US-12624763-B2 - Modular air valve system

Abstract

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a modular valve system includes, at least a first valve. The first valve can be configured to connect to one or more additional valves. The first valve includes, a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, where a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path.

Inventors

• Francis P. Marocchini
• Robert DeFelice

Assignees

• HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231115

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A modular valve system comprising: a first valve configured to connect to one or more additional valves, including: a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the first housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path; a mounting flange extending from the first housing at the first inlet or the first outlet configured to mount the first valve to a first structure; a first connecting flange extending from the first housing via a first housing extension in a first direction configured to connect the first valve to a second valve, and a second connecting flange extending from the first housing via a second housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the first valve to a third valve or a second structure; a first valve disc mounted to a first shaft disposed within the first housing along a rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the first valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the first valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path, wherein a first end of the first shaft extends through the first housing extension and through the first connecting flange and is configured to connect to a second shaft of the second valve and wherein a second end of the first shaft extends through the second housing extension and the second connecting flange and is configured to connect to a crank of the first valve or to a third shaft of the third valve.
2. 2 . The modular valve system of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is symmetric about the rotation axis and is symmetric about a vertical axis.
3. 3 . The modular valve system of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is configured to be reversible such that the first inlet can be a first inlet or a first outlet and the first outlet can be a first outlet or a first inlet.
4. 4 . The modular valve system of claim 1 , further comprising the second valve, wherein the second valve includes: a second housing having a second inlet and a second outlet with a cylindrical flow path defined through the second housing between the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path; a second mounting flange extending from the second housing at the second inlet or the second outlet configured to mount the second valve to the first structure; a third connecting flange extending from the second housing via a third housing extension in a first direction configured to connect to the first connecting flange of the first valve in a daisy chain and a fourth connecting flange extending from the second housing via a fourth housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the second valve to a fourth valve; a second valve disc mounted to a second shaft disposed within the second housing along the rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the second valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the second valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path, wherein a first end of the second shaft extends through the third housing extension and through the third connecting flange and connects to the first end of the first shaft of the first valve at a shaft interconnect region to rotate the first valve disc and the second valve disc together, and wherein a second end of the second shaft extends through the fourth housing extension and the fourth connecting flange and is configured to connect to the third shaft of the third valve.
5. 5 . The modular valve system of claim 4 , wherein the shaft interconnect region includes the first end of the first shaft and the first end of the second shaft, wherein the first end of the first shaft and the first end of the second shaft are configured to couple to one another to rotationally lock the first shaft and the second shaft to one another such that the first valve disc and the second valve disc rotate together along a common rotation axis.
6. 6 . The modular valve system of claim 5 , wherein the shaft interconnect region includes: on the first end of the first shaft, a recess configured to accept a locking protrusion; and on the first end of the second shaft, the locking protrusion configured to be inserted into the recess on first end of the first shaft.
7. 7 . The modular valve system of claim 6 , wherein the recess further includes a slot, and wherein the locking protrusion includes a tab configured to slide within the slot to rotationally lock the first shaft to the second shaft.
8. 8 . The modular valve system of claim 5 , further comprising, a crank disposed on the second end of the first shaft axially outboard of the second connecting flange configured to rotate with the first shaft, the first valve disc, the second shaft, and the second valve disc, the crank including a crank arm configured to connect to a drive linkage and a crank stop configured to limit rotation of the crank to a predefined rotational quadrant of the first valve disc and the second valve disc within the first and second housings to define the first position and the second position of the first and second valve discs based on an angle of the crank arm relative to the first and second valve discs.
9. 9 . The modular valve of claim 8 , wherein the crank stop is circumferentially aligned on the shaft relative to the rotation axis to allow the crank arm to rotate the first valve disc and the second valve disc within the predefined rotational quadrant such that if one of the first valve or second valve is mounted to the first structure incorrectly, the crank stop will prevent the crank arm from connecting to the drive linkage.
10. 10 . The modular valve system of claim 7 , wherein the shaft interconnect region is disposed within an interior space defined by the first housing first housing extension of the first valve and the third housing extension of the second valve, and further comprising a bushing disposed within the interior space partially around the first shaft and partially around the second shaft at the shaft interconnect region, wherein the bushing includes a plurality of vents disposed circumferentially thereabout to allow for ambient venting between the interior space and the ambient environment.
