US2562631A

US2562631A - Diaphragm valve

Info

Publication number: US2562631A
Application number: US635142A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Morrison
Original assignee: Nineteen Hundred Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 1945-12-15
Filing date: 1945-12-15
Publication date: 1951-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-31

Description

July 31, 195] 7 Filed Dec. 15, 1945 H. E. MORRISQN DIAPHRAGM VALVE 2 SheetsSheet 1 July 31, 1951 H. E. MORRISON DIAPHRAGM VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1945 Patented July 31 1951 DIAPHRAGM VALVE Harold E. Morrison, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of New York Application December 15, 1945, Serial No. 635,142

fluids used in householdlaundry machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a three-way valve having a single diaphragm valve member which alternately opens one port and then another of the three-way valve. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel solenoid actuated valve.

A still further object of the present invention is 'to provide a novel valve housing and valve actuation mechanism.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its manner of construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a three-way valve embodying the novel teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the valve housing with the valve actuating mechanism and the cover plate removed;

Figure 3 is an elevational view partly in section, as indicated along the line IIIIII of Figure 1, of the three-way valve shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the valve actuating mechanism in its position when the actuating solenoid is energized.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a housing II having two hollow center posts or sleeves I2 and I3 extending through the bottom wall thereof. These hollow center posts or sleeves I2 and I3 terminate within the housing II in a region or plane lying in proximity to and spaced away from a cover plate or web member I4 which is bolted or otherwise secured as at I5 to a flange I6 formed on the main housing portion I I. This cover member I4 is arrangedto clamp a flexible diaphragm Il into position against the flange I6 to form the top wall of the housing II. The

and has two reinforced disc-like portions I8 and I9 which lie opposite the inner ends of the sleeves or center posts I2 and I3. The reinforced disc-like portions I8 and I9 have ears 2!! and 2I formed on the reinforced portions of the diaphragm I1 and are arranged to be pinned as at 22 and 23 to a rocker arm 24 which is pivotally mounted as at 25 on a central portion of the cover plate or web member I4.

The cover member I4 is provided with two relatively large openings '26 and 21 opposite the reinforced disc-like portions I8 and I9, thereby providing free access to the reinforced disc-like portions I8 and I9 through the cover plate I4 for the necessary hinge connection to the rocker arm 24.

The hollow center posts or sleeves I2 and I3 at their inner ends provide valve seats, and the reinforced disc-like portions I8 and [9 provide valve members for opening and closing the ends of the sleeves I2 and I3. Thus the sleeves I2 and I3 provide two of the ports of the threeway valve construction.

In order to reinforce the region of the cover member I4 where the rocker arm is pivotally mounted thereon, a substantially solid center post 28 extends up from the base of the housing II to a position where the central portion of the diaphragm I1 is seated tightly thereagainst and thus in turn forces the central portion of the cover plate or web member I4. It will be observed that the center post 28 is a relatively small post and that fluid flows freely therearound within the housing II.

Mounted on one side of the housing II is a solenoid 29 into which a laminated armature 30 extends. The armature 30 is pivotally mounted as at 3| by a loose pin and hole connection on the rocker arm 24. A coil spring 32' extends between the rocker arm 24 and the yoke 33 of the solenoid 29 and thus biases the rocker arm 24 in a clockwise direction about its pivot point 25, as viewed in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. Stated in a somewhat different manner, the compression spring 32 normally forces the disclike central portion I8 of the diaphragm I? tightly against the sleeve I2, while the disc-like portion I9 has been moved away from the sleeve I 3. Upon energization of the solenoid I! the armature 30 is drawn into the solenoid 29 and the rocker arm 24 is thus moved to force the disc-like center portion I9 against the sleeve I3 while withdrawing the disc-like center portion I8 away from the sleeve I2.

