Valve with a loading varying mechanism, and method of operating the same
AssigneeMecanique Analytique Inc.
InventorYves Gamache
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve is provided. The valve includes a body provided with fluid passages for circulating fluid therein. The body has a body interface with ports connected to the fluid passages. The valve also includes a valve element having a valve element interface facing the body interface. The valve element can move between different positions so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages. A biasing element biases the valve element interface against the body interface. A load varying mechanism is provided to load the biasing element with different sealing load forces according to the different positions of the valve element. The sealing load force applied on the rotor is thus decreased during rotation, reducing friction between the valve body and the valve element.
Claims20
A method for channeling a fluid through different passages of a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the valve comprising:
- a housing provided with said fluid passages for circulating the fluid therein at a fluid pressure, the housing having a housing interface with ports connected to said fluid passages;
- a valve element having a valve element interface facing the housing interface, said valve element interacting with the ports of the housing interface, the valve element being movable between different positions, so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages;
- and
- a spring assembly for biasing the valve element interface against the housing interface;
- applying a sealing load force on the spring assembly when the valve element is stationary and the valve is in operation;
- and
- applying a reduced sealing load force on the spring assembly while moving the valve between the different positions.
A method for channeling a fluid through different passages of a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the valve comprising:
- a static body provided with fluid passages for circulating fluid therein at a fluid pressure, the body having a body interface with ports connected to said fluid passages;
- a valve element having a valve element interface facing the body interface, said valve element interacting with the ports of the body interface, the valve element being movable between different positions so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages;
- an actuating mechanism for moving the valve element between the different positions;
- a spring assembly configured to bias the valve element interface against the body interface with a sealing load force;
- and
- a load varying mechanism configured to variably load the spring assembly based on the different positions of the valve element;
- and
- applying different sealing load forces on the valve element via the spring assembly, based on the different positions of the valve element, the different sealing load forces comprising at least a first sealing load force applied when the valve element is stationary and a second sealing load force smaller than the first sealing load force while being sufficient to maintain sealing contact between the body interface and the valve element interface, the second sealing force being applied while moving the valve element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.