Claims
- 1. A multi-way system comprising:
- inlet and outlet ports;
- a main valve having a main seat and a main seat-engaging member, which when in contact, separate said inlet port from said outlet port, and when separated allow direct communication therebetween, a main valve diaphragm, controlling movement of said seat-engaging member into and out of contact with said main valve seat, and a main valve chamber isolated from the flow path between said inlet and outlet ports by the main valve diaphragm;
- a first passage having a first flow restrictor, connecting the main valve chamber and said inlet port;
- a bypass conduit in direct communication with said outlet port, having a bypass flow control element;
- a bypass valve, having a bypass valve seat and a bypass seat-engaging member, which when in contact, separate said inlet port and said bypass conduit, and when separated allow direct communication therebetween, a bypass valve diaphragm, controlling movement of said bypass seat-engaging member into and out of contact with said bypass valve seat, and a bypass valve chamber, isolated from the flow path between said bypass conduit and said inlet port by the bypass valve diaphragm;
- a second passage having a second flow restrictor, connecting the bypass valve chamber and said inlet port;
- a third passage, connecting the main valve chamber and said outlet port, said third passage including a regulator valve which hinders flow through said third passage when closed, and allows regulated flow therethrough when open;
- a fourth passage, connecting the bypass valve chamber and said outlet port, said fourth passage including a snap valve which prevents flow through said fourth passage when closed, and allows flow therethrough when open; and,
- a primary control device, including a temperature sensitive element, which causes the snap valve to open when the temperature sensitive element indicates a slightly lower than desired temperature, and causes the regulator valve in said third passage to open when the temperature sensitive element indicates a substantially lower than desired temperature.
- 2. The multi-way valve unit of claim 1 wherein said primary control device further includes a maximum flow control adjust element capable of limiting the maximum flow of gas when the regulator valve in said third passage is open.
- 3. The multi-way valve unit of claim 1 wherein said primary control device further includes:
- a bulb operator, including a bulb, and a bellows in communication with the bulb, the bellows expanding and contracting in response to temperature changes; and,
- a mechanical control apparatus which causes the snap valve to open when said bulb operator indicates a slightly lower than desired temperature, and causes the regulator valve in said third passage to open when said bulb operator indicates a substantially lower than desired temperature.
- 4. The multi-way valve unit of claim 3 wherein the bypass flow control element in said bypass conduit is adjustable.
- 5. The multi-way valve unit of claim 4 wherein said mechanical control apparatus of said primary control device further includes a maximum flow control adjust element capable of limiting the maximum flow of gas when the regulator valve in said third passage is open.
- 6. The multi-way valve unit of claim 5 wherein said mechanical control apparatus of said primary control device includes:
- a first lever having a first and second ends, in operative communication with the bellows at the first end;
- a second lever having a first and a second end, in operative communication with the regulator valve at the second end, and in operative communication with the second end of said first control lever at the first end; and,
- a snap element in operative connection with said first control lever and the snap valve, for causing the snap valve to maintain only a fully closed or fully open state.
- 7. The multi-way valve unit of claim 6 wherein:
- the snap valve in said fourth passage has only a closed and an open state; and,
- the regulator valve in said third passage is a needle valve.
- 8. The multi-way valve unit of claim 6 wherein:
- the snap valve in said fourth passage has only a closed and an open state; and,
- the regulator valve in said third passage is a cup valve.
- 9. The multi-way valve unit of claim 3 wherein said mechanical control apparatus of said primary control device includes:
- a first lever having a first and second ends, in operative communication with the bellows at the first end;
- an engaging member, in operative contact with the second end of said first lever, and the regulator valve, said engaging member causing regulated pressure at the outlet port when engaged to said first lever, and causing fixed maximum pressure when said first lever disengages with said first lever mechanism; and,
- a snap element in operative connection with said engaging mechanism and the snap valve, said snap element causing the snap valve to maintain only a fully closed or fully open state.
- 10. The multi-way valve unit of claim 9 wherein:
- said mechanical control apparatus of said primary control device includes a maximum adjustment screw; and,
- said engaging member in said primary control device defines a first and a second spring engaging surfaces facing away from each other and a lever engaging surface parallel to the spring engaging surfaces and facing the same direction at the first spring engaging surface, a first spring compressed between a regulator valve and the first engaging surface, and a second spring compressed between a second spring engaging surface and the maximum adjustment screw of said mechanical control means, the lever engaging surface engaged by the first lever in one temperature range and not engaged thereby during a second temperature range.
