Annulus inverting valve

Claim 2

A flow control system for inverting two flow patterns within a longitudinally extending annular fluid passageway comprising separate first and second duct means having adjacent annular cross-sections at the entrance end and the exit end of said passageway and having a combined total cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of said annular fluid passageway; wherein the entrance cross-section of said first duct means is concentric with and surrounds the entrance cross-section of said second duct means; and wherein said first and second duct means are shaped and arranged to invert the flow pattern such that the exit cross-section of said second duct means is concentric with and surrounds the exit cross-section of said first duct means; thereby discharging two separate flow patterns at the exit end of said passageway in an annular adjacent relationship which is inverted from that existing at said entrance end of said annular fluid passageway.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 comprising a circular inner wall and a circular outer wall defining the boundaries of said annular passageway, and center wall means for controlling the internal flow within said passageway; said center wall means forming first and second duct means having adjoining first and second duct elements; said first duct element having, at said entrance end, a cross-section extending radially between said inner wall and said center wall means; said second duct element having, at said entrance end, a cross-section adjoining said first duct element at said center wall means and extending radially therefrom to said outer wall; said first duct element having, at said exit end, a cross-section extending radially between said outer wall and said center wall means; said second duct element having, at said exit end, a cross-section adjoining said first duct element at said center wall means and extending radially therefrom to said inner wall.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said first and said second duct means have substantially equal constant areas and wherein said center wall means includes a wall segment the opposite sides of which provide boundary surfaces for said two adjoining duct elements, said wall segment being contInuously reshaped and rotated about a locus line which extends parallel to said longitudinal axis such that the cross-sectional areas of said adjoining duct elements will remain substantially equal along the longitudinal extent of said passageway.

Claim 5

The flow control system of claim 2 wherein the system is divided into separated forward and aft portions at a section intermediate said entrance and exit ends at which the duct elements have adjoining cross-sections extending radially entirely across the passageway; and wherein there is provided means for selectively switching flow patterns between adjoining duct elements of said forward and aft portions to thereby cause the flow control system to function as a valve means for switching from inverted to straight through flow.

Claim 6

The flow control system of claim 4 wherein said valve means comprises means for causing relative rotation between said forward and said aft portions to selectively realign next adjacent duct elements.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second duct means are separated by center wall means having wall segments the opposite sides of which provide boundary surfaces for said first and second duct means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 which includes duct elements characterized by cross-sectional shapes which make a smooth longitudinal transition from a segment of an annulus extending only partially across said passageway, downstream to a curvilinear section having at least three curved sides, and further downstream to a segment of an annulus extending only partially across said passageway.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein said cross-sectional shapes have a plane of symmetry extending along a radial plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally extending annular fluid passageway.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein said duct element cross-sectional shapes maintain a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of said duct elements.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein there is provided a valve means for selectively switching the respective positions of said two separate flow patterns from their inverted positions to the same respective positions at each of said entrance and exit ends thereby discharging said two separate flow patterns at the exit end of said passageway in the same annular adjacent relationship which exists at the entrance end of said annular fluid passageway.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein said valve means includes actuator means for selectively displacing said center wall means.

Claim 13

A flow system for changing the relative positions of two separated adjacent flow patterns within the confines of a longitudinally extending fluid passageway having an area substantially equal to the combined total area of the two flow patterns at any location along the longitudinal extent of said passageway; said system comprising center wall means forming a first duct means having a first duct element and a second duct means having a second duct element; said first and second duct elements sharing a common wall segment of said center wall means, the opposite sides of said wall segment acting as boundary surfaces for said first and second duct elements; said wall segment being rotated and reshaped about a longitudinally extending locus line such that, at the entrance end of said passageway said first duct element has a cross-section extending from one side of said passageway to said wall segment, and said second duct element has a cross-section extending from said wall segment to the opposite side of said passageway; and at a longitudinal position located downstream from said entrance section said first and second duct elements have adjoining generally triangular cross-sections extending substantially across said passageway and separated by said wall segment which extends substantially across said passageway from said one side to said opposite side of said passageway.

