Three-way, two-position diverter valve

Claim 2

In a three-way, two-position diverter valve for high pressure application used to direct inlet fluid flow through one of two outlets, as desired, of the type having a valve body comprising an inlet flow passage, first and second outlet flow passages and a valve chamber communicating with said inlet passage and each of said outlet flow passages, a valve seat circumscribing each of said outlet flow passages, a valve member shiftably supported in said valve body for movement between a first position in sealing engagement with one of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said first outlet flow passage, and a second position in sealing engagement with the other of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said second outlet flow passage, and actuator means associated with said valve member for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said actuator means including an actuator stem and means for applying force tending to move said actuator stem in one direction, or downwardly, the improvement, in combination therewith, comprising a passage extending through said valve member, an annular valve plug encircling said valve member, said vlave plug being sealingly secured to said valve member by annular seals of rectangular cross-section the corners of which have been cut-off on 45* to provide line contact with said valve seats, said vlave seats comprising an annular seat ring with the edges of the inside diameter thereof being radiused to provide line contact with said corners of said annular seals sealing said valve plug to said valve member, a balance rod connected to said valve member and having a free end projecting from said valve member, the free end of said balance roD being secured to said actuator means, means providing a pressure chamber at said free end of said balance rod, means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber alternately connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said first position, and with said first outlet flow passage, when said valve is in said second position, the area of the free end of said balance rod being slightly less than the area of each said valve seat, so that said valve member and said balance rod create opposing forces, with said actuator stem for moving said valve member being intentionally unbalanced, so as to create a need for an increasing force to stroke said valve member with increasing fluid pressure in said valve chamber and to provide a force to assist said actuator means in the upward direction, whereby an engineered unbalance of said actuator stem is used in a manner that stabilizes the effects of normal variations in seating contact area.

Claim 3

The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with said pressure chamber comprises a central, longitudinal passage extending through said balance rod, one end of said passage communicating with said passage in said valve member and the other end thereof communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 4

The diverter valve according to claim 2, wherein the other end of said longitudinal passage terminates in at least one transverse passage communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 5

The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said annular seals are formed of a yieldable polymeric material.

Claim 6

The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of each of said valve seats is slightly less than the diameter of the free end of said balance rod.

Claim 7

In a three-way, two-position, cylinder operated, diverter valve for high pressure application used to direct inlet flow through one of two outlets, as desired, of the type having a valve body comprising an inlet flow passage, first and second outlet flow passages and a valve chamber communicating with said inlet passage and each of said outlet flow passages, a valve seat circumscribing each of said outlet flow passages, a valve member shiftably supported in said valve body for movement between a first position in sealing engagement with one of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said first outlet flow passage, and a second position in sealing engagement with the other of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said second flow passage, and actuator means associated with said valve member for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said actuator means including an actuator stem, a pistion on said stem, an actuating cylinder in which said piston is reciprocal to move said valve member between said first and second positions, an actuator fluid inlet in said cylinder at one side of said piston, and means for applying force tending to move said actuator stem in one direction, or downward, upon the admission of actuator fluid into said cylinder, the improvement, in combination therewith comprising a passage extending through said valve member, an annular valve plug encircling said valve member, said valve plug being sealingly secured to said valve member by annular seals of rectangular cross-section the corners of which have been cut-off on 45* to provide line contact with said valve seats, said valve seats comprising an annular seat ring with the edges of the inside diameter thereof being radiused to provide line contact with said corners of said annular seals sealing said valve plug to said valve member, a balance rod connected to said valve member and having a free end projecting from said valve member, said balaNce rod being mounted for reciprocal movement in a valve housing in said valve body, the free end of said balance rod being secured to said actuator stem, means providing a pressure chamber at said free end of said balance rod, and means communicating with said passage in said vlave member and with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber alternately connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said first position, and with said first outlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said second position, the area of the free end of said balance rod being slightly less than the area of each said valve seat, so that said valve member and said balance rod create opposing forces, with said actuator stem for moving said valve member being intentionally unbalanced, so as to create the need for an increasing force to stroke said valve member with increasing fluid pressure in said valve chamber and to provide a force to assist said actuator means in the upward direction, whereby an engineered unbalance of said actuator stem is used in a manner that stabilizes the effects of normal variations in seating contact area.