11. 11 . The modular valve system of claim 10 , wherein a seam created by an interfacing of the first connecting flange of the first valve and the third connecting flange of the second valve forms a vent port for fluid communication between the interior space and the ambient environment through the plurality of vents of the bushing.
12. 12 . The modular valve system of claim 11 , further comprising a first sealing member disposed at least partially within the second housing extension and extending onto a face of the second connecting flange of the first valve, and a second sealing member disposed at least partially within the fourth housing extension and extending onto a face of the fourth connecting flange of the second valve, wherein there is no sealing member disposed between the first connecting flange of the first valve and the third connecting flange of the second valve.
13. 13 . A modular valve system comprising: a first valve configured to connect to one or more additional valves, including: a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the first housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path; a mounting flange extending from the first housing at the first inlet or the first outlet configured to mount the first valve to a first structure; a first connecting flange extending from the first housing via a first housing extension in a first direction configured to connect the first valve to a second valve, and a second connecting flange extending from the first housing via a second housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the first valve to a third valve or a second structure; a first valve disc mounted to a first shaft disposed within the first housing along a rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the first valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the first valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path, wherein a first end of the first shaft extends through the first housing extension and through the first connecting flange and is configured to connect to a second shaft of the second valve, and wherein a second end of the first shaft extends through the second housing extension and the second connecting flange and is configured to connect to a crank of the first valve or to a third shaft of the third valve, and wherein the first valve is symmetric about the rotation axis and is symmetric about a vertical axis, and wherein the first valve is configured to be reversible such that the first inlet can be a first inlet or a first outlet and the first outlet can be a first outlet or a first inlet.
14. 14 . The modular valve system of claim 13 , further comprising the second valve, wherein the second valve includes: a second housing having a second inlet and a second outlet with a cylindrical flow path defined through the second housing between the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path; a second mounting flange extending from the second housing at the second inlet or the second outlet configured to mount the second valve to the first structure; a third connecting flange extending from the second housing via a third housing extension in a first direction configured to connect to the first connecting flange of the first valve in a daisy chain and a fourth connecting flange extending from the second housing via a fourth housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the second valve to a fourth valve; a second valve disc mounted to a second shaft disposed within the second housing along the rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the second valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the second valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path, wherein a first end of the second shaft extends through the third housing extension and through the third connecting flange and connects to the first end of the first shaft of the first valve at a shaft interconnect region to rotate the first valve disc and the second valve disc together, and wherein a second end of the second shaft extends through the fourth housing extension and the fourth connecting flange and is configured to connect to the third shaft of the third valve.
15. 15 . The modular valve system of claim 14 , wherein the shaft interconnect region includes the first end of the first shaft and the first end of the second shaft, wherein the first end of the first shaft and the first end of the second shaft are configured to couple to one another to rotationally lock the first shaft and the second shaft to one another such that the first valve disc and the second valve disc rotate together along a common rotation axis.
16. 16 . The modular valve system of claim 15 , wherein the shaft interconnect region includes: on the first end of the first shaft, a recess configured to accept a locking protrusion; and on the first end of the second shaft, the locking protrusion configured to be inserted into the recess on first end of the first shaft.
17. 17 . The modular valve system of claim 16 , wherein the recess further includes a slot, and wherein the locking protrusion includes a tab configured to slide within the slot to rotationally lock the first shaft to the second shaft.
18. 18 . The modular valve system of claim 15 , wherein the shaft interconnect region is disposed within an interior space defined by the first housing first housing extension of the first valve and the third housing extension of the second valve, and further comprising a bushing disposed within the interior space partially around the first shaft and partially around the second shaft at the shaft interconnect region, wherein the bushing includes a plurality of vents disposed circumferentially thereabout to allow for ambient venting between the interior space and the ambient environment.
19. 19 . The modular valve system of claim 18 , wherein a seam created by an interfacing of the first connecting flange of the first valve and the third connecting flange of the second valve forms a vent port for fluid communication between the interior space and the ambient environment through the plurality of vents of the bushing.
20. 20 . The modular valve system of claim 19 , further comprising a first sealing member disposed at least partially within the second housing extension and extending onto a face of the second connecting flange of the first valve, and a second sealing member disposed at least partially within the fourth housing extension and extending onto a face of the fourth connecting flange of the second valve, wherein there is no sealing member disposed between the first connecting flange of the first valve and the third connecting flange of the second valve.

