Actuator arrangement for multi-valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320433-B2
Application number	US-202217894268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2022
Priority date	Aug 25, 2021
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A valve assembly includes multiple valves operatively connected with a single valve actuator operable to control and restrict the corresponding positions of each of the multiple valves.

First claim

We claim:

1. A valve assembly comprising:
a valve body defining a first end passage extending to a first end port, a second end passage extending to a second end port, an internal through passage extending between the first and second end passages, and a bleed passage extending to a vent port;
a first valve element disposed in the first end passage and defining a first valve passage;
a second valve element disposed in the second end passage and defining a second valve passage;
a third valve element disposed in the bleed passage and defining a third valve passage; and
a valve actuator operatively connected with each of the first, second, and third valve elements, the valve actuator being movable between:
a first position corresponding to an open flowpath configuration in which the first and second valve elements are in an open position permitting fluid flow between the first end port and the second end port, and the third valve element is in a closed position blocking flow between the internal through passage and the vent port;
a second position corresponding to a bleed configuration in which the first and second valve elements are in a first closed position blocking flow between the first and second end ports and the internal through passage, with the first and second valve passages being open to the internal through passage, and the third valve element is in a first switching position permitting fluid flow between the internal through passage and the vent port; and
a third position corresponding to a downstream vent configuration in which the first and second valve elements are in a second closed position blocking flow between the first and second end ports and the internal through passage, with the second valve passage being open to the second end port, and the third valve element is in a second switching position permitting fluid flow between the internal through passage and the second valve passage.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator is rotatable between the first position, the second position, and the third position.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator is rotationally fixed to at least one of the first, second, and third valve elements.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator is operatively connected to at least one of the first, second, and third valve elements by at least one gear.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator is rotationally fixed to one of the first, second, and third valve elements, and is operatively connected to the others of the first, second, and third valve elements by at least one gear.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first valve element is rotatable about a first axis, the second valve element is rotatable about a second axis, and the third valve element is rotatable about a third axis.

7. The valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis.

8. The valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein the third axis is parallel to the first axis.

9. The valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second switching position of the third valve element permits fluid flow between the internal through passage and the vent port.

11. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first valve passage is open to the first end port when the first valve element is in the second closed position.

12. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator includes a locking mechanism configured to secure the valve actuator in a selected one of the first position, the second position, and the third position.

13. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuator comprises a user rotatable handle.

14. A valve assembly comprising:
a valve body;
a first valve element assembled with the valve body and rotatable about a first valve axis;
a second valve element assembled with the valve body and rotatable about a second valve axis perpendicular to the first valve axis; and
a valve actuator operatively connected with each of the first and second valve elements, the valve actuator being rotatable about an actuator axis for rotation of the first and second valve elements between first and second positions;
wherein the valve actuator is operatively connected to the second valve element by a gear mechanism; and
wherein the gear mechanism comprises a first gear wheel rotatable about a first gear axis codirectional with the first valve axis, a second gear wheel rotatable about a second gear axis codirectional with the second valve axis, and a gear rack having a first row of teeth operatively connected with the first gear wheel and a second row of teeth operatively connected with the second gear wheel.

15. The valve assembly of claim 14 , wherein the valve actuator is rotationally fixed to the first valve element.

16. The valve assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second gear axis is collinear with the second valve axis.

17. The valve assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a housing enclosing the valve body, the first and second valve elements, and the gear mechanism.

18. The valve assembly of claim 17 , wherein the housing defines a window that aligns with position identifying indicia on the gear mechanism to provide visual indication when the first and second valve elements are in at least one of the first and second positions.

19. The valve assembly of claim 14 , wherein the valve actuator comprises a user rotatable handle.

Assignees

• Swagelok Co

Inventors

• Khan Azmathullah
• Aughenbaugh Michael L
• White Andrew
• Brown Cal R

Classifications

• F16K31/602

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K31/535

  for rotating valves (F16K31/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K11/163

  only turns · CPC title

• F16K11/165 Primary

  with the rotating spindles parallel to the closure members · CPC title

• F16K31/54

  with pinion and rack · CPC title