Abstract:
A valve system moving from an open to a closed position for use in the mixing industry that reduces stagnate material above the valve by sealing an opening in a mixing vessel. The valve forms a zero pocket with the opening in the vessel when the valve system is in the closed position. The valve system allows materials to flow to and from the vessel when the valve system is in the open position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 62/101,243 which was filed on Jan. 8, 2015, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    During mixing operations and other related industrial operations, materials can accumulate in certain locations, particularly above a valve body. Additionally, valves which extend into a mixing vessel during mixing operations can damage mixing components by coming into contact with parts such as agitators. 
         [0003]    It is an object of the invention to minimize a location for material to accumulate in a vessel, accordingly for the invention to form a zero pocket. 
         [0004]    It is an object of the invention to provide a valve which open and closes without protruding inside a mixing vessel during mixing operations. 
         [0005]    It is also an object of the invention to provide a valve which seals against solids, liquids and gases. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve which is easily disassembled for cleaning and sanitation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A valve system having the ability to open and close without protruding inside a mixing vessel or other similar device. The valve known as a zero pocket valve is movable from a closed position to an open position and any position between the closed and opened positions. A telescoping drive shaft transmits torque to a valve. Generally speaking, the invention is meant to seal an opening in the vessel when in the closed position and create a passageway in the open position. The zero pocket valve seals against product inside a mixer creating no pocket of unmixed material common in current valves. The top of the valve has a shape that corresponds to the shape of an inner wall of the opening of the vessel. Accordingly, the top creates a continuous inner wall when the valve is in the closed position; and allows materials to flow to and from the vessel through the passageway when in the open position. Combination linear-rotary motion ensures no part of the valve enters the path of an agitator in the vessel, allowing the agitator to be in motion during discharge. The simple design allows the valve to be easily disassembled and cleaned for sanitary applications 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a cam groove and a cam can be utilized to achieve linear movement of the valve. As the valve rotates, it simultaneously retracts due to the action of the cam groove cam and cam assembly. The cam groove has a first end and a second end that correspond to the open position and the closed position respectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the valve system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the valve system in which the valve is in a closed position wherein certain details are shown in cross-section; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is front view of the valve system in which the valve is in a partially open position wherein certain details are shown in cross-section; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the valve system in which the valve is in a fully open position wherein certain details are shown in cross-section; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of a front view of the valve system in the closed position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-section of a front view of the valve system in the open position wherein the valve is not cross-sectioned to show the cam groove. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the parts of a valve system  20 . The valve system  20  comprises a valve  22  housed within a valve housing  25 . The valve housing  25  has an opening  49 . The system  20  further comprises an actuator  80  which is preferably a linear and rotary actuator. The actuator  80  is attached to the valve  22  via a shaft  27 . 
         [0016]    The valve  22  has a top  37  that has a shape corresponding to an opening  51  in an inner wall  53  of a vessel  50 . When the valve  22  is in an open position, the top  37  plugs the opening  51  of the vessel  50  such that it makes a continuous inner surface of the inner wall  53 . When actuated to an open position, the valve  22  is rotated and moved linearly such that the top  37  does not plug the opening  51  in the vessel  50 . Accordingly, material can move to and from the vessel  50  through the opening  51  in the vessel  50  and the opening  49  in the valve housing  25 , as a passageway (demonstrated by arrows in  FIG. 6 ) is created for the materials. 
         [0017]    While the main aspect of the valve system  20  is to achieve the continuous inner surface of inner wall  53  of the vessel  50  while the valve  22  is in the closed position, and create the passageway while the valve  22  is in the open position; the following description adds additional, specific features that can be used to achieve those results. 
