NL1034529C1 - Multi-way valve for controlling dosing and mixing of fluid flow, has main room with plan parallel surfaces, entrances and drains lead to parallel surfaces, where opening or closing of channels is managed by controllable closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve has a main room provided with two plan parallel surfaces, and four entrances and drains lead to the parallel surfaces. A set of channels (111, 112, 115, 116) is provided, where opening or closing of the channels is managed by a controllable closing device. Pole pieces of electromagnets are placed in ports (101, 102, 105, 106), respectively, where parts of the body is controlled by two integrated linear motors. A movable part (120) is connected by ribs (128, 129) to other movable part (110). An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a multi-way valve.

Description

Brief indication: Multi-way valve and method for efficient energy use in controlling large fluid flows and a method for the construction of multi-way valves.

The invention relates to a multi-way valve which is suitable for controlling, dosing and mixing fluid flows through four or more supply and discharge channels.

Mixing valves with three channels for supply and / or discharge are known in the prior art. Valves with four or more channels 10 are now available at a very high price, but have a very complicated construction, or are made up of expensive components that are difficult to manufacture, so that large-scale production is not commercially feasible (NL1007984, NL1008703 and NL1020279). Moreover, the operation of these valves 15 for large fluid flows requires such a large capacity that they can hardly be used in portable equipment.

The present invention provides a new type of valve with more efficient energy use and with inexpensive and easily obtainable or fabricated components comprising two substantially plan-parallel planes, into which at least four supply and / or discharge channels open, the closing and opening of these channels respectively is effected by a closing member consisting of two movable parts brought into sealing co-action with two plan parallel planes in which both one or more channel mouths for the fluid flows to be controlled and the fluid flow mouths causing the movement of the two movable parts of the closing member are with the advantages that more force is available for the displacement of the movable parts and the magnetic fields required for operating the valve, directly controlling the fluid flows, are no longer necessary.

The present invention provides with great advantage a method for the construction of multi-way valves in which only two moving parts are required and in which the power generation for operating these moving parts is integrated.

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In an embodiment the movable closing member preferably comprises two moving parts and advantageously that these two parts with at least one cavity are brought into cooperating seal with the plan-parallel bottom and top side of a chamber into which the supply and discharge ports open, wherein the cavity can comprise at least two channels.

In another embodiment, the plan parallel planes bring both the fluid flows to be controlled and the fluid flows required for the movement of the members into sealing cooperation.

In another embodiment, the two movable parts are displaced by the action of magnetic control devices whose field lines remain outside of the fluid flows.

In one embodiment, a movable member is substantially triangular in shape, such that this member can assume three stable positions.

In other embodiments, a movable member is substantially rectangular, such that said member 20 can take four stable positions, pentagonal with five positions, hexagonal with six positions, and so on.

In a preferred embodiment, the two movable parts of the closing member are brought into sealing cooperation with each other with great advantage.

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The present invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of a drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a simplified schematic top view of an embodiment of the multi-way valve according to the present invention that the two movable parts (110 and 120) of the closing member the chamber (131) and the recessed chamber (132) in which the two parts of the closing member can be moved. The gate (107) is connected in the illustrated situation by the closing member to gate (134) while the gates (133, 135 and 136) are closed. The ports (101, 102, 105 and 106) open into the channels (111, 112, 115 and 116), respectively. The channels (111 and 112) are connected to the chambers (113 and 114), while the channels (115 and 116) are connected to the chambers (118 and 119). The chambers (113, 114, 118 and 119) are arranged in the movable part (110). The lid (100) has two thickenings (103 and 104) that fit into the chambers (113 and 114).

Similarly, there are two bulges (128 and 129) on the member (120) that fit into the chambers (118 and 119). A cross-shaped slot (117) is provided in the member (120) connecting the port (107) in the lid (100) to the two ports in the member 10 (120).

Figure 2 is the side view of Figure 1 with the section A in which the cover (200), the movable parts (210 and 220) and the housing (230) are indicated. The cross-section indicates the channel (212) and the thickening (228) of the movable part (220). In the drawn state, the port (221) in the movable part (210) is connected to port (234) in the housing (230). The chamber (231) and the recessed chamber (232) are cavities in the housing (230).

