Sequencing valve

Abstract

A flow sequencing valve which employs separate valve elements to generate the force for cycling and to accomplish discharge port sealing is disclosed.The valve may include an integral pilot solenoid for controlling cycling and is characterized by a force generating element, in the form of a variable resistance to flow, which is free to overtravel relative to the port sealing member whereby flow rate compensation is achieved and water hammer effects eliminated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sequence valve comprising: housing means, said housing means defining an inlet connection and a plurality of outlet ports displaced from said inlet connection, said housing means further defining an internal bore whereby fluid communication may be established between said inlet connection and outlet ports;   valve means disposed in said housing means bore, said valve means being reciprocal and rotatable and cooperating with said outlet ports to perform a valving function, said valve means having at least a first opening therein whereby communication between at least one of said outlet ports and said valve means bore will be established at all times;   pressure responsive force generating means disposed in said housing means bore upstream of said valve means, said force generating means being coupled to said valve means for causing reciprocation thereof in response to fluid pressure variations in said housing means bore, said pressure responsive force generating means being movable relative to said valve means in response to flow through the valve to form a variable restriction; and   cam means disposed in said housing means for causing stepwise rotation of said valve means in response to reciprocation thereof produced by pressure induced movements of said force generating means.   
     
     
       2. The sequencing valve of claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive force generating means is resiliently coupled to said valve means. 
     
     
       3. The sequencing valve of claim 1 further comprising: means defining an inlet port, said inlet port defining means being positioned in said valve housing means bore and cooperating with said force generating means to define a flow path between said inlet connector and outlet ports, movements of said force generating means causing variation of the area of said flow path commensurate with applied pressure.   
     
     
       4. The sequencing valve of claim 2 further comprising: means defining an inlet port, said inlet port defining means being positioned in said valve housing means bore and cooperating with said variable restriction defining means, movements of said variable restriction defining means causing variation of the area of the flow path between said housing means inlet connection and outlet ports.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure responsive force generating means comprises: pintle means; and   spring means resiliently coupling said pintle means to said valve means.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said variable restriction defining means comprises: pintle means; and   spring means resiliently coupling said pintle means to said valve means.   
     
     
       7. The sequencing valve of claim 6 wherein said valve means comprises: a valve member which cooperates with said housing means outlet ports to selectively close at least one of said outlet ports; and   spring means biasing said valve member away from said outlet ports.   
     
     
       8. The sequencing valve of claim 7 wherein said valve member presents a frustoconical surface to fluid flowing through the sequencing valve, said frustoconical surface being interrupted at each opening in said valve member. 
     
     
       9. The sequencing valve of claim 6 wherein said valve means comprises: a valve member which cooperates with said housing means outlet ports to selectively close at least one of said outlet ports.   
     
     
       10. The sequencing valve of claim 9 wherein said cam means comprises: cooperating upper and lower cams affixed to and movable with said valve member; and   a fixed position cam follower mounted from the interior of said housing means.   
     
     
       11. The sequencing valve of claim 10 wherein said valve member has a hollow center portion extending coaxially of the housing means bore and wherein said cooperating upper and lower cams are mounted within said hollow valve member center portion whereby said cam means are isolated from fluid passing through the valve. 
     
     
       12. The sequencing valve of claim 11 wherein said cam follower comprises: a tubular member affixed to said housing means and being coaxial with said valve member hollow center portion, said tubular member being disposed within said valve member center portion; and   a cam follower projection extending outwardly from said tubular member.   
     
     
       13. The sequencing valve of claim 12 wherein said valve means further comprises: spring means biasing said valve member away from said outlet ports, said biasing spring means being disposed within said tubular member.   
     
     
       14. The sequencing valve of claim 4 further comprising: control valve means, said control valve means being remotely operable to generate pressure pulses which control movement of said pressure responsive force generating means in the downstream direction.   
     
     
       15. The sequencing valve of claim 14 wherein said control valve means comprises: diaphragm means disposed in said housing means bore, said diaphragm means defining a diaphragm chamber upstream of said inlet port defining means;   means providing communication between the interior of said diaphragm chamber and said housing means inlet connection;   means for selectively controlling the venting of said diaphragm chamber to generate a pressure differential across said diaphragm means whereby said diaphragm means will move in a first direction; and   means coupling movements of said diaphragm means to said pressure responsive force generating means.   
     
     
       16. The sequencing valve of claim 15 wherein said coupling means comprises: a plug member supported by said diaphragm means and cooperating with said inlet port defining means for interrupting the flow of fluid through said inlet port whereby the pressure differential across said force generating means is removed.   
     
     
       17. The sequencing valve of claim 4 further comprising: diaphragm means disposed in said housing means, said diaphragm means defining a diaphragm chamber upstream of said inlet port defining means;   means providing communication between the interior of said diaphragm chamber and said housing means inlet connection;   means for selectively controlling the venting of said diaphragm chamber to generate a pressure differential across said diaphragm means whereby said diaphragm means will move in the upstream direction; and   means mechanically connecting said diaphragm means to said pressure responsive force generating means, down stream movements of said pressure responsive force generating means being responsive to flow through the valve when said diaphragm chamber is unvented. .Iadd.18. A sequencing valve comprising:   housing means, said housing means defining an inlet and a plurality of outlet ports displaced from said inlet, said housing means further defining an internal flow passage whereby fluid communication may be established between said inlet and said outlet ports;   valve means disposed in said housing means, said valve means being reciprocal in response to fluid flow through the valve and rotatable and cooperating with said outlet ports to perform a valving function, said valve means having at least a first opening therein whereby communication between at least one of said outlet ports and said flow passage will be established at all times;   pressure responsive means disposed in said housing means, said pressure responsive means being operatively coupled to said valve means for movement therewith and also being movable relative to said valve means in response to flow through the valve to form a variable restriction in said flow passage upstream of said valve means; and   cam means disposed in said housing means for causing stepwise rotation of said valve means in response to reciprocation thereof..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The sequencing valve of claim 18 further comprising:   means resiliently biasing said valve means and pressure responsive means to a first position commensurate with minimum flow..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The sequencing valve of claim 19 wherein said resilient biasing means includes:   a spring, said spring being compressible to permit movement of said pressure responsive means relative to said valve means in the direction of reciprocation of said valve means..Iaddend.