Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim

1. A 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor (12), said 3-way valve (10) comprising:
an air inflow chamber (14);
an air inflow path (16) in flow communication with the air inflow chamber (14), the air inflow path (16) adapted to supply pressurized air from an external air source to the air inflow chamber (14);
a first air outflow path (18) in flow communication with the air inflow chamber (14), the first air outflow path (18) adapted to deliver pressurized air from the air inflow chamber (14) to a first target;
a second air outflow path (20) in flow communication with the air inflow chamber (14), the second air outflow path (20) adapted to deliver pressurized air from the air inflow chamber (14) to a second target; and
a diverter (22) positioned within the air inflow chamber (14), the diverter (22) adapted to be rotated about an axis within the air inflow chamber (14) to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path (16) to the first air outflow path (18) and to the second air outflow path (20) respectively.

2. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the diverter (22) is secured to said DC motor (12) via a transmission shaft (14), the DC motor (12) adapted to rotate the diverter (22) to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path (16) to the first air outflow path (18) and to the second air outflow path (20).
3. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the DC motor (12) is in electronic communication with the engine control unit, wherein the engine control unit transmits a signal to the DC motor (12) to facilitate rotating the diverter (22) to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path (16) to the first air outflow path (18) and to the second air outflow path (20) respectively.

4. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the DC motor (12) is adapted to rotate the diverter (22) to one of:
a first position wherein the diverter (22) closes the air inflow path (16) to prevent a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the air inflow chamber (14);
a second position wherein the diverter (22) closes the first air outflow path (18) to prevent a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber (14) through the first air outflow path (18), thereby permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the second air outflow path (20) via the air inflow chamber (14);
a third position wherein the diverter (22) closes the second air outflow path (20) to prevent a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber (14) through the second air outflow path (20), thereby permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the first air outflow path (18) via the air inflow chamber (14); and
a fourth position wherein the diverter (22) partially closes the first air outflow path (18) and the second air outflow path (20), thereby permitting a partial flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the first air outflow path (18) and to the second air outflow path (20) via the air inflow chamber (14).
5. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the diverter (22) comprises a sector shaped solid portion (24) that is adapted to control a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path (16) to the first air outflow path (18) and to the second air outflow path (20).

6. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein an angle between the first air outflow path (18) and the second air outflow path (20) is pre-determined by a user to facilitate closing at least one of the first air outflow path (18) and the second air outflow path (20) by means of said diverter (22), thereby permitting a flow of pressurized air from an external air source to one of the first air outflow path (18), the second air outflow path (20), and partially through the first air outflow path (18) and partially through the second air outflow path (20) via the air inflow chamber (14).

7. The 3-way valve (10) that is mechanically controlled by means of the DC motor (12) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein a clearance between the diverter (22) and an inner wall of the air inflow chamber (14) is minimum to ensure sealing between the diverter (22) and the air inflow path (16), the diverter (22) and the first air outflow path (18), and the diverter (22) and the second air outflow path (20).
, Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a mechanically controlled 3-way valve, and more specifically to the 3-way valve that is mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor to supply pressurized air to an air cell.

Background of the invention
[0002] KR 20100048634 A describes a mixer system for an autothermal reformer having high reaction efficiency to increase thermal efficiency by reducing starting load and using a burner as a flow path in normal driving. The mixer system for the autothermal reformer having high reaction efficiency includes a first mixer mixing natural gas and oxygen, a 3-way diverter valve adjusting a flow path of the mixed gas, a second mixer mixing mixed gas and vapor supplied from the 3-way diverter valve, a second 3-way diverter valve adjusting the flow path of the air supplied form a supply compressor, and a autothermal reforming reactor performing autothermal reforming reaction of oxygen, natural gas, and vapor, and a heat-exchanger heating the mixed gas and vapor.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a 3-way valve that is adapted to be mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor to supply pressurized air to a fuel cell.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic layout of a 3-way valve that is adapted to be mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor to supply pressurized air to a fuel cell in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] A 3-way valve 10 that is mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor 12 is described. The 3-way valve 10 comprises an air inflow chamber 14, and an air inflow path 16 in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14, the air inflow path 16 adapted to supply pressurized air from an external air source to the air inflow chamber 14. A first air outflow path 18 is in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14, the first air outflow path 18 adapted to deliver pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 to a first target. A second air outflow path 20 is in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14, the second air outflow path 20 adapted to deliver pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 to a second target. A diverter 22 is positioned within the air inflow chamber 14. The diverter 22 is adapted to be rotated about an axis within the air inflow chamber 14 to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18 and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively.