Claim 8

In a three-way, two-position, cylinder operated, diverter valve for high pressure application used to direct inlet flow through one of two outlets, as desired, of the type having a valve body comprising an inlet flow passage, first and second outlet flow passages and a valve chamber communicating with said inlet passage and each of said outlet flow passages, a valve seat circumscribing each of said outlet flow passages, a valve member shiftably supported in said valve body for movement between a first position in sealing engagement with one of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said first outlet flow passage, and a second position in sealing engagement with the other of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said second flow passage, and actuator means associated with said valve member for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said actuator means including an actuator stem, a pistion on said stem, an actuating cylinder in which said piston is reciprocal to move said valve member between said first and second positions, an actuator fluid inlet in said cylinder at one side of said piston, and means for applying force tending to move said actuator stem in one direction, or downward, upon the admission of actuator fluid into said cylinder, the improvement, in combination therewith comprising a passage extending through said valve member, an annular valve plug encircling said valve member, said valve plug being sealingly secured to said valve member by annular seals of rectangular cross-section the corners of which have been cut-off on 45* to provide line contact with said valve seats, said valve seats comprising an annular seat ring with the edges of the inside diameter thereof being radiused to provide line contact with said corners of said annular seals sealing said valve plug to said valve member, a balance rod connected to said valve member and having a free end projecting from said valve member, said balaNce rod being mounted for reciprocal movement in a valve housing in said valve body, the free end of said balance rod being secured to said actuator stem, means providing a pressure chamber at said free end of said balance rod, and means communicating with said passage in said vlave member and with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber alternately connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said first position, and with said first outlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said second position, the area of the free end of said balance rod being slightly less than the area of each said valve seat, so that said valve member and said balance rod create opposing forces, with said actuator stem for moving said valve member being intentionally unbalanced, so as to create the need for an increasing force to stroke said valve member with increasing fluid pressure in said valve chamber and to provide a force to assist said actuator means in the upward direction, whereby an engineered unbalance of said actuator stem is used in a manner that stabilizes the effects of normal variations in seating contact area.

Claim 9

The diverter valve according to claim 6, wherein said means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with said pressure chamber comprises a central, longitudinal passage extending through said balance rod one end of said passage communicating with said passage in said valve member and the other end thereof communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 10

The diverter valve according to claim 7, wherein the other end of said longitudinal passage terminates in at least one transverse passage communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 11

The diverter valve according to claim 6, wherein said annular seals are formed of a yieldable polymeric material.

Claim 12

The diverter valve according to claim 6, wherein the diameter of each said valve seat is slightly less than the diameter of the free end of said balance rod.