- 11. A valve system providing dual-mode gas flow control having first and second diaphragm valves, the diaphragm valves defining a common inlet port and outlet port for providing gas into and out of the valve system, respectively, said first and second diaphragm valves having associated therewith first and second valve diaphragms and first and second diaphragm valve chambers, respectively, the valve diaphragms separating said inlet port from the valve chamber of each diaphragm valve, pressure differences from the valve chamber to said inlet port causing actuation of each diaphragm valve, the improvement comprising:
- said second diaphragm valve providing substantially lower gas flow than said first diaphragm valve;
- first control valve connected to the first diaphragm valve chamber of said first diaphragm valve, said first control valve, when open, lowering the pressure in the first diaphragm valve chamber of said first diaphragm valve sufficient to cause said first diaphragm valve to open, said first control valve further capable of regulated control of pressure in the first diaphragm valve chamber,
- second control valve connected to the second diaphragm valve chamber of said second diaphragm valve, said second control valve, when open, lowering the pressure in the second diaphragm valve chamber of said second diaphragm valve sufficient to cause said second diaphragm valve to open, said second control valve further capable of only fully opening or fully closing said second diaphragm valve; and,
- a primary control means, for operating said first and second control valves, said primary control means causing said second control valve to open under moderate gas demand, and causing said first control valve to provide regulated gas flow under heavy gas demand.
- 12. The gas valve system of claim 11 wherein operation of said first and second control valves occurs over a continuous supply curve whereby as demand for gas increases from no gas demand to high gas demand, the valve system provides low unregulated pressure during low demand, and high regulated pressure when high demand is reached.
- 13. The valve system of claim 12 further comprising:
- first passage connecting said inlet port to the first diaphragm valve chamber of said first diaphragm valve, said first passage communicating pressure changes at said inlet port to the first diaphragm valve chamber when said first control valve is regulating, and causing equalization of pressure in at said inlet port and first diaphragm valve chamber when said first control valve is closed;
- second passage connecting said inlet port to the second diaphragm valve chamber of said second diaphragm valve, said second passage communicating pressure changes at said inlet port to the second diaphragm valve chamber when said second control valve is open, and causing equalization of pressure at said inlet port and second diaphragm valve chamber when said second control valve is closed;
- third passage connecting said first control valve between the first diaphragm valve chamber and said outlet port, said third passage causing partial equalization of pressure between the first diaphragm valve chamber and said outlet port, said first control valve controlling the degree of regulation therebetween; and,
- fourth passage connecting said second control valve between the first diaphragm valve chamber and said outlet port, said fourth passage causing full equalization of pressure between the second diaphragm valve chamber and said outlet port, said second control valve controlling equalization therebetween.
- 14. The valve system of claim 12 wherein said primary control means includes a temperature sensing means for sensing temperature to be communicated to the valve system as an indication of gas demand, and a mechanical control means for communicating the sensed temperature to said first and second control valves, whereby the state of the control valves reflects differences between the desired temperature and the sensed temperature.
- 15. The valve system of claim 14 wherein said primary control means includes a maximum flow control means for regulating the maximum gas pressure which can be delivered to said outlet port.
- 16. The valve system of claim 15 wherein the temperature sensing means in said primary control means comprises bulb operator, defining a bulb volume, changes in the bulb volume being communicated to the mechanical control means.
- 17. The valve system of claim 14 wherein the mechanical control means of said primary control means includes snap means and lever means, the snap means for forcing said second control valve to define a fully closed state when there is no gas demand, and to define a fully open state at low or moderate gas demand, and the lever means for causing the first control valve to define a closed state at low or moderate gas demand and to define a regulating state at high gas demand, movement of the snap means and lever means being controlled by the temperature sensitive means.
- 18. The valve system of claim 17 wherein the snap means in the mechanical control means of said primary control means comprises a flexible element subject to mechanical stresses which cause it to snap from a rest to a depressed position upon mechanical force being applied thereto.
- 19. The valve system of claim 18 wherein the mechanical control means of said primary control means includes a first lever, the first lever having first and second ends, and a pivot point located between the first and second ends, the first lever contacting the temperature sensitive means at the first end, and contacting said snap means between the pivot point and the second end of the first lever, the mechanical control means also including a second lever having first and second ends, the first end of the second lever contacting the second end of the first lever, and the second end of the second lever in communication with said first control valve whereby temperature changes in the temperature sensitive means are communicated through the first and second levers to said first control valve, and through the first lever and snap means to said second control valve.
- 20. The valve system of claim 19 wherein the first lever disengages from the second lever when a maximum desired flow is reached.
- 21. The valve system of claim 19 wherein the second lever is prevented from causing further opening of said first control valve when a maximum desired flow is reached.
- 22. The valve system of claim 19 wherein the second lever engages said first control valve through a spring, which absorbs movement of the second lever during periods of low or moderate gas demand.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/751,010, filed Nov. 15, 1996, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
751010 |
Nov 1996 |
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