Rotary valve

• US 4,501,297 A
• Filed: 04/08/1982
• Issued: 02/26/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asco Valve, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Automatic Switch Company (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Baker, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivell, John A.
• Application Number:
  US06/366,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.11, 137/625.21, 137/625.46, 137/554, 251/133, 251/180, 251/185
• US Class Current: 137/625.46
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/045 with torque limiters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86501 Sequential distributor or collector type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A rotary valve includes a rotor having at least one internal flow passageway therein extending between ports for providing communication between various pairs of flow passageways in the body of the valve. The rotor includes an annular surface for sealing engagement with the body, at least one of the rotor ports being disposed on the annular surface. A continuous resilient seal is disposed between the sealing surfaces of the rotor and the body to provide static and dynamic sealing. A spherical surface disposed between the rotary drive and the rotor applies axial pressure to the rotor, the surface accommodating rocking of the rotor to insure uniform loading thereof. Further, loading of the seal between the rotor and body is adjustable externally of the valve.

Claims

1. In a rotary valve including a body having a plurality of flow passageways therein, a rotor for providing communication between at least one pair of said flow passageways and drive means for rotating said rotor into alignment with various pairs of flow passageways, the improvement wherein:

said body includes a plurality of ports disposed in a surface of the body along a circumference of a circle, each of said ports leading to an associated flow passageway within said body;

said rotor includes at least one internal flow passageway extending between a pair of ports for providing communication between a pair of flow passageways in the body, said rotor having an annular surface for sealing engagement with said surface of the body, at least one of the internal flow passageway ports being disposed on said annular surface;

a rotating member for engaging the rotor to impart rotation thereto;

and a stationary member for applying an axial force to the rotor along the axis of rotation for sealing the annular surface of the rotor and the surface of the body, said stationary member having an axial bearing surface which contacts an axial bearing surface of said rotating member at a point substantially on the axis of rotation, each of said axial bearing surfaces being substantially spherical.

2. In a rotary valve including a body having a plurality of flow passageways therein, a rotor for providing communication between at least one of said flow passageways and drive means for rotating said rotor into alignment with various pairs of flow passageways, the improvement wherein:

said body includes a plurality of ports disposed in a surface of the body along a circumference of a circle, each of said ports leading to an associated flow passageway within said body;

said rotor includes at least one internal flow passageway extending between a pair of ports for providing communication between a pair of flow passageways in the body, said rotor having an annular surface for sealing engagement with said surface of the body, at least one of the internal flow passageway ports being disposed on said annular surface; and

said drive means includes

a drive shaft having a lower end for engagement with the rotor, said drive shaft having an aperture therein extending along the axial center line of the shaft;

a rotating spring disposed within the aperture of said drive shaft for urging the rotor against the body of the valve;

a stationary means for loading said spring; and

a rotating ball disposed between said loading means and said spring for counteracting the force created by the spring, said loading means having a substantially spherical surface providing a point contact with said ball along the axis of rotation.

3. In a rotary valve including a body having a plurality of flow passageways therein, a rotor for providing communication between at least one pair of said flow passageways and drive means for rotating said rotor into alignment with various pairs of the flow passageways, the improvement wherein:

said body includes a plurality of ports disposed in a surface of the body, each of said ports leading to an associated flow passageway within the body;

said rotor includes a drive pin extending along a diameter thereof and at least one internal flow passageway for providing communication between a pair of flow passageways of the body, the internal flow passageway having a pair of ports disposed in a surface of said rotor for sealing engagement with said surface of the body, said ports being positioned for alignment with various ports in the surface of the body; and

said drive means includes a slot for receiving the drive pin with a ball being disposed in said slot on the axis of rotation, said ball bearing against said drive pin.

4. In a rotary valve including a body having a plurality of flow passageways therein, a rotor for providing communication between at least one pair of said flow passageways and drive means for rotating said rotor into alignment with various pairs of the flow passageways, the improvement wherein:

said body includes a plurality of ports disposed in a surface of the body, each of said ports leading to an associated flow passageway within the body;

said rotor includes at least one internal flow passageway for providing communication between a pair of flow passageways of the body, the internal flow passageway having a pair of ports disposed in a surface of said rotor for sealing engagement with said surface of the body, said ports being positioned for alignment with various ports in the surface of the body; and

means for applying an axial force to said rotor for sealing the rotor surface and the body surface, said means including a spring disposed along the axis of rotation, a screw having a spherical surface and a ball disposed along the axis of rotation between the spring and the spherical surface of the screw.

5. In a rotary valve including a body having a plurality of flow passageways therein, a rotor for providing communication between at least one pair of said flow passageways, said rotor being in sealing engagement with said body and drive means for rotating said rotor into alignment with various pairs of the flow passageways, the improvement wherein said drive means includes

a rotating member for engaging the rotor to impart rotation thereto, said rotating member having a substantially spherical surface and said rotor having a substantially cylindrical surface, the spherical surface of said rotating member contacting the cylindrical surface of said rotor for accommodating rocking of the rotor;

and

a stationary member for applying an axial force to said rotor along the axis of rotation for sealing the rotor and the body.

6. The rotary valve of claim 5 wherein said stationary member has a spherical surface for providing a point contact with said rotating member along the axis of rotation.

7. The rotary valve of claim 6 wherein said rotating member includes a drive shaft having an aperture therein extending along the axis of rotation and a spring disposed within said aperture, said stationary member loading said spring.

8. The rotary valve of claim 7 further including a ball disposed along the axis of rotation between the spring and the stationary member.

9. The rotary valve of claim 7 wherein said rotor includes a drive pin extending along a diameter of the rotor and said drive shaft includes a slot in an end thereof for receiving the drive pin with a ball being disposed in said slot on the axis of rotation, said ball bearing against said drive pin.