Independent Actuation Patents (Class 251/161)
  • Patent number: 10151252
    Abstract: A control valve (10) for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, especially a motorbike, comprising a valve housing (11) in which a shut-off body (12) is movably arranged for changing the cross-section of a flow channel (21) of the exhaust system, wherein expansion play in the radial and axial direction is provided between the shut-off body (12) and the valve housing (11), which allows thermal expansion of the shut-off body (12) within the valve housing (11), wherein the shut-off body (12) comprises a perforated ball (12a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Klaus Penzkofer
  • Patent number: 9052019
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electric floating ball valve. The electric floating ball valve addresses the problems of the existing electric floating ball valve, such as poor reliability, high tendency to be damaged, poor control precision, high noises in operation as well as high costs for maintenance and replacement. The electric floating ball valve includes a valve body, a valve stem, a valve core and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is connected with the outer end of the valve stem and could drive the said valve stem to rotate. The external side of the valve stem is covered with a cylindrical heat sink made of metallic materials. Said heat sink is fixedly connected with said valve body. The heat sink of the electric floating valve could significantly improve the heat radiation capacity, which efficiently guarantees the stable and reliable operation of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Taizhou Guanghui Automatic Control Sci-Tec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaicong Ma
  • Patent number: 9004448
    Abstract: A valve and valve cartridge assembly can provide an opening and closing operation with a low torque. The valve and valve cartridge assembly can be switched between a first transmission relationship and a second transmission relationship, and the first and second transmission relationships are formed between the top of the valve cartridge and a transmission device. The first transmission relationship is established so that the valve cartridge is driven to rotate axially. The second transmission relationship is established so that the transmission member drives the valve cartridge to carry out a squeeze sealing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shanghai Hongyan Returnable Transit Packagings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zuocheng Qian, Fang Yuan, Martin Thornhill, Gino Lutzu
  • Patent number: 8911688
    Abstract: A microvalve for controlling fluid flows, and a sealing device for sealing cavities in a microfluidic system, particularly in a lab-on-a-chip system, and a method for the production thereof. A sealing surface of a valve body, or a sealing element, respectively, rests on a sealing surface of a substrate and is pressed against the sealing surface of the substrate in a fluid-tight manner by means of a clamping element. The clamping element and/or the valve body, or the sealing element, respectively, are at least partially elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Gransee, Eva Schaeffer, Klaus-Stefan Drese, Silvio Kraus, Tobias Baier, Felix Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8763985
    Abstract: To provide a mechanism in which a moving body can be stored in a housing. A gate valve has a slide plate and a moving mechanism for changing the positions in the radial and axial directions of the slide plate. A shaft is a rotating shaft the axial displacement of which is controlled by an axial driving mechanism and the angle of rotation of which is controlled by a radial driving mechanism, and is turnably supported in the housing by a shaft supporting spring consisting of a magnetic bearing and a conical coil spring. By controlling the attraction force of a balance weight in an electromagnet, the shaft can be moved in the radial direction. Also, by controlling the attraction force of an electromagnet target in the electromagnet, the shaft can be moved in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Masaharu Miki, Yoshihiro Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8695633
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of methods for operating rotary valves that reduce or minimize wear of the seal sheet, which is often the limiting factor in overall processing capability of the valve. The control of certain parameters associated with the rotary valve operation, and particularly the seating pressure of the seal sheet (e.g., the dome pressure), can extend the useful life of the seal sheet, thereby avoiding excessive maintenance and downtime costs. In preferred embodiments, control is on a real time basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Franz Marcus Nowak
  • Patent number: 8500089
    Abstract: A method of operating an on-off valve comprises closing one of two openings of a valve body with a seal member of a closure element within the valve body, the valve body being within an evacuation pipe connected between a process chamber and an evacuation apparatus; moving the closure element, using a linear driver, so that the seal member is moved away from the one of the two openings; and positioning the closure element into a retreat portion in an surface of the valve body, using the linear driver and a pivotal driver adapted to pivot the closure element between the one of the two openings and the retreat portion, so that the seal member is closed inside a protection seal member of the closure element to surround the seal member, thereby preventing the seal member from being directly exposed to the process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Toshihisa Nozawa
  • Patent number: 8123194
    Abstract: A disclosed on-off valve includes a valve body having two openings that may place a process chamber and an evacuation apparatus in pressure communication with each other; a closure element located inside the valve body and adapted to close one of the two openings; a seal member provided in the closure element and adapted to seal the one of the two openings when the closure element closes the one of the two openings; a linear motion driver that linearly moves the closure element; a retreat portion located away from the two openings; and a pivotal motion driver adapted to pivot the closure element between a first position corresponding to the one of the two openings and a second position corresponding to the retreat portion; wherein the closure element is moved to the retreat portion by the linear motion driver and the pivotal motion driver in order to stay at the retreat portion when the closure element is away from the one of the two openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Toshihisa Nozawa
  • Patent number: 8123195
    Abstract: A pressure control butterfly valve includes a valve disc rotatable in a vertical direction relative to a flow passage in a body, a seat ring reciprocating in a direction of the flow passage to allow a valve seat seal part to abut on and separate from the valve disc, and a valve opening/closing mechanism provided with an airflow path to which air is supplied in a direction of separating the seat ring from the valve disc and with a spring for biasing the seat ring toward the valve disc. The valve opening/closing mechanism is for nonslidably rotating the valve disc from which the seat ring has been separated by supply of air to the airflow path and for allowing the seat ring to abut on and separate from the valve disc by means of the supply of air to the airflow path and the biasing force of the spring when the valve disc has been rotated to a valve-closed state, thereby controlling pressure in the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kitz SCT Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 7481902
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing vessel provided with a stage holding thereon a substrate to be processed and evacuated at an evacuation port, and a source gas supplying system that supplies plural source gases to the processing vessel separately in the form of a laminar flow, wherein the evacuation port has a slit-form shape extending in a direction generally intersecting perpendicularly to a direction of the laminar flow, the evacuation port is engaged with a valve having a valve body formed with a slit-form opening corresponding to the slit-form shape of the evacuation port, the slit-form opening being provided so as to cause a displacement with respect to the evacuation port in a direction generally intersecting perpendicularly to an extending direction of the evacuation port, the valve changing a degree of valve opening thereof via displacement of said slit-form opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinriki, Junichi Arami
  • Patent number: 7347406
    Abstract: A shut-off valve disposed between openings formed to a vacuum chamber includes a casing, a valve body disposed inside the casing and having a shaft rotating around a central axis of the valve body, a drive unit for driving the valve body to rotate the shaft, and an open/close mechanism provided for the shaft for opening and closing each of the openings. The open/close mechanism includes a sheet member mounted to the shaft so as to protrude outward in a radial direction of the shaft to thereby close each of the openings, an urging member urging the sheet member inward or outward in the radial direction of the shaft, and a seal member connected to the sheet member so as to be associated therewith and forming a sealed space between the sheet member and the shaft, which is formed with an air passage communicating with the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Koichi ONODERA
    Inventor: Kenjiro Shigetaka
  • Patent number: 7004451
    Abstract: A ball cock has a housing that includes at least two housing parts. Each part has a flow-through channel as a flow-through path. The ball cock also includes a ball-shaped shut-off element having a passage bore as a flow path for optionally connecting the flow-through paths of the housing parts. This shut-off element is accommodated within the housing between ring-shaped seals, and can be switched by means of a switching shaft between an open position in which the flow path is released and a closed position that shuts off the flow path. At least one of the seals that accommodate the shut-off element between them is mounted in one of the housing parts, with limited axial mobility, and can be pressed against the shut-off element with a sealing surface by means of a device, whereby the seal can be switched between an axial contact pressure position and a stress-relief position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Flowserve Flow Control GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Malischewsky
  • Patent number: 6994100
