and
(d) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The valve assembly according to claim 16 which includes:
(a) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively; and
(b) inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face and positioned in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The valve assembly according to claim 17 which includes:
(a) a plurality of said inlet pressure relief grooves extending radially in annularly spaced relation along one of said valve seat and said valve member face; and
(b) a plurality of said outlet pressure relief grooves extending radially in annularly spaced relation along one of said valve seat and said valve member face.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The valve assembly according to claim 12 wherein:
(a) said valve member comprises a poppet which includes:
(1) a head with said valve member face thereon; and
(2) a guide stem extending from said head.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The valve assembly according to claim 19 which includes:
(a) an inlet pressure intermediate groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in spaced relation from said inlet peripheral edge and communicating with said inlet pressure relief groove; and
(b) an outlet pressure intermediate groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in spaced relation from said outlet peripheral edge and said inlet pressure intermediate groove, said outlet pressure intermediate groove communicating with said outlet pressure relief groove.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The valve assembly according to claim 19 which includes:
(a) said head and said stem being coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said poppet;
(b) said valve member face being annular and concentric with said poppet head;
(c) a plurality of said inlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in annularly spaced relation; and
(d) a plurality of said outlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face in annularly spaced relation.

### Claim 22

A plate valve assembly, which comprises:
(a) a fluid passage having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
(b) a valve seat;
(c) an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins;
(d) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
(e) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(f) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from one of said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
(g) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member faces in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively;
(h) inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and one said valve member face and positioned in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively; and
(i) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.