Abstract: A rotary face valve for beverage filling machines provides a housing assembly defining a closed chamber. The stationary valving surface is provided open to the chamber, and a valve rotor is journaled in the chamber in engagement with the stationary valve surface. The chamber is pressurized to a pressure closely approaching the pressure of the beverage being valved so that a low differential pressure exists between the chamber and the port through which the beverage flows. This minimizes the tendency to encounter leakage. The rotor is supported by a shaft which is journaled in spaced bearings so that eccentric force applied to the operating shaft is absorbed by the bearings and is not transmitted to the rotor. Further, the rotor is connected to the operating shaft with sufficient freedom to ensure that the rotor properly engages the valve surface in a uniform manner.

Abstract: A rotary face valve for beverage filling machines provides a housing assembly defining a closed chamber. The stationary valving surface is provided open to the chamber, and a valve rotor is journaled in the chamber in engagement with the stationary valve surface. The chamber is pressurized to a pressure closely approaching the pressure of the beverage being valved so that a low differential pressure exists between the chamber and the port through which the beverage flows. This minimizes the tendency to encounter leakage. The rotor is supported by a shaft which is journaled in spaced bearings so that eccentric force applied to the operating shaft is absorbed by the bearings and is not transmitted to the rotor. Further, the rotor is connected to the operating shaft with sufficient freedom to ensure that the rotor properly engages the valve surface in a uniform manner.

Abstract: A pilot-operated, directional flow control valve includes a movable spool member axially slidable between two positions within a cylindrical bore provided by a multi-ported valve body. An integral portion of the valve body serves as a housing for an inverted, cup-shaped filter element having its lip portion spring-biased downwardly against an annular seating surface. The filter element housing portion of the valve body provides a horizontally extending blind bore functioning as a supply fluid inlet port to the valve. The blind bore inlet communicates with an inlet to the interior of the filter element, the filter element extending perpendicularly upwardly from a point spaced from the terminal end of the blind bore inlet. The orientation of the horizontally extending blind bore inlet relative to the vertically extending filter inlet provides a mechanical filtering action to trap heavy dirt particles at the end of the blind bore before they can enter into the filter element and prematurely clog it.

Abstract: A pilot-operated, directional control valve having a ported slide and cooperating, non-interflow, shear-type seals. The valve achieves a high flow capacity for a given size by utilizing both of a pair of opposed sleeve seals to conduct flow through the valve. The valve response is improved by a hydraulic bias of supply pressure on the slide which requires operation at a high pilot pressure.

Abstract: A multiposition selector valve of the rotary type includes a valve body having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. Fluid communication between the inlet port and any one of the outlet ports is provided via a check valve assembly mounted on the valve body, and via a fluid-providing conduit connected at one end to the inlet port via the check valve. The other end of the conduit is movable in rotary fashion for fluidtight engagement with any one of a plurality of valve seat areas associated with the outlet ports. The valve seat areas are integral portions of a flat metal disk that can be removed from the valve body to facilitate maintenance of the valve. A single handle rotates the conduit through its various selected outlet positions and operates the check valve assembly to open and close the valve at selected outlet positions.

Abstract: A valve system is disclosed in which sleeves providing an unbalanced area are arranged so that the unbalanced area is exposed to the zone of higher pressure and produces a sealing force between the sealing face of the sleeves and a mating valving surface, which force is a direct function of the difference in the pressure across the seal. Adapter rings are positioned behind each seal and a spring provides an initial light bias on the sleeve to urge it into mating engagement with the valving surface. The adapter ring and sleeve structure is arranged so that all of the sleeves, including those sleeves having an external unbalanced area, may be assembled in the valve body from the end of the sleeve receiving passage remote from the valving surface. The adapter rings also make it possible to use standard length sleeves in combination with relatively low cost adapter rings having lengths selected to provide a total sleeve adapter ring length which matches the length of the passages in the valve body.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve is disclosed in which a slide or spool is longitudinally shiftable between two operative positions. The slide is positioned within a body chamber with substantial clearance, and is laterally located within such chamber by elastomeric seals. A balanced valve system is carried by the slide and operates without applying any substantial lateral forces to the slide so that the elastomeric seals can maintain the lateral position of the slide. A manifold assembly formed with grooves open to one face which connect selective ports in the manifold is combined with a valve plate bonded to such face of the manifold block to cooperate with the grooves to form closed passages and to provide the valving surface against which the slide-carried valve elements operate. Because of the high clearance, the valve can operate even when substantial amounts of contamination enter the valve. The valve is also structured to facilitate automatic flushing of contamination from the valve.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling is disclosed which includes a body assembly providing a tube end receiving passage having an inner cylindrical seal portion and an internal, annular groove outwardly of the seal portion. A tube end portion is proportioned to fit into the tube receiving passage with a close fit and has a peripheral seal groove located within the seal portion and a peripheral lock ring groove within the internal groove when the end portion is inserted into the passage. A resilient seal is carried in the seal groove and a compressible lock ring having a circular cross section is located in the lock ring groove.

Abstract: A quick connect tube coupling sealingly couples a tube to a body solely by pushing the tube axially into the body. The tube is provided with a reduced diameter end portion and a conical ramp portion and an annular groove. The body has a passage extending therethrough which includes a nominal diameter portion, a counterbore portion, and a threaded end portion. A coupling subassembly is screwed into the threaded end of the passage in the body before the tube is assembled. The coupling subassembly includes a nut having a tube receiving passage and a retainer which holds a snap ring and an elastomeric seal in place prior to and after assembly of the tube.