US20010005007A1 - Rotary valve apparatus - Google Patents
Rotary valve apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010005007A1 US20010005007A1 US09/772,782 US77278201A US2001005007A1 US 20010005007 A1 US20010005007 A1 US 20010005007A1 US 77278201 A US77278201 A US 77278201A US 2001005007 A1 US2001005007 A1 US 2001005007A1
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- United States
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- valve body
- disc
- seal
- valve
- rotary valve
- Prior art date
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- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000004809 Teflon Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K27/00—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor
- F16K27/02—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor of lift valves
- F16K27/0209—Check valves or pivoted valves
- F16K27/0218—Butterfly valves
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
- F16K1/16—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with pivoted closure-members
- F16K1/18—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with pivoted closure-members with pivoted discs or flaps
- F16K1/22—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with pivoted closure-members with pivoted discs or flaps with axis of rotation crossing the valve member, e.g. butterfly valves
- F16K1/226—Shaping or arrangements of the sealing
- F16K1/2263—Shaping or arrangements of the sealing the sealing being arranged on the valve seat
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
- Y10T137/0402—Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
- Y10T137/0491—Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing
- Y10T137/0525—Butterfly valve
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49405—Valve or choke making
- Y10T29/49412—Valve or choke making with assembly, disassembly or composite article making
- Y10T29/49416—Valve or choke making with assembly, disassembly or composite article making with material shaping or cutting
- Y10T29/49423—Valve or choke making with assembly, disassembly or composite article making with material shaping or cutting including metal deforming
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49405—Valve or choke making
- Y10T29/49426—Valve or choke making including metal shaping and diverse operation
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to valves and methods for fabricating them and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates to rotary valves, such as “butterfly” valves, and associated valve fabrication methods.
- Rotary valves also commonly referred to as “butterfly” valves, are typically provided with a shut-off disc which is rotationally drivable between open and closed positions about an axis diametrically extending across the interior of a generally annular valve body. In its open position the disc permits fluid flow through the valve body, and when the disc is rotated to its closed position its periphery is brought into operative engagement with an annular seal member, which is part of an annular seal cartridge structure supported by the valve body, to shut off further fluid flow through the valve and piping sections that are suitably secured to opposite sides of its body portion.
- rotary valves of this general type have been utilized for many years in both fluid throttling and shut-off applications, and have been refined in a variety of manners over this time span, they are still subject to several well-known problems, limitations and disadvantages.
- rotary valve discs are customarily formed as a segment of a sphere and thus have a rounded peripheral seating surface. Because of this conventional disc configuration it is often difficult to reliably and accurately conform the valve seal to the peripheral disc seating surface without undesirably stretching the seal element to a substantial degree. Due to this geometric seal/seat interface problem the integrity of the seal is often compromised and it is difficult to completely stop the flow of fluid through the valve.
- rotary valves of conventional construction Another limitation present in rotary valves of conventional construction is related to the manner in which an actuator, a motorized device used to forcibly rotate the closure disc between its open and closed positions, is operatively mounted on the valve.
- an actuator base structure is formed integrally with the valve body (or permanently secured to as by welding) and projects radially outwardly from the valve body.
- an adapter structure is interposed between the actuator and the outwardly projecting base structure and secured to the actuator and base structure.
- a specially designed rotary valve which includes a valve body and a seal structure, carried by the valve body, for forming an elliptical seating surface.
- a disc is rotatably carried by the valve body and has an elliptical periphery rotatable into and out of sealing engagement with the seating surface.
- the elliptical disc periphery has a conical shape which creates an entrance angle on the disc seating surface that provides a variety of operational benefits including a reduction in the torque required to seat and unseat the valve disc from the associated seal structure, and a reduction in the wear on both the disc periphery and the seal seating surface.
- the parts carrying the actuation load may be smaller, and a smaller valve actuator may be used to seat and unseat the valve disc against the associated seal seating surface. Further, broader manufacturing tolerances may be utilized in conjunction with the disc and seal structures due to a wedging effect provided by the elliptical seal and disc design.
- the seal structure includes facing annular seal cartridge members, and a resilient annular seal member, representatively a Teflon seal, which is sandwiched between the facing seal cartridge members.
- An elliptical cavity is formed between the cartridge members and receives a portion of the seal member in a manner deforming it to and holding it in an elliptical configuration, with a radially inner annular portion of the seal member protruding from the seal cartridge members into the valve body interior for operative sealing engagement by the disc periphery.
- the seal member received in the elliptical seal cavity between the seal cartridge members is of a metal material.
- the elliptical seal cavity is formed in at least one of the facing annular seal cartridge members by resiliently deforming the originally circular cartridge member to an elliptical shape and holding the deformed cartridge member in such elliptical shape while at least a portion of the seal cavity is formed on a side of the cartridge member in a circular pattern circumscribing its central axis.
- the elliptically deformed cartridge member is then released, to thereby permit it to return to its original circular shape.
- This deforms the originally circular seal cavity portion to an elliptical shape conforming to the elliptical shape of the disc periphery.
- the disc is precisely centered within the valve body, and with respect to the seal structure, in automatic response to installation of the disc within the valve body using two guide members which are inserted inwardly through suitable openings in diametrically opposite flat portions on the outer periphery of the valve body which representatively has an annular configuration.
- Portions of the inserted guide members have abutment portions which are brought into contact with corresponding abutment portions on the disc to automatically center it within the valve body.
- the positions of the abutment portions on the inserted parts of the guide members are precisely controlled by external flange portions on the guide members which abut the diametrically opposite flat portions on the exterior periphery of the valve body.
- an inner end of one of the guide members is rotatably received in a mounting structure carried on the disc, and a longitudinal portion of a disc-rotating shaft is rotatably extended through the other guide member and is rotationally locked to the mounting portion of the disc.
- a specially designed actuator support structure is secured to the valve body and substantially simplifies and reduces the cost of operatively coupling a motor-driven actuator to the outwardly projecting portion of the disc-rotating shaft.
- the actuator support structure is of a one-piece construction, is removably secured to the valve body, and is directly connectable to a selected actuator without the conventional necessity of an intermediate adapter structure interconnected between the actuator support structure and the actuator.
- the annular valve body has a circumferentially spaced pair of flat areas formed on the external periphery of the valve body on opposite sides of the longitudinal drive shaft portion projecting radially outwardly from the valve body periphery.
- the one-piece actuator support structure has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with a spaced pair of leg portions with free end portions removably secured to these flat area of the valve body, and a closed outer end portion to which a valve actuator may be directly secured.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a specially designed rotary valve assembly embodying principles of the present invention and illustrated in a closed position;
- FIG. 2 is a somewhat reduced scale perspective view of the rotary valve assembly in an open position and additionally illustrating a conventional actuator mechanism mounted atop a specially designed one-piece actuator support structure portion of the valve assembly;
- FIG. 3 is a reduced scale exploded perspective view of the rotary valve assembly
- FIG. 4 is a reduced scale, partially elevational cross-sectional view through the rotary valve assembly taken along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a reduced scale, partially elevational cross-sectional view through the rotary valve assembly taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional view of the circled area “ 6 ” in FIG. 5 and illustrates the construction of a specially designed seal cartridge portion of the rotary valve assembly;
- FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view similar to that in FIG. 6 but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the seal cartridge portion
- FIG. 7 is a side edge view of a valve disc portion of the rotary valve assembly schematically illustrating the manner in which the disc is machined to an elliptical peripheral configuration
- FIG. 8 is a side edge view of the completed valve disc
- FIG. 8A is an enlarged scale detail view of the circled area “ 8 A” in FIG. 8;
- FIG. 8B is an enlarged scale detail view of the circled area “ 8 B” in FIG. 8.
- Valve 10 includes an annular metal body portion 12 , a metal closure disc 14 rotatable between closed and open positions (respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) about an axis 16 extending diametrically through the body 12 , and an annular seal cartridge structure 18 .
- the disc 14 With the disc 14 in its FIG. 1 closed position it cooperates with the seal cartridge structure 18 to prevent fluid flow through the interior of the body 12 and piping sections (not shown) operatively connected to its opposite sides.
- piping sections not shown
- FIG. 2 open position fluid flow through the interior of the valve body 12 , and piping operatively coupled to the valve body 12 , is permitted.
- the disc 14 has a body portion with a front or outer side 20 , a rear or inner side 22 , and a peripheral sealing edge portion 24 .
- a diametrically spaced pair of attachment bosses 26 extend outwardly from the rear side 22 and have aligned, circularly cross-sectioned bores 28 extending through oppositely facing outer side surfaces 26 a of the bosses 26 .
- the outer side surfaces 26 a are equidistant from the centerline of the body portion of the disc 14 .
- the body of the disc 14 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7 has a centerline 30 , and is formed (by appropriately machining its outer edge) as a segment of a cone 32 having an axis 34 tilted at a relatively small angle A relative to the disc body centerline 30 .
- the angle of the cone 32 is approximately 34°
- the machining tilt angle A is approximately 8°.
- This machining of the body of the disc 14 as a segment of the cone 32 gives the peripheral sealing edge portion 24 of the disc an elliptical shape in which the major rear side diameter D of the disc body, which extends transversely to the disc rotational axis 16 , is greater than the minor rear side diameter of the disc 14 which extends parallel to the disc rotational axis 16 .
- the machining of the body of the disc 14 as a segment of the cone 32 also gives portions of the disc periphery 24 adjacent opposite ends of the major diameter D different slope angles from the rear side 22 of the disc body to the front side 20 of the disc body.
- an upper portion of the disc periphery 24 (as viewed in FIG. 7) slopes outwardly and radially inwardly at an angle B of approximately 15°
- a lower portion of the disc periphery 24 (as viewed in FIG. 7) slopes outwardly and radially inwardly at an angle C of approximately 31°.
- the bore centerlines 36 of the attachment bosses 26 are offset a small distance E from the rotational axis 16 of the closure disc 14 to effect a desirable “camming” action of the disc as it lifts off of a seal structure later described herein.
- the disc 14 is rotatably mounted within the annular valve body 12 , in a unique automatic centering manner which will now be described, using a cylindrical shaft 38 having flats 40 , 42 respectively formed on upper and lower end portions thereof (see FIG. 3), and upper and lower cylindrical guide members 44 , 46 .
- the upper guide member 44 is of a hollow tubular configuration and has an upper body portion 48 , a reduced diameter lower body portion 50 having a lower end 52 , and an elongated transverse mounting flange 54 disposed at the junction of the body portions 48 , 50 .
- the lower guide member 46 has a cylindrical upper body portion 56 with an upper end 58 , an enlarged diameter cylindrical lower body portion 60 , and an elongated transverse mounting flange 62 at its bottom end.
- An upwardly facing annular shoulder 64 is defined at the juncture of the upper and lower body portions 56 , 60 .
- the annular valve body portion 12 has diametrically opposite upper and lower flat portions 66 , 68 formed on its outer peripheral surface and having circular bores 70 formed therethrough and spaced apart along the disc rotation axis 16 .
- the parallel planes of these upper and lower flat portions 66 , 68 are positioned on the valve body 12 in a manner such they are equal radial distances away from the centerline of the body 12 .
- the closure disc 14 is installed within the interior of the valve body 12 by placing the disc bosses 26 within the interior of the body 12 , inserting the tubular lower end portion 50 of the upper guide member 44 downwardly through an annular gasket 72 , the upper circular bore 70 and into the interior of the valve body 12 .
- the upper guide member 44 is being moved downwardly in this manner, the upper end portions of a pair of threaded studs 74 pass upwardly through mounting holes in the opposite ends of the flange 54 .
- nuts 76 are threaded onto the studs 74 to hold the flange 66 against the upper valve body flat area 66 .
- a lower end portion of the shaft 38 is passed downwardly through the installed upper guide member 44 and into the bore 28 of the upper disc boss 28 , and is secured in place within the upper boss 28 by a set screw 77 threaded into a corresponding opening in the upper disc boss 28 and forced against the lower shaft flat area 42 .
