Pressurised container valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9581250-B2
Application number	US-201414896410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A valve for a pressurized fluid cylinder. The valve comprises a shut off valve biased against a seat to seal the cylinder. An actuation element is movable linearly to open the valve against the biasing force. A linkage element couples the actuation element to the shut off valve and comprises a first piston towards its top and a second piston towards its bottom. The valve also comprises a gas refill inlet between the pistons such that refill gas pressure biases the linkage element away from the valve. The actuation element is a depressed position pushes against the linkage element to hold the linkage element down and the valve open so that the cylinder can be refilled. When the actuation element is in a non-depressed position, the linkage element is free to move with the refill gas pressure so that it is spaced from the valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve for a pressurised fluid cylinder, the valve comprising:
a housing with a bore containing a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
a shut off valve biased against a seat to seal the cylinder;
an actuation element movable linearly to open the valve against the biasing force; and
a linkage element coupling the actuation element to the shut off valve;
a first piston towards the top of the linkage element sealed with a first portion of the bore having a first diameter,
a second piston towards the bottom of the linkage element sealed in a first position with a second portion of the bore having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the linkage element being movable to a second position in which the second piston enters a third portion of the bore having a diameter greater than the second diameter, such that the second piston is no longer sealed with the bore;
a gas refill inlet communicating with the second portion of the bore; the first piston having a face exposed to the gas refill inlet which is larger than a face of the second piston exposed to the gas refill inlet, such that refill gas pressure biases the linkage element away from the valve;

wherein the actuation element in a depressed position pushes against the linkage element to hold the linkage element down and the valve open so that the cylinder can be refilled; and
wherein when the actuation element is in a non-depressed position, the linkage element is free to move with the refill gas pressure so that it is spaced from the valve.

Assignees

• Linde Ag

Inventors

• Wales Duncan

Classifications

• F16K1/304 Primary

  Shut-off valves with additional means · CPC title

• F17C2205/0335

  Check-valves or non-return valves · CPC title

• F17C2205/0394

  in direct contact with the pressure vessel · CPC title

• F16K1/306

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

• F17C2205/0329

  manually actuated · CPC title