Patent Description:
Ball valves are quarter-turn valves that often use a hollow, perforated, and pivoting ball to control flow through the valve assembly. When the ball's hole is in line with a flow path, the valve is open and when the hole is pivoted <NUM>-degrees, the valve is closed. Ball valves are often used in shutoff and control applications and may be preferred over gates and globe valves because of their durability, reliability, and ability to withstand high pressures and temperatures.

Butterfly valves are similar to ball valves. A butterfly valve includes a disk (a "butterfly") positioned in the center of the flow path with a shaft passing through the disk to an actuator outside of the valve. Rotating the actuator causes the disk to turn between parallel and perpendicular positions in the flow path. Unlike a ball valve, the disk is always present within the flow path, which induces a decrease in pressure even when the valve is in the open position. In operation, the valve can be changed between fully open and fully closed by rotating the disk by a quarter turn. The butterfly valve may also be opened incrementally to throttle flow. Some ball or butterfly valve assemblies may include a solid seal covered with or made from a reduced-friction material that is urged against the metal ball or butterfly disk as installed.

<CIT> describes a compound movement butterfly-type valve member which is rotated to move between an open position, wherein the disc-shaped valve member is disposed parallel to the flow and a flow-traversing position, and a flow-traversing position.

<CIT> describes a valve device in which a disk bush is integratedly connected to a boss part that is arranged between a slide key provided in a rod and a boss part of a valve element.

<CIT> describes a rotatable valve structure, such as a butterfly valve, wherein the shaft is movable axially, with a camming surface on the shaft engaging a complementary camming surface on the disc.

The present disclosure generally describes dual motion shutoff valve assemblies.

According to the invention, there is provided a dual motion shutoff valve assembly according to claim <NUM>.

According to other examples, the sequencing drive assembly may be configured to cause the valve disk to disengage the first gasket and retract linearly from the first gasket during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position; subsequently cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the retracted position to the open position; cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the open position to the retracted position; and subsequently cause the valve disk to extend linearly toward the first gasket and to engage the first gasket during another rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the closed position. The sequencing drive assembly may also be configured to from the closed position, actuate an about <NUM>-degree rotation of the shaft during which the valve disk is transitioned into the retracted position from the closed position and actuate a further about <NUM>-degree rotation of the shaft during which the valve disk is transitioned into the open position from the retracted position. The sequencing drive assembly may also be configured to from the open position, actuate an about <NUM>-degree rotation of the shaft during which the valve disk is transitioned into the retracted position from the open position and actuate a further about <NUM>-degree rotation of the shaft during which the valve disk is transitioned into the closed position from the retracted position.

According to further examples, the pair of interlocking rollers may be configured to engage the outer driver ring and the retaining housing together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the inside surface of the sidewall of the retaining housing during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the shaft; and engage the inner driver ring and the outer driver ring together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the outside surface of the sidewall of the inner driver ring during another rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the other rotation of the shaft.

According to yet other examples, the sequencing drive assembly may further include three guide pins that extend from a bottom surface of the outer driver ring, the three guide pins configured to engage three corresponding apertures in a top bracket coupled to the valve disk. The three corresponding apertures in the top bracket may be shaped to allow the three guide pins to move freely during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the shaft, or cause the top bracket to move during a rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the rotation of the shaft.

According to some examples, the valve disk may include a top bracket that extends from an upper portion of the spherical surface portion of the valve disk and includes a first aperture for the shaft to pass through, where an upper cammed portion of the shaft is configured to slidably engage into the first aperture of the top bracket; and a bottom bracket that extends from a lower portion of the spherical surface portion of the valve disk and includes a second aperture for the shaft to pass through, where a lower cammed portion of the shaft is configured to slidably engage into the second aperture of the bottom bracket. The valve assembly may further include a top valve link movably coupled to the top bracket; a bottom shaft movably coupled to the bottom bracket; and a bottom valve link movably coupled to the bottom bracket, where the top valve link includes a ball bearing to hold the shaft and a third aperture adapted to receive a locking pin that is inserted through the top bracket to secure the top valve link to the top bracket and the bottom valve link includes another ball bearing to hold the shaft and a fourth aperture adapted to receive another locking pin that is inserted through the bottom bracket to secure the bottom valve link to the bottom bracket.

