Valve with integrated pressure regulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023296177-A1
Application number	US-202318201254-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 24, 2023
Priority date	Aug 4, 2021
Publication date	Sep 21, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder includes a shut off valve having a ball tappet that actuates the shut off valve. A lever has a cam surface that interacts with the ball tappet as the lever is rotated to translate the ball tappet linearly and actuate the shut off valve. The lever is rotatable from a first valve closed position through a valve open position to a second valve closed position such that the valve open position is intermediate of the first and second valve closed positions. A pressure or flow regulating valve is downstream of the shut off valve. A handwheel is operatively connected to the pressure or flow regulating valve to adjust an outlet pressure of the pressure or flow regulating valve. The handwheel has an axis of operation that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder by an acute angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder, comprising:
a shut off valve having a ball tappet that actuates the shut off valve; a lever having a cam surface that interacts with the ball tappet as the lever is rotated to translate the ball tappet linearly and actuate the shut off valve, wherein the lever is rotatable from a first valve closed position through a valve open position to a second valve closed position such that the valve open position of the lever is intermediate of the first valve closed position and the second valve closed position; a pressure or flow regulating valve downstream of the shut off valve; a handwheel operatively connected to the pressure or flow regulating valve to adjust a setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve, wherein the handwheel has an axis of operation that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder by an acute angle, and wherein an internal surface of the handwheel includes a series of teeth; and an elastic finger having a tooth locatable in a tooth space along the series of teeth.

2 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the ball tappet is spring-biased toward the lever, and the cam surface includes a detent for holding the lever in the valve open position.

3 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , wherein an end of the lever is T-shaped.

4 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , further comprising a residual pressure valve upstream of the shut off valve, wherein the residual pressure valve is configured to supply fluid from the fluid cylinder to the shut off valve while maintaining a positive pressure in the fluid cylinder.

5 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim of claim 4 , wherein the residual pressure valve is coaxial with the shut off valve.

6 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim of claim 4 , wherein the shut off valve and the residual pressure valve are oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder.

7 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , further comprising a lever hinge pin, wherein the pressure or flow regulating valve is located higher on the regulating valve device than the lever hinge pin and the shut off valve.

8 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , further comprising a handwheel setting indicator that is integrally formed with the elastic finger, wherein the handwheel setting indicator indicates the setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve.

9 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the series of teeth and the elastic finger interact to produce audible clicks during rotation of the handwheel around the axis of operation.

10 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the elastic finger prevents spontaneous adjustment of the setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve.

11 . A regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder, comprising:
a main body; a shut off valve having a ball tappet located within the main body that actuates the shut off valve; a residual pressure valve located within the main body and that is configured to supply fluid from the fluid cylinder to the shut off valve; a lever extending from the main body and having a cam surface that interacts with the ball tappet as the lever is rotated to translate the ball tappet linearly within the main body, wherein the lever is rotatable from a first valve closed position through a valve open position to a second valve closed position such that the valve open position of the lever is intermediate of the first valve closed position and the second valve closed position; a pressure or flow regulating valve downstream of the shut off valve and located higher along the main body than each of the shut off valve, the ball tappet, and the residual pressure valve; a handwheel operatively connected to the pressure or flow regulating valve to adjust a setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve; and a locking mechanism that prevents spontaneous adjustment of the setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve.

12 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 11 , wherein the ball tappet is spring-biased toward the lever, and the cam surface includes a detent for holding the lever in the valve open position.

13 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 11 , wherein an end of the lever is T-shaped.

14 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim of claim 11 , wherein the residual pressure valve is coaxial with the shut off valve.

15 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim of claim 11 , wherein the shut off valve and the residual pressure valve are oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder.

16 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 11 , further comprising a lever hinge pin, wherein the pressure or flow regulating valve is located higher along the main body than the lever hinge pin.

17 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a series of teeth located along an internal surface of the handwheel, and an elastic finger having a tooth locatable in a tooth space along the series of teeth.

18 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 17 , further comprising a handwheel setting indicator that is integrally formed with the elastic finger, wherein the handwheel setting indicator indicates the setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve.

19 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 17 , wherein the series of teeth and the elastic finger interact to produce audible clicks during rotation of the handwheel.

20 . A regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder, comprising:
a main body; a shut off valve having a ball tappet located within the main body that actuates the shut off valve; a residual pressure valve located within the main body and coaxial with the shut off valve; a lever extending from the main body and having a cam surface that interacts with the ball tappet as the lever is rotated to translate the ball tappet linearly within the main body, wherein the lever is downwardly rotatable from a first valve closed position through a valve open position to a second valve closed position such that the valve open position of the lever is intermediate of the first valve closed position and the second valve closed position; and a pressure or flow regulating valve downstream of the shut off valve and located higher along the main body than each of the shut off valve, the ball tappet, and the residual pressure valve; a handwheel operatively connected to the pressure or flow regulating valve to adjust a setting of the pressure or flow regulating valve, wherein the handwheel has an axis of operation that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder by an acute angle, and wherein an internal surface of the handwheel includes a series of teeth; and an elastic finger having a tooth locatable in a tooth space along the series of teeth, wherein the shut off valve and the residual pressure valve are oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder.

21 . The regulating valve device for a fluid cylinder of claim 20 , wherein the ball tappet is spring-biased toward the lever, and the cam surface includes a detent fo

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Pezzo Ivan P
• Arzenton Marco
• Bendazzoli Silvano M
• Travagliati Lucia

Classifications

• F16K1/306 Primary

  with a valve member, e.g. stem or shaft, passing through the seat · CPC title

• F16K31/52408

  comprising a lift valve · CPC title

• F16K31/602

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K1/526

  for limiting the maximum flow rate, using a second valve · CPC title

• F17C13/04 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) · CPC title