Low-profile, large-aperture, remotely-triggered valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10962138-B2
Application number	US-201916263552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2019
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A valve for delivery of fluid between two chambers. The valve includes a plug, force spring that opens the plug, and a base that joins/mates with the inner surface of a chamber. Plug sealing mechanisms seal the plug to the base. Chamber sealing mechanisms seal an inner surface of a chamber bore or conduit. The valve also includes a trigger arm that holds the plug down until the trigger arm is actuated to cause the plug to move and the valve to open. The valve also includes a remotely-actuatable trigger for releasing the trigger arm. A channel permits the transfer of fluid from one side of the plug to the other.

First claim

We claim:

1. A valve, comprising:
a base configured to be mounted between first and second chambers, wherein the base comprises an internal bore and a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the internal bore;
a plug shaped so as to provide a fluid-tight seal that prevents a transfer of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber when the plug is fully inserted into the internal bore;
a spring operatively coupled to the base and the plug so as to provide force to cause the plug to move out of the internal bore and thus to permit the transfer of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a lever arm pivotally mounted to the base, wherein the lever arm comprises a long end and a short end, and wherein the short end is configured to lodge in a groove disposed in the plug when the plug is fully inserted into the internal bore; and
a trigger releasably mounted between the base and the long end of the lever arm and configured to hold the long end in a fixed position with respect to the base until triggered, at which time the trigger allows the long end to move with respect to the base.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the trigger is a burn plug comprising a meltable section and a wire electrically coupled to a voltage source such that when current runs through the wire the meltable section melts and separates from the wire.

3. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the wire is a nichrome wire.

4. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the meltable section is composed of a plastic.

5. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the plug is an annular ring.

6. The valve of claim 5 , wherein the plug comprises a set of O-rings disposed around the plug to provide the fluid-tight seal with the internal bore.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber or the second chamber is a pipe.

8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber or the second chamber is a tank.

9. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the internal bore comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed to receive the plug and the plurality of orifices are radially disposed in the body around the second end.

10. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the long end of the lever arm is three times the length of the short end.

11. A valve, comprising:
a plug configured to prevent a transfer of fluid between a first chamber and a second chamber;
a spring configured to provide force to cause the plug to move in order to permit the transfer of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a base, the base being configured to removeably join or mate to an inner surface of one of said first chamber and said second chamber;
one or more plug sealing mechanisms attached to said plug, the plug sealing mechanisms configured to seal the plug to the base;
chamber sealing mechanisms configured to seal an inner surface of at least one of said first chamber and said second chamber;
at least one trigger arm that nests in a groove in the plug, the trigger arm being configured to actuate the spring, thus causing the plug to move and permit the transfer of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the at least one trigger arm is further configured to prevent plug movement until the at least one trigger arm is actuated;
a trigger arm actuation device configured to actuate the at least one trigger arm, wherein the trigger arm actuation device is a burn plug coupled to an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is attached to a wire that heats when current is applied, causing the burn plug to melt and separate from the wire;
at least one channel disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, the at least one channel being configured to provide a path for the transfer of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, and
wherein the valve is configured to be positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber.

12. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the wire is a nichrome wire.

13. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the plug is an annular ring.

14. The valve of claim 11 , further comprising: a reset actuation device configured to automatically reset the valve after actuation.

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Wiedemeier Brandon J
• Lostrom Carl E
• Miller N Todd
• Bachmann Brooke A
• Lloyd Jeffrey M
• Caldwell Jesse T

Classifications

• F16K31/508 Primary

  the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element · CPC title

• F16K31/56

  without stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action · CPC title

• F16K31/46

  for remote operation · CPC title

• F16K31/025

  actuated by thermo-electric means · CPC title

• F16K31/5286 Primary

  comprising a sliding valve · CPC title