According to other examples, a dual motion shutoff valve (not claimed as such) assembly may include a valve body having an inner wall, a first port defined by a first portion of the inner wall, a second port defined by a second portion of the inner wall, and a controllable flow path defined by a third portion of the inner wall between the first port and the second port; a first gasket disposed about the first port; a valve disk disposed in the controllable flow path, where the valve disk comprises a spherical surface portion configured to selectively engage the first gasket in a closed position of the valve assembly effective to form a seal thereon; and a top shaft coupled to an upper portion of the valve disk, wherein the top shaft is configured to actuate a position of the valve disk between the closed position and an open position such that the valve disk is placed in a retracted position relative to the first gasket when the top shaft is moved to the open position from the closed position or to the closed position from the open position.

According to further examples, the valve assembly may further include a bottom shaft coupled to a lower portion of the valve disk, and the valve disk may further include a bottom bracket that extends from a lower portion of the spherical surface portion of the valve disk and includes a first aperture for the bottom shaft to slidably engage. The valve assembly may further include a sequencing drive assembly coupled to the top shaft and the valve disk, where the sequencing drive assembly is configured to actuate a position of the top shaft between the open position and the closed position. The sequencing drive assembly may be configured to cause the valve disk to disengage the first gasket and retract linearly from the first gasket during a rotation of the top shaft from the closed position to the retracted position; subsequently cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the retracted position to the open position; cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the open position to the retracted position; and subsequently cause the valve disk to extend linearly toward the first gasket and to engage the first gasket during another rotation of the top shaft from the retracted position to the closed position.

According to yet other examples, the sequencing drive assembly may include an inner driver ring configured to surround the top shaft, the inner driver ring having a sidewall and two depressions about opposite locations on an outside surface of the sidewall of the inner driver ring; an outer driver ring configured to surround the inner driver ring, the outer driver ring having a sidewall and two apertures about opposite locations of the sidewall of the outer driver ring; a retaining housing configured to surround the inner driver ring and the outer driver ring, the retaining housing having a sidewall and two depressions about opposite locations of an inside surface of the sidewall of the retaining housing; and a pair of interlocking rollers configured to slidably engage in the two apertures about the opposite locations of the sidewall of the outer driver ring. The pair of interlocking rollers may be configured to engage the outer driver ring and the retaining housing together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the inside surface of the sidewall of the retaining housing during a rotation of the top shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the top shaft; and engage the inner driver ring and the outer driver ring together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the outside surface of the sidewall of the inner driver ring during another rotation of the top shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the other rotation of the top shaft.

According to other examples, the sequencing drive assembly may further include three guide pins that extend from a bottom surface of the retaining housing, the three guide pins configured to engage three corresponding apertures in a top bracket coupled to the valve disk. The three corresponding apertures in the top bracket may be shaped to allow the three guide pins to move freely during a rotation of the top shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the top shaft, or cause the top bracket to move during a rotation of the top shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the rotation of the top shaft. The valve assembly may also include a bottom shaft coupled to a lower portion of the valve disk; a top valve link movably coupled to a top bracket that extends from an upper portion of the spherical surface portion of the valve disk; and a bottom bracket movably coupled to a bottom shaft that extends from a lower portion of the spherical surface portion of the valve disk.

According to further examples, a dual motion shutoff valve assembly (not claimed as such) may include a valve body having an inner wall, a first port defined by a first portion of the inner wall, a second port defined by a second portion of the inner wall, and a controllable flow path that defined by a third portion of the inner wall between the first port and the second port; a first gasket disposed about the first port; a second gasket disposed about the second port; a valve disk disposed in the controllable flow path, where the valve disk includes a spherical surface portion configured to selectively engage the first gasket in a closed position of the valve assembly effective to form a seal thereon; an eccentric shaft coupled to the valve disk, where the shaft is configured to actuate a position of the valve disk between the closed position and an open position; and a sequencing drive assembly coupled to the shaft and the valve disk, where the sequencing drive assembly is configured to actuate a position of the shaft such that the valve disk is placed in a retracted position relative to the first gasket when the shaft is moved to the open position from the closed position or to the closed position from the open position.

According to some examples, the sequencing drive assembly may be configured to cause the valve disk to disengage the first gasket and retract linearly from the first gasket during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position; subsequently cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the retracted position to the open position; cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the open position to the retracted position; and subsequently cause the valve disk to extend linearly toward the first gasket and to engage the first gasket during another rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the closed position. The shaft may include a top shaft coupled to an upper portion of the valve disk, and a bottom shaft coupled to a lower portion of the valve disk. The valve disk may include a top bracket that extends from the upper portion of the valve disk and includes a first aperture for the top shaft to pass through, where an upper cammed portion of the top shaft is configured to slidably engage into the first aperture of the top bracket, and a bottom bracket that extends from the lower portion of the valve disk and includes a second aperture for the bottom shaft to pass through, where a lower cammed portion of the lower shaft is configured to slidably engage into the second aperture of the bottom bracket.

