The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 08, 1982
Filed:
Sep. 15, 1980
Donald F Taylor, Dallas, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
A valve for automatically dumping a load of solids entrained within a fluid transport medium in response to flow interruption is disclosed. The automatic dump valve is particularly well-suited for use in combination with a nodule transport riser in deep ocean mining operations. The automatic dump valve system is combined with a tubular conduit defining a longitudinally extending flow passage having a sidewall opening defining a dump port. The automatic dump valve assembly includes a movable dump port cover plate and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the cover plate. The hydraulic actuator is operably responsive to pressure changes within the flow passage relative to the pressure exerted by a surrounding body of water to open and close the dump port. The hydraulic actuator is formed by the combination of a sidewall portion of the tubular conduit constricting the flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region, and a pressure chamber housing enclosing the conduit section and defining an annular pressure chamber. The pressure chamber is divided by a movable piston into a first chamber which is connected in fluid communication with the venturi passage, and a second pressure chamber which is exposed to hydraulic pressure exerted by the surrounding body of water. The dump valve further includes a deflector plate mounted within the tubular housing for movement from a clear passage position to a dump position, with the deflector plate extending from the dump port transversely through the flow passage in the dump position thereby defining a bypass channel for diverting settling solids through the dump port.