US4108207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple-port valve
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-04-13
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Granted: 1978-08-22
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Expires: 1997-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A multiple-port valve assembly is designed to direct flow from a primary conduit into any one of a plurality of secondary conduits as well as to direct a reverse flow. The valve includes two mating hemispherical sockets that rotatably receive a spherical valve plug. The valve plug is attached to the primary conduit and includes diverging passageways from that conduit to a plurality of ports. Each of the ports is alignable wih one or more of a plurality of secondary conduits fitted into one of the hemispherical sockets. The other hemispherical socket includes a slot for the primary conduit such that the conduit's motion along that slot with rotation of the spherical plug about various axes will position the valve-plug ports in respect to the secondary conduits.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Doody
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/02; F16K11/08; F16K11/087; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86863; Y10T137/86871; Y10T137/87917; Y10T137/88022; Y10T137/8803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A multiple-port valve assembly for interconnecting a primary conduit with one or more of a plurality of secondary conduits comprising: a first generally hemispherical socket having a slotted opening that movably receives said primary conduit; a second generally hemispherical socket rotatably and sealingly attached to said first socket to define a generally spherical volume within the two sockets; said second socket having a plurality of openings each in fixed communication with one of said plurality of secondary conduits; a generally spherical, solid plug rotatably received within said spherical volume within the two sockets, said plug having a first passageway for receiving an open end portion of said primary conduit and having a plurality of secondary passageways each extending from said first passageway to one of a plurality of ports within the outer surface of said plug, the plurality of ports being alignable each with at least one of said plurality of openings within said second hemispherical socket by rotation of the plug about an axis coinciding with the received primary conduit end portion, by tilting the primary conduit within the slotted opening of the first hemispherical socket and by rotating the first hemispherical socket along with the spherical plug in relation to the second hemispherical socket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A multiple-port valve assembly for interconnecting a primary conduit with one or more of a plurality of secondary conduits comprising: a first generally hemispherical socket having a slotted opening that movably receives said primary conduit; a second generally hemispherical socket rotatably and sealingly attached to said first socket to define a generally spherical volume within the two sockets; said second socket having a plurality of openings each in fixed communication with one of said plurality of secondary conduits; a generally spherical, solid plug rotatably received within said spherical volume within the two sockets, said plug having a first passageway for receiving an open end portion of said primary conduit and having a plurality of secondary passageways each extending from said first passageway to one of a plurality of ports within the outer surface of said plug, the plurality of ports being alignable each with at least one of said plurality of openings within said second hemispherical socket by rotation of the plug about an axis coinciding with the received primary conduit end portion, by tilting the primary conduit within the slotted opening of the first hemispherical socket and by rotating the first hemispherical socket along with the spherical plug in relation to the second hemispherical socket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein said first passageway and said plurality of ports are within opposite hemispherical portions of said plug and are alignable in correspondence with the first and second hemispherical sockets, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein said plug and hemispherical sockets are mutually engaged in lubricative, sealing contact to permit relative rotation and sealed closure of ports at locations out of correspondence with socket openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein said plug outer surfaces comprise polytetrafluoroethylene and the inner surfaces of said sockets comprise glass or a steel alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein indexing means are included in said slotted opening of said first hemispherical socket to permit indexed rotation of the generally spherical plug corresponding to movement of the primary conduit within the slotted opening of the first generally hemispherical socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein said first and second hemispherical sockets being in sealing, lubricative engagement to permit relative rotation and including indexing means along the interface therebetween for precision, rotational movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein said ports within said generally spherical plug and said openings within the second hemispherical socket are arranged in mutually alignable circumferences on the corresponding spherical surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein a floating sleeve is interposed between said spherical plug and said second hemispherical socket, said sleeve having a plurality of openings alignable with the openings within said second hemispherical socket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein the slotted opening within the first hemispherical socket extends between the apex of said socket to the interface with the second hemispherical socket over an arc of about 90°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
The multiple-port valve of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conduits and openings engaging the second hemispherical socket include one conduit of larger diameter than that of each of the other of the plurality of conduits, the one larger conduit is positioned at the apex of the second hemispherical socket and wherein a generally spherical plug includes a circular array of ports each of which being simultaneously alignable with a corresponding circular array of openings within the second hemispherical socket and each of which being separately alignable with the one larger conduit at the apex when the primary conduit is positioned at the circumferential extremity of the slot within the first hemispherical socket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-08-21 | 1982-02-20 | 1982-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-21 | 1986-02-20 | 1986-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-21 | 1990-02-20 | 1990-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |