US 4,699,171 AGranted

Multiple port relief valve

AssigneeSundstrand Corporation

InventorKenneth B. Sugden

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Abstract

In order to provide a multiple port relief valve which is pressure responsive in a highly effective manner so as to control communication between an inlet and a given outlet as a function of the prevailing fluid pressure, where the relief valve functions such that there is no flow at certain pressures, flow to a first outlet as a result of rapid pressure increase, and flow to a second outlet as a result of a gradual pressure increase, the relief valve includes a valve body defining a chamber having a fluid inlet and having a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication therewith. The relief valve also includes a first piston-like valve member disposed in the chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet. The relief valve further includes a second piston-like valve member disposed in the chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet. Additionally, biasing means in the valve body applies a biasing force tending to maintain at least the first piston-like valve member in the first position thereof.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A multiple port relief valve, comprising:

a valve body defining a chamber having a fluid inlet and having a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication therewith;
a first piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet;
a second piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet;
and
biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to maintain at least said first piston-like valve member in said first position thereof, said first and second piston-like valve members moving together against said biasing means when said first piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position, said first and second piston-like valve members moving away from one another when said second piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position;
said first and second piston-like valve members being in selective fluid communication with said fluid inlet;
whereby a rapid increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said first piston-like valve member to move with said second piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said first fluid outlet and a gradual increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said second piston-like valve member to move independently of said first piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said second rluid outlet.

4 more elements

A multiple port relief valve, comprising:

a valve body defining a chamber having a fluid inlet and having a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication tnerewith;
a first piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet;
a second piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet;
first biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to maintain said first piston-like valve member in said first position thereof, said first and second piston-like valve members moving together against said biasing means when said first piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position;
and
second biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to move said second piston-like valve member toward said second position thereof, said first and second piston-like valve members moving away from one another when said second piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position;
said biasing force of said first biasing means being greater than said biasing force of said second biasing means;
said first piston-like valve member being in direct fluid communication with said fluid inlet and said second piston-like valve member being in fluid communication with said fluid inlet through said first piston-like valve member;
whereby a rapid increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said first piston-like valve member to move with said second piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said first fluid outlet and a gradual increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said second piston-like valve member to move independently of said first piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said second fluid outlet.

6 more elements

A multiple port relief valve, comprising:

a valve body defining a chamber having a fluid inlet and having a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication therewith;
a first piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet;
a second piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet;
first biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to maintain said first piston-like valve member in said first position thereof, said first and second piston-like valve members moving together against said biasing means when said first piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position;
and
second biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to maintain said second piston-like valve member in said first position thereof, said second piston-like valve member moving relative to said first piston-like valve member when said second piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position thereof;
said biasing force of said first biasing means being greater than said biasing force of said second biasing means;
said first and second piston-like valve members being in direct fluid communication with said fluid inlet, said first piston-like valve member also being in fluid communication with said fluid inlet through said second piston-like valve member;
whereby a rapid increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said first piston-like valve member to move with said second piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said first fluid outlet and a gradual increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said second piston-like valve member to move independently of said first piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said second fluid outlet.

6 more elements

A multiple port relief valve, comprising:

a valve body defining a chamber having a fluid inlet and having a first fluid outlet, a second fluid outlet, and a third fluid outlet in fluid communication therewith;
a first piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet and a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet;
a second piston-like valve member disposed in said chamber for movement between a first position preventing fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second and third fluid outlets, a second position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet, and a third position accommodating fluid communication between said fluid inlet and said second and third fluid outlets;
and
biasing means in said valve body applying a biasing force tending to maintain at least said first piston-like valve member in said first position thereof, said first and second piston-like valve members moving together against said biasing means when said first piston-like valve member moves from said first position to said second position, said first and second piston-like valve members moving away from one another when said second piston-like valve members moves from said first position to said second and third positions;
said first and second piston-like valve members being in selective fluid communication with said fluid inlet;
whereby a rapid increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said first piston-like valve member to move with said second piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said first fluid outlet, a gradual increase in pressure in said fluid inlet causes said second piston-like valve member to move independently of said first piston-like valve member from said first position to said second position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said second fluid outlet, and further increases in said gradually increasing pressure in said fluid inlet causes said second piston-like valve member to move independently of said first piston-valve member from said second position to said third position thereof to permit fluid to flow from said fluid inlet to said second and third fluid outlets.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.