Pivoting valve

Claim 2

A pivoting valve comprising a housing having a circular opening; and a valve body disposed on a pivot axis oblique to the crosssection of said opening, said valve body including two disclike portions of substantially identical shape disposed in facing relation, each said portion having a circumferential peripheral recess and a trunnion-like extension extending into said housing, an inflatable resilient sealing member sealingly disposed in Each said recess in bridging relation to said portions, and a duct in one of said portions extending through said extension thereof into communication with said recess thereof for supplying and discharging a pressure fluid for the inflation of said sealing member.

Claim 3

A valve as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a ring disposed in each recess of said portions with said sealing member retained thereon.

Claim 4

A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portions are in spaced relation to define a gap therebetween and said duct communicates with said gap.

Claim 5

A valve as set forth in claim 3 which further comprises an annular O-ring in sealing relation between said portions to seal an annular portion of said gap from a central portion of said gap, said annular gap portion being in communication with said duct.

Claim 6

A valve body for a valve comprising two disc-like portions of substantially identical shape disposed in facing relation, each portion having a circumferential peripheral recess and a trunnion-like extension extending outwardly thereof, an inflatable resilient sealing member sealingly disposed in each said recess in bridging relation to said portions, and a duct in one of said portions extending through said extension thereof into communication with said recess therein for supplying and discharging a pressure fluid for the inflation of said sealing member.

Claim 7

A valve body for a valve comprising two disc-like portions of substantially identical shape disposed in facing relation, each portion having a circumferential peripheral recess and a trunnion-like extension extending outwardly thereof, an inflatable resilient sealing member sealingly disposed in each said recess in bridging relation to said portions, and a duct in one of said portions extending through said extension thereof into communication with said recess therein for supplying and discharging a pressure fluid for the inflation of said sealing member.

Claim 8

In combination, a pivotal valve body having a pair of disc-like portions disposed in facing relation, an inflatable resilient sealing member sealingly disposed in bridging relation to said portions and a duct passing through one of said portions to communicate said sealing member; a first control means for pivoting said valve body between a closed position and an open position; a second control means for supplying a pressure fluid into said duct to inflate said sealing member and for discharging pressure fluid from said duct; a common switch connected to each said control means to emit a signal to each said control means to selectively actuate each said control means; a first means between said switch and said first control means for actuating said first control means with a delay in response to said signal to delay pivoting of said valve body from said closed position to said open position; and a second means between said switch and said second control means for actuating said second control means in response to said signal to discharge pressure medium from said sealing member.

Claim 9

In combination, a pivotal valve body having a pair of disc-like portions disposed in facing relation, an inflatable resilient sealing member sealingly disposed in bridging relation to said portions and a duct passing through one of said portions to communicate said sealing member; a first control means for pivoting said valve body between a closed position and an open position; a second control means for supplying a pressure fluid into said duct to inflate said sealing member and for discharging pressure fluid from said duct; a common switch connected to each said control means to emit a signal to each said control means to selectively actuate each said control means; a first means between said switch and said first control means for actuating said first control means with a delay in response to said signal to delay pivoting of said valve body from said closed position to said open position; and a second means between said switch and said second control means for actuating said second control means in response to said signal to discharge pressure medium from said sealing member.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first means actuates said first control means in response to an absence of said signal to pivot said valve body immediately from said open position to said closed position, and said second means actuates said second control means in response to an absence of said signal to supply pressure medium after a delay to said sealing member.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises a pressure fluid source and a pressure fluid discharge line; and wherein each control means is an electropneumatic mechanism, said first control means including an actuating piston for pivoting said valve body and a first electromagnetically controlled spool valve pneumatically connected between said actuating piston and a selective one of said pressure fluid source and said pressure fluid discharge line, said first means being connected to said first spool valve to selectively open said spool valve to one of said source and said discharge line; said second control means including a second electro-magnetically controlled spool valve pneumatically connected between said duct in said valve body and a selective one of said pressure fluid source and said pressure fluid discharge line, said second means being connected to said second spool valve to selectively open said spool valve to one of said source and said discharge line; said spool valves being actuated to cause pneumatic connection of said pressure fluid source to onE of said actuating piston and said duct and said discharge line to the other of said actuating piston and said duct.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a main power supply connected to said spool valves to actuate said spool valves and an auxiliary power means connected to said second spool valve to actuate said second spool valve upon failure of said main power supply.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said supply line connects said pressure fluid source to said spool valves and a pressure fluid reservoir is connected to said supply line.