It will be noted, from an inspection of Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, that the connection between the Gutter pin 23 and the rocker arm 24 is a relatively loose connection. More particularly, the rocker arm 24 is provided with a finger portion 34 having a relatively large hole 35 near its end through which the cotter pin 23 extends. This hole 35, as is shown in the drawing, is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the cotter pin. and thus takes into consideration the relative transitional movement of the center of the opening 35 with respect to the axis of the sleeve l3. A small helical compression spring 36 is fitted around the finger 34 to assurea tight seal between the reinforced central portion IQ of the diaphragm I! which forms the valve member 1 for the sleeve or port 13.

Two of the ports of the three-way valve are provided by the sleeves l2 and 13. The third port or duct is provided by the outwardly extending tubular portion 31 which opens into the interior of the casing H and which, as shown, extend at right angles to the axes of'the'sleeves 'lZ and [3.

The post 28,:which extends up 1' into ithez'center of the'oasing I l, is provided with-a threadedre- I cess 38 which enables the casing to' be convenientlysecured to any structure upon which the valveis'to -be'mounted. The center post-28 i also I provided'w-ith a-lip-39 which extends transversely of the major axis of the'casing' 1 Lee .is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

From the above description it will be apparent that fluid may be passed through the tubular casing portion 3!- and then selectively out through either the port 12 orthe-port i3, dependingupon whether the solenoid 29 is energized ordeenergized. The particular manner in which the sole- "noid 29 is energized forms no part of the present invention, it 'being'sufiicient for purposesherein to point out that this solenoid may be electrically energized through the terminals Hand 4! from any electrical control circuit. As previously "pointed out, this valve is arranged for the flow of fluid in either direction. 'The tubular portion -31'may form the outlet'port of the valve and fluid may be selectively received eitherthrough "port 12 or port l3, depending upon whether the r solenoid-29 is energized or deenergized.

One of- -theparticularly advantageous features of the present valve lies in the fact thatwhen the tubular portion 3l=is to be used a the outlet port and is connected to a suctionpump, an air-tight seal is provided between the valve memberand its associated port, which is not being used. Thus when the port I3 is closed b the valve'-member portion IQ of the diaphragm ll; fiuid may be sucked through thetubular portion orport l2 and withdrawn through the-tubular portion Why a. suction pump connected to the tubular portion 31.

While I: have-shown a particular embodiment of my invention it will, of course, be .understood that I do not wish to be limitedl'thereto,;since many modifications-may be made, .and 1,. therefore, contemplate by the appended claims, to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

ing said two ports, an open web cover plate extending over said flexible diaphragm and clamping the entire peripheral edge thereof to said housing with a fluid-tight seal, a centrally disposed ear on said web, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said ear, said diaphragm having reinforced valve member portions on opposite sides of. said ear' and disposed opposite the ends of iii said tubular portions, means connecting said rocker arm on opposite sides of said ear to said "valve member portions respectively, and mechaportions while positively lifting the other of said 'valve member portions away from the other of said tubular portions and vice versa.

2. A valveunit comprising a housing forming a chamber, said housing having a pair of sleevelike portions extending through the base wall thereof and terminating in proximity to but short v.of the opposite side of said. housing, thereby providing a pair of ports, said housing having a third port extending through a wall thereof, a flexible diaphragm extending across said housing on the opposite side thereof from said base wall andabove the ends of said tubular portions forming. said. two ports, an open web cover platev extending over said flexible diaphragm and clamping the. entire peripheral edge thereof to said housing with a fluid-tight seal, a centrally disposed ear. on said web, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said ear, said diaphragm having reinforced valve member portions on opposite sides of said ear and disposed opposite the ends of said tubular portions, means for biasing said rocker arm so that one of said valve member portions is in port closing engagement with the end of one of said tubular portions, the other of said valve member portions being mechanically held away from port-closing engagement with its associated tubular portion and means for actuating said rocker arm against the action of said biasing means for moving the second one of said valve member portions intov port closing engagement with the end of the second one of said tubular portions, and for lifting said first valve member portion away from its associated tubular portion.

