Patent Abstract:
A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. The method includes rotating a valve to a first position, receiving a first concentrate in the first position, discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets, rotating the valve to a second position, receiving a second concentrate in the second position, and discharging the second concentrate through one of the two outlets.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/482,062, filed May 29, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,383, filed Oct. 15, 2008, which is a U.S. national phase application filing of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/030399, filed Aug. 3, 2006, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/707,399, filed Aug. 11, 2005, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a selector valve assembly. More particularly, it relates to a selector valve assembly which can regulate the flow of at least four different fluid materials in conjunction with a dispensing eductor. 
     Background Art 
     The use of selector valves in conjunction with eductors for mixing chemical concentrates into a stream of liquid to provide a diluted solution is well-known. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,377,718 and 5,653,261. 
     While these selector valves can control and select four different chemical concentrates to be introduced into an eductor, there is a problem with residual carry-over when selecting from one chemical concentrate for another. This is caused by the use of the channeled disks  11  in the &#39;718 and &#39;261 patents. 
     All current selector valve systems which utilize two separate eductors to provide a high and low flow rate use two separate selector valves for each eductor. Not only does this add cost and complexity to the system, it makes the system easier for the end user to mishandle. They can have the selector valve pointed to one product of one eductor and accidentally fill a different product from the second eductor. These types of systems also require labeling of the dispenser for product identification which can also cause misuse. 
     There is a need for a selector valve which can be used in conjunction with an eductor mixing system which can reduce the incidence of product carry-over when a selector valve is moved from one position to another. There is also a need for a selector valve which can reduce costs and mishandling. 
     The objects of the invention therefore are:
         a.) Providing an improved selector valve.   b.) Providing an improved selector valve for use with a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus.   c.) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type for use with an eductor.   d.) Providing a single selector valve of the foregoing type which can accommodate two different eductors.   e.) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type which reduces the incidence of product carry-over.   f.) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type which employs a minimum number of parts and reduces incidence of improper dispensing.   g.) Providing a combined selector valve and eductor assembly.       

     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in reference to the full scope of the invention. Rather, the invention may be employed in other embodiments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are accomplished by the selector valve assembly of this invention which can control the flow of at least two flow paths of fluid. The selector valve assembly has a body member having a compartment with an end wall. There is an outlet passage in the end wall of the compartment and at least two passages communicate with the compartment. A rotatable member is sealably positioned in the compartment, the rotatable member having a side wall and an end wall. A first passageway extends a distance into the rotatable member from the end wall thereof. A second passageway extends through the side wall thereof and communicates with the first passageway. Rotation of the rotatable member will selectively orientate the second passageway with each of the at least two passages so as to cause liquid in the at least two passages to pass to the first and second passageways and subsequently to the outlet passage. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the selector valve assembly includes four passage ports connected to the body member and communicating with the second passageway in the rotatable member. 
     In one aspect, the selector valve assembly includes swivel ports connected to the body member and communicating with the four passages in the body member. 
     In another preferred embodiment, an indexing member is connected to the rotatable member. 
     In another aspect, the selector valve assembly includes a spring member in biasing contact with the indexing member and a spring retaining member connected to the body member and the spring member. 
     In yet another aspect, the selector valve assembly includes color indicator means operatively associated with each of the swivel port members. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, there are two eductors connected to the outlet passage of the body member. 
     In still another preferred embodiment, two eductors are connected to the outlet passage of the body member by check valves. 
     In another aspect, a method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of rotating a valve to a first position, receiving a first concentrate in the first position, discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets, rotating the valve to a second position, receiving a second concentrate in the second position, and discharging the second concentrate through one of the two outlets. 
     In another aspect, a method of operating a selector valve assembly to control the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of rotating a member provided in the valve assembly between a plurality of positions, each position providing a fluid connection between one of a plurality of concentrates and a plurality of outlets, receiving one of the plurality of concentrates, and discharging one of the plurality of concentrates through one of the outlets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the selector valve assembly connected to two eductors; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the component parts of the valve for interconnection to the eductors; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view showing the component parts for placement inside the valve body; 
         FIG. 4  is still another exploded view showing the valve selector indexing mechanism; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating one position of the valve. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the selector valve assembly generally  10  is shown in conjunction with two eductors  12  and  13 . The preferred eductors are described in commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/195,052 filed Aug. 2, 2005 which teachings are incorporated herein. The selector valve assembly  10  includes a valve member  11  with a valve stem  14  housed in a tubular body member  15  to which is connected in a fluid tight manner four fluid intake ports  17 , each having nipples  19 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the selector valve assembly  10  includes two check valve mechanisms generally  20  disposed between the valve member  11  and the eductors  12  and  13 . The check valves  20  include check balls  22  and  23 . A ball seating washer  26  and check ball guide  24  are also provided as well as a spring  28 . Sealing rings are also shown at  30  and  32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , valve member  11  is composed of valve stem retainer  35  which fits through slots  37  and  38  in body member  15  and over groove  40  in valve stem  14  to removably retain valve stem  14  in body member  15 . An indexing function is provided for the valve stem  14  by means of the indexing plate  42  and indexing receiver  44 . Spring  46  biases plate  42  against receiver  44 . Indexing receiver  44  is retained on valve stem  14  in a non-rotatable manner by the projections  45  in the body member  15  engaging the cut outs  47  in indexing receiver  44 . This is best seen in  FIG. 4  where it is also shown the projections  43  on indexing plate  42  for riding over indexing receiver  44  and engaging the indents  41 . Indexing plate  42  rotates with valve stem  14  by means of the flat walls, one of which is shown at  49  and the flat side  51  of valve stem  14 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , valve body member  15  has a compartment  58  in which valve stem  14  is seated. A seal ring is provided at  52 . It also has an end wall  60 . A side wall  62  is provided in valve stem  14  as well as an end wall  64 . A passageway  66  extends inwardly into valve stem  14  from the end wall thereof and joins passageway  68  which extends inwardly into valve stem  14  from side wall  62 . 
