Patent ID: 6199822
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: F02B,F15B,F16K,Y02T

Abstract:
A valve assembly, comprisinga housing defining a cylinder having a cylinder wall extending about a longitudinal axis, said cylinder having a selected diameter;a piston arranged for reciprocal motion in said cylinder along said longitudinal axis between a first end position and a second end position, said piston having a size in cross-section which is less than said selected diameter so as to define a clearance between said piston and said cylindrical wall;an actuator rod cooperating with said piston for displacement along a substantially longitudinal path relative to said housing, wherein said clearance allows at least a portion of said path to deviate from said longitudinal axis;a first surface in said housing for establishing sealing contact with a first region of said piston in said first end position and a second surface in said housing for establishing sealing contact with a second region of said piston in said second end position to thereby prevent leakage of operating fluid past said piston when said piston is in said first end position and said second end position, wherein said piston and said housing are arranged such that, when said piston is between said first end position and said second end position, operating fluid is permitted to leak through said clearance; anda valve mechanism operatively connected via a pivot link to said actuator rod for movement between an open condition and a closed condition in response to said displacement of said actuator rod along said substantially longitudinal path.