- the lower end 52 of the lower body portion 50 of the upper guide member 44 abuts the upper s side surface 26 a of the upper disc boss 26 .
- the upper end portion 56 of the lower guide member 46 is passed upwardly through an annular gasket 78 , the lower valve body circular bore 70 and into the circular bore 28 in the lower disc boss 26 until the lower guide member flange 62 comes into abutment with the lower flat area 68 on the annular valve body 12 .
- the flange 62 is held against the flat area 68 by a pair of bolts 80 extended upwardly through corresponding holes in the flange 62 and threaded into aligned holes in the valve body 12 .
- the mounting of the upper and lower guide members 44 , 46 in this manner supports the disc 14 within the valve body 12 for rotation relative thereto about the rotational axis 16 .
- Such mounting of the upper and lower guide members 44 , 46 also automatically centers the disc 14 within the valve body 12 , and relative to the later described annular seal cartridge structure 18 , without any necessity of subsequently adjusting the installed disc 14 relative to the valve body 12 or seal cartridge structure 18 .
- This automatic disc centering is achieved by axially configuring the upper and lower cylindrical guide members 44 , 46 in a manner such that when they are operatively secured to the valve body 12 as described above the distance between the lower end 52 of the upper guide member 44 and the annular flange portion 64 of the lower guide member 46 is precisely identical to the distance between the oppositely facing outer sides 26 a of the disc bosses 26 (which, as previously mentioned, are representatively equidistant from the centerline of the disc body).
- the disc 14 is automatically centered within the valve body 12 by the abutments 26 a , 52 and 26 a , 64 between the guide members 44 , 46 and the disc bosses 26 , when the guide member flanges 54 , 62 respectively abut the valve body flat areas 66 , 68 .
- the shaft 38 extends upwardly through an annular packing structure 82 (see FIG. 3) received within the upper body portion 48 of the upper guide member 44 .
- Shaft 38 also passes through and upwardly beyond a tubular packing retainer member 84 telescoped within the upper body portion 48 and having a transverse flange portion 86 on its upper end.
- the studs 74 pass upwardly through corresponding holes in the outer ends of the flange 86 , with the packing retainer member 84 being held in place with nuts 88 threaded onto the upper ends of the studs 74 .
- An upper end portion of the shaft 38 is operatively connected to a conventional motorized actuator 90 which, as later described herein, is operatively associated with the valve body 12 in a unique manner.
- the actuator 90 may be selectively utilized to forcibly rotate the shaft 38 about the disc rotation axis 16 to thereby forcibly rotate the disc 14 between its FIG. 1 closed position and its FIG. 2 open position.
- the annular seal cartridge structure 18 is complementarily and removably received within an annular recess 92 (see FIG. 3) formed in the side 12 a of the valve body 12 and is captively retained within the recess 92 by means of a snap ring 94 (see FIG. 5) removably received in an annular groove 96 (see FIG. 3) in the valve body recess 92 .
- the seal cartridge structure 18 includes a flat annular metal seal support member 98 , a flat annular metal seal retaining member 100 , and an annular seal member 102 sandwiched between the members 98 and 100 .
- the annular seal member 102 is substantially identical to the seal member 24 illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,848 to Eggleston and comprises an annular Teflon body having (as best illustrated in FIG. 6) an annular, radially inner sealing portion 104 ; an annular, radially outer peripheral portion 106 ; an annular, axially inwardly projecting flexible web portion 108 ; and an annular, axially outwardly projecting lip portion 110 .
- An annular resilient garter spring member 112 outwardly circumscribes the annular sealing portion 104 and exerts thereon a radially inwardly directed resilient biasing force.
- the seal member 102 is held by the balance of the seal cartridge structure 18 in a manner causing the sealing portion 104 of the seal member 102 to assume an elliptical shape precisely corresponding to the elliptical configuration of the peripheral edge 24 of the disc 14 to provide substantially improved valve sealing performance as later described herein.
- the seal support and retainer members 98 and 100 are specially constructed in a unique manner which will now be described.
- the seal support member 98 is subjected to diametrically opposite, radially inwardly directed clamping forces 114 (see FIG. 3) that resiliently deform opposite edge portions of the seal support member 98 radially inwardly, while at the same time correspondingly and resiliently deforming the member 98 radially outwardly in directions 116 transverse to the clamping forces 114 , thereby giving the seal support member 98 an elliptical configuration.
- a circular seal receiving depression 118 (see FIG. 3) is suitably machined on one side of the deformed seal support member 98 .
- the temporarily clamped seal support member 98 is then released to permit it to return to original circular configuration, thereby causing the circular depression 118 to assume an elliptical configuration in the finished inner seal support member 98 (see FIG. 6).
- the seal retainer member 100 is placed in the clamping structure and subjected to diametrically opposite, radially inwardly directed clamping forces 120 (see FIG. 3) that resiliently deform opposite edge portions of the seal retaining member 100 radially inwardly, while at the same time correspondingly and resiliently deforming the member 100 radially outwardly in directions 122 transverse to the clamping forces 120 , thereby giving the seal retaining member 100 an elliptical configuration.
- a circular depression 124 is formed in the side of the seal retaining member 100 which will face the seal support member 98 .
- the temporarily clamped seal retainer member 100 is then released to permit it to return to original circular configuration, thereby causing the circular depression 124 to assume an elliptical configuration in the finished inner seal support member 98 .
- Suitable marks are placed on each of the completed seal support and retainer members 98 , 100 so that when the seal member 102 is operatively sandwiched therebetween, the elliptical depressions 118 , 124 may be precisely aligned with one another.
- the seal member 102 is operatively sandwiched between the seal support and retainer members 98 , 100 as cross-sectionally illustrated in FIG.
- the seal portion 108 is received in the elliptical depression 118
- the seal portion 110 is received in the depression 124
- the seal portion 106 is clamped between facing portions of the seal support and retainer members 98 and 100 , with an inner peripheral portion of the seal member sealing portion 104 projecting radially inwardly beyond the inner peripheries of the seal support and retainer members 98 and 100 .
