During mixing operations and other related industrial operations, materials can accumulate in certain locations, particularly above a valve body. Additionally, valves which extend into a mixing vessel during mixing operations can damage mixing components by coming into contact with parts such as agitators.
It is an object of the invention to minimize a location for material to accumulate in a vessel, accordingly for the invention to form a zero pocket.
It is an object of the invention to provide a valve which open and closes without protruding inside a mixing vessel during mixing operations.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a valve which seals against solids, liquids and gases.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve which is easily disassembled for cleaning and sanitation.
A valve system having the ability to open and close without protruding inside a mixing vessel or other similar device. The valve known as a zero pocket valve is movable from a closed position to an open position and any position between the closed and opened positions. A telescoping drive shaft transmits torque to a valve. Generally speaking, the invention is meant to seal an opening in the vessel when in the closed position and create a passageway in the open position. The zero pocket valve seals against product inside a mixer creating no pocket of unmixed material common in current valves. The top of the valve has a shape that corresponds to the shape of an inner wall of the opening of the vessel. Accordingly, the top creates a continuous inner wall when the valve is in the closed position; and allows materials to flow to and from the vessel through the passageway when in the open position. Combination linear-rotary motion ensures no part of the valve enters the path of an agitator in the vessel, allowing the agitator to be in motion during discharge. The simple design allows the valve to be easily disassembled and cleaned for sanitary applications
In one embodiment, a cam groove and a cam can be utilized to achieve linear movement of the valve. As the valve rotates, it simultaneously retracts due to the action of the cam groove cam and cam assembly. The cam groove has a first end and a second end that correspond to the open position and the closed position respectively.
Now referring to the drawings,
The valve 22 has a top 37 that has a shape corresponding to an opening 51 in an inner wall 53 of a vessel 50. When the valve 22 is in an open position, the top 37 plugs the opening 51 of the vessel 50 such that it makes a continuous inner surface of the inner wall 53. When actuated to an open position, the valve 22 is rotated and moved linearly such that the top 37 does not plug the opening 51 in the vessel 50. Accordingly, material can move to and from the vessel 50 through the opening 51 in the vessel 50 and the opening 49 in the valve housing 25, as a passageway (demonstrated by arrows in
While the main aspect of the valve system 20 is to achieve the continuous inner surface of inner wall 53 of the vessel 50 while the valve 22 is in the closed position, and create the passageway while the valve 22 is in the open position; the following description adds additional, specific features that can be used to achieve those results.
Referring again to
The valve 22 is cylindrical corresponding to the shape of the valve housing 25. The valve 22 has a top 37 and a bottom 39. The top 37 comprises a contoured plug 41 that corresponds to the shape of the inner wall 53 of the vessel 50. Just below the plug 41, a seal groove 43 provides a profiled seal to block materials from slipping between the valve 22 and the valve housing 25. A cam groove 34 is below an outside surface 32 of the valve 22. The shape and pattern of the cam groove 34 is dependent on the desired motion and movement of the valve 22 and can be shaped and styled accordingly. In the preferred embodiment, the outside surface 32 has at least one cam groove 34 which has a defined path with a first end 36 and a second end 38. Additionally, the preferred embodiment has a valve with the first end 36 and the second end 38 corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the valve 22. At least one cam pin 40 is in a stationary position and holds a cam 47. At least a portion of one cam 47 is within the cam groove 34. The bottom 39 of the valve 22 comprises a wear strip 43 which allows for a smoother motion while the valve 22 is rotating.
A linkage 45 in the form of a spline nut connects the valve 22 to the shaft 27. Preferably the shaft 27 is a spline shaft. The shaft 27 enters an opening in the adapter plate 33 and then is connected to the rotary actuator 80.
As shown in
As shown in
Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is the intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.
The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 62/101,243 which was filed on Jan. 8, 2015, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62101243 | Jan 2015 | US |