Back to results
US 12,729,779 B2Granted
Cam driven fluid valve assembly
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsHank Brockner, Chris Franklin, Stephen Zukowski, Paul Mason, David Toutant, Thomas R Chapman, George Popovici
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cam-driven valve system includes a valve housing configured to define a plurality of fluid passageways and to support an array of sliding gate fluid valves in the fluid passageways in such a way that the flow of fluid therethrough is controlled. The system includes a plurality of cams supported on a cam shaft. The cam shaft is arranged so that each cam is associated with a corresponding sliding gate valve. Rotation of the cam shaft results in actuation of the valves via the cams. The cams of the cam shaft vary in shape and size.
Claims20
A valve assembly comprising:
- an assembly housing having ports, each port configured to permit fluid communication between an environment of the assembly housing and an interior space of the assembly housing;
- a cam shaft supported on the assembly housing, the cam shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the cam shaft including a cam that is supported on the cam shaft and rotates in concert with the cam shaft;
- and
- a sliding gate valve that includes
- a first stationary plate having a first plate through-opening, the first stationary plate being disposed in the assembly housing and fixed relative to the assembly housing so as to face a first one of the ports,
- a second stationary plate having a second plate through-opening, the second stationary plate being parallel to the first stationary plate, disposed in the assembly housing and fixed relative to the assembly housing so as to face a second one of the ports and such that the second plate through opening is aligned with the first plate through-opening, and
- a movable plate having a movable plate through-opening, the movable plate being disposed in the assembly housing between the first stationary plate and the second stationary plate, the movable plate being moveable relative to the first stationary plate within a plane that is parallel to the first stationary plate,
- wherein
- the rotational axis is disposed in the plane,
- the movable plate is configured to be driven by the cam to move within the plane, and
- at least one sliding surface of the sliding gate valve includes a protruding ridge having a terminal end that is spaced apart from the at least one sliding surface and abuts a facing surface of the sliding gate valve,
- the at least one sliding surface of the sliding gate valve includes portions that do not form the protruding ridge and are spaced apart from the facing surface of the sliding gate valve,
- the protruding ridge reducing the sliding friction between the movable plate and a respective one of the first stationary plate and the second stationary plate.
10 more elements
A valve assembly comprising:
- an assembly housing having ports, each port configured to permit fluid communication between an environment of the assembly housing and an interior space of the assembly housing;
- a cam shaft supported on the assembly housing, the cam shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the cam shaft including a cam that is supported on the cam shaft and rotates in concert with the cam shaft;
- and
- a sliding gate valve that includes
- a first stationary plate having a first plate through-opening, the first stationary plate being disposed in the assembly housing and fixed relative to the assembly housing so as to face a first one of the ports, and
- a movable plate having a movable plate through-opening, the movable plate being disposed in the assembly housing in a stacked arrangement with respect to the first stationary plate, the movable plate being moveable relative to the first stationary plate within a plane that is parallel to the first stationary plate,
- wherein
- the rotational axis is disposed in the plane,
- the movable plate is configured to be driven by the cam to move within the plane, and
- at least one sliding surface of the sliding gate valve includes a protruding ridge having a terminal end that is spaced apart from the at least one sliding surface and abuts a facing surface of the sliding gate valve,
- the at least one sliding surface of the sliding gate valve includes portions that do not form the protruding ridge and are spaced apart from the facing surface of the sliding gate valve,
- the protruding ridge reducing the sliding friction the sliding friction between the movable plate and the first stationary plate.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.