Patent ID: 6405756
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve cartridge for controlling the flow of fluid through a fluid conduit that fluidly connects a fluid source to a fluid outlet, the valve cartridge comprising:first and second valve body portions defining a flow passage fluidly connecting the fluid source to the fluid outlet when the valve cartridge is fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit and having a longitudinal axis; a first ceramic plate mounted to the first body portion within the flow passage and with the longitudinal axis extending through the first ceramic plate, such that the first ceramic plate is axially immovable relative to the first body portion; a second ceramic plate mounted to the second body portion within the flow passage such that the second ceramic plate is moveable along the longitudinal axis and maintained in an axially facing relationship with the first ceramic plate; each of the first and second ceramic plates having a pass through opening and being moveable relative to each other between a first position, where the pass through openings are not aligned and fluid flow through the flow passage is prohibited, and a second position, where the pass through openings are aligned to permit fluid flow through the flow passage; and a biasing element disposed between the second body portion and the second ceramic plate to bias the second ceramic plate against the first ceramic plate along the longitudinal axis.