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US 2011/0232790 A1Published application
Rotary Supply Joint, Rotary Timing Valve And Product Handling Apparatus
AssigneePfizer Inc.
InventorsJulian Brandon-Jones, Nigel David Harrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary supply joint that may, in particular be a rotary timing valve, is provided for providing fluid flow at least periodically from inlet ports to outlet ports when respective openings in first and second surfaces which are rotating relative to each other are aligned, in which a gas bearing is arranged to provide a bearing force between the first and second surfaces.
Claims15
A rotary supply joint, having one or more outlet ports and one or more inlet ports configured to provide a connection for fluid flow between the one or more outlet ports and the one or more inlet ports, the rotary supply joint including:
- first and second surfaces, configured to rotate relative to each other and to have corresponding shapes such that, during relative rotation of the first and second surfaces, a substantially constant separation may be maintained between the first and second surfaces;
- wherein each of said one or more inlet ports is connected for fluid flow to at least one opening on the first surface;
- each of said one or more outlet ports is connected for fluid flow to at least one opening on the second surface;
- as the first and second surfaces rotate relative to each other, at least one opening on the first surface is at least periodically at least partially aligned with at least one opening on the second surface, permitting a flow of fluid from one to the other;
- and
- characterised by a gas bearing, provided between the first and second surfaces, configured to provide a bearing force between the first and second surfaces.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.