Valve device

Claim 2

A valve device comprising: body means provided with bores defining first, and spaced second, third and fourth flow passages intersecting and communicating with said first flow passage; first means providing a first valve seat in said first flow passage between the intersection therewith of said second and third of said flow passages; first valve means slidable in said first flow passage relative to said first valve seat for controlling flow communication between said second and said first and between said first and said third flow passages; second means providing a second valve seat in said first flow passage between the intersection therewith of said second and said fourth of said flow passages; second valve means slidable in said first flow passage relative to said second valve seat for controlling flow communication between said second and said first and between said first and said fourth flow passages; operator means movable longitudinally in said first passage and extending slidably longitudinally through both said valve means, said operator means having means thereon between said first valve means and said second valve means selectively engageable with each of said valve means upon opposite longitudinal movement of said operAtor means for moving each said valve means relative to said valve seat associated therewith for controlling communication between said second flow passage through said first flow passage with said third flow passage, and between said second flow passage through said first flow passage with said fourth flow passage; means closing said first flow passage at the opposite ends thereof outwardly beyond said valve means slidable therein for confining fluid pressure within said first flow passage; said first valve means and said second valve means being each provided with passage means for communicating fluid pressure from said second flow passage to opposite end surface portions of said valve means for pressure balancing said valve means; first biasing means in said adjacent closed outer end portion of said first flow passage engaging said first valve means opposite said engagement of said first valve means with said first valve seat and biasing said first valve means toward said first seat; second biasing means in said adjacent closed outer end portion of said first passage engaging said second valve means opposite e said engagement of said second valve means with said second seat and biasing said second valve means toward said second seat; and actuator means operably connected with said operator means for moving said operator means to move said valve means relative to said seats.

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first valve means is an annular member and said second valve means is an annular member and said operator means extends longitudinally through both said first and second annular valve means and is means and is spaced therefrom to provide a fluid passage through each said valve means for pressure balancing both said valve means; said means on said operator means engageable with said first and second valve means comprising a pair of opposed shoulders on said operator means each movable to engage one of said first and second valve means upon longitudinal movement of said operator means to selectively move said one valve means relative to the valve seat with which it is associated to open said valve seat to flow therethrough, said biasing means biasing the other of said first and second valve means into engagement with its associated seat when said shoulder engageable with said other valve means is moved away from said other valve means.

Claim 4

A valve device of the character defined in claim 1, wherein: said actuator means operably connected with said operator means for moving each of said first and second valve means relative to said seat with which it is associated comprises: a rotatable power unit and a threaded member rotatably connected with said operator means.

Claim 5

A valve device as defined in claim 3 wherein said body means has parallel opposite side surfaces extending perpendicular to said third and fourth flow passages for stacking a plurality of said valve devices with said third and fourth flow passages in respective separate aligned flow communication to provide an assembly having a pair of spaced separate common flow passages selectively communicable by each valve device with said second flow passage in each valve device.

Claim 6

A valve device comprising: body means provided with a longitudinal bore closed at its opposite ends; said body means having a first central lateral bore defining a first flow passage communicating with the central portion of said longitudinal bore; said body means being provided with second and third laterally offset bores intersecting said longitudinal bore and spaced on opposite sides of said first central lateral bore and providing second and third flow passages communicating with said longitudinal bore; a pair of valve seat means within said body means around said longitudinal bore, one between said first lateral bore and each of said second and third laterally offset bores; a pair of valve means disposed in said longitudinal bore each movable longitudinally therein into and out of engagement with one of said valve seat Means for selectively controlling communication between said first central lateral bore and each of said second and third offset bores through said longitudinal bore; resilient means in said longitudinal bore biasing each of said valve means toward engagement with the one of said valve seat means with which it is engageable; and an elongate operator rod longitudinally movable within said longitudinal bore and slidably extending through each of said valve means and having opposed shoulders thereon operatively engageable with each of said valve means for selectively moving each of said valve means relative to the seat means with which said valve means is engageable for selectively controlling communication between said first central lateral bore and said second and third laterally offset bores, said operator rod and said valve means providing a longitudinal annular bypass flow passage therebetween for conducting fluid pressure to the opposite ends of said valve means and said operator rod for pressure balancing said valve means and said rod.

Claim 7

A valve device comprising: body means provided with a longitudinal bore closed at its opposite ends; said body means having a first central lateral bore defining a first flow passage communicating with the central portion of said longitudinal bore; said body means being provided with second and third laterally offset bores intersecting said longitudinal bore and spaced on opposite sides of said first central lateral bore and providing second and third flow passages communicating with said longitudinal bore; a pair of valve seat means within said body means around said longitudinal bore, one between said first lateral bore and each of said second and third laterally offset bores; a pair of valve means disposed in said longitudinal bore each movable longitudinally therein into and out of engagement with one of said valve seat Means for selectively controlling communication between said first central lateral bore and each of said second and third offset bores through said longitudinal bore; resilient means in said longitudinal bore biasing each of said valve means toward engagement with the one of said valve seat means with which it is engageable; and an elongate operator rod longitudinally movable within said longitudinal bore and slidably extending through each of said valve means and having opposed shoulders thereon operatively engageable with each of said valve means for selectively moving each of said valve means relative to the seat means with which said valve means is engageable for selectively controlling communication between said first central lateral bore and said second and third laterally offset bores, said operator rod and said valve means providing a longitudinal annular bypass flow passage therebetween for conducting fluid pressure to the opposite ends of said valve means and said operator rod for pressure balancing said valve means and said rod.

Claim 8

A valve device as defined in claim 5 wherein said body means has seal means along opposite side faces for assembly of said valve device in juxtaposed relation with a plurality of identical valves devices in juxtaposed relation.

Claim 9

A valve stack comprising a plurality of valve devices of the character defined in claim 5 secured in juxtaposed relation, said second and third laterally offset bores of said valve devices being aligned and connected in sealed flow communication to define a pair of spaced laterally offset continuous flow passages through said stack, said valve means of each valve device providing means for communicating each of said offset flow passages selectively with said first central lateral bore of each of said valve devices in said stack by manipulation of said valve men means by said operator rod in each of said valve devices.

Claim 10

A valve stack comprising: a plurality of valves secured in juxtaposed relation and having aligned communicating laterally offset flow passages defining a plurality of separate continuous offset outlet flow passages through said stack each selectively communicable with a separate central inlet flow passage into each of said valves; each of said valves including pressure-balanced valve means and operator means, said operator means engaging said valve means for moving said valve means between positions selectively communicating said separate central inlet flow passage of each valve with a selected one of said offset outlet flow passages through said stack.

Claim 11

A valve stack comprising: a plurality of valves secured in juxtaposed relation and having aligned communicating laterally offset flow passages defining a plurality of separate continuous offset outlet flow passages through said stack each selectively communicable with a separate central inlet flow passage into each of said valves; each of said valves including pressure-balanced valve means and operator means, said operator means engaging said valve means for moving said valve means between positions selectively communicating said separate central inlet flow passage of each valve with a selected one of said offset outlet flow passages through said stack.

Claim 12

A valve stack as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve means in each of said valves comprises a pair of spaced annular valve members disposed between said separate central inlet flow passage into said valve and said spaced offset outlet flow passages of said stack, and said operator means comprises a rod disposed through said valve members and having means thereon engageable with said valve members to move one of said valve members to open position responsive to longitudinal movement of said rod in one direction and the other of said valve members to open position responsive to longitudinal movement of said rod in the other direction.

Claim 13

A valve device comprising: a body having a longitudinal bore, a first lateral bore intersecting a central portion of said longitudinal bore, and second and third laterally spaced offset bores intersecting said longitudinal bore; at points spaced on opposite sides of said first lateral bore; a first annular valve seat secured in said body within said longitudinal bore between said first lateral bore and said second laterally spaced offset bore; a first annular valve member movably disposed in said longitudinal bore and engageable at an inward end with said first valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first lateral bore and said central portion of said longitudinal bore and said second laterally spaced offset bore; means for sealing between said body and said first valve memBer outward of said second laterally spaced offset bore; resilient means operatively associated with said first valve member for biasing said valve member toward said first valve seat; first closure means on said valve body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said first valve member; a second annular valve seat secured in said body within said longitudinal bore between said first lateral bore and said third laterally spaced offset bore; a second annular valve member movably disposed in said longitudinal bore and engageable at an inward end with said second valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first lateral bore and said central portion of said longitudinal bore and said third laterally spaced offset bore; means sealing between said body and said second valve member outward of said third laterally spaced offset bore; resilient means operatively associated with said second valve member for biasing said valve member toward said second seat; second closure means on said valve body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said second valve member; an elongate operator rod movably disposed longitudinally in said longitudinal bore and extending through said first and second valve members and said first and second closure means and having opposed shoulder means thereon between said valve members engageable with one of said valve members upon movement of said operator rod in opposite directions for selectively moving said one of valve members outwardly relative to the one of said valve seats engageable by said valve member; bypass passage means between said valve members and said operator and providing continuous flow communication between the opposite ends of said valve members for pressure balancing said valve members; and actuator means connected with one end of said operator rod outwardly of the adjacent closure means for moving said rod in said opposite longitudinal directions in said longitudinal bore for moving said valve members selectively between closed and open positions.