- the seal member To operatively install the annular seal member 102 in the elliptical depressions 118 and 124 , the seal member must be slightly deformed from its originally round configuration to an elliptical configuration which geometrically matches the elliptical shape of the previously described elliptical periphery 24 of the disc 14 . Accordingly, in the assembled seal cartridge structure 18 the inwardly projecting periphery of the seal member sealing portion 104 is uniquely held in this elliptical configuration.
- the completed seal cartridge structure 18 is installed in the valve body side recess 92 (see FIGS. 1 - 3 ) in a manner such that aligned holes 126 , 128 in the seal support and retainer members 98 , 100 are aligned with an underlying hole 130 in the axially inner surface of the valve body seal cartridge recess 92 to thereby align the major axis of the now elliptical seal portion 104 with the major axis of the elliptical disc periphery 24 when the disc is rotationally driven to its FIG. 1 closed orientation.
- a retaining pin 132 is operatively positioned in the aligned holes 126 , 128 , 130 .
- the elliptical disc periphery 24 is driven through the rotational arc 134 shown in FIGS. 8 - 8 B to cause the indicated portions 24 a , 24 b of the disc periphery 24 to be selectively wedged into sealing engagement with the radially inner periphery of the resilient seal portion 104 (see FIG. 6) and then be disengaged therefrom.
- the torque required to seat and unseat the valve disc 14 from the associated seal element is substantially less than in the conventional case of a round disc seating against a round seal element. Additionally, there is less wear on the disc and seal element. Further, due to the reduced operational torque requirements, the parts carrying the actuation load may be smaller, and a smaller actuator may be used to seat and unseat the valve disc against the seal. Also, broader manufacturing tolerances may be utilized in conjunction with the disc and seal due to the wedging effect provided by the elliptical seal and disc design.
- FIG. 6A An alternate embodiment 18 a of the previously described seal cartridge structure 18 is cross-sectionally illustrated in FIG. 6A and operatively supports a deformable annular metal seal element 136 having a generally U-shaped cross-section around its periphery.
- the seal element 136 is sandwiched between modified flat annular seal support and retainer members 98 a , 100 a which are operatively received and retained within the valve body side recess 92 , with a rounded, radially inner annular portion 136 a of the metal seal member 136 projecting inwardly from the seal support and retainer members 98 a , 100 a for operative sealing engagement by the disc periphery 24 .
- the seal support member 98 a is left in its original flat annular configuration, and the seal retainer member 100 a is resiliently deformed to an elliptical shape, by clamping it at diametrically opposite portions as previously described for the seal retainer member 100 , while a circular depression 138 is machined into the inner side surface of the seal retainer member 100 a on a radially inner peripheral area thereof.
- the resiliently deformed seal retainer member 100 a is unclamped, it springs back from an elliptical configuration to its original circular configuration to thereby reconfigure the circular depression 138 in a manner such that its outer peripheral surface 138 a has an elliptical shape.
- the invention in addition to the unique self-centering disc support and elliptical-to-elliptical seal interface features of the present invention, the invention also substantially simplifies and reduces the cost of the rotational driving interconnection between the motor-driven actuator 90 (see FIG. 2) and the shaft 38 and thus the closure disc 14 .
- a one-piece actuator support bracket 140 which is removably securable to the valve body 12 and may be easily customized to operatively mount motor-driven actuators of a variety of types and configurations and permit them to be drivingly coupled to the shaft 38 .
- Actuator bracket 140 has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with a top end support plate portion 142 , and a pair of depending parallel leg plate portions 144 having outwardly angled foot portions 146 that may be removably secured to flat portions 148 on the valve body 12 , on opposite sides of the top flat portion 66 , with suitable fasteners such as bolts 150 .
- the actuator bracket 140 may be welded to the valve body 12 , or otherwise suitably anchored thereto.
- the top plate 142 is suitably drilled, as at openings 152 and 154 , as required to accommodate the particular motor-driven actuator (for example, the illustrated actuator 90 ) to be used in conjunction with the balance of the valve 10 .
- a single actuator bracket may be used as a universal mount structure to operatively couple a selected one of a variety of differently configured actuators to a given rotary valve 10 .
- a rotational output portion 90 a of the actuator 90 extends downwardly through the central upper end plate opening 152 and is drivingly coupled to the upper end of the shaft 38 .
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Abstract
Description
- This application claims the filing benefit of copending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/113,086 filed on Dec. 21, 1998 and entitled “ROTARY VALVE ASSEMBLY”, such provisional application being hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
- The present invention generally relates to valves and methods for fabricating them and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates to rotary valves, such as “butterfly” valves, and associated valve fabrication methods.
- Rotary valves, also commonly referred to as “butterfly” valves, are typically provided with a shut-off disc which is rotationally drivable between open and closed positions about an axis diametrically extending across the interior of a generally annular valve body. In its open position the disc permits fluid flow through the valve body, and when the disc is rotated to its closed position its periphery is brought into operative engagement with an annular seal member, which is part of an annular seal cartridge structure supported by the valve body, to shut off further fluid flow through the valve and piping sections that are suitably secured to opposite sides of its body portion.
- Although rotary valves of this general type have been utilized for many years in both fluid throttling and shut-off applications, and have been refined in a variety of manners over this time span, they are still subject to several well-known problems, limitations and disadvantages. For example, rotary valve discs are customarily formed as a segment of a sphere and thus have a rounded peripheral seating surface. Because of this conventional disc configuration it is often difficult to reliably and accurately conform the valve seal to the peripheral disc seating surface without undesirably stretching the seal element to a substantial degree. Due to this geometric seal/seat interface problem the integrity of the seal is often compromised and it is difficult to completely stop the flow of fluid through the valve.
- Because the periphery of the disc is used as the seal contact surface for the valve, it is critical to proper seal performance that the disc be precisely centered within the valve body. To this end, various structures have been incorporated into conventional rotary valve assemblies to permit the installed disc to be adjusted within the valve body in a manner effecting this necessary disc centering. This centering adjustment, of course, must be carefully and accurately performed to achieve the desired sealing effectiveness. Adjustment error, on the other hand, can seriously reduce the valve's sealing efficiency.
- Another limitation present in rotary valves of conventional construction is related to the manner in which an actuator, a motorized device used to forcibly rotate the closure disc between its open and closed positions, is operatively mounted on the valve. In rotary valves of conventional construction an actuator base structure is formed integrally with the valve body (or permanently secured to as by welding) and projects radially outwardly from the valve body. In order to mount an actuator on the valve, an adapter structure is interposed between the actuator and the outwardly projecting base structure and secured to the actuator and base structure. This overall adapter mounting structure undesirably adds to the construction cost of the overall valve assembly and makes the fabrication of the assembly more complex and time-consuming.
- As can readily be seen from the foregoing, a need exists for an improved rotary valve assembly, and associated fabrication methods therefor, which eliminate or at least substantially reduce the above-mentioned problems, limitations and disadvantages typically associated with rotary valves of conventional construction as generally described above. It is to this need that the present invention is directed.
- In carrying out principles of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a specially designed rotary valve is provided which includes a valve body and a seal structure, carried by the valve body, for forming an elliptical seating surface. A disc is rotatably carried by the valve body and has an elliptical periphery rotatable into and out of sealing engagement with the seating surface. The elliptical disc periphery has a conical shape which creates an entrance angle on the disc seating surface that provides a variety of operational benefits including a reduction in the torque required to seat and unseat the valve disc from the associated seal structure, and a reduction in the wear on both the disc periphery and the seal seating surface. Due to the reduced operational torque requirements, the parts carrying the actuation load may be smaller, and a smaller valve actuator may be used to seat and unseat the valve disc against the associated seal seating surface. Further, broader manufacturing tolerances may be utilized in conjunction with the disc and seal structures due to a wedging effect provided by the elliptical seal and disc design.
- In a preferred embodiment of the rotary valve, the seal structure includes facing annular seal cartridge members, and a resilient annular seal member, representatively a Teflon seal, which is sandwiched between the facing seal cartridge members. An elliptical cavity is formed between the cartridge members and receives a portion of the seal member in a manner deforming it to and holding it in an elliptical configuration, with a radially inner annular portion of the seal member protruding from the seal cartridge members into the valve body interior for operative sealing engagement by the disc periphery. In an alternate embodiment of the rotary valve, the seal member received in the elliptical seal cavity between the seal cartridge members is of a metal material.
- According to another feature of the invention, the elliptical seal cavity is formed in at least one of the facing annular seal cartridge members by resiliently deforming the originally circular cartridge member to an elliptical shape and holding the deformed cartridge member in such elliptical shape while at least a portion of the seal cavity is formed on a side of the cartridge member in a circular pattern circumscribing its central axis. The elliptically deformed cartridge member is then released, to thereby permit it to return to its original circular shape. This, in turn, deforms the originally circular seal cavity portion to an elliptical shape conforming to the elliptical shape of the disc periphery.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the disc is precisely centered within the valve body, and with respect to the seal structure, in automatic response to installation of the disc within the valve body using two guide members which are inserted inwardly through suitable openings in diametrically opposite flat portions on the outer periphery of the valve body which representatively has an annular configuration.
- Portions of the inserted guide members have abutment portions which are brought into contact with corresponding abutment portions on the disc to automatically center it within the valve body. The positions of the abutment portions on the inserted parts of the guide members are precisely controlled by external flange portions on the guide members which abut the diametrically opposite flat portions on the exterior periphery of the valve body. Illustratively, an inner end of one of the guide members is rotatably received in a mounting structure carried on the disc, and a longitudinal portion of a disc-rotating shaft is rotatably extended through the other guide member and is rotationally locked to the mounting portion of the disc.
- According to yet another feature of the present invention, a specially designed actuator support structure is secured to the valve body and substantially simplifies and reduces the cost of operatively coupling a motor-driven actuator to the outwardly projecting portion of the disc-rotating shaft. Illustratively, the actuator support structure is of a one-piece construction, is removably secured to the valve body, and is directly connectable to a selected actuator without the conventional necessity of an intermediate adapter structure interconnected between the actuator support structure and the actuator.
- Representatively, the annular valve body has a circumferentially spaced pair of flat areas formed on the external periphery of the valve body on opposite sides of the longitudinal drive shaft portion projecting radially outwardly from the valve body periphery. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the one-piece actuator support structure has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with a spaced pair of leg portions with free end portions removably secured to these flat area of the valve body, and a closed outer end portion to which a valve actuator may be directly secured.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a specially designed rotary valve assembly embodying principles of the present invention and illustrated in a closed position;
- FIG. 2 is a somewhat reduced scale perspective view of the rotary valve assembly in an open position and additionally illustrating a conventional actuator mechanism mounted atop a specially designed one-piece actuator support structure portion of the valve assembly;
- FIG. 3 is a reduced scale exploded perspective view of the rotary valve assembly;
- FIG. 4 is a reduced scale, partially elevational cross-sectional view through the rotary valve assembly taken along line4-4 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a reduced scale, partially elevational cross-sectional view through the rotary valve assembly taken along line5-5 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional view of the circled area “6” in FIG. 5 and illustrates the construction of a specially designed seal cartridge portion of the rotary valve assembly;
- FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view similar to that in FIG. 6 but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the seal cartridge portion;
- FIG. 7 is a side edge view of a valve disc portion of the rotary valve assembly schematically illustrating the manner in which the disc is machined to an elliptical peripheral configuration;
- FIG. 8 is a side edge view of the completed valve disc;
- FIG. 8A is an enlarged scale detail view of the circled area “8A” in FIG. 8; and
- FIG. 8B is an enlarged scale detail view of the circled area “8B” in FIG. 8.
