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US 7,377,291 B2Granted
Multiport rotary valve
AssigneeServeron Corporation
InventorsJim Moon, John Hinshaw, Steve Mahoney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiport rotary valve has a stator with plural flow paths and a rotary valve plate having plural flow channels. The rotary valve plate defines a rotor that rotates relative to the stator to define unique plural fluid pathways from the stator, through the valve plate, and returning through the stator. Rotation of the rotary valve plate is controlled by a microprocessor, which includes an optical sensor to determine the position of the rotor.
Claims9
A rotary valve, comprising:
- a stator having plural fluid channels formed therethrough, each fluid channel defining an inlet at a first surface of the stator and an outlet at a second surface of said stator, and wherein the inlets at the first surface are arranged in a first orientation that is different from the orientation of the outlets at the second surface;
- a rotary disk having an upper surface with a plurality of flow channels arranged thereon, said upper surface of said disk fluidly sealed against said second surface of said stator, said rotary disk having an effective peripheral edge portion having plural slots therethrough;
- a motor for rotating said disk;
- a controller programmed to detect the rotational position of said disk relative to said stator and to control said motor to change the rotational position of the disk, said controller including an optical sensor capable of interacting with said slots for determining the position of the rotary disk relative to the stator.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.