Patent ID: 6474362
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: E21B,F15B,Y10T

Abstract:
A latching hydroseal valve connected to at least one source of pressurized pilot fluid and a downstream apparatus, the latching hydroseal valve also connected to a source of pressurized supply fluid to selectively direct such supply fluid to the downstream apparatus in response to fluid signals from the source of pilot fluid, the latching hydroseal valve comprising:a body defining a supply port, a function port, and a vent port, the supply port connected to the source of pressurized supply fluid, the function port connected to the downstream apparatus and the vent port vented to the atmosphere; a longitudinal bore in the body sized and arranged to receive an elongate seal carrier, one end of the seal carrier exposed to an open chamber and the other end exposed to a close chamber, the seal carrier moving from a closed position to an open position when pressurized pilot fluid fills the open chamber and the seal carrier moving from the open position to the closed position when pressurized pilot fluid fills the close chamber; the seal carrier having a first diameter proximate the close chamber and a second diameter proximate the open chamber, both diameters being exposed to supply pressure when the seal carrier is in the open position, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter to latch the seal carrier in the open position because of the differential forces acting on the first diameter; a supply seal plate positioned in the body, the supply seal plate having a supply seal plate passageway in fluid communication with the supply port and the longitudinal bore and a vent seal plate positioned in the body, the vent seal plate having a vent seal plate passageway in fluid communication with the vent port and the longitudinal bore; the seal carrier having a central bore sized and arranged to receive a main seal assembly and two flanking bores to facilitate fluid flow from the supply port to the function port when the seal carrier is in the open position; the main seal assembly having: a barrel shaped member sized and arranged to fit in the central bore of the seal carrier and to seal against the supply seal plate, a seal plug positioned in a seal plug bore in the barrel shaped member to seal against the vent seal plate and a bi-directional seal positioned in the seal plug bore between the seal plug and the barrel shaped member to achieve a seal between the seal plug and the barrel shaped member; the barrel shaped member having a barrel flow passageway to permit fluid communication between the supply port, the supply seal plate passageway and a seal chamber when the seal carrier is in the closed position so pressurized supply fluid can energize the bi-directional seal and exert force on the seal plug causing it to seal against the vent seal plate and to exert force on the barrel shaped member causing it to seal against the supply seal plate so the function port is in fluid communication with the vent port; and when the seal carrier is in the open position pressurized supply fluid flows from the supply port, through the supply seal plate passageway, the flanking bores, the longitudinal bore to the function port and to the downstream apparatus and the pressurized supply fluid also energizes the bi-directional seal in the seal assembly and exerts force on the seal plug causing it to seal against the vent seal plate and close the vent seal plate passageway and the pressurized supply fluid also exerts force on the barrel shaped member causing it to seal against the supply seal plate.