GB2138110A

GB2138110A - Improvement in and relating to control valves

Info

Publication number: GB2138110A
Application number: GB08408852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Neil Stanley; Harold Hughes
Original assignee: DRALLIM IND
Current assignee: DRALLIM IND
Priority date: 1983-04-13
Filing date: 1984-04-05
Publication date: 1984-10-17
Also published as: GB8408852D0

Abstract

A control valve comprises an assembly of two or more valve bodies 1 each formed internally with a chamber 2 which communicates with a plurality of radial passageways 11 and each housing a spherical valve member 3. The spherical valve members are each located on or formed integrally with a rotatable spindle 4 of the or each adjacent valve body of the assembly. Each spherical valve member includes at least one internal passageway which, through rotation of the respective spindle, can selectively place two or more of the radial passageways in communication with each other. Preferably the spindle has a vertical passageway (22, Fig. 2, not shown) to communicate both valve chambers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to control valves This invention relates to control valves of the type known as selector or switch valves.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control valve which can operate under vacuum conditions and with improved flow characteristics at relatively high working pressures.

According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided a control valve comprising an assembly of two or more valve bodies each formed internally with a chamber which communicates with a plurality of radial passageways and each housing a spherical valve member located on or formed integrally with a rotatable spindle which engages the rotatable spindle of the or each adjacent valve body of the assembly, each spherical valve member including at least one internal passageway which through rotation of the respective spindle can selectively place two or more of the radial passageways in communication with each other.

One or more of the spindles may be formed with an internal passageways to place the respective chambers in communication with each other.

A cylindrical member may be located within each radial passageway of each valve body to place each spherical valve member in communication with an outlet port of the respective valve body, each such cylindrical member having an end face which is urged into contact with the respective spherical valve member and is shaped in a complementary sense to the spherical periphery of the said valve member. Each outlet port may be formed in a connector screw threaded into the valve body.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a spindle for a control valve including a cylindrical stem which supports a spherical valve member formed with at least one internal passageway, the spindle being adapted so that it can be assembled coaxially with and in engagement with one or more similar spindles whereby rotation of one spindle effects rotation of the other spindle or spindles. The spherical valve member may be formed onto the spindle by a machining operation.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of a fluid flow control valve assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken along line tl-ll of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows in cross-section four different spherical valve members of control valves in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a tiered assembly of two fluid flow control valves of the type known as selector or rotary switch valves, the assembly being operable selectively to place one or more fluid flow conduits in communication with a plurality of other fluid flow conduits. Each individual valve includes a valve body 1 having a central chamber 2 which houses a spherical valve member 3 located towards the lower end of the stem of a rotatable spindle 4 which extends substantially vertically into the valve body 1 through a bore 5. Each spherical valve member 3 may be formed integrally with its respective spindle 4 or separate therefrom and subsequently fitted onto the spindle stem. Thus the spindles may be machined so as to include the spherical members 3.The spindles 4 are retained in the valve bodies 1 by housings 6 which are connected by pins 7 to the spindles and seat within recesses set in the upper surfaces of the valve bodies. Adjoining valve stems are connected to one another through a common housing. Additionally, the mating faces of these valve stems may be stepped or suitably shaped to ensure proper engagement of the stem faces. Annular recesses 9 are formed in each spindle stem and retain captive resilient '0' rings 10 to seal the spaces formed between the opposed surfaces of each spindle and the respective valve body. Four passageways 11 are arranged radially around each spherical valve member 3 and extend in an outwardly direction to four connectors 1 2 which are spaced evenly around the valve body.Each connector is screwed into the valve body by means of tubular extensions to define the above mentioned radial passageway 11. Each connector is formed with an outlet port 1 3 of a male or female thread and includes outwardly projecting extensions 14 which are internally threaded for coupling the valve body to external conduits (not shown).

