Patent ID: 7357367

Claim:
A high temperature valve for controlling gas flow, comprising: an outer vessel including at least a gas flow passageway, a control gas supply passage, and a control gas charge/discharge passage formed therein, the gas flow passageway having at least a gas flow passageway inlet port adapted to receive a flow of gas; a valve housing disposed at least partially within, and at least partially surrounded by, the gas flow passageway, the valve housing having a control gas supply passage and a control gas charge/discharge passage formed therein and including an inner surface, an outer surface, a valve housing inlet port, and a valve housing outlet port, the valve housing inner surface defining a control volume, the valve housing control gas supply passage in fluid communication with the gas flow passageway and the outer vessel control gas supply passage, the valve housing control gas charge/discharge passage in fluid communication with the outer vessel control gas charge discharge passage and the control volume, the valve housing inlet port in fluid communication with the gas flow passageway and the control volume, the valve housing outlet port in fluid communication with the control volume; a control valve mounted on the outer vessel and including at least a control gas supply port and a control gas charge/discharge port, the control gas supply port in fluid communication with the outer vessel control gas supply passage, the control gas charge/discharge port in fluid communication with the valve housing control gas charge/discharge passage, the control valve moveable between at least (i) a first position, in which the control gas supply port is in fluid communication with the control gas charge/discharge port, and (ii) a second position, in which the control gas supply port is not in fluid communication with the control gas charge/discharge port; and a valve element disposed within the valve housing control volume and moveable between at least (i) an open position, in which the valve housing inlet port and valve housing outlet port are in fluid communication with one another, and (ii) a closed position, in which the valve housing inlet port and valve housing outlet port are not in fluid communication with one another.