Flow-control valve arrangements and improvements

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements of valves of the cartwheel type, with receptive arrangements incorporating the valves, which comprise a component of elastomeric material in the form of a cartwheel fastened by means of the external ring to the valve case. The invention comprises a central plug connected by rods to the external ring and, normally, when used in two-way casings (with only one inlet and one outlet), the valve acts as a unidirectional valve. When used in a three-way casing, or a casing with more than three thereof, the valve can act to seal off and let through a flow of fluid on either side of the valve, alternately, depending on the fluid-circulation design choice.

Claims

1. A flow-control valve of the cartwheel type, comprising a piece of elastomeric material in wagon wheel format which is fixed by an external ring (2) to a valve casing (7), wherein a central plug (3) is of solid construction and has different constructive configurations for both sides (a) and (b) in the valve, wherein the side (a) has an arc-shaped contour less prominent than an arc-shaped contour of side (b), and the arcshaped contour of side (b) having steeper contour than that of the side (a), but revealing a cylindrical extension (6), wherein rods (4) connecting the central plug (3) to the external ring (2) have a slight slope portion that begins at the limit of a circumference of the central plug arc (3) by the side (a) and extends all the way to a flat part contiguous to the external ring (2), such that a first plane through the limit of the circumference of the central plug arc (3) by the side (a) and a second plane through the flat part contiguous to the external ring (2) are at different levels.

2. The flow-control valves of the cartwheel type according to claim 1 wherein when attached to a three-way or more valve casing, both sides (a) and (b) of the central plug (3) can act as a seal and passage of fluid flow alternatively, wherein sealing of side (a) is performed by a valve seat contact (8) on a base or focus (9) of a capsule.

3. The flow-control valves of the cartwheel type according to claim 1, wherein the flow-control valves are mounted on a four-way valve casing.

4. The flow-control valves of the cartwheel type according to claim 1, wherein the flow-control valves are mounted on a six-way valve casing.

5. The flow-control valves of the cartwheel type, according to claim 3, wherein a valve disposal performs an automatic flow control.

6. The flow-control valves of the cartwheel type, according to claim 4, wherein a valve disposal performs an automatic flow control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, that in a schematic and not limited form of its scope, represent:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates two diagrammatic views of a flow-control valve of the cartwheel type, according to the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the cartwheel-type valve, according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the cartwheel-type valve, according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the cartwheel-type valve, according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the cartwheel-type valve mounted in the capsule, with the flow direction with fluid seal according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the cartwheel-type valve mounted in the capsule, with flow direction to open fluid passage according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the cartwheel-type valve mounted in the capsule according to the present invention;

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a longitudinal sectional view of a three-way capsule comprising a cartwheel-type valve, with flow passage and sealing, alternatives by the side (a) or side (b) of the plug according to the fluid inlet option, according to the present invention;

(10) FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate longitudinal sections of cartwheel-type valve arrangements, with four-way capsules, for different options for the inlet and outlet of fluid, according to the present invention;

(11) FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate longitudinal sections of another type of cartwheel-type valve arrangements, with six-way capsules, for different options for the inlet and outlet of fluid, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) As illustrated in the aforementioned figures, the flow-control valve of the cartwheel type (1) should be made of an elastomeric material having wagon wheel shape which is fixed by the external ring (2) to the valve or capsule (7) casing having the freedom to move in only one direction if mounted as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and when subjected to pressure. This possibility is achieved due to the flexibility of the rods (4) connecting the external ring (2) to the central plug (3) forming equidistant openings (5). Said central plug (3) has different configurations for the sides (a) and (b), being the side (a) of arc-shaped contour less prominence than that of the contour of side (b) that also in arc shape, has a steeper contour than the side (a) in addition to revealing a cylindrical extension (6). Due to the massive construction and prominent contours of the central plug (3), the rods (4) has a slight slope portion starting at the limit of circumference of the central plug arc (3) by the side (a) extending to the flat part contiguous to external ring (2).

(13) In the cartwheel-type valve thus configured, when working in capsules as a three-way valve, examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, both the side (a) and side (b) of the central plug (3) can exert the passage and sealing function, depending on the choice of flow inlet. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of inlet in (A) and outlet in (B). Thus, the inlet is by the side (a), which normally would not make contact with the focus or base (9) of the capsule, then going to have sealing by the valve seat contact (8) with the base (9) of the capsule also by the side (a). When the choice is inlet in (C) and outlet in (B), as shown in FIG. 8, the cartwheel valve (1) typically will seal by the side (b). It can be seen therefore that the cartwheel-type valve, object of the invention, is perfectly adapted to provide sealing and passage through both sides (a) and (b) of the central plug (3). What will define the seal or not by both sides will be only the construction of the focus or base (9) of the capsule chosen in specific project. Differently, the cartwheel-type valve of the prior art, due to the flat format of the central plug, only allows sealing for only one side (a) or (b).

(14) Thus based on the properties of sealing and passage that the cartwheel valve, object of the present invention, can be carried out by both sides (a) and (b) of the central plug (3), various types of arrangements can be applied to meet the most different flows handling processes commonly required in medical area, thus automating the procedures usually to be run.

(15) Based on this structure of the cartwheel valve object of the invention, examples of possible arrangements, but not limited, are those illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13, which define a four-way capsule, providing alternatives of fluid flows inlet and outlet as required design. Likewise, arrangements shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are possible, which comprise a six-way capsule, also providing alternatives of process flow inlet and outlet.

(16) It is noted that in both arrangements exemplified above, the same constructivity of the cartwheel-type valve according to the present invention may alternatively take the proviso of sealing or passage depending on the choice of inlet to be adopted in the process of fluid circulation.