         [0018]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the valve housing  25  is cylindrical and has a first end  26  and a second end  28 . The first end  26  is shaped such that it corresponds to the shape of a wall of a vessel  50 . In the application of a mixing apparatus, the shape of the first end  24  corresponds to the wall of a vessel  50  such as a mixing chamber. The second end  28  comprises a flange  29  which has openings  31  that allow the flange  29  to be attached to an adapter plate  33 . The valve housing  25  has a cam tube  35  which is at least partially hollow and threaded for receiving a cam  47  and a cam pin  40 . The valve housing  25  has an opening  49  which is in communication with an exterior tube  60 . Materials enter the valve housing  25  through opening  49  from the vessel  50 , through the valve housing  25  and ultimately enter the exterior tube  60  that can discharge the vessel  50  when the valve system  20  is in an open or partially open position. The flow rate of the materials will be dependent on the extent of the open position. 
         [0019]    The valve  22  is cylindrical corresponding to the shape of the valve housing  25 . The valve  22  has a top  37  and a bottom  39 . The top  37  comprises a contoured plug  41  that corresponds to the shape of the inner wall  53  of the vessel  50 . Just below the plug  41 , a seal groove  43  provides a profiled seal to block materials from slipping between the valve  22  and the valve housing  25 . A cam groove  34  is below an outside surface  32  of the valve  22 . The shape and pattern of the cam groove  34  is dependent on the desired motion and movement of the valve  22  and can be shaped and styled accordingly. In the preferred embodiment, the outside surface  32  has at least one cam groove  34  which has a defined path with a first end  36  and a second end  38 . Additionally, the preferred embodiment has a valve with the first end  36  and the second end  38  corresponds to a 180 degree rotation of the valve  22 . At least one cam pin  40  is in a stationary position and holds a cam  47 . At least a portion of one cam  47  is within the cam groove  34 . The bottom  39  of the valve  22  comprises a wear strip  43  which allows for a smoother motion while the valve  22  is rotating. 
         [0020]    A linkage  45  in the form of a spline nut connects the valve  22  to the shaft  27 . Preferably the shaft  27  is a spline shaft. The shaft  27  enters an opening in the adapter plate  33  and then is connected to the rotary actuator  80 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2-4  show a valve system  20  in a closed, partially open, and open setting respectively. In operation,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  show a substantially closed position in which the exterior tube  60  is prevented from being in communication with the vessel  50 . Specifically, the top  37  plugs the opening  51  of the vessel  50 . Accordingly, materials cannot flow from an outside source into the vessel  50 . Additionally, materials are prevented from flowing out of the vessel  50 . The cam  47  is at or near the second end  38  of cam groove  34 . Any number of cam grooves  34  and cams  47  are possible. In the closed position, the valve plug  41  is flush with the inner wall  53  of the vessel  50 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the bottom  39  is in an elevated position which corresponds to the top  37  being in an elevated position as well in the closed position. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a partially open position is achieved by activating the rotary actuator  80 . The rotary actuator  80  rotates in a first direction, which depending on the direction and location of the cam groove  34  will be either clockwise or counter clockwise. As the rotary actuator  80  rotates in the first direction, the shaft  27  rotates in the first direction. The shaft  27  rotation then rotates the linkage  45  which in turn rotates the valve  22 . As the valve body  25  is mounted to the adapter plate  33 , neither the valve housing  25  nor plate  33  rotate. Accordingly, the valve  22  rotates within the valve body  25 . As the valve  22  rotates, the cam  47  is forced to follow the cam groove  34  and force the valve  22  downward toward the fully open position and the valve  22  slides over the shaft  27 . The rotation can continue until one of the cams  47  reaches the first end  36 , although the valve system  20  can be stopped at any position of the cams  47  on the cam groove  34 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , a substantially opened position of the valve system  20  is detailed. The open position allows the vessel  50  to be in complete communication with the exterior tube  60 . This allows material to exit the exterior tube  60  and be introduced into vessel  50 . Additionally, the system  20  also allows the flow of matter to be reversed if the application is required, wherein matter flows from the vessel  50  to the exterior tube  60  when in an open position. In order for the valve  22  to go from the open position back to the closed position, the rotation of the rotary actuator  80  is reversed to a second direction which is opposite of the first direction. The cam  47  follows the cam groove  34  until the cam  47  reaches the second end  38  again. A seal  90  can be utilized to seal the valve  22  and valve housing  25 . 
         [0024]    Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is the intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.