Description

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT RIGHTS This invention was made with government support awarded by the United States Air Force. The government has certain rights in the invention. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to valves and more particularly to butterfly valves. BACKGROUND Typical air butterfly designs are custom, single bore configurations. Therefore, to achieve larger airflow volumes, the valve body needs to be made bigger, and a custom valve needs to be made for each application. Further, typical designs have a pressure loaded shaft that require thrust management, which can present challenges when attempting to design a new valve for a new application, or when increasing the size of the valve. This can also influence the alignment of the valve within the body, which should be maintained at a center of the valve body to avoid excessive wear on the valve. The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved valve systems and methods that can be multi-use. This disclosure provides a solution for this need. SUMMARY In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a modular valve system includes, at least a first valve. The first valve can be configured to connect to one or more additional valves. The first valve includes, a first housing having a first inlet and a first outlet with a cylindrical flow path through the housing defined between the first inlet and the first outlet along a flow axis, where a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path. The first valve can include a mounting flange extending from the first housing at the first inlet or the first outlet configured to mount the first valve to a first structure (e.g., a fluid manifold). A first connecting flange extending from the first housing via a first housing extension in a first direction configured to connect the first valve to a second valve, and a second connecting flange extending from the first housing via a second housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the first valve to a third valve or a second structure. In embodiments, the first connecting flange or the second connecting flange may not be connected to anything. A first valve disc is mounted to a first shaft disposed within the first housing along a rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the first valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the first valve disc allowing a second flow amount through the cylindrical flow path. The first flow amount can be greater than the second flow amount, and in certain embodiments, the second flow amount can be zero. A first end of the first shaft extends through the first housing extension and through the first connecting flange and is configured to connect to a second shaft of the second valve. A second end of the first shaft extends through the second housing extension and the second connecting flange and is configured to connect to a third shaft of a third valve or to a crank of the first valve. In embodiments, the first valve can be symmetric about the rotation axis and can be symmetric about a vertical axis (e.g., bisecting the first valve housing. In embodiments, the symmetry of the first valve can be such that the first valve is configured to be reversible, for example wherein the first inlet can be a first inlet or a first outlet and the first outlet can be a first outlet or a first inlet. In embodiments, the modular air valve system can include the second valve operatively connected to the first valve. The second valve can be the same or similar to the first valve, and can include a second housing having a second inlet and a second outlet with a cylindrical flow path defined through the housing between the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein a diametral plane is defined diametrically spanning the cylindrical flow path, The second valve can include a mounting flange extending from the second housing at the second inlet or the second outlet configured to mount the second valve to the first structure (e.g., the fluid manifold). The second valve can include a third connecting flange extending from the second housing via a third housing extension in a first direction configured to connect to the first connecting flange of the first valve in a daisy chain. A fourth connecting flange can extend from the second housing via a fourth housing extension in a second direction opposite the first direction configured to connect the second valve to a fourth valve a second structure. A second valve disc is mounted to a second shaft disposed within the second housing along the rotation axis for rotation between a first position of the second valve disc allowing a first flow amount through the cylindrical flow path and a second position of the second valve disc allowing a second flow amount thr