US 5,341,834 A · Multiport valve for fluid transfer systems

Abstract

A multiport valve for a water transfer system passes water, drawn by a pump, through a plurality of collectors. A programmable controller controls operation of the pump and a stepper motor which positions the multiport valve in a time series sequence according to user instructions. The multiport valve is formed with a first valve head having an intake port and multiple separate outlet ports. The respective outlet ports are connected to the respective collectors at respective collector inlets. A first rotor bears against the first valve head and forms a seal between the first rotor and first valve head. The first rotor is formed with a first coupling channel for coupling the intake port of the first valve head to different outlet ports according to the rotational position of the first rotor. The multiport valve incorporates a second valve head formed with an exhaust port and a plurality of separate inlet ports coupled to the respective plurality of collectors at respective collector outlets. A second rotor bears against the second valve head substantially forming a seal between the second rotor and second valve head. The second rotor is formed with a second coupling channel for coupling the exhaust port to different inlet ports according to the rotational position of the second rotor for exhausting water.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multiport valve for delivering fluid to a plurality of separate fluid sampling sites having respective fluid sampling inlets and outlets comprising:

a first multiport valve head having a fluid intake port, a plurality of at least three different outlet ports coupled respectively to fluid sampling inlets of the fluid sampling sites, said outlet ports being arranged in a generally circular configuration, and a valve head first distributor bearing against the first multiport valve head for coupling the fluid intake port to different successive outlet ports for delivering fluid to selected fluid sampling sites at selected fluid sampling inlets, said first distributor substantially sealing the other fluid sampling inlets;
a second multiport valve head having a fluid exhaust port, a plurality of at least three separate fluid inlet ports coupled respectively to fluid sampling outlets from the fluid sampling sites, said inlet ports being arranged in a generally circular configuration, and a valve head second distributor bearing against the second multiport valve head for coupling the exhaust port to different successive inlet ports for exhausting fluid from selected fluid sampling sites at selected fluid sampling outlets, said second distributor substantially sealing the other fluid outlets to minimize leakage from the other fluid sampling sites;
and motor means coordinating the first and second distributors for delivering fluid to and exhausting fluid from the respective fluid sampling sites in a time series sequence.

An improved multiport valve for a water transfer system for passing water or other fluid through a plurality of collectors in a time series sequence for testing or sampling, said water transfer system including a pump for drawing fluid through the successive collectors at respective collector inlets and outlets, said multiport valve controlling fluid channels to the respective collectors, and a programmable controller for receiving user instructions and for controlling operation of the pump and multiport valve, the improvement comprising:

said multiport valve comprising a first valve head formed with an inlet port coupled to an elongate inlet channel for receiving fluid to be tested or sampled, and a plurality of separate outlet ports, said respective outlet ports being coupled to the respective collectors at respective collector inlets;
a first rotor bearing against the first valve head and substantially forming a seal between the first rotor and first valve head, said first rotor being formed with a first coupling channel for coupling the elongate inlet channel of the first valve head to different outlet ports according to the rotational position of the first rotor and for delivering intake fluid to respective collectors at respective collector inlets;
said multiport valve comprising a second valve head formed with an exhaust port coupled to an elongate outlet channel, and a plurality of separate inlet ports coupled to the respective plurality of collectors at respective collector outlets;
a second rotor bearing against the second valve head and substantially forming a seal between the second rotor and second valve head, said second rotor being formed with a second coupling channel for coupling the elongate outlet channel to different inlet ports according to the rotational position of the second rotor for exhausting outlet fluid from selected collectors at collector outlets, said second valve head and second rotor substantially sealing the other collector outlets to minimize leakage from other collectors;
and a motor coupled to the first and second rotors for turning the rotors to different rotational positions, said motor and rotors being constructed to coordinate the rotational positions of said rotors for passing fluid through the respective collectors in a time series sequence according to instructions from the programmable controller.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiport valve for fluid transfer systems

Life of this patent

Multiport valve for fluid transfer systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20