Claim 14

A flow system for changing the relative positions of two separated adjacent flow patterns within the confines of a longitudinally extending fluid passageway having an area substantially equal to the combined total area of the two flow patterns at any location along the longitudinal extent of said passageway; said system comprising center wall means forming a first duct means having a first duct element and a second duct means having a second duct element; said first and second duct elements sharing a common wall segment of said center wall means, the opposite sides of said wall segment acting as boundary surfaces for said first and second duct elements; said wall segment being rotated and reshaped about a longitudinally extending locus line such that, at the entrance end of said passageway said first duct element has a cross-section extending from one side of said passageway to said wall segment, and said second duct element has a cross-section extending from said wall segment to the opposite side of said passageway; and at a longitudinal position located downstream from said entrance section said first and second duct elements have adjoining generally triangular cross-sections extending substantially across said passageway and separated by said wall segment which extends substantially across said passageway from said one side to said opposite side of said passageway.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein each of said first and second duct elements have cross-sectional areas which remain substantially constant at all locations along the longitudinal extent of said passageway.

Claim 16

The system of claim 12 wherein each of said first and second duct elements is characterized by a constant area cross-section making a smooth longitudinal transition from a generally rectangular entrance section, downstream to a generally pentagonal section, downstream to a generally triangular section, downstream to a generally pentagonal section, and further downstream to a generally rectangular section extending entirely across said passageway.

Claim 17

The system of claim 12 wherein said passageway has a circular configuration and each of said first and second duct elements is characterized by a constant area cross-section making a smooth longitudinal transition from a segment of an annulus extending only partially across said passageway, downstream to a five-sided section having three curved sides, downstream to a three-sided section having three curved sides, and downstream to a segment of an annulus extending entirely across said passageway.

Claim 18

The system of claim 12 wherein the cross-sectional area of said first duct means is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of said second duct means at all locations along the longitudinal extent of said passageway.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16 wherein said first and second duct means extend integrally and continuously to said location at which a first and second duct elements have adjoining cross-sections extending entirely across said passageway, and wherein at said location said first and second duct means are sectioned into separate forward and aft portions each having identical interface cross-sections on opposite sides of said location, and wherein said system includes valve means for selectively switching flow patterns between adjoining duct elements of said forward and aft portions to thereby causes said system to function as a valve means for switching from inverted to straight through flow.

Claim 20

The system of claim 17 wherein said valve means comprises means for causing relative movement between said forward and aft portions to selectively realign next adjacent duct elements.

Claim 21

A flow control system comprising means for inverting the respective positions of two separate flow patterns between the entrance and exit ends of said system within the confines of a passageway having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the combined area of said two flow patterns; and means for switching the respective positions of said two flow patterns from their inverted positions to the same respective positions at each of said entrance and exit ends such that flow passes straight through said system.

Claim 22

A flow control system comprising means for inverting the respective positions of two separate flow patterns between the entrance and exit ends of said system within the confines of a passageway having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the combined area of said two flow patterns; and means for switching the respective positions of said two flow patterns from their inverted positions to the same respective positions at each of said entrance and exit ends such that flow passes straight through said system.

Claim 23

The system of claim 19 wherein boundaries of said system are defined by two oppositely facing walls and the boundaries of said two separated flow patterns are defined by central wall means; and wherein said means for switching includes means for selectively moving said central wall means to cause either inverted or straight through flow.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20 which includes duct elements characterized by generally rectangular cross-sections at said entrance end, generally three-sided cross-sections intermediate said ends, and generally rectangular sections at said exit end.

Claim 25

The system of claim 20 wherein the oppositely facing walls are circular in shape and said system includes duct elements characterized by cross-sections which are segments of an annulus at said entrance end, are curvilinear sections having three curved sides intermediate said ends, and are segments of an annulus at said exit end.

Claim 26

A flow control system comprising: a plurality of basic duct elements located within a longitudinally extending passageway defined by oppositely facing first and second walls for establishing individual flow patterns characterized by substantially constant cross-sectional areas, and cross-sectional shapes which make a smooth gradual transition from a generally rectangular sectiOn extending only partially across the passageway from one of said walls of said passageway at the entrance end of the flow pattern, to a generally three-sided section, and then to a generally rectangular section extending partially across the passageway from the opposite wall of said passageway.

Claim 27

A flow control system comprising: a plurality of basic duct elements located within a longitudinally extending passageway defined by oppositely facing first and second walls for establishing individual flow patterns characterized by substantially constant cross-sectional areas, and cross-sectional shapes which make a smooth gradual transition from a generally rectangular sectiOn extending only partially across the passageway from one of said walls of said passageway at the entrance end of the flow pattern, to a generally three-sided section, and then to a generally rectangular section extending partially across the passageway from the opposite wall of said passageway.