Method and apparatus for fluid flow control

Abstract: A metering apparatus, which may be single- or double-acting, includes a valve device including a closure member 21, an inlet port 2, an outlet port 4 and one or two other ports (6,7) communicating with a metering chamber of the single-acting apparatus or respective metering chambers 14 of the double-acting apparatus. The closure member 21 prevents oommunication between the inlet port 2 and the outlet port 4 during normal working, but, to allow flushing of the apparatus by cleaning fluid, the closure member 21 can be displaced to an abnormal position in which the inlet port 2 communicates with the outlet port 4 by way of the other port(s) (6,7).

Description: This invention relates to fluid flow control, particularly but not necessarily for use in metering apparatus for fluid. EP-A-0280537 discloses a dosing system for filling containers with a particulate/liquid mixture. The system includes three single-acting piston-and-cylinder devices, of which a first device delivers the mixture downwards to containers advanced beneath it, a second device feeds a thick particulate/liquid mixture via a first conduit to the first device, and the third device feeds a thin liquid via a second conduit to a liquid supply port of the first device. The port is disposed peripherally in the cylinder of the first device and is swept by the piston thereof, and a conduit in continuous communication with the port extends through the piston to a lower axial end of the piston. One of the factors limiting the frequency of filling of the containers is the time taken to refill the second and third devices, which becomes relatively high for the second device with relatively viscous mixtures. From GB-A-377939; GB-A-1305729; GB-A-1578981; FR-A-2068800; FR-B-2544491 and DE-B-1159341, for example, it is known to employ for metering purposes piston-and-cylinder arrangements which are double-acting in the sense that, while one metered dose is being delivered from one metering chamber, a second dose is being metered by another metering chamber and then, while that second dose is being delivered from the other chamber, a third dose is being metered by the one chamber. Of these, GB-A-377939; FR-A-2068800; FR-B-2544491 and DE-B-1159341 disclose that each arrangement includes a rotary change-over valve device which connects the fluid input to one metering chamber and the fluid output to the other metering chamber, and vice-versa, alternately. The valve device includes a cylindrical valve housing and a rotary closure member co-axially mounted in the housing. The housing is formed with four fixed ports, namely a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, and two ports connected to the respective metering chambers. In FR-A-2068800; FR-B-2544491 and DE-B-1159341 the rotary valve device is disposed directly between the two metering chambers and the two pistons are disposed outwardly of the two chambers. The preamble of claims 4, 6 and 11 is based on these prior art documents Cleaning of such apparatus in situ can be performed by treating a cleaning fluid as if it were the filling fluid(s) and thus causing it to flow through the apparatus along the path(s) of the filling fluid(s) by operating the whole of the filling system. However, with the known apparatus, the rate of flow therethrough would be relatively low, so that the metering chambers would be only poorly cleaned, to the extent that dismantling of the chambers could be necessary to clean them well. Moreover, the land(s) of the rotary valve device would be only poorly cleaned because they are in sealing contact with the valve housing throughout most of the normal operation of the filling system. Furthermore, if the cleaning fluid is hot, it may become cooled to an undesirable degree during the time taken for the normal reciprocatory operation of the metering arrangement. US-A-1774685 discloses a control valve which forms the basis for the preambles of claims 1, 7 and 12 and in which a vane is turnable among three positions, in one of which operating fluid for some pressure-actuated device is forced through an inlet into a duct (serving as an outlet) to the pressure-actuated device, in a second position of which the fluid is forced from the inlet into an outlet to a bypass and/or return conduit, and in the third position of which the fluid is forced from the inlet into the duct (serving as an outlet) and the outlet or from both the inlet 18 and the duct (now serving as an inlet) into the outlet. In the third position, there are gaps between opposite edges at one side of the vane and respective opposite edges of the inlet port and between opposite edges at the other side of the vane and respective opposite edges of a recess in the valve housing. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve device comprising a valve housing having sealing surface means, first and second ports through said surface means, and a valve closure member in said housing displaceable into a first position in which a land of said valve closure member co-operates with said sealing surface means to obstruct fluid flow between said first and second ports, said valve closure member being also displaceable into another position in which said land is disposed at said second port with gaps between respective opposite sides of said land, on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions of said sealing surface means bounding said second port, on the other hand, through which gaps fluid can flow through said second port, characterized in that, in said first position, said land is disposed at said first port and said respective opposite sides of said land overlap respective opposite edge portions of said sealing surface means bounding said first port, whereby said land prevents fluid flow through said first port. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling fluid flow, comprising supplying a production fluid, displacing a valve closure member between first and second positions in which a land thereof co-operates with sealing surface means of a valve housing to enable and to obstruct, respectively, flow of said production fluid between first and second ports extending through the sealing surface means, ceasing to supply said production fluid, subsequently displacing the valve closure member into a third position in which the land is disposed at the second port with gaps between respective opposite sides of said land, on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions of said sealing surface means bounding said second port, on the other hand, and causing a cleaning fluid to flow through said gaps and said second port. The exposing of the second port and both sides of the land to fluid flow is particularly useful if a cleaning fluid is to be passed through the valve device. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve device comprising a valve housing having a fluid inlet duct leading to a fluid inlet port in said housing, a fluid outlet duct leading from a fluid outlet port in said housing, and conduit means, and a valve closure member in said housing displaceable between a first position in which said member enables fluid flow from said inlet port to said conduit means but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port to said outlet port and fluid flow from said conduit means to said outlet port, and a second position in which said member enables fluid flow from said conduit means to said outlet port but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port to said conduit means and from said inlet port to said outlet port, characterized in that said closure member is displaceable into a third position in which said member enables fluid flow from said inlet port to said conduit means and thence to said outlet port. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling fluid flow, comprising displacing a valve closure member to a first position in which said member enables fluid flow from a fluid inlet port in said housing to conduit means, but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port to a fluid outlet port in said housing and from said conduit means to said outlet port, and subsequently displacing the valve closure member into a second position in which said member enables fluid flow from said conduit means to said outlet port but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port to said conduit means and from said inlet port to said outlet port, characterized by subsequently displacing the valve closure member into a third position in which said member enables fluid flow from said inlet port to said conduit means and thence to said outlet port. Owing to the invention, it is possible to produce a continuous fluid flow through the fluid inlet port to the conduit means and thence through the outlet port, which feature is particularly useful if a cleaning fluid is to be passed through the valve device, because then the fluid flow rate can be relatively high, which in itself gives better cleaning. Moreover, the increased turbulence produced by the high flow rate gives even better cleaning. Furthermore, the cleaning fluid has less time to become cool if hot. In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic axial section through a metering apparatus for fluid, with a vane of a rotary plug valve in a metering position, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the vane in a closed mid-position, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the vane in a cleaning mid-position. Figure 4 shows, mainly in axial section, a rotary valve of a modified version of the metering apparatus, with an oscillatory plate of the valve in a metering position, Figure 5 shows a view taken on the line v-v of figure 4, and Figure 6 shows a view similar to that of figure 5 but with the oscillatory plate turned to a cleaning position. Two metering apparatuses, each as to be described with reference to the drawings, may replace the respective metering apparatuses 6 and 10 in United States Patent 5052591. Referring to the drawings, an inlet duct 1 extends to a fixed port 2 of an oscillating, rotary plug valve 3 having four fixed ports 2, 4, 6 and 7, and two vable ports 18 and 19. From an opposite fixed port 4 of the valve 3 extends an outlet duct 5. Connected to respective fixed ports 6 and 7 arranged at right-angles to the ports 2 and 4 are respective dosing devices 8 and 9. The devices 8 and 9 are in the form of respective piston-and-cylinder devices whereof the pistons 10 and the cylinders 11 are all co-axial with one another. The pistons have respective rods 12 which extend co-axially from the cylinders 11 towards respective adjustable stops 13. The devices 8 and 9 have respective metering chambers 14 communicating with the respective ports 6 and 7 and have respective drive chambers 15 at respective opposite sides of the pistons 10 from the chambers 14. The drive chambers 15 are interconnected via a drive pipe 16 and, together with the pipe 16, are full of a drive liquid, for example water. Connected in the pipe 16 is a flow rate regulating valve 17 for regulating the maximum flow rate of drive liquid through the pipe 16 between the chambers 15. In this version, the fluid to be metered is supplied under pressure to the inlet duct 1 and, in the condition of the valve 3 shown in Figure 1 in which the port 2 is connected to the port 6 and the port 7 is connected to the port 4, forces back the piston 10 of the device 8, which in turn, via the pipe 16, forces forward the piston 10 of the device 9, until the piston rod 12 of the device 8 strikes the adjacent adjustable stop 13, whereby an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic limit switch is actuated to cause change-over of the valve 3 into its other condition, in which the port 2 is connected to the port 7 and the port 6 is connected to the port 4, whereupon fluid is supplied from the inlet 1 to force back the piston 10 of the device 9 and thus to force forward the piston 10 of the device 8 to cause it to deliver the metered dose of fluid to the outlet duct 5. At the end of the stroke of the piston 10 of the device 9, the rod 12 of the device 9 strikes its adjustable stop 13 and thereby actuates an associated limit switch to turn the valve 3 into its condition shown in Figure 1. Between the movable ports 18 and 19 are two lands 20 of a vane 21 of the valve 3 each of sufficient dimension circumferentially at its outer periphery that, during the change-over of the valve 3 between its two conditions, the ports 2 and 4 are fully closed before being opened again, as illustrated for the mid-position of the vane 21 shown in Figure 2; thus there is no point in the cycle of operation of the valve 3 that the fluid could flow directly from the port 2 to the port 4. However, once a production run has been completed, the vane 21 can be turned out of its usual cycling range of oscillation into another mid-position shown in Figure 3 in which gaps 22 exist between the respective opposite sides 23 and 24 of the lands 20, on the one hand, and those respective opposite edge portions 25 and 26 of the internal peripheral sealing surface 27 of the valve housing 28 bounding the ports 6 and 7, on the other hand. In this mid-position, a cleaning fluid can be passed through the duct 1 and the port 2 into the port 18, thence through the gaps 22 into the chambers 14, thence through the gaps 23 into the port 19 and thence to the outlet duct 5. In this way, highly effective cleaning can be obtained. Other versions of the metering apparatus are possible. For example, a solid mechanical link could interconnect the pistons 10, rather than a drive liquid. Alternatively, the fluid need not be supplied under pressure to the inlet duct 1, if the link is provided with its own reciprocating drive, such as a rack-and-pinion drive. Referring to the modified version shown in Figures 4 to 6, a basic difference between this version and the version of Figures 1 to 3 is that the rotary valve controls flow in relation to a single metering device 108 shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 4. The device 108 comprises a piston 110 and a cylinder 111 connected to a valve casing 128. Attached at its periphery between the cylinder 111 and the casing 128 is a rolling diaphragm 130 centrally attached to the head of the piston 110. Fixed to the casing 128 is a valve housing core comprised of a circular plate 131 formed with an inlet port 102 and an outlet port 104 arranged diametrically opposite each other. Fixed to the outside of the plate 131 is an inlet block 132 formed with a right-angle bend duct 133 communicating an inlet duct 134 with the inlet port 102. Similarly, a right-angle bend duct 135 in an outlet block 136 communicates the outlet port 104 with an outlet duct 137. A fixed central block 138 provides a bearing for a central spindle 139 drivingly connected at its outer end to an actuator 140 and drivengly connected at its inner end to an oscillatory valve closure plate 141. The closure plate 141 is formed peripherally with two diametrically opposite recesses 142 and 143 and during normal operation of the apparatus is oscillated by the actuator 140 between the cylinder-charging position shown in Figure 5 and a cylinder-discharging position not shown. In the cylinder-charging position shown in Figure 5, the inlet port 102 is fully open to the recess 142 and thence communicates with the product-receiving chamber of the metering device 108. In this position, the outlet port 104 is fully closed by the plate 141. In the cylinder-discharging position, the plate 141 has been turned through approximately one right angle to cause the plate 141 to close fully the inlet port 102 and to bring the outlet port 104 into full communication with the recess 142 and thence with the dosing chamber of the metering device 108, so that the product contained therein can be expelled through the outlet duct 137 by introduction of a driving fluid into the chamber to the rear of the piston head. The angular spacing between the cylinder-charging position and the cylinder-discharging position of the plate 141 and the dimensions of the recess 142 are such that there is not any time communication between the ports 102 and 104 throughout the oscillatory cycle between those two positions. However, when it is desired to clean the fluid pathway through the apparatus, the plate 141 can be brought to the cleaning position shown in Figure 6, in which the inlet port 102 is in full communication with the recess 142 and the outlet port 104 is in full communication with the recess 143. In this position, a cleaning fluid can be passed through the ducts 134 and 133, the port 102, the recess 142, the dosing chamber of the device 108, the recess 143, the port 104 and the ducts 135 and 137, a turbulent flow being directed into the dosing chamber. Alternatively, instead of the valve device taking the form of a rotary valve, it could take the form of a linear slide valve.

Claims: A valve device comprising a valve housing having sealing surface means (27), first and second ports (2, 6) through said surface means (27), and a valve closure member (21) in said housing displaceable into a first position (Figure 2) in which a land (20) of said valve closure member (21) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said first and second ports (2, 6), said valve closure member (21) being also displaceable into another position (Figure 3) in which said land (20) is disposed at said second port (6) with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said land (20), on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said second port (6), on the other hand, through which gaps (22) fluid can flow through said second port (6), characterized in that, in said first position (Figure 2), said land (20) is disposed at said first port (2) and said respective opposite sides (23,24) of said land (20) overlap respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said first port (2) , whereby said land (20) prevents fluid flow through said first port (2). A valve device according to claim 1, and further comprising third and fourth ports (7,4) through said surface means (27), said valve closure member (21) including a second land (20) which in said first position (Figure 2) of said valve closure member (21) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said third and fourth ports (7,4) and in said other position (Figure 3) is disposed at said third port (7) with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said second land (20), on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said third port (7), on the other hand, through which latter gaps (22) fluid can flow through said third port (7). A valve device according to claim 2, wherein, in said first position (Figure 2), said second land (20) is disposed at said fourth port (4) and said respective opposite sides (23,24) of said second land (20) overlap respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said fourth port (4), whereby said second land (20) prevents fluid flow through said fourth port (4). Metering apparatus, comprising inlet means (1) for inflow of fluid, outlet means (5) for outflow of metered doses of said fluid, a first dosing device (8) serving to receive said fluid from said inlet means (1) and to expel a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), a second dosing device (9) serving to receive said fluid from said inlet means (1) and to expel a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), a valve device comprising a valve housing having sealing surface means (27), first, second, third and fourth ports (2, 6, 7, 4) through said surface means (27) communicating with said inlet means (1), said first dosing device (8), said second dosing device (9) and said outlet means (2), respectively, and a valve closure member (21) in said housing displaceable between a first position in which a first land (20) of said valve closure member (21) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said first and second ports (2,6) and a second land (20) of said valve closure member (21) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct flow between said third and fourth ports (7,4), and a second position (Figure 1) in which said first land (20) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said first and third ports (2,7) and said second land (20) co-operates with said sealing surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said second and fourth ports (6,4), and drive means (15) for the first and second dosing devices (8,9) and so arranged that, while said first dosing device (8) is receiving said fluid from said inlet means (1), said second dosing device (9) is expelling a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), and vice-versa, characterized in that said closure member (21) is also displaceable into a third position (Figure 3) in which said first land (20) is disposed at said second port (6) with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said first land (20), on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said second port (6), on the other hand, through which gaps (22) fluid can flow through said second port (6) and in which said second land (20) is disposed at said third port (7) with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said second land (20), on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said third port (7), on the other hand, through which latter gaps (22) fluid can flow through said third port (7). A method of controlling fluid flow, comprising supplying a production fluid, displacing a valve closure member (21) between first and second positions (Figures 1 and 2) in which a land (20) thereof co-operates with sealing surface means (27) of a valve housing to enable and to obstruct, respectively, flow of said production fluid between first and second ports (2,6) extending through the sealing surface means (27) , ceasing to supply said production fluid, subsequently displacing the valve closure member (21) into a third position (Figure 3) in which the land (20) is disposed at the second port (6) with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said land (20), on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said second port (6), on the other hand, and causing a cleaning fluid to flow through said gaps (22) and said second port (6). A metering method, comprising displacing a valve closure member (21) to a first position in which a first land (20) thereof co-operates with sealing surface means (27) of a valve housing to obstruct flow between first and second ports (2,6) extending through said surface means (27) and communicating with inlet means (1) and a first dosing device (8), respectively, and a second land (20) thereof co-operates with said surface means (27) to obstruct flow between third and fourth ports (7,4) extending through said surface means (27) and communicating with a second dosing device (9) and outlet means (5), respectively, and thereby causing said second dosing device (9) to receive fluid from said inlet means (1) while said first dosing device (8) is delivering fluid to said outlet means (5) and subsequently displacing said valve closure member (21) to a second position (Figure 1) in which said first land (20) co-operates with said surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said first and third ports (2,7) and said second land (20) co-operates with said surface means (27) to obstruct fluid flow between said second and fourth ports (6,4), and thereby causing said first dosing device (8) to receive fluid from said inlet means (1) while said second dosing device (9) is delivering fluid to said outlet means (5), characterized by subsequently displacing said valve closure member (21) to a third position (Figure 3) in which said first and second lands (20) are disposed at said second and third ports (6,7), respectively, with gaps (22) between respective opposite sides (23,24) of said first and second lands (20), respectively, on the one hand, and respective opposite edge portions (25,26) of said sealing surface means (27) bounding said second and third ports (6,7) respectively, on the other hand, and passing cleaning fluid from said inlet means (1) to said outlet means (5) through said first and second dosing devices (8,9) via said gaps (22) at said second and third ports (6,7). A valve device comprising a valve housing having a fluid inlet duct (1;134) leading to a fluid inlet port (2;102) in said housing, a fluid outlet duct (5;137) leading from a fluid outlet port (4;104) in said housing, and conduit means (11;111), and a valve closure member (21:141) in said housing displaceable between a first position (Figure 1; Figure 5) in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said outlet port (4;104) and fluid flow from said conduit means (11;111) to said outlet port (4;104) and a second position in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from said conduit means (11;111) to said outlet port (4;104) but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) and from said inlet port (2;102) to said outlet port (4;104), characterized in that said closure member (21;142) is displaceable into a third position (Figure 3; Figure 6) in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) and thence to said outlet port (4;104). A valve device according to claim 7, wherein said valve closure member (21) includes a land (20) which only partially obstructs an entrance to said conduit means (11) in said third position (Figure 3). A valve device according to claim 7, wherein said valve closure member (141) is formed with a first recess (142) which communicates continuously with said conduit means (111) but alternately with said inlet port (102) and said outlet port (104) in said first and second positions, respectively, and is also formed with a second recess (143) which communicates continuously with said conduit means (111) and with neither of said inlet port (102) and said outlet port (104) in said first and second positions, but with one (104) of said inlet port (102) and said outlet port (104) in said third position. Metering apparatus, comprising a valve device according to claim 7, 8, or 9, and a dosing device (8,108) communicating with said conduit means (11,111) and serving to receive said fluid from said inlet duct (1,134) and to expel a dose of said fluid towards said outlet duct (5,137). Metering apparatus, comprising inlet means (1) for inflow of fluid, outlet means (5) for outflow of metered doses of said fluid, a first dosing device (8) serving to receive said fluid from said inlet means (1) and to expel a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), a second dosing device (9) serving to receive said fluid from said inlet means (1) and to expel a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), a change-over valve device (3) comprising a valve housing having a fluid inlet port (2) to which leads said inlet means (1), a fluid outlet port (4) leading to said outlet means (5), and respective ports (6,7) communicating with the first and second dosing devices (8,9), and a valve closure member (21) in said housing displaceable between a first position in which said member (21) enables fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said second dosing device (9) and from said first dosing device (8) to said outlet port (4) but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said outlet port (4), fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said first dosing device (8), and fluid flow from said second dosing device (9) to said outlet port (4) and a second position (Figure 1) in which said member (21) enables fluid flow from said second dosing device (9) to said outlet port (4) and from said inlet port (2) to said first dosing device (8) but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said second dosing device (9), fluid flow from said first dosing device (8) to said outlet port (4), and fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said outlet port (4), and drive means (15) for the first and second dosing devices (8,9) and so arranged that, while said first dosing device (8) is receiving said fluid from said inlet means (1), said second dosing device (9) is expelling a dose of said fluid towards said outlet means (5), and vice-versa, characterized in that said closure member (21) is displaceable into a third position (Figure 3) in which said member (21) enables fluid flow from said inlet port (2) to said first and second dosing devices (8,9) and thence to said outlet port (4). A method of controlling fluid flow, comprising displacing a valve closure member (21;141) to a first position (Figure 1; Figure 5) in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from a fluid inlet port (2;102) in said housing to conduit means (11;111), but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to a fluid outlet port (4;104) in said housing and from said conduit means (11;111) to said outlet port (4;104) and subsequently displacing the valve closure member (21;141) into a second position in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from said conduit means (11;111) to said outlet port (4;104) but obstructs fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) and from said inlet port (2;102) to said outlet port (4;104), characterized by subsequently displacing the valve closure member (21;141) into a third position (Figure 3; Figure 6) in which said member (21;141) enables fluid flow from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) and thence to said outlet port (4;104). A method according to claim 12, and further comprising passing a cleaning fluid from said inlet port (2;102) to said conduit means (11;111) and thence to said outlet port (4;104) in said third position (Figure 3; Figure 6).

Inventors: DIVALL JOHN EDWIN, DIVALL, JOHN EDWIN
Applicants: ODIN DEV LTD, ODIN DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65B3
IPC codes: B65B3, F16K11, B67C3, F04B1