According to other examples, the sequencing drive assembly may further include three guide pins that extend from a bottom surface of an outer driver ring, the three guide pins configured to engage three corresponding apertures in the top bracket coupled to the valve disk. The three corresponding apertures in the top bracket may be shaped to allow the three guide pins to move freely during a rotation of the top shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the top shaft, or cause the top bracket to move during another rotation of the top shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the other rotation of the top shaft. The valve assembly may also include a top valve link movably coupled to the top bracket; and a bottom shaft movably coupled to the bottom bracket.

According to the invention, there is provided a method to manufacture a dual motion shutoff valve assembly according to claim <NUM>.

According to some examples, the method may further include forming the sequencing drive assembly to cause the valve disk to disengage the first gasket and retract linearly from the first gasket during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position, and subsequently to cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the retracted position to the open position; and cause the valve disk to move rotationally from the open position to the retracted position, and subsequently cause the valve disk to extend linearly toward the first gasket and to engage the first gasket during another rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the closed position.

According to the invention, forming the outer driver ring, the retaining housing, and the pair of interlocking rollers may include arranging the pair of interlocking rollers to engage the outer driver ring and the retaining housing together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the inside surface of the sidewall of the retaining housing during a rotation of the shaft from the closed position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the closed position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to remain angularly stationary during the rotation of the shaft. Forming the inner driver ring, the outer driver ring, and the pair of interlocking rollers may include arranging the pair of interlocking rollers to engage the inner driver ring and the outer driver ring together by sliding into the two depressions at opposite locations of the outside surface of the sidewall of the inner driver ring during a rotation of the shaft from the retracted position to the open position or from the open position to the retracted position of the valve assembly effective to cause the valve disk to rotate during the rotation of the shaft. Forming the shaft to actuate the position of the valve disk between the closed position and the open position may include forming a top shaft to actuate the position of the valve disk between the closed position and the open position; coupling the top shaft to an upper portion of the valve disk in an offset manner such that the valve disk is placed in a retracted position relative to the first gasket when the top shaft is moved to the open position from the closed position or to the closed position from the open position; forming a bottom shaft coupled to a lower portion of the valve disk; and coupling the bottom shaft to the lower portion of the valve disk.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting.

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description and drawings are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein which is defined by the appended claims. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatus, systems and/or devices associated with dual motion shutoff valve assemblies.

Briefly stated, technologies are generally described for dual motion shutoff valve assemblies. In various examples, the valve assemblies include a sequencing drive mechanism and an eccentric shaft mechanism operable to linearly retract the valve disk from a gasket surface to effectively reduce scratching and friction of the gasket surface during valve opening and closing operations. In some examples, the sequencing drive may include two interlocking concentric driver rings, a retaining housing, and roller lock pins. Three guided pins of the sequencing drive may be configured to prevent the valve from rotating, while also causing the valve to retract linearly from the gasket surface via the eccentric shaft. Following retraction, an inner driver of the sequencing drive may allow the roller lock pins to move and engage the outer driver, which in turn may engage the valve disk to the shaft and rotate along with the shaft, which may be a single or dual shaft.

<FIG> illustrates different cutaway views of a valve assembly with dual motion shutoff capability, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram <NUM> includes three views, 100A, 100B, and 100C of an example dual motion shutoff valve. View 100A is an isometric view of the valve assembly with a valve body <NUM>, valve ports <NUM>, sequencing drive assembly <NUM>, and sequencing drive interface <NUM>. View 100B is a top view of the valve assembly with valve body <NUM> and valve ports <NUM>. View 100C is a side cross-sectional view of the valve assembly with the valve ports <NUM>, sequencing drive assembly <NUM>, valve disk <NUM>, and shaft <NUM>.

