Rotary Valve for Industrial Fluid Flow Control
A cylindrical rotary valve to control or affect fluid flow in processes where the fluid temperature must be maintained within a target range, the fluid pressure is varied and/or the amount of fluid flow is controlled comprising one or more of the following elements alone or in combination: (i) the use of a temperature control core in the valve shaft, (ii) the contoured or tapered shapes or the conduits (iii) the use of the valve to create predictable pulses or waves in the fluid being controlled, (iv) a modular system of valves where the valve body is fixed and the valve shaft is replaceable with a second valve shaft of different conduit shape, (v) a rotary valve with multiple inputs or multiple outputs for either mixing or diverting of input fluids, and (vi) the use of the valve in abrasive particulate blasting and in particular dry ice blasting.
1 . A cylindrical rotary valve comprising
(a) A valve body defining at least one input port and at least one output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a cylindrical valve shaft coaxially positioned within the first cylindrical bore,
(c) an outer surface of the valve shaft defining a first fluid conduit extending across the longitudinal axis,
(d) the valve shaft rotating between a closed position and an open position, such that when the valve shaft is in the open position, the first fluid conduit connects the at least one input port and the at least one output port for fluid communication, and
(e) the valve shaft defines at least one temperature control bore extending along the longitudinal axis, the at least one temperature control bore defining at least one longitudinal fluid conduit extending between opposing ends of the valve shaft.
2 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the at least one temperature control bore defines a flow path for a thermally conductive fluid.
3 . The rotary valve claimed in claim 1 wherein the conduit defines a smoothly contoured topography.
4 . The rotary valve claimed in claim 3 , wherein the topography is defined by a first convex endwall connecting smoothly with a concave conduit face, said conduit face connecting smoothly to a second convex endwall.
5 . The rotary valve claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first convex endwall and the second convex endwall are contoured to inhibit shear in a controlled fluid.
6 . The rotary valve claimed in claim 4 , wherein the conduit face defines a cross sectional area profile with the first cylindrical bore chosen to minimize pressure loss of the controlled fluid within the valve.
7 . The rotary valve of claim 4 wherein the first convex endwall, the concave conduit face and the second convex endwall are each bounded longitudinally by a pair of parallel side walls.
8 . The rotary valve of claim 4 wherein the concave conduit face is radiused.
9 . The rotary valve claimed in claim 1 wherein the conduit defines a topography comprising:
a tapered section which registers with the at least one output port when the valve shaft is in the open position, and
a minimum cross sectional area in the conduit is defined by an opening between the tapered section and the output port during rotation of the valve shaft through the open position, and said minimum cross sectional area varies in a predetermined non-linear relationship to an amount of valve shaft rotation through the open position.
10 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotary valve defines a stop valve, and the valve body has exactly one input port and exactly one output port.
11 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the rotary valve defining a diverter valve; the valve body having exactly one input port and two output ports; and the fluid conduit being contoured such that the valve shaft is rotatable between: (i) a first open position providing fluid communication between the input port and a first output port of the two output ports, (ii) a second open position providing fluid communication between the input port and a second output port of the two output ports, and (iii) a closed position restricting fluid communication between the input port and both of the two output ports.
12 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the rotary valve defining a mixing valve; the valve body having exactly two input ports and one output port; and the fluid conduit being contoured such that the valve shaft is rotatable between: (i) a closed position restricting fluid communication between the output port and both of the two input ports, (ii) a range of positions for mixing various proportions of fluid streams communicating via the first and second input ports for fluid communication with the output port, and (iii) a first fully biased position for fluid communication between the output port and the first input port, and a second fully biased position for fluid communication between the output port and the second input port.
13 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the valve shaft is coated with a self lubricating material.
14 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the valve shaft is slide-fitted into the valve body.
15 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 1 , the valve shaft and the first cylindrical bore together defining a set of opposing seal grooves adjacent opposing sides of the first fluid conduit, and the set of opposing seal grooves housing self lubricating seals.
