US 12,259,054 B2
Equalization shutoff valve
William Russell Rhoades, Columbus, OH (US); and Christopher Keegan Bulger, Hilliard, OH (US)
Assigned to NIFCO AMERICA CORP., Canal Winchester, OH (US)
Filed by NIFCO AMERICA CORP., Canal Winchester, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/373,489.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/410,696, filed on Sep. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102575 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. F16K 27/02 (2006.01); F16K 1/38 (2006.01); F16K 1/46 (2006.01); F16K 17/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 27/0254 (2013.01) [F16K 1/385 (2013.01); F16K 1/46 (2013.01); F16K 17/04 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An equalization shutoff valve, comprising:
a housing having a cylindrical shape with a closed end, a vent port in the closed end and an open end at a side opposite to the closed end, and including an outward extending flange around the open end, guide channels disposed inside the housing, and clip retainers formed around the open end and configured to engage a battery pack compartment,
a piston having a cylindrical shape and disposed inside the housing, the piston having clip pockets formed around the piston, and retaining clips each being disposed in each of the clip pockets so that each retaining clip bends inwardly of the piston when being pushed inwardly, and
a spring disposed between the housing and the piston to urge the piston in a direction away from the closed end of the housing,
wherein the hosing with the piston and the spring therein is configured to be attached to the battery pack compartment through the clip retainers so that air flows from inside the battery pack compartment through the clip pocket, and when pressure inside the housing increases, increased pressure pushes the spring and the piston to allow air to exit from the housing.