Multi-port valve

• US 5,620,025 A
• Filed: 12/01/1994
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewin, Keith F.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US08/347,685
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 137/78.5, 137/625.11, 137/625.12, 137/625.13, 137/625.15
• US Class Current: 137/625.15
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/074 with flat sealing faces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 characterised by the valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1939 Atmospheric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86533 Rotary

Abstract

A multi-port valve for regulating, as a function of ambient air having varying wind velocity and wind direction in an open-field control area, the distribution of a fluid, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas, in a fluid distribution system so that the control area remains generally at an elevated fluid concentration or level of said fluid. The multi-port valve generally includes a multi-port housing having a plurality of outlets therethrough disposed in a first pattern of outlets and at least one second pattern of outlets, and a movable plate having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough disposed in a first pattern of apertures and at least one second pattern of apertures. The first pattern of apertures being alignable with the first pattern of outlets and the at least one second pattern of apertures being alignable with the second pattern of outlets. The first pattern of apertures has a predetermined orientation with the at least one second pattern of apertures. For an open-field control area subject to ambient wind having a low velocity from any direction, the movable plate is positioned to equally distribute the supply of fluid in a fluid distribution system to the open-field control area. For an open-field control area subject to ambient wind having a high velocity from a given direction, the movable plate is positioned to generally distribute a supply of fluid in a fluid distribution system to that portion of the open-field control area located upwind.

Claims

1. A valve for regulating, as a function of ambient air having varying wind velocity and wind direction in an open-field control area, the distribution in a variety of patterns of a fluid in a fluid distribution system, the valve comprising:

a multi-port housing having an inlet for receiving a fluid, said inlet being in fluid communication with a stationary plate that cooperates with said housing to form a chamber, said stationary plate having a plurality of outlets therethrough disposed in a first pattern of outlets and at least one second pattern of outlets, said stationary plate further including attachment means for connecting each of the outlets in said first and second patterns, respectively, to a separate one of a plurality of tubes each having a respective distal end disposed adjacent the circumference of said open-field control area at a point spaced from other tubes in the plurality of tubes;

a movable plate disposed in facing relationship with said stationary plate, said movable plate having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough disposed in a first pattern of apertures and at least one second pattern of apertures, said first pattern of apertures being selectively alignable relative to said first pattern of outlets and said at least one second pattern of apertures being selectively alignable relative to said second pattern of outlets, said first pattern of apertures having a predetermined orientation with said at least one second pattern of apertures;

said valve further including rotatable means operatively connected to selectively rotate said movable plate to a predetermined number of positions relative to said plurality of outlets, whereby in a first of such positions all of the outlets in the first pattern of outlets are open and all of the outlets in the second pattern are closed thereby to equally distribute fluid to the open-field control area.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable plate has a partial arcuate cutout disposed to register with and thereby open selected outlets in the first pattern of outlets in the stationary plate responsive to operation of the rotatable means moving the movable plate to effect such a registration, and wherein rotation of said plate to a second of such positions opens only certain other outlets in the first and second patterns and closes the remaining outlets except for those in registration with said arcuate cutout, thereby to distribute fluid to only a portion of the open-field control area that is located on an upwind first side of said area.

3. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein in a third of such positions only certain further outlets in the first and second patterns are open and the remaining outlets are closed except for those in registration with said arcuate cutout, thereby to distribute fluid to only a portion of the open-field control area that is located on a second side thereof.

4. A valve as defined in claim 3 wherein the number of outlets open in the first and second patterns is the same in both said second and third positions.

5. A valve as defined in claim 3 wherein said arcuate cutout can only be disposed in registration with less that one-half of the outlets in said stationary plate in any of the positions to which the movable plate can be rotated.

6. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined number of positions is at least equal to the number of outlets in the pattern of outlets having the smallest number of outlets.

7. A valve as defined in claim 6 wherein said predetermined number of positions is at least equal to the number of outlets in the pattern of outlets having the largest number of outlets, whereby complex varieties of area patterns within the open-field control area is selectively provided with fluid corresponding to different positions of said plate.