    Abstract: A metering valve for metering dry powder material such as cement. The interior of the valve housing is expanded outward beginning at the sealing surface or lip located adjacent to the inlet opening, thereby forming an enlarged gap between the valve sleeve and housing to discourage powder accumulation in the gap and interference of large bulk particles and foreign materials with the sleeve and housing. An eccentric intermediate sleeve aligns the valve sleeve relative to the housing prior to rotation of the valve sleeve by either moving the valve sleeve away from or toward the valve inlet. The valve sleeve has a rubberized layer to seal with the housing's sealing surface or lip. A sleeve shield blocks entry of powder into the mouths of the vacuum breakers to prevent plugging of the vacuum breakers. Ball bearings are employed to suspend the valve sleeve within the housing, making the valve sleeve easier to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6983925
    Abstract: A rotary barrel gate valve includes a body and at least one passage through the body defining an inlet and an outlet. There is a first actuator for rotating the body, a second actuator for translating the body, and a sealing portion on the body which seals the body with respect to an opening into a chamber adjacent the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: D2 In-Line Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Donald G. Parent, Dean Plaisted, Michael Asbas
  • Patent number: 6983922
    Abstract: An electrically powered rotary solenoid drives a hydraulic pilot valve to actuate a hydraulic main valve. The pilot valve includes a seal carrier rotatable with respect to a seal plate. A carrier supply port and a plate supply port are centered about an axis of rotation to remain in fluid communication during rotation. A carrier function port and plate function port are spaced from the axis of rotation, such that they may be selectively placed in fluid communication to pass fluid to actuate the main valve. When actuated, the main valve passes fluid pressure to one or more hydraulically actuated components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Richard R. Watson
  • Patent number: 6938876
    Abstract: A ball value has a valve body defining a cavity, a ball closing component disposed within the cavity through a cavity opening, a cover, and seal assemblies having seating rings with seals disposed engaging both sides of the ball closing component. The seating rings slide in recesses of the valve body into and out of engagement with the ball closing component. The seating rings have flange with seals each engaging a side of the corresponding recess. A closing ring is screwed into the cavity to engage the seating rings. The flange of the seating ring defines a working chamber with the recess and the closing ring. The working chamber is communicated with a pressurized medium source and the working chamber is pressurized to displace the seating rings from the ball closing component to allow seal replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Zaklad Urzadzen Gazowniczych “Gazomet”
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Kapczynski, Stanislaw Kaluza
  • Publication number: 20040178380
    Abstract: A ball cock has a housing that includes at least two housing parts. Each part has a flow-through channel as a flow-through path. The ball cock also includes a ball-shaped shut-off element having a passage bore as a flow path for optionally connecting the flow-through paths of the housing parts. This shut-off element is accommodated within the housing between ring-shaped seals, and can be switched by means of a switching shaft between an open position in which the flow path is released and a closed position that shuts off the flow path. At least one of the seals that accommodate the shut-off element between them is mounted in one of the housing parts, with limited axial mobility, and can be pressed against the shut-off element with a sealing surface by means of a device, whereby the seal can be switched between an axial contact pressure position and a stress-relief position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Dirk Malischewsky
  • Patent number: 6789565
    Abstract: A metering valve for metering dry powder material such as cement. The interior of the valve housing is expanded outward beginning at the sealing surface or lip located adjacent to the inlet opening, thereby forming an enlarged gap between the valve sleeve and housing to discourage powder accumulation in the gap and interference of large bulk particles and foreign materials with the sleeve and housing. An eccentric intermediate sleeve aligns the valve sleeve relative to the housing prior to rotation of the valve sleeve by either moving the valve sleeve away from or toward the valve inlet. The valve sleeve has a rubberized layer to seal with the housing's sealing surface or lip. A sleeve shield blocks entry of powder into the mouths of the vacuum breakers to prevent plugging of the vacuum breakers. Ball bearings are employed to suspend the valve sleeve within the housing, making the valve sleeve easier to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Publication number: 20030213929
    Abstract: A rotary barrel gate valve includes a body and at least one passage through the body defining an inlet and an outlet. There is a first actuator for rotating the body, a second actuator for translating the body, and a sealing portion on the body which seals the body with respect to an opening into a chamber adjacent the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald G. Parent, Dean Plaisted, Michael Asbas
  • Patent number: 6425570
    Abstract: A ball valve having an upstream seat (92) with the seat actuated by outside pressure (14, 16). Retraction members (100, 102) continuously urge seat (92) to a retracted position out of sealing engagement with the ball. A sealing member (104) fits loosely within an annular recess in the seat (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Kemp Development Corp.
