# US 9,453,588 B2 · Valve assembly including pressure relief mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,453,588 B2 - Document ID: US9453588B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/207,768 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Marshall Excelsior Company - Applicants: Marshall Excelsior Co. - Inventors: Frederick W. Blanchard; Alex L. Hoffman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9453588B2 ## CPC - F16K 39/024: {using an auxiliary valve on the main valve} - F16K 1/2007: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)} - F16K 1/2014: {Shaping of the valve member} - Y10T 137/86976: First valve moves second valve - Y10T 137/86984: Actuator moves both valves - 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 A valve assembly includes a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, a valve seat disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, a valve head disposed in the housing and moveable relative to the housing, a valve stem operatively coupled to the valve head for moving the valve head between the open and closed positions, and a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to the valve stem and extending along a plug axis in the bore of the valve head moveable relative to the valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through the bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through the bore for relieving pressure differences between the first chamber and the second chamber when the valve head is in the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head and being rotatably and reciprocally movable along a stem axis for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; a link disposed within and pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; one of said valve head and said plug defining a groove elongated along said plug axis; and an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said valve head and said plug includes a first wall and the other of said valve head and said plug includes a second wall defining said groove, said first wall and said second wall are spaced radially from each other and oppose each other radially. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said intermediate member is spaced from said second wall when said valve stem is in said sealed position and is spaced from said first wall when said valve stem is in said unsealed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve head defines a ledge in said bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a bore seal disposed in said bore and abutting said ledge for contact with said plug when said valve stem is in said sealed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein a first wall engages said intermediate member when said plug contacts said bore seal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plug and said valve head include opposing shoulders. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve head defines a recess with said intermediate member fixed along said plug axis in said recess. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve head includes a tube that defines said bore. ### Claim 10 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; one of said valve head and said plug defining a groove elongated along said plug axis; an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position; a link pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; wherein said valve head includes a tube that defines said bore; and wherein said link defines a cup to receive said plug and said link receives said tube of said valve head between said cup and said plug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plug includes a threaded surface and a fastener threadably engages said threaded surface for attaching said plug to said cup. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a pin engaging said link and said valve stem to pivotably connect said link to said valve stem. ### Claim 13 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; one of said valve head and said plug defining a groove elongated along said plug axis; and an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position; a link pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; and wherein said link defines a cam slot and including a pin engaging said valve stem and said cam slot. ### Claim 14 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head and being rotatably and reciprocally movable along a stem axis for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; a link disposed within and pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; wherein one of said valve head and said plug includes a first wall and the other of said valve head and said plug includes a second wall defining a groove, said first wall and said second wall are spaced from each other radially and oppose each other radially; an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position; wherein said first wall engages said intermediate member when the end of said plug contacts a bore seal; and wherein said intermediate member is spaced from said second wall when said valve stem is in said sealed position and is spaced from said first wall when said valve stem is in said unsealed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said valve head includes a tube that defines said bore. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said link defines a cup to receive said plug and said link receives said tube of said valve head between said cup and said plug. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A valve assembly as set forth in claim 14 including a pin engaging said link and said valve stem to pivotably couple said link to said valve stem. ### Claim 18 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; a link pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; wherein one of said valve head and said plug includes a first wall and the other of said valve head and said plug includes a second wall defining a groove, said first wall and said second wall are spaced from each other radially and oppose each other radially; an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position; wherein said first wall engages said intermediate member when the end of said plug contacts a bore seal; wherein said intermediate member is spaced from said second wall when said valve stem is in said sealed position and is spaced from said first wall when said valve stem is in said unsealed position; and wherein said link defines a cam slot and including a pin engaging said valve stem and said cam slot. ### Claim 19 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a valve stem operatively coupled to said valve head and being rotatably and reciprocally movable along a stem axis for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said valve stem and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; a link disposed within and pivotably connected to said housing and coupled to said valve stem and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; wherein said valve head includes a first wall and said plug includes a second wall defining a groove, said first wall and said second wall are spaced from each other radially and oppose each other radially; and an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position. ### Claim 20 A valve assembly comprising: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve seat disposed between said first chamber and said second chamber; a valve head disposed in said housing and moveable relative to said housing between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position engaged with said valve seat, said valve head defining a bore therethrough along an axis; a threaded actuator operatively coupled to said valve head for moving said valve head between said open position and said closed position; a pressure relief mechanism including a plug coupled to said threaded actuator and extending along a plug axis in said bore of said valve head, said plug being moveable relative to said valve head from a sealed position preventing fluid communication through said bore to an unsealed position allowing fluid communication through said bore for relieving pressure differences between said first chamber and said second chamber when said valve head is in said closed position; a link pivotably connected to said threaded actuator and said plug to transmit movement from said valve stem to said plug; one of said valve head and said plug defining a groove elongated along said plug axis; and an intermediate member separate from said plug and said valve head and retained in said groove between said plug and said valve head wherein said groove is sized larger than said intermediate member along said plug axis for allowing selective movement of said plug relative to said valve head between said sealed position and said unsealed position.