US 12,486,919 B2
Fluid flow control valve for fluid flow systems, and methods
Geoff Sean Lyon, Saratoga, CA (US)
Assigned to CoolIT Systems, Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed by CoolIT Systems, Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed on May 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/203,015.
Application 18/203,015 is a continuation of application No. 16/747,321, filed on Jan. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,662,037.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/794,458, filed on Jan. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0296186 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 17/40 (2006.01); F16K 3/24 (2006.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01); F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F16K 17/38 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 17/406 (2013.01) [F16K 3/246 (2013.01); F16K 31/002 (2013.01); F16K 37/005 (2013.01); F16K 17/383 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling flow in a fluid-flow system, the method comprising:
operating a fluid flow system, the system comprising:
a valve body having a bore for flowing fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports, and the bore therebetween, defining a fluid flow path through the valve body;
a gate element disposed in the bore and being positionable in the bore from a first position which allows fluid flow through the bore to a second position which restricts fluid flow through the bore;
an actuator coupled to the gate element for moving the gate element between the first and second positions, the actuator moving from a first position to a second position to effect the movement;
an electromagnetic retainer that is in part positioned externally of the bore and selectably coupled to the actuator, the retainer maintaining the actuator in its first position in a first electromagnetic condition but facilitating the release of the actuator to its second position on transforming to a second electromagnetic condition in response to a signal;
a heat exchanger fluidically thermally coupled to the valve; and
a controller that is configured to send the signal to the electromagnetic retainer on a predetermined trigger event;
monitoring fluid flow in the system;
determining a trigger event; and
sending a signal to the electromagnetic retainer causing the electromagnetic retainer to facilitate the release of the actuator and thereby movement of the gate element from the first position to the second position to restrict fluid flow in the valve.