ROCKER VALVE MECHANISM AND ROCKER VALVE

• US 20100043738A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FAS Medic SA (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fluid Automation Systems S.A. (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Grandvallet, Gilles, Richardet, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 8,752,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/90.390
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0641 the valve member being a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/10 with additional mechanism between armature and closure member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8309 Pointer integral with handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86847 Pivoted valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit

Abstract

A rocker valve mechanism (125) is provided according to the invention. The rocker valve mechanism (125) includes a port portion (110) including a plurality of ports (113-115), a first plunger (130), and a second plunger (131) acting in oppositio and moving substantially in parallel with the first plunger (130). The rocker valve mechanism (125) is biased toward a first position blocking a third port (115) and configured to be actuated to a second position blocking a first port (113).

Claims

1. A rocker valve mechanism (125), comprising:

a port portion (110) including a plurality of ports (113-115);

a first plunger (130); and

a second plunger (131) acting in opposition and moving substantially in parallel with the first plunger (130), with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward a first position blocking a first port (113) and configured to be actuated to a second position blocking a third port (115).

2. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward the first position with the first plunger (130) blocking the first port (113) and configured to be actuated to the second position with the second plunger (131) blocking the third port (115).

3. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the plurality of ports (113-115) being separated by predetermined spacings.

4. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the plurality of ports (113-115) comprising a plurality of configurable ports (113-115).

5. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising a seal member (120) extending over both the first plunger (130) and the second plunger (131), with the seal member (120) being movable by the first plunger (130) and by the second plunger (131) to alternatingly contact a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113) and a second valve seat (112b) of the third port (115).

6. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the first plunger (130) including a first plunger head (137) and the second plunger (131) including a second plunger head (138), with the first plunger head (137) fitting into the first sealing region (121) and with the second plunger head (138) fitting into the second sealing region (122).

7. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising:

a pivot post (133) extending from the port portion (110);

an upper pivot arm (135) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

a lower pivot arm (136) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

the first plunger (130) configured to be actuated by an actuator (145), with the first plunger (130) being pivotally attached to first ends (161) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136); and

the second plunger (131) configured to be biased toward a closed position by a rocker biasing device (140), with the second plunger (131) being pivotally attached to second ends (162) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136).

8. The rocker valve mechanism (125) of claim 1, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising:

a rocker biasing device (140) configured to place a biasing force on the second plunger (131); and

an actuator (145) configured to bias the first plunger (130) and a first seal region of the seal member (120) toward a normally closed position and into contact with a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113).

9. A rocker valve (100), comprising:

a valve body (101); and

a rocker valve mechanism (125) located at least partially within the valve body (101), with the rocker valve mechanism (125) comprising;

a port portion (110) including a plurality of ports (113-115);

a first plunger (130); and

a second plunger (131) acting in opposition and moving substantially in parallel with the first plunger (130), with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward a first position blocking a first port (113) and configured to be actuated to a second position blocking a third port (115).

10. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward the first position with the first plunger (130) blocking the first port (113) and configured to be actuated to the second position with the second plunger (131) blocking the third port (115).

11. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) comprising a modular rocker valve mechanism (125).

12. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the plurality of ports (113-115) being separated by predetermined spacings.

13. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the plurality of ports (113-115) comprising a plurality of configurable ports (113-115).

14. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising a seal member (120) extending over both the first plunger (130) and the second plunger (131), with the seal member (120) being movable by the first plunger (130) and by the second plunger (131) to alternatingly contact a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113) and a second valve seat (112b) of the third port (115).

15. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the first plunger (130) including a first plunger head (137) and the second plunger (131) including a second plunger head (138), with the first plunger head (137) fitting into the first sealing region (121) and with the second plunger head (138) fitting into the second sealing region (122).

16. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising:

a pivot post (133) extending from the port portion (110);

an upper pivot arm (135) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

a lower pivot arm (136) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

the first plunger (130) configured to be actuated by an actuator (145), with the first plunger (130) being pivotally attached to first ends (161) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136); and

the second plunger (131) configured to be biased toward a closed position by a rocker biasing device (140), with the second plunger (131) being pivotally attached to second ends (162) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136).

17. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) farther comprising:

a rocker biasing device (140) configured to place a biasing force on the second plunger (131); and

an actuator (145) configured to bias the first plunger (130) and a first seal region of the seal member (120) toward a normally closed position and into contact with a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113).

18. The rocker valve (100) of claim 17, further comprising a manual actuation plunger (501) configured to transfer an external actuation force to the rocker valve mechanism (125) in opposition to an armature biasing device (148).

19. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, further comprising a manual actuation plunger (501) configured to transfer an external actuation force to the rocker valve mechanism (125) in opposition to an armature biasing device (148), with the manual actuation plunger (501) including an actuator projection (502) including an angled face (503).

20. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, further comprising a position sensor (160) that generates a positional signal related to an actuation position of the rocker valve mechanism (125).

21. The rocker valve (100) of claim 9, further comprising a magnet (162) affixed to the rocker valve mechanism (125) and a position sensor (160) affixed to the valve body (101), wherein the position sensor (160) generates a positional signal related to an actuation position of the rocker valve mechanism (125).

22. A rocker valve (100), comprising:

a valve body (101); and

a rocker valve mechanism (125) located at least partially within the valve body (101), with the rocker valve mechanism (125) comprising;

a port portion (110) including a plurality of ports (113-115);

a first plunger (130);

a second plunger (131) acting in opposition and moving substantially in parallel with the first plunger (130), with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward a first position blocking a first port (113) and configured to be actuated to a second position blocking a third port (115); and

a seal member (120) extending over both the first plunger (130) and the second plunger (131), with the seal member (120) being movable by the first plunger (130) and by the second plunger (131) to alternatingly contact a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113) and a second valve seat (112b) of the third port (115).

23. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) being biased toward the first position with the first plunger (130) blocking the first port (113) and configured to be actuated to the second position with the second plunger (131) blocking the third port (115).

24. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) comprising a modular rocker valve mechanism (125).

25. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the plurality of ports (113-115) being separated by predetermined spacings.

26. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the plurality of ports (113-115) comprising a plurality of configurable ports (113-115).

27. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the first plunger (130) including a first plunger head (137) and the second plunger (131) including a second plunger head (138), with the first plunger head (137) fitting into the first sealing region (121) and with the second plunger head (138) fitting into the second sealing region (122).

28. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising:

a pivot post (133) extending from the port portion (110);

an upper pivot arm (135) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

a lower pivot arm (136) pivotally attached to the pivot post (133);

the first plunger (130) configured to be actuated by an actuator (145), with the first plunger (130) being pivotally attached to first ends (161) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136); and

the second plunger (131) configured to be biased toward a closed position by a rocker biasing device (140), with the second plunger (131) being pivotally attached to second ends (162) of the upper pivot arm (135) and the lower pivot arm (136).

29. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, with the rocker valve mechanism (125) further comprising:

a rocker biasing device (140) configured to place a biasing force on the second plunger (131); and

an actuator (145) configured to bias the first plunger (130) and a first seal region of the seal member (120) toward a normally closed position and into contact with a first valve seat (112a) of the first port (113).

30. The rocker valve (100) of claim 29, further comprising a manual actuation plunger (501) configured to transfer an external actuation force to the rocker valve mechanism (125) in opposition to an armature biasing device (148).

31. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, further comprising a manual actuation plunger (501) configured to transfer an external actuation force to the rocker valve mechanism (125) in opposition to an armature biasing device (148), with the manual actuation plunger (501) including an actuator projection (502) including an angled face (503).

32. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, further comprising a position sensor (160) that generates a positional signal related to an actuation position of the rocker valve mechanism (125).

33. The rocker valve (100) of claim 22, further comprising a magnet (162) affixed to the rocker valve mechanism (125) and a position sensor (160) affixed to the valve body (101), wherein the position sensor (160) generates a positional signal related to an actuation position of the rocker valve mechanism (125).