Patent ID: 7360554
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: F16K,G01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A low pressure flow control valve for connecting with a gas meter and for used downstream of a gas regulator comprising: a valve housing defining a valve interior and including a first port corresponding to a main inlet and a second port corresponding to a secondary inlet, and an outlet, where said main inlet, secondary inlet, and outlet are each oriented ninety degrees from the other, said main inlet; a hollow stem pipe integrally formed with said housing's main inlet, said hollow stem pipe configured at a distal end with a gas meter coupling means for coupling said low pressure flow control valve directly to said gas meter via said hollow stem pipe to receive low pressure gas delivered from said gas meter and downstream from said gas regulator, where a longitudinal axis of said stem pipe is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said valve housing and where the combination stem pipe and valve housing are leak tested prior to installation in a gas system; a non-lubricated soft seat disposed within the valve interior adjacent the first and second ports and adapted for rotation to first, second, and third predefined angular positions and wherein an axis of rotation of said soft seat is coincident with a longitudinal axis of said outlet, the soft seat occluding the second port when the poppet is rotated to the first angular position corresponding to gas flow through said gas meter only, occluding the first port when the poppet is rotated to the second angular position corresponding to bypass flow through the secondary inlet, and occluding both the first port and the second port when the poppet is rotated to the third angular position corresponding to a non-flow condition; and a valve stem mounted on an exterior of said valve housing and mechanically linked to said soft seat where rotation of said valve stem about a longitudinal axis of said valve maneuvers said soft seat between said first, second, and third predefined angular positions to control the flow of gas through said valve interior.