Control valve with split disc

• US 4,658,857 A
• Filed: 09/20/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Surgeaco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Surgeaco Incorporated
• Inventors: Ayres, Walter D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US06/778,543
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 251/212, 251/107, 137/601, 137/599
• US Class Current: 137/601.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/223 with a plurality of valve members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87483 Adjacent plate valves counter rotate

Abstract

A control valve utilizing the conventional dual wafer check valve, which check valve has a pair of semicircular plates pivotally mounted about a pivot rod at the adjacent straight edge surfaces thereof. The plates are mounted by hinge brackets that allow initial translational movement of the pivoted edges of the plates before the rotation about the pivot shaft, so as to provide a clearance between the seal and plates at the pivoted edges. A control mechanism simultaneously and continuously controls the rotation of the wafer plates so that each plate rotates in opposite directions but the same arcuate distance. The control mechanism has a pair of levers with one lever pivoted to the rear surface of one of the plates, while their other ends are pivoted together at one end of a linear translational clevis member. The other end of the clevis member is connected to a pivotal cam follower via a lost-motion connection to convert rotary motion to translational motion. A handle and drive shaft accessible from outside of the valve body is provided to rotate the cam follower.

Claims

1. A control valve for controlling the bidirectional flow of a fluid through a conduit comprising:

a main housing having a first end-flange for mounting to an end of a conduit, and a second end-flange spaced from said first end-flange for mounting to another end of a conduit in order to position the valve in a conduit system to control the flow of fluid therethrough;

a pair of pivotal closure plates for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve, said pair of plates being mounted adjacent said first end-flange thereof for movement toward and away from said first end-flange;

means for mounting said pair of closure plates for pivotal rotation about adjacent end-edges thereof, such that one of said pair of plates rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the other of said pair of plates rotates in the clockwise direction;

a first lever means operatively connected to each of said first and second closure plates, said first lever means being spaced from said first end-flange in said main housing, and comprising a first end thereof connected to each of said pair of closure plates for continuous connection therewith for all positions of said closure plates; and

a second end;

said first lever means being movable relative to said first end-flange for pivoting said pair of closure plates to a desired flow position;

second lever means operatively connected to said second end of said first lever means for moving said first lever means relative to said first end-flange, to thus pivot said pair of closure plates, said second lever means being mounted in said main housing;

control means operatively associated with said second lever means for controlling the movement thereof, and, therefore, the movement of said first lever means and said pair of closure plates;

said control means comprising shaft means having a first end operatively connected with said second lever means in said main housing, and a second end remote from said first end projecting outwardly of said main housing, and means operatively connected to said second end of said shaft means for rotating said shaft means to position said pair of closure plates to a desired flow position, said means for rotating said shaft means comprising a handle means affixed to said second end of said drive shaft for conjoint rotation therewith, and handle-locking means for locking said handle means in a desired position determinate of the flow rate desired through the valve;

said handle-locking means cooperating with a circumferential portion of said main housing for locking said handle means in place.

2. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said handle-locking means comprises a locking yoke rotatable with said handle means and pivotal relative thereto, said locking yoke being pivotal toward said circumferential portion of said main housing to lock said handle means in place at the desired position, said locking yoke locking said handle means at any desired angular position of said handle means in its arcuate path of travel thereof.

3. A control valve for controlling the bidirectional flow of a fluid through a conduit comprising:

a main housing having a first end-flange for mounting to an end of a conduit, and a second end-flange spaced from said first end-flange for mounting to another end of a conduit in order to position the valve in a conduit system to control the flow of fluid therethrough;

a pair of pivotal closure plates for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve, said pair of plates being mounted adjacent said first end-flange thereof for movement toward and away from said first end-flange;

means for mounting said pair of closure plates for pivotal rotation about adjacent end-edges thereof, such that one of said pair of plates rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the other of said pair of plates rotates in the clockwise direction;

a first lever means operatively connected to each of said first and second closure plates, said first lever means being spaced from said first end-flange in said main housing, and comprising a first end thereof connected to each of said pair of closure plates for continuous connection therewith for all positions of said closure plates, and a second end;

said first lever means being movable relative to said first end-flange for pivoting said pair of closure plates to a desired flow position;

