Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for electronically controlling the flow of low pressure gas to a compressor and preventing backflow from the compressor, the apparatus including a housing in fluid communication with the compressor, where the housing has a chamber, a housing inlet for receiving a low pressure gas, and a housing discharge port for flowing the low pressure gas to the compressor and through which backflow gas flows from the compressor. A valve member having a contact end is movable within the chamber along a predetermined path. The apparatus also includes a drive for moving an actuator along an axis. The actuator has an extension with an end adapted to abut the contact end of the valve member to thereby move the valve member along the path toward the housing inlet. The valve member is movable along the path and away from the inlet, when the actuator is retracted, by the flow of low pressure gas through the inlet. Upon compressor shutdown, the back pressure moves the valve member to a substantially occluding position relative to the inlet position to prevent backflow from flowing outward from the compressor.

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First Claim