Patent ID: 7159605
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A chatter resistant shuttle valve to direct fluid flow from at least two sources of pressurized fluid to a downstream apparatus, the shuttle valve comprising: a body engaging a pair of removable opposing coaxial adapters, the first adapter defining a first inlet and the second adapter defining a second inlet, each inlet in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and the body having a transverse outlet in fluid communication with the downstream apparatus; a first metal valve seat surrounding the first inlet and a second metal valve seat surrounding the second inlet, the metal valve seats being coaxially aligned on opposite sides of the body; a first skirt extending from the first adapter and surrounding the first metal valve seat and a second skirt extending from the second adapter and surrounding the second metal valve seat; an elongate shuttle coaxial with the inlets slidably moving from sealing engagement with the first valve seat to sealing engagement with the second valve seat in response to fluid flow from the sources of pressurized fluid; the shuttle including a central collar with opposing metal sealing surfaces to engage the first valve seat and a second opposing sealing surface to engage the second valve seat, the shuttle further including opposing first and second tubular end portions, each with an axial bore and a plurality of perforations through the tubular end portion to the bore, the central collar having a band formed on an outside diameter, the band being sized to alternately slip inside the first skirt and the second skirt with a minimal gap between the outside diameter of the collar and an inside diameter of the skirts; the first skirt being longer than the length of the collar to completely surround the band of the collar when the shuttle is engaged with the first valve seat and the second skirt being longer that the length of the collar to completely surround the band of the collar when the shuttle is engaged with the second valve seat; the first and second tubular end portions of the shuttle sized to alternatively slip inside a first receptacle in the first adapter and a second receptacle in the second adapter with a minimal clearance between an outside diameter of the tubular end portions and an inside diameter of the receptacles; the collar, the first skirt, the first valve seat and the first tubular end portion defining a first dampening chamber that receives fluid as the shuffle moves away from the first adapter, the first dampening chamber having a first flow bleed gap between the collar and the first skirt and a second flow bleed gap between the first tubular end portion and an inside diameter of the first receptacle; and the collar, the second skirt; the second valve seat and the second tubular end portion defining a second dampening chamber that receives fluid as the shuttle moves away from the second adapter, the second dampening chamber having a first flow bleed gap between the collar and the second skirt and a second flow bleed gap between the second tubular end portion and an inside diameter of the second receptacle whereby the shuttle is less susceptible to disruption from momentary pressure changes from the sources of pressurized fluid.