[0006] A 3-way valve 10 that is mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor 12 to supply pressurized air to a fuel cell is depicted in Figure 1. The 3-way valve 10 comprises an air inflow chamber 14. The air inflow chamber 14 comprises a cylindrical shaped chamber that is adapted to channel pressurized air to a first air outflow path 18 and to a second air outflow path 20 respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, the air inflow chamber 14 comprises an air inlet port 25, a first air first outlet port 27, and a second air second outlet port 29 respectively. The air inlet port 25, the first air first outlet port 27, and the second air second outlet port 29 each extend from the inner sidewall of the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14 to the outer sidewall of the air inflow chamber 14, and is adapted to channel pressurized air into and out of the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14 respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, an air inflow path 16 is in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14 via the air inlet port 25. The air inflow path 16 is adapted to supply pressurized air from an external air source to the air inflow chamber 14 to be delivered to the first air first outlet port 27 and to the second air second outlet port 29 respectively.

[0007] In the exemplary embodiment, a first air outflow path 18 is in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14 via the first air first outlet port 27. The first air outflow path 18 is adapted to deliver pressurized air from the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14 to a first target where pressurized air is required to be delivered. A second air outflow path 20 is in flow communication with the air inflow chamber 14 via the second air second outlet port 29. The second air outflow path 20 is adapted to deliver pressurized air from the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14 to a second target where pressurized air is required to be delivered. A diverter 22 is positioned within the air inflow chamber 14 and is adapted to be rotated within the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14. More specifically, the diverter 22 is adapted to be rotated about an axis within the air inflow chamber 14 to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18, and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0008] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic layout of a 3-way valve that is adapted to be mechanically controlled by means of a DC motor to supply pressurized air to a air cell in one embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the diverter 22 is secured to a transmission shaft 15 that is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to facilitate channeling pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18 and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively. More specifically, a DC motor 12 is secured to the transmission shaft 15, and is adapted to rotate the transmission shaft 15 to facilitate rotating the diverter 22 by the corresponding displacement. In an exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to facilitate controlling a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18 and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively.

[0009] The DC motor 12 is in electronic communication with an engine control unit. On receiving a signal pertaining to the quantity of pressurized air that is required to be delivered from the first air outflow path 18 to the first target, and from the second air outflow path 20 to the second target respectively, the engine control unit transmits a signal to the DC motor 12 to facilitate rotating the diverter 22 by the corresponding displacement. The rotation of the diverter 22 by the DC motor 12 to the corresponding displacement facilitates controlling the required quantity of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18 as well as to the second air outflow path 20 respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to four spatial orientations to control the flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18, and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively. Each of these orientations are described in further detail in the following sections.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to a first position. In the first position, the diverter 22 seals the air inflow path 16 by rotating to a position that covers the opening of the air inflow path 16. The closure of the air inflow path 16 by the diverter 22 prevents a flow of pressurized air from an external air source to the air inflow chamber 14 via the air inflow path 16. Therefore, when it is required to restrict the flow of pressurized air into the 3-way valve 10, the engine control unit facilitates actuating the DC motor 12 to rotate the diverter 22 to this position. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to a second position. In the second position, the diverter 22 closes the first air outflow path 18 by rotating to a position that covers the first outlet port 27 of the first air outflow path 18 such that a small amount of leakage air i.e. 0 – 3% through the first outflow path 18 is permitted. The closure of the first air outflow path 18 by the diverter 22 prevents a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 through the first air outflow path 18 via the first outlet port 27. Therefore, when it is required to restrict the flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14, the engine control unit facilitates actuating the DC motor 12 to rotate the diverter 22 to this position. The closure of the second air outflow path 20 by means of the diverter 22 facilitates permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the first air outflow path 18 via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0011] In yet another alternate exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to a second position. In the second position, the diverter 22 closes the first air outflow path 18 by rotating to a position that covers the first outlet port 27 of the first air outflow path 18. The closure of the first outlet port 27 of the first air outflow path 18 by the diverter 22 prevents a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 through the first air outflow path 18 via the first outlet port 27. Therefore, when it is required to channel the flow of pressurized air from the external air source through the second air outflow path 20 via the air flow chamber 14, the engine control unit facilitates actuating the DC motor 12 to rotate the diverter 22 to this position. The closure of the first air outflow path 18 by means of the diverter 22 facilitates permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0012] In yet another alternate exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to a third position. In the third position, the diverter 22 closes the second air outflow path 18 by rotating to a position that covers the second outlet port 29 of the second air outflow path 18. The closure of the second air outflow path 20 by the diverter 22 prevents a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 through the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14. Therefore, when it is required to restrict the flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14, the engine control unit facilitates actuating the DC motor 12 to rotate the diverter 22 to this position. The closure of the second air outflow path 20 by means of the diverter 22 facilitates permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the first air outflow path 18 via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0013] In yet another alternate exemplary embodiment, the DC motor 12 is adapted to rotate the diverter 22 to a fourth position. In the fourth position, the diverter 22 partially closes the first air outflow path 18 and partially closes the second air outflow path 20 by rotating to a position that partially covers the first outlet port 27 of the first air outflow path 18 and partially covers the second outlet port 29 of the second air outflow path 20 respectively. The partial closure of the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20 by the diverter 22 permits a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow chamber 14 through the first air outflow path 18 as well as through the second air outflow path 20 via the first outlet port 27 and via the second outlet port 29 respectively depending on the percentage in which the diverter 22 closes the first outlet port 27 and the second outlet port 29. Therefore, when it is required to control the flow of pressurized air from the external air source to the first air outflow path 18 as well as to the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14, the engine control unit facilitates actuating the DC motor 12 to rotate the diverter 22 to this position by partially opening the first air outflow path 18 as well as the second air outflow path 20 respectively. The partial opening of the first air outflow path 18 as well as the second air outflow path 20 by means of the diverter 22 facilitates permitting a flow of pressurized air from the external air source partially through the first air outflow path 18 and partially through the second air outflow path 20 via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0014] In the exemplary embodiment, the diverter 22 comprises a sector shaped solid portion 24. The sector shaped solid portion 24 of the diverter 22 is adapted to control a flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 to the first air outflow path 18 and to the second air outflow path 20 respectively via the air inflow chamber 14. More specifically, the sector shaped solid portion 24 of the diverter 22 is adapted to be rotated about an axis within the air inflow chamber 14 to facilitate closing one of the first air outflow path 18, the second air outflow path 20, and the air inflow path 16 to facilitate controlling the flow of pressurized air through the 3-way valve 10. The sector shaped solid portion 24 of the diverter 22 may be rotated in the shape of an arc within the air inflow chamber 14 to facilitate sealing the air inflow path 16, the first air outflow path 18, and the second air outflow path 20 respectively depending on the angle at which the sector shaped solid portion 22 is rotated by the DC motor 12 via the transmission shaft 15.

