Sequencing valve and hydronic system

• US 20040194836A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hays Fluid Controls
• Original Assignee: HAYS Fluid Controls Division of Romac IND
• Inventors: Meyer, James H. M., Arrowood, Ben G. Jr., Zhang, GangFu
• Granted Patent: US 6,983,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/105 Three-way check or safety valves with two or more closure members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1823 for ball check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/52416 comprising a multiple-way lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87064 Oppositely movable cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87161 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87756 Spring biased

Abstract

A sequencing valve and associated hydronic system are provided. The valve has first and second ports, which can be connected to a heat exchange device, and the valve is configured to selectively provide multiple fluids to the heat exchange device. For example, the valve can selectively connect hot and cold water supplies to the heat exchanger so that the heat exchanger can be used alternately to heat and cool air for a refrigeration system. The valve can include check valves that are adjusted by rotatable cams for controlling the flow of fluids into and out of the ports. Each cam can be mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the cams rotate to adjust the check valves between open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A sequencing valve comprising:

a housing defining first and second ports;

first and second check valves fluidly connected to the first port via the housing, each of the first and second check valves being adjustable to control a flow of fluid through the housing and the first port;

third and fourth check valves fluidly connected to the second port via the housing, each of the third and fourth check valves being adjustable to control a flow of fluid through the housing and the second port;

a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, adjustable between first and second operable positions;

a first cam mounted on the shaft and rotatably adjustable with the shaft between the first and second operable positions, the first cam being configured to adjust the first and second check valves such that one of the first and second check valves is fluidly connected to the first port when the shaft is in the first operable position and the other of the first and second check valves is fluidly connected to the first port when the shaft is in the second operable position; and

a second cam mounted on the shaft and rotatably adjustable with the shaft between the first and second operable positions, the second cam being configured to adjust the third and fourth check valves such that one of the third and fourth check valves is fluidly connected to the second port when the shaft is in the first operable position and the other of the third and fourth check valves is fluidly connected to the second port when the shaft is in the second operable position.

2. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein each of the check valves is a ball check valve having a ball biased against a valve seat and the cams are configured to operably contact respective balls to adjust each ball from the valve seat and adjust the ball check valve from a closed position to an open position, each ball check valve in the closed position preventing fluid from flowing through the ball check valve, and each ball check valve in the open position providing a fluid connection with the housing.

3. A sequencing valve according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the cams defines a groove extending generally circumferentially on the cam configured to at least partially receive at least one of the balls of the check valves.

4. A sequencing valve according to claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the groove has a cross-sectional shape that defines an arc having a radius less than that of an outer curvature of a respective one of the balls such that the groove engages and grips the respective ball.

5. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein each cam is generally cylindrical and defines a groove of varying depth such that the groove extends in an eccentric arc to define a cam profile.

6. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein the first and second cams are staged to engage respective check valves at different rotational positions of the shaft.

7. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein the shaft is adjustable to an off position, the cams configured in the off position such that all of the check valves are closed.

8. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein the cams are configured such that rotation of the shaft to the first operable position opens the first and third valves and closes the second and fourth valves and rotation of the shaft to the second operable position opens the second and fourth valves and closes the first and third valves.

9. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein a segment spanning at least about 45 degrees of at least one of the cams defines a portion of a profile approximately defined by an equation of at least third order to minimize jerk in a ball following the cam.

10. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 wherein a segment spanning at least about 45 degrees of at least one of the cams defines a profile approximately defined by the equation:

11. A sequencing valve according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator operably connected to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft.

12. A hydronic system for selectively exchanging thermal energy between a thermal medium and fluids, the system comprising:

a heat exchanger having first and second ports, at least one of the ports being configured to receive first and second fluids and at least one of the ports being configured to discharge the fluids;

first and second fluid sources configured to supply the first and second fluids to the heat exchanger;

first and second fluid exhausts configured to receive the fluid from the heat exchanger; and

a sequencing valve adjustable between first and second operable positions, the valve being configured in the first operable position to fluidly connect the first fluid source and the first fluid exhaust to the heat exchanger, and the valve being configured in the second operable position to fluidly connect the second fluid source and the second fluid exhaust to the heat exchanger.

13. A hydronic system according to claim 12 wherein the first fluid source is configured to supply a fluid at a first temperature and the second fluid source is configured to supply a fluid at a second temperature, the first temperature being higher than a temperature of the thermal medium and the second temperature being lower than the temperature of the thermal medium such that the first and second fluid sources selectively heat and cool the thermal medium.

14. A hydronic system according to claim 12 further comprising an actuator operably connected to the sequencing valve and configured to adjust the valve between the first and second operable positions.

15. A hydronic system according to claim 12 wherein the sequencing valve is configured to be adjusted to an off position characterized by the first and second fluid sources being substantially fluidly disconnected from the heat exchanger.

16. A hydronic system according to claim 12 wherein the sequencing valve is configured to fluidly connect the first fluid source to the first port and fluidly connect the second fluid source to the second port such that the sequencing valve in the first operable position provides a flow of the first fluid in a first direction through the heat exchanger from the first port to the second port and the sequencing valve in the second operable position provides a flow of the second fluid in a second direction from the second port to the first port.

17. A hydronic system according to claim 12 wherein the sequencing valve comprises:

a housing fluidly connected to the first and second ports of the heat exchanger;

a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, adjustable between first and second rotational positions;

first and second check valves in fluid communication with the first port, the first check valve being adjustable to control a flow of the first fluid through the first port and the second check valve being adjustable to control a flow of the second fluid through the first port;

third and fourth check valves in fluid communication with the second port, the third check valve being adjustable to control a flow of the first fluid through the second port and the fourth check valve being adjustable to control a flow of the second fluid through the second port; and

first and second cams mounted on the shaft such that each of the cams is rotatably adjustable with the shaft between the first and second operable positions of the shaft, the first cam configured to adjust the first and second check valves and the second cam configured to adjust the third and fourth check valves.

18. A hydronic system according to claim 17 wherein each of the check valves is a ball check valve having a ball configured to be contacted and thereby operably adjusted by a respective one of the cams.

19. A hydronic system according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the cams defines a groove extending generally circumferentially on the cam, the groove configured to at least partially receive at least one of the balls of the check valves.

20. A hydronic system according to claim 19 wherein at least a portion of the groove has a cross-sectional shape that defines an arc having a radius less than that of an outer curvature of a respective one of the balls such that the cam engages and grips the respective ball.

21. A hydronic system according to claim 17 wherein each cam is generally cylindrical and defines a groove of varying depth such that the groove extends in an eccentric arc to define a cam profile.

22. A hydronic system according to claim 17 wherein the first and second cams are staged to engage respective check valves at different rotational positions of the shaft.