Multi-way valves for pumps for conveying heavy flowable materials

Abstract

The valve has a shutter mechanism which is movable within a housing and is provided at one end with at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and at the opposite end with an outlet surrounded by a sealed contact joint which is movable across a delivery pipe opening in the housing. This sealed contact joint surrounds the delivery pipe opening in the housing and contacts either the inside wall of the housing or a face plate arranged on the inside wall of the housing in all intermediate and final positions of the shutter mechanism. With the aim of reducing wear and producing a permanent seal, the sealed contact joint is in the form of a compressible sealing ring with a slotted or kidney-shaped cross-section which serves to wipe the flat and smooth face plate or inside wall of the housing. Moreover the compressible sealing ring is loaded with the internal pressure of the shutter mechanism and is supported outwardly by a flange surrounding the outlet and extending in the conveying direction.

I claim: 
     
       1. A multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials having a shutter mechanism movable within a housing, the shutter mechanism having at one end at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and at the opposite end an outlet surrounded by a sealed contact joint which is movable across a delivery pipe opening in the housing, the contact joint surrounding the delivery pipe opening and contacting either the inside wall of the housing or a face plate arranged on the inside wall of the housing in all intermediate and final positions of the shutter mechanism, wherein the contact joint is in the form of a compressible sealing ring with a slotted or kidney-shaped cross-section which serves to wipe the flat and smooth face plate or inside wall of the housing, and is loaded with the internal pressure of the shutter mechanism and supported outwardly by a flange surrounding the outlet and extending in the conveying direction. 
     
     
       2. A multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the compressible sealing ring has an outer edge which performs a cleaning function during wiping and an inner edge or lip which performs a cleaning and sealing function. 
     
     
       3. A multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein an outer thrust ring is provided on the compressible sealing ring. 
     
     
       4. A multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein a thrust ring is supported on a radial surface of the compressible sealing ring. 
     
     
       5. A multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in the flange with an inner radial surface and an outer axial surface orthogonal to the inner surface, and also an inner axial annular flange. 
     
     
       6. A multi-way valve according to claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.5.Iaddend., wherein a seating ring is supported within the recess on the inner radial surface and the outer axial surface, and the seating ring forms a structural unit with the inner axial annular flange. 
     
     
       7. A multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is axially prestressed by an O-ring. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  For use in a multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials having a shutter mechanism movable within a housing, the shutter mechanism having at one end at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and at the opposite end an outlet surrounded by a sealed contact joint which is movable across a delivery pipe opening in the housing, the contact joint surrounding the delivery pipe opening and contacting either the inside wall of the housing or a face plate arranged on the inside wall of the housing in all intermediate and final positions of the shutter mechanism, an improved contact joint in the form of a compressible sealing ring with a slotted or kidney-shaped cross-section which serves to wipe the flat and smooth face plate or inside wall of the housing and which is loaded with the internal pressure of the shutter mechanism and supported outwardly by a flange surrounding the outlet and extending in the conveying direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. In a multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials having a housing and a shutter mechanism movable within the housing with one end of the shutter mechanism having at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and with an opposite end of the shutter mechanism having an outlet which is movable about a delivery pipe opening on an inner surface of the housing, the improvement which comprises: a compressible sealing ring which surrounds the outlet and moves therewith to contact and wipe the inner surface of the housing and to surround the delivery pipe opening in all intermediate and final positions of the movable shutter mechanism with the sealing ring being loaded with the internal pressure of the shutter mechanism and supported outwardly by a flange surrounding the outlet which extends toward the inner surface of   
     
     
        the housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  For use in a multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials having a housing and a shutter mechanism movable within the housing with one end of the shutter mechanism having at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and with an opposite end of the shutter mechanism having an outlet which is movable about a delivery pipe opening on an inner surface of the housing, the improvement which comprises: a compressible, kidney-shaped sealing ring surrounding the outlet and moving therewith to contact and wipe the inner surface of the housing and surround the delivery pipe opening therein in all intermediate and final positions of the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the compressible sealing ring is urged toward the inner surface of the housing by the outlet of the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.12.  The invention of claim 10 wherein the compressible sealing ring is urged toward the inner surface of the housing by the pressure of the heavy flowable material in the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The invention of claim 10 wherein the sealing ring is partially retained between the shutter mechanism and inner surface of the housing by a flange on the shutter mechanism surrounding the outlet and extending toward the inner surface of the housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The invention of claim 10 wherein the sealing ring has a kidney-shaped radial face which contacts and wipes the inner surface of the housing, with said radial face having a hollow channel therein so that inner and outer kidney-shaped lips of the sealing ring are defined, radially spaced apart, to engage the inner surface of the housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The invention of claim 10 wherein an outer kidney-shaped radial ring is supported on an outer surface of the sealing ring, with the outer ring being formed of a harder material than the sealing ring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. For use in a multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials having a housing and a shutter mechanism movable within the housing with one end of the shutter mechanism having at least one inlet which is movable across one or more housing openings and with an opposite end of the shutter mechanism having an outlet which is movable about a delivery pipe opening on an inner surface of the housing, the improvement which comprises: a compressible, kidney-shaped sealing ring surrounding the outlet and moving therewith, the sealing ring having a radial face which contacts and wipes the inner surface of the housing and surrounds the delivery pipe opening therein in all intermediate and final positions of the shutter mechanism, with the radial face having a hollow channel therein so that inner and outer kidney-shaped lips of the sealing ring are defined, radially spaced apart, to engage the inner surface of the housing, and with the sealing ring having an outer kidney-shaped radial ring formed of material harder than the sealing ring supported on an outer axial surface of the sealing ring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An outlet seal for a shutter mechanism which is movable within a housing of a multi-way valve for a pump for conveying heavy flowable materials wherein one end of the shutter mechanism has at least one inlet and the other end thereof has an outlet which is movable about a delivery pipe opening on an inside wall of the housing, the outlet seal comprising:   a face plate arranged on the inside wall of the housing with the face plate having an aperture therein corresponding to the delivery pipe opening on the inside wall of the housing; and   a compressible kidney-shaped sealing ring surrounding the outlet of the shutter mechanism and moving therewith to contact and wipe the face plate and surround the aperture therein in all intermediate and final positions   
     
     
        of the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The outlet seal of claim 17, wherein the compressible sealing ring has an outer edge which performs a cleaning function during wiping and an inner edge or lip which performs a cleaning and sealing function. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The outlet seal of claim 17, wherein an outer kidney-shaped radial ring is supported on an outer surface of the sealing ring, with the outer ring being formed of a harder material than the sealing ring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The outlet seal of claim 17, wherein the face plate is flat. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The outlet seal of claim 17 wherein the compressible sealing ring is urged 
     
     
        toward the face plate by the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  The outlet seal of claim 17 wherein the compressible sealing ring is urged toward the face plate by the pressure of the heavy flowable material in the shutter mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The outlet seal of claim 17 wherein the compressible sealing ring is partially retained between the shutter mechanism and face plate by a kidney-shaped flange on the shutter mechanism surrounding the outlet and extending toward the face plate. .Iaddend.