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US 6,575,187 B2Granted
Three-way plastic valve
AssigneeEntergris, Inc.
InventorsJohn A. Leys, Michael Stoick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A 3-way valve for controlling the flow between first and second ports and a common port. The 3-way valve comprising a valve body having an integral flow portion and a valve stem having first and second valve members. The valve stem is pressfit assembled into the flow portion of the valve body where at least one of the first valve member and the flow portion momentarily deforms. The valve stem operates between a first position where fluid is allowed to flow between the common port and the second port and a second position where fluid is allowed to flow between the common port and the first port.
Claims16
A 3-way valve comprising:
- a) a valve body comprising:
- i) an integral central body portion formed of a fluoropolymer, the central body portion having a first downwardly facing valve seat, a second upwardly facing valve seat, the second valve seat positioned above the first valve seat, and a resiliently deformable flow channel extending between the valve seats, the flow channel having a minimum inner diameter;
- ii) an upper body portion formed of a fluoropolymer and not being integral with the central body portion, the upper body portion having a chamber for an actuation mechanism, the upper body portion positioned over the central body portion;
- iii) a lower body portion formed of a fluoropolymer and not being integral with the central body portion, said lower body sealingly engaged with and below the central engagement portion, said lower body portion having a concave portion facing the first valve seat;
- ii) a common port integral with the central body portion, the common port in flow communication with the flow channel;
- iii) a first port integral with the central body portion, the first port in flow communication with the flow channel through the first valve seat;
- and
- iv) a second port integral with the central body portion, the second port in flow communication with the flow channel through the second valve seat;
- and
- b) a valve stem comprising an integrally formed fluoropolymer fluid control portion and a diaphragm, the fluid flow portion extending through the first valve seat, the flow channel, and the second valve seat;
- the fluid control portion having a resiliently deformable first valve portion confronting the first valve seat, a second valve portion confronting the second valve seat, and a channel stem portion extending between the first and second valve portions and through the flow channel, the first and second valve portions having respective first and second outside diameters which are greater than the minimum inside diameter of the flow channel, the diaphragm compressed between the upper body portion and the central body portion, the diaphragm sealingly engaged with the central body portion.
8 more elements
A method for manufacturing a 3-way valve comprising the steps of:
- a) injection molding a central PFA valve body having:
- i) an integral flow portion having a first valve seat, a second valve seat, and a flow channel extending between the valve seats having a minimum inner diameter;
- ii) a common port in flow communication with the flow channel;
- iii) a first port in flow communication with the flow channel through the first valve seat;
- and
- iv) a second port in flow communication with the flow channel through the second valve seat;
- and
- b) forming a valve stem from a fluoropolymer having an integrally formed fluid control portion and a diaphragm, the fluid flow portion having a first valve member, a second valve member, and a channel stem portion extending between the first and second valve members;
- the first and second valve members having a maximum outer diameters which is greater than the minimum inner diameter of the flow channel;
- c) press-fitting the fluid control portion through the first valve seat, the flow channel, and the second valve seat, whereby at least one of the flow portion of the body portion and the second valve member momentarily deforms, resulting in the first valve member being operatively positioned adjacent to the first valve seat, the second valve member being operatively positioned adjacent the second valve seat, and the channel stem portion extending through the flow channel;
- d) forming from a fluoropolymer a lower body portion with a concave portion;
- e) sealingly engaging the lower body portion to the central body portion;
- f) forming from a fluoropolymer an upper body portion;
- and
- g) securing the upper body portion on the central body portion and sealingly securing the diaphragm therebetween.
12 more elements
A method for manufacturing a 3-way valve comprising the steps of:
- a) forming an integral central fluoropolymer central body portion having:
- i) a flow portion having a first valve seat, a second valve seat, and a flow channel extending between the valve seats having a minimum inner diameter;
- ii) a common port in flow communication with the flow channel;
- iii) a first port in flow communication with the flow channel through the first valve seat;
- and
- iv) a second port in flow communication with the flow channel through the second valve seat;
- and
- b) forming a valve stem from a fluoropolymer having an integrally formed fluid control portion having a first valve member, a second valve member, and a channel stem portion extending between the first and second valve members;
- the first and second valve members having a maximum outer diameters which is greater than the minimum inner diameter of the flow channel;
- c) press-fitting the fluid control portion through the first valve seat, the flow channel, and the second valve seat, whereby at least one of the flow portion of the body portion and the second valve member momentarily deforms, resulting in the first valve member being operatively positioned adjacent to the first valve seat, the second valve member being operatively positioned adjacent the second valve seat, and the channel stem portion extending through the flow channel;
- d) forming from a fluoropolymer a lower body portion with a concave portion;
- e) sealingly engaging with a tongue in groove connection the lower body portion to the central body portion with the concave portion facing the first valve seat;
- f) forming from a fluoropolymer an upper body portion with a concave portion;
- and
- g) securing the upper body portion on the central body portion with the concave portion facing the second valve seat and with a tongue in groove connection therebetween.
12 more elements
A 3-way valve manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:
- a) injection molding a central PFA valve body having:
- i) an integral flow portion having a first valve seat, a second valve seat, and a flow channel extending between the valve seats having a minimum inner diameter;
- ii) a common port in flow communication with the flow channel;
- iii) a first port in flow communication with the flow channel through the first valve seat;
- and
- iv) a second port in flow communication with the flow channel through the second valve seat;
- and
- b) forming a valve stem from a fluoropolymer having an integrally formed fluid control portion and a diaphragm, the fluid flow portion having a first valve member, a second valve member, and a channel stem portion extending between the first and second valve members;
- the first and second valve members having a maximum outer diameters which is greater than the minimum inner diameter of the flow channel;
- c) press-fitting the fluid control portion through the first valve seat, the flow channel, and the second valve seat, whereby at least one of the flow portion of the body portion and the second valve member momentarily deforms, resulting in the first valve member being operatively positioned adjacent to the first valve seat, the second valve member being operatively positioned adjacent the second valve seat, and the channel stem portion extending through the flow channel;
- d) forming from a fluoropolymer a lower body portion with a concave portion;
- e) sealingly engaging the lower body portion to the central body portion;
- f) forming from a fluoropolymer an upper body portion;
- and
- g) securing the upper body portion on the central body portion and sealingly securing the diaphragm therebetween.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.