The valve body <NUM> may include an inner wall, a first portion of which may define a first one of the valve ports <NUM> and a second portion of the inner wall may define a second one of the valve ports <NUM>. In some examples, the valve ports <NUM> may be designated as ingress and egress ports. The inner wall of the valve body and the valve ports <NUM> may define a controllable flow path that extends along the inner wall between the first one of the valve ports <NUM> and the second one of the valve ports <NUM>. Flow of liquids or gases through the controllable flow path may be controlled by the valve disk <NUM>, which may be rotated by the shaft <NUM> between an open position (aligned with the controllable flow path) and closed position (in contact with one of the valve ports and perpendicular to the controllable flow path).

A spherical surface portion of the valve disk <NUM> may be adapted to seal one of the valve ports <NUM> in a closed position of the valve assembly, for example, by engaging a corresponding gasket to affect a seal or block to the corresponding port. The spherical surface portion of the valve disk <NUM> may be considerably flat, meaning the surface portion may include small irregularities or may be angled without affecting its functionality. To reduce friction between the spherical surface portion of the valve disk <NUM> and the gasket, a valve assembly according to some examples, may employ an eccentric shaft and a sequencing drive mechanism to affect dual motion shutoff (and opening).

In some examples, a partial or hemispherical rotatable member may be used instead of the valve disk <NUM>. For example, the hemispherical shape of the rotatable member may be formed as a half of a sphere with a center portion substantially hollowed out on one side of the sphere. The shape of the rotatable member with the hemispherical shape may be coupled to the shaft <NUM> in an offset position to facilitate improved volume of flow for fluids or gases through the controllable flow path.

<FIG> illustrates exploded assembly views of a sequencing drive mechanism for a dual motion shutoff valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram <NUM> includes three views, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, of an example sequencing drive mechanism. Views <NUM> and <NUM> are perspective views of the sequence driving mechanism from different angles showing retaining housing <NUM> and guide pins <NUM>. View <NUM> shows an exploded assembly view of the sequencing drive assembly, which includes ball bearing <NUM>, inner driver ring <NUM>, first set of interlocking dowel pins <NUM>, retaining housing <NUM>, second set of interlocking dowel pins <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, interlocking rollers <NUM>, guide pins <NUM>, and washer <NUM>.

Some of the illustrated sequencing drive mechanisms are configured to linearly retract the valve disk from a gasket of a valve port (e.g., a spring energized seal gasket), and then translate the linear motion of the valve disk to a rotational motion such that the valve disk may be rotated into the flow stream to an open position, and vice versa for the closing operation. The retaining housing <NUM> may have a disk-shaped form with a round sidewall <NUM>. The disk-shaped form or the round form may deviate from a circle without affecting their configuration or functionality. The retaining housing <NUM> may contain the outer driver ring <NUM> that fits inside a cavity formed by the sidewall <NUM>. The outer driver ring <NUM> may be fitted around the inner driver ring <NUM>. The inner driver ring <NUM> may be engaged together with the eccentric shaft. The interlocking rollers <NUM> may be located about <NUM> degrees apart and fit in cavities <NUM> in the outer driver ring <NUM>. The interlocking rollers <NUM> may be effective to engage combinations of the inner driver ring <NUM>, the outer driver ring <NUM>, and the retaining housing <NUM> in different phases of valve opening and closing operations (e.g., retraction, rotation). The outer driver ring <NUM> may include three pressed fit guide pins <NUM>, which may fit onto the slots of valve disk (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates various cross-sectional top views of an example sequencing drive mechanism where the disk of the valve assembly is oriented in different positions during operation of the mechanism, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram <NUM> illustrates three cross-sectional top views, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of an example sequencing drive mechanism. View <NUM> illustrates a closed position with retaining housing <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, inner driver ring <NUM>, depressions <NUM> located about an outer surface of the inner driver ring <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, and interlocking rollers <NUM>. View <NUM> illustrates a retracted position (e.g., about a <NUM>-degree rotation) <NUM> with interlocking rollers <NUM> moved to a position out of the depressions <NUM> of the retaining housing <NUM> into the depressions <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM> to engage the inner driver ring <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> together, in addition to the same parts as in view <NUM>. View <NUM> illustrates an open position (e.g., about a <NUM>-degree rotation) <NUM>, where the inner driver ring <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> are engaged together by the interlocking rollers <NUM> in the depressions <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM> and rotated by about <NUM> degrees from the position in view <NUM> (relative to retaining housing <NUM>).

