Minimum cavity relief valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238148-A1
Application number	US-201415024581-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 10, 2014
Priority date	Oct 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure addresses a relief valve suitable for use in systems for delivering relatively viscous fluids. The described relief valve includes a housing and a valve mechanism moveable relative to an opening into the housing to allow or prevent flow from a flow path adjacent the relief valve into and through the housing. The relief valve is configured to minimize, and in many examples, essentially eliminate, a cavity between the housing opening and the adjacent flow path. Elimination of this cavity offers significant advantages as it minimizes or eliminates a location for pumped materials to accumulate and/or cure, which can lead to impairment or disabling of the relief valve operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A relief valve comprising:
a housing extending between an inlet end and a second end, the housing having an outlet port formed therein, the housing also having a valve seat at the inlet end; and a longitudinally moveable valve mechanism assembly within the housing, the valve mechanism moveable between a first position engaging the valve seat to close fluid flow past the valve seat, and a second position spaced from the valve seat to allow fluid flow past the valve seat and to the outlet port.

2 . The relief valve of claim 1 , further comprising a cap coupled to the housing proximate the second end; and wherein a portion of the longitudinally moveable valve mechanism extends through the cap.

3 . The relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally moveable valve mechanism is configured to move longitudinally in response to rotation of at least a portion of the valve mechanism assembly relative to the housing.

4 . The relief valve of claim 3 , further comprising a cap coupled to the housing proximate the second end, and wherein at least a portion of the valve mechanism assembly is threadably coupled to at least one of the housing and the cap, to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the valve mechanism assembly.

5 . The relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to threadably engage a selected industry standard T-fitting.

6 . A flow connector, comprising:
a T-fitting forming a primary flow path and a relief branch, the T-fitting configured to couple as part of a flow line in which the primary flow path forms a portion of the flow line; and a relief valve assembly coupled to the relief branch, the relief valve comprising,
a housing assembly coupled to the relief branch with an opening located adjacent the primary flow path, the housing assembly defining an outlet port,
a valve mechanism coupled in longitudinally moveable relation to the housing between a first position in which it closes the housing opening and a second, longitudinally offset, position in which it opens the housing opening, allowing fluid communication from the flow line, through the housing opening, to the outlet port, and
an actuation mechanism controllable from outside the housing to cause movement of the valve mechanism between the first and second positions.

7 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the housing opening is in close proximity to the primary flow path.

8 . The flow connector of claim 7 , wherein the housing opening includes a valve seat for engaging a portion of the valve mechanism.

9 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the housing opening extends to a depth within 0 . 15 inch of a surface defining the primary flow path proximate the relief branch.

10 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the actuation mechanism is manually actuable from outside the housing.

11 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the valve mechanism is coupled in threaded relation to the housing assembly to facilitate longitudinal movement of the valve mechanism relative to the housing.

12 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the housing assembly comprises a cap, the cap located generally opposite the housing opening to the relief branch; and wherein the valve mechanism is coupled in threaded relation to the cap to facilitate longitudinal movement of the valve mechanism relative to the housing.

13 . The flow connector of claim 6 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a handle configured to facilitate manual rotation of at least a portion of the valve mechanism.

14 . A pumping and spraying system for viscous materials, comprising:
a material reservoir configured to retain a volume of the viscous material; a pump in fluid communication with the material reservoir; a flow line coupled to the pump, the flow line defining a primary flow path for the viscous material; a relief valve coupled to the flow line, the relief valve including,
a housing assembly coupled to the flow line with an inlet located adjacent the primary flow path of the flow line, the housing assembly also defining an outlet port;
a valve mechanism coupled in longitudinally moveable relation to the housing, the valve mechanism moveable between a first position in which it closes the relief valve inlet, and a second, longitudinally offset, position in which it opens the relief valve inlet, allowing fluid communication between the primary flow passage and the outlet port;
an actuation mechanism controllable from outside the housing to cause movement of the valve mechanism between the first and second longitudinally offset positions; and
a spray mechanism in fluid communication with the pump through the flow line to receive material from the pump.

15 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the housing inlet is in close proximity to the primary flow path.

16 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the housing opening to the relief branch includes a valve seat for engaging a portion of the valve mechanism.

17 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the housing opening extends to a depth within 0.15 inch of a surface defining the primary flow path adjacent the intersection of the relief valve with the primary flow path.

18 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the valve mechanism is coupled in threaded relation to the housing assembly to facilitate longitudinal movement of the valve mechanism relative to the housing.

19 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the housing assembly comprises a cap, the cap located generally opposite the housing opening to the primary flow path; and wherein the valve mechanism is coupled in threaded relation to the cap to facilitate longitudinal movement of the valve mechanism relative to the housing.

20 . The pumping and spraying system of claim 14 , wherein the flow line extends through an industry standard T-fitting, and wherein the relief valve is coupled to the flow line through the T-fitting.

Assignees

• Miccormick Martin P
• Butler Ryan F
• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Mccormick Martin P
• Butler Ryan F

Classifications

• B05B15/0406

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• F16K1/12

  with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened · CPC title

• F16K24/04 Primary

  for venting only (F16K24/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B9/0403

  with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K27/02

  of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) · CPC title