Patent ID: 8469048
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: F15B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shuttle valve comprising: a valve body having first and second inlets and an outlet and a central cavity located between said first and second inlets; a shuttle poppet located in said cavity and movable between a first position and a second position and intermediate positions between said first and second positions, said shuttle poppet including a first valve surface between said first inlet and said outlet, said first valve surface in said first position contacting a surface of said valve body to close fluid pressure communication between said first inlet and said outlet, said shuttle poppet including a second valve surface between said second inlet and said outlet, said second valve surface in said second position contacting another surface of said valve body to close fluid pressure communication between said second inlet and said outlet, a variable volume cushioning cavity, said cushioning cavity being defined by surfaces of said shuttle poppet and surfaces of said valve body as said shuttle poppet moves from said first position to said intermediate positions to said second position, said shuttle poppet including a first net lateral cross sectional area exposed to fluid pressure in said first inlet port and a second net lateral cross sectional area exposed to fluid pressure in said second inlet port and a third net lateral cross sectional area exposed to fluid pressure in said cushioning cavity when said shuttle poppet is in at least one of said intermediate positions, fluid pressure in said cushioning cavity acting against said third net cross sectional area in a direction to cushion movement of said shuttle poppet from said intermediate positions toward said second position, and at least one feedback passage establishing fluid pressure communication between said first inlet and said cushioning cavity during at least a portion of said movement of said shuttle poppet from said intermediate positions to said second position.