Switch valve
US6240946A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/86863
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A switch valve 10 is provided with an upper body 14 having a plurality of outlet ports 20A, 20B, and 20C and a lower body housing 16 with inlet port 18. The switch valve includes a ball member 22 which is rotatable within the switch valve body 12 for selective fluid communication between the inlet port 18 and the selected one of the plurality of outlet ports. The ball 22 is rotated by a stem 28, which may be powered by an actuator unit. The upper body 14 includes a substantially dome-shaped seating surface 40 for sealing engagement with the outer surface 38 of the ball. The biasing member 48 biases the ball radially in a direction opposite the ball inlet port 24 to obtain the desired sealing engagement. The biasing member is preferably a Belleville spring 48 having a single wrap design.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.