Valve system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11619320-B2
Application number	US-202117152055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2021
Priority date	Jan 19, 2021
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A valve system includes a housing that houses a fluid path having an inlet side and an outlet side, and a fluid purge port disposed at and in fluid communication with the outlet side of the fluid path. The housing includes: an inlet valve disposed in fluid communication with the fluid path at the inlet side and in operable communication with an inlet gear; an outlet valve disposed in fluid communication with the fluid path at the outlet side and in operable communication with an outlet gear; and a control gear disposed in operable communication with both the inlet gear and the outlet gear.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve system, comprising:
a housing that houses a fluid path having an inlet side and an outlet side;
a fluid purge port disposed at and in fluid communication with the outlet side of the fluid path;
the housing comprising:
an inlet valve disposed in fluid communication with the fluid path at the inlet side and in operable communication with an inlet gear;
an outlet valve disposed in fluid communication with the fluid path at the outlet side and in operable communication with an outlet gear; and
a control gear disposed in direct mechanical operable communication with both the inlet gear and the outlet gear;
wherein the control gear is operably disposed to simultaneously operate the inlet gear and the outlet gear together and at the same time to operate the corresponding inlet valve and outlet valve between open and closed positions at the same time to provide a synchronously controlled double-valve shutoff;
wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are configured to be in the closed position at the same time and in the open position at the same time;
wherein in response to the control gear being operated in a first direction, the inlet gear and the outlet gear are both configured to operate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
wherein the control gear is configured to operate the inlet valve and the outlet valve between the open and closed positions via the corresponding inlet gear and outlet gear with a turn of the control gear that is equal to or greater than a ⅛ th turn and equal to or less than a ⅜ th turn.

2. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the inlet gear is disposed in mechanical communication with the inlet valve; and
the outlet gear is disposed in mechanical communication with the outlet valve.

3. The valve system of claim 2 , wherein:
the inlet gear is disposed in direct mechanical communication with the inlet valve; and
the outlet gear is disposed in direct mechanical communication with the outlet valve.

4. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the control gear is configured to operate the inlet valve and the outlet valve between the open and closed positions via the corresponding inlet gear and outlet gear with a ¼ turn of the control gear.

5. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a counterclockwise direction, and the second direction is a clockwise direction.

6. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the control gear is operable between a first stop position and a second stop position, the first stop position being productive of the inlet valve and the outlet valve both being in an open position, the second stop position being productive of the inlet valve and the outlet valve both being in a closed position.

7. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid flow path, the inlet valve, and the outlet valve, are configured to receive fluid in the form of a gas.

8. The valve system of claim 7 , wherein:
the gas and fluid path is operable at a nominal gauge pressure of equal to or less than 125 psig.

9. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid flow path has a nominal internal diameter of equal to or greater than ½ inch and equal to or less than 6 inches.

10. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the control gear is configured to be operable with a torque value of equal to or greater than 30 foot-pounds and equal to or less than 55 foot-pounds.

11. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the operable communication between the control gear and the inlet and outlet gears is operable at any gear ratio between the control gear and the inlet and outlet gears to effectively open or close the inlet and outlet valves with only a quarter-turn of the inlet and outlet valves.

12. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the inlet gear and the outlet gear is fabricated from a plastic material.

13. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve is fabricated from a plastic material.

14. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid path is fabricated from a plastic material.

15. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing is fabricated from a plastic material.

16. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the inlet valve and the outlet valve are each connected to the fluid flow path via any one of the following: an electro-fused connection; a butt-fused connection; or, a mechanical connection.

17. The valve system of claim 1 , wherein:
the inlet gear and the outlet gear are non-adjustable with respect to each other and with respect to the control gear.

Assignees

• Cons Edison Company Of New York Inc

Inventors

• Fleming James
• Sherman Joseph

Classifications

• F16K17/32

  acting on a servo-mechanism or on a catch-releasing mechanism · CPC title

• F16K31/535 Primary

  for rotating valves (F16K31/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K35/14

  interlocking two or more valves · CPC title

• F16K2200/204

  in series · CPC title

• F16K27/00

  Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor · CPC title