Excess flow valve with magnet
View Patent ↗A number of improved excess flow valves are disclosed wherein pressure drop is optimized through the device to maximize efficiency while minimizing shut-off flow rates. Flow restrictions are minimized throughout the valve structure and maximized across a valve closure plate, eliminating flow restriction variations caused by orientation of the valve components. A magnet having radially opposing poles optimizes the magnet's attractive force relationship with the valve plate.
1. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising
an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles, wherein the magnet is disk shaped;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and wherein the valve plate has a circumferential edge, and wherein the valve plate is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the circumferential edge of the valve plate.
2. The excess flow valve of claim , 1 wherein the magnet retention structure comprises a plurality of guide protrusions extending from said arms.
3. The excess flow valve of claim 2 , wherein the magnet retention structure further comprises a clip portion disposed on at least one of said plurality of guide protrusions that hold said magnet.
4. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising: a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion,and a magnet retention structure; a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles, wherein the magnet is disk shaped; a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and wherein the valve body further comprises at least one contact pad that contacts the valve plate when the valve plate is in the open position.
5. The excess flow valve of claim 4 , wherein said at least one contact pad is formed as a protrusion connected to said plurality of arms.
6. The excess flow valve of claim 4 , wherein said at least one contact pad comprises a plurality of contact pads, and wherein said plurality of contact pads together contact less than 10% of a surface of the valve plate.
7. The excess flow valve of claim 4 , wherein said at least one contact pad comprises at least three contact pads.
8. The excess flow valve of claim 4 , wherein said plurality of arms extend upstream and emanate inwardly from the outer peripheral portion to form said at least one contact pad at the point said plurality of arms join the outer peripheral portion.
9. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve plate having an edge; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.
10. The excess flow valve of claim 9 , wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles.
11. The excess flow valve of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of contact pads that contact the valve plate when the valve plate is in the open position.
12. The excess flow valve of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of contact pads are formed as protrusions extending from said plurality of arms.
13. The excess flow valve of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of arms extend upstream and emanate inwardly from the outer peripheral portion to form contact pads at the point said plurality of arms join the outer peripheral portion.
14. The excess flow valve of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of contact pads together contact less than 10% of a surface of the valve plate.
15. The excess flow valve of claim 9 , wherein the magnet is disk shaped.
16. The excess flow valve of claim 9 , wherein the magnet is annular.
17. The excess flow valve of claim 9 , wherein the magnet retention structure comprises a plurality of guide protrusions extending from said arms.
18. The excess flow valve of claim 17 , wherein the magnet retention structure further comprises a clip portion disposed on at least one of said plurality of guide protrusions that hold said magnet.
19. A fluid flow control system, comprising:
a conduit;
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve plate having an edge; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.
20. The fluid flow control system of claim 19 , wherein the valve seat is a surface in an inner portion of the conduit.
21. The fluid flow control system of claim 19 , wherein the valve seat is disposed such that it terminates substantially at an end of a conduit section.
22. An excess flow valve for a conduit, comprising:
a valve body comprising an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of arms connected to the outer peripheral portion, and a magnet retention structure;
a magnet held in the magnet retention structure, wherein the magnet has radially opposed poles that are substantially perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow through the excess flow valve;
a valve plate movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a valve seat, wherein the valve plate contacts the valve seat in the closed position and is disposed upstream of the outer peripheral portion in the open position such that a fluid path is defined by an inner surface of the conduit and the edge of the valve plate.