Patent ID: 6612338
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve structure comprising:a housing including a first fluid communication passage between a first port and a second port; a valve movable with respect to the housing between a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration between the first and second configurations, the first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the second configuration substantially preventing fluid flow between the first and second ports, and the third configuration providing restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the valve including: a first valve element including a second fluid communication passage providing the restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, and a second valve element positionable between first and second locations with respect to the first valve element, the first location of the second valve element substantially permitting the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage including at least one radial aperture penetrating the first valve element, and the second location of the second valve element occluding the at least one radial aperture and substantially preventing the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage; and a first resilient element biasing the valve toward the first configuration.