AU2002301283B2

AU2002301283B2 - Grease Fill Valve

Info

Publication number: AU2002301283B2
Application number: AU2002301283A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicholas Reading Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-03
Filing date: 2002-10-02
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-02

Description

11116

ORIGINAL

Complete Specification Applicant: Nicholas Reading Moore Title: Grease fill valve Address for Service: LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Grease Fill Valve Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to a grease fill valve. Typically, the valve of the invention would be used in tanks containing very viscous grease.

Background Of The Invention A grease fill valve serves as a means of introducing grease into a tank or other storage vessel. Grease typically is of a very high viscosity and requires considerable effort to be pumped into the tank. Grease pumps accordingly develop very high pressures and encountering a full tank would not normally stall the pump action. Under these circumstances continued pump action could lead to damage to the tank, and in extreme circumstances the tank may rupture.

It is therefore important that a supply of grease can be quickly closed off when a tank reaches the full position. However, the pressure between the pump and the valve can be considerable and this pressure can interrupt the re-opening of the supply.

The grease fill valve of the invention is adapted to turn off a supply of grease when it encounters a full tank and to open the valve easily for re-filling of the tank as needed.

Summary Of The Invention In a grease fill valve in accordance with the invention the valve piston movements are determined in response to the pressure conditions prevailing within the vessel and, in turn, the piston movements regulate the grease supply through the poppet assembly.

Under high-pressure conditions, therefore, the piston is driven into a valve closing position and under lower pressure conditions the piston opens the valve.

A valve in accordance with the invention is realised in the form of a grease valve adapted for connection to a vessel into which grease is to be supplied through the valve, said valve having a piston assembly mounted in a sleeve, said piston assembly being movable between closed position in which grease flow through the valve is prevented and an open position in which grease flow through the valve is permitted; a valve opening assembly, in the form of a poppet valve assembly, being spaced from the piston assembly and including a pod located in the sleeve, said pod being movable between an open position and a closed position in which the pod seals against a sealing surface in the sleeve in response to action of the piston assembly; and a release mechanism in the valve opening assembly including a passageway in the pod, said passageway having an open condition in which limited flow through the valve and a closed position in which no flow occurs and wherein the force required to open the release mechanism is less than that required to open the valve opening assembly.

Therefore, the grease fill valve of the invention includes a poppet valve assembly having a valve inlet, and the poppet valve being actuated by a piston assembly, the piston assembly being spaced apart from the poppet valve assembly by an opening serving as a valve exit port and as an access port to enable pressures changes in the valve environment to be recorded at the piston assembly.

Preferably, the release mechanism in the valve opening assembly includes a ball located in a bore within the pod, the ball being movable between a raised, open position in which flow through the pod is permitted and a closed position in which the ball closes against a seat The release mechanism serves to relieve any excess pressure that builds up from the grease supply thereby preventing opening of the valve at the appropriate time. The piston assembly preferably actuates the release mechanism before the piston assembly contacts the pod. Thus, the piston contacts the release mechanism to thereby lift the ball from the seat and open, thereby allowing any excess pressure in the grease supply to be dissipated and to facilitate the opening of the valve.

The piston assembly preferably includes a piston biased into position by a spring and having a rod stop extending from the piston that contacts and engages a pusher associated with the ball and also a surface of the pod.

Description Of Drawings The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figures 1-4 illustrate a grease fill valve in accordance with the invention in crosssectional view at varying stages of action; Figure 5 shows in detail the internal construction of the pusher in the pod; Figure 6 illustrates in greater detail and in perspective view the pod of the grease valve of figure 1; and Figure 7 illustrates the grease fill valve of figure 1 in perspective view.

Description Of The Preferred Embodiment Shown in the drawings is a grease fill valve 10 in accordance with the present invention. The grease fill valve 10 includes a cylindrical outer sleeve 12 attached by threaded connection to an uppermost poppet assembly 14. The poppet assembly 14 is adapted for threaded connection to a tank or other storage vessel 1. The lowermost part of the sleeve 12 contains a piston assembly 13.

The poppet assembly 14 consists of a head 15 containing an internal bore 16 housing a pod 18. The bore 16 communicates with circumferential ports 17 in the sleeve 12.

Thus grease passes into the valve 10 through the bore 16 and, ultimately exits the valve 10 through the ports 17 as will be described. The ports 17 are spaced between the poppet assembly 14 and the piston assembly 13.

The pod 18 is illustrated in perspective view in figure 6. The pod 18 consists of a cylinder 20 with an internal bore 22 that houses a pusher 24 and a ball 26. The pod 18 further includes upper and lower lateral extensions 28. The lateral extensions 28 are spaced circumferentially around the outer edge of the pod 18 and are shaped so as to allow the pod 18 to be slidably moveable within the bore 16 of the head 14 and also to allow grease to flow though the bore 16 around the pod 18.

An upper opening of the internal bore 22 in the pod 18 is completed by means of a lid The lid 30 serves to protect the ball 26 and pusher from exposure to dirt and other particulate matter that could interfere with the action of these parts. The lid 30 includes spaced circumferentially lateral extensions 32 corresponding to the extensions 28 on the pod and the lid 30 is secured to the lateral extensions 28 by means of screws 34.

