Field of the invention [0001 ] The present invention relates to an actuated valve, more particularly, to plug & seat arrangement for the actuated valve.

Background of the invention [0002] Generally, the actuated valves are actuated by piston or by diaphragm actuator. Further, actuated valves (PAV) are 2-port fluid (pneumatically or hydraulically) actuated on/off valves for use on steam, water, air, oil & gases. Fluid signal acts on the actuator piston/diaphragm to open or close the valve with spring return action. The valve plugs have a soft seal e.g. PTFE to provide a tight shut-off. These valves can be NC (normally closed, fluid to open) or BD (Bidirectional normally closed, fluid to open).

[0003] The pilot (normally air) pressure required for actuation varies with the media (steam, water, air, oil & gases) pressure & bore size of a valve seat i.e. pilot pressure required for actuation will be more when media pressure & bore sizes is more. More pilot pressure is required to overcome larger thrust forces at the seat area because of increased bore sizes & media pressures.

[0004] Normal practice is to design / provide bigger actuators (bigger piston/diaphragm & cylinder) to fulfill the requirement of applying lesser pilot pressure. Lesser the pilot pressure lesser will be wear & tear of seals thus improved seal life. Air / pilot pressure is typically 6barg in any industry.

Prior Art

[0005] For the purpose of explanation the piston actuated valve is described in detail. [0006] Referring now to figure 1 , shows a piston actuated valve (herein after referred as "valve (200)") for controlling fluid flow therethrough in accordance with the present invention. The valve (200) includes an actuator (210), a piston (212), a stem (214), a piston spring (216), a bonnet (218), a transparent lid (220), a body housing (222), a main plug / head (224) and a main seat (226).

[0007] Further, an inlet (228) is provided on the actuator (210) for ingress of pressurized fluid therein for actuating the piston (212) for lifting the stem, and a breather (230) to prevent outside dirt entering in the actuator (210) and provide an exhaust for releasing out the air above the piston (212) therethrough. Upon actuating the piston (212) the stem (214) is lifted against the force of the piston spring (216), thereby lifting the main plug (224) away from the main seat (226) for opening the supply of media / fluid from a 'A' portion to a 'ET portion (refer figure l a). Accordingly, the force is required to lift the entire main plug (224) away from the main seat (226) with a pressure difference across the 'A' portion and the ' B' portion is more.

[0008] Further, a bigger actuator is required to fulfill the actuation requirements of higher media pressures & bore sizes.

Object of the invention

[0009] Object of the present invention is to provide an actuated valves with plurality of plugs, which is capable of operating the actuator with less pilot / air (pilot) pressure thereby reducing wear and tear of seats as compared to the piston actuated valves of the prior art.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an actuated valves with plurality of plugs, which is capable of being operated with less pilot / air force as compared to the piston actuated valves of the prior art. [001 1 ] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a piston actuated valves with plurality of plugs, which has less pilot / air consumption for operation of the actuator. [0012] One more object of the present invention is to provide a piston actuated valves with plurality of plugs, which is capable of reducing the actuator size as compared to the piston actuated valves of the prior art.

[0013] Further, object of the present invention is to provide a piston actuated valves with plurality of plugs, which is economical in construction.

Statement of the invention

[0014] According to the present invention there is provided an actuated valve for controlling media flow therethrough; the valve comprising;

a stem secured to a moving means of the actuator, the stem operated by the moving means held in an actuator against force of an retaining spring disposed between the piston and actuator; a bonnet secured to the actuator for guiding the stem therein; an transparent lid secured to the actuator for visual indication of the stem position; a body housing secured to the bonnet, the housing provided for movement of a main plug/head for closing and opening the media supply therefrom, characterized in that:

at least one secondary seat configured on the main plug;

a plurality of openings configures on the main plug, wherein the seat is capable of closing and opening the openings for activating and deactivating the media flow therethrough;

at least one secondary plug/head secured to the stem, wherein the secondary plug capable of closing the opening by disposing against the at least one seat and opening the openings by moving from the at least one seat;

the main plug slidably secured to the stem with a lifter for lifting the main plug therefrom to open the media supply through the main seat, wherein upon actuating the actuator by pilot pressure for lifting the stem, initially the at least one secondary plugs is lifted away from the at least one seat to open the openings, thereby nullifying pressure difference across a portion 'A' and 'B' of the housing, further movement of the stem lifts the main plug by the lifter to open the flow therefrom.

[0015] Typically, wherein the secondary plug and the main plug provided with soft seal material, such as PTFE for providing tight shutoff for the opening upon covering the seats.

[0016] Typically, wherein the moving means of the actuator is a piston.

[0017] Typically, wherein the moving means of the actuator is a diaphragm. .

Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The accompanying drawings are included to provide proper understanding of the invention and the description thereof serve to explain the principle of the invention:

[0019] Figure 1 shows a front sectional view of the piston actuated valves of the prior art;

[0020] Figure l a shows a front enlarged sectional view of a main plug and main seat of figure 1 ;

[0021 ] Figure 2 shows a front sectional view of the piston actuated valves in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2a shows a perspective view of plugs of figure 2; [0023] Figure 3 shows a front enlarged sectional view of plugs and seats of figure 2, wherein secondary plugs are in open condition; [0024] Figure 4 shows a front enlarged sectional view of plugs and seats of figure 2, wherein the secondary plugs and the main plug both are in open condition; and

[0025] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of secondary plugs in accordance with the present invention; and

[0026] Figure 5a shows a top view of the secondary plugs of figure 5.

