Elliptical ball valve seal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve seal, comprising:
- a tubular member defining an inner flow passage with an elliptical cross-section in a longitudinal direction;
a downstream end of the tubular member having an annular flange having a flat face in communication with the inner flow passage; and
an upstream end of the tubular member having a contoured sealing face having a hemispherical profile opposite the annular flange and in communication with the flow passage, in which the contoured sealing face is configured for sliding engagement with a spherical valve member, and the inner flow passage extends from the flat face to the contoured sealing face.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve system for metering fluid flow to an engine of a work machine is disclosed. The valve system may include a valve body which defines an annular inlet, an annular outlet, and a substantially spherical valve chamber therebetween to form a passageway. The valve system may have a spherical valve member with a fluid passage therethrough which is configured to rotate within the valve chamber to selectively meter fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The valve system may have a seat ring with a longitudinal bore with an elliptical cross-section and a sealing face hemispherically contoured to match the spherical valve member surface.
33 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A valve seal, comprising:
-
a tubular member defining an inner flow passage with an elliptical cross-section in a longitudinal direction; a downstream end of the tubular member having an annular flange having a flat face in communication with the inner flow passage; and an upstream end of the tubular member having a contoured sealing face having a hemispherical profile opposite the annular flange and in communication with the flow passage, in which the contoured sealing face is configured for sliding engagement with a spherical valve member, and the inner flow passage extends from the flat face to the contoured sealing face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A valve system for metering fluid flow, comprising:
-
a valve body having a substantially spherical valve chamber in communication with an annular inlet in parallel with and opposite an annular outlet which forms a passageway therethrough; a valve member with a substantially spherical surface configured to rotate perpendicularly to the passageway about a concentric valve shaft, the valve member having a fluid passage therethrough to selectively pass fluid from the inlet to the outlet; and a seat ring comprising; a tubular member defining an inner flow passage with an elliptical cross-section in a longitudinal direction, a downstream end of the tubular member having an annular flange with a flat face in communication with the inner flow passage, and an upstream end of the tubular member having a contoured sealing face with a hemispherical profile opposite the annular flange and in communication with the inner flow passage, in which the contoured sealing face is configured for sliding engagement with the spherical surface, and the inner flow passage extends from the flat face to the contoured sealing face. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of manufacture of a valve seat, the method comprising:
-
selecting a spherical valve member with a valve port and the spherical valve member having known dimensions capable of a desired flow rate; determining dimensions of an elliptical flow port with a major-axis based on the known dimensions of the spherical valve member and a minor-axis based on the known dimensions of the valve port; determining a contour and hemispherical profile of a mating surface configured to positively engage a surface of the spherical valve member to form a fluid-tight seal between the elliptical flow port and the valve port; and manufacturing the valve seat according to the determined dimensions of the elliptical flow port and the determined profile of the mating surface, the valve seat comprising; a tubular member defining the determined elliptical flow port, a downstream end of the tubular member having an annular flange having a flat face in communication with the determined elliptical flow port, and an upstream end of the tubular member having the determined mating surface opposite the annular flange and in communication with the determined elliptical flow port, in which the inner flow passage extends from the flat face to the determined mating surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification