US3185174A - Direct response valve - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1965 B. EDWARDS 3,185,174

DIRECT RESPONSE VALVE Original Filed March 24, 1959 United States atent O 3,185,174 Dillilfi'i RESPSNSE VALWL Bryant Edwards, Gal r Park, llh, nssignor to lillinois Tool Works inc, Chicago, iii, a corporation of Eelaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 891,532, Mar. 24, 1959. This application Apr. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 273,393 2 Claims. (Cl. 137533.2i)

The present invention relates to a novel article of manufacture, and more particularly to a novel plastic direct response valve having radially projecting rib means and usuable for various purposes. This is a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 801,532, filed March 24, 1959, abandoned.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing a device incorporating features of the present invention in an initially molded and only partially finished condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 but showing a step in the method of the present invention of completing the formation of the novel article;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and showing the article in completed form;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing another device incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, showing another modification of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing the article of FIG. 5 fully assembled with an associated workpiece;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially broken awa*, showing an article incorporating another modified form of the present invention in a partially completed condition;

FIG. 8 is a similar perspective view showing the article of FIG. 7 in a finally completed condition;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 but show another modification of the present invention wherein the radially projecting ribs means is helically formed; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 except that they show another modification of the present invention W erein the rib means projects radially outwardly rather than radially inwardly.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an article incorporating one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 13. The device Zil is in the form of a circumferentially continuous ring and is molded from a suitable tough resilient plastic material such as nylon.

Referring particularly to HS. 1, it is seen that article 20, in its initially molded condition, comprises first and second annular sections 22 and 24 which are integrally joined by an intermediate section 26. It is to be noted that all of these sections, as initially molded, have substantially the same internal diameter so that the mold may be extremely simple in construction. It is also to be noted that the sections 22 and 24 have a radial extent or thickness which is considerably greater than the radial thickness of the intermediate connecting section 26. As a result the article 29 is provided wtih an annular groove 28 in its outer surface, which groove is at least partially defined by a rounded bottom surface which is also the outer surface of the intermediate connecting section 26.

In accordance with the present invention, the article 2% is first molded in the shape shown in FIG. 1 and then (ill formed so that the intermediate connecting section 26 provides a radially inwardly projecting annular rib or bead as shown best in FIG. 3. In accordance with the present invention, the article is formed from its initially molded condition to its completed condition by axially compressing the article. This may be accomplished by various suitable means and as indicated in simplified form in FIG. 2, the article may, for example, be supported on a suitable fiat member 38 whereupon the article is engaged and axially compressed by a suitable ram 32. As the ram 32 is advanced downwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, the intermediate section 26 which is relatively thin in a radial direction as compared with the other sections of the article, is axially collapsed. At the same time, the intermediate section is radially inwardly projected and extruded from between the opposing faces 34 and 36 of the sections 22 and 24 so as to provide the above mentioned radially projecting rib or bead. It is important to note that sufiicient pressure is applied to the article 2t) so that the intermediate section 26 is formed and projected beyond the elastic limit of the material so that the article will remain in the condition shown in FIG. 3. In this condition the opposing surfaces 34 and 36 of the sections 22 and 24 are slightly spaced so that the article could be used as an axially collapsible resilient washer, if desired. Furthermore, the article 20 could be applied to a complementary grooved shaft or other part so to function as a retaining ring or the like, if desired.

FIG. 4 shows a valve structure 20a which incorporates the features of the present invention as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a added to elements corresponding with those described above. In this embodiment the section 24a is extended and is provided with axially extending bore 38 and a counterbore 44) with a valve seat 42 therebetween. A valve member having an end portion 44 is disposed in the counterbore for engagement with the valve seat and includes axially extending vanes or guide members 46 for maintaining the valve member in the proper position. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the valve and guide assembly is positioned Within the counterbore while the intermediate section 26a is in its initially molded condition with its inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore 40. Then axial pressure is applied to the structure for axially collapsing and radially projecting the section Zea so that the radially inwardly projecting bead 26a will serve to retain the valve and guide assembly. As shown in FIG. 4, the vanes have central recess means 48 in ends thereof adjacent the ead for promoting free fluid flow. It is also to be noted that the valve member including the vanes has an axial length substantially greater than the diameter of the bore til whereby to maintain the end portion 44 centrally within the bore and in alignment with the valve seat for promoting proper engagement with the valve seat and for facilitating free fluid flow when the end portion 44 is displaced from the valve seat.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention which incorporates features discussed above as indicated by the suffix b added to corresponding elements. in this embodiment the article Ztlb is in the form of a cap or retainer member adapted to be applied to a reduced diameter end portion 50 of a shaft or part 52. The reduced diameter portion 5% of the part 52 is provided with an annular groove 54 complementary to and adapted to receive the radially inwardly projecting rib or bead 26b as shown in FIG. 6. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the article Zlib is assembled with the part 52 in the following manner. The article is first applied to the reduced diameter portion Ell of the part while the article is in its initially folded condition shown in FIG. 5, or in other words, before the section 26b is deformed and radially projected. When this initial assembly has been completed, the article is axially compressed in themanner described above so that the intermediate section 2612 is radially inwardly projected directly into the annular groove before. It will be appreciated that this procedure completely eliminates any need for stretching the article or at least a preformed rib or bead portion thereof to enable it to be applied to the complementary groove so that the ditficulties of such an operation along with any possible injury to the article are also eliminated.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show anarticle 2% which is similar to the article 29 as described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the sufix added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment the article is axially extended by the provision of a plurality of additional sections 55, 58, 60 and 62 which'are essentially identical to the sections 220 and 240 and also by the provision of additional reduced thickness connecting sections 64, 66, 6S and 70 which are identical to the section 26c. The article 290 is axially collapsed from its original molded condition shown in FIG. 7 to its finished condition shown in FIG. 8 by applying axial pressure thereto in the manner described above. As a result of the formation of and the resiliency of the material in the radial inwardly projecting annular ribs or beads 25c and 6476, the article 2th: may be resiliently axially expanded and collapsed so that it may be used as a bellows. Furthermore, the article 2490 may be made in any desired axial length by duplicating the various sections described above so that it could, if desired, be used as a flexible conduit.

