Abstract: A rotary airlock valve has a housing having an internal horizontal taper, a mating rotor within the housing, a circular groove in each end of said rotor with a compression O-ring situated therein, a pair of compression plates within the housing, each having a circular projection adapted to contact a compression O-ring in one of the circular grooves, end plates fixed to the housing by shoulder bolts situated in and extending through the end plates, the shoulder bolts being adapted to exert compressive force on the O-rings to balance the rotor within the housing. The rotor is plastic or coated metal, the plastic rotor being utilized for lower temperature applications, i.e, ambient temperature to about 600° F., and the coated metal rotors being utilized for higher temperature (about 600 to 1200° F.) applications. There are no metal to metal moving parts. The invention can be utilized by an airlock, mass measurement feeder, control valve, or on-off valve.

Abstract: A vaneless rotor airlock valve using a single seat. In the preferred embodiment a hollow rotor is supported by two bearings to rotate within a first bore of the valve housing, which includes intersecting transverse bores. The rotor includes an opening which extends a selected distance along the axis of the rotor and a distance of less than 90 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The ends of the second bore terminate at the input port and the output port of the valve. Sealing contact is maintained between the outer surface of the rotor and a non-metallic seat member to maintain pressure isolation between the input port and the output port as the rotor is rotated to alternately position the rotor in a fill and a discharge position. All portions of the interior of the valve are free draining under the force of gravity.

Abstract: A vaneless air lock valve including a housing, a hollow rotor having an opening in its cylindrical outer surface, and first and second opposed valve seats each including spherical inner and outer surfaces. A sealing surface extends between the inner and the outer surface. The rotor is supported in the housing to rotate about its major axis, with the valve seats supported by the housing such that the sealing surfaces of the valve seats engage said rotor. In first and second rotary positions the opening is symmetrically positioned with respect to the sealing surfaces of the first and second seats with the inner perimeter of the valve seats substantially coinciding with the opening in the rotor.

Abstract: The vaneless rotary airlock valve of this invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of excessive leakage, excessive wear, and product degradation associated with conventional vaned rotary airlocks. It is comprised of a vaneless rotor (a cylindrical or barrel-like container), a pair of sealing rings (one on the upstream side and one on the downstream side of the rotor), and (depending on the operating conditions) a pair of either compression or expansion rings which urge continuous sealing engagement between the sealing rings and the rotor.

Abstract: The vaneless rotary airlock valve of this invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of excessive leakage, excessive wear, and product degradation associated with conventional vaned rotary airlocks. It is comprised of a vaneless rotor (a cyclindrical or barrel-like container), a pair of sealing rings (one on the upstream side and one on the downstream side of the rotor), and (depending on the operating conditions) a pair of either compression or expansion rings which urge continuous sealing engagement between the sealing rings and the rotor.Prevention of static leakage is a unique feature of the airlock of this invention, as one sealing ring is always in sealing engagement with the rotor as it revolves. The airlock may or may not permit dynamic leakage; processing gas may be bled off between the sealing rings and returned to the process, a critical feature on vacuum systems and on systems where expensive or harmful gases are used for conveying or impregnating process materials.

Abstract: An expansible device for exerting force which has a generally "S" shape cross-section, being formed by stepped diameter cylinder, and arrangements using such a device are disclosed. The device may exert sealing forces and be controlled by admission of fluid pressure which acts on a thin wall member so supported as to be subjected to compressive stress alone.

Abstract: An expansible device for exerting force which has a generally "S" shape cross-section, being formed by stepped diameter cylinder, and arrangements using such a device are disclosed. The device may exert sealing forces and be controlled by admission of fluid pressure which acts on a thin wall member so supported as to be subjected to compressive stress alone.

Abstract: A rotary flow regulating valve in which a cylindrical expansible bellows mounted in the valve body and encircling a conduit therethrough moves a circular seal means between engagement with a spherical sealing surface of a valve member and a position withdrawn from the sealing surface. The valve body and valve member cooperate in defining a circumferential flow path between the sealing surface and the valve body and a diametrical flow path through the valve member. With the bellows vented to withdraw the seal means from the sealing surface, the valve member is rotated to regulate fluid flow through the valve while dividing fluid flow between the circumferential and diametrical flow paths and continue fluid flow over the sealing surface to thereby distribute wear and maintain sealing efficiency.

Abstract: A valve in which a valve member is mounted for rotary valving motion within a valve casing and an actuator in which at least one pair of expansible bellows engaging opposite sides of a vane and acting in opposition one to the other give rise to rotary motion. The bellows preferably are free from any direct fixation to the vane or the like, and have a particular configuration as described.