Patent ID: 6953053
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A pressure relief valve assembly comprising: a valve body including a multi-step cylindrical axial through bore, having an inlet bore portion, an annular valve seat portion downstream of said inlet bore portion, a valve member bore portion downstream of said valve seat portion, an adjustment member bore portion downstream of said valve member bore portion, and an outlet bore portion projecting from said adjustment bore portion; a valve member, located within said valve member bore portion, including a cylindrical head portion, the cylindrical head portion having a central aperture and an outer diameter less than that of said valve member bore portion, and an annular end face at one end of the cylindrical head portion, with the other end thereof merging into a cylindrical sleeve portion having a central cavity, open to said adjustable member bore portion, the adjustable member bore portion having an annular shoulder surface, within said cavity, adjoining said head portion, said valve member head portion further including a plurality of apertures, extending through said head portion, into said sleeve portion central cavity; a cylindrical sleeve bearing, positioned within said valve member bore portion, in close-fit sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of said sleeve portion, for journaling the axial movement of said valve member relative to said valve member bore portion; an annular resilient seal, including a flat annular sealing surface, sealingly retained in the annular end face of said valve member head portion, said flat annular sealing surface being adapted to sealingly engage with said valve body annular valve seat portion; an adjustment member, sealingly and slidingly retained within said valve body adjustment member bore portion, including an inner piston portion and an adjustment stem, for external adjustment of the longitudinal location of said inner piston portion, relative to said adjustment member bore portion; and a compression member, operatively interposed between said adjustment member piston portion and the shoulder surface within said valve member sleeve cavity, said compression member biasing said valve member toward a closed position; said valve member being adapted for axial movement, to an open position, in which pressurized fluid can flow, from said inlet bore portion, between said seal member and said valve seat portion into said valve member bore portion and subsequently, via said plurality of apertures, through said valve member head portion into said valve member sleeve portion cavity and therefrom, via said adjustable member bore portion, into and out of said outlet bore portion.