Valve with a loading varying mechanism, and method of operating the same
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16K-003/10
F16K-003/18
F16K-011/074
F16K-005/20
F16K-005/16
F16K-011/087
출원번호
US-0420180
(2013-07-31)
등록번호
US-9435440
(2016-09-06)
국제출원번호
PCT/CA2013/050594
(2013-07-31)
국제공개번호
WO2014/022932
(2014-02-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Gamache, Yves
출원인 / 주소
Mécanique Analytique Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Price Heneveld LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
A valve is provided. The valve includes a body provided with fluid passages for circulating fluid therein. The body has a body interface with ports connected to the fluid passages. The valve also includes a valve element having a valve element interface facing the body interface. The valve element c
A valve is provided. The valve includes a body provided with fluid passages for circulating fluid therein. The body has a body interface with ports connected to the fluid passages. The valve also includes a valve element having a valve element interface facing the body interface. The valve element can move between different positions so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages. A biasing element biases the valve element interface against the body interface. A load varying mechanism is provided to load the biasing element with different sealing load forces according to the different positions of the valve element. The sealing load force applied on the rotor is thus decreased during rotation, reducing friction between the valve body and the valve element.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for channeling a fluid through different passages of a valve, the method comprising the steps of: providing the valve comprising: a housing provided with said fluid passages for circulating the fluid therein at a fluid pressure, the housing having a housing interface with ports connected
1. A method for channeling a fluid through different passages of a valve, the method comprising the steps of: providing the valve comprising: a housing provided with said fluid passages for circulating the fluid therein at a fluid pressure, the housing having a housing interface with ports connected to said fluid passages;a valve element having a valve element interface facing the housing interface, said valve element interacting with the ports of the housing interface, the valve element being movable between different positions, so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages; anda spring assembly for biasing the valve element interface against the housing interface;applying a sealing load force on the spring assembly when the valve element is stationary and the valve is in operation; andapplying a reduced sealing load force on the spring assembly while moving the valve between the different positions. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sealing load force is generated irrespectively of the fluid pressure. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of providing the valve, the valve is a rotary valve, the valve element being a rotor; and in the step of applying the reduced sealing load force, moving the valve element consists in rotating the rotor. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the reduced sealing load force is performed by gradually reducing the sealing load force as the rotor moves between two different positions. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the reduced sealing load force comprises a sub-step of applying the sealing load force with an intermediate sealing load force value when the valve element moves past the ports of the housing, said intermediate sealing load force having a value between a process sealing force value corresponding to the sealing load force applied in the step of providing the value and a movement sealing force value applied in between two successive ones of said ports. 6. The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of reducing the sealing load force to a start-up value, prior to or upon starting to move the valve element. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of applying the reduced sealing load force, the sealing load force is reduced by varying a size of the spring assembly. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the size of the spring assembly corresponds to a given height, said height being varied using a controllable motor. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the height of the spring assembly is varied using a mechanical assembly operatively linked to the spring assembly. 10. The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of measuring an operating temperature of the valve, and determining the sealing load force to apply in the step of applying a sealing load force and the step of applying a reduced sealing load force based on the measured operating temperature. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the step of applying the sealing load force is performed by compressing the spring assembly to a first height when two ports of the housing are in fluid communication and the valve element is stationary in a first position; andthe step of applying the reduced sealing load force is performed by decompressing the spring assembly up to a second height, thereby reducing the sealing load force applied on the valve element as the valve element moves towards a second position so as to interrupt flow of the fluid between said two ports. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of recompressing the spring assembly to the first height, when said two ports or other ports of the housing are in fluid communication and the rotor is stationary in the second position. 13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of recompressing the spring assembly to the first height, when said two ports of the housing are blocked by the valve element and the rotor is stationary in the second position. 14. A method for channeling a fluid through different passages of a valve, the method comprising the steps of: providing the valve comprising: a static body provided with fluid passages for circulating fluid therein at a fluid pressure, the body having a body interface with ports connected to said fluid passages;a valve element having a valve element interface facing the body interface, said valve element interacting with the ports of the body interface, the valve element being movable between different positions so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages;an actuating mechanism for moving the valve element between the different positions;a spring assembly configured to bias the valve element interface against the body interface with a sealing load force; anda load varying mechanism configured to variably load the spring assembly based on the different positions of the valve element; andapplying different sealing load forces on the valve element via the spring assembly, based on the different positions of the valve element, the different sealing load forces comprising at least a first sealing load force applied when the valve element is stationary and a second sealing load force smaller than the first sealing load force while being sufficient to maintain sealing contact between the body interface and the valve element interface, the second sealing force being applied while moving the valve element. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: in the step of providing the valve the load varying mechanism comprises a first motor variably compressing the spring assembly, a controller controlling the first motor, a position sensor connected to the controller and operatively linked to the valve element, the actuating mechanism comprising a second motor for moving the valve element; andin the step of applying different sealing forces the second motor moves the valve element between the different positions, the position sensor detects the different positions of the valve element and sends the detected positions to the controller, the controller controls the first motor based on the detected positions received, and the first motor compresses and decompresses the spring assembly, the spring assembly applying a sealing force equal or between the first and second sealing forces on the valve element based on the position of the valve element. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein in the step of providing the valve the actuating mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the valve element, the load varying mechanism comprises a mechanical assembly including a movable member and a static member, the movable member being operatively coupled to the rotatable shaft, and wherein in the step of applying the different sealing load forces moving the rotatable shaft moves the valve element between the different positions and also moves away or brings closer the movable member relative to the static member, thereby compressing or decompressing the spring assembly. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of applying the different sealing load forces comprises detecting an operating temperature of the valve, the controller controlling the first motor for varying a height of the spring assembly according to the operating temperatures detected by the temperature sensor. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein in the step of providing the valve the valve is a rotary, the body has a cavity bordered by a sidewall, said sidewall comprising the body interface, the valve element is a rotor disposed within the cavity, said rotor having at least one channel opening on the valve element interface for interacting with the ports of body interface, the rotor being rotatable between the different positions so as to permit or obstruct communication between the fluid passages via the at least one channel. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: the static and movable members of the load varying mechanism are first and second cam washers having respective inner faces at least partially contacting one another, said inner faces including concave and convex portions, and wherein applying the first sealing load force is obtained by positioning the rotatable shaft such that the respective convex portions of the cam washers are in contact, thereby compressing the spring assembly, and applying the reduced sealing load force is obtained by positioning the rotatable shaft such that the respective convex and concave portions are mated, thereby decompressing the spring assembly and reducing the load force applied on the rotor. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the static and movable members are plates disposed within the static body, the plates having respective inner faces at least partially contacting each other, one of said inner faces having at least one portion with a sloped profile, the inner face of the other plate having at least one sliding block configured to slide along the sloped profile, and wherein the step of applying the different sealing load forces, applying different forces on the rotor is obtained by rotating the shaft, causing the sliding block to slide along the sloped profile thereby compressing or decompressing the spring assembly.
Hennemann Thomas L. ; Brady Daniel F., Dispensing system with multi-port valve for distributing use dilution to a plurality of utilization points and position sensor for use thereon.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.