Fluid flow diverter disc valve

Claim 1

A fluid flow reversing diverter valve (1) for connection between a source of pressurized fluid (15) and a process device (2), comprising, in combination: (a) an enclosed housing (21) having a longitudinally extending generally cylindrical side wall (22) and end walls (23, 24), (b) a pair of spaced parallel upstream supply and return ports (29, 30) disposed in said housing side wall for connection to the fluid source, (c) a pair of spaced parallel downstream output and input ports (31, 32) disposed in said housing for connection to the process device, said downstream ports being in line with said upstream ports, (d) and a valve rotator assembly (42) disposed within said housing for rotation between a first and second position about a longitudinal axis (34) so that fluid entering said supply port (29) may be selectively directed to either of said downstream ports and so that fluid returning through either of said downstream ports is discharged through said return port (30), said assembly being connected to means to rotate the assembly within said housing and including: (1) axle means (33) mounted for rotation on said axis and fixed against axial movement, (2) a plurality of disc segments (43-46) disposed transversely of said axle means and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and with said disc segments having a pair of arcuately spaced generally radial edges (47, 48) and terminating in arcuate edges (49) disposed closely adjacent said housing side wall, said disc segments being disposed alternately adjacent opposite end portions of said axle means to form two pair (43, 45-44, 46) of arcuately spaced disc segments, (3) and longitudinally extending partitions (52, 53) joining said radial edges of alternate disc segments, (e) said assembly forming a plurality of rotatable alternating arcuate diverter chambers (I-IV) delineated by said housing side wall, said disc segments, and said partitions, and with the ends of said chambers opposite said disc segments being open.