U.S. patent application number 13/222539 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for valve.
Invention is credited to Robert Folkestad, Amir Jeshani, Daniel Welch.
Application Number | 20120126161 13/222539 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063461 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120126161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeshani; Amir ; et
al. |
May 24, 2012 |
Valve
Abstract
The invention is an improved valve having a valve body, a valve
stem having a valve plug portion and a valve stem portion, and a
valve guide having an aperture in which the valve stem portion is
received for reciprocal movement of the valve stem longitudinally
inside the valve body. A valve seat is supported in the valve body
and includes a pair of spaced apart circular valve seat surfaces
that each sealingly engage a separate surface of the valve plug
portion;. A spring biases the valve plug portion into sealing
engagement with the valve seat. The valve seat has a pair of
sealing surfaces that are brought in sealing engagement with
distinct surface portions of the valve stem to provide improved and
redundant sealing function. The valve has improved longevity and
reliability.
Inventors: |
Jeshani; Amir; (Norwalk,
IA) ; Welch; Daniel; (DSM, IA) ; Folkestad;
Robert; (Des Moines, IA) |
Family ID: |
46063461 |
Appl. No.: |
13/222539 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61379098 |
Sep 1, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
251/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01L 3/22 20130101; F16K
1/38 20130101; F16K 1/42 20130101; F16K 27/0254 20130101; F16K
1/425 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
251/337 |
International
Class: |
F01L 3/10 20060101
F01L003/10 |
Claims
1. An improved valve, comprising: (a) a valve body; (b) a valve
stem comprising a metal valve plug portion and a valve stem
portion; (c) a valve guide comprising an aperture in which the
valve stem portion is received for reciprocal movement of the valve
stem longitudinally inside the valve body; (d) a metal valve seat
supported in the valve body and comprising a pair of spaced apart
circular valve seat surfaces that each sealingly engage a separate
surface of the valve plug portion; and (e) a spring biasing the
valve plug portion into sealing engagement with the valve seat.
2. An improved valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
cap secured to the end of the valve stem portion trapping the
spring between the end cap and the valve guide.
3. An improved valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact
surfaces of the valve plug portion are valve seat are outwardly
facing frustoconical surfaces and the valve seat surfaces are
corresponding inwardly facing frustoconical surfaces.
4. An improved valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
contoured shoulder of the valve body adjacent the valve seat that
matches the contour of the valve stem and it in contact engagement
therewith when the valve plug portion is in contact engagement with
the valve seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/379,098, filed Sep. 1, 2010.
[0002] The invention relates generally to a valve and, more
specifically, a valve having an improved seat that increases its
duty life in harsh environments.
[0003] Automated car washes use a large number of valves for the
control the flow of water as well as solutions or mixtures of
soaps, detergents, cleaners, waxes, polishes, and the like. Many of
these fluids are corrosive and may react with normal valve
components. Additionally, the valves must operate at high
pressures, frequently at high temperatures, and may have short duty
cycles. All of these factors shorten the life and reliability of
the valves.
[0004] The effect of valve failure can be substantial. Valve
failure can result in reduced performance or failure of the
carwash. The valves are used to prevent the unwanted flow of fluids
from reservoirs of the carwash solutions such that failure of the
valve can result in dispensing of the fluid under undesirable
conditions, possibly disrupting the carwash process and certainly
wasting the undesirably dispensed fluid. Perhaps worse, the valve
failure by result in fluids mixing from reservoir to reservoir,
ruining the entire reservoir of these expensive fluids.
[0005] What is needed is a valve that eliminates the plastic valve
seats of O-rings found in conventional valves and has a long life
under the harsh operating conditions of automated carwashes,
operates reliably, is economical and easy to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention consists of a durable and reliable poppet
valve suitable for use in the harsh environment of automated
carwashes. The valve has a cylindrical valve body with threaded
ports on either end for connection of the valve into a fluid line.
A valve stem, having a valve plug at its downstream end portion, is
received for reciprocal longitudinal movement inside the valve body
by a valve guide. A spring is received about the valve stem and is
compressed between the valve guide and an end cap secured to the
upstream end of the valve stem. A metal valve seat is received in a
seat support shelf of the valve body. The valve plug has a convex
upstream face that, when in sealing engagement with the valve seat
seals the valve closed, preventing fluid flow. The spring thus
biases the valve stem to bring the valve plug into sealing
engagement with the valve seat. If, however, fluid pressure on the
upstream face of the valve plug is sufficient to overcome the
biasing force of the spring, the valve plug will be moved out of
sealing engagement with the valve seat and fluid will be allowed to
flow through the valve. The valve seat has a profile that provides
an improved sealing function and lengthens the service life and
reliability of the valve.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
valve.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a valve with
improved longevity and reliability.