- Referring initially to FIGS.1-3, the present invention provides a specially designed rotary valve 10 (also commonly referred to as a “butterfly” valve) that incorporates therein various advantages over conventionally constructed valves of this general type. Valve 10 includes an annular
metal body portion 12, ametal closure disc 14 rotatable between closed and open positions (respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) about anaxis 16 extending diametrically through thebody 12, and an annularseal cartridge structure 18. With thedisc 14 in its FIG. 1 closed position it cooperates with theseal cartridge structure 18 to prevent fluid flow through the interior of thebody 12 and piping sections (not shown) operatively connected to its opposite sides. Alternatively, with thedisc 14 in its FIG. 2 open position, fluid flow through the interior of thevalve body 12, and piping operatively coupled to thevalve body 12, is permitted. - Referring now additionally to FIGS.7-8B, the
disc 14 has a body portion with a front orouter side 20, a rear orinner side 22, and a peripheralsealing edge portion 24. A diametrically spaced pair ofattachment bosses 26 extend outwardly from therear side 22 and have aligned, circularlycross-sectioned bores 28 extending through oppositely facingouter side surfaces 26 a of thebosses 26. For purposes later described herein, theouter side surfaces 26 a are equidistant from the centerline of the body portion of thedisc 14. - The body of the
disc 14, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7 has acenterline 30, and is formed (by appropriately machining its outer edge) as a segment of acone 32 having anaxis 34 tilted at a relatively small angle A relative to thedisc body centerline 30. Representatively, the angle of thecone 32 is approximately 34°, and the machining tilt angle A is approximately 8°. This machining of the body of thedisc 14 as a segment of thecone 32 gives the peripheralsealing edge portion 24 of the disc an elliptical shape in which the major rear side diameter D of the disc body, which extends transversely to the discrotational axis 16, is greater than the minor rear side diameter of thedisc 14 which extends parallel to the discrotational axis 16. - The machining of the body of the
disc 14 as a segment of thecone 32 also gives portions of thedisc periphery 24 adjacent opposite ends of the major diameter D different slope angles from therear side 22 of the disc body to thefront side 20 of the disc body. Representatively, an upper portion of the disc periphery 24 (as viewed in FIG. 7) slopes outwardly and radially inwardly at an angle B of approximately 15°, and a lower portion of the disc periphery 24 (as viewed in FIG. 7) slopes outwardly and radially inwardly at an angle C of approximately 31°. In a conventional manner, thebore centerlines 36 of theattachment bosses 26 are offset a small distance E from therotational axis 16 of theclosure disc 14 to effect a desirable “camming” action of the disc as it lifts off of a seal structure later described herein. - With reference now to FIGS.1-5, the
disc 14 is rotatably mounted within theannular valve body 12, in a unique automatic centering manner which will now be described, using acylindrical shaft 38 havingflats cylindrical guide members upper guide member 44 is of a hollow tubular configuration and has anupper body portion 48, a reduced diameterlower body portion 50 having alower end 52, and an elongatedtransverse mounting flange 54 disposed at the junction of thebody portions lower guide member 46 has a cylindricalupper body portion 56 with anupper end 58, an enlarged diameter cylindricallower body portion 60, and an elongatedtransverse mounting flange 62 at its bottom end. An upwardly facingannular shoulder 64 is defined at the juncture of the upper andlower body portions - As best illustrated in FIGS.3-5, the annular
valve body portion 12 has diametrically opposite upper and lowerflat portions disc rotation axis 16. The parallel planes of these upper and lowerflat portions valve body 12 in a manner such they are equal radial distances away from the centerline of thebody 12. - The
closure disc 14 is installed within the interior of thevalve body 12 by placing thedisc bosses 26 within the interior of thebody 12, inserting the tubularlower end portion 50 of theupper guide member 44 downwardly through anannular gasket 72, the upper circular bore 70 and into the interior of thevalve body 12. As theupper guide member 44 is being moved downwardly in this manner, the upper end portions of a pair of threadedstuds 74 pass upwardly through mounting holes in the opposite ends of theflange 54. When theflange 54 bottoms out on the upperflat area 66,nuts 76 are threaded onto thestuds 74 to hold theflange 66 against the upper valve bodyflat area 66. A lower end portion of theshaft 38 is passed downwardly through the installedupper guide member 44 and into thebore 28 of theupper disc boss 28, and is secured in place within theupper boss 28 by aset screw 77 threaded into a corresponding opening in theupper disc boss 28 and forced against the lower shaftflat area 42. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, thelower end 52 of thelower body portion 50 of theupper guide member 44 abuts the upper s side surface 26 a of theupper disc boss 26. - The
upper end portion 56 of thelower guide member 46 is passed upwardly through anannular gasket 78, the lower valve body circular bore 70 and into the circular bore 28 in thelower disc boss 26 until the lowerguide member flange 62 comes into abutment with the lowerflat area 68 on theannular valve body 12. Theflange 62 is held against theflat area 68 by a pair ofbolts 80 extended upwardly through corresponding holes in theflange 62 and threaded into aligned holes in thevalve body 12. The mounting of the upper andlower guide members disc 14 within thevalve body 12 for rotation relative thereto about therotational axis 16. - Such mounting of the upper and
lower guide members disc 14 within thevalve body 12, and relative to the later described annularseal cartridge structure 18, without any necessity of subsequently adjusting the installeddisc 14 relative to thevalve body 12 orseal cartridge structure 18. This automatic disc centering is achieved by axially configuring the upper and lowercylindrical guide members valve body 12 as described above the distance between thelower end 52 of theupper guide member 44 and theannular flange portion 64 of thelower guide member 46 is precisely identical to the distance between the oppositely facingouter sides 26 a of the disc bosses 26 (which, as previously mentioned, are representatively equidistant from the centerline of the disc body). in this manner, because the distances between the valve body upper and lowerflat areas disc 14 is automatically centered within thevalve body 12 by theabutments guide members disc bosses 26, when theguide member flanges flat areas - The