While in the closed position (view <NUM>), the valve disk is urged against a gasket via actuator and fluid pressure. During a first portion of an operation to open the valve assembly, the shaft <NUM> is rotated and the inner driver ring <NUM> rotates while the outer driver ring <NUM> is maintained in engagement with the retaining housing <NUM> by the interlocking rollers <NUM> in depressions <NUM> of the retaining housing <NUM> (i.e., the outer driver ring remains stationary). During the first portion of the operation to open the valve assembly, the shaft <NUM>, engaged together with the inner driver ring <NUM>, may rotate by about <NUM> degrees such that the eccentric shaft cam acts on the valve disk and links to linearly retract the valve disk from a sealing surface of the gasket (e.g., linearly retract the disk from the gasket surfaces by about <NUM> (<NUM> inch).

A top bracket of the valve disk (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) may include three slots that allow for the linear retraction motion of the valve disk without being obstructed by the three guide pins on the outer driver ring <NUM>. Upon completion of the about <NUM>-degree the rotation at the end of the first portion of the operation to open the valve assembly, the inner driver ring <NUM> may reach a position, where depressions <NUM> on the outer surface of the inner driver ring <NUM> align with corresponding cavities (cavities <NUM> in <FIG>) on the outer driver ring <NUM>, and the inner driver ring <NUM> may stop and engage the outer driver ring <NUM>. To affect the engagement of the inner driver ring <NUM> with the outer driver ring <NUM>, the interlocking rollers <NUM> may move to a position out of the depressions <NUM> of the retaining housing <NUM> and into the depressions <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

In a second portion of the operation to open the valve assembly, the shaft <NUM> may further rotate the inner driver ring <NUM>, which may in turn also rotate the outer driver ring <NUM>, now engaged together with the inner driver ring <NUM>. Thus, the shaft <NUM> may rotate both the inner and outer driver rings an additional amount before being stopped via the actuator assembly. During this rotation the three guide pins on the outer driver ring <NUM> may be configured to engage the slots in the valve disk (shown in <FIG>) such that the valve disk assembly rotates along with the outer driver ring <NUM>, The second portion of the operation to open the valve assembly may involve an additional rotation by the shaft <NUM> (and, thereby the valve disk) by about <NUM> degrees, which may orientate the valve disk such that a spherical surface of the valve disk is aligned with the controllable flow path to place the valve assembly in open position. The process may be reversed for the closing operation.

While an about <NUM>-degree rotation of the shaft is used for the first portion of the operation to open the valve assembly (retraction), embodiments are not limited to a <NUM>-degree turn. Various implementations may utilize <NUM>-degree, <NUM>-degree, <NUM>-degree, <NUM>-degree, or similar rotations to affect a linear retraction of the valve disk from the gasket surfaces. Furthermore, an about <NUM>-degree rotation used in the second portion of the operation to open the valve assembly is also not intended as a limitation on embodiments. Indeed, gas or liquid flow may begin as soon as the valve disk is retracted and the second rotation begins. Thus, depending on the amount of desired flow, any rotation angle may be used for various degrees of open position of the valve assembly.

<FIG> illustrates various cross-sectional and assembly views of a sequencing drive mechanism during a closed position of the disk of the valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram 400A includes cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism in the closed position with retaining housing <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, inner driver ring <NUM>, depressions <NUM> on an outside surface of the inner driver ring <NUM>, and interlocking rollers <NUM>. Diagram 400A further includes cross-sectional side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, and guide pins <NUM>. Diagram 400A also includes top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with ball bearing <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, and retaining housing <NUM>; side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM> and guide pins <NUM>; and bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with guide pins <NUM>, washer <NUM>, and slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

In the closed position illustrated in diagram 400A, the retaining housing <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> are engaged together through the interlocking rollers <NUM>. The inner driver ring <NUM> is free to rotate (with the shaft <NUM>). As shown in the bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism, the guide pins <NUM> may be at one extreme position within slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates various cross-sectional and assembly views of a sequencing drive mechanism during a retracted position of the disk of the valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram 400B includes cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism in the retracted position with retaining housing <NUM>, retaining housing depressions <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, inner driver ring <NUM>, and interlocking rollers <NUM>. Diagram 400B further includes cross-sectional side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, and guide pins <NUM>. Diagram 400B also includes top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with ball bearing <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, and retaining housing <NUM>; side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM> and guide pins <NUM>; and bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with guide pins <NUM>, washer <NUM>, and slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>. Diagram 400B further includes a cross-sectional bottom view <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM> and link <NUM> with the shaft <NUM> in the link <NUM>.

