US 11,953,101 B2
Fast acting shuttle spool valve
Riccardo Meldolesi, Hove (GB); Anthony Perkins, West Sussex (GB); Clive Lacy, West Sussex (GB); and Dustin Kramer, Helotes, TX (US)
Assigned to Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/405,681.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054596 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 11/07 (2006.01); F15B 15/22 (2006.01); F15B 21/14 (2006.01); F16K 3/24 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 11/07 (2013.01) [F15B 15/223 (2013.01); F15B 21/14 (2013.01); F16K 3/24 (2013.01); F15B 2211/7052 (2013.01); F15B 2211/755 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spool valve for controlling the flow of a fluid into a reciprocating piston cylinder, comprising:
an outer casing;
a spool slideably inserted into the casing, the spool valve having a first and a second non-waisted end portions and having a waisted middle portion;
an intake port for fluids entering the casing;
an output port for fluids exiting the casing;
wherein a first non-waisted end portion covers the intake port during a first valve-closed event as the spool slides in one direction within the casing to a first position;
wherein the waisted middle portion is sufficiently wide to uncover both the intake port and the output port during a valve-open event as the spool slides in the one direction within the casing to a second position;
wherein a second non-waisted end portion covers the output port during a second valve-closed event as the spool slides in the one direction within the casing to a third position; and
wherein the spool is operable to prevent the flow of the fluid into or out of the casing during the first valve-closed event and the second valve closed event.