FIGS. 9 and 10 shows a device d which is similar to the article 200 as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the sufiix :1 added to corresponding elements. This embodiment difiers only in that the connecting sections or radially inwardly projecting beads or ribs are elically formed and connected with each other so as to provide a continuous helical thread. Thus, this device may be used in the samemanner as the article 20c and in addition it may be'used as a nut-like member and threadedly engage a complementary workpiece.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an article 200 which is similar to the article 20a as indicated by the application of 1 substantially elongated in nature and having a first diameter, said body means also defining second bore means of substantially smaller diameter concentric with'and communicating with said first bore means, annular valve seat means on said body means at a junction between said first and second bore means, a one-piece elongated valve member movable in said first bore means and including an end portion of a cross-sectional dimension less than said first bore means and cooperable with said valve seat means for controlling fiow of fiuid therethrough, one of said first bore means and said valve member ineluding a plurality of vane means for guiding movement of said valve member in said first bore means, said vane means extending for the substantial length of said first bore means and having a cross-sectional dimension for maintaining said valve member substantially concentric with said first bore means during movement of the valve member for permitting fluid flow through said bore means past said valve member when the valve member is spaced from the valve seat means, said body means including a first annular section having a certain radial thickness around said first bore means and axially spaced from said seat means, said body means including a second annular section having a certain radial thickness around said first bore means between said first section and said seat means, and said body means including a third annular section between and integrally joining said first and second annular sections, said third section projecting radially inwardly of adjacent inner surfaces of said first and second sections and providing an annular bead having an internal diameter less than said first diameter, said bead being engageable with said valve member for retaining the valve member within said first bore means.

2. A valve structure comprising one piece molded plastic body means including first substantially elongated bore means having a first diameter and second bore means of substantially smaller diameter concentric with and com municating with said first bore means, annular valve seat means on said body means at the junction between said first and second bore means, and an elongated valve member movable in said first bore means and having an end portion of a cross-sectional dimension less than said first bore means and cooperable with said valve seat means for. controlling the flow of fiuid therethrough, one of said first bore means and said valve member including a plurality of substantially elongated vane means for guiding movement of the valve member in the first said bore means, said vane means having a cross-sectional dimension for maintaining said valve member substantially concentric with said first bore means during movement of the valve member for permitting the fiuid flow through first said bore means and past said valve member when the valve member is spaced from said valve seat mean, said body means including a first annular section having a certain radial thickness around said first bore means and axially spaced from said seat means, said body means including a second annular section having a certain radial thickness around said first bore means between said first section and said seat means, and said body means including a third annular section between and integrally joining said first and second annular sections, said third section projecting radially inwardly of adjacent inner surfaces of said first and second sections and providiry an annular bead having an internal diameter less than said first diameter, said bead being engageable with said valve member for retaining the valve member within said first bore means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 142,458 9/73 Gould 137-53331 1,147,343 7/15 Smolensky 137-533 XR 1,493,410 5/24 Wolcott -a 137533 2,309,839 2/43 Gardner 251368 XR 2,833,512 5/58 Sanborn 251368 XR 2,855,127 10/58 Lerner 137-53311 XR 2,961,214 11/60 Freed 251-368 XR 3,055,100 9/62 Kimpel.

3,069,962 12/62 Rapata 8.8

ISADOR V/EIL, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. A VALVE STRUCTURE COMPRISING ONE PIECE MOLDED PLASTIC BODY MEANS INCLUDING FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATED BORE MEANS HAVING A FIRST DIAMETER AND SECOND BORE MEANS OF SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER DIAMETER CONCENTRIC WITH AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST BORE MEANS, ANNULAR VALVE SEAT MEANS ON SAID BODY MEANS AT THE JUNCTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND BORE MEANS, AND AN ELONGATED VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE IN SAID FIRST BORE MEANS AND HAVING AN END PORTION OF A CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION LESS THAN SAID FIRST BORE MEANS AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, ONE OF SAID FIRST BORE MEANS AND SAID VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATED VANE MEANS FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEMBER IN THE FIRST SAID BORE MEANS, SAID VANE MEANS HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION FOR MAINTAINING SAID VALVE MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC WITH SAID FIRST BORE MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEMBER FOR PERMITTING THE FLUID FLOW

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