Face seal for barrel type water valve

• US 6,361,051 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Babin, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beres, John L.
• Application Number:
  US09/435,978
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 277/607, 277/616, 277/626, 277/627, 137/454.2, 137/625.41, 137/625.46, 251/214, 251/306, 251/315.07, 251/317, 251/172, 251/316, 251/175, 251/361, 251/363, 251/368, 251/314
• US Class Current: 277/607
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0264 in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0464 in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A cylindrically curved rectangular face seal is provided for a cross-ported barrel type rotary valve member. The seal has a central flow orifice therethrough with an annular raised rib formed about the orifice and extending in a radial direction from the concave inner face of the seal. The opposite edges of the seal extending in an axial direction each have a notch or rib thereon for axial sliding engagement in grooves provided in the valve body. The annular rib about the orifice accommodates dimensional variation in the valve parts to ensure a rotary sliding seal on the rotary valve member.

Claims

1. A face seal for a rotary valve comprising:

a unitary member of resiliently flexible material having a generally partial cylindrical configuration with an aperture therethrough, with a pair of spaced generally parallel margins and generally parallel radially inner and outer faces, said aperture having a rib formed therearound on said radially inner face, wherein said parallel margins includes surfaces adapted for axial sliding engagement with corresponding portions of a valving chamber and wherein said rib is adapted for compression and sliding sealing on a rotary valve member.

2. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said parallel margins each include a an axially extending rib therein for sliding engagement in correspondingly configured surfaces in a valve body.

3. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary member is formed of elastomeric material.

4. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary member is formed of ethylene propylenedimonomer (EPDM) material.

5. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary member is formed of wax impregnated EPDM material.

6. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary member is formed of elastomeric material having a relatively thin coating of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

7. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said partial cylindrical shape has a portion thereof with a reduced thickness between said inner and outer faces.

8. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said unitary member has a portion thereof equidistant from said parallel margins configured for increased flexibility.

9. The seal defined in claim 1, wherein said rib has an annular groove formed therein for forming a double lip sealing surface about said aperture.