In the retracted position illustrated in diagram 400B, the shaft <NUM> is rotated, for example, by about <NUM> degrees (<NUM>) relative to the retaining housing <NUM> (from the closed position of <FIG>). The interlocking rollers <NUM> move from the retaining housing depressions <NUM> to corresponding depressions <NUM> on an outer surface of the inner driver ring <NUM>. Thus, the inner driver ring <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> are engaged together and adapted to rotate with the shaft <NUM> for any further turns. As shown in the bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism, the guide pins <NUM> may be at another extreme position within the slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

The about <NUM>-degree rotation of the eccentric shaft causes the link <NUM> to retract the valve disk <NUM> from a closed position with a valve gasket. In an example implementation, the valve disk <NUM> may be disengaged from the valve gasket (retracted) by about <NUM> (<NUM> inch).

<FIG> illustrates various cross-sectional and assembly views of a sequencing drive mechanism during an open position of the disk of the valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram 400C includes cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism in the open position with retaining housing <NUM>, retaining housing depressions <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, inner driver ring <NUM>, interlocking rollers <NUM>, and shaft <NUM>. Diagram 400C further includes cross-sectional side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, and guide pins <NUM>. Diagram 400C also includes top view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with ball bearing <NUM>, outer driver ring <NUM>, and retaining housing <NUM>; side view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with retaining housing <NUM> and guide pins <NUM>; and bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism with guide pins <NUM>, washer <NUM>, and slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

In the open position illustrated in diagram 400C, the shaft <NUM> is rotated by a total of about <NUM> degrees (<NUM>) relative to the retaining housing <NUM> (from the closed position of <FIG>). The interlocking rollers <NUM> are in the depressions <NUM> on the outer surface of the inner driver ring <NUM>. Thus, the inner driver ring <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> are engaged together and rotate with the shaft <NUM> for the additional about <NUM> degrees of turn from the retracted position of <FIG>. As shown in the bottom view <NUM> of the sequencing drive mechanism, the guide pins <NUM> may be at the other extreme position within the slotted guide holes <NUM> of the inner driver ring <NUM>.

The interlocking rollers <NUM> engaging the inner driver ring <NUM> and the outer driver ring <NUM> together for the additional about <NUM>-degree rotation from the retracted position may cause the valve disk to rotate by about <NUM> degrees in the controllable flow path. A spherical surface of the rotated valve disk may align with the controllable flow path placing the valve assembly in the open position. The rotation (of the valve disk) from the retracted position may substantially reduce a friction between the valve disk surface and gasket surface, thereby a friction-caused wear and required torque to turn the valve disk may also be reduced.

<FIG> illustrates an exploded assembly view and two perspective views of an eccentric shaft and attached disk of a dual motion shutoff valve assembly with a single shaft configuration, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram 500A includes the exploded assembly view <NUM> that shows eccentric single shaft <NUM>, top locking pin <NUM>, top ball bearing <NUM>, top valve link <NUM>, valve disk <NUM>, bottom valve link <NUM>, bottom ball bearing <NUM> and bottom locking pin <NUM>. First perspective view <NUM> of the shaft - valve disk assembly includes shaft <NUM>, valve disk <NUM>, bottom locking pin <NUM>, and cammed portion <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. Second perspective view <NUM> includes same components of the shaft - valve disk assembly from a lower perspective with the top locking pin <NUM>.

The top and bottom valve links <NUM> and <NUM> may fit over the cammed portion <NUM> of the eccentric single shaft <NUM>. The top and bottom valve links <NUM> and <NUM> may also be attached to the valve disk <NUM> via the top and bottom locking pins <NUM>, <NUM>. In some examples, the top and bottom locking pins <NUM>, <NUM> may be self-locking Clevis pins. The top and bottom ball bearings <NUM>, <NUM> may provide for rotation of the shaft with less required torque. In some examples, the ball bearings may be shielded ball bearings against environmental wear and tear (e.g., effects of the fluids or gases flowing through the valve assembly).

<FIG> illustrates an exploded assembly view and two perspective views of an eccentric shaft and attached disk of a dual motion shutoff valve assembly with a dual shaft configuration, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram 500B includes the exploded assembly view <NUM> that shows eccentric top shaft <NUM> and its cammed portion <NUM>, top locking pin <NUM>, top ball bearing <NUM>, top valve link <NUM>, valve disk <NUM>, top bracket <NUM> of the valve disk, bottom bracket <NUM> of the valve disk, bottom shaft <NUM>, and return spring <NUM>. Bottom valve link <NUM>, bottom ball bearing <NUM>, bottom locking pin <NUM>, may not be required and optional in some examples. First perspective view <NUM> of the shaft - valve disk assembly includes eccentric top shaft <NUM>, cammed portion <NUM> of the eccentric top shaft, valve disk <NUM>, and bottom shaft <NUM>. Second perspective view <NUM> includes same components of the shaft - valve disk assembly from a lower perspective with self-locking extrusion <NUM> of the top locking pin <NUM>.

