TWO EDUCTOR / FOUR-WAY SELECTOR VALVE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. The method includes rotating a valve to a first position, receiving a first concentrate in the first position, discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets, rotating the valve to a second position, receiving a second concentrate in the second position, and discharging the second concentrate through one of the two outlets.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid through a selector valve assembly, the method comprising: rotating a control member to a first position; receiving a first concentrate in the first position; discharging the first concentrate toward one of two outlet passages; rotating the control member to a second position; receiving a second concentrate in the second position; and discharging the second concentrate toward one of the two outlet passages without adjusting a position of the outlet passages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control member includes a valve, the method further comprising, after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the first position, directing the first concentrate through a passageway in the valve.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising rotating the valve via a knob.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after the step of receiving the second concentrate in the second position, directing the second concentrate through the passageway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the first concentrate in the first position further includes receiving the first concentrate in the first position from a first port.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of receiving the second concentrate in the second position further includes receiving the second concentrate in the second position from a second port.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of discharging the first concentrate toward one of the two outlet passages further includes directing the first concentrate to a first eductor or a second eductor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the selector valve assembly connected to two eductors;

[0028] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the valve for interconnection to the eductors;

[0029] FIG. 3 is another exploded view showing the component parts for placement inside the valve body;

[0030] FIG. 4 is still another exploded view showing the valve selector indexing mechanism; and

[0031] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating one position of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, the selector valve assembly generally 10 is shown in conjunction with two eductors 12 and 13. The preferred eductors are described in commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/195,052 filed Aug. 2, 2005 which teachings are incorporated herein. The selector valve assembly 10 includes a valve member 11 with a valve stem 14 housed in a tubular body member 15 to which is connected in a fluid tight manner four fluid intake ports 17, each having nipples 19.

[0033] As seen in FIG. 2, the selector valve assembly 10 includes two check valve mechanisms generally 20 disposed between the valve member 11 and the eductors 12 and 13. The check valves 20 include check balls 22 and 23. A ball seating washer 26 and check ball guide 24 are also provided as well as a spring 28. Sealing rings are also shown at 30 and 32.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, valve member 11 is composed of valve stem retainer 35 which fits through slots 37 and 38 in body member 15 and over groove 40 in valve stem 14 to removably retain valve stem 14 in body member 15. An indexing function is provided for the valve stem 14 by means of the indexing plate 42 and indexing receiver 44. Spring 46 biases plate 42 against receiver 44. Indexing receiver 44 is retained on valve stem 14 in a non-rotatable manner by the projections 45 in the body member 15 engaging the cut outs 47 in indexing receiver 44. This is best seen in FIG. 4 where it is also shown the projections 43 on indexing plate 42 for riding over indexing receiver 44 and engaging the indents 41. Indexing plate 42 rotates with valve stem 14 by means of the flat walls, one of which is shown at 49 and the flat side 51 of valve stem 14.

[0035] As best seen in FIG. 5, valve body member 15 has a compartment 58 in which valve stem 14 is seated. A seal ring is provided at 52. It also has an end wall 60. A side wall 62 is provided in valve stem 14 as well as an end wall 64. A passageway 66 extends inwardly into valve stem 14 from the end wall thereof and joins passageway 68 which extends inwardly into valve stem 14 from side wall 62.

[0036] As also seen in FIG. 5, passages 18 are provided in intake ports 17 and passages 57 are provided in port housings 56 to provide fluid communication with compartment 58 as well as passageway 68 in valve stem 14. Seal rings are shown at 54. It will also be seen in FIG. 5 that body member 15 has eductor ports 71 which connect with eductor ports 70 of eductors 12 and 13. Eductor ports 70 accommodate springs 28 in compartments 79 as well as check ball guides 24. Passages 77 are disposed in eductor ports 70 and communicate with compartment 79. Compartment 79 also accommodates check balls 22 and 23 as they are seated against valve seats 75 and 76 in body member 15. A passage 78 is located in body member and communicates with passageway 66 in valve stem 14 as well as valve seats 75 and 76.

