Rotary plug valve with labyrinth

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11668402-B2
Application number	US-202117490729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2021
Priority date	Sep 30, 2021
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A rotary valve has a valve plug that is rotatable in a valve body about a rotational axis. Surface features of the valve plug and surface features of the valve body cooperate to provide a bearing by which the valve plug is rotatably supported with respect to the valve body. In addition, each of the valve plug and the valve body include a plurality of annular projections that encircle the plain bearing and axially overlap one another so as to form a labyrinth that surrounds the bearing. The labyrinth forms a fluid path that collects abrasive particles suspended in the fluid passing through the valve, whereby wear of the valve is reduced.

First claim

We claim:

1. A rotary valve comprising a valve plug that disposed in a valve body and that is rotatable with respect to the valve body about a rotational axis, wherein
surface features of the valve plug and surface features of the valve body cooperate to provide a plain bearing by which the valve plug is rotatably supported with respect to the valve body, and
each of the valve plug and the valve body include a plurality of annular projections that encircle the plain bearing and axially overlap one another so as to form a labyrinth that surrounds the plain bearing.

2. The rotary valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve plug includes a valve shaft that is aligned with the rotational axis, the valve shaft and the surface features of the valve plug being disposed on opposed sides of the valve plug.

3. The rotary valve of claim 1 , wherein
the surface features of the valve plug include one of
a pin that is centered on the rotational axis, or
a bore that is centered on the rotational axis, and

the surface features of the valve body include the other of
the pin that is centered on the rotational axis, or
the bore that is centered on the rotational axis, and

the pin is disposed in, and supported for rotation by, the bore so as to provide the plain bearing.

4. The rotary valve of claim 1 , wherein
the surface features of the valve plug include one of
a shaft that is centered on the rotational axis, or
an opening that is centered on the rotational axis, and

the surface features of the valve body include the other of
the shaft that is centered on the rotational axis, or
the opening that is centered on the rotational axis, and

the shaft is disposed in, and supported for rotation by, the opening so as to provide the plain bearing.

5. The rotary valve of claim 1 , wherein the labyrinth flow path is defined between
a body annular protrusion that protrudes from an inner surface of the valve body and encircles the plain bearing; and
a plug annular protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the valve plug, encircles the plain bearing, and is radially spaced apart from the body annular protrusion.

6. The rotary valve of claim 5 , wherein the radial spacing between the body annular protrusion and the plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the body annular protrusion and the valve plug.

7. The rotary valve of claim 6 , wherein the radial spacing between the body annular protrusion and the plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the plug annular protrusion and the valve body.

8. The rotary valve of claim 5 , wherein
the body annular protrusion includes
a first body annular protrusion, and
a second body annular protrusion that surrounds the first body annular protrusion,

the plug annular protrusion includes
a first plug annular protrusion that is disposed between, and radially spaced apart from, the first body annular protrusion and the second body annular protrusion, and
a second plug annular protrusion that surrounds, and is radially spaced apart from, the second body annular protrusion.

9. The rotary valve of claim 8 , wherein the radial spacing between the first body annular protrusion or the second body annular protrusion and an adjacent one of the first plug annular protrusion and the second plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the first and second body annular protrusions and the valve plug.

10. The rotary valve of claim 8 , wherein the radial spacing between the first body annular protrusion or the second body annular protrusion and an adjacent one of the first plug annular protrusion and the second plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the first and second plug annular protrusions and the valve body.

11. A rotary valve comprising:
a valve body that includes
a body sidewall that encircles and is centered on a body axis,
a body first end that closes one end of the body sidewall,
a body second end that is opposite the body first end, the body second end being open,
a lid that closes the body second end, the body sidewall, the body first end and the lid cooperating to define a valve body chamber and
valve ports, each valve port communicating with the valve body chamber:

a valve plug that is disposed in the valve body chamber, the valve plug being rotatable relative to the valve body about a rotational axis that coincides with the body axis, the valve plug configured to provide a fluid path between certain ones of the valve ports for a predetermined rotational orientation of the valve plug with respect to the valve body; and
a labyrinth that provides a labyrinth flow path between the valve plug and the lid,
wherein
the lid comprises a lid surface feature that includes one of
a pin that is centered on the rotational axis, or
a bore that is centered on the rotational axis,

the lid surface feature is engaged with a plug surface feature provided on the valve plug, the plug surface feature including the other of
the pin that is centered on the rotational axis, or
the bore that is centered on the rotational axis,

the pin is disposed in the bore to provide a plain bearing that supports the valve plug for rotation relative to the valve body,
the labyrinth encircles the plain bearing, and
the valve plug includes a valve shaft that is coaxial with the plug surface feature, the valve shaft and the plug surface feature being disposed on opposed sides of the valve plug.

12. The rotary valve of claim 11 , wherein
a lid inner surface faces the valve plug,
the lid surface feature is the pin that protrudes from the lid inner surface so as to be centered on the rotational axis, and
the bore is provided on the valve plug, the pin and the bore cooperating to provide the plain bearing.

13. The rotary valve of claim 11 , wherein the valve plug includes a passageway that provides a fluid path between certain ones of the valve ports for a predetermined rotational orientation of the valve plug with respect to the valve body.

14. The rotary valve of claim 11 , wherein the labyrinth comprises:
a lid annular protrusion that protrudes from an inner surface of the lid and encircles the plain bearing; and
a plug annular protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the valve plug, encircles the plain bearing, and is radially spaced apart from the lid annular protrusion,
the plug annular protrusion and the lid annular protrusion being arranged to form the labyrinth flow path.

15. The rotary valve of claim 14 , wherein a radial spacing between the lid annular protrusion and the plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the lid annular protrusion and the valve plug.

16. The rotary valve of claim 15 , wherein the radial spacing between the lid annular protrusion and the plug annular protrusion is less than an axial spacing between the plug annular protrusion and the lid.

17. The rotary valve of claim 14 , wherein
the lid annular protrusion includes
a first lid annular protrusion, and
a second lid annular protrusion that surrounds the first lid annular protrusion,

the plug annular protrusion includes
a first plug annular protrusion that is disposed between, and radially spaced apart from, the first lid annular protrusion and the second lid annular protrusion, and
a second plug annular protrusion that surrounds, and is radially spaced apart from, the second lid annular protrusion.

18. The rotary valve of claim 17 , wherein a radial spacing between the first lid annular protrusion or the second

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert
• Robert Bosch Llc

Inventors

• Chapman Thomas
• Popovici George

Classifications

• F16K5/0605

  with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means · CPC title

• F16K5/0442

  Spindles and actuating means · CPC title

• F16K5/0407 Primary

  with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means · CPC title

• F16K11/0873 Primary

  the plug being only rotatable around one spindle · CPC title

• F16K11/085

  with cylindrical plug · CPC title