    Inventor: Willard E. Kemp
  • Patent number: 6257548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve having a housing in which there is a passage having at least two spaced ports. A slide is accommodated in the passage for to and fro movements between at least two positions in one of which at least one of the ports is open and in the other of which such port is closed. A slide actuator effects movements of the slide and the slide carries a seal which effects a seal of the closed port when the slide is in the port-closing position. The seal has a sealing actuator operable separately from the slide actuator to apply a sealing force to the seal. The force applied to the seal is neutralized in response to actuation of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Nass Magnet GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hiddessen, Jan-Peter Ossenbrugge, Horst Grove, Frank Rieck
  • Patent number: 6206029
    Abstract: A valve of a vacuum apparatus with a valve seat body having left and right communicating openings opposed to the two vacuum chambers, respectively, a valve body movable in the axial direction of the valve seat body and rotatable around the center axis thereof, and a driving section for moving the valve body in the axial direction of the valve seat body and for rotating it around the center axis thereof, the valve being so disposed between the left and right vacuum chambers that the driving section of the valve is projected outwardly in the horizontal (lateral) direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Shinkuseiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Onodera
  • Patent number: 6042083
    Abstract: A butterfly valve is disclosed, wherein a pair of rotating shafts for rotating a disk. One of the shafts is used to rotate the disk by 90 degree, the other is used to linearly displace the disk, thereby tightly depressing the disk on the valve seat to completely prevent the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hee-Soon Lee
    Inventor: Hee-Soon Lee
  • Patent number: 5868376
    Abstract: A proportioning mechanism for controlling a gravitational discharge of flowable material through a passage formed of a sealing material. The mechanism includes a rotatable flap valve mounted in the passage for movement in a first range of movement while in contact with the sealing material, and a second range of movement while out of contact with the sealing material. In the second range, a free flow of material is established. The free flow is terminated when only a small amount of material is yet to be discharged in order to achieve the desired discharge weight. At that time, the flap valve is rotated to a position in contact with a flexible portion of the sealing material. Fluid pressure in a cavity situated adjacent that flexible portion is varied to oscillate the flexible portion into and out of contact with the flap valve. When the flexible portion is out of contact with the flap valve, a gap is formed which admits passage of a small amount of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: GEI GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Koch, Gunter Untch
  • Patent number: 5616829
    Abstract: Provision of an abnormality detection and suppression system for a valve apparatus, which is capable of detecting abnormal states such as leakage through valve seats or a gland/packing assembly and coping with the abnormality while ensuring protection for the valve apparatus by controlling a driving unit for a valve stem on the basis of information as detected, by means of a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor and a strain sensor are disposed internally of a valve stem 4 at a portion thereof which lies outside of a valve casing of the valve apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Balaschak, Masatsugu Fujio, Keiichiro Hayashi, Masatoshi Okano, David E. Thrall
  • Patent number: 5551666
    Abstract: Butterfly flap valve (10) comprising a valve housing (12) with an axial flow aperture (14), a flap shaft (16) that projects out of the valve housing (12), crosses the flow aperture (14) substantially diametrically and can be operated by means of a drive mechanism disposed outside the valve housing (12), and a closure flap (22) attached to the flap shaft (16) to close the flow aperture.In this system, to move the closure flap (22) out of the closed position into the position in which the flow aperture (14) is open, the closure flap (22) is first lifted away from the valve seat (24) and then swiveled within the flow aperture (14) by way of the connection of the flap shaft (16) both to a lever system (28), consisting of a first lever element (44) and a second lever element (46), and to an actuator shaft (30) coupled to the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Zimmerman & Jansen GmbH
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Irnich
  • Patent number: 5417405
    Abstract: An improved valve sealing arrangement where a sealing surface on the valve obturator presses against a compatibly arranged valve seat circumscribing a flow path to close the flow path, or alternately, the valve obturator having a through bore rotatable into position to align with the flow path. The improvement entails forming or cutting slots into the valve obturator behind upper and lower portions of the sealing surface to give localized flexibility to the upper and lower portions to match the flexibility of the middle region of the sealing surface which is located in front of the through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Orbit Valve Company
    Inventors: David Stephan, Filiberto Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5417404
    Abstract: This invention relates to ball valves. One problem with conventional ball valves is that opening and closing the valve causes the valve seal to scrape across the valve seat. This reduces the life of the seal. This scraping problem can be eliminated by retracting the seal from the seat before turning the valve.In this invention, the ball valve has two coaxial handle assemblies. The outer, lever, assembly turns the valve closure member within its housing. The inner, handwheel, assembly is used independently to retract or extend the valve seal from or to the valve seat. The retraction or extension is achieved by use of a jack-screw shaft which pushes the seal in and out. The jack screw shaft is driven by a series of gears--a first bevel gear, a ring gear, and a second bevel gear--driven by the inner handle assembly. The ball valve is also provided with an inspection port. This port permits inspection, repair, or replacement of the valve seal while the valve is in use in its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Arnold Varden
  • Patent number: 5330156
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a valve or shaft is disclosed which is designed to respond to movements of a rotatable element in a particular manner and to increase sealing pressure with increasing fluid pressure. The seal undergoes a radial compressive type movement as the pressure within a vessel housing increases between opposed sealing sleeves and this causes an increase in the sealing pressure. This predetermined movement of the seal creates a spring bias in the seal, urging the seal to return to the original, less stressed condition. Preferably, the seal is of a composite structure and a particular component of the intermediate wall section creates this spring bias. This structure has improved operating characteristics and accommodates a wider range of resilient materials to be used for the sealing washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas P. McKavanagh
  • Patent number: 5322261
    Abstract: A shutoff or closing valve, especially a ball valve, comprises a valve body (2) having at least one annular sealing surface formed for sealing engagement against a seal (5) carried by an axially displaceably supported seat ring (3). The seat ring (3) or each such seat ring, respectively, is adapted to be urged toward the sealing position, wherein its seal (5) cooperates and contacts the valve body (2), through the intermediary of spring force (4) and/or fluid pressure (via 6). In order to improve the sealing function and enable the accommodation of leakaqes between the valve body (2) and said seat(s) (3), the seat ring or each such seat ring, respectively, is assigned at least one additional separate seat ring (11) axially displaceably supported independently on the first-mentioned seat ring (3). The additional separate seat ring (11) may be arranged concentrically with, surround as well as rest displaceably against the first-mentioned seat ring (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Rag Aarnes
  • Patent number: 5205535
    Abstract: An expanding gate valve assembly which includes a gate, a stem for actuating the gate, a segment mounted on one side of the gate, or in an alternate, bidirectional embodiment, two segments with one segment movably mounted on each opposite side of the gate for movement toward seating surfaces within the valve body. Each segment carries two spaced, parallel wedging-camming surfaces which are of a configuration to cooperate with complementary spaced, parallel wedging-camming surfaces on the gate to effect lateral expansion of the segment or segments during closure or opening of the valve. The spacing of the wedging-camming surfaces or legs is such that the movable segments are stably supported during their expansion movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Venkatesh R. Nevrekar
  • Patent number: 5188144
    Abstract: A plug valve having a body with an inlet, an outlet and a plug-receiving opening which intersects the inlet and outlet. A plug is mounted in the opening and has an outer wall and an orifice extending therethrough. The plug is movable from an operative position in which the orifice connects the inlet to the outlet to allow fluid to flow to an inoperative position in which the orifice is disconnected from the inlet and outlet to prevent the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The plug outer wall has a seal-receiving portion which is spaced from the orifice and which is adapted to removably receive a seal retainer assembly. A seal is interposed between the seal-receiving portion of the plug and at least a portion of the seal retainer assembly to form a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hoke Incorporated
    Inventor: Sergio Radossi
  • Patent number: 5154395
    Abstract: In one aspect the invention relates to a ball valve of the type comprising a ball member (83, 85) provided with two axially displaceable sleeves (66A, 66B) adapted to be displaced outwards to sealing engagement against seats provided in the surrounding valve housing (76) in the open position of the valve, so as to form a flow passage (73) through the valve, and which comprises a hollow drive axle for the rotary movement of the ball member between open and closed position and a drive spindle (12, 69) through the hollow drive axle, adapted to bringing about the axial displacement movement of the sleeves. On the drive spindle (69) and for rotation together with it there are provided two preferably disc shaped, first cam members (68A, 68B) on either side of the sleeves (66A, 66B) and the sleeves are provided with corresponding and cooperating second cam members (67A,67B) for the axial displacement by rotation of the drive spindle (69) in relation to the ball member (83, 85).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Den norske stats oljeselskap a.s