second lever means operatively connected to said second end of said first lever means for moving said first lever means relative to said first end-flange, to thus pivot said pair of closure plates, said second lever means being mounted in said main housing;

control means operatively associated with said second lever means for controlling the movement thereof, and, therefore, the movement of said first lever means and said pair of closure plates;

said control means comprising shaft means having a first end operatively connected with said second lever means in said main housing, and a second end remote from said first end projecting outwardly of said main housing, and means operatively connected to said second end of said shaft means for rotating said shaft means to position said pair of closure plates to a desired flow position;

said first lever means comprising a pair of disc links, one for each of said pair of closure plates, each said disc link having a first end pivotally connected to the rear surface of a respective said closure plate for movement therewith, and a second end remote from said first end; and

a link clevis member having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end thereof;

said second ends of said pair of disc links being pivotally connected together to said first end of said link clevis member for movement therewith when said link clevis member is moved.

4. The control valve according to claim 3, wherein said link clevis member is mounted for reciprocable, translatory motion in said main housing upon movement of said second lever means;

said second lever means comprising a pivotal member rotatably mounted in said main housing, and means for pivotally mounting said pivotal member to an inner circumferential portion of said main housing; and

lost-motion connection means connecting said first end of said second lever means to said second end of said first lever means;

said first end of said second lever means being constituted by the portion of said pivotal member thereof remote from said means for pivotally mounting said pivotal member, and said second end of said first lever means being constituted by the first end of said link clevis member.

5. The control valve according to claim 4, wherein said lost motion connection means comprises an elongated slot formed in said remote portion of said pivotal member, and a pin connected to said second end of said link clevis member for riding movement in said elongated slot;

said link clevis member being a substantially U-shaped member with the legs thereof pivotally mounting thereto said pair of disc links, a means for pivotally connecting said pair of disc links to said legs of said U-shaped link clevis member.

6. The control valve according to claim 4, wherein said pivotal member comprises a cam follower having a cam track formed therein;

and said control means comprises a cam pin at said first end of said drive shaft for movement in said cam track, to thus pivot said cam follower upon rotation of said drive shaft by said handle means.

7. The control valve according to claim 6, wherein said cam follower is a substantially U-shaped member having a base, and a pair of leg portions projecting from the edges of said base, and a pair of guide links being mounted to said pair of leg portions of said cam follower, one said guide link for one said leg portion, each of said guide links having an elongated slot formed in the end thereof remote from said means pivotally mounting said second lever means in which slides said pin of said link clevis member.

8. The control valve according to claim 7, wherein said cam track comprises a first end on one of said pair of leg portions of said cam follower, and a second end on said base thereof.

9. In a valve having a main body, a first end, and a second end, a pivot rod mounted adjacent said first end extending parallel to a diametric extension of said first end, a first pivotal wafer plate having a straight edge pivotally connected to said pivot rod, and a second pivotal wafer plate having a straight edge pivotally connected to said pivot rod, said straight edges of said wafer plates being pivoted to said pivot rod adjacent each other and adjacent to said first end, each said wafer plate being semicircular in shape so that together they may close off a circular opening, the improvement comprising;

means mounted in said main body operatively connected to each of said wafer plates for continuously and simultaneously controlling the angular positions of said wafer plates relative to said pivot rod, in order to position said wafer plates at any desired angular orientation along their arcs of travel relative to said pivot rod;

rotary means mounted to said main body having a first end projecting into said main housing and operatively connected to said means for continuously and simultaneously controlling, for moving said means for controlling along a continuous reversible path, and a second end projecting from said main housing and accessible outwardly of the outer circumference to said main body, said rotary means being rotatable exteriorly by said second end thereof;

means for interconnecting said first end of said rotary means to said means for controlling in order to convert the rotary motion of said rotary means into at least partial translational movement of said means for controlling, and partial translational movement of said wafer plates;

said means for controlling comprising a pair of connecting links, one said connecting link for one said wafer plate, each said connecting being pivotally associated with said rear of its respective wafer plate at one end of said connecting link;

said connecting links being pivotally connected together at their other ends along a pivot axis parallel to said pivot rod and coplanar therewith in the same diametric plane; and

a translatable clevis member having a first end portion pivotally mounting thereto said other ends of connecting links.