Operation

[0037] A better understanding of the selector valve assembly 10 will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, suitable sources of chemical concentrate are connected to intake ports 17 and nipples 19 such as with flexible tubing (not shown). It should be understood that eductor 12 has a faster flow rate than eductor 13. Eductor 12 and hose 72 are employed to fill a bucket, whereas eductor 13 and hose 74 are employed to fill a bottle. When it is desired to fill a bottle, pressurized water is introduced into the inlet 80 of eductor 13. This causes a siphoning effect on check ball 22 by means of passage 77 to move it away from the valve seat 76 to afford fluid communication with passage 78 and in turn passageways 66 and 68. This provides a siphoning effect in intake port 17 to draw chemical concentrate into passage 18, passageways 68, 66, passage 78, compartment 79, past intake portion 82 and into passage 77, in that order. It is ultimately introduced into the water stream in eductor 13 in a well-known manner.

[0038] When it is desired to fill a bucket, pressurized water is introduced into the inlet 81 of eductor 12. This causes a reduction in pressure on check ball 23 by means of passage 77 to move it away from valve seat 75 to produce a siphoning effect in passages 78 and passageways 66 and 68 as previously explained in conjunction with eductor 13. This draws chemical concentrate into the eductor 12 and hose 72 as also previously explained. It should be noted that when a siphoning effect is produced on one of the check balls 22 or 23, the other one is seated against its respective valve seal by means of spring 28 and the reduced pressure which moves open the other check ball.

[0039] When it is desired to introduce a different chemical concentrate in to the eductors 12 and 13, valve stem 14 is rotated so that passageway 68 is orientated with a different intake port 17. Rotation is facilitated by the indexing plate 42 which is spring loaded against indexing receiver 44 by means of spring 46 held captive in spring retainer 48 by clip 50 secured to valve stem 14. Indexing between indexing plate 42 and indexing receiver 44 is accomplished in a well-known manner. This feature affords a positive locating of the valve stem 14 as well as an audible indicator.

[0040] In order to assure that the proper chemical concentrates are connected to the proper intake ports 17, colored bands of different colors can be connected to intake ports such as shown at 84 in FIG. 1.

[0041] An important feature of the selector valve assembly 10 are the passageways 66 and 68 in the valve stem 14. These afford less carry-over from one chemical concentrate to the other as passageway 68 is moved from one intake port 17 to another. The reason for this is the cylindrical configuration of valve stem 14 acts as a seamless, continuous chemical pathway for either eductor 12 and 13. The passageways 66 and 68 are preferably of 0.104 inch diameter which affords flow of maximum amount of concentrate with minimum amount of product carry-over. The combined volume of passages 66, 68 and compartments 79 and eductor passages 77 is 0.635 ml. Also the common channel 78 between the check balls 22, 23 and valve seats 76, 75 respectively, is separated by less than 0.100. This combined with the size of the compartments 79 for the check valves 20 and the size of eductor passages 77 minimizes retention of chemical concentrate.

[0042] Another important feature is serviceability. In order to service the revolving valve stem 14 or valve cylinder all that is required is to remove clips 50 and 35. The stem 14 can be pulled straight out without removing the selector valve assembly 10 from the eductors 12 and 13 or removing the eductors 80 and 81 and valve assembly 10 from the water valves of a manifold. The spring retaining sleeve 48 connected to the valve stem 14 or handle prevents the clip 35 from backing out of position during use.

[0043] The valve assembly 10 allows for a single valve member for use with two eductors. This is a cost savings. It also provides for non unit labeling, where the product is it's own label and the selector valve points toward the intended product. This also allows for a single circuit if an electronic circuit is added for remote monitoring of chemical usage or electronic indicators (flashing lights, LED's, etc.) to further reinforce proper product selection.

[0044] The preferred material for manufacturing the selector valve stem 14 is Teflon. The body member 15 is preferably manufactured from polypropylene.

[0045] However, other moldable plastic materials could be employed such as a polypropylene copolymer.

[0046] The detent on indexing plate 42 affords a stop and audible indicator for the position of the selector valve assembly 10. If desired, it could be eliminated as could the color bands 84. While the selector valve assembly 10 has been illustrated with four intake ports 17 for chemical concentrates, the selector valve can operate with fewer intake ports such as two, or a greater number such as eight. AU such modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by the appended claims.