Valve

Abstract

The invention is an improved valve having a valve body, a valve stem having a valve plug portion and a valve stem portion, and a valve guide having an aperture in which the valve stem portion is received for reciprocal movement of the valve stem longitudinally inside the valve body. A valve seat is supported in the valve body and includes a pair of spaced apart circular valve seat surfaces that each sealingly engage a separate surface of the valve plug portion;. A spring biases the valve plug portion into sealing engagement with the valve seat. The valve seat has a pair of sealing surfaces that are brought in sealing engagement with distinct surface portions of the valve stem to provide improved and redundant sealing function. The valve has improved longevity and reliability.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 379,098, filed Sep. 1, 2010.[0002]The invention relates generally to a valve and, more specifically, a valve having an improved seat that increases its duty life in harsh environments.[0003]Automated car washes use a large number of valves for the control the flow of water as well as solutions or mixtures of soaps, detergents, cleaners, waxes, polishes, and the like. Many of these fluids are corrosive and may react with normal valve components. Additionally, the valves must operate at high pressures, frequently at high temperatures, and may have short duty cycles. All of these factors shorten the life and reliability of the valves.[0004]The effect of valve failure can be substantial. Valve failure can result in reduced performance or failure of the carwash. The valves are used to prevent the unwanted flow of fluids from reservoirs of the carwash solutions such that failure of the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002]The invention relates generally to a valve and, more specifically, a valve having an improved seat that increases its duty life in harsh environments.

[0003]Automated car washes use a large number of valves for the control the flow of water as well as solutions or mixtures of soaps, detergents, cleaners, waxes, polishes, and the like. Many of these fluids are corrosive and may react with normal valve components. Additionally, the valves must operate at high pressures, frequently at high temperatures, and may have short duty cycles. All of these factors shorten the life and reliability of the valves.

[0004]The effect of valve failure can be substantial. Valve failure can result in reduced performance or failure of the carwash. The valves are used to prevent the unwanted flow of fluids from reservoirs of the carwash solutions such that failure of the valve can result in dispensing of the fluid under undesirable conditions, possibly disrupting the carwash process and certainly wasting the undesirably dispensed fluid. Perhaps worse, the valve failure by result in fluids mixing from reservoir to reservoir, ruining the entire reservoir of these expensive fluids.

Problems solved by technology

The valve seat has a profile that provides an improved sealing function and lengthens the service life and reliability of the valve.

Images