FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application for a patent of invention relates to a dual-action valve used in
high-pressure pumps, particularly for pumping fluids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] So-called dual-action valves are known in the state of the art, and are normally
used in high-pressure pumps. These valves are called dual action as they allow fluid
to flow in both the forward and return strokes of a piston, for example.
[0003] Although they are widely used in the market, most of these valves possess certain
features such as the use of resilient materials next to the seal, generating less
stability and a greater incidence of leaks, as well as often presenting stability
problems due to a reduced length in relation to the theoretically ideal length; in
addition, these known dual-action valves have a diameter that is considered relatively
large, thus also running into problems related to material costs. Furthermore, it
is normal for the current valves to use a single spring, which reduces the device's
useful life, as well as a through shaft seal, which increases resistance to the flow
of fluid, resulting in lower efficiency.
STATE OF THE ART
[0004] It is known from the state of the art the document
US 6,231,323 of 15/05/2001, relating to a reciprocating high-pressure pump, which has a valve
cartridge positioned within a manifold block, and said valve cartridge has a fixed
body with a plurality of equally spaced suction openings, in a radial design. According
to the above document, a central hole in the fixed body of the valve cartridge has
a valve assembly mounted within it, and said valve assembly includes a discharge valve
element and an aspiration valve element mounted to slide over the outer surface of
the discharge valve member.
[0005] Also, according to the above document, a spring is positioned between the aforesaid
discharge valve element and the aspiration valve element, and said spring continually
activates the discharge and aspiration valve elements, in relation to the closed portion.
In the aspiration process, the aspiration valve element is opened and the fluid enters
the pump chamber through the aforesaid radial suction openings. In the power stroke,
the fluid is discharged through a central hole and lateral feed channels in the discharge
valve element in the open position.
[0006] This state of the art high-pressure valve has a work cycle similar to the valve in
this patent application; however, the valve of the above document presents the problems
listed above, namely:
- use of a single spring, which causes a reduced useful life;
- sealing angle made from resilient materials, which leads to a higher probability of
leaks, and reduced stability;
- a reduced valve length compared to this model, which can lead to stability problems;
- a greatly increased valve diameter compared to the valve of this patent, which leads
problems related to material costs;
- the larger valve diameter creates a greater load on the valve due to the increase
of the pressurized area;
- a bottleneck in the fluid flow due to the through shaft seal.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is the object of this patent application to propose a dual-action valve, for use
in high-pressure pumps, which has two compression springs with different dimensional
features, one of which works on the suction valve and the other on the pressure valve.
With the use of these two springs, the useful life of the valve is increased in relation
to state of the art valves, which is a significant technical advantage, given that
it directly affects the efficiency of the valve, particularly over time.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to obtain a dual-action valve in which the sealing
angle is configured as metal/metal, ensuring greater stability for the assembly and
determining a lower incidence of leaks.
[0009] Additional features such as the greater length of the valve and its smaller diameter,
when compared visually with the state of the art valves, lead, respectively, to greater
stability and a reduction in the final cost of the product.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT APPLIED IN A DUAL-ACTION VALVE, the reason for this
patent application, is intended preferentially to be used in a head block, and essentially
consists of a suction valve and a pressure valve, with a compression spring in each
of the aforesaid valves. The compression spring of the suction valve is supported
on a spring support, on which a split ring operates, while the compression spring
of the pressure valve is housed in a pressure spring guide. The double seat forms
the metal/metal seal angle, while the suction valve works within a piston liner, with
openings for fluid intake, whereas a longitudinal conduit, when the piston advances,
makes the fluid flow into the high-pressure duct within the head.
[0011] As stated, working with two compression springs, the high-pressure fluid feeding
operation becomes more efficient, with an increased useful life and without flow variations
determined by the problems with a single system spring.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will be explained below through an embodiment thereof and, to facilitate
understanding, reference will be made to the attached drawings, which show:
FIG. 1: Side view of the dual-action high pressure valve, partially sectioned lengthwise;
FIG. 2: Side view of the head in section, showing the dual-action high-pressure valve
inserted into it.
[0013] The CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT APPLIED IN A DUAL-ACTION VALVE, the subject matter of
this application for a industrial invention, consists of a valve (V) to be used in
high-pressure systems, and, in the example shown in this patent, the aforesaid valve
(V) is inserted into a head (C1), showing the fixing elements (E1) and the high-pressure
outlet (AP) of the valve (V) to the cited head (C1).
