Multi-way valve and position controller therefor

Claim 2

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two sub-circuits in parallel with one another, a motor-driven, multi-way valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said sub-circuits, said valve having a body and a movable valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of ways therethrough and having positions for each way and for at least one combination of said ways, motor means for driving said valve, heating means for heating said fluid, and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a position controller comprising: sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having an open state (corresponding valve way open) and a closed state (corresponding valve way closed) and also first (corresponding valve way to be opened) and second (corresponding valve way to be closed) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the open to the closed state and from the closed to the open state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and closed state and when said sensor is in its second condiTion and open state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and open state and when said sensor is in its second condition and closed state, and at least one selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective open to closed states and closed to open states.

Claim 3

The position controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control and selector switches are change-over switches each having two poles and being connected in series by having respective said poles connected to each other.

Claim 4

The position controller as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising an output switch, an output member for moving with said movable valve member and opening said output switch when said movable valve member is in a no flow position, and an output controlled by said output switch.

Claim 5

The position controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selector switch is a change-over switch having two poles and said control switch is an on-off switch, and wherein said circuit connector means comprises a subsidiary change-over switch having two poles and in parallel with said control switch, said selector switch being connected in series with said control switch by having one of its said poles connected to the control switch, and being in series with said subsidiary switch by having its other said pole connected to one of the said poles of said subsidiary switch, an outut being connected to the other said pole of said subsidiary switch.

Claim 6

A position controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said selector members put all the associated said sensors into said closed state at all intermediate positions between flow positions of said valve.

Claim 7

The position controller as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a locator member in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, and an associated locator switch for energising said motor a small distance past each said position of the said valve and for maintaining this energisation up to the next said position precisely, thereby allowing said sensors corresponding to said ways through said valve to determine whether said valve stops at said next position or proceeds to a further position, said locator member actuating said locator switch.

Claim 8

The position controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control and selector switches are change-over switches each having two poles and being connected in series by having respective said poles connected to each other, said position controller further comprising an output switch, an output member for moving with said movable valve member and opening said output switch when said movable valve member is in a no flow position, and an output controlled by said output switch, said locator switch being connected to the output side of said output switch.

Claim 9

The position controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein said valve has a no flow position, said locator member does not have a locating position corresponding to said no flow position, and said output switch de-energises said motor precisely at said no flow position.

Claim 10

The position controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said selector switch is a change-over switch having two poles and said control switch is an on-off switch, and wherein said circuit connector means comprises a subsidiary change-over switch having two poles and in parallel with said control switch, said selector switch being connected in series with said control switch by having one of its said poles connected to the control switch, and being in series with said subsidiary switch by having its other said pole connected to one of the said poles of said subsidiary switch, an output being connected to the other said pole of said subsidiary switch, said locator switch being fed from a live input to said position controller or from the live output of said subsidiary switches, said valve having a no flow position, and saId locator member having a zone corresponding to said no flow position.

Claim 11

The position controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein all said selector members operate the associated said sensors to the closed state at at least one position intermediate any consecutive, defined flow positions of said valve.

Claim 12

The position controller as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising a locator member in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, and an associated locator switch for energising said motor a small distance past each said position of the said valve and to maintain this energisation up to the next said position precisely, thereby allowing said sensors corresponding to said ways through said valve to determine whether said valve stops at said next position or proceeds to a further position, said locator actuating said locator switch, and wherein all said selector members operate the associated said sensors to the closed state at at least one position intermediate any consecutive, defined flow positions of said valve, said output switch being operated by said locator member.

Claim 13

The position controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said output switch is displaced about said locator member from said locator switch by half the distance between two flow positions of said valve plus any number of whole distances between two flow positions of said valve.

Claim 14

The position controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of said at least one selector member is rotary, wherein said at least one selector member is a cam and wherein said selector switch means comprise mechanically actuable switches actuated by at least one said cam.

Claim 15

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, heating means for heating said fluid and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a combination of a motor-driven, multi-way valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said sub-circuits and a position controller for controlling the position of said valve, said valve having a body and a rotary valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of ways therethrough and having positions for each way and for each possible combination of said ways, and said position controller comprising sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having an open state (corresponding valve way open) and a closed state (corresponding valve way closed) and also first (corresponding valve way to be opened) and second (corresponding valve way to be closed) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the open to the closed state and from the closed to the open state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and closed state and when said sensor is in its second condition and open state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and open state and when said sensor is in its second condition and closed state, and at least one rotary selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said rotary valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective open to closed states and closed to open states.