10. In a valve having a main body, a first end, and a second end, a pivot rod mounted adjacent said first end extending parallel to a diametric extension of said first end, a first pivotal wafer plate having a straight edge pivotally connected to said pivot rod, and a second pivotal wafer plate having a straight edge pivotally connected to said pivot rod, said straight edges of said wafer plates being pivoted to said pivot rod adjacent each other and adjacent to said first end, each said wafer plate being semicircular in shape so that together they may close off a circular opening, the improvement comprising;

means mounted in said main body operatively connected to each of said wafer plates for continuously and simultaneously controlling the angular positions of said wafer plates relative to said pivot rod, in order to position said wafer plates at any desired angular orientation along their arcs of travel relative to said pivot rod;

rotary means mounted to said main body having a first end projecting into said main housing and operatively connected to said means for continuously and simultaneously controlling, for moving said means for controlling along a continuous reversible path, and a second end projecting from said main housing and accessible outwardly of the outer circumference of said main body, said rotary means being rotatable exteriorly by said second end thereof;

means for interconnecting said first end of said rotary means to said means for controlling in order to convert the rotary motion of said rotary means into at least partial translational movement and said means for controlling, and partial translational movement of said wafer plates;

said rotary means comprising a drive shaft projecting into the interior of said main housing, and operatively connected with said means for converting rotary motion to at least partial translational movement; and

a cam pin projecting from the end of said drive shaft in said main housing, said end in said main housing constituting said first end of said rotary means; and

said means for converting rotary motion to at least partial translational movement comprising a cam follower having a cam track in which rides said cam pin of said rotary means, said cam follower being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to a portion of the inner circumferential surface of said main housing for swinging movement of the other end thereof, and slot means at said other end of said cam follower;

said means for controlling having a pin for riding in the slot of said slot means to establish a lost-motion connection therebetween.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said rotary means further comprises means for locking said drive shaft in non-rotatable position, so that said wafer plates are held in the flow-rate position desired;

said connecting links being positioned in said main housing in a side-by-side relationship such that said connecting links are defined in different planes;

said connecting links pivoting and translating in parallel planes that are perpendicular to the axis of said pivot rod.

12. The improvement according to claim 11, wherein said drive shaft has a rotary axis parallel to said pivot rod and coplanar therewith along the same diametric plane;

said locking means comprising a collar mounted about said second end of said drive shaft, and a lock-lever;

said rotary means further comprising a handle fixedly connected to said second end of said drive shaft for conjoint rotation therewith;

said lock-lever having a first end pivotally connected to said handle for movement toward and away from said collar, said collar having a series of slots formed along the outer circumferential edge surface thereof in which may be positioned a portion of said lock-lever to prevent movement of said handle and associated drive shaft, to thus lock in place said drive shaft from further movement.

13. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein each slot of said series of slots in said collar is spaced every 10 degrees for an arcuate extent of 90 degrees about said outer circumferential surface of said collar, so that said handle may be rotated a total of 90 degrees in which it may be locked in position every 10 degrees, to thus move said wafer plates approximately 90 degrees from their closed, non-flow positions to their fully-open, full-flow positions.

14. In a dual, wafer-plate valve having a main valve body, a pair of pivotally mounted, semicircular wafer plates, a pivot rod for pivotally mounting said wafer plates along the adjacent, straight edges thereof so that the wafer plates may pivot in opposite directions when they are rotated, said pivot shaft being generally mounted along an axis generally parallel to a diameter of the valve opening, such that the flowing fluid may pass through a first inlet opening to a second outlet opening of the valve;

hinge bracket means for mounting each said wafer plate to said pivot rod, such that said plates may first have translational movement at their straight edges thereof relative to said pivot rod in order to distance the straight pivoted edges of the plates from the seal at the opening with which it is operatively connected, the improvement comprising;

control means operatively connected at a first end thereof to each of said wafer plates, at the rear/surfaces of said plates, for simultaneously and continuously pivoting said wafer plates about said pivot rod so as to set said plates at a desired position relative to said pivot rod;

said control means simultaneously rotating each of said plates the same arcuate distance but in opposite directions;

said control means having a second end remote from said first end and projecting outwardly of said main valve body for access thereto outside of said valve body, whereby said valve may be used as a control valve.