The top valve link <NUM> may fit over the cammed portion <NUM> of the eccentric top shaft <NUM>. The top valve link <NUM> (with the ball bearing <NUM> inside) may be affixed to the top bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM> through the top locking pin <NUM>. In some examples, the top locking pin <NUM> may be a self-locking (Clevis) pin with the self-locking extrusion <NUM>. The cammed portion <NUM> of the eccentric top shaft <NUM> may be used to affect the retraction motion during an initial <NUM>-degree rotation of the valve disk <NUM> such that the disk is disengaged from a gasket before the valve disk <NUM> makes its rotation within the controllable flow path of the valve assembly. The bottom shaft <NUM> may be in an oblong aperture within the bottom bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM> to passively allow the retraction motion. Thus, the bottom shaft <NUM> may not actively cause the valve disk <NUM> to retract, but simply follow the motion of the eccentric top shaft <NUM>. In other examples, a spring load within bottom shaft provided by the return spring <NUM> may promote linear retraction motion of valve disk <NUM> as the top eccentric shaft <NUM> begins to rotate.

<FIG> illustrates cross-sectional top views of the eccentric shaft and the disk at different sections for closed, retracted, and open positions of the disk of the valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram <NUM> includes cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the assembly at a top valve link <NUM> when the valve disk <NUM> is in a closed position. Cross-sectional top view <NUM> also includes ball bearing <NUM>, locking pin <NUM>, locking pin aperture <NUM>, and a partial view of the top valve bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM>. Diagram <NUM> also includes cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the assembly at the top valve link <NUM> when the valve disk <NUM> is in a retracted position and cross-sectional top view <NUM> of the assembly at the top valve link <NUM> when the valve disk <NUM> is in an open position. Diagram <NUM> further includes cross-sectional top views <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the assembly at a top valve bracket <NUM> when the valve disk <NUM> is in a closed, retracted, and open position, respectively. The cross-sectional top views <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> include a cross-section of the shaft <NUM> in addition to the top valve bracket <NUM> and the valve disk <NUM>.

During an operation, the oblong locking pin aperture <NUM> may assist with side loading on the locking pin <NUM> during the about <NUM>-degree rotation. The eccentric shaft's about <NUM>-degree rotation may synchronize top and bottom valve links disengaging the valve disk <NUM> from a gasket (retraction). Following the retraction, the top valve link <NUM> and valve disk <NUM> may rotate together by about <NUM> degrees to the open position. The bottom valve link (shown in <FIG>) may synchronize cam motion of the top valve link <NUM> for retraction and rotation.

<FIG> illustrates an isometric view of a sequencing drive mechanism, shaft, disk, and gasket of a dual motion shutoff valve assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Diagram <NUM> shows a sequencing drive assembly <NUM> and a single shaft <NUM> driven by the sequencing drive assembly <NUM>. The sequencing drive assembly <NUM> is mechanically coupled to a top bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM> through the guide pins <NUM>. A further coupling is provided through the shaft <NUM>, top valve link <NUM>, and the top bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is further coupled to the valve disk <NUM> through the bottom valve link <NUM> and bottom bracket <NUM> of the valve disk <NUM>. A gasket <NUM> of a valve assembly is also shown.

In a closed position, the valve disk <NUM> may be urged against the gasket <NUM> and form a seal that prevents gases or fluids from flowing through the controllable flow path. The sequencing drive assembly <NUM> may include a mechanism comprising an inner driver ring, an outer driver ring, and interlocking rollers as shown and discussed in the figures above. The mechanism may cause the outer ring, and thereby the valve disk <NUM> to remain angularly stationary as the shaft <NUM> makes the initial about <NUM>-degree turn from the closed position. The shaft's initial <NUM>-degree rotation while engaged together with the inner driver ring may act on top and bottom valve links <NUM>, <NUM> and cause the valve disk <NUM> to retract linearly from a sealing surface of the gasket <NUM>. In some examples, the gasket <NUM> may be spring energized.