Claim 13

In a three-way, two position, cylinder operated, diverter valve for high pressure application used to direct inlet fluid flow through one of two outlets as desired, of the type having a valve body comprising an inlet flow passage, first and second outlet flow passages and a valve chamber communicating with said inlet passage and each of said outlet flow passages, a valve seat circumscribing each of said outlet flow passages, a valve member shiftably supported in said valve body for movement between a first position in sealing engagement with one of said vlave seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said first outlet flow passage, and a second position in sealing engagement with the other of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said second outlet flow passage, and actuator means associated with said valve member for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said actuator means including an actuator cylinder on said body, an actuator stem having a piston in said cylinder, said cylinder having at one side of said piston a pressure fluid inlet, and means for forcing said piston and said stem opposite to the force supplied to said piston upon admission of pressure fluid through said inlet passage, or upwardly, the improvement in combination therewith, comprising a passage extending through said valve member, an annular valve plug encircling said valve member, said valve plug being sealingly secured to said valve member by annular seals of rectangular cross-section the corners of which have been cut-off on 45* to provide line contact with said valve seats, said valve seats comprising an annular seat ring with the edges of the inside diameter thereof being radiused to provide line contact with said corners of said annular seals sealing said valve plug to said valve member, a balance rod connected to said valve membEr and having a free end projecting from said valve member, said balance rod being mounted for reciprocal movement in a valve housing in said valve body, the free end of said balance rod being secured to said actuator stem, means providing a pressure chamber at said free end of said balance rod, and means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber alternately connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said first position, and with said first outlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said second position, the area of the free end of said balance rod being slightly less than the area of each said valve seat so that said valve member and said balance rod create opposing forces, with said actuator stem for moving said valve member being intentionally unbalanced, so as to create the need for an increasing force to stroke said valve member with increasing fluid pressure in said valve chamber and to provide a force to assist said actuator means in the upward direction, whereby an engineered unbalance of said actuator stem is used in a manner that stabilizes the effects of normal variations in seating contact area.

Claim 14

In a three-way, two position, cylinder operated, diverter valve for high pressure application used to direct inlet fluid flow through one of two outlets as desired, of the type having a valve body comprising an inlet flow passage, first and second outlet flow passages and a valve chamber communicating with said inlet passage and each of said outlet flow passages, a valve seat circumscribing each of said outlet flow passages, a valve member shiftably supported in said valve body for movement between a first position in sealing engagement with one of said vlave seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said first outlet flow passage, and a second position in sealing engagement with the other of said valve seats, wherein flow is directed from said inlet flow passage through said second outlet flow passage, and actuator means associated with said valve member for moving said valve member between said first and second positions, said actuator means including an actuator cylinder on said body, an actuator stem having a piston in said cylinder, said cylinder having at one side of said piston a pressure fluid inlet, and means for forcing said piston and said stem opposite to the force supplied to said piston upon admission of pressure fluid through said inlet passage, or upwardly, the improvement in combination therewith, comprising a passage extending through said valve member, an annular valve plug encircling said valve member, said valve plug being sealingly secured to said valve member by annular seals of rectangular cross-section the corners of which have been cut-off on 45* to provide line contact with said valve seats, said valve seats comprising an annular seat ring with the edges of the inside diameter thereof being radiused to provide line contact with said corners of said annular seals sealing said valve plug to said valve member, a balance rod connected to said valve membEr and having a free end projecting from said valve member, said balance rod being mounted for reciprocal movement in a valve housing in said valve body, the free end of said balance rod being secured to said actuator stem, means providing a pressure chamber at said free end of said balance rod, and means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber alternately connecting said pressure chamber with said inlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said first position, and with said first outlet flow passage, when said valve member is in said second position, the area of the free end of said balance rod being slightly less than the area of each said valve seat so that said valve member and said balance rod create opposing forces, with said actuator stem for moving said valve member being intentionally unbalanced, so as to create the need for an increasing force to stroke said valve member with increasing fluid pressure in said valve chamber and to provide a force to assist said actuator means in the upward direction, whereby an engineered unbalance of said actuator stem is used in a manner that stabilizes the effects of normal variations in seating contact area.

Claim 15

The diverter valve according to claim 11, wherein said means communicating with said passage in said valve member and with said pressure chamber comprises a central, longitudinal passage extending through said balance rod, one end of said passage communicating with said passage in said valve member and the other end thereof communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 16

The diverter valve according to claim 12, wherein the other end of said longitudinal passage terminates in at least one transverse passage communicating with the area above said balance rod in said pressure chamber.

Claim 17

The diverter valve according to claim 11, wherein said annular seals are formed of a yieldable polymeric material.

Claim 18

The diverter valve according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of each said valve seat is slightly less than the diameter of the free end of said balance rod.