Rotary valve with compliant lining

• US 20030155012A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Original Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Inventors: Liang, Greg, Smith, Dave, Smith, Mike, Waltzer, Eric, Tatum, Roger, Foley, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/310,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155012A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/812 in two or more alternative mixing receptacles, e.g. mixing in one receptacle and dispensing from another receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7161 the containers being connected coaxially before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 : with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 : Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48714 : for determining substances foreign to the organism, e.g. drugs or heavy metals drugs by chemical analysis G01N33/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 : Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Rotary valves with rotors and compliant linings are provided. A rotary valve includes a rigid hollow stator and a rotor disposed within the stator. The rotor includes a rigid core and a compliant lining injection molded onto the rigid core, wherein the compliant lining is sealingly engaged with an inner bearing surface of the stator and includes one or more surface channels that can be placed into fluid communication with one or more ports disposed on the stator. The rigid core is composed of polycarbonate and the compliant lining is composed of polyurethane. The surface channels can be, e.g., arcuate or longitudinal surface channels. The rigid core can include one or more through channels, in which case, the one or more surface channels can intersect the one or more through channels to form a continuous channel.

Claims

1. A rotary valve, comprising:

a rigid hollow stator comprising an inner bearing surface and one or more flow ports;

a rotor disposed within said stator, said rotor comprising a rigid core and a compliant lining injection molded onto said rigid core, wherein said compliant lining is sealingly engaged with said inner bearing surface of said stator and comprises one or more surface channels that can be placed into fluid communication with said one or more ports.

2. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said rigid core comprises one or more through channels.

3. The rotary valve of claim 2, wherein said one or more surface channels intersect said one or more through channels.

4. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises one or more arcuate surface channels.

5. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises one or more longitudinal surface channels.

6. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises a plurality of arcuate surface channels.

7. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said rigid core is composed of polycarbonate.

8. The rotary valve of claim 1, wherein said compliant lining is composed of polyurethane.

9. A rotor for a rotary valve, comprising:

a rigid core; and

a compliant lining injection molded onto said rigid core, wherein said compliant lining comprises one or more surface channels.

10. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said rigid core comprises one or more through channels.

11. The rotor of claim 10, wherein said one or more surface channels intersect said one or more through channels.

12. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises one or more arcuate surface channels.

13. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises one or more longitudinal surface channels.

14. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said one or more surface channels comprises a plurality of arcuate surface channels.

15. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said rigid core is composed of polycarbonate.

16. The rotor of claim 9, wherein said compliant lining is composed of polyurethane.

17. A rotary valve, comprising:

a rigid hollow stator comprising an inner bearing surface and a flow port;

a rotor disposed within said stator, said rotor comprising a rigid core including a ridge, said rotor further comprising a compliant lining injection molded onto said ridge to form a surface channel, wherein said compliant lining is sealingly engaged with said inner bearing surface of said stator and said surface channel can be placed into fluid communication with said flow port.

18. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said ridge has a pair of opposing lateral surfaces and an adjacent circumferential surface, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said opposing lateral surfaces of said ridge, while leaving said circumferential surface of said ridge exposed, to form said surface channel.

19. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said compliant lining comprises a surface channels stop.

20. The rotary valve of claim 18, wherein said compliant lining comprises a surface channel stop, said ridge has another pair of opposing lateral surfaces and another adjacent circumferential surface, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said other opposing lateral surfaces and said other circumferential surface of said ridge to form said surface channel stop.

21. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said stator comprises a plurality of flow ports, said rigid core includes a plurality of arcuate ridges, said compliant lining is injection molded onto said plurality of arcuate ridges to form a plurality of arcuate surface channels that can be placed into fluid communication with said plurality of flow ports.

22. The rotary valve of claim 21, wherein said plurality of arcuate ridges are equidistant.

23. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said ridge comprises a longitudinal ridge.

24. The rotary valve of claim 21, wherein said stator comprises another flow port, said rigid core includes a longitudinal ridge that intersects said plurality of arcuate ridges, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said longitudinal ridge to form a longitudinal surface channel that can be placed into fluid communication with said another flow port.

25. The rotary valve of claim 21, wherein said stator comprises a rectilinear plurality of flow ports, said rigid core includes a longitudinal ridge that intersects said plurality of arcuate ridges, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said longitudinal ridge to form a plurality of longitudinal surface channels that can be placed into fluid communication with said another plurality of flow ports.

26. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said rigid core comprises a through channel.

27. The rotary valve of claim 24, wherein said rigid core comprises a through channel at an intersection between one of said plurality of arcuate ridges and said longitudinal ridge.

28. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said rigid core is composed of polycarbonate.

29. The rotary valve of claim 17, wherein said compliant lining is composed of polyurethane.

30. A rotor for a rotary valve, comprising:

a rigid core including a ridge; and

a compliant lining injection molded onto said ridge to form a surface channel.

31. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said ridge has a pair of opposing lateral surfaces and an adjacent circumferential surface, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said opposing lateral surfaces of said ridge, while leaving said circumferential surface of said ridge exposed, to form said surface channel.

32. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said compliant lining comprises a surface channels stop.

33. The rotor of claim 31, wherein said compliant lining comprises a surface channel stop, said ridge has another pair of opposing lateral surfaces and another adjacent circumferential surface, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said another opposing lateral surfaces and another circumferential surface of said ridge to form said surface channel stop.

34. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said rigid core includes a plurality of arcuate ridges, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said plurality of arcuate ridges to form a plurality of arcuate surface channels.

35. The rotor of claim 34, wherein said plurality of arcuate ridges are equidistant.

36. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said ridge comprises a longitudinal ridge.

37. The rotor of claim 34, wherein said rigid core includes a longitudinal ridge that intersects said plurality of arcuate ridges, and said compliant lining is injection molded onto said longitudinal ridge to form a longitudinal surface channel.

38. The rotor of claim 37, wherein said compliant lining is injection molded onto said longitudinal ridge to form a plurality of longitudinal surface channels.

39. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said rigid core comprises a through channel.

40. The rotor of claim 37, wherein said rigid core comprises a through channel at an intersection between one of said plurality of arcuate ridges and said longitudinal ridge.

41. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said rigid core is composed of polycarbonate.

42. The rotor of claim 30, wherein said compliant lining is composed of polyurethane.