US 12,222,045 B2
Piston activated cartridge valves and the components thereof
Edgar G Mendez, California City, CA (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/573,675.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,202, filed on Feb. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0252180 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 31/524 (2006.01); F16K 11/14 (2006.01); F16K 11/16 (2006.01); F16L 41/02 (2006.01); F16K 31/163 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/52416 (2013.01) [F16K 11/14 (2013.01); F16K 11/161 (2013.01); F16L 41/021 (2013.01); F16K 31/163 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cartridge valve assembly comprising:
a cartridge housing having a longitudinal axis, a first end defining a first opening, a second end defining a second opening, a generally cylindrical exterior, an internal space extending between said first and second openings, and an interior surface defining said internal space, wherein the internal surface of the cartridge housing comprises a plurality of sections from the first end of the cartridge housing to the second end of the cartridge housing, said sections including an intermediate section that provides a tapered sealing surface;
a stop located within the internal space of said cartridge housing at a location that is closer to the first end of the housing than the second end of the housing, wherein said stop has a first end, a second end, and sides;
a movable slidable member located at least partially within the internal space of said cartridge housing, said slidable member having a first end, a second end, and sides, wherein said stop limits the motion of the slidable member toward the first end of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the sides of the slidable member comprises an intermediate portion that is configured to form a seal with the tapered sealing surface of said cartridge housing; and
a spring positioned between said stop and said slidable member, said spring having two ends comprising a first end and a second end, an uncompressed configuration, and a compressed configuration, wherein the second end of said spring is adjacent the first end of the slidable member and the first end of the spring is adjacent the second end of the stop,
wherein said slidable member is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein when said spring is in its uncompressed configuration the slidable member is in its closed position and the second end of the slidable member extends outward beyond the second end of the cartridge housing, and wherein the second end of the slidable member is configured to be contacted by an actuator piston that moves in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge housing and which moves the slidable member toward the first end of the cartridge housing and compresses the spring, and when the spring is compressed the slidable member is in its open position and the interior surface of said cartridge housing and the sides of said slidable member are configured so that when said slidable member is in the open position, at least one fluid flow path is provided between the first and second openings of the cartridge housing, wherein fluid can alternatively flow in one of the following directions: (a) from the first opening to the second opening or (b) from the second opening to the first opening.