GB896056A - Rotary fluid control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

896,056. Valves. UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS CO. April 6, 1960 [April 10, 1959], No. 12134/60. Class 135. A fluid-control distributing valve comprises a stator 11 and rotor 17 having first and second seating surfaces respectively in fluid-tight contact, a plurality of concentrics circular grooves A ... F, formed in one of the surfaces, a plurality of passageways 31 each terminating at one end in an opening 30 in the second seating face and at the other end in communication with one of the grooves, a plurality of ports 19 passing through the stator and spaced around the axis of rotation so that each of the ports is in fluid-flow communication with each of the openings at some port in the rotation of the rotor and each opening is in communication with only one port for any adjusted position of the rotor, and conduits 20 for conveying fluid to or from each of the grooves through the stator to the exterior of the valve. The stator 11 is provided with a seating plate 15 to which is bonded a lining 16 of the material having selflubricating properties, such as polytetrafluoethylene, graphite, nylon, polyethylene ; alternatively, materials such as synthetic rubber, vinyl resins, or ceramics may be used. If desired, the lining may be dispensed with. The seating surface of the rotor is urged into sealing contact with the lining by means of springs 35 acting between plates 37 and 18 ; a thrustbearing 34 is also provided. In addition to the spring force, a pressurized fluid may be admitted into the valve housing 12 through a port 38 ; if desired, the springs may be dispensed with or replaced by a single large spring. In order to compensate for any deflection of the stator due to the weight of the rotor thereby causing a gap between the latter and the lining 16, the seating surface of the rotor may be chamfered. The rotor may be driven incrementally by a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism operated by pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, an electric motor or a fluid-powered turbine ; if desired, the rotor may be operated manually. The construction of valve shown may be used in a fixed bed hydrocarbon separating process in which the ports 19 are connected to separate beds, each containing an absorbent. In operation, at any one incremental setting of the rotor, different streams of fluid may be fed to or withdrawn from the bed via ports 22, passageways 31, grooves A ... F, and ports 20, 23. After a certain time interval the rotor is moved another increment until finally each bed has been treated, via the ports 19, by the particular fluid stream.