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US 7,819,131 B2Granted
Springless compressor valve
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorJames J. Walpole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve closure system particularly suited to reciprocating compressors employs no springs and preferably urges the valve in the closed direction by the force generated from magnets positioned to repel each other and in that manner deliver the force to keep the compressor valve closed. Other applications are envisioned and different techniques for replacing the spring component in such valve assemblies are also contemplated.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a guard having a first bore;
- a shoe directly mounted within the first bore in the guard;
- a valve member configured to translate along a path from a sealed position to an unsealed position;
- a magnet coupled to the valve member;
- an opposing magnet directly mounted in the shoe, wherein poles of the opposing magnet are generally aligned with poles of the magnet such that the magnet and the opposing magnet repel one another;
- and
- a leg extending from the valve member in a direction that is generally parallel to the path, wherein a distal portion of the leg overlaps the opposing magnet when the valve member is in the sealed position, wherein the leg, the shoe, and the opposing magnet are generally concentric, and wherein the leg is configured to translate between the guard and the shoe.
4 more elements
A valve, comprising:
- a poppet valve having a leg, wherein the poppet valve is configured to seal a passage;
- a first magnet coupled to the poppet valve;
- a shoe having a bore;
- and
- a second magnet directly mounted within the bore in the shoe, wherein the second magnet is configured to repel the first magnet, thereby biasing the poppet valve in a position that seals the passage, wherein the second magnet comprises an aperture, and wherein the leg, the shoe, and the second magnet are generally concentric;
- and
- wherein the leg comprises a first lip and the shoe comprises a second lip, and wherein the first and second lips are configured to limit the stroke of the poppet valve with respect to the shoe.
4 more elements
A method of controlling the flow of a fluid, comprising:
- biasing a poppet valve having a first magnet against a seat by applying a force with a magnetic field from a second magnet, wherein poles of the first magnet are generally aligned with poles of the second magnet such that the first magnet and the second magnet repel one another;
- moving the poppet valve by applying fluid pressure to the poppet valve, wherein a force from the fluid pressure is larger than the force applied with the magnetic field;
- guiding the movement of the poppet valve with a structure that is downstream from the poppet valve, wherein the structure comprises a shoe mounted in a first bore in a guard, wherein the second magnet is mounted within a second bore in the shoe, and wherein guiding the movement of the poppet valve comprises guiding the movement of a leg extending from the poppet valve between the shoe and the guard;
- and
- limiting the movement of the poppet valve with respect to the shoe via a first lip extending from the leg and a second lip extending from the shoe.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.