Patent ID: 6267091
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: F02B,F02D,F16K,Y02T

Abstract:
A rotary valve assembly for controlling flow passing through substantially parallel passages, comprising:a valve housing including a cylindrical bore extending transverse to the passages and a wall surface defining the cylindrical bore;a rotor having a longitudinal rotation axis and rotatable supported at opposed ends thereof within said cylindrical bore, said rotor including a plurality of axially spaced valves adapted to open and close the passages, and a plurality of wall portions disposed between the axially spaced valves and adapted for isolating the passages;a first ring disposed on the respective axially spaced wall portion of said rotor in sealing contact with the wall surface of said valve housing; anda second ring adapted for reducing radial vibration of said rotor and cooperating with said first ring to prevent leakage flow through the adjacent passages, said second ring being disposed axially adjacent to said first ring,wherein the rotor includes a first groove receiving the first ring and a second groove receiving the second ring, said first and second grooves circumferentially extending on the wall portion of the rotor, said first groove and said first ring cooperating to define a first radial clearance between a bottom of the first groove and an inner circumferential surface of the first ring, said valve housing and said second ring cooperating to define a second radial clearance between the wall surface of the valve housing and an outer circumferential surface of the second ring, said second radial clearance being smaller than said first radial clearance.