WO1989000262A1

WO1989000262A1 - Deformable valve

Info

Publication number: WO1989000262A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Werner Kohler
Original assignee: Vaso Products Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Vaso Products Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-08
Filing date: 1988-07-06
Publication date: 1989-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-08

Abstract

A normally one way valve includes a deformable body (10) which defines a first valve chamber (11) and a second valve chamber (12) separated by a flexible wall (13). The valve body (10) has an inlet (14) thereto and an outlet (15) therefrom with flow being normally in the direction from A to B. The flexible wall (13) has a central aperture (16) and a seat (17) which is closed by a valve member (18). When the body (10) is deformed, flow is from B to A. A double acting valve consists of two such valves and can be constructed as a dosing valve.

Description

DEFORMABLE VALVE

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to valves in which a valve seat is moved relative to a valve member so as to open and close the valve. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a valve having a body defining a chamber, a valve seat within the body and having an aperture therethrough, a valve member adapted to close the aperture in the valve seat and means for causing relative movement of the valve seat and valve member to open and close the valve.

A valve according to the invention may be used to control the flow of fluid in either direction through the valve. Deformation of the valve body and/or the valve seat and/or the valve member opens and closes the valve. Such deformation causes the valve seat and valve member to move relative to one another. Both the valve seat and the valve member may move or only one of them may move to open and close the valve.

In one form of the invention, a specific deformation is adapted to allow flow in one direction and another specific deformation is adapted to allow flow in the other direction. The valve may incorporate a locking mechanism which necessitates the use of a special tool or key in order to

SUBSTITUTESHEET open or close the valve. For example, a metal sleeve may be normally located on or in the valve body to prevent the deformation which actuates the valve. When the valve is to be opened or closed the sleeve is moved by hand or by a special tool so to permit the deformation.

Another locking mechanism is based on the need to press or deform the valve at two locations at the one time. In another form, a special tool is required to effect the deformation. Preferably, the valve is so constructed that distortion of the valve body causes deflection of the valve seat so that the valve seat assumes an irregular shape whereby it lifts off the valve member at one or more locations to allow flow through the valve seat aperture. In another form of the invention, the valve body and valve seat are so constructed that relative movement between the valve seat and the valve member creates a gap therebetween to allow fluid flow through the aperture in the valve seat. In either case, removal of the force distorting the valve body will allow the valve seat and valve member to assume their original shapes and disposition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a modification of the valve shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first valve body, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second valve body, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third valve body, and, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth valve body.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The valve shown in Fig. 1 includes a valve body 10 which defines a first valve chamber 11 and a second valve chamber 12 separated by a flexible wall 13. The valve body 10 has an inlet 14 thereto and an outlet 15 therefrom, with flow of fluid being possible in the direction from A to B.

The flexible wall 13 has a central aperture 16 and about the periphery of the aperture 16 there is an annular sealing lip or seat 17 which extends upstream from the flexible wall 13. Within the second valve chamber 12 there is a conical valve member 18 which, when the valve is in its closed position, seats against the annular seat 17. A plurality of grooves 19 are formed in the downstream face 20 of the valve member 18. The valve shown in Fig. 1 has a positive sealing action in that an increase in the pressure gradient from B to A

SUBSTITUTESHEET will force the seat 17 against the valve member 18 and thereby increase the force necessary to separate the valve seat 17 and valve member 18.

To allow for flow of fluid from B to A, the valve body 10 is deformed by applying an external perpendicular force to the annular rib 21. The flexible wall 13 is thus deformed causing the valve seat 17 to assume an oval (i.e. distorted) shape. The rib 21 serves to augment the recoil strength of the outer perimeter of the flexible wall 13 thus ensuring that the wall 13 returns to its original shape when the external force is removed. The rib 21 also provides a tactile feedback to the operator as a means of identifying the area of the valve body to which the external force should be applied. When the external force is applied, some areas of the valve seat 17 will remain in contact with the valve member 18 and other areas of the seat 17 will move away from the member 18. The grooves 19 are of sufficient length so that when the valve seat 17 is underdeformed, the radially outward edges 22 of the seat 17 extend beyond the inner end 23 of the grooves 19 to seal the valve.

The outer end 25 of each groove 19 is downstream from the radially inward edges 24 of the valve seat 17 so that the valve seat does not overlap the outer ends 25 of the grooves 19 when the seat is distorted.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET When the seat 17 slides towards the downstream end of the valve member 18, fluid can pass from the first valve chamber 11 to the second valve chamber 12. This small flow of fluid through the grooves 19 causes a reduction in the pressure gradient across the seal and reduces the force required to lift the seat 17 from the valve member 18 when flow is required from B to A.

When the valve seat 17 is distorted, fluid enters the first valve chamber 11 through the outlet 15 and passes through the aperture 16 and several openings between the seat 17 and the member 18 into the second valve chamber 12 to exit through the inlet 14. The valve shown in Fig. 1 does not prevent flow in the direction of arrow A. Fluid passes through the inlet 14 and the channels 26 to the second chamber 12. The pressure gradient across the valve seat is sufficient to lift the seat 17 from the member 18 to permit flow of fluid to the first valve chamber 11 and thence to the outlet 15.

A modification of the valve shown in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 2. The valve of Fig. 2 has a fine bore 30 in the valve member 18 to provide a slow leak from the first chamber 11 to the second chamber 12 when the pressure at the outlet 15 is higher than the pressure at the inlet 14.

