The present invention relates to fluid flow control valving, and more particularly to a multi-port valve system in which each port is individually adjustable via a single actuator.
Valves are used ubiquitously to control fluid flow of a fluidic flow system. For example, a motor vehicle coolant system utilizes a plurality of conduits connecting a plurality of components, including a radiator and a manifold, wherein the flow of the coolant is controlled by valving. Generally speaking, multi-port valves are well known, and each port thereof is independently adjusted by its own actuator.
By way of example,
In operation, an electronic controller 32 independently signals the first and second actuators 28, 30 to actuate in response to sensors 48 associated with a fluid flow system 54, as well as programming of the electronic controller. In this regard, the first actuator 28 rotates the first port body 20 independently of the second actuator 30 and the second port body 24; similarly, the second actuator 30 rotates the second port body 24 independently of the first actuator 28 and the first port body 20. The first actuator 28 rotates the first port body 20 so as to move the first port opening 22 in to and out of alignment with the first outlet 16, the first port body face 34 being sealed by seals 36. Similarly, the second actuator 30 rotates the second port body 24 so as to move the second port opening 26 in to and out of alignment with the second outlet 18, the second port body face 38 being sealed by seals 40. Port body O-ring seals 46, 46′ are also provided at each port body in relation to the respective valve bodies 12, 12′. Each of the first and second port bodies 20, 24 has a through port 42 which may be provided anywhere suitable, as for example at a port body side wall 44, as shown at
In order that the electronic controller knows the position of the first and second port openings with respect to the first and second outlets 16, 18, the first and second actuators 28, 30 may be stepper motors which provide rotational position feedback to the electronic controller, and/or valve port body position sensors 50, 52 may be provided for this purpose.
While known multi-port independently variable flow control valve systems work well, there is the deficiency that in order to independently control flow through each port opening, each port body must have its own separate actuator.
The present invention is a multi-port variable flow control valve actuated by a single actuator.
The single actuator multi-port flow control valve according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped port bodies rotatably mounted within a valve body, wherein each port body has an annular port body face and superior and inferior side walls on either side of the port body. The port body face has a port formed therein, wherein the port body face is sealingly interfaced in relation to a respective fluid flow opening in the valve body. The port bodies are serially driven by the single actuator via a drive link system composed of a drive pin on the inferior side wall of a serial superior port body selectively abutting, during rotation, a driven tab on the superior side wall of its serially inferior port body. The position of each port body is known to an electronic controller, for example via a respective position sensor, wherein the electronic controller actuates the actuator, which may be an electric motor, most preferably a stepper motor.
By way of example, a serially arranged set of port bodies is rotatably mounted within a valve body. The most superior port body, designated (for purposes of identification only) the first port body, is connected at its first port body superior side wall to the actuator, and has at its first port body inferior side wall a first port body drive pin. The serially next port body, designated the second port body, has at its second port body superior side wall a second port body driven tab which is selectively abuttable with the first port body drive pin during rotation of the first port body, and further has a second port body drive pin at its second port body inferior side wall. The serially next port body, designated the third port body, has at its third port body superior side wall a third port body driven tab which is selectively abuttable with the second port body drive pin during rotation of the second port body, and further has a third port body drive pin at its third port body inferior side wall. The serially last port body, designated the N port body, has at its N port body superior side wall an N port body driven tab which is selectively abuttable with an N−1 port body drive pin (the N−1 port body is the serially superior port body to the N port body, wherein the N−1 port body may or may not be the third port body in this example) during rotation of the N−1 port body, and does not have an N port body drive pin at its N port body inferior side wall (but may have, for example if for manufacturing purposes costs favor duplication of the port bodies). The number of port bodies, N, may be any number required for a particular fluid flow control application.
Operationally, the electronic controller receives sensory information of the fluidic system to which the single actuator multi-port variable flow control valve is interfaced and in response thereto and its programming, sets the flow position of each of the port bodies with respect to the valve body. Given there are N port bodies as described above, each port body is individually set to a fluid flow position with respect to the valve body by the single actuator, as for example by the following procedure.
The actuator rotates in a first direction N−1 complete rotations. This ensures that all port bodies are rotating in unison in the first direction, whereby each drive pin is in driving abutment with its respective driven tab. The actuator is then additionally rotated to set the requested angular position of the N port body. Next, the actuator is rotated in a second direction (necessarily being opposite to the first direction), N−2 complete rotations. This ensures that all port bodies except the N port body (which remains stationary) are rotating in unison in the second direction, whereby each drive pin is in abutment with its respective driven tab, excepting those of the N−1 port body interfaced with the N port body. The actuator is then additionally rotated to set the angular position of the N−1 port body to its requested angular position. This process is continued. When the angular position of the first port body is to be set, the first port body is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction that set the angular position of the second port body, whereby the first port body is rotated to the requested angular position (all other port bodies remaining stationary).
In accordance with the operational example above, N−1 turns of the most superior port body are needed to in order to cause turning of the most inferior port body. However, depending on the initial starting positions of the various port bodies, it is possible that less turning would be needed. For example, given the presence of a smart controller that knows the rotary position of each port body, then less rotation than N−1 turns of the most superior port body may be needed. Therefore, depending on the rotational position of the port bodies at an initial start, the rotation of the most superior port body is simply made sufficient to ensure rotation of all the port bodies occurs. Further, the rotation of the most superior port body may be less than N−1 turns because not all of the most inferior port bodies may require position adjustment.
