Pressure control apparatus

Claim 2

Pressure control apparatus for connecting a supply source of fluid under pressure to a closed system to be pressurized by said supply source and controlling the pressure in the closed system comprising main valve chamber means having an entry port connected to the supply source of fluid under pressure and an exit port connected to the pressurized fluid system to be controlled, a blocking element located in said chamber, means for selectively manipulating said element to block and to permit fluid flow from said entry port to said exit port, secondary valve means connected to said main valve chamber means, means providing communication from said exit port and the closed system to said secondary valve means, and means for manipulating said secondary valve means to connect said exit port to the atmosphere through said communication means to reduce pressure at said exit port and in the closed fluid system being controlled.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which further includes pressure indicating means responsive to pressure at said exit port and in the closed system to enable accurate adjustment of pressure in the system via alternate and simultaneous manipulation of said blocking element and said secondary valve means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said main valve chamber comprises a valve body having a longitudinally extending bore formed therein in which said blocking element may be selectively reciprocated to block and to permit flow between said ports, said blocking element extending out of one end of said bore to provide an accessible portion for manipulation, said communication means between said exit port and said secondary valve means being formed at least partially through said blocking element.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 which further includes stop means carried by one of said blocking element and said valve chamber means, and in which the other of said blocking element and said valve chamber means has longitudinally spaced stop surfaces formed thereon to cooperate with said stop means to limit reciprocable travel of said blocking element, one of said stop surfaces preventing removal of said blocking element from said bore, the other of said stop surfaces enabling said blocking element to be held in a flow-blocking position.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said secondary valve means comprises a secondary valve chamber formed in said blocking element and having a bleed passage from said secondary chamber also formed therein, and a valve element extending from said one end of said blocking element for selectively controlling flow through said bleed passage.

Claim 7

Pressure control apparatus for connecting a supply source of fluid under pressure to a closed system to be pressurized by said supply source and controlling the pressure in the closed system comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein with entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, said entry port being connected to the supply source of pressurized fluid, said exit port being connected to the closed system to receive fluid from the supply source via said entry port, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and to permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element which is open to the exterior of said main valve body, and secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port and the closed system to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port and in the closed system.

Claim 8

Pressure control apparatus for connecting a supply source of fluid under pressure to a closed system to be pressurized by said supply source and controlling the pressure in the closed system comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein with entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, said entry port being connected to the supply source of pressurized fluid, said exit port being connected to the closed system to receive fluid from the supply source via said entry port, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and to permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element which is open to the exterior of said main valve body, and secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port and the closed system to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port and in the closed system.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said main valve chamber is substantially cylindrical and in which one of said entry and exit ports is formed at the end of said chamber and is also substantially cylindrical, the diameter of said one port being smaller than the diameter of said chamber, said main valve element having a first substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate into and out of said one chamber end port to block and permit flow and a second substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate in said chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said first section of said valve element carries first sealing means to contact the wall of said chamber end port and block flow therethrough.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the other of said entry and exit ports is formed intermediate the length of said chamber, and in which said second section of said valve element carries second sealing means intermediate said other port and the other end of said chamber to contact the wall of said chamber and prevent leakage.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 which further includes pressure indicating means responsive to pressure in said exit port and the closed system to permit accurate adjustment of said exit port and the system pressure by alternately and by simultaneously selectively reciprocating said main valve element and actuating said secondary valve means.

Claim 13

Pressure control apparatus comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein and further having entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element, secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port, said main valve chamber being substantially cylindrical, one of said entry and exit ports being also substantially cylindrical and formed at the end of said chamber, the diameter of said one port being smaller than the diameter of said chamber, said main valve element having a first substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate into and out of said one chamber end port to block and permit flow and a second substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate in said chamber, and a stop member extending inwardly into said main valve chamber, said main valve element having a stop surface formed thereon registering with said stop member and limiting outward travel of said main valve member, said main valve element also having a circumferential groove formed therein spaced from said stop surface to receive said stop member when said main valve element is rotated to prevent reciProcation of said main valve element, said stop member and said circumferential groove being located so that said main valve element is locked in a chamber end port-sealing position.

Claim 14

Pressure control apparatus comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein and further having entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element, secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port, said main valve chamber being substantially cylindrical, one of said entry and exit ports being also substantially cylindrical and formed at the end of said chamber, the diameter of said one port being smaller than the diameter of said chamber, said main valve element having a first substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate into and out of said one chamber end port to block and permit flow and a second substantially cylindrical section adapted to reciprocate in said chamber, and a stop member extending inwardly into said main valve chamber, said main valve element having a stop surface formed thereon registering with said stop member and limiting outward travel of said main valve member, said main valve element also having a circumferential groove formed therein spaced from said stop surface to receive said stop member when said main valve element is rotated to prevent reciProcation of said main valve element, said stop member and said circumferential groove being located so that said main valve element is locked in a chamber end port-sealing position.

Claim 15

Pressure control apparatus comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein and further having entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element, and secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port, said secondary valve means comprising a secondary valve chamber formed in the outwardly extending end of said main valve element, bleed passage means for said secondary chamber centrally located at the end of said main valve element, and a secondary valve element disposed within said secondary chamber adapted to control flow from said conduit, said secondary valve element having an actuator shaft extending through said bleed passage.

Claim 16

Pressure control apparatus comprising a main valve body having a longitudinally extending chamber formed therein and further having entry and exit ports for said chamber formed in said body, a main valve element disposed for reciprocable movement in said chamber to selectively block and permit flow from said entry port to said exit port, said main valve element extending out of said chamber and having a conduit formed therein to permit communication between said exit port and an outwardly extending end of said main valve element, and secondary valve means connected to control flow in said conduit from said exit port to the exterior of said main valve body to selectively reduce pressure at said exit port, said secondary valve means comprising a secondary valve chamber formed in the outwardly extending end of said main valve element, bleed passage means for said secondary chamber centrally located at the end of said main valve element, and a secondary valve element disposed within said secondary chamber adapted to control flow from said conduit, said secondary valve element having an actuator shaft extending through said bleed passage.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 which further includes biasing means for yieldingly urging said secondary valve element into a flow-blocking position.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 which further includes a knob mounted on said outwardly extending end of said main valve element, said knob having a central opening formed therein, to permit said actuator shaft to extend through, and radially extending flange means to permit finger manipulation of said knob while applying pressure to said actuator shaft.