The lateral extensions 28 have a locating step such that when the lid 30 is secured in position a narrow circumferential opening 36 is provided between the lid 30 and the pod 18, this opening 36 is in fluid communication with the bore 22 in the pod.

An annular retaining clip 38 located in a groove within the bore 16 above the pod 18 ensures that the pod 18 is retained in the bore 16 and at its lower end the pod 18 is restrained by resting on a shoulder 40 within the bore 16.

The ball 26 is located in the bore 22 of the pod 18 at an upper end thereof and is retained on a narrowed section of the bore 22 that forms a seat 42. When the ball 26 is in a lowered position resting on the seat 42 any passage through the bore 22 is closed off. The contact area between the ball 26 and the seat 42 is very small when compared with the contact area between the pod 18 and the shoulder 40. It follows that the amount of force required to break any contact between the ball 26 and the seat 42 is considerably less than the force requires to break contact between the pod 18 and the shoulder The pusher 24 is a snug fit in the bore and extends slightly below the lowermost edge of the pod 18.

The pusher 24 has a circumferential spline 44 cut into the surface thereof and an aperture 45 connecting the spline 44 to a central passageway 47 in the pusher 24. The pusher 24 terminates in a fine needle end section 46 that penetrates and moves through the narrowed section of the bore 22 to contact the underside of the ball 26.

The bore 16 has an opening on the underside of the head 15, which, as can be seen in figure 2, communicates with the ports 17. The ports 17 form the uppermost part of the sleeve 12. Below the ports is the piston assembly 13.

The piston assembly 13 includes a piston 48, spring 50, and rod stop 62.

The piston 48 is generally an inverted cup shape and consists of an outer cylindrical portion that is a close fit in the sleeve 12 and which is slidably moveable within the sleeve 12. An outer surface 49 is exposed to the pressure environment of the tank 1.

The piston 48 has associated therewith a pair of axially spaced outermost annular wear rings 54. The wear rings 54 are each secured in position by a respective retaining clip 56 on one side and by bearing against a raised portion of the piston wall on the other side. The two raised portions of the piston wall together form a groove in the piston wall that hold a seal member A rod stop 62 extends through the centre of the piston and upwardly from the top surface of the piston 48 towards the pusher 24 and pod 18. The rod stop 62 is connected through a threaded aperture in the top surface 49 of the piston 48. The rod stop 62 is sealed to the piston 48.

The upper end of the rod stop 62 terminates in a surface having a groove 66 cut therein, the groove 66 being able to contact lower part of the pusher 24. It can be seen that the groove 66 contacts the pusher 24 such that the internal passage 47 of the pusher is in fluid contact with the groove 66. Advantageously, the spline 44 may also be in fluid contact with the groove 66. The upper surface of the rod stop 62 is flared outwardly so that the surface contacts not only the pusher 24, but as can be seen in figures 3 and 4 the rod stop 62 comes into contact with an underside of the pod 18.

Movement of the piston 48 and rod stop 62 can therefore influence movement of the pusher 24 and pod 18. As seen in figure 1, in the closed position the pusher 24 sits slightly below the lowermost surface of the pod 18. Accordingly, the rod stop 62 initially contacts and engages the pusher 24 and then, as the piston rises, the pod 18 is contacted.

The spring 50 fits neatly within the cup of the piston 48 and bears against the underside of the piston top 49. The lower end of the spring 50 is secured in a groove in an end cap 68. The end cap 68 is, in turn secured in the sleeve 12 by means of a pair of circlips 70 located on either side of the cap 68 and an o-ring seal 72 that seals the cap against the inner walls of the sleeve 12.

Figures 1-4 illustrates the operation of the valve 10 of the invention in cross section. In figure 1 the valve 10 is in a closed position with a high-pressure environment prevailing in the tank 1. In figures 2 and 3 the effect of gradually falling pressure in the tank are shown until the valve 10 is in a fully open position as depicted in figure 4.

In use, the valve 10 is secured in a wall of the tank 1 by means of the threaded surface on the head 15. The valve 10 is flush with an upper surface of the tank, the major portion of the valve 10 being located within the tank 1. The tank 1 is gradually filled with grease and the valve 10 serves to shut off the supply of grease to the tank when the tank is full. The position of the valve in figure 1 reflects the condition of a full tank and high pressure within the tank.

As the tank 1 is gradually emptied the pressure in the tank gradually decreases. The pressure change in the tank is detected directly at the piston 48 through the exposure of the upper surface 49 of the piston to the tank environment. The piston 48 gradually rises as shown in figure 2. As the piston rises the rod stop 62 comes into contact with the lower surface of the pusher 24 without contacting the pod 18.

As will be observed the pod 18 closes over a substantial area of the shoulder 40. Thus, where there is a residual pressure in the grease a large force will have to be overcome before the valve 10 can be reopened. However, the ball 26, resting on the seat 42 in the bore 22 has only a minimal area of contact to form a seal. Therefore, the force required to interrupt the seal is very much less than in the case of the seal between the pod 18 and the shoulder Thus, as the pressure in the tank falls the piston 48 rises and eventually the rod stop 62 contacts the lower surface of the pusher 24. The pressure of the piston is transmitted through the pusher 24 upwardly towards the needle end of the pusher and ultimately to the ball 26. Relatively gentle pressure is then required to lift the ball 26 off the seat 42.

