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US 7,819,948 B2Granted
Rotary valve
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorGlenn Paul Wagner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary valve is disclosed having a rotor and stator that utilizes at least one compression spring to provide contact between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) is configured to oppose the pressure forces that urge the rotors and stators apart and reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn the rotors in the valve while preventing leakage from between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) may be positioned within the valve by a spring locating features.
Claims15
A rotary valve for performing cyclic process operations, comprising:
- a feed stator comprising a feed stator mating surface, a feed stator rear surface, and a plurality of ports connecting between the feed stator mating surface and the feed stator rear surface;
- a feed rotor adjacent to the feed stator comprising a feed rotor mating surface, a feed rotor rear surface, and a plurality of ports disposed upon the feed rotor mating surface to direct fluid flow between the plurality of stator ports of the feed stator, the feed rotor rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the feed rotor surface;
- a product rotor engaged with the feed rotor and comprising a product rotor mating surface, a product rotor rear surface, a product outlet, and a plurality of ports disposed upon the mating surface to direct fluid flow between the plurality of ports of the product stator, the product rotor rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the product rotor face;
- a product stator adjacent to the product rotor comprising a product stator mating face, a product stator rear face, and a plurality of ports connecting between the product stator mating face and the product stator rear face;
- and at least one compression spring disposed between the feed rotor and the product rotor configured to apply a spring force with a center of force on the feed rotor rear face and the product rotor rear face, wherein the spring force center of force is located at a predetermined distance greater than zero from the axis of rotation such that the spring force is configured to reduce torque required to turn the feed rotor and the product rotor when the valve is operational.
2 more elements
A rotary valve for performing cyclic process operations, comprising:
- a stator housing having ports;
- a rotor comprising ports and a rear surface, the rotor in rotatable contact about a center axis of rotation with the stator housing at an interface;
- at least one compression spring having a spring force center of force disposed between the rotor rear surface and a thrust runner;
- a thrust bearing disposed between the thrust runner and the stator housing;
- the at least one compression spring configured to apply a spring force having a center of force on the rotor rear surface and the spring force center of force is located at a predetermined distance greater than zero from the axis of rotation which results in reduced torque required to turn the rotor for the given spring force when the valve is operational.
2 more elements
A pressure swing adsorption system comprising:
- a plurality of absorption beds;
- and a rotary valve having one or more rotors, the rotary valve connected to the plurality of absorption beds and configured to direct flows to the plurality of absorption beds during the pressure swing absorption process;
- wherein the rotary valve comprises:
- one or more rotors configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
- and at least one compression spring having a spring force with a center of force configured to apply a spring force to the one or more rotors wherein the spring force center of force is located at a predetermined distance greater than zero from the center axis of rotation in order to reduce the amount of torque required to turn the one or more rotors for the spring force.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.