Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POPPET VALVE CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to valves, particularly to
one-way compressor valves, and more particularly to
compressor poppet valves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compressor valves are used in compressors to provide
for both the intake and discharge of the compressed fluid
(e.g. gas). One or more intake valves allow the inflow of
fluid during the intake cycle and prevent the leakage or
loss of fluid during the compression cycle. One or more
discharge valves allow the discharge of fluid during the
compression cycle and prevent leakage or loss of fluid
during the intake cycle. Compressor valves are distinctly
different from mere check or one-way valves, in that
compressor valves are designed to allow the compressor to
breathe as if there were no valve or restriction.
In order to provide the desired minimum resistance to
the flow of fluid, prior art compressor valves have employed
several kinds of valve members. One type of compressor
valve has employed flat strips or rings of material, either
metallic or non-metallic, which were free to move, under the
force of fluid pressure, to a valve open position allowing
fluid flow, and in response to a counter biasing force, the
strip or ring would move to a valve closed position to
prevent backflow or leakage.
3~ Another type of compressor valve has employed a poppet
valve member as shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9 there is shown a
valve body A having a valve seating surface Aa, a valve
cover B having a poppet guide recess Bb, and a poppet C with
a biasing spring Cc.
A critical problem in ~he use of the prior art
compressor valves has been the replacement of worn or
def~ctive valve elements. In the past, the valve elements
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in each plate valve have been of varying shapes and designs
and their replacement required expensive manufacturing of
new individual parts.
In addition to this problem, the prior art compressor
poppet valves have also had problems because they required
extremely critical alignment (e.g. tolerances of a few
thousandths of an inch) between the valve cover and the
valve body in order to provide a satisfactory seal between
the poppet and its seating surface. A further problem
associated with the prior art compressor poppet valves has
been that while in its sealing mode, the poppet is provided
with the least guidance and control by the poppet guide
recess, whereas it is while in this sealing position that
the poppet needs the greatest guidance and control for
purposes of sealing. Yet another problem with these
compressor valves is that because the qalve seating surface
is integral with the valve body, when it does become worn it
becomes nearly impossible to re-work the seating surface so
that it again can provide a satisfactory seal.
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by
providing a compressor valve having a plurality of poppet
valve cartridges. When repair is needed, any one of these
cartridges can be quickly and easily replaced by an
identical unit kept in supply.
Further, the present invention provides a novel poppet
valve construction which provides the maximum guidance and
stability for the poppet when it is needed most, during the
actual sealing of the valve. Also the construction of the
present invention eliminates the critical alignment problem
with the valve body and valve cover by having the poppet
guiding means and the poppet seating surface integral with
each other. Yet another advantage of the construction of
this invention is that the poppet valve and the seating
service are embodied in an inserted and replaceable
cartridge which allows for the easy replacement of worn
poppet valves.
The primary object of this invention is to provide a
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novel valve, having a plurality of poppet valve cartridges.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel poppet valve
cartridge unit which is adapted for use in a compressor valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a valve comprising
a valve seat having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a plurality of
substantially identical poppet valve cartridges fluid-tightly inserted into the
plurality of apertures, and a valve cover adapted for placement over the poppet
valve cartridges, and for attachment to the valve seat. The valve cover is
provided with a plurality of gas flow orifices and the poppet valve cartridges
are adapted to allow fluid to pass only through the valve from the valve seat
through the valve cover (i.e. from the fluid space adjacent to the valve seat
to the fluid space adjacent to the valve cover). The poppet valve cartridges
may comprise a valve body, a poppet guide means, a poppet seating surface, and
a poppet biasing means for biasing the poppet to the closed position.
The poppet valve cartridges also may comprise means for positively
retaining the valve body within the valve seat apertures. The poppet valve
cartridges may further include means for dampening the opening and closing of
the poppet.
