IP Library Granted Patent US 12687237
Granted Patent B2
US 12687237 · App. 19/038,517 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Valve assembly

Inventor: Michael Henker (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
F16K31/0603F16K31/105F16K11/0853
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687237
App. No.
19/038,517
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a valve assembly, including a housing, a valve body, a drive train assembly, a first magnetic component, a driving component, and a second magnetic component. The housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity which are independent of each other. The valve body is disposed in the first cavity. The drive train assembly is disposed in the first cavity to drive the valve body to rotate. The first magnetic component is disposed in the first cavity and disposed on the drive train assembly. The driving component is disposed in the second cavity. The second magnetic component is disposed in the second cavity and disposed on the driving component. The first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured such that the first magnetic component can rotate correspondingly as the second magnetic component rotates. The driving component is capable of driving the valve body to rotate by means of the first magnetic component, the second magnetic component and the drive train assembly. The present disclosure provides a valve assembly, which transmits power by means of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component disposed in the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively, thereby eliminating the need for a seal while protecting the driving component.

Claims (44)

1 . A valve assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity that are independent of each other;

a valve body being disposed in the first cavity;

a drive train assembly being disposed in the first cavity and configured to be capable of driving the valve body to rotate;

a first magnetic component being disposed in the first cavity and disposed on the drive train assembly;

a driving component being disposed in the second cavity; and

a second magnetic component being disposed in the second cavity and disposed on the driving component;

wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured such that the first magnetic component can rotate correspondingly as the second magnetic component rotates;

wherein the driving component is capable of driving the valve body to rotate by means of the first magnetic component, the second magnetic component and the drive train assembly.

2 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the driving component has an output torque, and the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are capable of transmitting the output torque of the driving component to the drive train assembly,

wherein the drive train assembly is configured to convert the output torque into a valve body torque capable of driving the valve body to rotate, and

wherein the output torque is less than the valve body torque.

3 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive train assembly comprises a first gear and a final gear, and the first gear engages with the final gear;

wherein the first magnetic component is disposed on the first gear, and the final gear engages with a valve gear disposed on the valve body.

4 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drive train assembly comprises a first gear, a final gear and at least one intermediate gear, and the first gear is capable of driving the final gear to rotate by means of the at least one intermediate gear, and

wherein the first magnetic component is disposed on the first gear, and the final gear is configured to drive the valve body to rotate.

5 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic component drives the first magnetic component to rotate by means of a magnetic attraction force.

6 . The valve assembly according to claim 5 ,

wherein each of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component has a first polarity and a second polarity which are attractive to each other; and

wherein the first polarity of the first magnetic component directly faces the second polarity of the second magnetic component, and the first polarity of the second magnetic component directly faces the second polarity of the first magnetic component.

7 . The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are cylindrical.

8 . The valve assembly according to claim 6 ,

wherein the housing comprises a separator disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity; and

wherein the separator is a flat plate, and the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are disposed on two opposite sides of the separator.

9 . The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the first magnetic component is cylindrical, the second magnetic component is annular, and the second magnetic component is disposed and surrounded about the first magnetic component.

10 . The valve assembly according to claim 9 ,

wherein the housing comprises a separator disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity;

wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are disposed on two opposite sides of the separator; and

wherein the separator is provided with a counter bore, and the first magnetic component is received in the counter bore.

11 . The valve assembly according to claim 5 ,

wherein each of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component has a first polarity and a second polarity which are attractive to each other; and

wherein the first polarity of the first magnetic component is closer to the second polarity of the second magnetic component than the second polarity of the first magnetic component, and the first polarity of the second magnetic component is farther away from the first polarity of the first magnetic component than the second polarity of the second magnetic component.

12 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is stationary relative to the second magnetic component.

13 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the driving component has a rotatable output end, and the second magnetic component is disposed on the output end.

14 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the driving component is a motor.

15 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the housing comprises at least two tubes in communication with the first cavity, and a fluid is capable of flowing into the first cavity through one of the at least two tubes; and

wherein the valve body is provided with at least one opening, and the at least one opening is configured to enable the at least two tubes to communicate with each other, such that the fluid can flow out of the first cavity from the other of the at least two tubes.

16 . The valve assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional plate being disposed in the first cavity and being provided with a communication hole,

wherein the valve body comprises a valve main body, a valve gear and a valve shaft, the valve gear is connected to the valve main body via the valve shaft, the valve gear engages with the drive train assembly, and the valve shaft is capable of passing through the communication hole, and

wherein the valve main body and the drive train assembly are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the additional plate, and the valve main body and the valve gear are respectively disposed on the two opposite sides of the additional plate.