GB2483083A

GB2483083A - Pressure regulating valve assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2483083A
Application number: GB1014187.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Bagshaw; Martin Carnall
Original assignee: EIP MAN Ltd
Current assignee: EIP MANAGEMENT LIMITED
Priority date: 2010-08-25
Filing date: 2010-08-25
Publication date: 2012-02-29
Also published as: GB201014187D0

Abstract

A pressure regulating valve assembly comprises a housing having an inlet port 4, an outlet port 6 and a shuttle component 72 located within the housing. The shuttle component 72 has an inlet 76 in communication with the inlet port 4, the inlet 76 being connected to a chamber 74 within the shuttle component 72. A valve member 60 biased by a first biasing means 90 extends through the shuttle component 72 and is provided with a through passage 62. An outer surface of the valve member 60 has a plurality of communication passages 64 allowing communication between the inlet port 4 and the through passage 62 when the communication passages 64 are in communication with a second passage 94. This assembly provides for a compact arrangement.

Description

Valve Assembly The present invention relates to a valve assembly. The valve assembly functions as a gas pressure regulator.

It is known to store gas under pressure within a container. For many such gases there is a need to deploy the gas at a much lower pressure than that at which it is stored. For this purpose a valve functioning as a io pressure regulator is interposed between the gas supply and a utility to which the gas is supplied. The regulator prevents wide pressure variations occurring in the gas being supplied. The regulator also serves, should the gas pressure being supplied at the utility get too high, to isolate the gas supply from the utility.

There are a number of known valve assemblies having this functionality.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides for a compact arrangement.

According to the present invention a valve assembly comprises a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a shuttle component located within the housing, the shuttle component having an inlet in communication with the inlet port, the inlet being connected to a chamber within the first component, a valve member having a through passage, the valve member extending through the shuttle component, the valve member being biased in a first direction by a first biasing means, an outer surface off the valve member having a plurality of communication passages to allow communication between the inlet port and the through passage when the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.

Preferably, the chamber opens at a first side to a first passage of first diameter and at a second side to a second passage of second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter.

Preferably the valve member passes through the first passage and the second passage of the first component.

Preferably in the absence of a gas flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve member is located in a first position in which the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.

Preferably, the first component is held against axial movement by first and second sealing means. More preferably, the first and second sealing means are disposed around the valve member.

Preferably, the valve member is moveable within the housing about a first position in which the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.

Preferably, a diaphragm is located substantially externally of the valve member. Preferably the diaphragm is retained within the housing. More preferably, the housing is provided with a vent behind the diaphragm.

Preferably, the first biasing means is located substantially internally of the valve member. Preferably, the first biasing means comprises a spring means acting between a blind bore in the housing and a shoulder formed within the valve member. More preferably, the first biasing means comprises a helical spring. More preferably, the shoulder is formed within the through bore of the valve member. Preferably, the blind bore is provided with an annular recess in which is located buffering means.

Preferably, the communication passages do not extend throughout the io circumference of the valve member. More preferably the communication passages are grooves formed in the outer surface of the valve member.

More preferably the grooves extend axially along the outer surface of the valve member.

is Preferably the first component comprises an annular member seated within the chamber, the annular member being provided with an external annular groove.

More preferably, the external annular groove is aligned with the inlet port.

Preferably the first and second sealing means comprise first and second 0-rings.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, in relation to the attached Figure which shows a side section illustrating a valve assembly according to the present invention.

Referring to the Figure, an embodiment of a valve assembly 2 in accordance with the present invention is shown in side section. The valve assembly 2 comprises a housing having an inlet port 4 and an outlet port 6. It will be seen that the housing comprises a number of housing elements which in use are secured together to form the housing.

A first housing element 10 comprises a first end 12 and a second end 14.

The first end has a stepped recess formed therein having an outer io recess 16 of first diameter connected by a first shoulder 18 to an inner recess 20 of lesser second diameter. In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in the Figure, a radial recess 17 is formed at the adjacent the first shoulder 18. The inner recess 20 is provided with a passageway 22 extending therefrom. The second end is also provided with a stepped is recess comprising a first outer recess 24 of first diameter connected to a second recess 26 of intermediate diameter in turn connected to a third recess 28 of lesser diameter. The intermediate recess is provided with the inlet port 4 extending therefrom. The inlet port 4 is itself stepped comprising a first part of greater section and a second part of lesser section adjacent the third recess 28 of lesser diameter.

A through bore 30 extends through the first housing element connecting the first and second ends of the first housing element 10.

A second housing element 32 is provided to be received in the first end of the first housing. The second housing element includes a passageway comprising a portion 36 of reduced diameter leading to the outlet port 6.

This portion 36 of the second housing element 32 is conveniently of diameter similar to that of the second portion 20 of reduced diameter at the first end of the first housing element 10. It will be appreciated that the second housing element 32 may form part of a utility to which the valve assembly 2 is to be connected or may be connected to such a utility.

Other arrangements of the first and second housing elements having a similar result can be envisaged.

