Valves and valve actuation – Valve – Bodies
Patent
1990-12-31
1992-09-29
Chambers, A. Michael
Valves and valve actuation
Valve
Bodies
251366, F16K 3100
Patent
active
051508834
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention is concerned with fluid mechanics devices such as fluid-flow control valves; piston and cylinder devices; fluid flow restrictors; fluid reservoirs and fluid-flow manifolds. More particularly, the invention relates to fluid mechanics devices made up of or largely comprising assemblies or stacks of wafer-like components, and the invention envisages the provision of either complete devices (such as valves or piston or cylinder devices) or of kits of components (especially the wafer components) which can be assembled into such devices.
It is to be understood that the term "fluid" is used throughout this specification to include both gas and liquid, so that both pneumatic and hydraulic assemblies are envisaged. However, some of the specific embodiments which are hereinafter described are intended to be primarily used as pneumatic devices.
In the specification of U.K. Patent No. 1 445 303, there is described a fluid control valve made from a series of transparent wafer components assembled into a stack and held together in the stack by bolts passing through all the components. The device is intended to be used for teaching purposes, which is why the components are transparent, but there is no provision for sealing between the wafer components themslves (static sealing) or between the components and the valve rod (dynamic sealing). Moreover, the components have little versatility and it is only envisaged that they will be formed into a valve.
Specification FR 2343946 discloses a valve comprising series of wafer components which can be assembled into a stack and wherein in one face of each wafer, there is an outer recess to receive a resilient ring seal for forming a static seal between that wafer component and the opposite face of a next adjacent wafer component, and an inner recess to receive a resilient ring seal for forming a static seal between that wafer component and a static valve sleeve. The wafer components also each have a mounting ring spaced from but connected to a flange in which the inner and outer recesses are formed, and the inner sealing ring of the first wafer component engages with an end face of the mounting ring of the next adjacent wafer component.
The present invention also employs wafer-like components, which can be assembled into a stack to produce a fluid mechanics device, but the components in accordance with the invention are formed so that they provide any static and/or dynamic seals which will enable the device to be used in commercial applications and at the same time, enable the components to be assembled in a variety of ways, hence giving versatility to the set of components. In particular the wafer components are not "handed" and this facilitates assembly of the components even by unskilled persons, which makes the invention particularly useful for educational purposes.
According to this invention a fluid mechanics device comprises a plurality of wafer components assembled into a block, in which at least a first one of the wafer components has an axial port extending through it from one face to the opposite face; a radial port communicating with the axial port and extending to one edge of the wafer, and at least one resilient ring seal forming a static seal between the first wafer component and a mating face of another of the wafer components in the block, and is characterised in that there are two concentric annular recesses in each face of the wafer, each inner recess being open on its inside into the axial port, the two outer annular recesses being of the same dimensions and providing alternative locations for the static ring seal, and the two inner annular recesses being of the same dimensions and providing alternative locations for a dynamic or static resilient ring seal operative between the wafer and a valve member or piston rod which is movable relatively to the axial port.
The first wafer component is common to all the devices which can be made by use of the invention, some of which will be hereinafter described. Essentially, it provides a communication bet
REFERENCES:
patent: 3384122 (1968-05-01), Harpmann
patent: 3989058 (1976-11-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 4401293 (1983-08-01), Rodewald et al.
Chambers A. Michael
Jenkins Richard E.
Unilab Holdings, Ltd.
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