Detail description of the invention

[0027] The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

[0028] Accordingly, the present invention describes an actuated valve for controlling fluid flow therethrough. The actuator having a moving means, such as piston and diaphragm. The actuated valve is capable of reducing pressure required to open the main plug of the valve from closed position to open position. The actuated valve includes plurality of openings with seats configured on main plug and respectively provided with a plurality of secondary plugs secured to the stem for closing the openings. The main plug is slide-ably secured to the stem with a lifter thereon. There is a delay between the lifting of the secondary plugs and the main plug upon lifting of the stem by the actuator. This arrangement enables to reduce pressure required for lifting the main plug therefrom. [0029] The present invention is now illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

[0030] Referring now to figure 2, shows a piston actuated valve (herein after referred as "valve ( 100)") for controlling media flow therethrough in accordance with the present invention. The valve ( 100) includes an actuator (10), moving means of the actuator, for example, the present invention is shown to include a piston (12), a stem ( 14), a piston spring ( 16), a bonnet (18), a transparent lid (20), a body housing (22), a main plug / head (24), and a main seat (26). The piston ( 12) is disposed inside the actuator ( 10). The stem (14) extends from the piston ( 12), through the bonnet ( 18). The stem (14) having a first end ( 14a) and a second end (14b). The first end ( 14a) is visible through the transparent lid (20). The position of the first end ( 14a) indicates activated and deactivation condition of the valve (100).

[0031 ] Referring now to figure 2 and 2a, the main plug (24) is secured to the second end ( 14b) via nut. The body housing (22) is secured to the bonnet ( 18) of the valve ( 100). The main seat (26) is configured in the body housing (22). Further, the retaining spring (28) is provided for retaining the main plug (24) against the main seat (26). To reduce the size of the actuator ( 10) the valve ( 100) is provided with at least one secondary seats, for example, the figures 2 and 3 are shown to include one secondary seat (30), a plurality of openings (32), at least one secondary plugs, for example, the present invention is shown to include one secondary plug (34), a retaining spring (28) and a lifter (36).

[0032] Referring again to figures 2, 2a, 3 and 4, for actuating the piston ( 12) against the force of piston spring ( 16), pressurized air is supplied in the actuator ( 10) through the inlet ( 10b). A breather ( 10a) is provided over the actuator ( 10) to prevent outside dirt entering in the actuator ( 10) and provide an exhaust for releasing out the air/fluid above the piston ( 12) therethrough. Upon supplying pressurized air in the actuator (10) the stem ( 14) is lifted. Initially, the secondary plugs (34) is lifted away from the secondary seats (30) thereby uncovering the opening (32), this enables flow of media from portion 'A' to portion 'B' of the housing (22) (refer figure 3). The restraining spring (28) retains the main plug (24) against the main seat (26). The retraining spring (28) is a compressing spring.

[0033] Further movement of the stem ( 14) lifts the main plug (24) away from the secondary seat (26) (refer figure 4). As the differential pressure across the portion 'A' and portion 'B' is nullified initially by opening the secondary plugs (34), the force required for lifting the main plug (24) after opening the secondary plugs (34) is reduced substantially as compared to the prior art. In an embodiment, the main plug (24) and the secondary plug (34) is provided with soft seal material, such as PTFE for providing tight shutoff for the openings upon covering the main seats (26) and the secondary seat (30).

[0034] Referring now to figure 5 and 5a, shows a perspective view and top view of an embodiment of the main plug ( 124) and the at least one secondary plug, figure 5 is shown to include four secondary plugs ( 134a, 134b, 134c, & 134d) thereon. Further, the plurality of openings ( 132) is configured on the main plug (124). Furthermore, an upper end of the opening ( 132) are provided with corresponding secondary seats ( 130a, 130b, 130c, & 130d) for providing a seating portion for the corresponding secondary plugs ( 134a, 134b, 134c, & 134d). For example, the openings (132) are provided with the secondary seat (130a) and is closed and opened by the plug ( 134a).

[0035] Similarly, the opening ( 132b, 132c & 132d) are provided with the corresponding secondary seats ( 130b, 130c & 130d) and is closed and opened by respective plugs ( 134b, 134c & 134d). Further, each of the secondary plugs ( 134a, 134b, 134c & 134d) is connected to the branches ( 1 14a, 1 14b, 1 14c, & 1 14d) of the stem ( 1 14). Each of the stem (1 14a, 1 14b, 1 14c, & 1 14d) is provided with lifters ( 136a, 136b, 1 36c, & 136d) (only 136a and 136c are visible in figure 5) for lifting the main plug (124). Each of the secondary plugs ( 134a, 134b, 134c, & 134d) is connected to stem through respective branches (1 14a, 1 14b, 1 14c, & 1 14d).

Advantages of the present invention:

The actuated valve ( 100) of the present invention requires less pressurized pilot fluid.

Further, the actuated valve ( 100) has lesser working cost.

Furthermore, the actuated valve (100) requires smaller size of actuator as compared to the actuated valve of the prior art.

Moreover, the actuated valve (100) is economical to manufacture.

[0036] The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment.

[0037] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.