6-WAY VALVE AND HVAC SYSTEM WITH SUCH A 6-WAY VALVE

• US 20170067665A1
• Filed: 05/05/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
• Inventors: HOTZ, Beat, WHITMORE, Ryan, KAUFMAN, Daryl, KELLER, Urs
• Granted Patent: US 9,964,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0873 the plug being only rotatable around one spindle
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1024 a multiple way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/0242 Multiple way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0003 Exclusively-fluid systems

Abstract

A 6-way valve (20) comprises two similar 3-way sub-valves (20a, 20b) being mechanically coupled with each other, such that both sub-valves (20a, 20b) are always in the same position, whereby each sub-valve (20a, 20b) has three different valve ports (33, 34, 35) and a valve member (22′) with an internal connecting channel (29), which valve member (22′) can moved between first and second end positions via an intermediate position such that in said first end position the first (33) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), in said second end position the second (34) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), and in said intermediate position said connecting channel (29) is disconnected from said first and second valve ports (33, 34).

A simple and effective volume/pressure relief means (28) is provided at one of said valve members (22′), which volume/pressure relief means (28) establishes a hydraulic relief connection between said first or second valve port (33, 34) and said third valve port (35) of the respective sub-valve (20a or 20b), when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in said intermediate position, and is inactive, when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in the first or second end positions.

Claims

1. A 6-way valve (20) comprising two similar 3-way sub-valves (20a, 20b) mechanically coupled with each other, such that both sub-valves (20a, 20b) are always in the same position, whereby each sub-valve (20a, 20b) has three different valve ports (33, 34, 35) and a valve member (22, 22′

) with an internal connecting channel (29), which valve member (22, 22′

) can be moved between first and second end positions via an intermediate position such that in said first end position the first (33) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), in said second end position the second (34) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), and in said intermediate position said connecting channel (29) is disconnected from said first and second valve ports (33, 34), characterized in that a volume/pressure relief means (28) is provided at one of said valve members (22, 22′

), which volume/pressure relief means (28) establishes a hydraulic relief connection between said first or second valve port (33, 34) and said third valve port (35) of the respective sub-valve (20a or 20b), when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in said intermediate position, and is inactive, when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in the first or second end positions.

2. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said sub-valves are configured as linear valves being moved in a linear way.

3. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are arranged along a common actuating axis (A1), that the valve members (22, 22′

) can be rotated around said common actuating axis (A1) between said first and second end positions via said intermediate position.

4. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said valve members (22, 22′

) are axially symmetric with respect to said common actuating axis (A1), and that said volume/pressure relief means comprises a groove (28) on the surface of one of said valve members (22, 22′

).

5. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said valve members (22, 22′

) are spherical balls, that said groove is a ball groove (28), that said internal connecting channels (29) each extend through a respective of said balls (22, 22′

) between two ball ports (24, 25) in a plane perpendicular to said common actuating axis (A1), that said valve members (22, 22′

) are each supported by sealed ball seats (31, 32) at said first and second valve ports (33, 34), and that said ball groove (28) on the surface of one of said balls (22, 22′

) is in the form of a concentric circular ring around one of said ball ports (24, 25).

6. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the radius of said ball groove (28) is chosen such that said ball groove (28) crosses twice the sealed ball seat (31, 32) of said first or second valve port (33, 34), thereby establishing said hydraulic relief connection, when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in said intermediate position.

7. The 6-way valve as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are moved between said first and second end positions by a rotation of 90°

around said common actuating axis (A1), and that said intermediate position is reached with a rotation of ±

45°

around said common actuating axis (A1) from said first end second end positions.

8. A HVAC system comprising at least one load (18), which is connected to a heating circuit (12) and a cooling circuit (13) by means of a 6-way valve (20), characterized in that said 6-way valve (20) is a valve according to claim 1.

9. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said heating circuit (12) and/or said cooling circuit (13) are connected to an expansion tank (16, 17), that the load (18) is connected to the third valve ports (35) of both said sub-valves (20a, 20b), and that said heating and cooling circuits (12, 13) are connected to said first valve ports (33) and second valve ports (34) of both sub-valves (20a, 20b), respectively, such that said load (18) is connected with an expansion tank (16 or 17) via said volume/pressure relief means (28), when said sub-valves (20a, 20b) are in said intermediate position.