Modular air valve system
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsFrancis P. Marocchini, Robert DeFelice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a modular valve system includes, at least a first valve. The first valve can be configured to connect to one or more additional valves. The first valve includes, a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, where a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path.
Claims17
A modular valve system comprising:
- a first valve configured to connect to one or more additional valves, including:
- a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path;
- a mounting flange extending from the first housing at the first inlet or the first outlet configured to mount the first valve to a first structure;
- a first connecting flange extending from the first housing via a first housing extension in a first direction configured to connect the first valve to a second valve, and a second connecting flange extending from the first housing via a second housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the first valve to a third valve or a second structure;
- a first valve disc mounted to a first shaft disposed within the first housing along a rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the first valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the first valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path,
- wherein a first end of the first shaft extends through the first housing extension and through the first connecting flange and is configured to connect to a second shaft of the second valve and wherein a second end of the first shaft extends through the second housing extension and the second connecting flange and is configured to connect to a to a crank of the first valve or to a third shaft of a third valve.
A shaft interconnect system of a modular valve configured connect a first shaft of a first valve to a second shaft of a second valve for rotation of the first shaft and second shaft together along a common rotation axis, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a recess and a slot extending along a surface of the first shaft along the recess;
- and
- a second shaft having a first end and a second a second end, wherein the first end includes a locking protrusion configured to be inserted into the recess of the first end of the second shaft, wherein the locking protrusion includes a tab extending away from the locking protrusion in a direction other than parallel to the common rotation axis configured to slide into the slot to rotationally lock the first shaft and the second shaft together for rotation along the common rotation axis.
A bushing for providing a porting means to an interconnected valve system, comprising:
- a bushing body having a first end opening configured to receive a first end of a first shaft and a second end opening configured to receive a first end of a second shaft such that the first shaft and the second shaft connect to one another within the bushing body;
- and
- a plurality of venting holes defined through the bushing body and disposed circumferentially about the bushing body configured to provide a vent flow path through the bushing body to an ambient environment external to the bushing body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.