US 6,745,992 B2Granted

Pilot operated control valve having a poppet with integral pressure compensating mechanism

AssigneeHUSCO International, Inc.

InventorsXiaolong Yang, Michael J. Paik, Joseph L. Pfaff

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Abstract

A pilot operated valve has a main poppet that selectively controls bidirectional flow of fluid between two ports in response to pressure in a control chamber on one side of the main poppet. The main poppet has a pilot orifice that is opened and closed by a pilot poppet. A unique mechanism is provided to compensate for variation of a pressure differential on opposite sides of the pilot orifice. This mechanism has a pair of annular end members between which extends a spring formed by a plurality of helices. Multiple passages with check valves extend through the main poppet to communicate the greatest pressure among the two ports to the control chamber and the lowest pressure among the two ports to the side of the pilot orifice that is opposite the control chamber.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A bidirectional pilot operated valve comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port, and including a valve seat between the first port and the second port;
a main poppet selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and forming a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat, a pilot passage in the main poppet includes a pilot orifice that opens into the control chamber, a first passage extends between the pilot passage and the first port and a second passage extends between the pilot passage and the second port, the main poppet further comprises a third passage providing communication between the first port and the control chamber, and a fourth passage extends between the second port and the control chamber;
a first flow control element in the first passage allows fluid to flow only from pilot passage into the first port;
a second flow control element in the second passage allows fluid to flow only from the pilot passage into the second port;
a third flow control element in the third passage allows fluid to flow only from the first port into the control chamber;
a fourth flow control element in the fourth passage allows fluid to flow only from the second port into the control chamber;
a pilot poppet which operates to open and close the pilot orifice;
a pressure compensating mechanism which compensates operation of the pilot poppet for effects produced by a pressure differential between the pilot passage and the control chamber;
and
an actuator operably coupled to move the pilot poppet with respect to the main poppet.

7 more elements

A pilot operated valve comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port, and including a valve seat between the first port and the second port;
a main poppet selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and forming a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat, the main poppet having a cavity that opens into the control chamber;
a pressure compensating mechanism within the cavity of the main poppet and having a first end member proximate to the control chamber with a pilot orifice extending through the first end member, and the pressure compensating mechanism further including a spring formed by a plurality of helices projecting away from the first end member into the cavity of the main poppet;
a first passageway between the first port and the cavity;
a second passageway between the second port and the control chamber;
a pilot poppet which operates to open and close the pilot orifice;
and
an actuator operably coupled to move the pilot poppet with respect to the main poppet.

5 more elements

A bidirectional pilot operated valve comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port and including a valve seat between the first port and the second port;
a main poppet selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and forming a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat, the main poppet having a cavity opening into the control chamber, a first passage provides communication between the first port and the cavity, and a second passage provides communication between the second port and the cavity,
one of the body and the main poppet further including a third passage provides communication between the first port and the control chamber;
one of the body and the main poppet further including a fourth passage provides communication between the second port and the control chamber;
a first flow control element in the first passage allows fluid to flow only from the cavity into the first port;
a second flow control element in the second passage allows fluid to flow only from the cavity into the second port;
a third flow control element in the third passage allows fluid to flow only from the first port into the control chamber;
a fourth flow control element in the fourth passage allows fluid to flow only from the second port into the control chamber;
a pressure compensating mechanism within the cavity of the main poppet and having a first end member proximate to the control chamber with a pilot orifice extending through the first end member, and the pressure compensating mechanism further including a spring formed by a plurality of helices projecting away from the first end member through the cavity of the main poppet;
a pilot poppet which selectively closes the pilot orifice;
and
an actuator operably coupled to move the pilot poppet with respect to the main poppet.

9 more elements

A bidirectional pilot operated valve comprising:

a body having a first port and a second port, and including a valve seat between the first port and the second port;
a main poppet selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the first port and the second port and forming a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat, a pilot passage in the main poppet includes a pilot orifice that opens into the control chamber, the main poppet further comprising a first passageway extends from the control chamber to an opening into the pilot passage, a second passageway which opens into the pilot passage at a point between the opening and the control chamber, a third passageway extending between the first port and the control chamber, and a fourth passageway extending between the second port and the control chamber;
a first flow control element coupling the second passageway to the first port and allowing fluid to flow only from the second passageway into the first port;
a second flow control element coupling the second passageway to the second port and allowing fluid to flow only from the second passageway into the second port;
a third flow control element in the third passageway and allowing fluid to flow only from the first port into the control chamber;
a fourth flow control element in the fourth passageway and allowing fluid to flow only from the second port into the control chamber;
a pilot poppet which operates to open and close the pilot orifice;
a pressure compensating stem in the pilot passage and engagable by the pilot poppet, the pressure compensating stem compensates operation of the pilot poppet for effects produced by a pressure differential between the pilot passage and the control chamber;
and
an actuator operably coupled to move the pilot poppet with respect to the main poppet.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/212,511Filed 5 Aug 2002
Published: US 2004/0021103 A15 Feb 2004
Granted: 8 Jun 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F15B 13/0405
Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor: for seat valves, i.e. poppet valves
F16K 31/408
Acting on a piston: the discharge being effected through the piston and being blockable by an electrically-actuated member making contact with the…
G05D 16/2097
With combination of electric and non-electric auxiliary power: using pistons within the main valve
Y10T 137/7771
Line condition change responsive valves: bi-directional flow valves