Material supply system with valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10753483-B2
Application number	US-201715814680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2017
Priority date	Nov 21, 2016
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A material supply assembly includes a valve assembly having an outer valve member and an inner valve member rotatable relative to the outer valve member. A plurality of discharge seals may be provide between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, with one of the discharge seals extending around openings of the outer valve member or openings of the inner valve member. A first circumferential seal may also be provided. An engagement structure including a plurality of spaced apart vertical engagement projections and a plurality of complementary configured engagement recesses may be provided between the valve assembly and the base. A locking arm having a locking member may be provided with the locking member positioned in a locking receptacle. A projection engages the locking arm to move the locking member from the locking receptacle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A material supply assembly comprising:
a valve assembly including:
an outer valve member and an inner valve member,
the outer valve member including an annular outer body section and an outer discharge section, the outer discharge section including a plurality of first openings therein,
the inner valve member including an annular inner body section and an inner discharge section, the inner discharge section including a plurality of second openings therein, the inner valve member being rotatably disposed on the outer valve member and rotatable relative to the outer valve member between a closed position at which the valve assembly is closed and an open position at which the valve assembly is open, the plurality of first openings being aligned with the plurality of second openings at the open position,
a plurality of discharge seals between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, one of the discharge seals extending around each of the first openings of the outer valve member or each of the second openings of the inner valve member to provide a seal between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, and
a first circumferential seal between the outer and inner valve members, the first circumferential seal providing a seal between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, the first circumferential seal extending around an inner surface of the annular outer body section of the outer valve member and an outer surface of the annular inner body section of the inner valve member;

and

a base having a receptacle with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve assembly therein and the outlet being configured to pass material therethrough.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential seal includes a circumferential seal projection and a complimentary-shaped circumferential seal channel.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a second circumferential seal between the outer and inner valve members, the first circumferential seal providing a seal between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, the second circumferential seal providing a second seal between the outer valve member and the inner valve member, the second circumferential seal being disposed adjacent an intersection between the annular outer body section and the outer discharge section.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second circumferential seal extends around an upper surface of the outer discharge section of the outer valve member and a lower surface of the inner discharge section of the inner valve member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first a second circumferential seal is disposed adjacent an intersection between the annular outer body section and the outer discharge section.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a second circumferential seal extends around an upper surface of the outer discharge section of the outer valve member and a lower surface of the inner discharge section of the inner valve member.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a securement structure to secure the inner valve member and the outer valve member together, the securement structure includes an annular axle section extending from the inner valve member, the annular axle section having a plurality of vertical slots to define deflectable arms, the outer valve member having an annular receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the annular axle section therein, and further including a tapered guide surface associated with one of the annular axle section and the annular receptacle to facilitate insertion of the annular axle section into the annular receptacle.

8. A material supply assembly comprising:
a valve assembly including:
an outer valve member and an inner valve member,
the outer valve member including an annular outer body section and an outer discharge section, the annular outer body section extending other than a 180° angle to the outer discharge section, the outer discharge section including a plurality of first openings therein,
the inner valve member including an annular inner body section and an inner discharge section, the inner discharge section including a plurality of second openings therein, the inner valve member being rotatably disposed on the outer valve member and rotatable relative to the outer valve member between a closed position at which the valve assembly is closed and an open position at which the valve assembly is open, the plurality of first openings being aligned with the plurality of second openings at the open position;

a base having a receptacle with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve assembly therein and the outlet being configured to pass material therethrough; and
an engagement structure between the valve assembly and the base, the engagement structure including a plurality of spaced apart vertical engagement projections on one of the valve assembly and base member and a plurality of complementary configured engagement recesses on another of the valve assembly and base member, each vertical engagement projection being configured to be received in one of the engagement recesses.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart vertical engagement projections are disposed on one of the outer valve member and the base and the plurality of complementary configured engagement recesses are disposed on another of the outer valve member and the base, and engagement of the plurality of engagement projections with the plurality of engagement recesses prevents relative rotation between the outer valve member and the base.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base includes a plurality of alignment slots and a circumferential channel extending from each alignment slot, and the inner valve member includes a plurality of operating tabs, the operating tabs being configured to be vertically received in one of the alignment slots and aligned with and rotatable within the circumferential channel extending from a respective alignment slot upon the plurality of engagement projections being disposed within the plurality of engagement recesses.

11. A material supply assembly comprising:
a valve assembly including:
an outer valve member and an inner valve member,
the outer valve member including an annular outer body section, an outer discharge section, and a locking receptacle, the outer discharge section including a plurality of first openings therein,
the inner valve member including an annular inner body section, an inner discharge section, and a flexible locking arm, the inner discharge section including a plurality of second openings therein, the flexible locking arm having a locking member configured to be received in the locking receptacle of the outer valve member, the locking member being movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, the inner valve member being rotatably disposed on the outer valve member and rotatable relative to the outer valve member between a closed position at which the valve assembly is closed and an open position at which the valve assembly is open, and at the first locked position, the locking member engages the locking receptacle to prevent rotation of the inner valve member relative to the outer valve member from the closed position, and at the second unlocked position, the locking member is spaced from the locking receptacle to permit rotation of the inner valve member relative to the outer valve member from the closed position to the open position;

a base having a receptacle with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receiv

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Feiler Thaddeus Hans
• Weilage Hope Emily
• Dobizl Kenneth Thomas
• D'Heilly Michael Henry
• Millner Nathan John

Classifications

• B65G69/183 Primary

  with co-operating closure members on each of the parts of a separable transfer channel · CPC title

• F16K27/045

  with pivotal obturating members · CPC title

• F16K3/08 Primary

  with circular plates rotatable around their centres · CPC title

• F16K11/074

  with flat sealing faces · CPC title

• F16K35/02

  to be locked or disconnected by means of a pushing or pulling action · CPC title