A third housing element 40 is provided with a bore 42. The bore 42 closed by a fixing 41 retained within the bore. The fixing extends within the bore to form a central land 46 having an annular recess defined between the land 46 and the bore 42. In an alternative embodiment the is bore is a blind bore provided with a recess to define a central land. The outer diameter of the third housing element 40 is such that the third housing element 40 may be received within the first outer recess 24 of the second end of the first housing element 10.

Other arrangements of the second and third housing elements having a similar result can be envisaged.

The first outer recess 16 of the first end of the first housing element is adapted to receive an outer periphery of a diaphragm 50. The diaphragm 50 is secured by any suitable means at its inner periphery to a first end of a valve member 60. In the illustrated embodiment the valve member 60 is provided towards its second end with a radially extending flange 51 against which the diaphragm 50 is supported. Conveniently the diaphragm is retained on the flange by a nut 52 or other suitable securing means.

A second end of the valve member 60 passes through the through bore 30 in the first housing element 10. When the first housing element 10 is secured, in any suitable manner, to the second housing element 32, the outer periphery of the diaphragm 50 is located between the first and second housing elements 10, 32 to retain the outer periphery of the diaphragm 50 against axial movement. The radial recess 17 allows the diaphragm 50 to travel radially when flexing.

The valve member 60 is provided with a through bore 62. A plurality of is communication passages 64 are provided toward a second end of the valve member 60. Conveniently, the communication passages 64 comprise axially extending recesses formed at circumferential locations around the circumference of the valve member 60. Alternatively, the communication passageways 64 may take the form of one or more turned grooves.

A first sealing means, conveniently a first 0-ring 66, is located about the valve member 60 and is received against an end face of the second inner recess 28 of second lesser diameter at the second end of the first housing element 10. Conveniently the end face may be shaped to receive the 0-ring 66. An inner surface of the first 0-ring 66 contacts the outer surface of the valve member 60. Shaping the end face helps reduce deformation of the 0-ring occurring in use, such deformation increasing stiction between the 0-ring 66 and the valve member 60. The diaphragm 50 also acts in use as an aid to overcoming the stiction between the valve member 60 and the 0-rings 66,68.

An annular shuttle member 70 is located about the valve member 60 and a first end face is received to seat against the first 0-ring 66.

Conveniently, the first end face may be shaped to receive the 0-ring 66.

A first annular groove 72 extends circumferentially about the outer surface of the annular shuttle member 70. The first annular groove 72 is conveniently arranged to be in communication with the inlet port 4. A second annular groove 74 extends around the inner surface of the annular shuttle member 70. The inner and outer grooves 72, 74 are connected by at least one radially extending passageway 76. In the illustrated embodiment the inner diameter of the shuttle member 70 to each side of the chamber is the same. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the inner diameter of the annular shuttle member 70 at a first end is less than the inner diameter at a second end off the annular member. Conveniently, the or one of the radially extending passageways 76 is aligned with the inlet port 4.

A second sealing means, conveniently a second 0-ring 68, is located about the valve member 60 and is received against the second end face of the annular member 70. Conveniently, the second end face is shaped to receive the 0-ring 68. An inner surface of the second 0-ring 68 contacts the outer surface of the valve member 60 between the communication passages 64, but does not extend into the communication passages 64.

The end face of the third housing element 40 is also conveniently shaped to receive the 0-ring 68.

Alternatively shim or other spacing element 80 having a through bore may be located over the second end of the valve member 60 and against the second end of the first housing element 10.

The through bore 62 of the valve member 60 is conveniently formed with a first portion 82 of lesser diameter at the first end of the valve member 60, an second portion 84 of greater diameter connected to the first portion 82 by an abutment shoulder 83. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a third portion 86 of yet greater diameter at the second end of the valve member connected to the intermediate portion by a step is provided to reduce the footprint of the valve member at its second end.

A first biasing member is located within the intermediate portion of the valve member. Conveniently the first biasing means comprises a helical spring 90 a first end of which abuts the abutment shoulder 83.

The third housing element 40 is secured, by any suitable means, to the first housing element 10 to close the housing. In this way the helical spring 90 is located between the valve member 60 and the third housing element 40. As can be seen a substantial portion of the helical spring 90 is retained within the valve member 60.

The depth of the second inner recess 28 at the second end of the first housing element is such that the first and second 0-rings 66, 68 together with the annular member 70 are held axially in place with respect to the valve member 60 and the annular member 70 is held against rotation by the first and second 0-rings 66, 68.

While a specific connection to a high pressure source of gas to the inlet port 4 is not shown this may be achieved by any convenient means.

Similarly, it will be understood that there will be a mechanism in place to actuate opening and closing of the supply of high pressure gas to the inlet port 4.

When a high pressure gas, for example at a pressure of 3,000 PSI, enters through the inlet port 4 (arrow A) it proceeds to the outer groove 72 of the annular member 70 through the at least one radially extending passageway 76 to the inner groove 74 of the annular member 70 (arrow B).

At this point the gas can proceed either through a clearance 92 between the valve member 60 and the inner diameter at the first end of the annular member 70 or a clearance 94 between the valve member 60 and the inner diameter at the second end of the annular member 70. The gas will tend to follow the path of least resistance and pass through the clearance 94 and the communication passageways 64.