16 . A cylindrical rotary valve comprising
(a) a valve body defining at least one input port and at least one output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a cylindrical valve shaft coaxially positioned within the first cylindrical bore,
(c) the valve shaft being operable at a predetermined frequency, and
(d) one or more first fluid conduits defined by an outer surface of the valve shaft and an inner surface of the first cylinder bore; the one or more first fluid conduits extending transversely about the longitudinal axis,
the one or more first fluid conduits each defining a first opening for fluid communication between the at least one input port and the at least one output port, the size of the first opening varying during rotation of the valve shaft, such that as the valve shaft rotates the one or more first fluid conduits sequentially bring the at least one input port and the at least one output port through a fluid communication cycle consisting of: (i) a state of an increasing fluid flow; (ii) a state of maximum fluid flow; (iii) a state of decreasing fluid flow, and (iv) a state of minimum fluid flow.
17 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 16 , the valve shaft is coated with a self lubricating material.
18 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 16 , the valve shaft is slide-fitted into the valve body.
19 . In the rotary valve of claimed in claim 16 , the valve shaft and the first cylindrical bore together defining a set of opposing seal grooves adjacent opposing sides of the first fluid conduit, and the set of opposing seal grooves housing self lubricating seals.
20 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 16 , the valve shaft defining at least one temperature control bore extending along the longitudinal axis and extending between opposing ends of the valve shaft.
21 . In the cylindrical rotary valve claimed in claim 16 , the outer surface of the valve shaft and the inner surface of the first cylinder bore together defining a plurality of first fluid conduits equidistantly spaced about the valve shaft.
22 . In the cylindrical rotary valve claimed in claim 21 , the plurality of first fluid conduits are of like size and configuration.
23 . In the cylindrical rotary valve claimed in claim 16 , the state of minimum fluid flow is zero.
24 . An apparatus comprising:
a compressed air source for supplying a compressed air stream to a particulate feeder for mixing the compressed air stream and abrasive particulate matter;
a nozzle for expelling a mixture comprising the compressed air and the abrasive particulate matter; and
a rotary valve as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 23 positioned in fluid communication with the compressed air source and the particulate feeder, to control the flow of compressed air relative to the rotation of the valve shaft.
25 . The apparatus claimed in claim 24 , wherein the rotary valve is positioned between the compressed air source and the particulate feeder.
26 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 for use with the particulate matter comprising dry ice pellets.
27 . A modular cylindrical rotary valve system comprising:
(a) a valve body defining at least one input port and at least one output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a replaceable first cylindrical valve shaft for coaxial positioning within the first cylindrical bore, and
(c) an outer surface of the first cylindrical valve shaft defining a first conduit profile when the first cylindrical valve shaft is positioned within the first cylindrical bore, the first cylindrical valve shaft being replaceable by a second cylindrical valve shaft defining a second conduit profile when the second cylindrical valve shaft is positioned within the first cylinder bore, and the first conduit profile being distinguishable from the second conduit profile.
28 . In the modular cylindrical rotary valve system as claimed in claim 27 , the first conduit profile being defined by a first convex endwall connecting smoothly with a concave conduit face, said concave conduit face connecting smoothly to a second convex endwall, the first convex endwall and second convex endwall are contoured to control shear in a controlled fluid, and the concave conduit face defines a cross sectional area profile with the first cylindrical bore chosen to minimize pressure loss of the controlled fluid within the valve.
29 . In the modular cylindrical rotary valve system as claimed in claim 28 , the first convex endwall, the concave conduit face and the second convex endwall are each bounded longitudinally by a pair of parallel side walls.
30 . In the modular cylindrical rotary valve system as claimed in claim 28 , the concave conduit face is radiused.
31 . In the modular cylindrical rotary valve system as claimed in claim 27 , the first conduit profile comprising:
(a) a tapered section which registers with the at least one output port when the valve shaft is in the open position,
(b) an output cross sectional area defined by the tapered section and the output port, for fluid communication between the output port and the input port, during rotation of the valve shaft through the open position;
(c) the output cross sectional area defines a minimum cross sectional area of the first conduit profile; and
(d) the minimum cross sectional area varies in a predetermined non-linear relationship to an amount of valve shaft rotation through the open position.
