Rotor valve and seal
First Claim
1. A rotor valve comprising:
- a valve body comprising a rotor chamber and a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid;
a rotor disposed within the rotor chamber, the rotor comprising at least one passageway for controlling fluid flow through the chamber;
a seal carried on the rotor presenting a sealing surface engageable with an interior surface of the valve body proximate a selected valve body opening for restricting fluid flow through the selected valve body opening and further presenting a rear surface at a side of the seal generally opposed to the sealing surfaces; and
a passageway formed in the seal directing pressurized fluid from the selected valve body opening to the rear surface of the seal to exert a sealing force urging the sealing surface against the valve body into sealing engagement;
wherein the rotor further comprises a bore in an outer surface thereof and presenting a side wall defining the bore, and the seal further comprises;
a projection extending into the bore; and
a sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the projection and providing a fluid barrier between the seal and the side wall of the bore, the sealing member defining an area of the rear surface of the seal exposed to the pressurized fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotor valve (10) having a rotor seal (34) containing a centrally disposed opening (52) for directing an external pressure (Pe) to a rear surface (35) of the seal for applying a sealing force against a sealing surface (36). A projection (38) of the seal surrounding the opening is disposed within a bore (40) formed in a rotor (14) of the valve. An O-ring seal (44) defines the portion of the rear surface exposed to the external pressure. The rotor may be supported on one end by a bearing assembly (80) and may be open at the opposed end for receiving incoming water. Circumferentially distributed slip-surface plugs extend radially beyond the diameter of the rotor to support the rotor along an interior surface (39) of the valve body (12).
52 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A rotor valve comprising:
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a valve body comprising a rotor chamber and a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid; a rotor disposed within the rotor chamber, the rotor comprising at least one passageway for controlling fluid flow through the chamber; a seal carried on the rotor presenting a sealing surface engageable with an interior surface of the valve body proximate a selected valve body opening for restricting fluid flow through the selected valve body opening and further presenting a rear surface at a side of the seal generally opposed to the sealing surfaces; and a passageway formed in the seal directing pressurized fluid from the selected valve body opening to the rear surface of the seal to exert a sealing force urging the sealing surface against the valve body into sealing engagement; wherein the rotor further comprises a bore in an outer surface thereof and presenting a side wall defining the bore, and the seal further comprises; a projection extending into the bore; and a sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the projection and providing a fluid barrier between the seal and the side wall of the bore, the sealing member defining an area of the rear surface of the seal exposed to the pressurized fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A rotor valve comprising:
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a valve body comprising a rotor chamber and a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid; a rotor disposed within the rotor chamber, the rotor comprising at least one passageway for controlling fluid flow through the chamber; a seal carried on the rotor presenting a sealing surface engageable with an interior surface of the valve body proximate a selected valve body opening for restricting fluid flow through the selected valve body opening and further presenting a rear surface at a side of the seal generally opposed to the sealing surface; and a passageway formed in the seal directing pressurized fluid from the selected valve body opening to the rear surface of the seal to exert a sealing force urging the sealing surface against the valve body into sealing engagement; wherein the rotor is supported within the valve body at a first end by a bearing and at a second end opposed the first end by a plurality of circumferentially distributed slip-surface members extending into an annular space between the rotor and valve body for sliding contact of the rotor in the valve body to support the rotor.
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7. A rotor valve comprising:
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a valve body comprising a rotor chamber and a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid; a rotor disposed within the rotor chamber, the rotor comprising at least one passageway for controlling fluid flow through the chamber; a seal carried on the rotor presenting a sealing surface engageable with an interior surface of the valve body proximate a selected valve body opening for restricting fluid flow through the selected valve body opening and further presenting a rear surface at a side of the seal generally opposed to the sealing surface; and a passageway formed in the seal directing pressurized fluid from the selected valve body opening to the rear surface of the seal to exert a sealing force urging the sealing surface against the valve body into sealing engagement; further comprising an actuator coupled to the rotor by a shaft for rotating the rotor between a plurality of positions within the valve body, the actuator further comprising; a rack coupled to the shaft by a pinion gear; a first piston connected to the rack and disposed within a first cylinder for moving the rack in response to pressure applied within the first cylinder; a second piston disposed within a second cylinder; and a stop moveable with the second piston in response to pressure within the second cylinder to a position determining a position of the rotor by restricting a range of motion of the first piston. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A seal assembly for sealing a valve body opening of a rotary valve having a rotor fitted within a valve body, the seal assembly comprising:
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a body having a portion sized to fit within a bore in a rotor of a rotary valve and comprising a rear surface to be at least partially disposed within the bore and comprising a sealing surface opposed the rear surface for contacting an interior of the valve body surrounding the valve body opening; a passageway formed in the body from the sealing surface to the rear surface for conveying a fluid pressure from the valve body opening to the rear surface for exerting a sealing force on a portion of the rear surface disposed within the bore; and a sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the body within the bore in the rotor and defining at least in part the portion of the rear surface exposed to the fluid pressure; a spring member for exerting a sealing force on the body; a recess formed in the body for receiving the spring member; wherein the recess is disposed in the rear surface outside the portion of the rear surface exposed to the fluid pressure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification