Hermetically sealed valve

• US 4,552,177 A
• Filed: 06/13/1983
• Issued: 11/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Original Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Inventors: Lapeyre, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US06/503,717
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 251/133, 251/65, 251/DIG. 2, 251/331, 251/139, 137/625.28
• US Class Current: 137/625.28
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/088 the movement of the first magnet being a rotating or pivoting movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/18 with diaphragm secured at one side only, e.g. to be laid on the seat by rolling action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 251/901 Curtain type valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86718 Dividing into parallel flow paths with recombining

Abstract

A hermetically sealed valve has a magnetically actuated rolling diaphragm valve mechanism, and providing an in-line variable opening valve that is completely sealed and requires no shaft, bushings or moving components through the valve body. This provides a valve with a generally in-line flow, which may be completely isolated from contaminants or from the outside environment. The magnetic actuating mechanism permits precise gradual positional control of the valve and at the same time provides considerably greater actuation force against differential pressure across the valve than has previously been possible. The valve actuation mechanism is readily adaptable to digital control techniques.

Claims

1. A hermetically sealed valve for the continuous control of the flow of a liquid comprising:

a lower fluid region for intake of a liquid flow;

a plurality of internal flow restriction orifices, each orifice having an inlet and an outlet side, the inlet sides of which are fluidly connected with and form a terminator for the lower fluid region;

an upper fluid region in fluid communicating relationship with the lower fluid region through the flow restriction orifices;

a continuous diaphragm member sealingly connected from below said internal flow restriction orifices, sealing upwardly across said orifices, folding back upon itself, the diaphragm member being connected to an actuating means, the actuating means comprising a moveable cup having a lower driving section through which fluid passes and to which a first edge of the diaphragm member is attached, and an annular diaphragm support wall extending upwardly from the driving section;

said actuating means rollingly actuating said diaphragm between a lower position, wherein said orifices establish fluid communication between said upper and lower region, and an upper position, wherein said orifices are fluidly sealed by the diaphragm member to prevent fluid communication between said lower and upper regions;

screw driving means connected to said actuating means and extending below said actuating means in its lower position, rotation of said screw driving means moving said actuating means between its upper and lower positions;

magnetic rotation means affixed drivably to said screw driving means of the actuating means;

external magnetic field generation means which generates a controlled rotational magnetic field tangentially about said magnetic rotation means for rotating said rotation means and moving said actuating means between its upper and lower positions.

2. A valve as described in claim 1 above wherein said terminator further comprises:

a vertically extensive cylindrical section sealingly affixed above said lower chamber having therein a plurality of oblong fluid orifices;

a closed upper end of said cylindrical section whereby flow upwards from said lower chamber is restricted to said orifices.

3. A valve as described in claim 2 above wherein said diaphragm further comprises:

an elastometic annular diaphragm having an upper edge and a lower edge;

said lower edge being sealingly affixed within an annular region within said lower chamber approximately at the base of said cylindrical section;

said diaphram rising vertically against said oblong orifices;

said diaphragm being rolled inwardly at its top edge to form an inwardly and downwardly turned lip which is affixed around an annular region on the perimeter of said actuating means.

4. A valve as described in claim 1 wherein said magnetic rotation means further comprises:

force receiving movement means connected to the sealing means within the valve;

screw engaging drive means axially affixed within said movement means;

an internal screw, rotatably engaged to said screw drive means, vertically positioned the internal valve axis between the upper and the lower extreme positions of movement of said actuating means;

magnetic rotation drive means affixed orthogonally to said screw;

external magnetic field generation means adapted for generating a controlled rotational magnetic field tangentially about said magnetic rotation means within said valve, whereby said magnetic rotation means rotates conformably to said external field.

5. A valve as described in claim 3 above wherein said actuating means further comprises:

a moveable cylindrical cup which further comprises;

a fluid passing lower driving section;

an anchoring means for the upper end of said diaphram affixedly mounted at the upper circumferential edge of the driving section;

a substantially vertical cylindrical diaphram support wall vertically arising above said diaphram anchoring means.

6. A hermetically sealed valve for the continuous control of the flow of a liquid, comprising:

a lower fluid region for intake of a liquid flow;

a plurality of internal flow restriction orifices, each orifice having an inlet and an outlet side, the inlet sides of which are fluidly connected with and form a terminator for the lower fluid region;

an upper fluid region in fluid communicating relationship with the lower fluid region through the flow restriction orifices;

a continuous diaphragm member sealingly connected from below said internal flow restriction orifices, sealing upwardly across said orifices, folding back upon itself, the diaphragm member being connected to an actuating means;

said actuating means rollingly actuating said diaphragm between a lower position, wherein said orifices establish fluid communication between said upper and lower region, and an upper position, wherein said orifices are fluidly sealed by the diaphragm member to prevent fluid communication between said lower and upper regions;

screw driving means connected to said actuating means and extending below said actuating means in its lower position, rotation of said screw driving means moving said actuating means between its upper and its lower position;

magnetic rotation means affixed drivably to said screw driving means of the actuating means;

external magnetic field generation means which generates a controlled rotational magnetic field tangentially about said magnetic rotation means for rotating said rotation means;

said magnetic rotation means further comprising;

force receiving movement means connected to the sealing means within the valve;

screw engaging drive means axially affixed within said movement means;

an internal screw, rotatably engaged to said screw drive means, vertically positioned the internal valve axis between the upper and lower positions of movement of said actuating means;

magnetic rotation drive means affixed orthogonally to said screw;

external magnetic field generation means adapted for generating a controlled rotational magnetic field tangentially about said magnetic rotation means within said valve, whereby said magnetic rotation means rotates in response to said external field.