GB662448A - Valve construction - Google Patents

Abstract

662,448. Valves. GROVE, M. H., and GROVE, J. E., (trading as FLUID CONTROL ENGINEERING CO.). Jan. 24, 1949 [Jan. 22, 1948] No. 1904/49. Class 135. A fluid control valve comprising co-operating relatively movable members, an annular recess accommodating a resilient sealing ring in one of the members and said ring coacting with the other member to control flow of fluid, has means whereby that corner of the recess to which the ring is urged by fluid pressure is vented to the outlet, the arrangement preventing the sealing ring from being expelled by fluid from its recess as the valve is opened. Fig. 1 shows a two-way valve in which fluid flows from an inlet 11 to an outlet 12, the movable valve member 17, which is actuated, e.g., by a solenoid, through a lever 23, having an annular recess 34 accommodating a sealing ring 36 which coacts with a bore 15. The recess is vented to the outlet by a passage 37, which prevents, when the valve is closed, the establishment of a fluid pressure in that corner of the recess to which the ring is urged by the inlet pressure, this eliminating a force which would, on opening the valve, tend to expel the ring from its recess. Also, to assist in retaining the ring in the recess when the valve is partly open, flow is controlled by clearance between the bore 15 and a portion 44 of the valve member rather than by the space between the ring 36 and the end of the bore 15. The valve member has stops 21, 22 and carries sealing rings 28, 29. In a modification, in which a port 75, Fig. 4, may be connected either with an inlet 73 or with an outlet 74, the valve member has a sealing ring 72 which coacts with a bore 53, and a plain portion which coacts with a sealing ring 63 carried in a recess in the housing. The latter recess is vented through a clearance between a ring 57 and the housing whilst the recess carrying the ring 72 is vented by clearance between a ring member 69 and the part of the valve member by which it is carried. Fig. 5 shows a two-way valve suitable for flow in either direction, the sealing ring being located between ported sleeves 88, 89, each of which has a clearance with the housing to vent the bottom of the recess. Fig. 9 illustrates a three-way valve in which the sealing rings 214, 217 are located in recesses formed between ported sleeves in the housing, these sleeves having a clearance with the housing to vent the recesses. Other sealing rings 215, 213, 216, 218, which are permanently in contact with the valve member, are also placed between ported sleeves. Lubricators 242 are provided. A construction somewhat similar to that of Fig. 1 but in which the outer member is movable comprises a fitting 164, Fig. 7, for connection in a pipe line and having a barrier 149 formed peripherally with a vented recess for a sealing ring 159. The outer member 151, having a port 167 for co-operation with the sealing ring, is reciprocable to open and close the valve. Fig. 10 illustrates how the invention may be applied to a lift valve, in which the upper corner 266 of the recess for the sealing ring is vented to the outlet. A skirt 269 on the valve member throttles the flow when the valve is partially open. A modification is described in which the skirt is dispensed with and throttling is achieved by a cylindrical part of the valve member above the recess and coacting with a cylindrical counterbore above the conical seating. The arrangement of Fig. 10 is also described as modified for flow in the opposite direction, the vent in this case communicating with the space below the seating. A further modification, also similar to Fig. 10, but in which the closure surfaces are plane instead of conical, is described. Specification 565,538 is referred to.