[0014] According to the attached drawings, the valve (V), particularly by means of its suction
side (L1), is coupled to the piston liner (C2) which is connected to the crankshaft
(not shown).
[0015] The valve (V) itself is provided with a double seat (1) of a cylindrical kind and
provided with a peripheral sealing ring (2), and said double seat (1) has on one side
the suction valve (3) and on the other side the pressure valve (4). The latter consists
of a more elongated cylindrical body (5), of smaller diameter, with external sealing
rings (6).
[0016] The double seat (1) receives longitudinal hollow conduits (7) that have one end with
an opening (8) for fluid inflow, the opposite ends of said longitudinal hollow conduits
(7) having the suction valve (3), on which is supported one end of the compression
spring (9), whose opposite end abuts the spring support (10), where is applied a split
locking ring (11).
[0017] The double seat (1) is traversed by a longitudinal channel (12) extending from the
suction side to the pressure side, to communicate with the high-pressure outlet (AP).
[0018] The dual-action seat (1) has a sealing angle (13) that is made of metal with metal,
to ensure greater stability and reduce the incidence of eventual fluid leaks.
[0019] The pressure valve (4) receives a pressure spring guide (14) and the compression
spring itself (15), which has a smaller diameter than the compression spring (9).
[0020] Although it is not the object of a patent to give measurements, comparative analysis
of the subject matter of the invention with the state of the art document clearly
shows, from a simple comparison of the cartridge and the aspiration and discharge
valves, that the cartridge diameter is significantly greater than the valves, and
the overall length of the assembly is reduced, because in the previous document a
single spring is used, which, in addition to the inherent problems of premature wear
of the single spring, has a reduced length.
[0021] On the contrary, this valve, by creating a construction to receive two springs, managed
to design, with this construction, a dual-action valve of greater length, ensuring
greater stability, to reduce the diameter and to save material and, above all, to
increase the useful life of the valve, which is a solution that the market wants and
expects, because the procedures for preventive and corrective maintenance incur a
loss of time and labour and generate costs.
[0022] From the functional perspective, the valve in this patent application is operated
by actuating the piston (P) in the retracting direction, in order to create negative
pressure inside the liner (C2) and thereby create positive pressure in (16) and allow
the flow of fluid to the interior of said liner (C2).
[0023] At the point of maximum retraction of the piston (P), the pressures are equalized,
allowing the compression spring (9) to close the suction valve (3), ending the first
stage.
[0024] The piston (P), actuated by the crankshaft (not shown), starts moving forward, thus
generating an increase in pressure, which makes the fluid flow through the longitudinal
channel (12) and pressurize the pressure valve (4), which compresses the compression
spring (15) and releases the fluid to flow to the high-pressure duct (AP).
[0025] As can be seen, with the adoption of two springs, the operating cycle of the high-pressure
valve occurs efficiently, and achieves a number of useful life cycles which is substantially
optimized in relation to the valves that use a single spring.
1. CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT APPLIED IN A DUAL-ACTION VALVE, the valve (V) is provided
with a dual-action seat (1) of a cylindrical kind and provided with a peripheral sealing
ring (2), said double seat (1) has on one side the suction valve (3) and on the other
side the pressure valve (4), the latter consisting of a more elongated cylindrical
body (5), of smaller diameter, with external sealing rings (6); the double seat (1)
receives longitudinal hollow conduits (7) that have one end with an opening (8) for
fluid inflow, the opposite ends of said longitudinal hollow conduits (7) having the
suction valve (3), on which is supported one end of the compression spring (9), whose
opposite end abuts the spring support (10), where is applied a split locking ring
(11); said double seat (1) is traversed by a longitudinal channel (12) extending from
the suction side to the pressure side, to communicate with the high pressure outlet
(AP); characterized in that the suction valve (3) receives the compression spring (9), whereas the pressure valve
(4) receives a pressure spring guide (14) and the compression spring itself (15),
which has a smaller diameter than the compression spring (9).
2. CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT APPLIED IN A DUAL-ACTION VALVE according to claim 1, characterized in that the double seat (1) has a sealing angle (13) that is made of metal with metal.