    Inventor: Knut V. Horvei
  • Patent number: 5117858
    Abstract: A top entry ball valve comprises a housing having an interior cavity sufficiently large to receive a conventional ball and conventional seat rings through an opening in the housing. After the ball/seat package has been inserted into the cavity, a cam arrangement is used to axially load the seat rings. The cam arrangement comprises a pair of circular cams, each having an undulating annular surface, which are disposed in the housing cavity adjacent one of the seat rings with the respective undulating annular surfaces of the cams being in closely adjacent facing relation to one another. After assembly of the valve, one of the circular cams is rotated relative to the other cam to vary the rotational positions of the undulating annular surfaces relative to one another thereby to vary the axial positions of the circular cams relative to one another and relative to the ball and seat rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Worcester Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Osthues, Brian J. Caprera
  • Patent number: 5074525
    Abstract: A stop valve is disclosed which includes a means for venting fluid to the exterior of the valve housing if the valve is not properly adjusted, thereby providing a readily detectable visual indication that the valve needs to be readjusted or retightened. In another aspect, the invention includes a hygienic shutter assembly which seals the juncture between the shutter and its associated backing plate in a manner which eliminates crevices and sharp angles within which dirt and debris can accumulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Koltek Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Kujala
  • Patent number: 5042529
    Abstract: A water flow regulating device which comprises a casing having a control chamber at the upper middle for holding a regulating valve and a division wall at the lower middle to block up the water outlet from the water inlet thereof. A teflon washer is set inside the control chamber and squeezed by the regulating valve, which has two through-holes disposed in alignment with the two through-holes on the bottom of the control chamber respectively in communication with the water inlet and the water outlet. The regulating valve is secured to the casing by a lock nut and is confined by a control ring to rotate on the teflon washer within a fixed range for controlling the alignment of its two through-holes with the through-holes on the teflon washer and the through-holes on the control chamber so as to regulate water flow rate from the water inlet into the water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Inventor: Wan Tiao Yeh
  • Patent number: 5011115
    Abstract: Self supporting, non-lubricated retractable seal double block and bleed plug valve wherein an improved plug configuration provides direct bearing surface support for the plug along at least a portion of the radial surface of the plug. The remaining radial surface of the plug may be optionally relieved to avoid scuffing the swept seating area of the interior valve body surface. By utilizing the novel plug configuration for direct plug bearing support, the present invention obviates the need for a lower trunnion and does away with the need for high load-bearing bushings. In all other respects, the operation of a plug valve, utilizing the plug of the present invention, remains substantially the same as it would be for a prior art plug valve. In fact, it is possible to substitute a novel plug configuration of the present invention for a prior art plug configuration for retrofitting existing valves of the type herein disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Johnston Pump/General Valve Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon M. Smith, Hans M. Van Der Wiel
  • Patent number: 4989641
    Abstract: A multi-port valve internally supports a rotatable trunnion having an elbow passage between a nozzle portion of the trunnion and a lower end outlet that communicates with a test port of the valve body. The outer end of the nozzle has an axially reciprocable hollow seal piston with a seal support ring whose outer face is formed with an endless groove to receive an O-ring. An actuating shaft is coaxially mounted in an upper end of the trunnion and has a lower end with an eccentric pin engaged in a slot of the seal piston to reciprocate the seal piston into and out of sealing registration around a port selected by rotation of the trunnion. External ends of the actuating shaft and trunnion are respectively drivably coupled to a coaxial sprocket wheel and geneva wheel. A housing on top of the valve contains an input rotor fitted with a cam and a drive roller for engaging radial slots of the geneva wheel alternately with cam engagement of the dwell notches of the geneva wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Santa Fe Energy Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Jones, John W. Herndon
  • Patent number: 4984601
