Valves having segmented sleeves and internal seals
The present disclosure provides air-tight mechanical valves. In a general embodiment, the valves include a shaft and a segmented sleeve. The shaft includes a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft. The sleeve is configured to fit concentrically around the shaft and includes a body having at least two body pieces, at least one internal seal, and at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body. The plurality of sleeve ports cooperates with the plurality of shaft ports to facilitate fluid flow. The valves of the present disclosure advantageously reduce losses of pressure and compressed air during use.
1. A valve comprising:
a shaft having a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft;
a sleeve configured to fit concentrically around the shaft and comprising a body, the body comprises body pieces comprising a first end piece, a second end piece, a locking piece, and at least two sealing pieces, each of the first and second end pieces and the at least two sealing pieces housing an internal seal, the internal seal is cylindrical and comprises recessed portions that receive o-rings positioned between the internal seal and the body; and
at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body, the plurality of sleeve ports constructed and arranged to cooperate with the plurality of shaft ports to facilitate fluid flow.
2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shaft ports includes at least four shaft ports, and the plurality of sleeve ports includes at least four sleeve ports.
3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the shaft each are substantially cylindrical.
4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein each of the locking piece and the at least two sealing pieces has at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of each of the locking piece and the at least two sealing pieces, and each set of the plurality of sleeve ports is distributed along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft.
5. A valve comprising:
a shaft having a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft;
a sleeve configured to fit concentrically around the shaft, the sleeve comprising a body, the body comprises a first end piece, a second end piece, a locking piece, and at least two sealing pieces, each of the first and second end pieces and the at least two sealing pieces housing an internal seal, the internal seal is cylindrical and comprises recessed portions that receive o-rings positioned between the internal seal and the body; and
at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body, the plurality of sleeve ports is distributed on a sleeve port plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the sleeve, and the plurality of sleeve ports are configured to be larger in size than the plurality of shaft ports such that, when aligned, each sleeve port encompasses at least a portion of at least two shaft ports.
6. The valve of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of shaft ports includes at least four shaft ports, and the at least one set of plurality of sleeve ports includes at least four sleeve ports.
7. The valve of claim 5 , wherein the sleeve and the shaft are substantially cylindrical.
8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein each of the body pieces has at least two sets of the plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body piece, each set of the plurality of sleeve ports is distributed on unique, adjacent planes that are substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft.
9. The valve of claim 8 , wherein each set of the plurality of sleeve ports on each of the body pieces are distributed approximately evenly about the body piece such that one set of the plurality of sleeve ports is offset from the other set on the same body piece.
10. The valve of claim 5 , wherein a size of one of the plurality of sleeve ports is at least 1.5 times a size of one of the plurality of shaft ports.
11. A valve comprising:
a shaft having a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft along a shaft port plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft;
a sleeve that is configured to fit concentrically around the shaft, the sleeve comprising a body, the body comprises a first end piece, a second end piece, a locking piece, and at least two sealing pieces, each of the first and second end pieces and the at least two sealing pieces housing an internal seal, the internal seal is cylindrical and comprises recessed portions that receive o-rings positioned between the internal seal and the body; and
at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body, the plurality of sleeve ports is distributed on a sleeve port plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the sleeve, and a distance between each of the plurality of sleeve ports is configured to be greater than a distance between each of the plurality of shaft ports such that, when the shaft port plane and the sleeve port plane are aligned, each sleeve port encompasses at least a portion of at least two shaft ports.
12. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of shaft ports comprises at least eight shaft ports, and the plurality of sleeve ports comprises at least four sleeve ports.
13. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the distance between each of the plurality of sleeve ports is about twice the distance between each of the plurality of shaft ports.