US 12,655,914 B2 · Cylindrical valve slider seal with raised contact ribs

Abstract

A seal assembly which includes a combination of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, which has a low friction sliding interface, such that the seal assembly provides desired sealing force and frictional force characteristics. When assembled, the seal assembly surrounds a rotor, such that the seal assembly is disposed between the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of a housing. The inner sleeve includes one or more ribs which are in contact with the outer surface of the rotor, which concentrates the sealing in the area of the ribs. The concentration of the sealing reduces the total friction between the rotor and the inner sleeve, while maintaining proper sealing force. The ribs formed as part of the inner sleeve are spaced apart such that the openings of the rotor are positioned relative to the ribs in a desired manner, regardless of the orientation of the rotor.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a seal assembly for a multi-port valve assembly, the seal assembly including:
a seal element, further comprising:
an inner sleeve;
an outer sleeve connected to the inner sleeve;
a plurality of apertures extending through the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve;
a plurality of vertical ribs integrally formed as part an inner surface of the inner sleeve, at least one of the plurality of vertical ribs is located between two of the plurality of apertures;
and
a plurality of support ribs integrally formed as part an inner surface of the outer sleeve, one or more of the plurality of support ribs in contact with and supporting a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical ribs;
wherein one or more of the plurality of vertical ribs is in contact with an outer surface of a rotor.

6 more elements

A seal assembly for a multi-port valve assembly, the seal assembly comprising:

a seal element, further comprising:
an inner sleeve;
an outer sleeve connected to the inner sleeve;
a plurality of apertures extending through the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve;
a plurality of vertical ribs integrally formed as part an inner surface of the inner sleeve, at least one of the plurality of vertical ribs is located between two of the plurality of apertures;
a plurality of horizontal ribs integrally formed as part an inner surface of the inner sleeve, each of the plurality of horizontal ribs is in continuous contact with the outer surface of a rotor;
and
a plurality of support ribs integrally formed as part an inner surface of the outer sleeve, each of the plurality of support ribs in contact with and supporting a corresponding one of the plurality of vertical ribs or one of the plurality of horizontal ribs;
wherein at least one of the plurality of vertical ribs and at least one of the plurality of horizontal ribs are in contact with the outer surface of the rotor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cylindrical valve slider seal with raised contact ribs

Life of this patent

Cylindrical valve slider seal with raised contact ribs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23