     As also seen in  FIG. 5 , passages  18  are provided in intake ports  17  and passages  57  are provided in port housings  56  to provide fluid communication with compartment  58  as well as passageway  68  in valve stem  14 . Seal rings are shown at  54 . It will also be seen in  FIG. 5  that body member  15  has eductor ports  71  which connect with eductor ports  70  of eductors  12  and  13 . Eductor ports  70  accommodate springs  28  in compartments  79  as well as check ball guides  24 . Passages  77  are disposed in eductor ports  70  and communicate with compartment  79 . Compartment  79  also accommodates check balls  22  and  23  as they are seated against valve seats  75  and  76  in body member  15 . A passage  78  is located in body member and communicates with passageway  66  in valve stem  14  as well as valve seats  75  and  76 . 
     Operation 
     A better understanding of the selector valve assembly  10  will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , suitable sources of chemical concentrate are connected to intake ports  17  and nipples  19  such as with flexible tubing (not shown). It should be understood that eductor  12  has a faster flow rate than eductor  13 . Eductor  12  and hose  72  are employed to fill a bucket, whereas eductor  13  and hose  74  are employed to fill a bottle. When it is desired to fill a bottle, pressurized water is introduced into the inlet  80  of eductor  13 . This causes a siphoning effect on check ball  22  by means of passage  77  to move it away from the valve seat  76  to afford fluid communication with passage  78  and in turn passageways  66  and  68 . This provides a siphoning effect in intake port  17  to draw chemical concentrate into passage  18 , passageways  68 ,  66 , passage  78 , compartment  79 , past intake portion  82  and into passage  77 , in that order. It is ultimately introduced into the water stream in eductor  13  in a well-known manner. 
     When it is desired to fill a bucket, pressurized water is introduced into the inlet  81  of eductor  12 . This causes a reduction in pressure on check ball  23  by means of passage  77  to move it away from valve seat  75  to produce a siphoning effect in passages  78  and passageways  66  and  68  as previously explained in conjunction with eductor  13 . This draws chemical concentrate into the eductor  12  and hose  72  as also previously explained. It should be noted that when a siphoning effect is produced on one of the check balls  22  or  23 , the other one is seated against its respective valve seal by means of spring  28  and the reduced pressure which moves open the other check ball. 
     When it is desired to introduce a different chemical concentrate in to the eductors  12  and  13 , valve stem  14  is rotated so that passageway  68  is orientated with a different intake port  17 . Rotation is facilitated by the indexing plate  42  which is spring loaded against indexing receiver  44  by means of spring  46  held captive in spring retainer  48  by clip  50  secured to valve stem  14 . Indexing between indexing plate  42  and indexing receiver  44  is accomplished in a well-known manner. This feature affords a positive locating of the valve stem  14  as well as an audible indicator. 
     In order to assure that the proper chemical concentrates are connected to the proper intake ports  17 , colored bands of different colors can be connected to intake ports such as shown at  84  in  FIG. 1 . 
     An important feature of the selector valve assembly  10  are the passageways  66  and  68  in the valve stem  14 . These afford less carry-over from one chemical concentrate to the other as passageway  68  is moved from one intake port  17  to another. The reason for this is the cylindrical configuration of valve stem  14  acts as a seamless, continuous chemical pathway for either eductor  12  and  13 . The passageways  66  and  68  are preferably of 0.104 inch diameter which affords flow of maximum amount of concentrate with minimum amount of product carry-over. The combined volume of passages  66 ,  68  and compartments  79  and eductor passages  77  is 0.635 ml. Also the common channel  78  between the check balls  22 ,  23  and valve seats  76 ,  75  respectively, is separated by less than 0.100″. This combined with the size of the compartments  79  for the check valves  20  and the size of eductor passages  77  minimizes retention of chemical concentrate. 
     Another important feature is serviceability. In order to service the revolving valve stem  14  or valve cylinder all that is required is to remove clips  50  and  35 . The stem  14  can be pulled straight out without removing the selector valve assembly  10  from the eductors  12  and  13  or removing the eductors  80  and  81  and valve assembly  10  from the water valves of a manifold. The spring retaining sleeve  48  connected to the valve stem  14  or handle prevents the clip  35  from backing out of position during use. 
     The valve assembly  10  allows for a single valve member for use with two eductors. This is a cost savings. It also provides for non unit labeling, where the product is it&#39;s own label and the selector valve points toward the intended product. This also allows for a single circuit if an electronic circuit is added for remote monitoring of chemical usage or electronic indicators (flashing lights, LED&#39;s, etc.) to further reinforce proper product selection. 
     The preferred material for manufacturing the selector valve stem  14  is Teflon®. The body member  15  is preferably manufactured from polypropylene. 
     However, other moldable plastic materials could be employed such as a polypropylene copolymer. 
     The detent on indexing plate  42  affords a stop and audible indicator for the position of the selector valve assembly  10 . If desired, it could be eliminated as could the color bands  84 . While the selector valve assembly  10  has been illustrated with four intake ports  17  for chemical concentrates, the selector valve can operate with fewer intake ports such as two, or a greater number such as eight. AU such modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8