Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-05-15
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
C137S625190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230744
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a valve arrangement for fluid media and to a valve provided for it.
The object of the present invention is to create a valve arrangement and a corresponding valve, in which an outflow can be made up in defined manner, from a plurality of feed flows, which outflow can be transferred to a common outlet zone.
The object is achieved by the invention reproduced in claim
1
.
With this valve arrangement, each valve can contribute at least two selectable components to the total outlet amount, so that the total outlet amount can be varied in precise manner.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a common valve housing is provided for several valves, particularly also for all the valves of the valve arrangement, in which the valve chambers and valve bodies are arranged (claim
2
). This results in a valve block, in which the common outlet zone can be formed.
In accordance with claim
3
, the valve arrangement can have a control mechanism assigned to it, by means of which all the valves can be activated separately.
Using the control mechanism, the composition of the total outlet amount can be influenced in accordance with a predetermined program, for example.
The total outlet amount can be handled in two different ways: It is possible that the components contributed by the individual valves to the total outlet amount are kept separate until they are used, or that they are mixed. The significance of this difference will become clear using the preferred exemplary embodiment of the handling of dye baths for patterning or dyeing textile goods. As will be described using the exemplary embodiment, in one exemplary embodiment the invention can include a bar-like common valve housing for all the valves, which are lined up in a row along the bar, and whose outlet channels open into a common outlet zone in the form of an outlet slit that extends along the bar. From the exit slit, the bath is immediately transferred to a textile web which is being guided past it, for example a carpet web. From the individual valve to the exit location of the exit slit, there is only a short distance to travel. The amounts of bath given off by the individual valves essentially remain in place crosswise relative to the web, i.e. they remain unmixed.
Another case of use of the invention is the preparation of dye baths. The valves are connected with the supply containers for the basic components, and the valves which correspond to the components required for the production of a specific dye bath are opened. In this case, of course, the individual components are specifically not supposed to remain unmixed, but rather are mixed together to produce the final dye bath. In this connection, the “outlet zone” is therefore a common line, for example, into which the outlet channels of all the valves empty.
The present invention also covers a valve that is particularly suitable for use in the valve arrangement according to the invention, and is described in claim
4
.
Here, the outlet channel is directed into the outlet zone, in the flow direction of the patterning agent, so that the individual amounts of patterning agent or patterning agents which pass through the plurality of valves enter into the outlet zone parallel to one another. This is particularly important for the slit-shaped outlet zone which was already discussed, from which a fluid medium formed as a patterning agent (dye bath) passes immediately to a web, because here the tendency toward mixing in the adjacent regions, as the medium flows through the outlet zone, is minimized.
It is practical if the valve body is arranged in a cylindrical valve chamber of the application bar, coaxial to the axis of rotation (claim
5
), where in accordance with claim
6
, each valve has at least two feed channels assigned to it, which open from two opposite sides into the valve chamber, in the same axial position of the chamber, and which can be optionally brought into connection with the inlet which allows liquid to pass through, by rotating the valve body.
The outlet channel and thereby the section of the outlet zone assigned to it can therefore be optionally supplied with the one or the other patterning liquid, by switching the valve.
According to claim
7
, the valve has at least three activation positions, in which the inlet is connected with the one or the other feed channel, or is closed.
In an advantageous construction according to claim
8
, the valve has a spherical center part, in which the inlet is formed.
If there is a spherical center part, the design can be such as in claim
9
, in particular, thereby creating the possibility of supplying the inlet from one feed channel, while the other feed channel or the other feed channels are connected with the return, in each instance. The pumps assigned to the feed channels can therefore continue to run, without any shut-off pressure changes, with the patterning agent in the feed line not connected with the inlet not reaching the web.
The valves can each be activated individually, with separate drives, which can be implemented in the manner reproduced in claim
10
.
In order to have the entry of patterning liquid into the outlet zone take place under defined geometric conditions, the design according to claim
11
is recommended.
To make the exit of agent more uniform, in accordance with claim
12
, there can be a perforated metal sheet, a slit metal sheet, a grid, or a similar covering provided with a plurality of exit openings located close to one another, which is arranged just ahead of the exit opening of the outlet zone. The structural design according to claim
13
facilitates access to the individual valves when maintenance or replacement is required.
Taking the aspect of accessibility of the outlet zone, i.e. replacement of the glide surface, into consideration, the outlet part can be covered by a removable shoe that forms the slide surface, on the exit side, according to claim
14
.
The width of the valves crosswise to the web, and therefore the width of the region of the outlet zone supplied by a valve, can be 20 to 60 mm (claim
15
). Possible divisions are, in particular, 25 and 50 mm. The precision of the division also determines the precision of the pattern on the web produced using the device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1854307 (1932-04-01), Hapgood
patent: 2558260 (1951-06-01), Maky
patent: 3773076 (1973-11-01), Smith
patent: 5445187 (1995-08-01), Farquhar
patent: 6158467 (2000-12-01), Loo
patent: 20 19 900 (1977-05-01), None
patent: 24 58 104 (1978-02-01), None
patent: 29 00 712 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 36 37 452 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 92 18 012 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 2 539 204 (1984-07-01), None
“Catalog of U.S. Valves” p. 148 (1984).
Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
Fox John
Kenyon & Kenyon
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