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US 11,808,366 B1Granted
Piston valve with annular passages
AssigneeChandler Systems, Inc.
InventorsWilliam D. Chandler, Jr., Aaron R. Wolfe, Cody A. Harbaugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control valve includes a valve body with a plurality of ports and a plurality of annular flow passages. At least one valve element such as a piston which includes a plurality of annular flow passages and a longitudinal flow passage is selectively movable within a bore within the valve body through operation of a valve controller. The valve controller includes a motor that is selectively operative to control the position of the at least one valve element to enable liquid flow through a plurality of flow paths. The valve may be utilized in system arrangements which oxidize and filter out contaminants in liquids such as water.
Claims34
Apparatus comprising:
- an enclosed tank, wherein the tank includes a tank interior area,
- wherein in an operative position the tank interior area includes
- an upper area, wherein the upper area is configured to house an air pocket,
- a lower area, wherein the lower area houses filter media,
- a tube, wherein the tube extends vertically within the tank between the upper and lower areas and includes a tube opening in the upper area,
- wherein the tube bounds a tube passage, wherein the tube passage is in fluid connection with a first fluid conduit, wherein the first fluid conduit extends outside the tank and below the tube opening,
- a second fluid conduit, wherein the second fluid conduit is in direct fluid connection with a portion of the tank interior area that is below a top of the filter media and outside of the tube,
- a fluid control valve,
- wherein the fluid control valve includes
- a body,
- a plurality of valve fluid passages within the body,
- at least one movable valve element,
- wherein movably positioning the at least one valve element is operative to cause at least some of the valve fluid passages to be selectively fluidly connected and fluidly separated,
- a motor, wherein the motor is in operative connection with the at least one valve element,
- wherein the motor is operable to selectively position the at least one valve element in
- a service position, wherein in the service position
- liquid is enabled to be received into the valve through a liquid inlet port of the valve,
- liquid is enabled to pass through at least one valve fluid passage, through the first fluid conduit and from the tube opening into the air pocket in the upper area of the tank, whereby oxidizable contaminants in the liquid are oxidized,
- liquid that has passed from the tube opening is enabled to pass through the filter media which removes oxidized contaminants, through the second fluid conduit and through at least one valve fluid passage to a liquid outlet port of the valve, and
- a decompression position, wherein in the decompression position
- liquid is enabled to pass from the lower area of the tank, through the second fluid conduit and through at least one valve fluid passage to a drain port of the valve, wherein the drain port is configured to be in operative connection with a drain,
- wherein in the decompression position liquid that is passed from the lower area of the tank causes pressure of the air pocket in the upper area of the tank to be reduced,
- wherein the motor is selectively operable to cause the at least one valve element that is positioned in the service position, to be immediately next positioned in the decompression position.
20 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a fluid control valve, wherein the fluid control valve is configured to be in operative fluid connection with an enclosed tank,
- wherein in an operative position the tank includes
- an upper area configured to house an air pocket, and
- a lower area that is configured to house filter media,
- a tube,
- wherein the tube extends vertically within an interior area of the tank and between
- the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the tube includes a tube opening to a tube passage within the tube, wherein the tube passage is in fluid connection with a first conduit that extends outside the tank and below the tube opening,
- wherein the tank is in operative connection with a second conduit, wherein the second conduit extends outside the tank and is in direct fluid connection with the interior area below a top of the filter media in the lower area of the tank,
- wherein the fluid control valve includes
- a valve body,
- a plurality of valve fluid passages within the valve body,
- at least one movable valve element within the valve body,
- wherein movably positioning the at least one movable valve element is operative to cause at least some of the valve fluid passages to be selectively fluidly connected and fluidly separated within the valve body,
- wherein the valve body includes a liquid inlet port, a liquid outlet port and a drain port,
- at least one motor, wherein the at least one motor is in operative connection with the at least one valve element,
- wherein the at least one motor is operable to selectively position the at least one valve element within the valve body,
- wherein the at least one motor is operable to selectively position the at least one valve element such that the valve is selectively placed in each of
- a service condition, wherein in the service condition
- liquid is enabled to be received into the valve body through the inlet port,
- liquid received through the inlet port is enabled to pass through at least one valve fluid passage to the first conduit, wherein fluid is enabled to pass outward from the tube opening in the air pocket in the upper area of the tank whereby oxidizable contaminants in the liquid are oxidized, and to pass downward outside the tube through the filter media in the lower area whereby oxidized contaminants are removed from the liquid,
- liquid that has passed through the filter media is enabled to flow through the second conduit and then into the valve body and through at least one valve fluid passage to the liquid outlet port, and
- a decompression condition, wherein in the decompression condition
- liquid is enabled to pass from the second conduit through at least one valve fluid passage within the valve body to the drain port, wherein the drain port is configured to be in operative connection with a drain,
- wherein in the decompression condition liquid passed from the lower area of the tank is operable to cause pressure of the air pocket in the upper area of the tank to be reduced,
- wherein the at least one motor is operable to selectively cause the at least one valve element to be moved so that the liquid flow through the valve body is changed directly from the service condition to the decompression condition.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.