The valve shown in Fig. 3 is a double acting valve which consists, in essence, of two valves of the kind shown in Fig. 1 connected back to back to one another. The

SUBSTITUTESHEET symmetric valve member 40 is connected to the valve body 10 by an annular elastic suspension means 41 which has apertures 42 therein to permit free flow of fluid from the third valve chamber 43 to the fourth valve chamber 44. When the flexible walls 13, 13a are not distorted, fluid cannot flow in either direction. When fluid is to flow from A to B, an external perpendicular force is applied to rib 21a as described above. The displacement of the valve member 40 or the distortion of the right hand seat 17a only permits the separation of the right hand seat 17a from the valve member 40. The pressure gradient across the seat

/ 17 lifts the seat 17 off the valve member 40 and allows fluid to flow. In this arrangement the lefthand valve seat

17 would close and prevent any flow if for some reason the pressure at B rises above the pressure at A. Flow in the direction from B to A is achieved by applying an external perpendicular force to the rib 21.

A modification of the valve of Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 4 where the external ribs 21, 21a on the valve body 10 are replaced by a central rib 50. Application of an external force to the rib 50 opens both seats 17, 17a to allow flow in either direction as long as the external force is applied. The valve body 10 may be so constructed that application of a perpendicular force at the site of annulus 50 in the direction X would allow flow in the direction A and a force applied in the direction of arrow Y would allow

SUBSTITUTESHEET f low in direction B .

A modification of the valve of Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 5 where the valve body is appropriately reinforced so that seats 17, 17a are deformed only if the external force is applied in a predetermined direction. For example, only the seat 17a is deformed when the external force is applied in the direction of vertical arrow X at rib 21a and only the seat 17 is deformed when the external force is applied in the direction of horizontal arrow Y at the rib 21. A further modification of the invention is shown in

Fig. 6 where the valve body is encapsulated in a rigid housing 60 and the site of activation of the flexible walls is indicated for example in the shape of a raised button 61 for tactile feedback to the operator. Two buttons 61 would be provided in respect of the valve shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the raised button 61 is replaced by a depression or soft site 62.

A valve substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 3 can be used as a dosing device. The mode of operation is that the lefthand seal 17 is distorted when the valve body 10 is relaxed to leave an opening between the seal 17 and the valve member 40. Upon application of an external force to the valve body 10, the distortion of the left seal 17 is released so that the seal 17 returns to its original shape. A pressure gradient across seal 17a should not cause it to open.

SUBSTITUTESHEET Application of an external force to the valve body 10 would cause an opening at the righthand seal 17a and allow the fluid to fill the chambers 43 and 44. The fluid is prevented from flowing through the valve by the closed lefthand seal 17. Release of the force from the valve body 10 closes the right valve seat 17a, opens the left valve seat 17 so that the valve chambers 43, 44 can discharge their contents towards B.

In a further modification, the valve body of Fig. 5 is constructed so that the application of an external force to rib 21 fills the valve chambers 43 and 44 while application of an external force to the other annulus permits discharge of the valve chambers 43 and 44. This arrangement can be designed to work in either direction depending upon the pressures at A and B or may be designed to work only unidirectionally.

Various other modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the valve departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

1. A valve comprising a deformable body defining a chamber, a valve seat within the body and having an aperture therethrough, a valve member adapted to close the aperture in the valve seat and means for causing relative movement of the valve seat and valve member to open and close the valve.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein deformation of the body opens the valve.

3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve seat comprises a flexible wall extending inwardly from the periphery of the chamber and deformation of the valve body by an externally applied force causes said relative movemen .

4. A valve comprising a deformable body defining a chamber, a valve seat within the body and having an aperture therethrough, and a valve member adapted to close the aperture in the valve seat, the body of the valve being deformable so as to cause relative movement of the valve seat and valve member to open and close the valve.

5. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the valve body defines a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber

SUB_ST_ITUTESHEET separated by an apertured flexible wall, and wherein the valve seat comprises an annular sealing lip extending from the flexible wall.

6. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the valve member is a conical valve member located in the first valve chamber that normally closes the valve aperture.

7. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the valve body is deformed by applying an external force to the valve body so as to deform the flexible wall thereby causing said relative movement.

8. A valve according to claim 5 and including an external rib around the valve body to which the deforming force is applied.

9. A valve according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in the downstream face of the valve member which, when the body is initially deformed, reduce the pressure gradient across the seal.

10. A valve according to claim 5 and including an inlet to the second chamber, and an outlet from the first chamber, said inlet comprising a main inlet passageway and a plurality of secondary passageways spaced around the valve member placing the inlet passageways in communication with the second chamber.

11. A valve according to claim 5 wherein the normal flow is from the second chamber to the first chamber and reverse flow is achieved by deforming the valve body.

12. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the valve member has an aperture therethrough to provide a slow leak from the first chamber to the second chamber.

13. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the valve body is so made and arranged that a specific deformation is adapted to allow flow in one direction and another specific deformation is adapted to allow flow in the reverse direction.

14. A valve according to claim 4 and including means for locking the valve open or closed.

15. A double acting valve comprising a deformable body defining a chamber, a valve member supported by apertured suspension means within the chamber and a valve seat on each side of the valve member, each said valve seat having an aperture therethrough which is closed by the valve member.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

16. A valve according to claim 15 wherein the valve is closed when the body is not deformed and including an external rib at or adjacent each valve seat for receiving externally applied forces adapted to open the valve to flow in one direction or the other.

17. A valve according to claim 4 wherein the body is selectively strengthened so as to permit deformation only when the external force is applied in a predetermined direction.

18. A valve according to claim 4 and further including an encapsulating housing and means on said housing for deforming the valve body.

19. A valve according to claim 16 adapted to act as a dosing valve.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET