Patent ID: 8561711

Claim:
A dispensing valve apparatus for dispensing a fire suppressant fluid from a pressure vessel having a fluid reservoir containing the fire suppressant fluid under pressure, said dispensing valve apparatus comprising: a valve body having a forward end adapted to mount to the pressure vessel, said valve body having a bore extending axially therethrough, said bore defining an axially extending central cavity having a forward cavity for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir of the pressure vessel and a rearward cavity, said valve body having a generally radially extending discharge passage opening to the forward cavity; a piston disposed within said cavity, said piston being axially translatable within the forward cavity and the rearward cavity from a first position wherein said discharge passage is closed to fluid flow and a second position wherein said discharge passage is open to fluid flow; an actuator cap secured to said valve body at a rearward end of the rearward cavity, said actuator cap having a central bore establishing a fluid flow passage in fluid flow communication with the rearward cavity and extending through said actuator cap; a check valve disposed within said central bore through said actuator cap, said check valve positionable between a first position wherein said central bore through said actuator cap is closed to fluid flow and a second position wherein said central bore through said actuator cap is open to fluid flow; and said valve body having a vent passage extending through said valve body, said vent passage being in fluid flow communication with said discharge passage, said vent passage being in fluid flow communication with said rearward cavity when said check valve is positioned in its second position, said vent passage fluidly connecting said rearward cavity and said discharge passage internally of said valve body.