[0015] An angle between the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20 is pre-determined by a user. More specifically, the angle between the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20 is such that the angle between the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20 facilitates closing at least one of the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20 by means of the diverter 22. Therefore, by moving the diverter 22 from the first outlet port 27 of the first air outflow path 18 to the second outlet port 29 of the second air outflow path 20, and partially between the first air outflow path 18 and the second air outflow path 20, a flow of pressurized air is permitted to flow from an external air source to one of the first air outflow path 18, the second air outflow path 20, and partially through the first air outflow path 18 and well as partially through the second air outflow path 20 respectively via the air inflow chamber 14.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, a clearance that exists between the diverter 22 and an inner wall of the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14 is minimum. Due to the minimum clearance that exists between the diverter 22 and the circularly shaped chamber of the air inflow chamber 14, adequate sealing protection between the diverter 22 and the air inflow path 16, the diverter 22 and the first air outflow path 18, and the diverter 22 and the second air outflow path 20 is ensured during the operation of the 3-way valve 10.

[0017] A working of the 3-way valve 10 is described as an example. When it is required to prevent the flow of pressurized air into the 3-way valve 10, the engine control unit transmits a signal to the DC motor 12 to rotate the transmission shaft 15 by a user defined degree of rotation. The rotation of the transmission shaft 15 by the user defined degree of rotation rotates the transmission shaft 15 such that the diverter 22 closes the air inflow path 16 completely. The closure of the air inflow path 16 by the diverter 22 prevents the flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 and into the 3-way valve 10. When it is required to deliver pressurized air from the first air outflow path 18, the engine control unit transmits a signal to the DC motor 12, thereby rotating the transmission shaft 15 by the user defined degree of rotation. The rotation of the transmission shaft 15 by the user defined degree of rotation rotates the transmission shaft 15 such that the diverter 22 closes the second air outflow path 20 completely. The closure of the second air outflow path 20 by the diverter 22 prevents the flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 and into the second air outflow path 20. Rather, the pressurized air that flows into the air inflow chamber 14 via the air inflow path 16 is channeled to a first target where pressurized air is required to be delivered via the first air outflow path 18 by bypassing the second air outflow path 20. When it is required to deliver pressurized air from the second air outflow path 20, the engine control unit transmits a signal to the DC motor 12, thereby rotating the transmission shaft 15 by the user defined degree of rotation. The rotation of the transmission shaft 15 by the user defined degree of rotation rotates the transmission shaft 15 such that the diverter 22 closes the first air outflow path 18 completely. The closure of the first air outflow path 18 by the diverter 22 prevents the flow of pressurized air from the air inflow path 16 and into the first air outflow path 18. Rather, the pressurized air that flows into the air inflow chamber 14 via the air inflow path 16 is channeled to a second target where pressurized air is required to be delivered via the second air outflow path 20 by bypassing the first air outflow path 18.

[0018] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.