Claim 14

A valve device comprising: a body having a longitudinal bore, a first lateral bore intersecting a central portion of said longitudinal bore, and second and third laterally spaced offset bores intersecting said longitudinal bore; at points spaced on opposite sides of said first lateral bore; a first annular valve seat secured in said body within said longitudinal bore between said first lateral bore and said second laterally spaced offset bore; a first annular valve member movably disposed in said longitudinal bore and engageable at an inward end with said first valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first lateral bore and said central portion of said longitudinal bore and said second laterally spaced offset bore; means for sealing between said body and said first valve memBer outward of said second laterally spaced offset bore; resilient means operatively associated with said first valve member for biasing said valve member toward said first valve seat; first closure means on said valve body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said first valve member; a second annular valve seat secured in said body within said longitudinal bore between said first lateral bore and said third laterally spaced offset bore; a second annular valve member movably disposed in said longitudinal bore and engageable at an inward end with said second valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first lateral bore and said central portion of said longitudinal bore and said third laterally spaced offset bore; means sealing between said body and said second valve member outward of said third laterally spaced offset bore; resilient means operatively associated with said second valve member for biasing said valve member toward said second seat; second closure means on said valve body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said second valve member; an elongate operator rod movably disposed longitudinally in said longitudinal bore and extending through said first and second valve members and said first and second closure means and having opposed shoulder means thereon between said valve members engageable with one of said valve members upon movement of said operator rod in opposite directions for selectively moving said one of valve members outwardly relative to the one of said valve seats engageable by said valve member; bypass passage means between said valve members and said operator and providing continuous flow communication between the opposite ends of said valve members for pressure balancing said valve members; and actuator means connected with one end of said operator rod outwardly of the adjacent closure means for moving said rod in said opposite longitudinal directions in said longitudinal bore for moving said valve members selectively between closed and open positions.

Claim 15

A valve stack comprising a plurality of valves of the character defined in claim 10 secured together in juxtaposed relation, said second and third laterally spaced offset bores of said valves being connected in aligned flow communication to define two separate laterally spaced offset flow passages through said stack, each of said valves being independently operable to selectively communicate each first lateral bore of each of said valves with either of said laterally spaced offset flow passages through said valve stack.

Claim 16

A valve device comprising: a body having substantially planar side surfaces aligned substantially parallel with each other and a longitudinal bore spaced between and extending along an axis substantially parallel with said side surfaces; said body having a first central lateral bore formed therein spaced between said parallel side surfaces intersecting and defining a flow passage communicating with the midportion said longitudinal bore and extending in substantially the same direction as said planar side surfaces of said body; said body being further provided with a pair of laterally spaced second and third offset bores extending substantially perpendicular to said planar side surfaces and opening at opposite ends through said planar side surfaces, said second and third bores being spaced on opposite sides of said first central lateral bore and intersecting said longitudinal bore whereby said first central lateral bore communicates with said second and third laterally offset bores through said longitudinal bore; a first valve seat secured in said body around said longitudinal bore between said first central lateral bore and said second laterally offset bore; a first annular valve member movably disposed within said longitudinal bore between said first central bore and said second laterally offset bore for movement relative to said first valve seat to engage said first valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first central lateral bore aNd said second laterally offset bore through a portion of said longitudinal bore; seal means on said first valve member sealing between said body and said first valve member outward of said second laterally offset bore; said first valve member having bypass flow passage means therethrough continuously communicating said central portion of said longitudinal bore inward of said first valve seat with said longitudinal bore outward of said seal means on said first valve member for pressure balancing said first valve member; resilient biasing means operatively connected with said first valve member for biasing said valve member toward said first valve seat; closure means on said body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said first valve member; a second valve seat secured in said body around said longitudinal bore between said first central lateral bore and said third laterally offset bore; a second annular valve member movably disposed within said longitudinal bore between said first central bore and said third laterally offset bore for movement relative to said second valve seat to engagement therewith for controlling flow communication between said first central bore and said third laterally offset bore through said longitudinal bore; seal means on said second valve member sealing between said body and said valve member outward of said third laterally offset bore; said second valve member having bypass flow passage means therethrough continuously communicating said central portion of said longitudinal bore inward of said second valve seat with said longitudinal bore outward of said seal means on said second valve member for pressure balancing said second valve member; resilient biasing means operatively connected with said second valve member for biasing said valve member toward said second valve seat; closure means on said body outward of said second valve member for closing the outward end of said longitudinal bore; an operator rod slidably disposed longitudinally in said longitudinal bore and slidably extending through both said valve members and having opposed shoulder means thereon intermediate said valve members and engageable with said valve members for actuating said valve members to selectively move said valve members away from the valve seats with which they are engageable to communicate said first central lateral bore with either of said second and third laterally offset bores; and means connected with said operator rod for moving said rod in opposite longitudinal directions for selectively actuating said valve members.

