Pneumatic valve with flexi-seals
AssigneeRotex Automation Limited
InventorRajesh Shah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic valve 300 includes flexi-seals 302 that are annular shaped with non-circular cross-section and are fitted in peripheral groves in plunger 304 of the valve such that a portion of the flexi-seal 302 projects out of the outer circumference of the plunger 304. As the plunger 304 is moved towards a valve seat 314, the projecting portion of the flexi-seal 302 rests against a flat surface of the valve seat 314 to close the passage through the valve seat. The flexi-seal design prevents plurality of bends in the flow passages of the pneumatic valve 300, results in reduced friction during the linear movement of the plunger 304, eliminates movement of seals over edges of cross holes in the plunger bore 306. Besides the flexi-seals are flexible, do not permanently deform, and do not require lubricating media.
Claims9
A valve assembly comprising;
- a plunger bore configured within a valve housing, the plunger bore having a narrow diameter portion and an enlarged diameter portion, wherein the enlarged diameter portion has a bigger diameter than that of the narrow diameter portion, and wherein the enlarged diameter portion comprises one or more valve seats at a transition between the narrow diameter portion and the enlarged diameter portion, and the enlarged diameter portion further comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion thereof;
- a plunger configured for linear movement in a the plunger bore, the plunger having one or more circumferential groves;
- and
- one or more flexi-seals, each flexi-seal configured in a corresponding circumferential grove of the one or more circumferential groves of the plunger such that a portion of the flexi-seals protrudes out of an outer circumferential surface of the plunger, and wherein a diameter the one or more flexi-seals is less than diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the plunger bore such that the one or more flexi seals are not in contact with a the enlarged cylindrical portion of the enlarged diameter portion of the plunger bore;
- wherein the one or more flexi-seals have a rectangular cross section with a portion of a width of the flexi-seal being configured to project out of the corresponding circumferential grove and a thickness of the flexi-seal being configured to engage with the corresponding circumferential grove;
- and
- wherein linear movement of the plunger results in the protruding portion of the one or more flexi-seals to rest against the one or more valve seats to close one or more fluidic passages to control flow of a fluid through the valve assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.