Patent ID: 6415809
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A fluid flow sensitive valve assembly comprising a chamber having axially opposite first and second end walls connected by a cylindrical chamber side wall, said chamber being provided with at least first, second and third fluid flow inlet/outlets, said first and second fluid flow inlet/outlets respectively being in said first and second end walls of said chamber and said third fluid flow inlet/outlet being in said side wall of said chamber;a fluid flow sensitive valve member in said chamber sensitive to fluid flow between said first and second fluid flow inlet/outlets in one direction to be moved at least in part by fluid flow in said one fluid flow direction to close said third fluid flow inlet/out, preventing fluid flow therethrough, and also sensitive to fluid flow between said first and second fluid inlet/outlets in the opposite fluid flow direction to be moved at least in part by fluid flow in said opposite fluid flow direction to open said third fluid flow inlet/outlet, permitting fluid flow therethrough; and valve member positioning means including a valve member positioning device for said valve member for positioning said valve member in said chamber, said valve member positioning device comprising: a first valve member positioning device portion having first and second fluid flow-impingeable surfaces, a second valve member positioning device portion having third and fourth fluid flow-impingeable surfaces, and a third valve member positioning device portion interconnecting said first and second device portions at such an angle that said valve member positioning device has at least a main portion of said valve member received between said second and third fluid flow-impingeable surfaces, said first fluid flow-impingeable surface faces said first fluid flow inlet-outlet and said fourth fluid flow-impingeable surface faces said second fluid flow inlet-outlet; said fluid flow positioning device second portion having at least one edge surface engaging said valve member in device-pivoting relation for relative pivotal movements between said valve member and said fluid flow positioning device within said chamber; said fluid flow positioning device first portion having a first end opposite the point of its interconnection with said fluid flow positioning device third portion, at least one contact point on said first portion first end being selectively engageable with said chamber first end wall and which when so engaged locates said fluid flow positioning device first portion in a pivotable relation to said chamber first end wall; said fluid flow positioning device second portion having a second end opposite the point of its interconnection with said fluid flow positioning device third portion and a contact point selectively engageable with said chamber side wall adjacent to said third inlet/outlet and which when so engaged locates said fluid flow positioning device third portion in a potentially pivotable relation to said chamber side wall, said fluid flow positioning device second portion further having additional pivot points thereon, and pivot points engageable with said additional pivot points being provided on a part of said fluid flow sensitive valve assembly for further control of the position and movements of said valve member in said chamber; fluid flow from said second inlet/outlet into said chamber when occurring impinging on said valve member positioning device second portion fourth flow-impingeable surface and also on said valve member positioning device first portion second flow-impingeable surface and by the force of such fluid flow impingements causing said second valve member positioning device second portion to pivot on said valve member on said second portion's at least one edge surface and causing said second valve member positioning device second portion second end at least one contact point to be moved into engaged relation with said chamber side wall adjacent to said third inlet/outlet and to apply at least to in part force acting on and causing said valve member to be moved in said chamber to close said third fluid inlet/outlet and thus preventing fluid flow from said second inlet/outlet through said chamber and out through said third inlet/outlet so that fluid flow from said second inlet/outlet into said chamber may exit said chamber only through said first inlet/outlet; fluid flow from said first inlet/outlet into said chamber when occurring impinging on said valve member positioning device first portion first flow-impingeable surface and also on said valve member positioning device second portion third flow-impingeable surface and by the force of such fluid flow impingements causing said second valve member positioning device second portion to pivot on said valve member on said second portion's at least one edge surface and causing said second valve member positioning device second portion second end at least one contact point to be in disengaged relation with said chamber side wall adjacent to said third inlet/outlet and to apply at least to in part force acting on and causing said valve member to be moved in said chamber to open said third fluid inlet/outlet and thus permitting fluid flow from said first inlet/outlet through said chamber and out through said third inlet/outlet, said valve mechanism valve positioning means including at least one of said valve member positioning devices selected from one of the following positioning device types: (a) having a cam-eared blade; (b) having a flow rod combined with a blade; (c) having a toggle blade; (d) having a blade and a solenoid operated push rod operatively driven by a signal-controlled solenoid selectively energized to force movement of said valve member to open said valve chamber third inlet/outlet and upon deenergization of said solenoid so that said push rod is ineffective to prevent closure of said valve chamber third inlet/outlet while permitting said blade and said valve member to continue to control the opening and the closing of said third inlet/outlet in response to fluid flows into said valve chamber.