In accordance with this invention there is additionally provided a
valve comprising a valve seat having an upper surface and a plurality of
apertures adapted to receive a plurality of substantially identical poppet valve
cartridges, a plurality of substantially identical poppet valve cartridges
inserted into the plurality of apertures, and a valve cover adapted for place-
ment over the poppet valve cartridges and for attachment to the valve seat. The
valve cover is provided with a lower surface and gas flow orifices so that
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fluid flows only from the valve seat side of the plate valve through the
poppet valve cartridges and out through the gas flow orifices in the valve
cover. The poppet valve cartridges may comprise a one-piece valve body, a
poppet seating surface at or above a plane containing said valve seat member
upper surface, a poppet having a stem, a poppet guide means including a poppet
stem guide means and a poppet biasing means for biasing the poppet to the
closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the poppet valve
cartridge assembly of this invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the device shown in
Figure 2 taken along the line II-II;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure l;
Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of the cartridges
in Figure 3, taken along the line IV-IV, and shown in the closed position;
Figure 5, is a view of the cartridge shown in Figure 4,
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shown in the open position;
FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of a poppet
valve cartridge;
FIG. 7 is a view of a preferred embodiment of a poppet
valve cartridge;
FIG. 8 is a view of another embodiment of a poppet
valve cartridge; and
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art
compressor poppet valve.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
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Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the
poppet valve cartridge assembly 1 of this invention,
comprising a valve seat 4, a plurality of poppet valve
cartridges 10, and a valve cover 2.
The valve cartridge 10 comprises a valve body 20, a
poppet 40, and a spring 30 which serves as the biasing
means. The valve seat 4 is provided with a plurality of
identical round apertures 5 adapted to receive the plurality
of valve cartridges 10. Each valve cartridge 10 is lowered
into each valve seat aperture 5; and each valve body 20 has
a means for retaining it within the valve seat apertures.
In FIG. 4, the valve body retaining means comprises an
enlarged diameter shoulder 22 which rests upon a receiving
annular recess 29 in each valve seat aperture. The valve
body retaining means also comprises an annular slot 23
around the bottom of the valve body and a snap ring 24 which
is combined with the annular slot 23 to prevent the valve
body from being withdrawn from the valve seat aperture in
the upwardly direction.
The valve body is also provided with a fluid sealing
means, which is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 to be an
~ O-ring 27 inserted into an O-ring groove 26 in the outer
; circumferential surface of the valve body 20.
- 35 Alternatively, the O-ring groove could be disposed in the
adjacent inner surface of the valve seat aperture.
The valve body 20 is also provided with poppet guide
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means which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and S to be a
cylindrical guide sleeve 21 which is adapted to slidingly
receive the stem 41 of poppet 40. The guide sleeve 21 is
integrally connected to the valve body via
circumferentially-spaced structural webs 25.
The valve body 20 is also provided with a poppet
seating means which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be
valve seating surface 28 which is adapted to flushly mate
with a complementary surface on the major diameter of the
poppet valve, shown at 42.
The valve cartridge also comprises a poppet which is
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be poppet 40. The poppet 40
comprises a poppet stem 41 and a major diameter portion 42.
The poppet stem 41 is slideably inserted into the guide
sleeve 21 of the valve body 20, and the major diameter
portion 42 is adapted to sealingly mate with the sealing
surface 28 of the valve body 20. Further, the guide sleeve
is provided with a small aperture 21a in order to allow the
free movement of the poppet stem up and down within the
guide sleeve 21 by avoiding fluid compression buildup.
Also, this aperture may be sized so as to provide a desired
amount of damping to the closing of the poppet. The poppet
- valve also includes a biasing means for biasing the poppet
valve to the closed position so as to prevent the back flow
of fluid. ThiS biasing means is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4,
and 5 as a spring 30. As illustrated, the spring 30 is
conveniently housed within a cylindrical recess 3 in the
valve cover 2.
The poppet valve cartridge assembly of this invention
is assembled by first inserting the valve bodies 20 in the
valve seat apertures 5. Then the poppets are slideably
inserted from the top into the valve bodies 20. Next, the
springs 30 are placed into their respective cylindrical
recesses 3 in the valve cover 2. Then the valve cover 2 and
the valve seat 4 are brought together as shown in FIG. 2 and
fastened to each other, for example with bolts or screws 7.