Claim 16

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, heating means for heating said fluid and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a combination of a motor-driven, multi-way valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said sub-circuits and a position controller for controlling the position of said valve, said valve having a body and a rotary valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of ways therethrough and having positions for each way and for each possible combination of said ways, and said position controller comprising sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having an open state (corresponding valve way open) and a closed state (corresponding valve way closed) and also first (corresponding valve way to be opened) and second (corresponding valve way to be closed) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the open to the closed state and from the closed to the open state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and closed state and when said sensor is in its second condition and open state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and open state and when said sensor is in its second condition and closed state, and at least one rotary selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said rotary valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective open to closed states and closed to open states.

Claim 17

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, a motor-driven, multiway valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said sub-circuits, said valve having a body and a movable valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of Ways therethrough and having respective defined positions in which each way is open and at least one combination of said ways is open, motor means for driving said valve, heating means for heating said fluid, and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a position controller comprising: sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having a first state (said valve in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and a second state (said valve not being in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and also first (said valve to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and second (said valve not to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second state and from the second to the first state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and second state and when said sensor is in its second condition and first state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and first state and when said sensor is in its second condition and second state, at least one selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective first to second states and second to first states, an output, switch means for de-energizing said output, and means for actuating said switch means when all said sensors are in said second states and said second conditions.

Claim 18

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, a motor-driven, multiway valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said sub-circuits, said valve having a body and a movable valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of Ways therethrough and having respective defined positions in which each way is open and at least one combination of said ways is open, motor means for driving said valve, heating means for heating said fluid, and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a position controller comprising: sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having a first state (said valve in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and a second state (said valve not being in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and also first (said valve to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and second (said valve not to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second state and from the second to the first state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and second state and when said sensor is in its second condition and first state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and first state and when said sensor is in its second condition and second state, at least one selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective first to second states and second to first states, an output, switch means for de-energizing said output, and means for actuating said switch means when all said sensors are in said second states and said second conditions.

Claim 19

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, a motor-driven, multi-way valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said subcircuits, said valve having a body and a movable valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of ways therethrough and having respective defined positions in which each way is open and at least one combination of said ways is open, motor means for driving said valve, heating means for heating said fluid, and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a position controller comprising: sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having a first state (said valve in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and a second state (said valve not being in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and also first (said valve to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and second (said valve not to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second state and from the second to the first state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and second state and when said sensor is in its second condition and first state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and first state and when said sensor is in its second condition and second state, at least one selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective first to second states and second to first states, an output, switch means for de-energizing said output, and means for de-energizing said motor and actuating said switch means when all said sensors are in said second conditions.

Claim 20

In a circulating hot fluid heating system comprising duct means defining a circuit including at least two subcircuits in parallel with one another, a motor-driven, multi-way valve for controlling the flow of the hot fluid in said subcircuits, said valve having a body and a movable valve member movable relative to said body and said valve defining a plurality of ways therethrough and having respective defined positions in which each way is open and at least one combination of said ways is open, motor means for driving said valve, heating means for heating said fluid, and means remote from the heating means for extracting heat from said fluid, a position controller comprising: sensors corresponding to positions of respective said ways through said valve, each said sensor having a first state (said valve in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and a second state (said valve not being in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and also first (said valve to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) and second (said valve not to be in said defined position in which the corresponding valve way is open) conditions and comprising selector switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second state and from the second to the first state, control switch means for switching the sensor from the first to the second condition and from the second to the first condition, and circuit connector means interconnecting said selector switch means, said control switch means and said motor whereby said motor is energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and second state and when said sensor is in its second condition and first state, and said motor is not energised by said sensor when said sensor is in its first condition and first state and when said sensor is in its second condition and second state, at least one selector member for moving in a fixed relationship with said movable valve member, for actuating said selector switch means to change said sensors from respective first to second states and second to first states, an output, switch means for de-energizing said output, and means for de-energizing said motor and actuating said switch means when all said sensors are in said second conditions.