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:
May. 29, 1990
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1989
James M Sudolnik, Lunenburg, MA (US);
Stephen R Prince, Fitchburg, MA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A valve includes a device for reducing the force required beyond cracking, thereby reducing the size of actuating equipment. A balance chamber includes two effective diameters. A smaller diameter is operative during cracking, in order to maintain positive control of the valve. Later, a larger balance diameter is effective, in order to reduce the actuation forces required beyond the cracking position. A pilot valve is opened during initial actuation. Once the pilot valve is fully opened, a main valve is opened. A dual-diameter balance chamber is effective, during initial opening of the main valve, to require substantial opening forces. Then, when the main valve reaches a predetermined distance from its seat, the second effective diameter increases the balance area to reduce the valve actuating forces required.