Dual trim valve cartridge and system

Abstract

A valve system having a dual trim valve assembly capable of using a single valve assembly to provide fuel in a plurality of modes for at least a main burner operation mode and a parallel pilot operation mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual trim valve apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a main body having an inlet and one or more outlets;   a first main valve control seat located within the main body;   a second bypass valve control seat also located within the main body;   a main control plug positioned within the main body and configured to selectively seal against the first main valve control seat;   a bypass control plug positioned within the main body and configured to seal against the first main valve control seat;   a main fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel being sealed when the main control plug is sealed against the first main valve control seat; and   a bypass fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel being configured to selectively seal when the bypass control plug is sealed against the second bypass valve control seat.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seat cartridge containing the first main valve control seat disposed within a perimeter portion of the seat cartridge, the seat cartridge also containing the second bypass valve control seat about a central portion, the seat cartridge being engageable with an interior portion of the main body.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the seat cartridge further includes at least one fluidic channel configured to provide fluid communication from the bypass fluidic channel to an exterior portion of the seat cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stem assembly, the stem assembly further comprising;
 a stem shaft, having the bypass fluidic channel passing through a central portion thereof;   first and second stops provided along an outer circumference of the stem shaft at different axial heights;   wherein the bypass control plug is situated about a distal end of the stem shaft and is configured to seal against the second bypass control seat within the main body so as to selectively seal the bypass fluidic channel by axially translating the stem shaft; and   wherein the main control plug is slidingly engaged about an outer circumference of the stem shaft, the main control plug being disposed between the first and second stops, wherein movement of the stem shaft in an axial direction causes the first stop to engage the main control plug and push the main control plug out of the first main valve control seat allowing for fluid communication through the main fluidic channel, and wherein movement of the stem in an opposing axial direction causes the second stop to engage the main control plug and push the main control plug into the first main valve control seat restricting or sealing fluid communication through the main fluidic channel.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a seat cartridge containing the first main valve control seat disposed within a perimeter portion of the seat cartridge, the seat cartridge also containing the second bypass valve control seat about a central portion, the seat cartridge being engageable with an interior portion of the main body.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a bonnet cartridge having a central aperture configured to receive a proximal end of the stem shaft, the bonnet cartridge being engageable with an interior portion of the main body; and   a spring configured to abut against an interior portion of the bonnet cartridge and abut against the main control plug thus biasing the main control plug into the first main valve control seat.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an aperture in a sidewall of a central portion of the stem providing fluid communication between the inlet of the valve main body and the bypass fluidic channel passing through a central portion of the stem.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an outlet pressure port provided on the valve main body configured to selectively provide access to an interior portion of the outlet of the valve main body; and   at least one fluidic channel provided within the seat cartridge, the at least one fluidic channel being configured to provide fluid communication from the bypass fluidic channel and into the outlet pressure port, or to an exterior portion of the valve main body.   
     
     
         9 . An integrated dual trim burner and pilot valve system, the system comprising:
 a main body having an inlet, a main outlet, and a bypass outlet;   a first main valve control seat located within the main body;   a second bypass valve control seat also located within the main body;   a main control plug positioned within the main body and configured to selectively seal against the first main valve control seat;   a bypass control plug positioned within the main body and configured to seal against the first main valve control seat;   a main fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel being sealed when the main control plug is sealed against the first main valve control seat;   a bypass fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel being configured to selectively seal when the bypass control plug is sealed against the second bypass valve control seat; and   an actuator configured to selectively open or close both the main fluidic channel and the bypass fluidic channel, the bypass fluidic channel being configured to open independently from the main fluidic channel.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a stem assembly, the stem assembly further comprising;
 a stem shaft, having the bypass fluidic channel passing through a central portion thereof; 
 first and second stops provided along an outer circumference of the stem shaft at different axial heights; 
 wherein the bypass control plug is situated about a distal end of the stem shaft and seal against the second bypass control seat within the main body so as to selectively seal the bypass fluidic channel by axially translating the stem shaft; and 
 wherein the main control plug is slidingly engaged about an outer circumference of the stem shaft, wherein movement of the stem shaft in an axial direction causes the first stop to engage the main control plug and push the main control plug out of the first main valve control seat allowing for fluid communication through the main fluidic channel, and wherein movement of the stem in an opposing axial direction causes the second stop to engage the main control plug and push the main control plug into the first main valve control seat restricting or sealing fluid communication through the main fluidic channel. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a seat cartridge containing the first main valve control seat disposed within a perimeter portion of the seat cartridge, the seat cartridge also containing the second bypass valve control seat about a central portion, the seat cartridge being engageable with an interior portion of the main body.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a bonnet cartridge having a central aperture configured to receive a proximal end of the stem shaft, the bonnet cartridge being engageable with an interior portion of the main body; and   a spring configured to abut against an interior portion of the bonnet cartridge and abut against the main control plug thus biasing the main control plug into the first main valve control seat.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an aperture in a sidewall of a central portion of the stem providing fluid communication between the inlet of the valve main body and the bypass fluidic channel passing through a central portion of the stem.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a burner being connected to the main outlet of the valve main body configured to be operable in a slipstream configuration;   an outlet pressure port provided on the valve main body configured to selectively provide access to an interior portion of the main outlet the valve main body;   at least one fluidic channel provided within the seat cartridge being configured to provide fluid communication from the bypass fluidic channel and into the outlet pressure port, or to an exterior portion of the valve main body; and   a regulator provided downstream of the bypass fluidic channel before the outlet pressure port.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an external pilot burner being connected to the bypass outlet;   at least one fluidic channel provided within the seat cartridge being configured to provide fluid communication from the bypass fluidic channel to the bypass outlet and thus to the parallel pilot burner; and   a regulator provided downstream of the bypass fluidic channel before the parallel pilot burner.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing fuel to a pilot and burner system using an integrated dual trim burner and pilot valve system, the method comprising:
 providing a valve having an inlet and a main outlet and a bypass outlet, the valve also having a first main valve control seat located within the main body and a second bypass valve control seat also located within the main body, the valve also having a main control plug configured to selectively seal against the first main valve control seat as well as a bypass control plug configured to seal against the first main valve control seat; the valve also having a main fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the main fluidic channel being sealed when the main control plug is sealed against the first main valve control seat; the valve also having a bypass fluidic channel connecting the inlet to at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel providing fluid communication between the inlet and the at least one outlet, the bypass fluidic channel being configured to selectively seal when the bypass control plug is sealed against the second bypass valve control seat;   providing a fluid fuel to the inlet;   partially actuating the valve by pulling on a proximal end of a stem shaft, thus allowing fluid to pass through the bypass fluidic channel provided through an interior portion of the stem shaft and thus provide fuel to a downstream burner; and   fully actuating the valve by further pulling on a proximal end of a stem shaft, thus causing a first stop to engage the main control plug and dislodge the main control plug from the first main valve control seat.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sealing the main fluidic channel by partially pushing the stem shaft into the valve main body thus allowing a spring to reseat the main control plug into the first main valve control seat; and   sealing the bypass fluidic channel by pushing the stem shaft such that a force from an actuator provides the force to cause the bypass control plug to engage and seal against the second bypass valve control seat.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 regulating the pressure of the fluid fuel passing through the bypass fluidic channel and to the downstream burner using a regulator provided between the bypass fluidic channel and the downstream burner.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein the fluid fuel is provided to the inlet at a pressure between 15 and 35 psi; and   regulating the pressure provided to the downstream burner to between 3 and 6 psi using the regulator provided between the bypass fluidic channel and the downstream burner.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein the downstream burner is a main burner and the pilot bypass fluidic channel is configured to operate a burner in a slipstream configuration; and   reintroducing fluid fuel flowing through the bypass fluidic channel into the main outlet so as to feed fuel to the main burner.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein the downstream burner is an external pilot burner and the pilot bypass fluidic channel is configured to operate a burner in an external pilot configuration.   
     
     
         22 . A dual trim valve cartridge comprising:
 a bonnet cartridge configured for receiving a stem assembly;   a stem assembly having a first plug and a second plug; and   a seat cartridge having a first seat and a second seat;   wherein the first plug is configured to operatively engage the first seat and the second plug is configured to operatively engage the second seat.   
     
     
         23 . The valve cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the stem assembly includes a stem shaft, the stem shaft having a bypass fluidic channel passing through a central portion of the stem shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The valve cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the stem assembly and the seat cartridge are configured to permit the first plug to independently engage the first seat and the second plug to independently engage the second seat. 
     
     
         25 . The valve cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the first seat is disposed within the seat cartridge within a perimeter portion of the seat cartridge, and wherein the second seat is disposed within the seat cartridge about a central portion. 
     
     
         26 . The valve cartridge of  claim 22  further comprising a main body having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the bonnet cartridge and the seat cartridge are engageable within the main body.