    Abstract: Means acting upon the flow, such as pumps or valves are used inter alia in the handling of liquid foodstuffs, e.g. milk, in packing machines. Since the demands on hygiene in this context are very high, especially if the packing machine operates with foodstuff sterilized beforehand, it is a disadvantage that manoeuvering devices for the means acting upon the flow have to pass from the outside into the sterile flow path where the means is located. This is avoided in accordance with the invention in that the means (3) acting upon the flow is combined with an actuator (8) which can be acted upon electromagnetically by a stator (7) isolated from the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: AB Profor
    Inventors: Sven-Arne Andersson, Anders Sundberg
  • Patent number: 4921015
    Abstract: Indexing rotary vacuum valve in which second stage vacuum at torr p.sub.i is applied through aligned ports of one valve member juxtaposed to another, originating a force tending to bring the two tightly together, but wet lubrication is not needed since gas under supra atmospheric pressure is admitted to an interface chamber in the lower valve member lifting the upper one to establish a slight clearance, sealed against ingress of atmospheric pressure. First stage vacuum at torr p.sub.o greater than p.sub.i is applied at the interface around the vacuum ports, to prevent leakage of the second stage vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: John Crane, Inc.
    Inventor: Josef Sedy
  • Patent number: 4844410
    Abstract: There is provided a seat assembly adapted to be received in a spool bore of a valve having a fluid controlling member for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve, with the spool bore having a threaded interior portion. The seat assembly includes a first member having, located towards one end thereof, a grooved ring adapted to receive a tool, and a threaded exterior portion which is adapted to threadedly engage the interior threaded portion of the spool bore. The seat assembly further includes a second member adapted to be received in the first member, with the second member having a seat face adapted to contact the fluid controlling member. The first member threadedly moves the second member between a first position where the seat face contacts the fluid controlling member of the valve to a second position where the seat face is remote from the fluid controlling member of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Crosby Valve & Gage
    Inventor: Harry E. Eminger
  • Patent number: 4836250
    Abstract: A device for closing a pipe branch, especially for closing either orifice of a Y-shaped distributor connection, which is to close the inflow of the unoccupied flow-off in a gastight and watertight manner, is proposed. At the same time, there will be the possibility of mixing the medium for all the connections. To achieve this object, for this purpose either branching-off junction connection is made closeable by means of a common rotary plug, the rotary plug being designed as an oblique cylinder section (see the drawing for this).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: AVT Anlagen- und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Krambrock
  • Patent number: 4802651
    Abstract: A shut-off or flow control valve comprises a valve body including a cylindrical cavity with a hemispherical end, which rotatably receives a cylindrical plug with a hemispherical end in a close tolerance, wherein a flow passage with a central axis generally passing through the center of a spherical surface including the hemispherical surface of the plug and intersecting the central axis of the plug in an oblique angle lines up with the flow passage disposed through the valve body when the plug is rotated to the "open" position, while the plug blocks the flow passage through the valve body when it is rotated to the "closed" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventors: Hyok S. Lew, Yon S. Lew
  • Patent number: 4770202
    Abstract: A valve body 10 supports a rotary valve member 20 having a transfer port 22. Sealing between a port 17 of the valve and the member 20 is achieved by a sleeve 30 movable towards and away from the member 20. In a valve closed position seal means in a flat end of the sleeve engage a flat base of a recess in the member 20. The member 20 may be provided with a rotary scraper 41 and heaters located in channels 40 and in this construction the valve is suitable for transferring sodium-cooled nuclear fuel between various localities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Secretary of State for United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: John Webb, David R. Parr
  • Patent number: 4727901
    Abstract: A ball valve device for subsea applications, capable of being dismantled for inspection and maintenance without disrupting normal operations of the pipeline and without causing leakage into or out of the pipeline is disclosed. The ball arrangement of the valve has an upper ball member (3), and a lower ball member (4) in which its upper ball member (3), includes the main packings of the valve. The lower ball member (4) includes two axial withdrawable sleeves (13). When the valve is open, the sleeves (13) can be withdrawn outwardly for intervention with guiders in the valve housing (1) and thereby form a tight, continuous passageway which extends from one of the openings in said valve housing (1) to the second opening in said valve housing (1). The axial withdrawable sleeve (13) can be moved inwards to a position where it stands free from its other guiders when said ball arrangement rotates during closing of said valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S.
