US 5,261,442 AGranted

Diaphragm valve with leak detection

AssigneeBunnell Plastics, Inc.

InventorsKenji A. Kingsford, Hy B. Nguyen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A diaphragm valve is provided which can be used both with corrosive liquids without valve component degradation and with chemically pure liquids without deleteriously affecting the liquids' purity. The valve incorporates a valve body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, with a valve seat between each inlet and outlet. A pair of spaced-apart diaphragms are provided which are in contact with the fluid flowing through the valve. A poppet assembly, which extends between the diaphragms, incorporates a valve stem with a valve plug on one or both ends which engages an associated valve seat. A leak detection port is provided to detect liquids which may leak through either one of the two diaphragms.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having a top and a bottom, with a fluid inlet passage through the side of the valve body at a first location and a fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a second location;
(b) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body bottom and located between the inlet and outlet passages;
(c) a cap removably mounted on the top of the valve body;
(d) a first flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted on the inside of the cap;
(e) a second flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across an upper portion of the valve body above the valve seat, the second diaphragm spaced below the first diaphragm and forming an upper barrier for fluid flowing through the valve, wherein the space between the first and second diaphragms forms an upper fluid containment chamber;
(f) a base removably mounted on the bottom of the valve body;
(g) a third flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across a lower portion of the valve body below the valve seat, the third diaphragm spaced below the second diaphragm and forming a lower barrier for fluid flowing through the valve;
(h) a poppet assembly connected between the second and third diaphragms which moves with the diaphragms, the poppet assembly comprising:
(1) a valve plug connected to the upwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm, the valve plug configured for engaging the valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids through the valve;
and
(2) a valve stem connected at its top end to the downwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm and extending downwardly through a center portion of the valve body, the bottom end of the valve stem removably connected to the valve plug, wherein the connection forms a fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the plug;
(i) spring means mounted in a space between the third diaphragm and the base for biasing the poppet assembly and connected second and third diaphragms in an upwardly direction for engaging the valve plug with the valve seat to thereby close the valve;
(j) an annular backup ring mounted in the upper fluid containment chamber, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of any fluids which may leak into the chamber through the second diaphragm;
and
(k) a leak detection passage extending from the region of the upper containment chamber surrounding the outside peripheral surface of the backup ring through the valve body to the exterior surface of said valve body for the passage of fluids which may leak through the second diaphragm into the upper containment chamber.

12 more elements

A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having a top and a bottom, with a fluid inlet passage through the side of the valve body at a first location and a fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a second location, the first location spaced apart radially from the second location;
(b) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body bottom and located between the inlet and outlet passages;
(c) a cap removably mounted on the top of the valve body, the cap having a port through its center for entry of a fluid for actuating the valve;
(d) a first flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted on the inside of the cap, wherein a space is defined between the upper surface of the diaphragm and the inner surface of the cap, the actuating fluid port opening into said space;
(e) a second flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across an upper portion of the valve body above the valve seat, the second diaphragm forming an upper barrier for fluid flowing through the valve and being in registration with the first diaphragm, wherein the space between the first and second diaphragms forms an upper fluid containment chamber;
(f) a base removably mounted on the bottom of the valve body;
(g) a third flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across a lower portion of the valve body below the valve seat, the third diaphragm forming a lower barrier for fluid flowing through the valve and being in registration with the first and second diaphragms, wherein the space between the third diaphragm and the base forms a lower fluid containment chamber;
(h) a poppet assembly connected between the second and third diaphragms which moves with the diaphragms, the poppet assembly comprising:
(1) a valve plug connected to the upwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm, the valve plug configured for engaging the valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids through the valve;
and
(2) a valve stem connected at its top end to the downwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm and extending downwardly through a center portion of the valve body, the bottom end of the valve stem removably connected to the valve plug, wherein the connection forms a fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the plug;
(i) spring means in the lower containment chamber for biasing the poppet assembly and connected second and third diaphragms in an upwardly direction for engaging the valve plug with the valve seat to thereby close the valve;
(j) an annular backup ring mounted in the upper fluid containment chamber, an outer portion of the ring extending between the first and second diaphragms, the bottom surface of the ring contacting an annular segment of the upwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm, said annular segment extending from the outer peripheral edge of the second diaphragm radially inwardly a selected distance, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of any fluids which may leak into the chamber through the second diaphragm;
(k) a leak detection passage extending from the region of the upper containment chamber surrounding the outside peripheral surface of the backup ring through the valve body to its exterior surface for the passage of fluids which may leak through the second diaphragm into the upper containment chamber;
and
(l) an annular backup ring mounted in the lower containment chamber, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of fluids which may leak into the chamber through the third diaphragm, wherein the top surface of the ring contacts an annular segment of the downwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm, the annular segment extending from the outer peripheral edge of the third diaphragm radially inwardly a selected distance, wherein the portion of the top surface of the ring which is in contact with the annular segment when the valve is closed slopes upwardly from the periphery ring toward its center.

