# US 9,752,513 B2 · Valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,513 B2 - Document ID: US9752513B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/071,499 - Filed: 2013-11-04 - Published: 2014-03-06 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-19 - Assignees: LightSail Energy, Inc. - Applicants: LightSail Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Danielle A. Fong; Stephen E. Crane; Edwin P. Berlin, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752513B2 ## CPC - F02D 13/02: during engine operation - F16K 3/085: {the axis of supply passage and the axis of discharge passage being coaxial and parallel to the axis of rotation of the plates} - F16K 11/10: with two or more closure members not moving as a unit - Y10T 137/87096: Valves with separate, correlated, actuators - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - 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 Embodiments relate to valves comprising a member such as a plate or poppet, that is moveable relative to a stationary seat. The state of the member may be maintained against opposing forces with relatively little expenditure of energy. According to one embodiment, a poppet displaced from seating in the valve seat, may be held in position against opposing forces tending to close the valve, until a desired flow of gas through the valve has taken place. The poppet may then be released as desired, such that those opposing forces serve to passively close the valve. The valve may be secured in position utilizing mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic, pneumatic, electrostatic, or hydraulic approaches. Valve embodiments may be particularly suited to controlling gas flows for compression and/or expansion in an energy storage system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: providing a chamber in selective fluid communication with a high pressure side through a first valve comprising a first poppet selectively moveable to disengage from a first seat, wherein the high pressure side is in fluid communication with a compressed gas storage unit; securing the first poppet disengaged from the first seat against a first countervailing force utilizing a first mechanism; actively controlling the first mechanism to release the first poppet to engage the first seat while a volume of compressed gas from the high pressure side expands in an absence of combustion within the first expansion chamber to exchange heat with a liquid; a mechanical linkage comprising a piston rod communicating out of the chamber, a power of the compressed gas expanding against a piston; and generating from the mechanical linkage an electrical output to meet a load, wherein the first mechanism is actively controlled to maintain the electrical output at a fixed frequency while the load and a gas pressure of the compressed gas storage unit are changing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a crankshaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the first mechanism is configured to operate based on hydraulic principles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the first mechanism is configured to operate based on mechanical principles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4 wherein the first mechanism comprises a pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4 wherein the first valve comprises a cam-operated poppet valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6 wherein a timing of the first valve is controlled by varying an effective cam profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6 wherein the first valve further comprises a spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises one stage of a multi-stage apparatus, and a low pressure side is in fluid communication with another stage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the controlling references a variable frequency oscillator (VFO). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the controlling is according to a phase lock loop (PLL). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 further comprising: providing the chamber in selective fluid communication with a low pressure side comprising another stage through a second valve comprising a second poppet selectively moveable to disengage from a second seat; securing the second poppet disengaged from the second seat against a second countervailing force utilizing a second mechanism; and controlling the second mechanism to release the second poppet to engage with the second seat and retain expanded gas within the chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method as in claim 12 wherein the second mechanism is configured to operate based on hydraulic principles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A method as in claim 12 wherein the second mechanism is configured to operate based on mechanical principles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14 wherein the second mechanism comprises a pin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14 wherein the second valve comprises a cam-operated poppet valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as in claim 16 wherein a timing of the second valve is controlled by varying an effective cam profile. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method as in claim 16 wherein the second valve further comprises a spring.