Multi-port valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018292016-A1
Application number	US-201815945173-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2018
Priority date	Apr 7, 2017
Publication date	Oct 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-port valve is provided. The multi-port valve includes a housing which defines an internal cavity. The housing further includes a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of ports is in communication with the internal cavity. A shell body is rotatably disposed within the internal cavity. A seal member is also provided which has a plurality of openings and surrounds the shell body such that it circumscribes the shell body within the internal cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multi-port valve, comprising:
a housing defining an internal cavity, the housing further comprising a plurality of ports, wherein each of the plurality of ports is in communication with the internal cavity; a shell body rotatably disposed within the internal cavity; and a seal member having a plurality of openings and surrounding the shell body such that it circumscribes the shell body within the internal cavity.

2 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings of the seal member is associated with one of the plurality of ports such that each of the plurality of ports are sealed from one another along the outer periphery of the seal member.

3 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports includes a first port and a second port, wherein the first port and second port of the plurality of ports are arranged relative to one another such that they are one of:
angularly spaced apart from one another in an angular direction and situated at a same axial height relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing; or in at least a partially angularly overlapped arrangement relative to one another in the angular direction and are axially spaced from one another relative to the longitudinal axis.

4 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , wherein the shell body includes a partition wall separating the shell body into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are selectively alignable with the plurality of ports to allow simultaneous flow along a first flow path and a second flow path through the shell body.

5 . The multi-port valve of claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes a first opening and a second opening separated by a wall, and the second portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening.

6 . The multi-port valve of claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes a passageway, and the second portion includes passageway.

7 . The multi-port valve of claim 4 , wherein the seal member is one of a continuous piece of elastomeric material, or comprises a rigid core with a plurality of elastomeric seals attached thereto.

8 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , wherein the seal member seals outwardly in a radial direction against an interior surface of the housing.

9 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , wherein the seal member includes a plurality of seal ribs which seal against the shell body.

10 . The multi-port valve of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of port bodies, respectively received in the plurality of ports such that one port body of the plurality of port bodies is received in one port of the plurality of ports.

11 . The multi-port valve of claim 10 , wherein the seal member comprises a plurality of seal segments, and wherein one of the seal segments sealingly engages a first and a second port body of the plurality of port bodies.

12 . A multi-port valve, comprising:
a housing defining an internal cavity, the housing further comprising a plurality of ports, wherein each of the plurality of ports is in communication with the internal cavity; a shell body rotatably disposed within the internal cavity; and a seal member having a plurality of openings, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is associated with one of the plurality of ports such that each of the plurality of ports are sealed from one another along the outer periphery of the seal member.

13 . The multi-port valve of claim 12 , wherein the shell body includes a partition wall separating the shell body into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are selectively alignable with the plurality of ports to allow simultaneous flow along a first flow path and a second flow path through the shell body.

14 . The multi-port valve of claim 13 , wherein the first portion includes a first opening and a second opening separated by a wall, and the second portion includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening.

15 . The multi-port valve of claim 13 , wherein the first portion includes a passageway, and the second portion includes passageway.

16 . The multi-port valve of claim 12 , wherein the seal member is one of a continuous piece of elastomeric material, or comprises a rigid core with a plurality of elastomeric seals attached thereto.

17 . The multi-port valve of claim 12 , wherein the seal member seals outwardly in a radial direction against an interior surface of the housing.

18 . The multi-port valve of claim 12 , wherein the seal member includes a plurality of seal ribs which seal against the shell body.

19 . The multi-port valve of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of port bodies, respectively received in the plurality of ports such that one port body of the plurality of port bodies is received in one port of the plurality of ports.

20 . The multi-port valve of claim 19 , wherein the seal member comprises a plurality of seal segments, and wherein one of the seal segments sealingly engages a first and a second port body of the plurality of port bodies.

21 . A multi-port valve, comprising:
a housing defining an internal cavity, the housing further comprising a plurality of ports, wherein a first port and a second port of the plurality of ports are arranged relative one another such that they are one of:
angularly spaced apart from one another in an angular direction and situated at a same axial height relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing; or
in at least a partially angularly overlapped arrangement relative to one another in the angular direction and are axially spaced from one another relative to the longitudinal axis;
a shell body rotatably disposed within the internal cavity; and a seal member surrounding the shell body, the seal member radially interposed between the shell body and the housing.

22 . The multi-port valve of claim 21 , wherein the shell body includes a partition wall separating the shell body into a first portion and a second portion.

23 . The multi-port valve of claim 22 , wherein the first portion and second portion are selectively alignable with the plurality of ports to allow simultaneous flow along a first and a second flow path through the shell body.

24 . The multi-port valve of claim 21 , wherein the seal member includes a plurality of receiving grooves and the piece housing includes a plurality of projections, wherein each one of the plurality of receiving grooves receives one of the plurality of projections.

25 . The multi-port valve of claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of port bodies, respectively received in the plurality of ports such that one port body of the plurality of port bodies is received in one port of the plurality of ports.

26 . The multi-port valve of claim 25 , wherein the seal member comprises a plurality of seal segments, and wherein one of the seal segments sealingly engages a first and a second port body of the plurality of port bodies.

Assignees

• Ledvora Joe
• Hawken Philip C
• Davern Thomas J
• Robertshaw Controls Co

Inventors

• Ledvora Joe
• Hawken Philip C
• Davern Thomas J

Classifications

• F16K5/0471 Primary

  between housing and plug · CPC title

• F16K41/02

  with stuffing-box {; Sealing rings} · CPC title

• F16K11/0853

  having all the connecting conduits situated in a single plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• F16K11/0856 Primary

  having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• F16K27/041

  cylindrical slide valves · CPC title