[0009] Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve
that reliably controls the flow of fluids under harsh
conditions.
[0010] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve
that reliably controls the flow of fluids and conditions common to
automated carwashes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the valve of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the valve stem and valve seat
of the valve of FIG. 1 shown in the open position.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the valve stem and valve seat
of the valve of FIG. 1 shown in the seated or closed position.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve
seat.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a representative application of a
plurality of the valves of the present invention in a manifold.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view the manifold of FIG. 7.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the components of a typical
carwash facility employing the valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, generally at 10, is a valve
representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
valve 10 has a generally elongated body 12 with a throughbore 14
for the flow of fluids through the valve 10 under desired
conditions. Extending radially across the throughbore 14 from a
side wall of the body 12 to an opposite sidewall is a valve guide
16 having a guide hole 18 aligned longitudinally of the valve body
12. A valve stem 20 has an extended stem portion 22 and a valve
plug portion 24. The stem portion 22 is received inside the guide
hole 18 for reciprocal longitudinal guided movement of the valve
stem 20 inside the valve body 12.
[0021] Included in the valve body 12 is a seat support 26 that
defines a circular aperture. A valve seat 28 is fitted into and
supported by the seat support 26. The valve plug portion 24 is
brought into and out of contact with the valve seat 28 as the valve
stem 20 moves reciprocally inside the valve body 12. A cap 30 is
secured to the free end portion of the stem portion 22, for example
by threads 32 on the inside of the cap 30 and cooperating threads
34 on outer periphery of the stem portion. A spring 36 is placed
around the stem portion 22 and, upon assembly, is compressed
between the valve guide 16 and the cap 30. Accordingly, it is seen
that the spring 36 biases the valve plug portion 24 away from the
open position (FIG. 3) into contact engagement with the valve seat
28 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0022] An improvement of the valve 10 is the profile of the valve
seat 28. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the valve seat 28 has a
pair of circumferential sealing surfaces, downstream or outer
surface 38 and upstream or inner surface 40. These surfaces 38 and
40 are formed into the valve seat 28 at a profile that matches the
contour of the upstream surface of the valve plug portion 24 at the
area of contact between the two when the valve is in its closed
position (FIG. 5). Accordingly, the valve 10 provides multiple
areas of contact between the valve stem 20 and the valve body 12
and valve seat 28 to greatly enhance the sealing performance of the
valve 10 against the undesired passage of fluid through the valve
10. In the preferred embodiment, the outer contour of the upstream
surface of the valve plug portion 24 is the surface of a frustum or
frustoconical and the sealing surfaces of the valve seat 38 and 40
are matching or mating inwardly facing frustoconical surfaces. In a
preferred embodiment, the angle of the frustoconical surface is
130.degree..
[0023] The valve body 12 has threaded apertures at the upstream end
38 and the downstream end 40 to facilitate insertion of the valve
10 into a system of plumbing, such as the manifold 42 (FIGS. 7 and
8). The manifold 42 is a typical plumbing system found in an
automated carwash wherein a plurality, seven in FIGS. 7 and 8, of
the valves 10a-g are used to control the flow of fluids from a
plurality of reservoirs, pumps or other sources. The impact of
failure of one or more of the valves can be easily understood by
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, if valve 10a should fail
and stick open, fluid entering the manifold 46 through valve 10b
will now backflow through valve 10a, contaminating a reservoir that
feeds valve 10a.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the upstream face of the valve
plug portion 24 may be concave so as to increase the surface area
of the valve stem 20 and thereby increase the sealing force.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, the profile of a preferred embodiment
of the valve seat 28 is shown, with thickness of section of the
valve seat 28 on the figure. The diameter of distance A-A is 0.96
inches, distance B-B is 1.20 inches, distance C-C is 1.30 inches,
and distance D-D is 1.40 inches.
[0026] An exemplary car wash arrangement of components is
illustrated in FIG. 9, divided into a low and high pressure side.
On the low pressure side, a low pressure pump and injectors provide
chemicals from chemical barrels to a chemical manifold (FIG. 8) to
a valve of the present invention. Water from a high pressure pump
is provided downstream of the valve as is a spot free rinse
solution, leading past a check valve to the low pressure output. On
the high pressure side, a high pressure pump provides water for an
under body wash, through a check valve and an air pressure check
valve to the high pressure output.
[0027] The foregoing descriptions comprise illustrative embodiments
of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments described
herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of
those skilled in the art. The foregoing description and drawings
merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is
not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited.
Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will
be able to make modifications and variations therein without
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *