초록 ▼

A relief valve assembly is provided for use in connection with high pressure and ultrahigh pressure pumps. The relief valve assembly includes a valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface and a valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a tapered surface on the valve

A relief valve assembly is provided for use in connection with high pressure and ultrahigh pressure pumps. The relief valve assembly includes a valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface and a valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a tapered surface on the valve seat to sealingly mate with the engagement portion of the valve pin when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in a seated configuration. The valve seat further includes at least one bypass passage that extends from the valve pin receiving aperture to an exterior surface of the valve seat such that when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration fluid can pass through the bypass passage and an annular space created between the engagement portion of the valve pin and the valve seat. Systems incorporating the relief valve assembly are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A relief valve assembly comprising: a valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface and a plurality of annular grooves provided on the tapered surface of the engagement portion; anda valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a tapered surface on the valve seat to s

1. A relief valve assembly comprising: a valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface and a plurality of annular grooves provided on the tapered surface of the engagement portion; anda valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a tapered surface on the valve seat to sealingly mate with the engagement portion of the valve pin when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in a seated configuration, the valve seat further having at least one bypass passage that extends completely through a lateral side wall of the valve seat from the valve pin receiving aperture to an exterior lateral side surface of the valve seat such that when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration fluid can pass through the bypass passage and an annular space created between the engagement portion of the valve pin and the valve seat, the annular space providing a primary flow path out through a terminal end of the valve seat to an outlet of the relief valve assembly and the bypass passage providing a secondary flow path through a side of the valve seat to the outlet of the relief valve assembly that is distinct from the primary flow path, andwherein at least one of the annular grooves provided on the tapered surface of the engagement portion of the valve pin is positioned at or near the bypass passage of the valve seat when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in the seated configuration. 2. The relief valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a housing having a fluid outlet chamber, the valve seat positioned within the housing such that when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration the bypass passage and the annular space created between the engagement portion of the valve pin and the valve seat are each in fluid communication with the fluid outlet chamber. 3. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the tapered surface of the valve seat defined by the valve pin receiving aperture has a draft angle between about two and about five degrees at least in an immediate area next to where the bypass passage intersects the valve pin receiving aperture. 4. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in the seated configuration, the bypass passage is completely obstructed by the valve pin. 5. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration, a terminal end of the valve pin remains upstream of the bypass passage. 6. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve seat includes a plurality of bypass passages that extend from the valve pin receiving aperture to the exterior lateral side surface of the valve seat. 7. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve seat includes opposing bypass passages defined by a linear, cross-drilled hole extending completely through an end of the valve seat. 8. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the bypass passage has a diameter that is less than an average diameter of the valve pin receiving aperture at a region where the bypass passage intersects the valve pin receiving aperture. 9. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the bypass passage has a diameter that is equal to or less than one-third of an average diameter of the valve pin receiving aperture at a region where the bypass passage intersects the valve pin receiving aperture. 10. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the bypass passage has a diameter of 0.035 ±.005 inch and an average diameter of the valve pin receiving aperture at a region where the bypass passage intersects the valve pin receiving aperture is 0.150±.010 inch. 11. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the bypass passage intersects the valve pin receiving aperture at about 0.270 ±.030 inch from a terminal end of the valve seat. 12. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve pin receiving aperture defines a central axis and the bypass passage extends perpendicular to the central axis. 13. The relief valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve seat includes a fluid inlet conduit that is in fluid communication with the valve pin receiving aperture, and wherein the valve pin is positioned to be exposed to fluid having variable pressure within the fluid inlet conduit of the valve seat during operation such that, when the pressure of the fluid is sufficient to overcome a control force which biases the valve pin toward the seated configuration, the valve pin is forced to move away from the seated configuration to create the annular space, thereby allowing the fluid to pass through the annular space and the bypass passage simultaneously. 14. The relief valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the bypass passage is configured to stabilize a pressure signal corresponding to the pressure of the fluid when fluid passes through the bypass passage during operation. 15. The relief valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the bypass passage is configured to reduce the fluctuation in a pressure signal corresponding to the pressure of the fluid when the fluid passes through the bypass passage during operation. 16. A relief valve assembly comprising: a valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface ; anda valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a tapered surface on the valve seat to sealingly mate with the engagement portion of the valve pin when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in a seated configuration, the valve seat further having at least one bypass passage that extends completely through a lateral side wall of the valve seat from the valve pin receiving aperture to an exterior lateral side surface of the valve seat such that when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration fluid can pass through the bypass passage and an annular space created between the engagement portion of the valve pin and the valve seat, the annular space providing a primary flow path out through a terminal end of the valve seat to an outlet of the relief valve assembly and the bypass passage providing a secondary flow path through a side of the valve seat to the outlet of the relief valve assembly that is distinct from the primary flow path,wherein the valve seat includes a fluid inlet conduit that is in fluid communication with the valve pin receiving aperture and wherein the valve pin is positioned to be exposed to fluid having variable pressure within the fluid inlet conduit of the valve seat during operation such that when the pressure of the fluid is sufficient to overcome a control force which biases the valve pin toward the seated configuration, the valve pin is forced to move away from the seated configuration to create the annular space, thereby allowing the fluid to pass through the annular space and the bypass passage simultaneously, andwherein the valve pin is biased toward the seated configuration by a pneumatic actuator, and wherein the bypass passage is sized to provide at least a ten percent reduction in the operating pressure of the pneumatic actuator relative to a relief valve assembly that lacks a bypass passage but is otherwise identical. 17. A system comprising: a pump operable to supply a source of fluid at high or ultrahigh pressures; anda relief valve assembly in fluid communication with the source of fluid supplied by the pump, the relief valve assembly including a valve pin and a valve seat, the valve pin having an engagement portion with a tapered surface and a plurality of annular grooves provided on the tapered surface of the engagement portion, the valve seat having a valve pin receiving aperture defining a surface on the valve seat that is configured to sealingly mate with the engagement portion of the valve pin when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in a seated configuration, and the valve seat having at least one bypass passage that extends completely through a lateral side wall of the valve seat from the valve pin receiving aperture to an exterior lateral side surface of the valve seat such that, when the valve pin is displaced away from the seated configuration during operation, fluid supplied by the pump can simultaneously pass through the bypass passage and a primary relief passage created between the valve pin and the valve seat, the primary relief passage providing a primary flow path out through a terminal end of the valve seat to an outlet of the relief valve assembly and the bypass passage providing a secondary flow path through a side of the valve seat to the outlet of the relief valve assembly that is distinct from the primary flow path, and wherein at least one of the annular grooves provided on the tapered surface of the engagement portion of the valve pin is positioned at or near the bypass passage of the valve seat when the valve pin is seated against the valve seat in the seated configuration. 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising: a waterjet cutting apparatus configured to receive high pressure or ultrahigh pressure fluid from the pump, the pressure of the fluid being regulated at least in part by the relief valve assembly.