It is preferred for the drive link system to provide a full 360 degrees of rotational freedom between serially adjacent port bodies; however the rotational freedom can be greater than or less than 360 degrees. In an application where the drive link system provides less than 360 degrees of rotational freedom, then the multi-port variable flow control valve system must have this rotational freedom constraint built into it.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-port variable flow control valve actuated by a single actuator, wherein the single actuator serially sets the angular position of each port body thereof, the most inferior being set first and the most superior being set last via a series of alternate rotations.
This and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following specification of a preferred embodiment.
Referring now to the Drawing,
General aspects of a preferred structure and the resulting functionality thereof is depicted at
Referring firstly to
The port bodies 102 are serially driven by a single actuator 104 connected by a shaft 104′ to the superior side wall 112 of the serially most superior port body, and then serially to each other port body via a drive link system 120 composed of a drive pin 122 located on the inferior side wall 114 of a serial superior port body selectively abutting, during rotation, a driven tab 124 on the superior side wall 112 of its serially inferior port body. The position of each port body is known to an electronic controller 126, for example via a respective position sensor 128 of each port body, wherein the electronic controller actuates the single actuator, which may be an electric motor, most preferably a stepper motor. One or more fluid system sensors 130 provides data of the status of the fluid system 132 to which the single valve multi-port variable flow valve 100 is connected, wherein the fluid system is composed of conduits 132′ and fluid 132″. The data from the one or more fluid system sensors 130 is delivered to the electronic controller 126. Each of the port bodies 102 has a through port 134 which may be provided anywhere suitable, as for example at a port body inferior or superior side wall, as for example shown at
By way of example in
The most superior port body, designated (for purposes of identification only) the first port body 1021, is connected at its first port body superior side wall 1121 to the actuator by the shaft 104′, and has at its first port body inferior side wall 1141 a first port body drive pin 1221. The serially next port body, designated the second port body 1022, has at its second port body superior side wall 1122 a second port body driven tab 1242 which is selectively abuttable with the first port body drive pin 1221 during rotation of the first port body 1021, and further has a second port body drive pin 1222 at its second port body inferior side wall 1142. The serially next port body, designated the third port body 1023, has at its third port body superior side wall 1123 a third port body driven tab 1243 which is selectively abuttable with the second port body drive pin 1222 during rotation of the second port body 1022.
In the example of
Referring now additionally to
Turning attention firstly to
Turning attention secondly to
An illustration of operation with respect to the three port bodies 1021, 1022 and 1023 will now be described with reference being additionally made to
As shown at
At
At
At
At
At
In accordance with the operational example above, N−1 turns of the most superior port body are needed to in order to cause turning of the most inferior port body. However, depending on the initial starting positions of the various port bodies, it is possible that less turning would be needed. For example, given the presence of a smart controller that knows the rotary position of each port body, then less rotation than N−1 turns of the most superior port body may be needed. Therefore, depending on the rotational position of the port bodies at an initial start, the rotation of the most superior port body is simply made sufficient to ensure rotation of all the port bodies occurs. Further, the rotation of the most superior port body may be less than N−1 turns because not all of the most inferior port bodies may require position adjustment.
From the foregoing, any artisan of ordinary skill can ascertain the rotational movements associated with setting any number of port bodies.
A first valve body 208 has disposed therein three port bodies 202, 204, 206, wherein the superior side wall of most superior port body 202 is connected to a single actuator 400, and the inferior side wall of the most inferior port body 206 has a shaft 402 connected thereto. A drive link system 120′ is disposed between the first and second port bodies 202, 204 and between the second and third port bodies 204, 206, operating as per the drive link system 120 described above.
A second valve body 308 has disposed therein three port bodies 302, 304, 306. A drive link system 120″ is disposed between the first and second port bodies 302, 304 and between the second and third port bodies 304, 306, operating as per the drive link system 120 described above.
The port bodies of the first valve body 208 are linked to the port bodies of the second valve body 308 via a drive link system 120″ disposed between the third port body 206 of the first valve body 208 and the first port body 302 of the second valve body 308, operating as per the drive link system 120 described above.
When the actuator 400, preferably a stepper motor, rotates to set the angular position of the port bodies, which position may be known by position sensors 404, in response to fluid systems sensors 406 and an electronic controller 408, the rotation of the actuator proceeds in sequence as described hereinabove.
It is preferred for the drive link system to provide a full 360 degrees of rotational freedom between serially adjacent port bodies; however the rotational freedom can be greater than or less than 360 degrees.
Referring now to
In an application where the drive link system provides less than 360 degrees of rotational freedom, as for example the application depicted at
To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above described preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change or modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1122848 | Bloom | Dec 1914 | A |
2051278 | Svenson | Aug 1936 | A |
5906297 | Cole | May 1999 | A |
20060137536 | De Jong | Jun 2006 | A1 |
Entry |
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Generic variable flow control valve, believed in use at least since 2010. |
Faucet Valve Insert having diagonally disposed O-ring and channel therefor of Moen Incorporated, North Olmstead, OH 44070. Believed on the market at least since 1990. |
Generic Prior Art O-Rings and Channels Therefor. Known since at least before 2010. |
U.S. Appl. No. 13/118,751, filed May 31, 2011; inventors: Brian K. Bartnick, Pablo Valencia, Jr., Corry W. Johnson, and Bill F. Tompkins. |
U.S. Appl. No. 13/413,079, filed Mar. 6, 2011; inventors: Pablo Valencia, Jr. and Brian K. Bartnick. |
U.S. Appl. No. 13/439,193, filed Apr. 4, 2012; inventors: Brian K. Bartnick and Jr., Corry W. Johnson. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130048084 A1 | Feb 2013 | US |