Abstract: A control valve comprises a body. A diverter is disposed within the body. The diverter is movably positionable within the body such that the diverter can assume a first position, second position and third position. The body includes one or more exhaust ports, a supply port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The body and diverter are configured such that: when the diverter is in the first position, the supply port and first outlet port fluidly communicate and the one or snore exhaust ports and second outlet port are fluidly isolated; when the diverter is in the second position, the first outlet port and one of the one or more exhaust ports fluidly communicate and the supply port and second outlet port are fluidly isolated; and When the diverter is in the third position, the first outlet port and second outlet port fluidly communicate and the supply port and the one or more exhaust ports are fluidly isolated.

Abstract: An energy-saving charge/discharge method controls the repeated charging and discharging of a working vessel in a manner that enables the storage and subsequent reuse of compressed gas during the repeated charge and discharge cycle. In contrast to the methods of the prior art, the method does not discard the entire mass of compressed gas during each discharge phase of the cycle. An energy savings results from the recycling of compressed gas, which reduces the net consumption of compressed gas for a given charge/discharge cycle of a given pressure vessel. A minimum amount of apparatus is required to implement the recycling of compressed gas.