Should a small amount of gas escape through the clearance 92 and past the first 0-ring 66, it will proceed through a clearance 96 between the valve member 60 and the first housing element through bore 30 and into a first chamber 100 defined by a rear face of the flange 51 (or in an embodiment absent the flange a rear face of the diaphragm 50) and the inner recess 20 of lesser second diameter at the first end of the first io housing element 10. The excess gas will then vent through the passageway 22 conveniently to atmosphere.

Most of the pressurised gas however will flow past the second 0-ring 68 (arrow C) though the communication passageways 64 formed at the second end of the valve member 60, through the clearance between the valve member 60 and the blind bore 46 in the third housing element 40 and into a rear chamber formed between the third housing element 40, the second end of the valve member 60 and the inside of the valve member 60 (arrow D). The action of the pressurised gas through the communication passageways will be to urge the valve member 60 against the action of the helical spring 90 thereby reducing the volume of gas that may pass. The pressurised gas inside the chamber will exit to the outlet port 6 through the through bore 62 in the valve element 60 (arrow E).

Since the valve member 60 is adapted for axial movement the additional gas pressure due to the flow of gas into the rear chamber will urge the valve member 60 to move towards the outlet port 6. As this occurs the communication passageways 64 move relative to the second 0-ring 68 to allow more gas to pass.

As the valve member moves, the diaphragm 50 is displaced. A back pressure from the gas exiting into the outlet port 6 onto a first face of the diaphragm 50 will act to urge the diaphragm 50 and so the valve member 60 back away from the outlet port 6 into the blind bore 46. The first chamber 100 will not create a resistance to the diaphragm 50 as any gas in the first chamber 100 can readily be vented through the passageway 22. As the valve member 60 moves past the position shown in the Figure, the back pressure also acts against the force of the helical spring 90 such that the communication passageways 64 on the valve member 60 will be cut off from the gas flowing from the annular is member 70 causing a drop in pressure behind the valve member 60.

Since the back pressure will then only be acting against the helical spring 90, the valve member 60 will be pushed further into the blind bore 46 before the back pressure dissipates. The helical spring 90 as it is compressed will then act against the dissipating back pressure to return the valve member 60 to the initial position placing the communication passageways 64 on the valve member 60 back into communication with the clearance 94 between the valve member 60 and the second end of the annular member 70.

It will be understood that the forces acting on the valve member will balance such that as the gas flows though the valve the gas pressure is reduced. For example a gas pressure of 3,000 PSI on entering the inlet port may be reduced to a gas pressure of 2 PSI on leaving the outlet port.

Selection of differing spring strengths and spring lengths will enable one skilled in the art to arrange the balance of forces to achieve the regulation required for a specific utility.

In the event that the 0 ring 68 should fail, the gas pressure will force the io valve member 60 towards the end of the blind bore 46 against the helical spring 90. To prevent the valve member 60 from becoming damaged on impact, an elastic element 48 located in the annular recess 44 serves as a buffer to absorb any such impacts.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A valve assembly comprising a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a shuttle component located within the housing, the shuttle component having an inlet in communication with the inlet port, the inlet being connected to a chamber within the shuttle component, a valve member having a through passage, the valve member extending through the shuttle component, the valve member being biased by a first biasing means, an outer surface of the valve member having a plurality of io communication passages to allow communication between the inlet port and the through passage when the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.
2 A valve assembly according to claim 1, in which the valve member passes through the first passage and the second passage of the first component.
3 A valve assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which in the absence of a gas flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve member is located in a first position in which the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.
4 A valve assembly according to any previous claim in which the first component is held against axial movement by first and second sealing means.
A valve assembly according to claim 4, in which the first and second sealing means are disposed around the valve member.
6 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the valve member is moveable within the housing about a first position in which the communication passages are in communication with the second passage.
7 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which a io diaphragm is located substantially externally of the valve member.
8 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the diaphragm retained within the housing.
9 A valve assembly according to claim 8, in which the housing is provided with a vent behind the diaphragm.
A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the first biasing means is located substantially internally of the valve member.
11 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the first biasing means is a spring means acting between a blind bore in the housing and a shoulder formed within the valve member.
12 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the first biasing means comprises a helical spring.
13 A valve assembly according to claim 12, in which the shoulder is formed within the through bore of the valve member.
14 A valve assembly according to claim 11, in which the blind bore is provided with an annular recess in which is located buffering means.
A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the communication passages do not extend throughout the circumference of the valve member.
16 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the communication passages are grooves formed in the outer surface of the valve member.
17 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the grooves extend axially along the outer surface of the valve member.
18 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the first component comprises an annular member seated within the chamber, the annular member being provided with an external annular groove.
19 A valve assembly according claim 18, in which the external annular groove is aligned with the inlet port.
A valve assembly according to any of claims 4 to 20, in which the first and second sealing means comprise first and second 0-rings.
21 A valve assembly according to any previous claim, in which the chamber opens at a first side to a first passage of first diameter and at a second side to a second passage of second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter.
22 A valve assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.