Rotary Reversing Valve Patents (Class 137/311)
  • Patent number: 10627171
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transporting a hydrocarbon are provided. The method can include introducing a fluid at a first pressure and a first temperature to an inlet of a pump and pressurizing the fluid within the pump to produce a pressurized fluid having a second pressure and a second temperature. The method can also include flowing at least a portion of the pressurized fluid through a first heat exchanger and back to the inlet of the pump. The heat exchanger can include a coil having an inlet and an outlet and a housing at least partially enclosing the coil and having a first opening and a second opening. A first end of the coil can be disposed proximate the first opening. The heat exchanger can also include a foundation for supporting the coil and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventor: Robert Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9664406
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit is provided for conditioning air within a refrigerated chamber for housing perishable goods having an improved air exchange device for selectively admitting fresh air into the refrigerated chamber while simultaneously venting air from within the refrigerated chamber. The air exchange device includes a tubular member having a first chamber and a second chamber isolated from first chamber, the first chamber having an inlet in flow communication with a fresh air source and an outlet opening in flow communication with the refrigerated chamber on a suction side of the evaporator, and the second chamber having an inlet in flow communication with the refrigerated chamber in a discharge side of evaporator fan and an outlet opening in flow communication with a space exterior of the refrigerated chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Harold P. Hill, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8758693
    Abstract: A valve lift mechanism for actuating a valve in the vertical direction, and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the valve and lift mechanism is disclosed. The valve is allowed to move vertically and oscillating rotary motion is possible. Vertical movement is achieved using the valve lift mechanism without the use of compressed air. In certain embodiments, the valve lift mechanism includes a torque motor. Preferably, a non self-locking screw jack is used to adjust the vertical height of the valve. Vertical movement can reduce the torque needed to rotate the valve, and also facilitates servicing of the valve. For example, if the valve experiences high temperature, and consequently expands, rotating the valve against the mating seal plate can be difficult, if not impossible. By lowering the valve slightly, the frictional forces between the valve and the mating seal plate are reduced, allowing freer rotational movement of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MegTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Bria
  • Patent number: 8714184
    Abstract: An improved ball type valve rotator is provided that includes a ball cage that may include an inner flange and outer walls that are connected to opposing inner and outer portions of a middle flange from which multiple ramps extend. The inner flange and outer walls may define respective boundaries of pockets that hold bearing balls and springs so that the bearing balls and springs are transversely confined between components that may be formed from a single piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Bronislaw B. Florek
  • Patent number: 7740026
    Abstract: A thermal storage type gas treating apparatus has a high sealing performance while achieving a simple apparatus construction. The thermal storage type gas treating apparatus includes a valve member rotatable to place successively a supply port for a gas to be treated and an exhaust port for a treated gas formed in the valve member, in an opposed and communicating relationship with supply and exhaust ports formed in a distributor, thereby successively passing gas to be treated and treated gas through a plurality of thermal storage chambers communicating at one end with a combustion chamber. The valve member is supported to be displaceable toward and away from the distributor. A valve biasing device is provided for pressing the valve body to the distributor, while being inoperative with respect to a gas chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Matsui, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Horisawa, Tomotaka Miwa
  • Patent number: 7325562
    Abstract: Valve with heated sealing gas suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. In a preferred embodiment, the valve utilizes hot gas from the regenerative process to heat gas for sealing the valve, and sealing air flows through a heat exchanger that is positioned to be in contact with hot exhaust gas from the regenerative process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Meggec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 7308904
    Abstract: Electric drive for a switching valve, the switching valve having such a drive, and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the switching valve and drive system. The electric drive system allows for the starting and stopping of the rotation of a rotary valve with accurate positioning. The stopping of the valve includes dissipation of the kinetic energy of the valve by electric means. The valve is allowed to move vertically and oscillating rotary motion is possible. The drive system preferably includes a gear, gearbox, variable speed drive and at least one positioning sensor. Valve acceleration and deceleration can be carried out in a controlled fashion and with repeatability, so that the final end position of the valve is consistent. The accommodation of vertical movement of the valve is also within the scope of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bria, George D. Glenn, Randall M. Schneider
  • Patent number: 7152620
    Abstract: A valve for switching fluid paths, particularly for pressure exchanger installations with tubular chambers through which fluid flows in an alternating manner, including a rotatable closing element (12, 13) provided with a motorized drive shaft (14) and arranged inside a housing (2) having a plurality of connections (3, 4) for connecting lines leading to a pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger. Another end of each pressure exchanger is connected through a valve arrangement to a second pipe system. A splitter (7) provided with a plurality of overflow paths (17, 18, 27) is arranged inside the housing (2); mouths of the overflow paths are located on two axial end faces (10, 11) and on the circumference of the splitter (7), and a rotatable, disk-shaped control element (12, 13) is arranged in a sealing manner at each end face of the splitter (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Baumgarten, Stephen Bross, Bernhard Brecht, Uwe Bruhns, Mogens Ellegaard, Stefan Flak, Christoph Jaeger, Wolfgang Kochanowski, Wiltrud Knoebl
  • Patent number: 7117882
