Amcast Industrial Corporation

Superior Valve Company

Stanley G. Flagg & Co., Inc.

David E Hughes

William S Kalaskie

Robin N Borland

Paul L Wellener, Iii

Timothy R Stiffy

John Piscatelli

Paul Rafalowski

William C Yocum

A bidirectional solenoid operated valve for controlling the flow of a compressed gas to and from a pressurized vessel is provided which automatically blocks the flow of gas out of a cylinder to a gas line in the event of an electrical failure or crash and which will not fail catastrophically in the event of a crash. The bidirectional valve includes a manual lockdown feature, an integral electrical pass through assembly, and a thermally activatable pressure relief device.

Crashworthy solenoid actuated valve for CNG powered vehicle

A refueling check valve assembly which provides for rapid, efficient, and safe refueling of compressed natural gas powered vehicles is provided and includes a receptacle adapted to mate with a fuel supply nozzle and a valve body having first and second gas flow passages therethrough. The respective first ends of the first and second gas flow passages communicate with the receptacle, while the respective second ends of the first and second gas flow passages are adapted to communicate with a fuel storage vessel, typically through a fuel supply line. A check valve is positioned in the first gas flow passage of the valve body and is normally biased into a closed position to prevent the flow of gas through the first gas flow passage. The check valve opens in response to a flow of fuel under pressure, permitting the flow of gas to the fuel storage vessel. A by-pass valve is also provided in the second gas flow passage in the valve body for depressurizing the fuel system prior to servicing.

Refueling check valve for compressed natural gas powered vehicles

An actuator-cylinder valve connection mechanism has a bonnet nut with external threads and receives an outer valve stem, a valve body having an upper end with internal and external threads with the internal threads in engagement with the external threads of the bonnet nut, and either a jam nut or an actuator housing of the actuator having a downward extension with internal threds in engagement with the external threads of the upper end of the valve body. Clearances, apertures, and a direct contact of the jam nut or the actuator housing against the top surface of the upper end of the valve body cause any impact or inertial forces to be circumvented from the jam nut or the housing and into the valve body, thereby entirely bypassing the sealing mechanism which is comprised of the bonnet nut.

Cylinder valve connection

A gas cylinder valve for high pressure gas cylinders includes a pneumatic actuator with tandem pistons which are operated by normal industry 'house' pneumatic pressures to overcome the large closing bias force generated by a set of disc springs so that the valve opening spring can lift the valve stem from its seat. A floating pressure plate which seats against an annular internal shoulder in the actuator housing prevents pneumatic pressure applied to the upper piston from acting on the back of the lower piston. Pneumatic pressure from a common source is applied to both pistons through an axial hole in a piston rod integral with one piston and bearing against the other piston. The actuator is easily assembled by merely inserting the lower piston, the pressure plate, the upper piston and the disc springs into the open end of a cup-shaped housing, and securing them in place with a preload on the springs by screwing on a housing cover.

Dual piston pneumatically operated valve

A gas cylinder valve with an inner valve stem biased toward a valve open position by a helical compression spring is pneumatically operated by an actuator having a piston biased by a stack of disc springs against an outer valve stem, separated from the inner valve stem by a diaphragm gas seal, to urge the inner valve stem to a valve closed position. While the force exerted on the inner valve stem by the disc springs exceeds that applied by the helical spring so that the valve is normally biased closed, pneumatic pressure applied to the piston moves the piston away from the outer valve member so that the helical spring moves the inner valve stem to the open position. The valve may be manually opened without pneumatic pressure by screwing a threaded shaft into a boss on the piston, and while holding the shaft stationary with a handle provided, rotating a nut wrench threaded onto the shaft which bears against the actuator housing to draw the piston away from the outer valve stem against the bias of the spring discs so that the helical spring can move the inner valve stem to the open position. The valve is locked closed by a threaded plug which screws into the actuator housing and clamps the piston down against the outer valve stem with the inner valve stem in the closed position. The manually operable pneumatic actuator can be easily retrofitted to existing gas cylinder valves or can be provided as a part of new valves, and is of a size which permits it to be enclosed for transportation and storage by a conventional transport cap.

Pneumatically operated valve with manual override and lockout

A valve for controlling the flow of gases from high pressure cylinders is provided having a projected raised annular valve seat surrounding a gas passage, a stem in threaded relation to the valve body whereby rotation of the valve stem in the valve body moves the valve stem toward and away from the valve seat, a circumferential shroud extending from the end of the valve stem and surrounding the valve seat when the valve is closed and partially open, a resilient seal member positioned within the recess on the end of the valve stem formed by the shroud, said resilient seat member having a tapered projection which extends into the gas inlet passage when the valve is in closed position and provides a gas tight seal between the valve stem and the valve seat.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

David E Hughes