The valve seat and the valve cover are constructed so
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as to provide a compressor valve chamber 70 which
facilitates the operation of the valve and provides the
necessary axial distance for the poppet to move axially.
The compressor poppet valve of this invention may be
operated in the following manner. A compressor valve is
placed in a fluid conduit downstream of the pressurizing
source and upstream of the output. When the fluid on the
valve seat side of the plate valve reaches a pressure
sufficient to force the poppet off its seat in opposition to
the biasing force of the spring, the fluid flows through the
valve body, between the structural webs 25, past the major
diameter portion 42 of the poppet and into the compressor
valve chamber 70. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve
cover 2 is provided with gas flow orifices 80 throughout the
valve cover 2 to allow the fluid in the compressor valve
chamber 70 to freely flow out of the chamber. To further
assist the outflow of fluid, the cylindrical recess 3
housing the spring 30 can be provided with a relatively
smaller aperture 31, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
When the inlet pressure drops or when the outlet
pressure increases sufficiently, the spring 30 and outlet
pressure will move the poppet 40 back to the closed
position. The poppet 40 will remain in the closed position
until the inlet pressure is again increased sufficiently to
open the poppet against the pressure of the biasing spring
and the outlet pressure.
Referring now to other embodiments of this invention
as shown in FIGS. 6-8, FIG. 6 exemplifies a modification of
the invention as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The major
difference is that the valve body 20' is so constructed that
the valve seat aperture 5' can be a simple straight through
hole. The valve body 20' is inserted into the valve seat
aperture 5' and the enlarged diameter shoulder 22' of the
valve body 20' merely rests on the top surface 29' of the
valve seat 4' and the valve body 20' is long enough so that
the annular slot 23' on the valve body 20' is disposed
beyond the end of the valve seat 4'. This allows the
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snap-ring 24' to lock against the bottom surface of the
valve seat 4'.
The advantage of this embodiment is that the valve
seat apertures can be made more simply by merely providing
simple straight holes in the valve seat
Turning now to FIG. 7, which illustrates the preferred
embodiment for the valve cartridge, this embodiment can also
be used with the simple straight-through valve seat
apertures 5' as was done in FIG. 6. However, the major
difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and that
in FIG. 6 is that the enlarged diameter shoulder 22' is
provided with circumferentially-spaced axial projections 50
which meet and abut the bottom of the valve cover 2.
This construction provides two important advantages.
The first being that the inner surface of the enlarged
diameter shoulder serves to guide the poppet 40 by guiding
the major diameter portion 42 of the poppet 40. Secondly,
because the axial projections abut the bottom of the valve
cover 2, they serve to retain the valve body 20' in the
valve seat aperture 5' and therefore there is no need for
the annular slot and snap ring used in either the
embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.
; Turning now to FIG. 8, which show yet another
embodiment of this invention. Because it may sometimes be
desirable to dampen the opening of the poppet, the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is provided with two springs.
The inner spring 51 is designed to provide the
dampening and is of a shortened length such that it does not
act against the poppet 40 until it has travelled a
predetermined pre-travel distance. The outer, biasing
;spring 52 is constructed of such a length that it
continously acts against the poppet 40.
The use of these two springs results in the following
operation. The outer, biasing spring 52 is designed to
allow the poppet 40 to open quickly at the desired pressure
conditions and to open the desired pre-travel distance.
However, when the poppet reaches and contacts the inner
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dampening spring 51, the added spring force will dampen the
upward movement of the poppet and reduce or prevent damage
to the poppet.
It is apparent that the dampening spring 51 will also
serve to bias the poppet 40 to the closed position, but
because it is of a shortened length, it ceases to bias the
poppet when the poppet is within pre-travel distance of its
closed position.
In order to accommodate the two springs, the
construction of the valve cover is modified as shown in FIG.
8. The valve cover is provided with a cylindrical sleeve 53
to retain and guide the inner dampening spring 51 within the
sleeve and to retain and guide the outer biasing spring 52
around its exterior surface.
While there has been shown and described what are at
present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the
invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
I claim:
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