# US 10,865,668 B2 · Four-way hydraulic valve flow control body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,668 B2 - Document ID: US10865668B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/802,651 - Filed: 2017-11-03 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-03 - Assignees: NIO USA, Inc. - Applicants: NIO USA, Inc. - Inventors: Ming Fung Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865668B2 ## CPC - F01L 7/02: with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly shaped valves (of disc type F01L7/06; of conical type F01L7/08) - B65G 53/4633: {the element having pockets, rotated from charging position to discharging position, i.e. discrete flow} - F01L 7/16: Sealing or packing arrangements specially therefor - F01L 7/18: Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group - F16K 5/08: Details - F16K 11/085: with cylindrical plug - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A valve comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising two passageways and two or more sealing faces. The valve allowing for controlling air flow between four directions. The valve can be capable of operating in a number of operation modes depending on a position of the rotor. The valve design can include a valve-housing with three ports in plane with a first plane and one port normal to the first plane. A rotary valve provides a plurality of predetermined flow modes between four ports. The valve comprises an outer layer and a rotatable inner layer. The inner layer allows for a number of different flow configurations between four ports. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve comprising: a housing, the housing having a cavity and comprising first, second, third, and fourth flow ports in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the first flow port is at a location extending vertically from a center of the housing and wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are at radially spaced apart locations extending horizontally from the center of the housing; and a rotatable rotor positioned within the cavity about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising: a first fluid passageway extending from a first opening, the first opening at a position extending from a center of the rotor to a second opening at a first outer radial position of the surface of the rotor; a second fluid passageway extending through the rotor between third and fourth openings at second and third outer radial positions of the surface of the rotor; a first sealing face; and a second sealing face, wherein in a first position: the first sealing face blocks flow to and from one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein no flow is possible to and from the first flow port; and the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are spaced 120 degrees apart from each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first flow port is spaced 90 degrees from each of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first opening continuously connects to the first flow port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second sealing faces are operable to seal one or more of the second, third, and fourth flow ports depending on a position of the rotor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the second passageway surrounds the first sealing face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the rotor is rotatably movable to two or more rotor positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions: the first passageway allows for flow between the first flow port and one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports; and the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions: the first passageway allows for flow between the first flow port and one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports; and one or more of the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports is blocked by the first sealing face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The valve of claim 7, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions: the first passageway is blocked by a wall of the housing between two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein flow to and from the first flow port is blocked; and two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports are each blocked by a separate sealing face of the rotor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the rotor is rotatably movable to two or more rotor positions, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions the first passageway allows for flow between the first flow port and one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 12 A system, comprising: a processor; a servomotor; and a valve comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a cavity and first, second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth flow ports are in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the first flow port is at a location extending vertically from a center of the housing, and wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are at radially spaced apart locations extending horizontally from the center of the housing; and a rotor positioned within the cavity, the rotor being rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising: a first fluid passageway extending from a first opening, the first opening at a position extending from a center of the rotor to a second opening at a first outer radial position of the surface of the rotor; a second fluid passageway extending through the rotor between third and fourth openings at second and third outer radial positions of the surface of the rotor; a first sealing face; and a second sealing face, wherein in a first position: the first sealing face blocks flow to and from one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein no flow is possible to and from the first flow port; and the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are spaced 120 degrees apart from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first flow port is spaced 90 degrees from each of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first opening continuously connects to the first flow port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second sealing faces are operable to seal one or more of the second, third, and fourth flow ports depending on a position of the rotor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second passageway surrounds the first sealing face. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the rotor is rotatably movable to two or more rotor positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions: the first passageway allows for flow between the first flow port and one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports; and the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the rotor is rotatably movable to two or more rotor positions, wherein in a second position of the rotor positions the first passageway allows for flow between the first flow port and one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports.