Force absorbing homogenization valve
AssigneeAPV North America, Inc.
InventorMichael Jarchau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A homogenization valve includes a housing and stacked valve members within the housing. The valve members have central holes therethrough defining a high pressure volume. Each valve member includes a valve seat defining, with a valve surface, gaps through which fluid is expressed radially from an inside high pressure volume to the outer low pressure volume. An actuator closes one end of the central volume and acts on the valve members to control the width of the gaps. A pressure barrier is positioned within the central volume to reduce the force from the central volume acting on the actuator.
Claims59
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- at least two valve members having a valve seat and a valve surface defining a gap therebetween, the valve members having an inside surface defining a high pressure volume produced by a pump;
- an actuator that applies a force to the valve members for controlling the width of the gap;
- a housing member enclosing the valve members;
- and
- a post fixed to the housing member and positioned within the high pressure volume and sealed to prevent liquid flow around an end of the post for reducing force acting on the actuator device caused by the high pressure volume.
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- a housing;
- at least two valve members which define a gap through which fluid is expressed from a central volume within the valve members to an outer volume within the housing;
- an actuator which applies a force to the valve members to control the width of the gap;
- and
- a pressure barrier within the central volume secured to the housing, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the central volume.
A homogenizer valve comprising a housing and a stack of annularly-shaped valve members within the housing having central holes defining a high pressure volume, the valve members homogenizing a fluid as it passes from the high pressure volume radially outward through intervening annular valve gaps defined by opposed valve surfaces and valve seats, the valve further including an actuator that controls the width of the gaps and a pressure barrier secured to the housing and positioned within the high pressure volume, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the high pressure volume.
A method of homogenizing a fluid, comprising:
- expressing a fluid through a gap from an inside high pressure volume to a low pressure volume outside a plurality of valve members;
- providing a housing for enclosing the valve members;
- controlling the width of the gap with an actuator, and
- providing a pressure barrier within the inside high pressure volume which is secured to the housing and sealed to prevent liquid flow around an end of the pressure barrier, the pressure barrier substantially absorbing a force from the inside high pressure volume to prevent application of the pressure against the actuator.
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- a plurality of pairs of valve members having spring grooves and annular springs that align adjoining pairs of valve members, the springs positioned within the spring-grooves in the valve members, at least two valve members having a valve seat and a valve surface defining a gap therebetween, the valve members having an inside surface defining a high pressure volume produced by a pump;
- an actuator that applies a force to the valve members for controlling the width of the gap;
- a housing member enclosing the valve members;
- and
- a post fixed to the housing member and positioned within the high pressure volume for reducing force acting on the actuator device caused by the high pressure volume.
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- a plurality of valve members forming a plurality of gaps between a valve seat and a valve surface of the valve members, the valve members having an inside surface defining a high pressure volume produced by a pump;
- an actuator that applies a force to the valve members for controlling the width of the gaps;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced, deformable spacing elements between the valve surfaces and valve seats that deform to control the width of the valve gaps;
- a housing member enclosing the valve members;
- and
- a post fixed to the housing member and positioned within the high pressure volume for reducing force acting on the actuator device caused by the high pressure volume.
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of pairs of valve members having spring grooves and annular springs that align adjoining pairs of valve members, the springs positioned within the spring-grooves in the valve members, at least two valve members having a valve seat and a valve surface defining a gap therebetween, at least two valve members which define a gap through which fluid is expressed from a central volume within the valve members to an outer volume within the housing;
- an actuator which applies a force to the valve members to control the width of the gap;
- and
- a pressure barrier within the central volume secured to the housing, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the central volume.
A homogenizing valve comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of valve members having valve surfaces and valve seats to form a plurality of valve gaps through which fluid is expressed from a central volume within the valve members to an outer volume within the housing;
- an actuator which applies a force to the valve members to control the width of the gaps;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced, deformable spacing elements between the valve surfaces and valve seats to deform to control the width of the valve gaps;
- and
- a pressure barrier within the central volume secured to the housing, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the central volume.
A homogenizer valve comprising a housing and a stack of annularly-shaped valve members within the housing having central holes defining a high pressure volume, the valve members homogenizing a fluid as it passes from the high pressure volume radially outward through intervening annular valve gaps defined by opposed valve surfaces and valve seats, the valve further including an actuator that controls the width of the gaps and a pressure barrier secured to the housing and positioned within the high pressure volume, the valve also including annular springs that align adjoining pairs of valve members, the springs positioned within spring-grooves in the valve members in the high pressure volume, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the high pressure volume.
A homogenizer valve comprising a housing and a stack of annularly-shaped valve members within the housing having central holes defining a high pressure volume, the valve members homogenizing a fluid as it passes from the high pressure volume radially outward through intervening annular valve gaps defined by opposed valve surfaces and valve seats, the valve further including an actuator that controls the width of the gaps, the valve including a plurality of circumferentially spaced, deformable spacing elements between the valve surfaces and valve seats that deform to control the width of the valve gaps, the valve further including a pressure barrier secured to the housing and positioned within the high pressure volume, there being a fluid seal between the pressure barrier and the actuator to limit fluid pressure applied to the actuator from the high pressure volume.
A method of homogenizing a fluid, comprising:
- expressing a fluid through a plurality of gaps from an inside high pressure volume to a low pressure volume outside a plurality of valve members;
- providing a housing for enclosing the valve members;
- controlling the width of substantially all of the gaps with an actuator by deforming spacing elements on the valve members;
- and
- providing a pressure barrier within the inside high pressure volume which is secured to the housing and substantially absorbing a force from the inside high pressure volume to prevent application of the pressure against the actuator.
A method of homogenizing a fluid, comprising:
- expressing a fluid through a gap from an inside high pressure volume to a low pressure volume outside a plurality of valve members;
- aligning adjoining pairs of valve members with annular springs, the springs being positioned within spring-grooves in the valve members in the high pressure volume;
- providing a housing for enclosing the valve members;
- controlling the width of the gap with an actuator;
- and
- providing a pressure barrier within the inside high pressure volume which is secured to the housing and substantially absorbing a force from the inside high pressure volume to prevent application of the pressure against the actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.