Dual random access, three-way rotary valve apparatus

Details Dual random access, three-way rotary valve apparatus Dual random access, three-way rotary valve apparatus

2001-11-28

2004-01-06

Fox, John (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

Systems

Multi-way valve unit

C137S625110

Reexamination Certificate

active

06672336

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to multi-function rotary valves and, more particularly, relates to a random-access, dual, three-way, rotary switching valve for use with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), other analytical methods and the like.
BACKGROUND ART
A “three-way” switching valve provides a means for selectively routing a fluid input flow to the valve to one of two alternate output flows from the valve. A “rotary” valve is of the type wherein fluid flow is directed by rotating a valve rotor element to discrete angular positions relative to a stationary valve stator element. A “dual” rotary valve provides two valves in one valve body, both simultaneously operated by the positioning of the valve rotor. Rotary switching valves are commonly used, for example, in HPLC and other analytical methods to selectively direct a flow stream of one or more fluids along alternate paths to an analytical device or containment vessel.
One conventional type of dual, three-way, switching valve
220
, as shown in
FIG. 1
, includes a disc-shaped rotor with a set of rotor grooves in the front face of the rotor that contacts, in a fluid-tight manner, the face of a cylindrically shaped stator body at a rotor-stator interface. Inlet passages and outlet passages, longitudinally bored through the stator body to the rotor-stator interface, are selectively fluidly coupled through the rotor grooves corresponding to the rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. Pivoting of the rotor enables the rotor grooves to fluidly couple selected passages of the stator, depending on their placement on the rotor and the angular position of the valve rotor. Model 7030 of Rheodyne, L. P. is an example of this type of switching valve.
In
FIG. 1
, valve
220
has a stator element
222
and a rotor
224
. The stator element
222
defines a stator face
226
that opposes and is in fluid-tight contact with a rotor face
228
defined by rotor
224
. The stator element
222
further defines a first inlet passage
230
that has one end
232
adapted to fluidly couple to a first fluid source (Not Shown) supplying a first fluid and has an opposite first inlet port
236
terminating at stator face
226
. Similarly, stator element
222
further defines a second inlet passage
238
that has one end
240
adapted to fluidly couple to a second fluid source (Not Shown) supplying a second fluid and has an opposite second inlet port
244
terminating at stator face
226
. The stator element
222
further defines a first outlet passage A, a second outlet passage B, a third outlet passage C, and a fourth outlet passage D, all in fluid communication with stator face
226
.
The rotor
224
, as shown, defines a first rotor groove
246
and a second rotor groove
248
, both formed in the rotor face and adapted to transfer fluid. At the perimeter of rotor grooves
246
and
248
, a fluid-tight seal is formed at the rotor-stator interface thus providing for the containment of any fluid within the rotor grooves and avoiding fluid leakage between the rotor and stator at the rotor-stator interface. Rotor
224
is rotatably movable about an axis of rotation
250
, normal to and at the center of stator face
226
, between two discrete angular positions with respect to stator element
222
(FIGS.
2
A and
2
B).
FIGS. 2A-2B
show schematic views of the rotor-stator interface of the prior art valve of
FIG. 1
in two discrete modes of operation, looking at the stator surface
226
, with the rotor
224
being transparent. The valve
220
provides two position fluid output switching of two separate input fluids. The two modes of operation depicted correspond to the positioning of controlling rotor
224
in one of its two discrete angular positions indicated by markings “1” and “2” on rotor face
228
. In the operation of the valve
220
, the first fluid and the second fluid from the first and second fluid source, respectively, are pressurized by a suitable means, such as a pump (Not Shown), to provide a motivating force for fluid flow.
In a typical configuration, inlet ports
236
and
244
and outlet passages A, B, C, and D as well as rotor grooves
246
and
248
are all contained on an imaginary circle
252
concentric with axis
250
at the rotor-stator interface. All inlet and outlet passages are circumferentially spaced apart at an arc angle of about 60° about imaginary circle
252
.
As shown in FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2A
, in the first discrete angular position “1” of the valve, the first rotor groove
246
fluidly couples the first inlet passage
230
to the first outlet passage A, and the second rotor groove
248
fluidly couples the second inlet passage
238
to the third outlet passage C. Accordingly, as the first fluid flows through the first inlet passage
230
in the direction of arrow
234
of
FIG. 1
, the first rotor groove
246
directs the flow out of the first outlet passage A in the direction of arrow
235
. Similarly, as the second fluid flows through the second inlet passage
238
in the direction of arrow
242
, the second rotor groove
248
directs the flow out of the second outlet passage C in the direction of arrow
243
.
In the second discrete angular position “2” of the valve, referring now to
FIG. 2B
, the rotor face is rotated 60° counterclockwise (Position “1” of rotor grooves
246
and
248
is shown in dashed line). The first rotor groove
246
, as shown, fluidly couples the first inlet passage
230
to the second outlet passage B, and similarly the second rotor groove
248
fluidly couples the second inlet passage
238
to the fourth outlet passage D.
Table 1 summarizes the operating modes of the prior art valve
220
when rotor face
228
is placed in each of its two discrete operating positions “1” and “2”.
TABLE 1
ROTOR
POSITION
FIRST FLUID
SECOND FLUID
1
FIRST INLET PASSAGE
SECOND INLET PASSAGE
230 TO
238 TO
OUTLET PASSAGE A
OUTLET PASSAGE C
2
FIRST INLET PASSAGE
SECOND INLET PASSAGE
230 TO
238 TO
OUTLET PASSAGE B
OUTLET PASSAGE D
Thus, it is possible with the prior art switching valve
220
to selectively direct the flow of the first fluid to the first outlet passage A while the flow of the second fluid is directed to the third outlet passage C (i.e., position “1”) or, alternatively, to direct the flow of the first fluid to second outlet passage B while the flow of the second fluid is directed to the fourth outlet passage D (i.e., position “2”). Simple reciprocation of rotor
224
between each of the two discrete operating positions “1” and “2” of valve
220
relocates the rotor grooves
246
and
248
to fluidly connect the two inlet passages
230
and
238
to different pairs of outlet passages A/C and B/D.
One problem associated with this arrangement, however, is that it lacks fluid flow routing versatility. For example, it is often desirable under certain circumstances relating to the operation of analytical devices and the like, to fluidly couple the first inlet passage
230
to the first outlet passage A while the second inlet passage
238
is fluidly coupled to the fourth outlet passage D. Similarly, it is often desirable to fluidly couple the first inlet passage
230
to the second outlet passage B while the second inlet passage
238
is fluidly coupled to the third outlet passage C.
In the current valve design, selective directing of the first and second fluids is accomplished in a “tandem” or “linked” operation. That is, in a mutually exclusive manner, the second fluid is directed to third outlet passage C only when the first fluid is directed to first outlet passage A when the rotor is placed in first discrete position “1”, and the second fluid is directed to fourth outlet passage D only when the first fluid is directed to second outlet passage B when the rotor
224
is placed in second discrete position “2”. It is not possible with prior art valve
220
for the first fluid to randomly access one of either the first outlet passage A or the second outlet passage B and, at the same time, for the second fluid to randomly access, independently, one of either the third outlet pass

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