Simplified shuttle valve design with spool-sleeve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11927271-B2
Application number	US-202117396429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2021
Priority date	Feb 9, 2021
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A spool-sleeve assembly includes a sleeve having a first inner radius. Flanges are integrally formed with the sleeve. The flanges extend outwardly. The flanges have flange segments via slits, disposed in the flanges. Press fittings extend inwardly from an inner wall of the sleeve proximate the ends and the slits. The sleeve has a second inner radius, smaller than the first inner radius, at the press fittings. A hole is provided through the sleeve between the flanges. The spool-sleeve assembly also includes a spool, slidably disposed inside the sleeve. Ridges outwardly extend from the spool at the ends of the spool. The ridges have outer diameters that are greater than the second inner radius. Grooves are provided in the ridges. The press fittings fit in the grooves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ), comprising:
a sleeve ( 302 ), comprising a first end ( 304 , 704 ), a second end ( 306 , 706 ), and a first inner radius ( 310 );
a first flange ( 312 ), outwardly extending from the first end ( 304 , 704 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ), wherein the first flange ( 312 ) comprises a first slit ( 318 ) that separates the first flange ( 312 ) into a first plurality of flange segments ( 707 );
a second flange ( 324 ), outwardly extending from the second end ( 306 , 706 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ), wherein the second flange ( 324 ) comprises a second slit ( 330 ) that separates the second flange ( 324 ) into a second plurality of flanges ( 717 );
a first press fitting ( 336 ), extending inwardly from on a first inner wall ( 308 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ) proximate the first end ( 304 , 704 ) and the first slit ( 318 ), wherein the sleeve ( 302 ) has a second inner radius ( 338 ) at the first press fitting ( 336 ), and wherein the second inner radius ( 338 ) is smaller than the first inner radius ( 310 );
a second press fitting ( 340 , 758 ), extending inwardly from the first inner wall ( 308 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ) proximate the second end ( 306 , 706 ) and the second slit ( 330 ), wherein the sleeve ( 302 ) has a third inner radius ( 342 ) at the second press fitting ( 340 ), and wherein the third inner radius ( 342 ) is smaller than the first inner radius ( 310 );
a first hole ( 344 ), fully penetrating the sleeve ( 302 ) between the first flange ( 312 ) and the second flange ( 324 );
a spool ( 348 , 702 ), slidable inside the sleeve ( 302 ), having a third end ( 350 , 748 ) and a fourth end ( 352 , 750 );
a first ridge ( 358 , 752 ), outwardly extending from the spool ( 348 , 702 ) proximate the third end ( 350 , 748 ) and comprising a first groove ( 362 , 760 ) and a first outer diameter ( 360 , 1200 ), which is greater than the second inner radius ( 338 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ); and
a second ridge ( 364 , 754 ), outwardly extending from the spool ( 348 , 702 ) proximate the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) and comprising a second groove ( 368 , 762 ) and a second outer diameter ( 366 , 1202 ), which greater than the third inner radius ( 342 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ),
wherein:
the first press fitting ( 336 ) is sized and dimensioned so that at least a first portion of the first press fitting ( 336 ) fits in the first groove ( 362 , 760 ) of the first ridge ( 358 , 752 ); and
the second press fitting ( 340 ) is sized and dimensioned so that at least a second portion of the second press fitting ( 340 ) fits in the second groove ( 368 , 762 ) of the second ridge ( 364 , 754 ).

2. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of flange segments ( 707 ) comprises at least a first flange segment ( 314 ) and a second flange segment ( 316 ), and
the first flange segment ( 314 ) has a first flange outer radius ( 320 ) that is greater than a second flange outer radius of the second flange segment ( 316 ).

3. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 2 , wherein:
the second plurality of flanges ( 717 ) comprises at least a fifth flange ( 716 ) and a sixth flange ( 718 ),
the fifth flange ( 716 ) has a fifth flange outer radius, which is greater than a sixth flange outer radius of the sixth flange ( 718 ), and
the fifth flange outer radius is equal to the first flange outer radius ( 320 ).

4. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a first seal ( 372 ), located at the first end ( 304 , 704 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ), and configured to receive the third end ( 350 , 748 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ).

5. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 4 , wherein:
the first seal ( 372 ) comprises a first orifice ( 374 ) that receives the third end ( 350 , 748 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 );
the first orifice ( 374 ) has a first radius ( 376 ) that is equal to a third outer diameter ( 354 ) of the third end ( 350 , 748 ); and
the first radius ( 376 ) of the first orifice ( 374 ) is smaller than the first outer diameter ( 360 , 1200 ) of the first ridge ( 358 , 752 ).

6. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 5 , wherein:
the first seal ( 372 ) further comprises a first retainer ( 378 , 616 ), located opposite the first orifice ( 374 ); and
the first retainer ( 378 , 616 ) is sized and dimensioned to retain the third end ( 350 , 748 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ).

7. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 6 , wherein the first seal ( 372 ) further comprises a first interior seal ( 380 ), having a first interior seal radius ( 382 , 1400 ) equal to the third outer diameter ( 354 ) of the third end ( 350 , 748 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ).

8. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 7 , further comprising a second seal ( 384 , 1828 ), located at the second end ( 306 , 706 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ) and configured to receive the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ),
wherein:
the second seal ( 384 , 1828 ) comprises a second orifice ( 386 ) that receives the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ),
the second orifice ( 386 ) has a second radius ( 388 ), which is equal to a fourth outer diameter ( 356 , 1210 ) of the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ),
the second radius ( 388 ) of the second orifice ( 386 ) is also smaller than the third inner radius ( 342 ) of the second ridge ( 364 , 754 ),
the second seal ( 384 , 1828 ) further comprises a second retainer ( 390 , 618 ), located opposite the second orifice ( 386 ) and sized and dimensioned to retain the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ), and
the second seal ( 384 , 1828 ) further comprises a second interior seal ( 392 ), having a second interior seal radius ( 394 ), which is equal to the fourth outer diameter ( 356 , 1210 ) of the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ).

9. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising first holes ( 346 ), arranged radially around the sleeve ( 302 ).

10. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 9 , further comprising second holes ( 398 ), arranged radially around the sleeve ( 302 ), distally of the second flange ( 324 ).

11. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 10 , wherein:
the first slit ( 318 ) also penetrates the first flange ( 312 ) to one of the first holes ( 346 ), and
the second slit ( 330 ) also penetrates the second flange ( 324 ) to one of the second holes ( 398 ).

12. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the sleeve ( 302 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ) is cylindrical,
the first press fitting ( 336 ) is arranged radially around the first inner wall ( 308 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ), and
the second press fitting ( 340 , 758 ) is arranged radially around the first inner wall ( 308 ) of the sleeve ( 302 ).

13. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 12 , wherein:
the spool ( 348 , 702 ) is cylindrical,
the first ridge ( 358 , 752 ) extends radially from the spool ( 348 , 702 ), and
the second ridge ( 364 , 754 ) extends radially from the spool ( 348 , 702 ).

14. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 13 , wherein:
the first groove ( 362 , 760 ) is a radial groove, located in the first ridge ( 358 , 752 ); and
the second groove ( 368 , 762 ) is a radial groove, located in the second ridge ( 364 , 754 ).

15. The spool-sleeve assembly ( 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the third end ( 350 , 748 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ) is either filleted or chamfered; and
the fourth end ( 352 , 750 ) of the spool ( 348 , 702 ) is either filleted or chamfered.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Harigovindan Vasudevan
• Rao B Thulasi Krishna

Classifications

• F16K11/0712 Primary

  comprising particular spool-valve sealing means · CPC title

• B60T15/02

  Application and release valves · CPC title

• B64C25/44

  Actuating mechanisms · CPC title

• F16K27/041

  cylindrical slide valves · CPC title

• B60T15/00 Primary

  Construction arrangement, or operation of valves incorporated in power brake systems and not covered by groups B60T11/00 or B60T13/00 (valve structures responsive to a speed condition B60T8/34; valves in general F16K) · CPC title