32 . In the modular cylindrical rotary valve system as claimed in claim 27 , the first valve shaft defines at least one temperature control bore extending along the longitudinal axis, and the at least one temperature control bore defines at least one longitudinal fluid conduit extending between opposing ends of the valve shaft.
33 . A cylindrical rotary valve comprising:
(a) a valve body defining at least one input port and at least one output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a cylindrical valve shaft coaxially positioned within the first cylindrical bore, an outer surface of the valve shaft defining a first fluid conduit,
(c) the valve shaft rotating within a range of open positions such that the first fluid conduit connects the at least one input port and the at least one output port for fluid communication;
(d) said range comprising: a partially open position wherein the at least one output port is partially exposed to the conduit, a fully open position wherein the at least one input port and the at least one output port are fully exposed to the conduit, and a partially closed position wherein the at least one input port is partially exposed to the conduit; and
(e) the first fluid conduit defining a topography comprising a first convex endwall connecting the outer surface with a concave conduit face, the concave conduit face connecting smoothly to a second convex endwall, the first convex endwall and the second convex endwall are contoured to control shear in a controlled fluid, and the concave conduit face defines a cross sectional area profile with the first cylindrical bore chosen to minimize pressure loss of the controlled fluid within the valve.
34 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 33 , the first convex endwall, the concave conduit face and the second convex endwall each being bounded longitudinally by a pair of parallel side walls.
35 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 33 , the topography further comprising a tapered section which registers with the at least one output port when the valve shaft is in the open position, and a minimum cross sectional exposure in the conduit is defined by an opening between the tapered section and the output port during rotation of the valve shaft through the open position, and said minimum cross sectional area varies in a predetermined non-linear relationship to an amount of valve shaft rotation through the open position.
36 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 33 , the valve shaft is coated with a self lubricating material.
37 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 33 , the valve shaft is slide-fitted into the valve body.
38 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 33 , the valve shaft and the first cylindrical bore together defining a set of opposing seal grooves adjacent opposing sides of the first fluid conduit, and the set of opposing seal grooves housing self lubricating seals.
39 . A cylindrical rotary valve comprising
(a) A valve body defining an input port, a first output port and a second output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a cylindrical valve shaft coaxially positioned within the first cylindrical bore,
(c) an outer surface of the valve shaft defining a first fluid conduit,
(d) the first fluid conduit being contoured such that the valve shaft rotates between: (i) a first open position providing fluid communication between the input port and the first output port, (ii) a second open position providing fluid communication between the input port and the second output port, and (iii) a closed position restricting fluid communication between the input port and both of the two output ports.
40 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 39 , the valve shaft is coated with a self lubricating material.
41 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 39 , the valve shaft is slide-fitted into the valve body.
42 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 39 , the valve shaft and the first cylindrical bore together defining a set of opposing seal grooves adjacent opposing sides of the first fluid conduit, and the set of opposing seal grooves housing self lubricating seals.
43 . A cylindrical rotary valve comprising
(a) A valve body defining a first input port, a second input port and an output port, each port providing a separate fluid communication path between an outer surface of the valve body and a first cylindrical bore extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the valve body,
(b) a cylindrical valve shaft coaxially positioned within the first cylindrical bore,
(c) an outer surface of the valve shaft defining a first fluid conduit,
(d) the first fluid conduit contoured such that the valve shaft rotates between: (i) a closed position for restricting fluid communication between the output port and both of the two input ports, (ii) a range of positions for mixing various proportions of fluid streams communicating via the first and second input ports, for fluid communication with the output port, and (iii) a first fully biased position for fluid communication between the output port and the first input port, and a second fully biased position for fluid communication between the output port and the second input port.
44 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 43 , the valve shaft is coated with a self lubricating material.
45 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 43 , the valve shaft is slide-fitted into the valve body.
46 . In the rotary valve claimed in claim 43 , the valve shaft and the first cylindrical bore together defining a set of opposing seal grooves adjacent opposing sides of the first fluid conduit, and the set of opposing seal grooves housing self lubricating seals.
47 . In the rotary valve claimed in claims 1 to 46 , the rotary valve comprises a plurality of first fluid conduits positioned longitudinally along the valve shaft, and each first fluid conduit corresponds to a set of at least one input port and at least one corresponding output port.