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US 7,243,679 B2Granted
Adsorbent fractionator directional flow control valve assembly apparatus and method
AssigneeFlair Corporation
InventorJohn E. Thelen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adsorbent fractionator directional flow control valve assembly includes two inlet valves, two exhaust valves, and a valve body. The valve assembly controls the directional flow of an influent gas mixture into one of two vertical desiccant tanks of an adsorbent fractionator, or desiccant dryer, and an effluent gas flowing in reverse through the opposite desiccant tank. The valve body is a single unitary piece, which may be a casting, and couples the inlet valves and the exhaust valves, which may be four identical valve subassemblies, providing flow communication between these and an inlet port, two exit ports, and an exhaust port.
Claims21
A directional flow control valve assembly for an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- a first inlet valve;
- a second inlet valve;
- a first exhaust valve;
- a second exhaust valve;
- and
- a valve body, comprising:
- at least one inlet port pneumatically coupled to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- a first exit port pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber;
- a first mounting interface for coupling the first inlet valve to the valve body;
- a second exit port pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber;
- a second mounting interface for coupling the second inlet valve to the valve body;
- at least one exhaust port pneumatically coupled to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- a third mounting interface for coupling the first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- a fourth mounting interface for coupling the second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- and
- a fifth mounting interface for an inlet manifold;
- wherein the third valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber, the fourth valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber, and the valve body comprises a single unitary piece.
14 more elements
A directional flow control valve assembly for an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- a first inlet valve;
- a second inlet valve;
- a first exhaust valve;
- a second exhaust valve;
- and
- a valve body, comprising:
- at least one inlet port pneumatically coupled to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- a first exit port pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber;
- a first mounting interface for coupling the first inlet valve to the valve body;
- a second exit port pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber;
- a second mounting interface for coupling the second inlet valve to the valve body;
- at least one exhaust port pneumatically coupled to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- a third mounting interface for coupling the first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- and
- a fourth mounting interface for coupling the second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- wherein the third valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber, the fourth valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber, the valve body comprises a single unitary piece, and the first and second inlet valves are actuated by a single valve actuator.
13 more elements
A directional flow control valve assembly for an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- a first inlet valve;
- a second inlet valve;
- a first exhaust valve;
- a second exhaust valve;
- and
- a valve body, comprising:
- at least one inlet port pneumatically coupled to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- a first exit port pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber;
- a first mounting interface for coupling the first inlet valve to the valve body;
- a second exit port pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber;
- a second mounting interface for coupling the second inlet valve to the valve body;
- at least one exhaust port pneumatically coupled to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- a third mounting interface for coupling the first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- and
- a fourth mounting interface for coupling the second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- wherein the third valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber, the fourth valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber, the valve body comprises a single unitary piece, and the third and fourth mounting interfaces are perpendicular to the first and second mounting interfaces, and the third and fourth mounting interfaces lie in a same plane.
13 more elements
A valve body for pneumatic directional flow control valves in an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- at least one inlet port pneumatically coupled to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- a first exit port pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber;
- a first mounting interface for coupling a first inlet valve to the valve body;
- a second exit port pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber;
- a second mounting interface for coupling a second inlet valve to the valve body;
- at least one exhaust port pneumatically coupled to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- a third mounting interface for coupling a first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- a fourth mounting interface for coupling a second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- a fifth mounting interface for an inlet manifold
- wherein the third valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber, the fourth valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber, and the valve body comprises a single unitary piece.
7 more elements
A valve body for pneumatic directional flow control valves in an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- at least one inlet port pneumatically coupled to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- a first exit port pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber;
- a first mounting interface for coupling a first inlet valve to the valve body;
- a second exit port pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber;
- a second mounting interface for coupling a second inlet valve to the valve body;
- at least one exhaust port pneumatically coupled to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- a third mounting interface for coupling a first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- and
- a fourth mounting interface for coupling a second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- wherein the third valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the first valve chamber, the fourth valve chamber is pneumatically coupled to the second valve chamber, the valve body comprises a single unitary piece wherein the second mounting interface faces opposite the first mounting interface, and the third and fourth mounting interfaces are perpendicular to the first and second mounting interfaces, and the third and fourth mounting interfaces lie in a same plane.
7 more elements
A valve body for pneumatic directional flow control valves in an adsorbent fractionator, comprising:
- means for pneumatically coupling at least one inlet port to a first valve chamber and to a second valve chamber;
- means for pneumatically coupling a first exit port to the first valve chamber;
- mounting interface means for coupling a first inlet valve to the valve body;
- means for pneumatically coupling a second exit port to the second valve chamber;
- mounting interface means for coupling a second inlet valve to the valve body;
- means for pneumatically coupling at least one exhaust port to a third valve chamber and to a fourth valve chamber;
- mounting interface means for coupling a first exhaust valve to the valve body;
- mounting interface means for coupling a second exhaust valve to the valve body;
- means for pneumatically coupling the third valve chamber to the first valve chamber;
- and
- means for pneumatically coupling the fourth valve chamber to the second valve chamber;
- wherein the valve body comprises a single unitary piece and the first and second inlet valves are actuated by a single valve actuator.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.