Claim 17

A valve device comprising: a body having substantially planar side surfaces aligned substantially parallel with each other and a longitudinal bore spaced between and extending along an axis substantially parallel with said side surfaces; said body having a first central lateral bore formed therein spaced between said parallel side surfaces intersecting and defining a flow passage communicating with the midportion said longitudinal bore and extending in substantially the same direction as said planar side surfaces of said body; said body being further provided with a pair of laterally spaced second and third offset bores extending substantially perpendicular to said planar side surfaces and opening at opposite ends through said planar side surfaces, said second and third bores being spaced on opposite sides of said first central lateral bore and intersecting said longitudinal bore whereby said first central lateral bore communicates with said second and third laterally offset bores through said longitudinal bore; a first valve seat secured in said body around said longitudinal bore between said first central lateral bore and said second laterally offset bore; a first annular valve member movably disposed within said longitudinal bore between said first central bore and said second laterally offset bore for movement relative to said first valve seat to engage said first valve seat for controlling flow communication between said first central lateral bore aNd said second laterally offset bore through a portion of said longitudinal bore; seal means on said first valve member sealing between said body and said first valve member outward of said second laterally offset bore; said first valve member having bypass flow passage means therethrough continuously communicating said central portion of said longitudinal bore inward of said first valve seat with said longitudinal bore outward of said seal means on said first valve member for pressure balancing said first valve member; resilient biasing means operatively connected with said first valve member for biasing said valve member toward said first valve seat; closure means on said body closing said longitudinal bore outward of said first valve member; a second valve seat secured in said body around said longitudinal bore between said first central lateral bore and said third laterally offset bore; a second annular valve member movably disposed within said longitudinal bore between said first central bore and said third laterally offset bore for movement relative to said second valve seat to engagement therewith for controlling flow communication between said first central bore and said third laterally offset bore through said longitudinal bore; seal means on said second valve member sealing between said body and said valve member outward of said third laterally offset bore; said second valve member having bypass flow passage means therethrough continuously communicating said central portion of said longitudinal bore inward of said second valve seat with said longitudinal bore outward of said seal means on said second valve member for pressure balancing said second valve member; resilient biasing means operatively connected with said second valve member for biasing said valve member toward said second valve seat; closure means on said body outward of said second valve member for closing the outward end of said longitudinal bore; an operator rod slidably disposed longitudinally in said longitudinal bore and slidably extending through both said valve members and having opposed shoulder means thereon intermediate said valve members and engageable with said valve members for actuating said valve members to selectively move said valve members away from the valve seats with which they are engageable to communicate said first central lateral bore with either of said second and third laterally offset bores; and means connected with said operator rod for moving said rod in opposite longitudinal directions for selectively actuating said valve members.

Claim 18

A valve device as defined in claim 12 wherein said operator rod is disposed in spaced relation through each of said first and second valve members defining annular bypass flow passages through said members for pressure balancing said members.

Claim 19

A valve device as defined in claim 13 wherein said longitudinal bore of said valve body is enlarged along opposite end portions outward of said valve seats, said enlarged bore portion outward of said first valve seat communicating with said second laterally offset bore and said enlarged bore portion outward of said second valve seat communicating with said third laterally offset bore.

Claim 20

A valve stack comprising a plurality of valves of the character defined in claim 12 secured in juxtaposed relation, said side planar surfaces of said valve bodies of adjacent valves being engaged with each other with said second and third laterally offset bores of said valves disposed in aligned flow communication to define a pair of laterally spaced separate continuous flow passages through said stack; seal means supported between said valve bodies around said communicating laterally offset bores of said bodies for sealing around said bores between engaging adjacent body planar side surfaces; a first closure plate secured along the outside planar side face of the valve at one end of said valve stack; seal means supported between said first closure plate and said first end valve body side face around the second aNd third laterally offset flow passages of said body closed by said first closure plate; a second closure plate secured along the outside side planar face of the valve at the other end of said valve stack; and means on said second closure plate providing fluid communication therethrough with said spaced flow passages through said valve stack; seal means around said second and third laterally offset flow passages of said second end valve body between said body and said second closure plate; and means providing separate fluid communication to said first central lateral bore of each of said valves in the said stack; each of said valves being independently operable to selectively communicate said first central lateral bore of each of said valves with either of said laterally offset flow passages through said valve stack.