Rotary multi-port valve

摘要

A rotary multi-port valve has a valve body having a primary flow port and a plurality of secondary flow ports. A rotary diverter is rotatable within the valve body and has an internal piston receptacle. A port selector piston is linearly moveable by hydraulic pressure from a de-energized position within the piston receptacle to an energized position for sealing with a selected flow port and accomplishes development of a spring force during hydraulically energized piston movement. Upon reduction of the hydraulic pressure the stored spring force returns the port selector piston to its de-energized position freeing the rotary diverter member for selective rotation to another selected flow port.

主权项

1. A method for operating a rotary multi-port valve mechanism having a valve body defining a valve chamber and having a primary flow port and a plurality of secondary flow ports having port seal surfaces and having a rotary diverter defining a flow passage and an internal transverse piston receptacle and having a port selector piston member that is linearly moveable within said transverse piston receptacle and having a sealing end and defining a piston flow port, comprising:
rotating said rotary diverter to a position aligning said sealing end of said port selector piston member with a sealing surface of the selected secondary flow port; moving said port selector piston member linearly in an energizing direction within said internal transverse piston receptacle and establishing sealed engagement of said sealing end port selector piston member with said sealing surface of the selected secondary flow port; permitting the flow of fluid between the selected secondary flow port and said primary flow port through said piston flow port and said flow passage of said rotary diverter; terminating the flow of fluid between the selected secondary flow port and said primary flow port; moving said port selector piston member linearly in a de-energizing direction to a retracted non-sealing position within said internal transverse piston receptacle; rotating said rotary diverter to another position aligning said port selector piston member with an open sealing end facing a sealing surface of another selected flow port; and again moving said port selector piston member linearly in an energizing direction within said internal transverse piston receptacle and establishing sealed engagement of said port selector piston member with another one of said port seal surfaces.