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US 6,886,593 B2Granted
Safety valve with pressure indicator
AssigneeRoss Operating Valve Company
InventorsJeremy S. Madden, Richard E. Schnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid control valve includes an adjustable soft start capability and pressure indicator device. The fluid control valve isolates an input port and connects an outlet port to an exhaust port when the fluid control valve is in its closed position. A system is provided for locking the fluid control valve in the closed position. The indicator device is used to provide an indication of the pressure within the outlet port to ensure safe operation.
Claims20
A fluid control valve comprising:
- a valve housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port and an exhaust port;
- a valve spool assembly movable with respect to said valve housing between an open condition and a closed condition, said inlet port being in communication with said outlet port when said valve spool assembly is in said open position, said outlet port being in communication with said exhaust port when said valve spool assembly is in said closed position;
- delay means associated with said valve spool assembly for delaying full communication between said inlet port and said outlet port during a delay period beginning when said valve spool assembly is moved from said closed position to said open position, said fluid control valve operative to be fully opened or fully closed except during said delay period;
- and
- a fluid pressure indicator device fluidly coupled to said outlet port via said valve housing, said fluid pressure indicator device operable to indicate fluid pressure within said outlet port.
2 more elements
A fluid control valve comprising:
- a valve housing defining an inlet port, and outlet port and an exhaust port;
- a valve spool assembly movable with respect to said valve housing between an open condition and a closed condition;
- a first passage extending between said outlet port and said exhaust port;
- a second passage extending between said input port and said outlet port;
- a third passage extending between said input port and said outlet port;
- a piston slidably disposed upon said valve spool assembly, said piston closing said second passage and opening said third passage when said valve spool assembly is moved from said closed position to said open position, said piston opening said second passage a specified period of time after said valve spool assembly is moved to said open position, said fluid control valve operative to be fully opened or fully closed except during said specified period of time;
- and
- a fluid pressure indicator device fluidly coupled to said outlet port via said valve housing, said fluid pressure indicator device operable to indicate fluid pressure within said outlet port.
5 more elements
A fluid control valve comprising:
- a valve housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port and an exhaust port;
- a first passage extending through said housing connecting said outlet port to said exhaust port;
- a second passage extending through said housing connecting said input port to said outlet port;
- a valve spool assembly movable with respect to said valve housing between an open condition and a closed condition, said second passage being closed and said first passage being open when said valve spool assembly is in said closed condition, said first passage being closed when said valve spool assembly is in said open condition;
- a piston slidably disposed on said valve spool assembly, said piston movable between an open position and a blocked position, said piston being disposed in said blocked position to close said first passage when said valve spool assembly is first moved to said open condition;
- a third passage extending through said valve spool assembly connecting said input port to said outlet port, said third passage being open when said piston is in said blocked position to allow a specified flow of fluid between said input port and said outlet port such that fluid pressure increases in said outlet port at a rate slower than when said second passage is open, said piston moving from said blocked position to said open position after a delay period to open said second passage when said fluid pressure in said outlet port reaches a specified pressure, said fluid control valve operative to be fully opened or fully closed except during said delay period;
- and
- a fluid pressure indicator device fluidly coupled to said outlet port via said valve housing, said fluid pressure indicator device operable to indicate fluid pressure within said outlet port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.