IP Library Granted Patent US 10,642,288
Granted Patent B2
US 10,642,288 · App. 15/914,292 · Granted May 5, 2020

Pressure relief valve apparatus, system and method

Inventor: James Middlebrook (Santa Rosa Valley, CA)
Assignee: Vortech Engineering, inc.
G05D16/202F16K31/047E21B34/12F02B33/36F02B33/38F02B33/44F02B33/446F02D23/00F16K3/26F16K17/168F16K31/04F16K31/122F16K31/126F16K31/44F16K31/445Y10T137/7834
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,642,288
App. No.
15/914,292
Granted
May 5, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pressure relief valve is provided. The pressure relief valve includes a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, with the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body. An actuator assembly is attached to the hollow body and a sleeve is slideably positioned about the hollow body, with the sleeve moveably attached to the actuator assembly. During operation, the actuator assembly moves the sleeve from a first position that covers the aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture.

Claims (31)

1. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body;

an actuator assembly coupled to the hollow body; and

a sleeve slideably positioned about the hollow body, and moveably coupled to the actuator assembly;

where the actuator assembly is structured to move the sleeve from a first position that covers the at least one aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture;

where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a housing having a diaphragm located within the housing;

a piston located adjacent to the diaphragm;

an actuator shaft having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending from the housing and coupled to a first strut;

where the actuator shaft includes a pivot link at a distal end of the actuator shaft, with the pivot link coupled to the first strut and structured to rotate relative to the actuator shaft.

2. The valve apparatus of claim 1 , where the actuator assembly comprises:

a first pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a first pivot point, the pivot plate including a slot that is sized to receive a pivot pin that extends from the sleeve.

3. The valve apparatus of claim 2 , where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a second pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a second pivot point located opposite the first pivot point, and a first strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates.

4. The valve apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second strut located adjacent to the first strut, the second strut coupled to both a first and second pivot plates.

5. The valve apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second seal positioned about a circumference of the hollow body so that a respective portion of the sleeve abuts the first and second seals when the sleeve is in the first position.

6. A valve apparatus, comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow body including at least one aperture extending through a surface of the hollow body;

an actuator assembly coupled to the hollow body;

a sleeve slideably positioned about the hollow body, and moveably coupled to the actuator assembly;

a first pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a first pivot point, the pivot plate including a slot that is sized to receive a pivot pin that extends from the sleeve;

a second pivot plate rotatably coupled to the hollow body at a second pivot point located opposite the first pivot point; and

a first strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates;

where the actuator assembly includes a rod that is coupled to the first strut, so that the actuator assembly can move the sleeve from a first position that covers the at least one aperture to a second position that un-covers at least a portion of the aperture;

where the actuator assembly further comprises:

a housing having a diaphragm located within the housing;

a piston located adjacent to the diaphragm;

an actuator shaft having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end extending from the housing and coupled to the first strut;

where the actuator shaft includes a pivot link at a distal end of the actuator shaft, with the pivot link coupled to the first strut and structured to rotate relative to the actuator shaft.

7. The valve apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a second strut located adjacent to the first strut, the second strut coupled to both the first and second pivot plates.

8. The valve apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a first and a second seal positioned about a circumference of the hollow body so that a respective portion of the sleeve abuts the first and second seals when the sleeve is in the first position.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2023
From: AIR FLOW RESEARCH HEADS, LLC; SCAT ENTERPRISES, LLC; RACETEC PISTONS, LLC; VORTECH ENGINEERING, INC. (CA); VORTECH ENGINEERING, INC. (DE); PAXTON AUTOMOTIVE CORP.; AIRPOWER GROUP, INC.; VORTRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: FARRAGUT SBIC FUND II, LP
Reel/Frame 062570/0499 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2023
From: RACING & PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; RACING & PERFORMANCE CORP.; AIR FLOW RESEARCH HEADS, LLC; SCAT ENTERPRISES, LLC; RACETEC PISTONS, LLC; AIRPOWER GROUP, INC.; PAXTON AUTOMOTIVE CORP.; VORTECH ENGINEERING, INC.; VORTRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BYLINE BANK, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062565/0057 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2018
From: MIDDLEBROOK, JAMES, MR
To: VORTECH ENGINEERING, INC.
Reel/Frame 045137/0753 →
Continuity (1)
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