Figure 3 is the front view of Figure 1 with the cross-section B in which the cover (300) with the thickening (304) and the housing with the recessed chamber (332) are indicated. The port (306) in the lid (300) connects to the channel (316) and the port (307) connects to the cross-shaped channel (317).

Figure 4 is the section C of Figure 1, in which the cover (400), the housing (430) and the movable parts (410 and 420) are shown. In the movable part (410) are the cross-shaped channel (417) and the gates (411 and (417). In the drawn state, port (434) in the housing (430) is connected to the port (421) in the movable part (420) and with the port (411) in the movable part (410) and via the cross-shaped channel (417) with the port (407) in the cover (400). Both the port (435) and also the other parts gates in the housing (430) are closed by the movable member (420).

If a fluid is pressed into port (105), this will force a force in the direction X in the chambers (118 and 119)

exert on the bulges (128 and 129) whereby the movable member (120) is displaced in the direction X. The in 4

The gate (421) shown in Figure 4 is then moved, so that gate (434) is closed and gate (435) is connected via gate (412) to the cross-shaped channel (417) and therewith to gate (407). If a fluid is pressed into port (106), the drawn state will again be reached in an analogous manner.

If a fluid is pressed into port (101), it will exert a force in Y direction on the thickenings (103 and 104) in the chambers (113 and 114) causing the movable member (110) to move in response to the thrust Y. Because movable member (120) is connected by the bosses (128 and 129) in the chambers (118 and 119) to the movable member (110), movable member (120) will also be moved in the Y direction. In an analogous manner, by pressing fluid into port (102), the drawn state will be taken up again. Due to the displacement in the Y direction, the ports (133 and 136) with port (107) become analogous to the connection with the displacement described above in the X direction.

Analogously to the foregoing, a triangle-shaped movable part (120) in a triangle-shaped recessed chamber 20 (132) can be placed in three positions and thus be able to connect a central gate (107) with three ports in the housing (330). Similarly, a pentagonal part can connect five different ports, and so on. Although the sequence of the fluid flows to be offered on the gates (101, 102, 105 and 106) becomes more complex, the method for constructing multi-way valves according to the present invention remains generally valid for multi-way valves with more than 3 gates, the central gate included.

The channels and connections as described in NL1007984 30 and NL1008703 can advantageously be used in this type of multi-way valve.

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Claims (13)

A multi-way valve, comprising a chamber with two substantially plan-parallel planes into which at least four supply and / or discharge channels open, wherein the opening and closing of these channels is influenced by a controllable closing member, with. characterized in that the closing member comprises two coupled movable parts. 2. Multi-way valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the movable parts of the closing member are brought into cooperating sealing with the plan-parallel surfaces. Multi-way valve according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable parts of the closing member are brought into co-acting seal with each other. Multi-way valve according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that no other movable parts are required for operating the closing member. 5. Method for operating a multi-way valve according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the position of the closing member is influenced by one or more fluid flows. 6. Method for operating a multi-way valve according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the closing member is influenced by two or more electromagnets. Method for operating a multi-way valve according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the closing member is influenced by two or more electromagnets. Method for operating a multi-way valve as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the position of closing member is influenced by two or more electromagnets, characterized in that the magnetic conductors are arranged such as the channels (111, 112, 115 and 116 ). Method for operating a multi-way valve according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the 1034529 pole shoes of the electromagnets are placed in the ports (101, 102, 105 and 106). Method for operating a multi-way valve according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that control of the parts of the closing member is effected by two integrated linear motors. 11. Method for the construction of a multi-way valve according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the housing and the closing body are distinct, easily exchangeable and / or replaceable, parts. 12. Method for the construction of a multi-way valve according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power generation for operating the moving parts of the closing member is integrated therein. Method for the construction of a multi-way valve according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that any desired number of ports can be operated by simple adjustment of the shape of the recessed chamber (132) and the shape of the moving part (120) to become. 20 1034529