Patent GB-354515-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multiway valves
IPC: F16K31/363
Filed: 1930-07-04
Abstract: 354,515. Fluid-actuated valves. AKTIEBOLAGET FILTRUM, 2, Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm.-(Assignees of Johanson,K.A.R.; 12, Bangardsgatan, Stockholm.) July 4, 1930, No. 20367. Convention date, July 9, 1929. [Class 135.] A multi-way rotary plug valve, for use in base exchange water-softening apparatus, controls flow of fluid through a number of ports by its angular position, is reciprocated within a casing by the pressure of the supply fluid, and is adapted to be rotated progressively in one direction in virtue of its reciprocation, means, operable from the exterior, being also provided to initiate the reciprocating movement of the plug which ceases automatically after the plug has been rotated through a predetermined angle. The valve member 7 is cylindrical and moves in a bore 2 in the valve casing 1 which is provided with a supply port 15, 10 and discharge ports 11, 12, 13, a drain port 16 being also provided. Grooves and channels 17 .. 20 connect the ports in the desired manner in predetermined angular positions of the valve member which is provided with a chamber 21 at one end in connection with the chamber 17 through a bore 22 in the valve member, and at the other end with a chamber 26 of larger diameter which is in communication with the supply pipe 15 through a passage 28 and pipe 27. A piston valve 23 moves in the chamber 26 and is adapted to close the drain pipe 16. An auxiliary valve 33, operated by a cam 36 under the control of a lever 37 pivoted at 47 to an operating handle 48, exhausts pressure from the chamber 26 through the chamber 30 and bore 35 to the drain pipe 16 and has a larger valve opening than the inlet bore 28. At the opposite end of the main valve member 7 an extension 8 passes through the valve casing and is provided with a disc or wheel 38 on the upper surface of which circumferential teeth 39 are provided, which teeth are engaged by pawls such as 41 pivoted on the valve casing. The disc is also provided with an arcuate recess 40 in its circumference radially outside the ring of teeth 39, said recess being adapted to engage a cylindrical collar 49 on a rod 44 attached to the operating handle 48 and the lever 37, and thus lock the disc 38 against rotation. The collar 49 is provided with a slot 51 which is adapted to engage the unbroken edge of the disc 38 when the collar is reciprocated into the position in which the slot and the edge of the disc are in alignment. In operation, the collar 49 is normally engaged by the recess 40 of the disc 38 and the main valve is in its extreme right-hand position in Fig. 1. The handle 48 is now moved to the right, thus bringing the slot 51 in the collar 49 into alignment with the edge of the disc 38 and opening the valve 33 through the lever and cam 37, 36. The chamber 26 now exhausts through the valve 33 and the valve member 7 moves to the left under the pressure in the chamber 21. This movement rotates the disc 38 and the valve member 7 by the action of the pawls 41 on the teeth 39 and brings the edge of the disc 38 into the slot 61 of the collar 49, thus locking the disc, valve member 7, and rod 44 together for all axial movements. The movement of the valve member 7 to the left also moves the rod 44 which operates the lever 37 so that the valve 33 closes and pressure builds up in the chamber 26 and the valve member is then reciprocated in the opposite direction, thus moving the pawls 41 into engagement with the next tooth of the teeth 39 and moving also the rod 44 which actuates the cam 36 to open the valve 33 and repeat the cycle of operations. This action continues until the recess 40 in the disc 38 moves into register with the collar 49 in which position reciprocation of the valve member moves the slot 51 out of engagement with the disc 38, locks the disc against rotation, and does not operate the valve 33 until the rod 44 is moved to the right, manually. The disc 38 may be geared to the valve member 7 so that the disc and valve member rotate at different speeds, or it may 'have more than one recess such as 40 so that the action may take place more than once in a revolution of the disc 38.