US 5,211,195 A · Fluid valve systems

Abstract

A fluid valve has a valve housing defining a corner and having a valve housing cover opposite that corner. That valve housing and cover enclose a valve chamber therein. A fluid inlet or outlet is in the valve housing cover. First and second valve seats for further fluid inlets or outlets are in first and second sides, respectively, of the corner in the valve chamber. A flapper is in that chamber for selectively closing the first valve seat and alternatively the second valve seat. A flapper actuator is in the corner of the valve housing. There may be an expansible valve closing member for each valve seat. Such expansible valve closing member may have an aperture paralleling that valve seat. A pilot valve may be at the expansible valve closing member for closing its aperture. Opening of the valve is initiated by moving the pilot valve away from the aperture in the expansible valve closing member, and such opening of the valve is completed by pulling the expansible valve closing member away from its valve seat.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In a method of selectively circulating fluid through a first body of fluid and alternatively through a second body of fluid via fluid supply and fluid return conduits, the improvement comprising in combination:

providing separate first and second valve chambers with first and second corners, respectively;
providing first and second valve seats for fluid supply conduits for said first and second bodies of fluid in first and second sides, respectively, of said first corner in said first chamber;
providing said first chamber with a fluid inlet for said first and second valve seats;
providing in said first chamber a first flapper for selectively closing said first valve seat and alternatively said second valve seat relative to said fluid inlet;
providing third and fourth valve seats for fluid return conduits for said first and second bodies of fluid in first and second sides, respectively, of said second corner in said second chamber;
providing said second chamber with a fluid outlet for said third and fourth valve seats;
providing in said second chamber a second flapper for selectively closing said third valve seat and alternatively said fourth valve seat relative to said fluid outlet;
and
ganging said first and second flappers for joint actuation.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid valve systems

Life of this patent

Fluid valve systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12