Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Patent
1989-07-17
1991-08-20
Walton, George L.
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
60529, 137870, 257 11, 25712916, 2571292, 335274, 335276, F16K 1118, F16K 3102, F16K 3106
Patent
active
050405675
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a multi-way valve comprising two valve seats formed in the valve chamber whose seat surfaces are coplanar or parallel displaced with respect to each other, two closing bodies cooperating with each of the valve seats respectively, the closing bodies being movable in the same direction between closing position and opening position, an elongated actuating member whose ends the closing bodies are attached to, and a drive engaging the actuating member.
Such multi-way valves have been known in numerous designs. Generally, one tries to attain a compact design, low weight, low manufacturing costs as well as low drive power. However, these requirements contradict each other. For instance, if relatively high manufacturing tolerances are accepted in the interest of low production costs, a higher driving power is needed to take into account the increased stroke due to the tolerances or to match inexact guiding of the closing body with respect to its seat surface due to increased pressure forces. If a transmission element such as a rocker or a transmission lever is utilized in the transmission path between the drive and the actuating member, additional undefined friction occurs depending on dirt and the medium which has to be surmounted by the drive.
It is the underlying object of the invention to provide a multi-way valve of the kind specified above whose distinguishing features include a compact design, a minimum amount of components and easy producibility and low driving power requirement.
This object is met in accordance with the invention in the multi-way valve according to the preamble of claim 1 in that at least one elastic lamella is connected to the actuating member being movable freely and without direct guide, said lamella being firmly gripped at its end looking away from the actuating member and, in the region of its end adjoining the actuating member, forming a swivel mount for the actuating member with a swivel axis being translationally movable in space and around which the actuating member may swivel rocker-like between opening and closing position. This configuration of the multi-way valve according to the invention has made it possible to meet all the self-contradicting requirements with respect to the multi-way valve simultaneously. The valve seats formed at the valve chamber may be removed from the mould by means of a single mould core so that their position relative to each other is almost free from tolerances. The actuating member together with the associated elastic lamella only allows a rocker-like swivelling motion for alternately opening and closing the two valve seats. Motions transverse with regard to the swivelling plane and in the longitudinal direction of the actuating member are prevented both by the firm gripping of the elastic lamella at the valve chamber and the high dimensional rigidity of both the actuating member and the elastic lamella in the corresponding directions. Although there is not provided a direct guide of the actuating member and the closing bodies, it is always in the same relative position with respect to the valve seats that the latter attain parallel contact with the corresponding seat surface so that a minimum contact pressure between closing bodies and seat surfaces being substantially determined by the medium to be switched is sufficient. Transmission elements between the drive and the actuating member may be left out so that corresponding friction losses are avoided. The opening stroke of the closing bodies only shows low tolerances in mass production which need not be especially taken into account in dimensioning the drive. As the actuating member and the lamella may be manufactured in a single piece, the number of components needed is reduced to two elements only, apart from the drive, that is, the valve chamber with integrally formed valve seats and the single-piece actuating member having an elastic lamella as well as the closing bodies attached to the ends of the actuating member. Assembly is extremely easy as it is only the
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Nestler Volker
Tillman Peter
Burkert GmbH & Company Werk Ingelfingen
Walton George L.
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