Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-03-20
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
C251S368000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202696
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in systems of the general type described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,816; 5,746,831; 5,787,928; and 5,944,045. However, the invention is believed to be useful in other applications as well. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,816; 5,746,831; 5,787,928; and 5,944,045 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many voltage blocks are illustrated and described in the prior art. There are, for example, the voltage blocks illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,878,622; 4,982,903; 5,033,942; 5,154,357; and 5,193,750, and the references cited in those patents, particularly including U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,655,262; 2,547,440; 2,673,232; 3,098,890; 3,122,320; 3,291,889; 3,893,620; 3,933,285; 3,934,055; 4,017,029; 4,020,866; 4,085,892; 4,275,834; 4,313,475; 4,383,644; and, 4,413,788, and U.K. Patent Specifications 1,393,333 and 1,478,853. Also of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,814,551; 2,921,604; 3,419,827; 3,450,092; 3,838,946; 4,030,860; 4,232,055; 4,304,252; 4,381,180; 4,386,888; 4,515,516; 4,552,334; 4,741,673; 4,792,092; 4,879,137; 4,881,688; 4,884,745; 4,932,589; 4,962,724; 5,078,168; 5,094,389; 5,096,126; 5,102,045; 5,102,046; 5,105,851; 5,197,676; 5,244,012; 5,249,748; 5,255,856; 5,273,072; 5,288,029; 5,288,525; 5,326,031; 5,340,289; 5,341,990; and, 5,364,035. The disclosures of these references also are hereby incorporated herein by reference. No representation is intended by this listing that this is a complete listing of all pertinent prior art, or that a thorough search of all pertinent prior art has been conducted, or that no better prior art exists. Nor should any such representation be inferred.
It has been found from experience gained from use of voltage blocks constructed as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,816; 5,746,831; 5,787,928; and 5,944,045, that repeated arcing along the seats and ball surfaces of the four-way valves constructed as described in these patents can, in certain circumstances, result in erosion of the seat and ball surfaces. This erosion can lead to increased contamination of the solvent/voltage blocking medium with coating material. This, in turn, can lead to increased use not only of coating material but also of solvent/voltage blocking medium. Increased use of coating material equates with increased coating cost. Increased use of solvent/voltage blocking medium not only increases solvent/voltage blocking medium use and cost, but may also increase use of the molecular sieves used to extract the coating material vehicle from the solvent/voltage blocking medium, with its attendant cost. The impact of these increased usages also includes increased downtime to service systems of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,816; 5,746,831; 5,787,928; and 5,944,045, in order to replenish their solvent/voltage blocking medium supplies and molecular sieves.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a valve has a housing and a component movable within the housing. The housing has first, second and third ports formed in it. The movable component has a first passageway formed in it. Movement of the movable component within the housing selectively connects the first port through the first passageway to the second port. The movable component is selectively movable to disconnect the first port and second port and to connect the second port through the first passageway to the third port. At least one of the first and second ports includes a first member for contacting the movable valve component and a second member for retaining the first member. At least one of the first and second members is constructed at least in part from a semiconductive material. Each of the first and second members includes a passageway providing communication between the at least one of the first and second ports and the movable valve component.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each of the first and second ports includes a first member for contacting the movable valve component and a second member for retaining the first member. At least one of the first and second members associated with each of the first and second ports is constructed at least in part from a semiconductive material. Each of the first and second members includes a passageway providing communication between a respective one of the first and second ports and the movable valve component.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the housing includes a fourth port. The movable component further includes a second passageway. Movement of the movable component within the housing alternately connects the first port and the second port through the first passageway and the third port and the fourth port through the second passageway, and the first port and the fourth port through the second passageway and the second port and the third port through the first passageway. At least one of the third and fourth ports also includes a first member for contacting the movable valve component and a second member for retaining the first member. At least one of the first and second members associated with the at least one of the third and fourth ports is constructed at least in part from a semiconductive material. Each of the first and second members includes a passageway providing communication between the at least one of the third and fourth ports and the movable valve component.
Additionally illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each of the first, second, third and fourth ports includes a first member for contacting the movable valve component and a second member for retaining the first member. At least one of the first and second members associated with each of the first, second, third and fourth ports is constructed at least in part from a semiconductive material. Each of the first and second members includes a passageway providing communication between a respective one of the first, second, third and fourth ports and the movable valve component.
According to another aspect of the invention, a valve includes a housing and a component movable within the housing. The housing has first, second and third ports formed in it. The movable component has a first passageway formed in it. Movement of the movable component within the housing selectively connects the first port through the first passageway to the second port. At least a first region of the movable component surrounding at least a first end of the first passageway is constructed from semiconductive material. The movable component is selectively movable to disconnect the first port and second port and to connect the second port through the first passageway to the third port.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, a second region of the movable component surrounding a second end of the first passageway is constructed from semiconductive material.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the housing includes a fourth port and the movable component further includes a second passageway formed in it. Movement of the movable component within the housing selectively connects the first port through the first passageway to the second port and the third port through the second passageway to the fourth port, or the first port through the first passageway to the fourth port and the second port through the second passageway to the third port. At least a third region of the movable component surrounding at least a first end of the second passageway is also constructed from semiconductive material.
Additionally illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, at least a fourth region of the movable component surrounding a second end of the second passageway is also constructed from semiconductive material.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the movable component is constructed from semiconductive material.
Illustratively according to the invention, the movable component has a circular cross section and an axis o
Kazkaz Ghaffar
McPherson, Jr. Jerry L.
Sheridan Lee A.
Young, II Roy E.
Barnes & Thornburg
Fox John
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
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