Diverter valve assembly

• US 7,261,117 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pippel, Bradley J., Mork, Steve O., Kosak, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle; Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/966,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 137/597, 137/624.17, 137/624.41, 137/119.01, 137/517, 137/625.17, 137/625.41, 137/1
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0743 with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86549 Selective reciprocation or rotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a diverter valve is comprised of a valve body with multiple inlet and outlet ports. The diverter valve is further comprised of two ceramic valve sections that can be rotated with respect to each other to allow the user to direct fluid entering the valve body to one of several outlet ports. According to a second embodiment, the diverter valve of the present invention further incorporates one or more of a flow regulator, a flow meter, and a check valve.

Claims

1. A diverter valve comprising:

a valve body comprising a primary inlet, a primary outlet, a secondary inlet, and a secondary outlet;

a flow regulator disposed at least partially within the valve body;

a flow meter disposed at least partially within the valve body;

a stationary disk;

a movable disk; and

means for selectively moving the movable disk with respect to the stationary disk into one of a first position wherein the primary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet, and a second position wherein the secondary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet.

2. The diverter valve of claim 1 further comprising a check valve disposed at least partially within the valve body.

3. The diverter valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the stationary disk and the movable disk is comprised of a ceramic material.

4. The diverter valve of claim 1 further comprising a valve chamber, wherein the stationary disk and the movable disk are disposed at least partially within the valve chamber.

5. The diverter valve of claim 4 further comprising a passage in fluid communication with the valve chamber and the primary inlet.

6. The diverter valve of claim 5, wherein the passage is in fluid communication with the primary outlet when the movable disk is in the first position.

7. The diverter valve of claim 5, wherein the passage is in fluid communication with the secondary outlet.

8. The diverter valve of claim 6, wherein both the secondary inlet and the primary inlet are in fluid communication with the primary outlet as the movable disk transitions between the first position and the second position.

9. A diverter valve comprising:

a primary inlet;

a primary inlet channel in fluid communication with the primary inlet;

a primary outlet;

a primary outlet channel in fluid communication with the primary outlet;

a secondary inlet;

a secondary inlet channel in fluid communication with the secondary inlet;

a secondary outlet;

a secondary outlet channel in fluid communication with the secondary outlet;

a passage in fluid communication with the primary inlet and the secondary outlet;

a flow regulator;

a check valve;

a flow meter;

a seal;

a stationary disk;

a movable disk; and

means for selectively moving the movable disk with respect to the stationary disk into one of a first position wherein the primary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet and the secondary inlet is not in fluid communication with the primary outlet, and a second position wherein the primary inlet is not in fluid communication with the primary outlet and the secondary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet.

10. The diverter valve of claim 9, wherein the flow regulator is disposed at least partially within the primary inlet channel.

11. The diverter valve of claim 10, wherein the flow meter is disposed at least partially within the secondary inlet channel.

12. The diverter valve of claim 11, wherein the check valve is at least partially disposed within the primary outlet channel.

13. The diverter valve of claim 12, wherein the wherein the passage is in fluid communication with the primary outlet when the movable disk is in the first position and wherein the passage is in fluid communication only with the primary inlet and the secondary outlet when the movable disk is in the second position.

14. The diverter valve of claim 13, wherein both the secondary inlet and the primary inlet are in fluid communication with the primary outlet as the movable disk transitions between the first position and the second position.

15. A method of diverting a flow of fluid, the method comprising:

providing a valve body that includes a primary inlet channel, a primary outlet channel, a secondary inlet channel, and a secondary outlet channel;

supplying a flow of fluid to the primary inlet channel of the valve body;

regulating the flow of fluid through the valve body with a flow regulator positioned within the primary inlet channel;

selectively diverting the flow of fluid from one of the primary inlet channel to the primary outlet channel, or the secondary inlet channel to the primary outlet channel;

monitoring the flow of fluid using a fluid monitor positioned within one of the primary inlet channel, the primary outlet channel, the secondary inlet channel, or the secondary outlet channel; and

substantially preventing the flow of fluid from the primary outlet channel to one of the primary inlet channel, the secondary inlet channel, or the secondary outlet channel with a check valve positioned within the primary outlet channel.

16. A diverter valve comprising:

a valve body comprising a primary inlet, a primary outlet, a secondary inlet, and a secondary outlet;

a flow meter disposed at least partially within the valve body;

a stationary disk;

a movable disk; and

means for selectively moving the movable disk with respect to the stationary disk into one of a first position wherein the primary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet, and a second position wherein the secondary inlet is in fluid communication with the primary outlet.

17. The diverter valve of claim 16 further comprising a flow regulator disposed at least partially within the valve body.

18. The diverter valve of claim 16 further comprising a check valve disposed at least partially within the valve body.

19. The diverter valve of claim 16, wherein at least one of the stationary disk and the movable disk is comprised of a ceramic material.

20. The diverter valve of claim 16 further comprising a valve chamber, wherein the stationary disk and the movable disk are disposed at least partially within the valve chamber.

21. The diverter valve of claim 20 further comprising a passage in fluid communication with the valve chamber and the primary inlet.

22. The diverter valve of claim 21, wherein the passage is in fluid communication with the primary outlet when the movable disk is in the first position.

23. The diverter valve of claim 21, wherein the passage is in fluid communication with the secondary outlet.

24. The diverter valve of claim 22, wherein both the secondary inlet and the primary inlet are in fluid communication with the primary outlet as the movable disk transitions between the first position and the second position.