Thus, as shown in figure 3, the pusher 24 is gradually raised through the bore 16 thereby lifting the ball 26 off the seat 42. This action opens the valve and allows grease to flow through the bore 22 in the pusher 24, and into the aperture 45 and, ultimately out of the lower surface of the pusher 24 and through the space created by the groove 66 into the tank 1.

Once the ball 26 has been lifted off the seat 42 and the passageway opened, the pressure on the pod is thereby relieved and the pod 18 is now moved upwardly by the piston 48 opening the valve 10 fully.

The valve 10 therefore has a two part opening mechanism consisting of a first part that includes the opening of the ball from the seat that allows the pressure acting to close the valve to be dissipated followed by a second, more complete opening that allows the grease to flow.

As the tank approaches full the pressure in the tank increases. Pressure acts on the piston 48 urging the piston 48 downwards thereby allowing the pod 18 to seal against the shoulder 40 as depicted in figure 3, and the ball 26 to seal against the seat 42 as shown in figure 2. The valve 10 has now closed and no grease is able to flow.

The invention has been described by way of example. The examples are not, however, to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Modifications and variations of the invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A grease valve adapted for connection to a vessel into which grease is to be supplied through the valve, said valve having a piston assembly mounted in a sleeve, said piston assembly being movable between closed position in which grease flow through the valve is prevented and an open position in which grease flow through the valve is permitted; a valve opening assembly, in the form of a poppet valve assembly, being spaced from the piston assembly and including a pod located in the sleeve, said pod being movable between an open position and a closed position in which the pod seals against a sealing surface in the sleeve in response to action of the piston assembly; and a release mechanism in the valve opening assembly including a passageway in the pod, said passageway having an open condition in which limited flow through the valve and a closed position in which no flow occurs and wherein the force required to open the release mechanism is less than that required to open the valve opening assembly.

2. A grease valve according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism in the valve opening assembly including a ball located in a bore within the pod, the ball being movable between a raised, open position in which flow through the pod is permitted and a closed position in which the ball closes against a seat.

3. A grease valve according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the release mechanism serves to relieve any excess pressure that builds up from the grease supply thereby preventing opening of the valve.

4. A grease valve according to claim 2, wherein the piston assembly actuates the release mechanism before the piston assembly contacts the pod, and whereby the piston contacts the release mechanism to thereby lift the ball from the seat and open, thereby allowing any excess pressure in the grease supply to be dissipated and to facilitate the opening of the valve.

A grease valve according to claim 4, the area of the sealing surface of the pod against the sleeve is substantially greater than the area of the seat closed in the pod by the ball the thereby ensure that the force required to open the release mechanism is less than that required to open the valve opening assembly.

6. A grease valve according to claim 5, in which the piston assembly includes a piston biased into position by a spring and having a rod stop extending from the piston that contacts and engages the valve opening assembly to thereby open the valve.

7. A grease valve according to claim 6, in which the rod stop extends through the centre of the piston and upwardly from the top surface of the piston towards the pod, the upper end of the rod stop terminating in a surface having a groove cut therein, the groove being adapted to contact and engage a lower part of valve to thereby facilitate valve opening and closing.

8. A grease valve according to claim 7, wherein the rod stop of the piston engages a pusher in the bore of the pod, the pusher extending at a lowermost edge slightly below the lowermost edge of the pod and at an upper end the pusher acting against the ball in response to movement of the piston.

9. A grease valve according to claim 8, in which the piston consists of an outer cylindrical portion having a closed upper end that is a close fit in the sleeve and which is slidably moveable within the sleeve, the piston having an outer surface exposed to the pressure environment of the vessel.

10. A grease valve according to claim 9, wherein the piston assembly is axially spaced in the sleeve from the valve opening assembly and wherein valve opening assembly has an opening on the underside, said opening communicating with one or more ports through which grease is able to flow when the valve is in an open, said port thus separating the uppermost part of the sleeve containing the valve opening assembly from the piston assembly.

11. A grease valve according to claim 10, in which the spring fits neatly within the cylindrical portion of the piston and bears against the underside of the piston, a lower end of the spring being secured in the sleeve.

12. A grease valve according to claim 11, wherein the pusher includes circumferential spline cut into the surface thereof and an aperture connecting the spline a central passageway in the pusher.

13. A grease valve according to claim 12, wherein the spline is in fluid contact with the groove cut into the upper surface of the rod stop and wherein the upper surface of the rod stop is flared outwardly so that the surface thereof contacts can contact not only the pusher to open the valve re, but also the rod stop, whereby action of the piston engages firstly the pusher to open the release mechanism then, as the piston rises, the pod is contacted lifting the pod off the sealing surface in the sleeve to thereby fully open the valve.

14. A grease valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated: 12 September 2002 Nicholas Reading Moore By his Patent Attorneys Lesicar Perrin