Rotary valve with control element

A control element for controlling fluid flow through a rotary valve, the control element comprising:

• a body having an upstream side, a downstream side opposite the upstream side, and a pivot axis;
• the upstream side of the body including an inlet edge, an outlet edge symmetrically disposed about the pivot axis, and a diameter extending from the inlet edge to the outlet edge;
• and
• a lattice structure including a plurality of lattice members, the lattice structure defining one or more channels extending across the body at an angle relative to the pivot axis of the body;
• wherein the lattice structure is disposed on the downstream side of the body;
• wherein at least two of the plurality of lattice members are connected from the inlet edge towards the pivot axis along the diameter;
• and
• wherein the at least two lattice members are angled inwardly toward each other to form a joint, the joint extending in an upwardly sloping fashion from the inlet edge towards the pivot axis to directly couple to a brace extending at least partially parallel relative to the pivot axis, an upper extent of the joint forming an outermost contour of the downstream side of the body;
• wherein the diameter is perpendicular relative to the pivot axis and parallel to the body;
• and
• wherein the joint extends perpendicular to the brace.

A rotary valve comprising:

• a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet;
• a valve shaft disposed in the valve body;
• a control element including a first side, a second side, a base connecting the first side and the second side, and a pivot axis, the control element operatively connected to the valve shaft and disposed in the fluid flow path, the control element rotatable by the valve shaft about the pivot axis between an open position, in which the control element permits fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a closed position, in which the control element limits flow between the inlet and the outlet;
• the control element including an inlet edge and an outlet edge symmetrically disposed about the pivot axis, the control element including a diameter extending from the inlet edge to the outlet edge;
• wherein a portion of the control element includes a lattice structure including a plurality of connected lattice members extending from a surface of the base away from the second side, the lattice structure defining one or more channels extending across the first side of the control element;
• and
• wherein at least two of the plurality of connected lattice members extend from the inlet edge towards the pivot axis, the at least two connected lattice members angled inwardly relative to each other to form a joint at the inlet edge;
• wherein the joint extends from the inlet edge and couples directly to a brace, the brace at least partially extending parallel relative to the pivot axis;
• and
• further comprising one or more channels extending across the second side of the control element.

A control element for controlling fluid flow through a rotary valve, the control element comprising:

• a body having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a pivot axis;
• the first side of the body including an inlet edge, an outlet edge symmetrically disposed about the pivot axis, and a diameter extending from the inlet edge to the outlet edge;
• and
• a lattice structure including a plurality of lattice members, the lattice structure defining one or more channels extending across the body at an angle relative to the pivot axis of the body;
• wherein the lattice structure is disposed on the first side of the body;
• wherein at least two of the plurality of lattice members are connected and extend from the inlet edge towards the pivot axis along the diameter;
• and
• wherein the at least two lattice members are angled inwardly toward each other to form a joint, the joint extending from the inlet edge to directly couple to a brace extending at least partially parallel relative to the pivot axis;
• wherein the diameter is perpendicular relative to the pivot axis and parallel to the body;
• and
• wherein a first cross-sectional area of a first channel of the one or more channels is different than a second cross-sectional area of the first channel.