13 more elements

A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having a top and a bottom, with a fluid inlet passage through the side of the valve body at a first location and a fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a second location;
(b) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body top and located between the inlet and outlet passages;
(c) a cap removably mounted on the top of the valve body;
(d) a first flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted on the inside of the cap;
(e) a second flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across an upper portion of the valve body above the valve seat, the second diaphragm spaced below the first diaphragm and forming an upper barrier for fluid flowing through the valve, wherein the space between the first and second diaphragms forms an upper fluid containment chamber;
(f) a base removably mounted on the bottom of the valve body;
(g) a third flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across a lower portion of the valve body below the valve seat, the third diaphragm spaced below the second diaphragm and forming a lower barrier for fluid flowing through the valve;
(h) a poppet assembly connected between the second and third diaphragms which moves with the diaphragms, the poppet assembly comprising:
(1) a valve plug connected to the downwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm, the valve plug configured for engaging the valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids through the valve;
and
(2) a valve stem connected at its bottom end to the upwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm and extending upwardly through a center portion of the valve body, the top end of the valve stem removably connected to the valve plug, wherein the connection forms a fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and plug;
(i) spring means in a space between the third diaphragm and the base for biasing the poppet assembly and connected second and third diaphragms in an upwardly direction for disengaging the valve plug from the valve seat to thereby open the valve;
(j) an annular backup ring mounted in the upper fluid containment chamber, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of any fluids which may leak into the chamber through the second diaphragm;
and
(k) a leak detection passage extending from the region of the upper containment chamber surrounding the outside peripheral surface of the backup ring through the valve body to the exterior surface of said valve body for the passage of fluids which may leak through the second diaphragm into the upper containment chamber.

12 more elements

A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having a top and a bottom, with a fluid inlet passage through the side of the valve body at a first location, a first fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a second location, and a second fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a third location, the first, second, and third locations being spaced apart from each other;
(b) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body top located between the inlet passage and the first outlet passage;
(c) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body bottom located between the inlet passage and the second outlet passage;
(d) a cap removably mounted on the top of the valve body;
(e) a first flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted on the inside of the cap;
(f) a second flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across an upper portion of the valve body above the upwardly facing valve seat, the second diaphragm spaced below the first diaphragm and forming an upper barrier for fluid flowing through the valve, wherein the space between the first and second diaphragms forms an upper fluid containment chamber;
(g) a base removably mounted on the bottom of the valve body;
(h) a third flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across a lower portion of the valve body below the downwardly facing valve seat, the third diaphragm forming a lower barrier for fluid flowing through the valve;
(i) a poppet assembly connected between the second and third diaphragms which moves with the diaphragms, the poppet assembly comprising:
(1) a lower valve plug connected to the upwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm, the lower valve plug configured for engaging the downwardly facing valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids from the inlet through the second outlet passage;
(2) an upper valve plug connected to the downwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm, the upper valve plug configured for engaging the upwardly facing valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids from the inlet through the first outlet passage;
and
(3) a valve stem having one end integrally formed with one of the upper or lower valve plugs, the valve stem extending through a center portion of the valve body, with the other end of the valve stem removably connected to the other valve plug, wherein the connection forms a fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the plug;
(j) spring means mounted in a space between the third diaphragm and the base for biasing the poppet assembly and connected second and third diaphragms in an upwardly direction for engaging the lower valve plug with the downwardly facing valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids from the inlet through the second outlet passage, while, at the same time, disengaging the upper valve plug from the upwardly facing valve seat to allow flow of fluids from the inlet through the first outlet passage;
(k) means for counteracting the spring force for moving the poppet assembly and the connected second and third diaphragms in a downwardly direction for engaging the upper valve plug with the upwardly facing valve seat to stop the flow of fluids from the inlet through the first outlet passage;
(l) an annular backup ring mounted in the upper fluid containment chamber, the backup ring having a vertical hole through its center defining an inner peripheral surface and having an outside peripheral surface, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of any fluids which may leak into the chamber through the second diaphragm;
and
(m) a leak detection passage extending from the region of the upper containment chamber surrounding the peripheral outside surface of the backup ring through the valve body to the exterior surface of said valve body for the passage of fluids which may leak through the second diaphragm into the upper containment chamber.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A valve assembly comprising:

(a) a valve body having a top and a bottom, with a fluid inlet passage through the side of the valve body at a first location and a fluid outlet passage through the side of the valve body at a second location;
(b) a valve seat in the valve body facing toward the valve body bottom and located between the inlet and outlet passages;
(c) a cap removably mounted on the top of the valve body;
(d) a first flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted on the inside of the cap;
(e) a second flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across an upper portion of the valve body above the valve seat, the second diaphragm spaced below the first diaphragm and forming an upper barrier for fluid flowing through the valve, wherein the space between the first and second diaphragms forms an upper fluid containment chamber;
(f) a base removably mounted on the bottom of the valve body;
(g) a third flexible imperforate diaphragm mounted across a lower portion of the valve body below the valve seat, the third diaphragm spaced below the second diaphragm and forming a lower barrier for fluid flowing through the valve;
(h) a poppet assembly connected between the second and third diaphragms which moves with the diaphragms, the poppet assembly comprising:
(1) a valve plug connected to the upwardly facing surface of the third diaphragm, the valve plug configured for engaging the valve seat to thereby stop the flow of fluids through the valve;
and
(2) a valve stem connected at its top end to the downwardly facing surface of the second diaphragm and extending downwardly through a center portion of the valve body, the bottom end of the valve stem removably connected to the valve plug, wherein the connection forms a fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the plug;
(i) spring means mounted in a space between the third diaphragm and the base for biasing the poppet assembly and connected second and third diaphragms in an upwardly direction for engaging the valve plug with the valve seat to thereby close the valve;
(j) an annular backup ring mounted in the upper fluid containment chamber, the ring having a channel through it from its inside peripheral surface to its outside peripheral surface for passage of any fluids which may leak into the chamber through the second diaphragm;
and
(k) a leak detection passage extending from the region of the upper containment chamber surrounding the outside peripheral surface of the backup ring through the valve body to the exterior surface of said valve body for the passage of fluids which may leak through the second diaphragm into the upper containment chamber.

12 more elements