Solenoid ball valve with bypass orifice
On/off solenoid ball valves of the invention comprise at least one inlet port; at least one pressure control outlet port; at least one exhaust port; at least one check valve positioned between the pressure control outlet port and the exhaust port; and at least one bypass orifice positioned to allow inlet fluid flow to the pressure control outlet port irrespective of whether the valve is in the “on” or “off” position. Because of their ability to provide unique and controlled flows, valves of the invention are able to be used in applications previously off limits to on/off solenoid ball valves.
1. An on/off solenoid ball valve comprising:
at least one inlet port; at least one pressure control outlet port; at least one exhaust port;
at least one check valve positioned between the pressure control outlet port and the exhaust port; at least one ball valve disposed in a chamber, wherein the chamber is disposed between said at least one inlet port and said at least one pressure control outlet port and at least one bypass orifice connecting said at least one inlet port directly into said at least one pressure control outlet port to form a fluid path that bypasses said chamber and allows fluid to flow directly from said at least one inlet port to said at least one outlet port.
2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises more than one inlet port.
3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises more than one pressure control outlet port.
4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises more than one exhaust port.
5. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust port is maintained at approximately atmospheric pressure.
6. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the check valve comprises a valve member located between a biasing member and a valve seat member.
7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the size and a shape of the bypass flow orifice is variable.
8. The valve of claim 1 , comprising multiple bypass orifices arranged in a symmetrical manner with respect to the inlet port.
9. The valve of claim 7 , further comprising at least one orifice control bar that varies at least one of the size and the shape of said at least one bypass flow orifice.
10. The valve of claim 9 , wherein said at least one orifice control bar is made from a thermally responsive material such that a change in temperature changes a position of said at least one orifice control bar to vary at least one of the size and the shape of said at least one bypass flow orifice.