' 3. A three-way valve comprising a housing forming a chamber, said housing having a pair of sleeve-like portions extending through the base wall thereof and terminating in proximity to but short of the opposite side of said housing, thereby providing a pair of ports, said housing having a third port extending through a wall thereof, a flexible diaphragm extending across said housing and forming a closed wall therefor on the "opposite side of the housing fromsaid basewall and above the ends of said tubular portions forming'said two ports, a rocker arm,'means for pivotalry' mounting said rocker arm exteriorly of said-diaphragm, means on opposite sides of. the pivot point of said rockerarm and carried there- 'by-Ior'engaging spaced portions of said diaphragm to force-said portions alternately into engagement with the ends'of said tubular portions respectively, said rocker arm having a tail'portion extending outwardly at an acute angle-with respect to the plane of 'thediaphragm, means for biasing said rocker arm in a direction to increase the size'ofsaidacute angle, and meansacting in a direction substantially at right angles to said tail portion and against saidbiasing means for rocking said rocker arm.

4. A three-wayyalve comprising a' housing "forming a chamber, said'housing having a pair of sleeve-like portions extending through the base wall thereof and terminating in proximity to but short of the opposite side of said housing, thereby providing a pair of ports, said housing having a third port extending through a wall thereof, a flexible diaphragm extending across said housing and forming a closed wall therefor on the opposite side of the housing from said base wall and above the ends of said tubular portions forming said two ports, a rocker arm, means for pivotally mounting said rocker arm exteriorly of said diaphragm, means on opposite sides of the pivot point of said rocker arm and carried thereby for engaging spaced portions of said diaphragm to force said portions a1- ternately into engagement with the ends of said tubular portions respectively, said rocker arm having a tail portion extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the diaphragm, means for biasing said rocker arm in a direction to increase the size of said acute angle, an electric solenoid mounted on said housing with its magnetic axis extending substantially at right angles to said tail portion of said rocker arm, an armature slidably fitting within said solenoid and pivotally connected to said tail portion, whereby upon energization of said solenoid said rocker arm is rocked to close the normally open tubular portion and to open the normally closed tubular portion.

5. In a valve structure, a housing having a base wall and lateral walls extending therefrom to define a chamber open on the side opposite said base wall, a pair of sleeves extending through said base wall and terminating in proximity to but short of the plane of said open side, thereby providing a pair of ports, said sleeves being spaced from said lateral walls to provide a free path of fluid flow within said chamber, said housing shaped to provide a third port extending through a wall thereof, a flexible diaphragm extending across said open side and having reinforced portions opposite said pair of ports, an open web cover plate extending over said flexible diaphragm and clamping the entire peripheral edge thereof in a fluid-tight seal, a centrally disposed ear on said web, a unitary rocker arm pivotally mounted on said ear and means carried on opposite sides of the pivot point of said rocker arm for engaging said reinforced portions and for positively displacing same to close tightly and open wide said pair of ports, said rocker arm having a tail portion extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said diaphragm, means for biasing said rocker arm in a direction to increase the size of said acute angle, an electric solenoid mounted on said housing with its magnetic axis substantially at right angles to said tail portion, a laminated armature slidably fitting within said solenoid and pivotally connected to said tail portion, said solenoid positioned so that upon energization of the same said rocker arm is rocked counter to the direction of bias to close the normally open port while opening the normally closed port, and a lost motion device operating from said rocker arm assuring a tight closure of the normally open port.

HAROLD E. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 594,346 Fortier Nov. 23, 1897 1,952,147 Stahl Mar. 27, 1934 2,153,029 Tarris Apr. 4, 193 9 2,216,292 Evleth Oct. 1, 1940 2,243,815 Griswold May 27, 1941 2,286,282 Joesting June 16, 1942 2,324,100 Maynard July 13, 1943 2,333,913 Beam Nov. 9, 1943 2,376,918 Hughes May 29, 1945 2,414,196 Geldhef et al Jan. 14, 1947 2,427,441 Butts Sept. 16, 1947