US 6,296,227 B1 · Valve assembly with clamp on bonnet

Abstract

An improved valve assembly having a valve member encased within a valve housing including a bonnet which is removably mounted on a lower or main valve body by one or more clamp members adapted for quick and easy disassembly without tools to facilitate access to the valve housing interior for service or maintenance. In a preferred form, the valve member is carried by a diaphragm for movement between closed and open positions in response to a solenoid actuator, for regulating the pressure within a control chamber acting upon the diaphragm. The clamp member or members are mounted on the housing bonnet for releasible clamp fit engagement with the main valve body. A bleed screw is mounted on the bonnet for selectively bleeding fluid such as air from the control chamber and normally engages and locks the clamp member or members in a position for retaining the bonnet and main valve body in assembled relation. The bleed screw can be retracted or removed from the bonnet to permit clamp member disengagement or disassembly therefrom and corresponding separation of the bonnet from the main valve body.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A valve assembly, comprising:

first and second valve housing components adapted for assembly with each other, said valve housing components in assembled relation defining an internal flow path extending between an inlet and an outlet, and further including a valve member mounted along said flow path and movable between open and closed positions for regulating fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet;
at least one clamp member for removable mounting onto said first and second valve housing components to retain said components in assembled relation;
and
a retainer element for engaging and locking said at least one clamp member in a position retaining said valve housing components in assembled relation, said retainer element being movable to a position sufficiently disengaged from said clamp member to permit movement of said clamp member to a position permitting separation of said first and second valve housing components.

1 more element

A valve assembly, comprising:

a main valve body defining an internal flow path extending between an inlet and an outlet, and further defining a valve seat surrounding a valve port formed along said flow path, said main valve body having an opening formed therein at a location between said inlet and said outlet to expose said valve seat;
a bonnet having a size and shape for removable mounting onto said main valve body to extend over and close said opening;
a resilient diaphragm carrying a valve member for movement between open and closed positions relative to said valve seat for regulating fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet, said bonnet and said diaphragm cooperatively defining a pressure control chamber within said valve assembly;
means for controlling fluid pressure within said control chamber for displacing said valve member between said open and closed positions;
said bonnet having a bleed port formed therein for bleeding fluid from said control chamber;
at least one clamp member for removably retaining said bonnet in assembled relation mounted onto said main valve body;
and
retainer means movable between a first position for engaging and locking said at least one clamp member in a clamped position retaining said bonnet and said main valve body in assembled relation, and a second position permitting movement said at least one clamp member to an unclamped position to permit lift-off separation of said bonnet and said main valve body;
said retainer means closing said bleed port in said first position, and opening said bleed port in said second position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve assembly with clamp on bonnet

Life of this patent

Valve assembly with clamp on bonnet

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36