shaft 38 extends upwardly through an annular packing structure 82 (see FIG. 3) received within theupper body portion 48 of theupper guide member 44.Shaft 38 also passes through and upwardly beyond a tubularpacking retainer member 84 telescoped within theupper body portion 48 and having atransverse flange portion 86 on its upper end. As illustrated, thestuds 74 pass upwardly through corresponding holes in the outer ends of theflange 86, with the packingretainer member 84 being held in place withnuts 88 threaded onto the upper ends of thestuds 74. An upper end portion of theshaft 38 is operatively connected to a conventionalmotorized actuator 90 which, as later described herein, is operatively associated with thevalve body 12 in a unique manner. Theactuator 90 may be selectively utilized to forcibly rotate theshaft 38 about thedisc rotation axis 16 to thereby forcibly rotate thedisc 14 between its FIG. 1 closed position and its FIG. 2 open position. - With reference now to FIGS.1-6A, the annular
seal cartridge structure 18 is complementarily and removably received within an annular recess 92 (see FIG. 3) formed in theside 12 a of thevalve body 12 and is captively retained within therecess 92 by means of a snap ring 94 (see FIG. 5) removably received in an annular groove 96 (see FIG. 3) in thevalve body recess 92. Theseal cartridge structure 18 includes a flat annular metalseal support member 98, a flat annular metalseal retaining member 100, and anannular seal member 102 sandwiched between themembers - Representatively, the
annular seal member 102 is substantially identical to theseal member 24 illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,848 to Eggleston and comprises an annular Teflon body having (as best illustrated in FIG. 6) an annular, radiallyinner sealing portion 104; an annular, radially outerperipheral portion 106; an annular, axially inwardly projectingflexible web portion 108; and an annular, axially outwardly projectinglip portion 110. An annular resilientgarter spring member 112 outwardly circumscribes theannular sealing portion 104 and exerts thereon a radially inwardly directed resilient biasing force. - According to a feature of the present invention, the
seal member 102 is held by the balance of theseal cartridge structure 18 in a manner causing the sealingportion 104 of theseal member 102 to assume an elliptical shape precisely corresponding to the elliptical configuration of theperipheral edge 24 of thedisc 14 to provide substantially improved valve sealing performance as later described herein. - In order to hold the originally round
annular seal member 102 in this elliptical configuration the seal support andretainer members seal support member 98 is subjected to diametrically opposite, radially inwardly directed clamping forces 114 (see FIG. 3) that resiliently deform opposite edge portions of theseal support member 98 radially inwardly, while at the same time correspondingly and resiliently deforming themember 98 radially outwardly indirections 116 transverse to the clampingforces 114, thereby giving theseal support member 98 an elliptical configuration. - While the
seal support member 98 is being held in this resiliently deformed elliptical configuration, a circular seal receiving depression 118 (see FIG. 3) is suitably machined on one side of the deformedseal support member 98. The temporarily clampedseal support member 98 is then released to permit it to return to original circular configuration, thereby causing thecircular depression 118 to assume an elliptical configuration in the finished inner seal support member 98 (see FIG. 6). - In a similar manner, the
seal retainer member 100 is placed in the clamping structure and subjected to diametrically opposite, radially inwardly directed clamping forces 120 (see FIG. 3) that resiliently deform opposite edge portions of theseal retaining member 100 radially inwardly, while at the same time correspondingly and resiliently deforming themember 100 radially outwardly indirections 122 transverse to the clampingforces 120, thereby giving theseal retaining member 100 an elliptical configuration. While theseal retaining member 100 is held in this elliptical configuration, a circular depression 124 (see FIG. 6) is formed in the side of theseal retaining member 100 which will face theseal support member 98. The temporarily clampedseal retainer member 100 is then released to permit it to return to original circular configuration, thereby causing thecircular depression 124 to assume an elliptical configuration in the finished innerseal support member 98. - Suitable marks (not shown) are placed on each of the completed seal support and
retainer members seal member 102 is operatively sandwiched therebetween, theelliptical depressions seal member 102 is operatively sandwiched between the seal support andretainer members seal portion 108 is received in theelliptical depression 118, theseal portion 110 is received in thedepression 124, and theseal portion 106 is clamped between facing portions of the seal support andretainer members member sealing portion 104 projecting radially inwardly beyond the inner peripheries of the seal support andretainer members annular seal member 102 in theelliptical depressions elliptical periphery 24 of thedisc 14. Accordingly, in the assembledseal cartridge structure 18 the inwardly projecting periphery of the sealmember sealing portion 104 is uniquely held in this elliptical configuration. - With the seal support and
retainer members seal cartridge structure 18 is installed in the valve body side recess 92 (see FIGS. 1-3) in a manner such that alignedholes 126,128 in the seal support andretainer members underlying hole 130 in the axially inner surface of the valve bodyseal cartridge recess 92 to thereby align the major axis of the nowelliptical seal portion 104 with the major axis of theelliptical disc periphery 24 when the disc is rotationally driven to its FIG. 1 closed orientation. To retain the installedseal cartridge structure 18 in this operative orientation, a retainingpin 132 is operatively positioned in the alignedholes - When the
disc 14 is rotationally driven between its open and closed positions, as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 8, theelliptical disc periphery 24 is driven through therotational arc 134 shown in FIGS. 8-8B to cause the indicatedportions disc periphery 24 to be selectively wedged into sealing engagement with the radially inner periphery of the resilient seal portion 104 (see FIG. 6) and then be disengaged therefrom. - Due to the unique mating of elliptical disc and seal surfaces in the
valve 10, a variety of advantages are achieved. For example, the torque required to seat and unseat thevalve disc 14 from the associated seal element is substantially less than in the conventional case of a round disc seating against a round seal element. Additionally, there is less wear on the disc and seal element. Further, due to the reduced operational torque requirements, the parts carrying the actuation load may be smaller, and a smaller actuator may be used to seat and unseat the valve disc against the seal. Also, broader manufacturing tolerances may be utilized in conjunction with the disc and seal due to the wedging effect provided by the elliptical seal and disc design. - An alternate embodiment18 a of the previously described
seal cartridge structure 18 is cross-sectionally illustrated in FIG. 6A and operatively supports a deformable annularmetal seal element 136 having a generally U-shaped cross-section around its periphery. Theseal element 136 is sandwiched between modified flat annular seal support andretainer members body side recess 92, with a rounded, radially innerannular portion 136 a of themetal seal member 136 projecting inwardly from the seal support andretainer members disc periphery 24. - In constructing the modified seal cartridge structure18 a, the
