Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Patent
1995-05-08
1998-09-01
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
251127, F16K 4702
Patent
active
057996954
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow control valve comprising a body connected to an inlet pipe and to an outlet pipe aligned with an axis called the valve axis, this body being provided with a recess in which is housed a ball or plug which rotates around an axis situated in a plane perpendicular to the valve's axis, the ball or plug comprising at least one shut-off area of said valve extending over part of its circumference and defining a closed position when the shut-off area is opposite the inlet pipe, and a control area for the fluid circulating in the valve extending over the rest of its circumference and defining a control position when part of the shut-off area and part of the control area are opposite the inlet pipe, the ball furthermore defining an open position when the control area is opposite the inlet pipe.
2. Discussion of Background
Well-known flow control valves are generally made up of a body provided with an orifice and a plug arranged to more or less shut off this orifice. The orifice is generally circular shaped and the plug cone shaped. By inserting the cone shaped plug more or less in the circular orifice, the fluid flowing through the valve can controlled. This type of valve presents one major drawback, i.e. the control stroke is very short, which in some cases is insufficient to guarantee fine control.
Another drawback with this kind of valve stems from the fact that there is virtually no drop in pressure when the valve starts to open. Indeed, when the valve starts to open, the potential energy is suddenly converted into kinetic energy, thus resulting in high fluid velocity, which causes erosion and turbulence. This phenomenon also generates vibrations in the valve and increases the noise level and mechanical fatigue. As the erosion does not have the same effect on the shut-off plate and on the needle, the valve's tightness can no longer be guaranteed after a relatively short period of use.
Another well-known type of valve used for flow control purposes, comprises a body provided with a recess in which moves a piston. The valve's body is provided with a series of parallel disks which are spaced out and arranged in a plane perpendicular to the piston's axis of displacement. When the valve is closed, the piston seals this valve's orifice completely. When the valve starts to open, the piston first of all frees a space between two first parallel disks. When the piston is displaced further, a second space is freed between the next two disks, then a third space and so on and so forth. The control operation is therefore performed in stages, discontinuously, which in some applications is not satisfactory. Furthermore, as only slight drops in pressure are brought about when the valve starts to open, the above-mentioned problems, particularly those due to erosion, vibrations, mechanical fatigue and noise, are not resolved. Another well-known control valve comprises a ball provided with a spherical insert. This insert is made up of a spherical cap and a series of plane plates set out more or less parallel to each other and to the plane of the spherical cap. This spherical cap comprises a solid part sized so that when it is situated opposite the valve's inlet pipe, it seals it completely and thus prevents the fluid to flow through said valve. Furthermore, this spherical cap comprises peripheral openings designed to allow the fluid to flow through the valve when it starts to open. The solid plates comprise orifices arranged perpendicular to their surface and designed to allow the fluid to pass through the valve when it starts to open and they are separated by a space allowing the fluid to flow through at the end of the opening. The drop in pressure when the valve opens is considerable and the flow is controlled over a relatively long travel. However, the disadvantage of this type of valve is that its practical embodiment requires substantial machining and difficult fitting of the parts, which results in high manufacturing costs.
Another w
REFERENCES:
patent: 3677297 (1972-07-01), Walton
patent: 3908698 (1975-09-01), Baumann
patent: 4610273 (1986-09-01), Bey
patent: 4846213 (1989-07-01), Hutchens
patent: 4889163 (1989-12-01), Engelbertsson
patent: 5218984 (1993-06-01), Allen
Neles-Jamesbury, Inc.
Rivell John
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