Pendulum valve having independently and rapidly controllable theta-and z-axis motion

US7762526B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Nor-Cal Products, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Nate Coleman · Murrieta, US
• John Slaney · San Diego, US
• Sean Mallory · San Diego, US
• Per Cederstav · San Diego, US
• David Kruse · Pittsburgh, US
• William Ballard · San Diego, US
• Robert Edwin Woods, III · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 27, 2007
• Grant date: Jul 27, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16K31/043
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A Pendulum Valve having Independently and Rapidly Controllable Theta- and Z-axis Motion. The valve actuator used in the present invention provides the benefit of wide open unrestricted flow of a pendulum valve coupled with the high-resolution and wide dynamic range flow throttling of a ball or butterfly valve. The actuator mechanism will include motor drives and associated control system so that the drives are closely coupled to give highly controlled motion. The drive assembly introduces a concentric shaft arrangement that, when coupled with the highly controllable motor drives, exploits a cam-follower arrangement to make the relative rotation between the two concentric shafts result in highly controlled theta and z-axis motion. Finally, the plate to seal spacing afforded is greater than previously possible with prior valve actuator mechanisms, thereby substantially reducing flow turbulence through the valve as the valve plate eclipses the valve ports.