seal support member 98 a is left in its original flat annular configuration, and theseal retainer member 100 a is resiliently deformed to an elliptical shape, by clamping it at diametrically opposite portions as previously described for theseal retainer member 100, while acircular depression 138 is machined into the inner side surface of theseal retainer member 100 a on a radially inner peripheral area thereof. When the resiliently deformedseal retainer member 100 a is unclamped, it springs back from an elliptical configuration to its original circular configuration to thereby reconfigure thecircular depression 138 in a manner such that its outerperipheral surface 138 a has an elliptical shape. With theannular metal seal 136 captively retained in thedepression 138 in the assembled seal cartridge structure 18 a, forcible engagement of theseal portion 136 a by thedisc periphery 24 deforms theseal 136 toward the elliptical shape bounded by theelliptical recess surface 138 a, thereby providing thevalve 10 with elliptical-to-elliptical sealing configuration advantages similar to those discussed above in conjunction with the flexibleTeflon seal structure 102 shown in FIG. 6. - Returning now to FIGS.1-4, in addition to the unique self-centering disc support and elliptical-to-elliptical seal interface features of the present invention, the invention also substantially simplifies and reduces the cost of the rotational driving interconnection between the motor-driven actuator 90 (see FIG. 2) and the
shaft 38 and thus theclosure disc 14. These advantages are achieved by the use of a one-pieceactuator support bracket 140 which is removably securable to thevalve body 12 and may be easily customized to operatively mount motor-driven actuators of a variety of types and configurations and permit them to be drivingly coupled to theshaft 38. -
Actuator bracket 140 has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with a top endsupport plate portion 142, and a pair of depending parallelleg plate portions 144 having outwardlyangled foot portions 146 that may be removably secured toflat portions 148 on thevalve body 12, on opposite sides of the topflat portion 66, with suitable fasteners such asbolts 150. Alternatively, theactuator bracket 140 may be welded to thevalve body 12, or otherwise suitably anchored thereto. - The
top plate 142 is suitably drilled, as atopenings valve 10. Accordingly, a single actuator bracket may be used as a universal mount structure to operatively couple a selected one of a variety of differently configured actuators to a givenrotary valve 10. With theactuator 90 operatively mounted atop the top end plate 142 (see FIG. 4) arotational output portion 90 a of theactuator 90 extends downwardly through the central upper end plate opening 152 and is drivingly coupled to the upper end of theshaft 38. - Using this unique universal actuator support structure feature of the present invention it is no longer necessary, as is required in rotary valves of conventional construction, to supply and utilize additional intermediate bracket structures between a base support structure, formed integrally with the
valve body 12, and the selected actuator. In turn, this desirably simplifies the design of thevalve body 12, and allows thevalve body 12 to be produced from various materials, depending on the valve flow media, without changing the bracket material. - The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
Claims (32)
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/772,782 US6332600B2 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 2001-01-30 | Rotary valve apparatus |
US10/005,534 US7243901B2 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 2001-11-08 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
US10/230,656 US7080820B2 (en) | 1999-11-16 | 2002-08-29 | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve |
US11/421,428 US7296585B2 (en) | 1999-11-16 | 2006-05-31 | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11308698P | 1998-12-21 | 1998-12-21 | |
US09/441,394 US6213141B1 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-11-16 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
US09/772,782 US6332600B2 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 2001-01-30 | Rotary valve apparatus |
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US09/441,394 Division US6213141B1 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-11-16 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
US67558400A Continuation-In-Part | 1999-11-16 | 2000-09-29 |
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US10/005,534 Division US7243901B2 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 2001-11-08 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
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US20010005007A1 true US20010005007A1 (en) | 2001-06-28 |
US6332600B2 US6332600B2 (en) | 2001-12-25 |
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US09/441,394 Expired - Lifetime US6213141B1 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-11-16 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
US09/772,782 Expired - Lifetime US6332600B2 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 2001-01-30 | Rotary valve apparatus |
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US09/441,394 Expired - Lifetime US6213141B1 (en) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-11-16 | Rotary valve apparatus and associated methods |
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US (2) | US6213141B1 (en) |
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US7080820B2 (en) | 1999-11-16 | 2006-07-25 | Fisher Controls International Llc. | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve |
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JP2005537449A (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2005-12-08 | フィッシャー コントロールズ インターナショナル リミテッド ライアビリティー カンパニー | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valves |
WO2004020881A1 (en) | 2002-08-29 | 2004-03-11 | Fisher Controls International Llc | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve |
CN100590332C (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2010-02-17 | 费希尔控制国际公司 | Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve |
US20060124087A1 (en) * | 2004-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Valve |
US7213547B2 (en) | 2004-12-14 | 2007-05-08 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Valve |
DE202016101720U1 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2017-07-03 | Jasta-Armaturen Gmbh & Co. Kg | butterfly valve |
WO2017176507A1 (en) * | 2016-04-06 | 2017-10-12 | Pentair Flow Control Ag | Gasket seal seat ring |
US10228063B2 (en) | 2016-04-06 | 2019-03-12 | Emerson Vulcan Holding Llc | In situ gasket assembly |
CN109477582A (en) * | 2016-04-06 | 2019-03-15 | 爱默生伏尔甘控股有限责任公司 | Washer sealing seat ring |
US10323753B2 (en) | 2016-04-06 | 2019-06-18 | Emerson Vulcan Holding Llc | Gasket seal seat ring |
CN110869654A (en) * | 2017-06-20 | 2020-03-06 | Ksb有限公司 | Central butterfly valve |
CN111609152A (en) * | 2020-04-23 | 2020-09-01 | 佛山市顺德区佰旺金属制品有限公司 | Intelligent adjusting radiator return valve |
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US6213141B1 (en) | 2001-04-10 |
US6332600B2 (en) | 2001-12-25 |
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