Patent ID: 7665713
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A sleeve valve, comprising: a rigid mandrel including opposing frusto-conical segments with a plurality of openings; a generally cylindrical elastomeric sleeve surrounding the mandrel and deformable to seal the openings; a generally cylindrical rigid sleeve valve housing surrounding the elastomeric sleeve and defining a control chamber between the sleeve valve housing and the elastomeric sleeve, the sleeve valve housing having a first passage formed in a wall of the sleeve valve housing and communicating with the control chamber, an inlet end, and an outlet end; a pilot valve for supplying pressurized liquid to, and venting pressurized liquid from, the control chamber through the first passage; a filter that screens debris from pressurized liquid entering the inlet end of the sleeve valve housing before it enters a second passage that communicates with the pilot valve; first and second means for coupling the inlet end and the outlet end with first and second connectors or pipe segments, respectively, each coupling means including a cylindrical member with a radial flange and a female threaded collar that screws over a male threaded segment of the inlet end or outlet end; wherein the filter includes a plurality of radially extending ridges formed on an end of the radial flange of the cylindrical member of the coupling means for the inlet end of the sleeve valve housing; and wherein the mandrel includes a flat surface against which the ridges of the radial flange abut to define a plurality of radially extending channels that communicate between a bore of the cylindrical member and an annular chamber formed between the radial flange and the sleeve valve housing.