Valve Arrangement for Peripherally Pivoted Oscillating Vane Machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved integrated valve assemblies, preferably, for use in an oscillating vane machine (OVM) that provide easy assembly and maintenance, direct fluid communication between the working chamber and suction and discharge manifold, and the avoidance of the use of fasteners in contact with or adjacent to the working chamber.

1 . An integrated valve assembly for an oscillating vane machine (OVM) comprising:
 a. a valve sled with ports in fluid communication with suction and discharge volumes, said valve sled characterized by at least one protrusion extending along a surface thereof;   b. pressure activated valve sealing members;   c. at least one set of taper keys disposed along said one or more protrusions, said tapered keys having matching angles such that when the angled surfaces are mated together, the opposite faces of the keys are parallel with one another;   d. at least one seal disposed along a surface, preferably along a groove in the surface, of the valve sled to provide a seal between the valve sled and a stator of the OVM and between the suction and discharge volumes.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein each suction and discharge flow path are separated by a sealing mechanism, such as an o-ring or gasket, and which seals against and mates to a dividing wall in the valve installation slot which separates suction and discharge manifold volumes. 
     
     
         3 . An oscillating vane machine comprising a stator, a vane oscillating within a working chamber, an integrated valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said suction and discharge volumes are in fluid communication with said chamber and said pressure activated sealing members providing alternating valving to said suction and discharge volumes. 
     
     
         4 . The oscillating vane machine of  claim 3  wherein the stator is characterized by a T-shaped slot within which the integrated valve assembly is placed and retained, preferably such that the suction and discharge volumes are in direct fluid communication with the working chamber and radially located manifold volumes. 
     
     
         5 . An integrated valve assembly for an oscillating vane machine (OVM) comprising:
 a. a valve plate characterized by: (i) a distal surface relative to a working chamber of an OVM upon installation and a proximal surface adjacent to the working chamber of the OVM upon installation; (ii) at least one suction port which, when installed in an OVM, provides fluid communication with at least one suction fluid volume and a working chamber in said OVM; (iii) at least one discharge port which, when installed in an OVM, provides fluid communication with at least one discharge fluid volume and a working chamber in said OVM;   b. a suction pressure activated valve sealing member releasably seated onto each suction port on the proximal surface and a discharge pressure activated valve sealing member releasably seated onto each discharge port on the distal surface.   
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 5  wherein each sealing member comprises a flexible, thin plate reed. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a suction back stop adjacent to the suction pressure activated valve sealing member(s) and positioned to provide a back stop for the member(s) and a discharge back stop adjacent to the discharge pressure activated valve sealing member(s) and positioned to provide a back stop for the member(s). 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 7  wherein the back stop each comprise a back stop joint which is joined to each said sealing member and a key having a distal surface and a proximal surface to each said sealing member, said distal surface being substantially parallel with said sealing member when said sealing member is seated on said port and said proximal surface being inclined. 
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 6  wherein the suction back stop joint and discharge back stop joint are disposed along the central axis of the valve plate with the keys extending to opposing sides of the valve plate. 
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 6  further comprising fasteners which join the back stop joint to the valve plate wherein the fasteners are not in contact with the working chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The valve assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a seal disposed on a surface of the valve plate to provide sealing with a stator of the OVM upon installation in the OVM. 
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 5  wherein the shape and arrangement of the valve assembly is predominantly rectangular and the size of the rectangular face of the vane. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 5  wherein the ports and are rectangular. 
     
     
         14 . An oscillating vane machine, the improvement comprising a valve assembly selected from  claim 1 .