    Abstract: A valve and use of a valve. The valve changes the direction of flow of a fluid in pipings conducting the fluid to and from a heat exchanger. A cylindrical casing and a valve body enclosed therein can be rotated between two positions. The valve body has three flow passages. A fourth flow passage is constituted by the space between the house of the valve and respective walls around the flow passages in the valve body. The entire valve is flushed by the fluid during operation, thereby eliminating the risk for accumulation of dirt in the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Marinnovation HB
    Inventor: Ralf Erik Blomgren
  • Patent number: 6978977
    Abstract: Valve and valve lift system suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is sealed with pressurized air during its stationary modes, and unsealed during movement to reduce valve wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Cash, Ken Wendorf, Glenn Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6899121
    Abstract: Switching valve utilizing a rotatable seal suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor that provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Megtec Systems Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 6892750
    Abstract: Switching valve and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor which provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 6783111
    Abstract: Valve and valve lift system suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is sealed with pressurized air during its stationary modes, and unsealed during movement to reduce valve wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Megtec Systems Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Cash, Ken Wendorf, Glenn Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6749815
    Abstract: Switching valve utilizing a rotatable seal suitable for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor that provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 6298877
    Abstract: A distributing valve device for a heat accumulation type combustion system comprising a stationary valve mounted on an underside of a housing having six or more passages defined by partition walls provided therein at predetermined intervals, and having heat accumulators arranged in the passages, the stationary valve having six or more openings formed therein at an equal interval in circumferential direction of the stationary valve which communicate with the respective passages, and a rotary valve disposed in opposed relation on the stationary valve and having an exhaust gas supply opening, a treated gas discharge opening, and a purge gas supply opening formed therein sequentially in this order and at predetermined intervals in a direction of rotation of the rotary valve, wherein a seal member is arranged on a surface of the stationary valve in opposed relation to the rotary valve such that the seal member surrounds the each opening of the stationary valve, and a closed portion defined between the adjacent ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chugai Ro Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Inuki, Hideo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6261092
    Abstract: Switching valve and a regenerative thermal oxidizer including the switching valve. The valve of the present invention exhibits excellent sealing characteristics and minimizes wear. The valve has a seal plate that defines two chambers, each chamber being a flow port that leads to one of two regenerative beds of the oxidizer. The valve also includes a switching flow distributor which provides alternate channeling of the inlet or outlet process gas to each half of the seal plate. The valve operates between two modes: a stationary mode and a valve movement mode. In the stationary mode, a tight gas seal is used to minimize or prevent process gas leakage. The gas seal also seals during valve movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Cash
  • Patent number: 5997277
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for recovery of energy from a medium containing combustible substances even at low concentrations. The method is characterized by raising the temperature of the medium in a regenerative combustor such as a reversal flow direction combustion device wherein the combustion takes place in a warm zone, to the combustion temperature at which essentially all chemical energy of the combustible substances is transformed into thermal energy. The heated medium is then utilized for the production of a wanted form of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Megtec Systems AB
    Inventors: Bjorn Heed, .ANG.ke Kallstrand
  • Patent number: 5983986
    Abstract: The invention provides a forced air furnace integrated with a ventilator having a pair of regenerative bed heat exchangers. The heat exchangers alternate between heat recovery and heat release modes such that when one heat exchanger is in the heat release mode the other is in the heat recovery mode. A pair of valve members are fixed on a common shaft to control the alternate switching of recovery and release modes between the two heat exchange beds. The valve members are mounted adjacent to inlet and outlet partitions containing the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, in communication with the heat exchange compartments, and are provided with valve openings which, by rotating the shaft, are brought into alignment with the inlet and outlet ports to direct the fresh and stale air streams through the heat exchange beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventors: Kenneth Reid Macintyre, Robert Gene Bamsey
  • Patent number: 4688626
    Abstract: A ventilator unit (1) intended for installation in the outside wall of a room such that used air (A) from the room is vented to the outside atmosphere through the outside wall while fresh air (B) is introduced from the outside and supplied to the unit (1) where it is suitably air conditioned, before being blown into the room, the unit comprising an exhaust fan (12) and an inlet fan (13), and also including for purposes of heat recovery a heat exchanger (15', 15") for transferring heat from the outflowing air (A) to the inflowing fresh air (B), wherein the two streams of air (A, B), as known per se, alternate periodically through two equal regenerator masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Inventor: Paul Tengesdal
  • Patent number: 4126419
    Abstract: A combustion device comprising a plurality of regenerative units formed by a plurality of separate radially extending compartments each containing a plurality of corrugated highly conductive metal plates compressed together with the corrugations in the adjacent plates intersecting each other at right angles so as to provide meandering passages for the gases between the adjacent corrugated plates; a rotary switching valve provided at one end of said regenerative means for controlling the flow of said waste gases flowing therethrough; a reaction zone provided at the other end of said regenerative means in which said waste gases are reacted; and a temperature-adjusting chamber located within said reaction zone and provided with an auxiliary combustion burner and an excess-heat disposal branch conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Inventors: Keichi Katabuchi, Fujio Kawana, Hajime Arai