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US 6,491,189 B2Granted
Dispensing valve for fluids
AssigneeInternational Dispensing Corporation
InventorMitchell A. Friedman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing valve is disclosed which requires only a minimal force exerted on the valve actuator to maintain the valve in an open position. A resilient valve actuator having the characteristics of a nonlinear spring is provided at an actuator end of the valve body and operatively connected to a plunger, with the opposite end of the plunger mounting a resilient valve seal which serves to open and close a plurality of port openings. The valve is configured so as to allow it to be sterilized through high levels of radiation and through high temperature steam and chemical sterilization processes without degrading the valve structure or operation.
Claims49
A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a valve port intermediate said inlet and said discharge outlet;
- a resilient valve seal moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve port to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve port;
- and
- a resilient actuator comprising a conically disk-shaped resilient member, said resilient actuator operatively connected to said resilient valve seal and operatively engaging said valve body so that said resilient actuator exerts a closing force on said resilient valve seal biasing said resilient valve seal towards said closed position, said resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between said closing force and displacement of said resilient valve seal from said closed position.
2 more elements
A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a valve port wall intermediate said inlet and said discharge outlet, said valve port wall having a plurality of valve ports extending therethrough and defining a valve seal seat surrounding said valve ports;
- a resilient valve seal operatively engaged with said valve body and moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve ports to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve ports, said valve seal scat supporting said valve seal against buckling under the influence or fluid pressure applied at said inlet when said valve seat is in said closed position;
- and
- a resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between a closing force exerted by said resilient actuator on said resilient valve seal and displacement of said resilient valve seal from said closed position.
2 more elements
A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a valve port intermediate said inlet and said discharge outlet;
- a resilient valve seal moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve port to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve port;
- and
- a resilient actuator operatively connected to said resilient valve seal and operatively engaging said valve body so that said resilient actuator exerts a closing force on said resilient valve seal biasing said resilient valve seal towards said closed position, said resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between said closing force and displacement of said resilient valve seal from said closed position;
- said valve body, said valve port, said resilient valve seal, and said resilient actuator being formed from materials selected for their ability to withstand gamma and cobalt irradiation exposure of at least 5.0 MRAD.
3 more elements
A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a valve port intermediate said inlet and said discharge outlet;
- a valve seal moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve port to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve port;
- a resilient actuator comprising a conically disk-shaped resilient member, said resilient actuator operatively connected to said valve seal and operatively engaging said valve body so that said resilient actuator exerts a closing force on said valve seal biasing said valve seal towards said closed position, said resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between said closing force and displacement of said valve seal from said closed position;
- and
- a push button engaging said resilient actuator such that displacing said push button towards said valve body causes said resilient actuator to move said valve seal from said closed position to said open position, and releasing said push button causes said resilient actuator to move said valve seal from said open position to said closed position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.