# US 7,610,928 B2 · Valve and actuator assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,928 B2 - Document ID: US7610928B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/359,062 - Filed: 2006-02-22 - Published: 2006-09-07 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-22 - Assignees: Swagelok Company - Inventors: Joel Feldman; Peter Sulcs; Daniel E. Zeiler; Charles W. Hayes, II; David Hasak; Yancy J. Waller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610928B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/122: the fluid acting on a piston (F16K31/143, F16K31/163, F16K31/363, F16K31/383 take precedence) - F16K 11/04: comprising only lift valves - F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements} - F16K 27/0263: {multiple way valves} - F16K 31/1221: {one side of the piston being spring-loaded} - F16K 31/1226: {the fluid circulating through the piston} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/8275: Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated - Y10T 137/87169: Supply and exhaust - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present application relates to valve and actuator assemblies. The valve actuator assemblies may include a capless valve actuating arrangement, include a replaceable passage defining member that includes seal members, include a valve member that is assembled in a valve chamber from an end of the valve body that is opposite an end that a piston is assembled in, and/or include a valve member that may be rotated in a valve body without affecting the ability of the valve member to perform its sealing functions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly, comprising: a valve chamber; an inlet passage in communication with the valve chamber; an outlet passage in communication with the valve chamber; a vent passage in communication with the valve chamber; a valve member disposed in the valve chamber, the valve member being axially moveable between a first position and a second position; wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is open when the valve member is in the first position regardless of a rotational orientation of the valve member in the valve chamber; wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked when the valve member is in the second position regardless of the rotational orientation of the valve member in the valve chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve member comprises an annular disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1 wherein an axis of the vent passage is aligned with an axis of the valve member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1 wherein an axis of the vent passage is aligned with an axis of the valve chamber. ### Claim 5 A method of controlling fluid flow comprising: providing fluid to an inlet passage that is in communication with a valve chamber; positioning a valve member in a first axial position in the valve chamber where fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, fluid flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, and fluid flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is open regardless of a rotational orientation of the valve member in the valve chamber; positioning the valve member in a second axial position in the valve chamber where fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, fluid flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and fluid flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked regardless of the rotational orientation of the valve member in the valve chamber. ### Claim 6 A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body including a valve chamber; a passage defining member defining an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a vent passage, the passage defining member being assembled with the valve body to close the valve chamber; a valve member assembled in the valve chamber by inserting the valve member into the valve chamber from an end of the valve body that the passage defining is to be assembled to prior to assembly of the passage defining member with the valve body; wherein the valve member blocks fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber, blocks fluid flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber, and allows fluid flow between the vent passage and the and the valve chamber when the valve member is in a first position in the valve chamber, and wherein the valve member allows fluid flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber, allows fluid flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber, and blocks fluid flow between the vent passage and the and the valve chamber when the valve member is in a second position in the valve chamber. ### Claim 7 A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber; a valve member disposed in the valve chamber, the valve member being moveable between a first position and a second position; a passage defining member that defines an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a vent passage, an inlet seal member assembled with the passage defining member such that the inlet seal surrounds the inlet passage; an outlet seal member assembled with the passage defining member such that the outlet seal surrounds the outlet passage, wherein the valve member contacts the inlet seal member and the outlet seal member to block flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber and block flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber when the valve member is in the first position, and wherein the valve member is spaced apart from the inlet seal member and the outlet seal member to allow flow between the inlet passage and the outlet passage when the valve member is in the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7 wherein the passage defining member defines a wall of the valve chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7 wherein the passage defining member and the valve body are discrete components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7 wherein the passage defining member includes a vent port boss that extends from a face of the passage defining member. ### Claim 11 A valve assembly, comprising: a valve body defining a valve chamber; a valve member disposed in the valve chamber, the valve member being moveable between a first position and a second position; a passage defining member that defines an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a vent passage, the passage defining member is coupled to the valve body to close the valve chamber such that the inlet passage, the outlet passage, and the vent passage are in communication with the valve chamber; wherein flow between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is blocked, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is open when the valve member is in the first position; wherein flow, between the inlet passage and the valve chamber is open, flow between the outlet passage and the valve chamber is open, and flow between the vent passage and the valve chamber is blocked when the valve member is in the second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 wherein the passage defining member defines a wall of the valve chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising an inlet seal that is fixed with respect to the inlet passage and an outlet seal that is fixed with respect to the outlet passage, wherein the valve member engages the inlet seal and the outlet seal when the valve member is in the first position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 wherein the valve member comprises an annular disk. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 wherein the valve member selectively opens and blocks the valve passages regardless of a rotational position of the valve member relative to the valve chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising an elongated inlet sealing structure extending from the valve member and an elongated outlet sealing structure extending from the valve member, wherein the elongated inlet sealing structure engages the passage defining member to seal the inlet passage and the elongated outlet sealing structure engages the passage defining member to seal the outlet passage when the valve member is in the first position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising a vent sealing member disposed around a valve member shaft, wherein the vent sealing member provides a seal between the valve member and the valve body when the valve member is in the second position to block flow between the valve chamber and the vent passage when the valve member is in the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising an elongated inlet sealing structure extending from the valve member and an elongated outlet sealing structure extending from the valve member, wherein the elongated inlet sealing structure engages a valve body outer surface to seal the inlet passage and the elongated outlet sealing structure engages the valve body outer surface to seal the outlet passage when the valve member is in the first position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising an elongated vent sealing structure extending from the valve member, wherein the elongated vent sealing structure engages a valve body inner surface to seal the vent passage when the valve member is in the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The valve of claim 11 further comprising an elongated inlet sealing structure extending from the valve member, an elongated outlet sealing structure extending from the valve member, and an elongated vent sealing structure extending from the valve member, wherein the elongated inlet sealing structure engages a valve body outer surface to seal the inlet passage and the elongated outlet sealing structure engages the valve body outer surface to seal the outlet passage when the valve member is in the first position, and the elongated vent sealing structure engages a valve body inner surface to seal the vent passage when the valve member is in the second position.