A solenoid-powered gate valve that provides a reliable, high quality seal with a reduced operating force requirement. The valve includes a solenoid coil and armature connected to a valve mechanism, with the valve mechanism including a conduit having a connection opening, an oppositely-disposed pocke
A solenoid-powered gate valve that provides a reliable, high quality seal with a reduced operating force requirement. The valve includes a solenoid coil and armature connected to a valve mechanism, with the valve mechanism including a conduit having a connection opening, an oppositely-disposed pocket, and a sprung gate assembly linearly movable between the connection opening and the pocket. The sprung gate assembly includes a first gate member with an opening, a second gate member with an opening, and an endless elastic band retained between the first and second gate members, with the openings and endless elastic band collectively defining a passage through the sprung gate assembly, with the first and second gate members being mechanically coupled to the armature for reciprocating linear movement between the connection opening and the pocket. The endless elastic band allows an interference fit within the pocket with reduced frictional opposition to gate movement.
대표청구항▼
1. A powered gate valve comprising: a solenoid coil and an armature connected to a valve mechanism;the valve mechanism including: a conduit having a connection opening and an oppositely-disposed pocket; anda sprung gate assembly linearly movable between the connection opening and the pocket;wherein
1. A powered gate valve comprising: a solenoid coil and an armature connected to a valve mechanism;the valve mechanism including: a conduit having a connection opening and an oppositely-disposed pocket; anda sprung gate assembly linearly movable between the connection opening and the pocket;wherein the sprung gate assembly includes a first gate member having an opening, a second gate member having an opening and opposing the first gate member, and an endless elastic band retained between the first and second gate members, with the openings and endless elastic band collectively defining a passage through the sprung gate assembly; andwherein the first and second gate members are mechanically coupled to the armature for reciprocating linear movement between the connection opening and the pocket;wherein the second gate member has an exterior-facing recess, a check valve opening disposed within the exterior-facing recess, and a check valve disposed adjacent the check valve opening so as to selectively seal the check valve opening against flow out of a chamber defined by the first and second gate members and the endless elastic band. 2. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises a stem projecting from the armature, and a connection-opening end of the stem is affixed to the sprung gate assembly. 3. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises a stem projecting from the armature and a rail system interconnecting a connection-opening end of the stem with a connection-opening end of the sprung gate assembly so as to permit relative sliding movement between the stem and the spring gate assembly in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduit. 4. The powered gate valve of claim 3, wherein one of the connection-opening end of the stem and the connection-opening end of the spring gate assembly includes a guide rail, and the other of the connection-opening end of the stem and the connection-opening end of the spring gate assembly includes a slider configured to wrap around the guide rail. 5. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises a stem projecting from the armature, a connection-opening end of the stem includes an enlarged, plate-like head, and connection-opening ends of at least the first and second gate members collectively define a socket which surrounds the plate-like head. 6. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second gate members each include a track for receiving a portion of the endless elastic band, wherein the tracks and endless elastic band are configured such that the first and second gate members are spaced apart from one another by a non-zero distance when the endless band is seated in the tracks, and wherein the tracks are positioned to recess the endless elastic band a distance from the outer perimeters of the first and second gate members so as to form a channel around an outer surface of the endless elastic band disposed between the first and second gate members. 7. The powered gate valve of claim 6, further comprising a vent port fluidly communicating with the connection opening, the pocket, and the channel. 8. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the pocket has a width, in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conduit, which is smaller than an unloaded width of the sprung gate assembly so as to produce an interference fit between the sprung gate assembly and the pocket upon insertion of the sprung gate assembly into the pocket. 9. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second gate members include a closed position portion with the first gate member having a second opening, the second gate member having a substantially continuous smooth exterior surface opposing the second opening, and the endless elastic band having a figure-eight shape separating the passage and the second opening within opposite loops of the figure-eight shape. 10. The powered gate valve of claim 9, wherein the second gate member has a plug projecting from an interior surface opposing the second opening, the plug being configured to fit within the adjoining loop of the figure-eight shape and dimensioned to be at least the size of the second opening. 11. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second gate members includes a latch and the other of the first and second gate members includes a correspondingly disposed detent, with the latch engaging the detent to retain the sprung gate assembly in an assembled configuration. 12. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the endless elastic band has an accordion-walled longitudinal cross-section. 13. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the exterior-facing recess includes a plurality of check valve retainer openings bracketing the check valve opening and the check valve includes a plurality of check valve retainers received and retained by the check valve retainer openings. 14. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the first gate member has an interior surface opposing the plurality of check valve retainer openings and the interior surface includes a plurality of inwardly projecting stop posts aligned with check valve retainer openings and engaging the check valve. 15. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve includes a generally planar sealing surface and the check valve retainers comprise projecting neck portions adapted to extend through and plug the check valve retainer openings and head portions adapted to be interferingly retained by the walls of the check valve retainer openings. 16. The powered gate valve of claim 15, wherein the check valve includes a plurality of retainer stops aligned with the plurality of check valve retainers and oppositely projecting from the check valve. 17. The powered gate valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve selectively opens to fluidly interconnect the check valve opening with the chamber, first gate member opening, second gate member opening, and passage if a pressure at the exterior-facing recess is greater than a pressure within the chamber. 18. The powered gate valve of claim 17, wherein the check valve selectively closes to fluidly disconnect the check valve opening from the chamber, first gate member opening, second gate member opening, and passage if the pressure at the exterior-facing recess is less than a pressure within the chamber. 19. A sprung gate assembly comprising: a first gate member and a second gate member each defining an opening therethrough in an open position portion thereof, the second gate member comprising a check valve opening in a closed position portion thereof having a check valve member selectively sealing the check valve opening; andan endless elastic band, having an inner perimeter defining at least a first open space, sandwiched in compression between the first and second gate members with the first open space thereof oriented for alignment with the opening in both of the first and second gate members, which are aligned to form a passage through the sprung gate;wherein the endless elastic band applies a bias force to the first and second gate members biasing them away from one another, and the first endless elastic band, the first gate member, and the second gate member collectively move together between an open position and a closed position. 20. The sprung gate assembly of claim 19, wherein the first gate member has a plurality of stop posts extending from an interior surface of a closed position portion toward the check valve member. 21. The sprung gate assembly of claim 19, wherein the check valve member includes a generally planar sealing surface, projecting neck portions each extending through a retaining opening in the second gate member, and a head portion on each projecting neck portion interferingly retained by the second gate member after passing through the retaining opening.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Fletcher, David E.; Graichen, Brian M.; Miller, James H.; Bravo, Rex; Hampton, Keith; Gilmer, Matthew C.; Niedert, Andrew D.; Bruder, Nicole, Actuated valve.
Hampton, Keith; Fletcher, David; Graichen, Brian M.; Bravo, Rex; Miller, James H.; Gilmer, Matt; Niedert, Andrew, Flow control for aspirators producing vacuum using the venturi effect.
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