At the end of the about <NUM>-degree rotation (retraction), the inner driver ring may engage the outer driver ring through the interlocking rollers and allow the outer driver ring to be rotated when the shaft <NUM> further rotates. Thus, the shaft <NUM> may rotate both the inner and outer driver rings of the sequencing drive assembly <NUM>, and thereby the valve disk <NUM> for about an additional <NUM> degrees before being stopped via an actuator coupled to the sequencing drive assembly <NUM>. This additional about <NUM>-degree rotation may align a spherical surface of the valve disk <NUM> with the controllable flow path of the valve assembly such that the valve assembly is in the open position.

Starting from the open position, a reverse rotation of the shaft <NUM> may cause the valve disk <NUM> to rotate by about <NUM> degrees (with the inner driver ring and outer driver ring of the sequencing drive assembly <NUM> engaged together) such that a spherical surface of the valve disk <NUM> is aligned with the sealing surfaces of the gasket <NUM> (perpendicular to the controllable flow path). At the end of the about <NUM>-degree rotation, the valve disk <NUM> has not formed a seal with the gasket <NUM> yet because it is linearly disengaged (e.g., by about <NUM> (<NUM> inch)) from the gasket <NUM>.

At the end of the about <NUM>-degree rotation from the open position, the inner driver ring may become disengaged from the outer driver ring of the sequencing drive assembly <NUM>. The actuator may rotate the shaft through the sequencing drive assembly <NUM> for another about <NUM> degrees, during which the inner driver ring may rotate and the shaft and the inner driver ring may act on the top and bottom valve links <NUM>, <NUM> causing the valve disk <NUM> to linearly move toward the gasket <NUM> and engage the sealing surfaces of the gasket <NUM> effective to place the valve assembly in the closed position again.

Ball or butterfly valve assemblies include one or more seals formed between gaskets of inlet or outlet ports of a valve assembly and a surface of a metal ball or a butterfly disk. Thus, the metal ball or butterfly disk rubs against the sealing surfaces during opening and closing operations, which may result in increased friction and an increased operational torque requirement. The sealing surfaces (of the gaskets and/or metal ball / butterfly disk) may eventually wear out and exhibit valve internal leakage after being subjected to nominal service cycle life.

The benefits of the presently disclosed valve assembly devices are numerous. For example, the valve assemblies disclosed herein may incorporate a sequencing drive mechanism in the valve body and utilize an eccentric shaft mechanism to linearly disengage the valve disk away from the gasket prior to rotation. The dual motion (retraction and rotation) may increase gasket life (thereby, valve life) by reducing friction during opening and closing operations of the valve assembly, may also reduce required operating torque for opening and closing operations, reduce pressure drop due to disk motion, and may also reduce valve leakage.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claim 1:
A dual motion shutoff valve assembly comprising:
a valve body (<NUM>) having an inner wall, a first port (<NUM>) defined by a first portion of the inner wall, a second port (<NUM>) defined by a second portion of the inner wall, and a controllable flow path defined by a third portion of the inner wall between the first port and the second port;
a first gasket disposed about the first port;
a valve disk (<NUM>) disposed in the controllable flow path, wherein the valve disk includes a spherical surface portion configured to selectively engage the first gasket in a closed position of the valve assembly effective to form a seal thereon;
a shaft (<NUM>) coupled to the valve disk, wherein the shaft is configured to actuate a position of the valve disk between the closed position and an open position such that the valve disk is placed in a retracted position relative to the first gasket when the shaft is moved to the open position from the closed position or to the closed position from the open position; and
a sequencing drive assembly (<NUM>) coupled to the shaft and the valve disk, wherein the sequencing drive assembly is configured to actuate a position of the shaft between the open position and the closed position,
characterized in that the sequencing drive assembly comprises:
an inner driver ring (<NUM>) configured to surround the shaft, the inner driver ring having a sidewall and two depressions about opposite locations on an outside surface of the sidewall of the inner driver ring;
an outer driver ring (<NUM>) configured to surround the inner driver ring, the outer driver ring having a sidewall and two apertures about opposite locations of the sidewall of the outer driver ring;
a retaining housing (<NUM>) configured to surround the inner driver ring and the outer driver ring, the retaining housing having a sidewall and two depressions about opposite locations of an inside surface of the sidewall of the retaining housing; and
a pair of interlocking rollers (<NUM>) configured to slidably engage in the two apertures about the opposite locations of the sidewall of the outer driver ring.