Computer controllable multi-port valve

• US 4,156,437 A
• Filed: 02/21/1978
• Issued: 05/29/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perkinelmer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Perkinelmer Incorporated
• Inventors: Whistler, Wayne J., Chivens, Clyde C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US05/879,214
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 251/160, 251/161, 251/89, 137/625.46, 137/625.41, 137/624.18, 137/624.2, 137/625.11, 137/554
• US Class Current: 137/554
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0743 with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

Developed primarily as a selector for use with a system for analyzing gases from any one of sixteen remote positions, the valve includes a platen containing on one surface sixteen circumferentially aligned input ports and one central output port. Rotatable adjacent the opposite surface of the platen is a selector manifold having a conduit that connects the central output port with any one of the input ports. To rotate the manifold to a new position, a solenoid connected to the rotating shaft on the manifold lifts the manifold from the platen while simultaneously engaging a clutch on a continuously rotating motor shaft. When the selector manifold reaches the desired sample position, identified precisely by the position of a digital encoder disc, the solenoid is released and a spring disengages the motor clutch and forces the selector manifold to seal against the selected port in the platen.

Claims

1. An electrically controllable multi-port fluid valve comprising:

a platen having on its first surface a centrally positioned first port and a plurality of second ports equally spaced from said first port;

a rotatable selector manifold positioned adjacent the second surface of said platen, said manifold having a conduit adapted to interconnect and seal against said first port and one of said second ports;

a motor;

a clutch coupled to the shaft of said motor;

a rotatable shaft interconnecting said rotatable selector manifold with said clutch;

electrically actuated means for lifting said rotatable selector manifold from the second surface of said platen, the lifting of said manifold being transmitted through said rotatable shaft to force engagement of said clutch; and

means for urging said manifold against the second surface of said platen upon de-energization of said electrically actuated means.

2. The valve claimed in claim 1 further including position indicating means coupled to said rotatable shaft for identifying the position of said manifold.

3. The valve claimed in claim 2 wherein said electrically actuated means comprises a solenoid having a rotatable solenoid shaft coupled between said clutch and said manifold.

4. The valve claimed in claim 3 wherein said manifold is sealed against the second surface of said platen with resilient "O" rings positioned around the terminals of said conduit.

5. The valve claimed in claim 4 further including a purging port in said platen for removing from the valve fluids that were not selected by said manifold.

6. The valve claimed in claim 5 wherein said rotatable manifold includes a dummy port and "O" ring for balancing said manifold.

7. The valve claimed in claim 4 wherein said position indicating means comprises a shaft position to digital encoder disc having a binary count capable of identifying the position of each of said second ports, said disc further having indicia for precisely identifying the location of each of said second ports.

8. The valve claimed in claim 7 wherein said encoder disc is encoded with a reflective code pattern sensed by LED/detector elements positioned adjacent said reflective pattern.