US 6,672,336 B2Granted

Dual random access, three-way rotary valve apparatus

AssigneeRheodyne, LLC

InventorJon A. Nichols

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Abstract

A multi-function, random access, dual, three-way valve for use with fluid switching and the like is provided, whereby a first fluid flow to the valve is selectively placed in fluid communication with a first or a second outlet passage from the valve for selectively transferring the first fluid flow and a second fluid flow to the valve is, independent of the flow path of the first fluid, selectively placed in fluid communication with a third or a fourth outlet from the valve for simultaneously transferring the second fluid flow. A rotor element rotatably movable relative to a stationary stator element to at least four discrete angular positions actuates to multi-function switching capabilities of the valve when the rotor element is selectively placed in one of the at least four discrete positions. The valve directs the first fluid flow to one of two alternate outlet passages and, simultaneously and independently, directs the second fluid flow to one of at least two different outlet passages.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A dual, random access, 3-way fluid switching rotary valve apparatus comprising:

a stator element defining a first inlet passage fluidly coupled to a first fluid source and having a first inlet port terminating at a stator face lying in an interface plane, and defining a second inlet passage fluidly coupled to a second fluid source and having a second inlet port terminating at the stator face, said stator element further defining a first, a second, a third and a fourth outlet passage each in fluid communication with said stator face;
and
a rotor element defining a rotor face oriented in the interface plane in opposed relationship to and contacting said stator face in a fluid-tight manner, said rotor element being rotatably movable about a rotational axis, relative to said stator face, for rotational movement of said rotor face to at least a discrete first, second, third and fourth rotor position,
said rotor face and said stator face cooperatively defining a channel set enabling fluid communication between the first fluid source and one of the first and second outlet passage, and enabling fluid communication between the second fluid source and one of the third and fourth outlet passage, such that:
in the first rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage;
in the second rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage;
in the third rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage;
and;
in the fourth rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage.

6 more elements

A dual, random access, 3-way fluid switching rotary valve apparatus comprising:

a stator element defining a first inlet passage fluidly coupled to a first fluid source and having a first inlet port terminating at a stator face lying in an interface plane, and defining a second inlet passage fluidly coupled to a second fluid source and having a second inlet port terminating at the stator face, said stator element further defining a first, a second, a third and a fourth outlet passage each in fluid communication with said stator face;
and
a rotor element defining a rotor face oriented in the interface plane in opposed relationship to and contacting said stator face in a fluid-tight manner, said rotor element being rotatably movable about a rotational axis, relative to said stator face, for rotational movement of said rotor face to at least a discrete first, second, third and fourth rotor position;
said rotor face and said stator face cooperatively defining a first valve channel set enabling fluid communication between the first fluid source and one of the first and second outlet passage, and cooperatively defining a second valve channel set enabling fluid communication between the second fluid source and one of the third and fourth outlet passage, such that:
in the first rotor position, said first valve channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage, and said second valve channel set fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage;
in the second rotor position, said first valve channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage, and said second valve channel set fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage;
in the third rotor position, said first valve channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage, and said second valve channel set fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage;
and
in the fourth rotor position, said first valve channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage, and said second valve channel set fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage and, wherein;
said first valve channel set includes an elongated groove defined in said rotor face and extending in a direction radially from the rotational axis, said groove of said first valve channel set having one portion in continuous fluid communication with said first inlet port during relative rotational movement between said rotor element and said stator element;
the first outlet passage includes a first outlet port terminating at a first slot of said first valve channel set defined in said stator face, said first slot having one portion in fluid communication with the radially extending groove of said first valve channel set in the first rotor position, and having another portion in fluid communication with the groove of said first valve channel set in the second rotor position;
the second outlet passage includes a second outlet port terminating at a second slot of said first valve channel set defined in said stator face, said second slot having one portion in fluid communication with the radially extending groove of said first valve channel set in the third rotor position, and having another portion in fluid communication with the groove in the fourth rotor position;
said second valve channel set further includes a slot defined in said stator face, said slot of said second valve channel set having one portion in continuous fluid communication with said second inlet port;
the third outlet passage includes a third outlet port terminating at said stator face and oriented to fluidly couple with a radially extending first groove of said second valve channel set defined in said rotor face, said first groove of said second valve channel set having one portion in fluid communication with said third outlet port and having another portion in fluid communication with said slot of said second valve channel set in the first rotor position and to fluidly couple with a radially extending second groove of said second valve channel set, spaced apart from said first groove of said second channel set, said second groove of said second valve channel set having one portion in fluid communication with said third outlet port and having another portion in fluid communication with said slot of said second valve channel set in the third rotor position;
and,
the fourth outlet passage includes a fourth outlet port terminating at said stator face and oriented to fluidly couple with said first groove of said second valve channel set, said first groove of said second valve channel set having one portion in fluid communication with said fourth outlet port and having another portion in fluid communication with said slot of said second valve channel set in the second rotor position and to fluidly couple with said second groove of said second valve channel set, said second groove of said second valve channel set having one portion in fluid communication with said fourth outlet port and having another portion in fluid communication with said slot of said second valve channel set in the fourth rotor position.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/998,529Filed 28 Nov 2001
Published: US 2003/0098076 A129 May 2003
Granted: 6 Jan 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16K 11/074
With pivoted closure members: with flat sealing faces
F16K 11/0743
With flat sealing faces: with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates
Y10T 137/86501
Multi-way valve unit: sequential distributor or collector type
Y10T 137/86863
Multi-way valve unit: rotary valve unit