Pressure-balanced flapper valve

Claim 2

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled to said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; small area passage means for conducting said fluid pressure from said passage to a second portion of said piston disposed in opposition to said first portion thereof which is exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage; and control valve means communicating with the interior of said cylinder and said second portion of said piston; said control valve disposed to vent said cylinder and having flow capacitor operable relative to said small area passage means to vary a pressure differential relative to said first and second portions of said piston said control valve is a solenoid valve disposed in said cylinder; said piston being hollow and telescopically disposable in surrounding relation with said solenoid valve when said piston moves in one direction in said cylinder.

Claim 3

The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said bearing is a roller, said bearing guide members are rollers, and said tracks are channel shaped in cross section members; said last-mentioned rollers being disposed to roll in said channel shaped in cross section tracks.

Claim 4

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled tO said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; small area passage means for conducting said fluid pressure from said passage to a second portion of said piston disposed in opposition to said first portion thereof which is exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage; and control valve means communicating with the interior of said cylinder and said second portion of said piston; said control valve disposed to vent said cylinder and having flow capacity operable relative to said small area passage means to vary a pressure differential relative to said first and second portions of said piston; a pair of spaced arms are connected to said piston and extend therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; said yoke disposed between said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.

Claim 5

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled tO said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; small area passage means for conducting said fluid pressure from said passage to a second portion of said piston disposed in opposition to said first portion thereof which is exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage; and control valve means communicating with the interior of said cylinder and said second portion of said piston; said control valve disposed to vent said cylinder and having flow capacity operable relative to said small area passage means to vary a pressure differential relative to said first and second portions of said piston; a pair of spaced arms are connected to said piston and extend therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; said yoke disposed between said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.

Claim 6

The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein: said bearing is a roller, said bearing guide members are rollers, and said tracks are channel shaped in cross section, and said last-mentioned rollers are disposed to roll in said channel shaped in cross section tracks.

Claim 7

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled to said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; a pair of spaced arms connected to said piston and extending therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; said yoke disposed between said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.

Claim 8

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled to said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; a pair of spaced arms connected to said piston and extending therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; said yoke disposed between said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said bearing is a roller, said bearing guide members are rollers, and said tracks are channel shaped in cross section, and said last-mentioned rollers are disposed to roll in said channel shaped in cross section tracks.

Claim 10

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a Bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled to said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; a pair of spaced arms connected to said piston and extending therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.

Claim 11

In a valve mechanism, the combination of: a housing having a fluid flow passage therethrough; said passage adapted to conduct fluid, under pressure; a flapper valve member pivoted relative to said passage; seat means in said housing disposed and adapted to be engaged by said flapper valve member for shutting off and/or controlling the flow of fluid through said passage; first means pivotally supporting said flapper valve on a pivotal axis disposed laterally relative to said flow passage; said first means provided with a yoke having a pair of opposed elongated bearing engaging surfaces; a Bearing disposed and engageable between said bearing engaging surfaces; a pair of bearing guide members connected to said bearing and located in opposed spaced relation thereto; a pair of spaced tracks in said housing and disposed at an angle to said flow passage; said bearing guide members movably disposed and adapted to move in a rectilinear relationship to said tracks; an actuator piston coupled to said bearing and said bearing guide members; an actuator cylinder coupled to said housing and having a bore adapted slidingly and sealingly to hold said piston; a first portion of said piston exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid passage and tending to move said flapper valve toward an open position relative to said seat; one side of said flapper valve exposed to fluid pressure in said passage tending to hold said flapper valve closed on said seat; a pair of spaced arms connected to said piston and extending therefrom; said pair of bearing guide members disposed adjacent said arms; and a shaft coupled to said bearing, said arms, and said bearing guide members.