Reversible flow valve assembly

A reversible flow valve configured for fluid flow in either direction;

• the valve comprising:
• a valve housing having a valve chamber including a first valve port opening and a second valve port opening in communication with a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet of the valve, respectively;
• a first valve plate disposed in the valve chamber over the first valve port opening and rotatably coupled to the shaft, the first valve plate having a first tapered semi-circular slot positioned in the first valve plate so as to align with the first valve port opening, where the first valve plate is configured to rotate from a closed position, in which the first valve plate is positioned over the first valve port opening, to an open position in which rotation of the first valve plate adjustably positions a wider or narrower portion of the first tapered semi-circular slot over the first valve port opening, to adjustably vary the rate of fluid flow through the first valve port opening, wherein the first valve plate in its closed position is configured to be movable in an axial direction towards and away from the first valve port opening;
• and
• a second valve plate that is configured to rotate with the first valve plate, the second valve plate being configured to cover the second valve port opening when the first valve plate is rotated to the closed position, wherein the second valve plate in its closed position is configured to be movable relative to the first valve plate in an axial direction towards and away from the second valve port opening;
• wherein the first valve plate in the closed position is configured to move away from the first valve port opening, and the second valve plate in the closed position is configured to move against the second valve port opening, to thereby resist fluid flow through the second valve port opening;
• and
• wherein the second valve plate in the closed position is configured to move away from the second valve port opening, and the first valve plate in the closed position is configured to move against the first valve port opening, to thereby resist fluid flow through the first valve port opening.

A valve with a first inlet/outlet and second inlet/outlet configured for fluid flow in either direction;

• the valve comprising:
• a valve chamber having a lower wall with a first valve port opening and a second valve port opening in communication with the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet of the valve, respectively;
• a shaft rotatably disposed in the valve chamber in a generally vertical orientation;
• a first valve plate disposed in the valve chamber over the first and second valve port openings and rotatably coupled to the shaft, the first valve plate being configured to be movable in an axial direction towards and away from the first and second valve port openings, said first valve plate having a first tapered semi-circular slot positioned therein so as to align with the first valve port opening, and a second tapered semi-circular slot and cavity positioned therein so as to align with the second valve port opening, where the first valve plate is configured to rotate from a closed position, in which the first valve plate is positioned over the first valve port opening and the cavity is positioned over the second valve port opening, to an open position in which rotation of the first valve plate adjustably positions a wider or narrower portion of the first tapered semi-circular slot over the first valve port opening and a wider or narrower portion of the second tapered semi-circular slot over the second valve port opening, for adjustably varying the fluid flow rate through the valve;
• a second valve plate disposed within the cavity in the first valve plate, so as to be positioned over the second valve port opening when the first valve plate is rotated to the closed position, the second valve plate being configured to be movable relative to the first valve plate in an axial direction towards and away from the second valve port opening;
• wherein the first valve plate in the closed position is configured to move away from the first valve port opening, and the second valve plate in the closed position is configured to move against the second valve port opening, to thereby resist fluid flow through the second valve port opening;
• and
• wherein the second valve plate in the closed position is configured to move away from the second valve port opening, and the first valve plate in the closed position is configured to move against the first valve port opening, to thereby resist fluid flow through the first valve port opening.