A cylindrical carrier 1 5 manufactured from a non-deformable material is positioned within end connector 24 and holds captive a seal 1 6 manufactured from a deformable non-abrasive material such as plastics, between each connector and the opposed face of the spherical valve member 3. The radially innermost end face of each of the deformable seals 16 is radiused so that it precisely complements the contacting face of the spherical valve member. The deformable seals are pressed into contact with the valve member 3 by the carriers 1 5 and '0' ring seals 1 7 are positioned between the radially outer ends of the carrier members 1 5 and the opposed faces of the connectors.Additional '0' rings 1 8 are provided to seal spaces between adjacent faces of the carriers and the valve bodies to prevent leakage therebetween.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, each spherical valve member 3 has two radial passageways 20,21 set at 90 to one another and a vertical passageway 22 which extends through the respective valve stem to place the radial passageways of one valve member in communication with those of the other valve member.

The spindle 4 of the upper valve of the assembly can be manually or automatically rotated by mechanical, electrical or pneumatic means. Thus, rotation of the valve spindle 4 selectively places certain passageways of the valve assembly in communication with one another so that fluid can be diverted selectively between conduits connected to the valve bodies at the outlet ports 1 3.

It is to be understood that more than two control valves may be similarly stacked and assembled to provide selective connection of the various passageways of each control valve of the assembly.

The spherical valve member may be formed with several alternative arrangements of passageways. Several such arrangements are illustrated in Fig. 3.

In operation of the control valve illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, fluid flows between conduits connected to the ports 1 3 of the assembly via the passageways 11 formed in each valve body 1, and the passageways 20, 21 and 22 of the spherical valve members 3. To change selectively the flow to adjacent pairs of conduits other than those shown to be connected by the drawings, the spindles 4 are rotated through 90 or 180 . The circumferential spacings of the openings of passageways 20, 21 within the spherical members 3 are sufficient to effect full opening and complete closing of the passageway openings as the spindles 4 are turned to ensure that the flow between previously communicating conduits is completely stopped before other conduits are placed in communication with one another.

It will be appreciated that as the pressure of the fluid flowing through the radial passageways 11 increases, so the seal between the deformable seals 1 6 and the spherical valve members 3 becomes more effective due to the increased pressures exerted upon and deforming the '0' ring seals 1 7 and upon the ends of the carriers 1 5 remote from the spherical valve members 3.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is descriptive of several specific embodiments of the invention and that various modifications to the control valves described can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, although the adjoining spindles 4 of the valve assembly have been described as being cylindrical to provide communication between the chambers 2, this need not be the case. Indeed, the spindles may be of solid construction. In a further unillustrated embodiment, means is provided within the internal passageways of adjoining spindles to open or close off the passageways at will.

Further, whilst the embodiments described make reference to a positive fluid flow between the various ports of the valve, the invention is equally applicable to other valves such as those operating under vacuum conditions.

Claims

1. A control valve comprising an assembly of two or more valve bodies each formed internally with a chamber which communicates with a plurality of radial passageways and each housing a spherical valve member located on or formed integrally with a rotatable spindle which engages the rotatable spindle of the or each adjacent valve body of the assembly, each spherical valve member including at least one internal passageway which through rotation of the respective spindle can selectively place two or more of the radial passageways in communication with each other.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the spindles is formed with an internal passageway to place the respective chambers in communication with each other.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a tubular deformable sealing member is located within each radial passageway of each valve body and is urged into sealing contact with the adjacent face of the respective spherical valve member.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein the deformable sealing member is urged into contact with the adjacent fact of the respective spherical valve member by a relatively rigid tubular element located one within each radial passageway.

5. A spindle for a control valve including a cylindrical stem which supports a spherical valve member formed with at least one internal passageway, the spindle being adapted so that it can be assembled co-axially within and ingagement with one or more similar spindles each supporting a spherical valve member whereby rotation of of one spindle effects rotation of the other spindle or spindles.

6. A valve spindle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spherical valve member is formed onto the spindle by a machining operation.

7. A fluid flow control valve as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A control valve as herein described including a spherical valve member as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.