Patent ID: 7845369
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a first orifice through which liquid flows in a flow path between said inlet and outlet, the valve comprising: a first seal; a valve column coupled to said first seal, wherein said valve column is movable between a first position, in which said first seal blocks said first orifice, and a second position in which said first seal allows flow of hydraulic fluid through said first orifice; an open/close mechanism coupled to said valve column for controllably moving the column between said first and second positions to open and close the valve when desired; a flow-measuring system for measuring the volume of flow through the first orifice when said valve column is moved from said first position to said second position; a connecting portion coupled between said seal and valve column for selectively permitting said first seal to move relative to said column; a locking member for preventing said connecting portion from moving said first seal relative to said column under normal conditions; a release mechanism, responsive to said flow-measuring system, for releasing said locking member when the volume flow exceeds a predetermined value, wherein said connecting portion, upon being released, automatically moves said first seal relative to said column to block said first orifice; a first reset mechanism for resetting the locking member; and a second reset mechanism for resetting the value in the flow-measuring mechanism, wherein said first and second reset mechanisms are actuated when the valve is closed by said open/close mechanism.