Method and apparatus for the distribution of fluids
First Claim
1. An apparatus for distributing fluid, comprising:
- a circular, cylindrical valve body comprising a cylinder axis and a perimeter, said body being centered with respect to said cylinder axis;
said body further comprising three outlets being positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other on said perimeter, each of said three outlets communicating with one of three conduits;
a circular, cylindrical core comprising a rotational axis and a channel, said rotational axis being collinear with respect to said cylinder axis;
said core further comprising a periphery, said core fitting into said body, said perimeter and said periphery being in communication with each other, said core being rotatable within said body; and
said channel connecting two of said three outlets of said body to each other according to a position of said core with respect to said body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for distributing fluid comprises a circular, cylindrical valve body and a circular, cylindrical core. The body is centered with respect to a cylinder axis and has a perimeter. Three outlets, each of which communicates with one of three conduits, are positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other on the perimeter of the body. The core comprises a channel and a rotational axis which is collinear with respect to the cylinder axis of the body. The core has a periphery and fits into the body wherein the perimeter and periphery are in communication with each other. The core is rotatable within the body, and the channel connects two of the three outlets of the body to each other according to the position of the core with respect to the body.
12 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for distributing fluid, comprising:
-
a circular, cylindrical valve body comprising a cylinder axis and a perimeter, said body being centered with respect to said cylinder axis;
said body further comprising three outlets being positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other on said perimeter, each of said three outlets communicating with one of three conduits;
a circular, cylindrical core comprising a rotational axis and a channel, said rotational axis being collinear with respect to said cylinder axis;
said core further comprising a periphery, said core fitting into said body, said perimeter and said periphery being in communication with each other, said core being rotatable within said body; and
said channel connecting two of said three outlets of said body to each other according to a position of said core with respect to said body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for distribution of fluid, said method comprising:
-
providing a circular, cylindrical core in a circular, cylindrical valve body to form a three-way valve, said body comprising a perimeter and first, second, and third outlets being positioned equidistant relative to each other on said perimeter, each of said first, second, and third outlets communicating with one of three conduits, said core comprising a channel having first and second holes at either end for conveying fluid between two of said first, second, and third outlets; and
configuring said three-way valve wherein in a first position of said core, said channel interconnecting two of said first, second, and third outlets. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. An apparatus for the distribution of fluid, comprising:
an array of three-way valves, each of said three-way valves comprising;
a circular, cylindrical valve body comprising a cylinder axis and a perimeter, said body being centered with respect to said cylinder axis, said body further comprising three outlets and three conduits, said three outlets being positioned at 120 degrees relative to each other on said perimeter and communicating with one of said three conduits;
a circular, cylindrical core comprising a rotational axis and a channel, said rotational axis being collinear with respect to said cylinder axis, said core further comprising a periphery, said core fitting into said body wherein said perimeter and said periphery being in communication with each other, said channel connecting two of said three outlets of said body to each other according to a position of said core with respect to said body; and
a common general conduit interconnecting said array, said common general conduit being in communication with at least one of said three outlets of each of said three-way valves. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification