US 5,305,788 AGranted

Stream selector for process analyzer

AssigneeWhitey Co.

InventorDonald P. Mayeux

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A stream selector for a process analyzer. The stream selector includes a valve module having two block valves and a bleed valve. In a first mode, the block valves are closed and the bleed valve is open. In a second mode, the block valves are open and the bleed valve is closed. In a third mode, all of the valves are open, thus ensuring that the module is completely purged. A stream-selection valve manifold is made by joining two or more valve modules side by side to form a common outlet and a common passageway, thus ensuring that the manifold is completely purged. The stream selector also provides a single block-and-bleed valve module having a disposal passageway which establishes fluid communication between a vent compartment and an external area suitable for the safe disposal of sample fluids and compressed gas contained in the valve module. The flat-face sealing structure of each valve is very tolerant of scratching and/or irregularities in the sealing structure and of abrasive particulates which may be present in the sample fluid, even to minor structural damage to the sealing structure.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A block-and-bleed valve module, comprising

(a) a first block valve having a first opening, a first passageway, first flat-face sealing means, and a first flat sealing surface;
(b) a second block valve having a second opening, a second passageway, second flat-face sealing means, and a second flat sealing surface;
(c) a bleed valve having a third opening, a third passageway, third flat-face sealing means, and a third flat sealing surface;
and
(d) means for closing the first and second block valves and the bleed valve by urging the first, second, and third sealing means against the first, second, and third sealing surfaces, respectively;
and for opening the first and second block valves and the bleed valve by breaking contact between the first, second, and third sealing means and the first, second, and third sealing surfaces;
the means for closing and opening the first and second block valves and the bleed valve including a valve poppet and an internal pneumatic actuator;
the valve poppet having first and second opposite faces, the first and second block valves being disposed on the first face and the bleed valve being disposed on the second face of the poppet, the first and second block valves and the bleed valve being so constructed and arranged that, when the poppet is moved in a first linear direction to a first position, the first and second block valves are closed and the bleed valve is opened, and when the poppet is moved in a second linear and opposing direction to a second position, the first and second block valves are opened and the bleed valve is closed, and the first and second block valves and the bleed valve are open during transition rom the first to the second position and during transition from the second to the first position, thereby necessitating one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase synchronization and an efficient purging of the first and second block valves and the bleed valve.

5 more elements

A block-and-bleed valve module, comprising:

(a) a first block valve having a first opening, a first passageway, first flat-face sealing means, and a first flat sealing surface;
(b) a second block valve having a second opening, a second passageway, second flat-face sealing means, and a second flat sealing surface;
(c) a bleed valve having a third opening, a third passageway, third flat-face sealing means, and a third flat sealing surface, the bleed valve forming a junction with the first and second block valves and communicating therewith;
the block valves and the bleed valve being so constructed and arranged that:
in a first mode, the block valves are closed and the bleed valve is open;
in a second mode, the block valves are open and the bleed valve is closed;
and in a third mode, all of the valves are open;
(d) means for closing the first and second block valves and the bleed valve by urging the first, second, and third sealing means against the first, second, and third sealing surfaces, respectively;
and for opening the first and second block valves and the bleed valve by breaking contact between the first, second, and third sealing means and the first, second, and third sealing surfaces;
the means for closing and opening the first and second block valves and the bleed valve including a valve poppet and an internal pneumatic actuator;
the pneumatic actuator comprising
(e) first biasing means, including an actuator piston, for urging the poppet in a first direction, to seal the openings of the block valves while leaving the bleed valve open, thereby placing the valve module in the first mode;
(f) second biasing means, including the actuator piston, for urging the poppet in a second direction, to seal the opening of the bleed valve while opening the first and second block valves, thereby placing the valve module in the second mode;
the third mode being momentarily formed in transit between the first to the second mode, or in transit between the second to the first mode;
the first biasing means including a compression spring, and the second biasing means including a compressed gas;
(g) a body having a cover, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port of the first block valve, second block valve, and bleed valve, respectively, the body being constructed and arranged to house the pneumatic actuator and the valves in a cavity within the body, the body cavity comprising
(h) a first portion extending form the lower end of the cavity to the lower surface of a seal-plug bottom part;
(i) a second portion extending from the lower surface of the seal-plug bottom part to the lower surface of a seal-plug top part;
(j) a third portion extending from the upper surface of the seal-plug top part to the lower surface of the actuator piston;
and
(k) a fourth portion extending from the upper surface of the piston to the lower surface of the cover;
the block and bleed valves being disposed in the first portion of the cavity, the third passageway in the second portion of the cavity, the second biasing means in the third portion of the cavity, and the first biasing means in the fourth portion of the cavity.

19 more elements

A stream-selection valve manifold, comprising:

(a) a first valve module comprising
(a1) a first block valve having a first opening, an inlet first passageway, first flat-face sealing means, and a first flat sealing surface;
(a2) a second block valve having a second opening, an outlet second passageway, second flat-face sealing means, and a second flat sealing surface;
the first and second block valves being so constructed and arranged that both are closed simultaneously or both are open simultaneously;
(a3) a first bleed valve having a third opening, a vent third passageway, third flat-face sealing means, and a third flat sealing surface, the first bleed valve forming a junction with the first and second block valves and communicating therewith;
the first and second block valves and the first bleed valve being so constructed and arranged that:
in a first mode,
the first and second block valves are closed and the first bleed valve is open;
in a second mode, the first and second block valves are open and the bleed valve is closed;
and in a third mode, all of the valves are open;
(a4) means for closing the first and second block valves and the first bleed valve by urging the first, second, and third sealing means against the first, second, and third sealing surfaces, respectively;
and for opening the first and second block valves and the bleed valve by breaking contact between the first, second, and third sealing means and the first, second, and third sealing surfaces;
(a5) means for urging the first, second, and third sealing means against the first, second, and third flat sealing surfaces to close the first and second block valves and the first bleed valve;
and
(a6) means for breaking contact between the first, second, and third sealing means and the first, second, and third sealing surfaces to open the first and second block valves and the bleed valve;
(b) a second valve module comprising
(b1) a third block valve having a fourth opening, an inlet fourth passageway, forth flat-face sealing means, and a fourth flat sealing surface;
(b2) a forth block valve having a fifth opening, an outlet fifth passageway, fifth flat-face sealing means, and a fifth flat sealing surface;
the third and fourth block valves being so constructed and arranged that both are closed simultaneously or both are open simultaneously;
(b3) a second bleed valve having a sixth opening, a vent sixth passageway, sixth flat-face sealing means, and a sixth flat sealing surface, the second bleed valve forming a junction with the third and fourth block valves and communicating therewith;
the third and fourth block valves and the second bleed valve being so constructed and arranged that:
in a first mode, the third and fourth block valves are closed and the second bleed valve is open;
in a second mode, the third and fourth block valves are open and the second bleed valve is closed;
and in a third mode, all of the valves are open;
(b4) means for closing the third and fourth block valves and the second bleed valve by urging the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing means against the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing surfaces, respectively and for opening the valves by breaking contact between the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing means and the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing surfaces;
(b5) means for urging the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing means against the fourth, fifth, and sixth flat sealing surfaces to close the third and fourth block valves and the second bleed valve;
and
(b6) means for breaking contact between the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing means and the fourth, fifth, and sixth sealing surfaces to open the third and fourth block valves and the second bleed valve;
(c) means for holding the first and second valve modules in a fixed configuration wherein
(d) the first and second valve modules are joined side-by-side;
(e) the second and fifth passageways are aligned to form a common outlet passageway to and through the holding means;
and
(f) the third and sixth passageways are aligned to form a common vent passageway.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.