    Inventor: Knut Horvei
  • Patent number: 4702457
    Abstract: This invention relates to the ball plug valves comprising a ball plug of a cylindrical geometry with a hemispherical end rotatably engaging a matching cylindrical cavity with a closed hemispherical end formed within the valve body in a close tolerance wherein a hole bored through said ball plug in an oblique angle with respect to the central axis of said ball plug lines up with the fluid passage hole included in said valve body when said ball plug is rotated to the "open" position, while said hole through said ball plug takes a position substantially perpendicular to said fluid passage hole included in said valve body when said ball plug is rotated to the "closed" position, at which position said ball plug blocking the fluid passage hole shuts off the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventors: Hyok S. Lew, Yon S. Lew
  • Patent number: 4623119
    Abstract: An improved plug-type valve of the type having a plug connected to slips wherein opening and closing the valve involves both vertical and rotational motion of the plug, the novel features of the invention residing in geometrical characteristics of plug, slips and valve body to make the vertical motion of the plug, both prior to and subsequent to the rotation of the plug and slips, unidirectional. Thus, unlike prior art plug-type valves wherein opening the valve may require a sequence comprising vertical upward motion, rotation and vertical downward motion, in the present invention the opening sequence comprises vertical upward motion, rotation and vertical upward motion. This unidirectional vertical component of plug motion both before and after plug and slip rotation, significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the operator or actuator to which the plug is connected by the trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Johnston Pump/General Valve, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans M. van der Wiel
  • Patent number: 4597560
    Abstract: A plug valve assembly employs a stem having a threaded end, and a shiftable locking key to alternatively interengage the plug with either the stem or the bonnet. When the plug is locked to the bonnet by the key, the threaded part of the shaft will initially lift it from its seat; shifting the key will permit the plug to be rotated by the shaft to open the valve, and the interengagement established by the key will enable return of the plug to orient it for closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Conval, Inc.
    Inventor: Chester A. Siver
  • Patent number: 4580762
    Abstract: The device comprises a body (1) provided with two coaxial circular openings (3, 4) for connecting two sections of pipe, wherein each opening has an oblique seat (5, 6) receiving a wedge formed of two counter-seats (9, 10), a spherical ball (11) and a cage (12) in which the ball carries elastic means (23) which exert a pressure from said wedge on its seats (5, 6), and a rod (26) enabling said wedge to be unwedged, said ball being provided with a rotation shaft (13) and springs (18) enabling the counter-seats to be detached from the ball in the unwedged position of the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Alsthom
    Inventors: Alfred Hirtz, Jacques Caillet
  • Patent number: 4562993
    Abstract: This invention relates to a valve handle having the dual function of rotating the valve stem for opening and closing of the valve and of moving the valve stem in the axial direction over a small distance for relieving and establishing the seating pressure between the valve seat and the blocking body such as the floating disc in the floating disc valve and the ball-plug in the ball-plug valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Inventor: Hyok S. Lew