Four-way valve

Abstract

A four-way valve for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) assembly for alternating between a first cycle with a gas flowing in a first direction and a second cycle with a gas flowing in a second direction. A partition divides the interior of the housing of the valve into an input zone and an output zone. A pivot shaft rotatable about an axis is disposed in the interior of the housing, and a pair of opposing dampers extend radially outwardly on opposite sides of the pivot shaft. A plurality of ducts are disposed in the housing. Each duct engages one of the input and output apertures and extends into one of the input and output zones for engaging the dampers to restrict the flow of gas during the first and second cycles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A four-way valve for alternating between a first cycle with a fluid flowing in a first direction and a second cycle with the fluid flowing in a second direction, comprising:
 a housing having a front and a back and an input side and an output side and defining an open interior,   a partition disposed in said interior of said housing to divide said open interior into an input zone adjacent to said input side of said housing and an output zone adjacent to said output side of said housing,   said input side of said housing defining an intake for conveying the fluid into said input zone of said housing and said output side of said housing defining an outlet for dispensing the fluid out of said output zone of said housing,   said front of said housing defining a first input aperture in fluid communication with said input zone of said housing and said back of said housing defining a second input aperture in fluid communication with said input zone of said housing,   said front of said housing defining a first output aperture in fluid communication with said output zone of said housing and said back of said housing defining a second output aperture in fluid communication with said output zone of said housing,   a pivot shaft rotatable about an axis and disposed in said interior of said housing,   a pair of opposing dampers engaging said pivot shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom for rotating with said pivot shaft to restrict the flow of fluid through said first input aperture and said second output aperture during said first cycle and for rotating to restrict the flow of fluid through said second input aperture and said first output aperture during said second cycle, and   a plurality of ducts disposed in said housing with each duct in fluid communication with one of said input and output apertures and extending into the associated one of said input and output zones for engaging said dampers to restrict the flow of fluid during said first and second cycles.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of said ducts presents a duct end spaced between said front and back of said housing and disposed at an angle relative to said front and back of said housing and angling toward the associated one of said input and output sides of said housing. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said plurality of ducts include a first input duct extending into said input zone of said housing from said first input aperture and a second input duct extending into said input zone of said housing from said second input aperture and a first output duct extending into said output zone from said first output aperture and a second output duct extending into said output zone from said second output aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said duct ends of said first input duct and said second output duct are disposed at the same angle and in substantially the same plane for concurrently engaging said opposing dampers during said first cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said duct ends of said second input duct and said first output duct are disposed at the same angle and in substantially the same plane for concurrently engaging said opposing dampers during said second cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein each of said duct ends is at an angle of thirty degrees relative to said front and back of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein each of said ducts is cylindrically shaped and extends at an angle toward the associated one of said input and output sides. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said partition presents a gap. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said pivot shaft is disposed in said gap of said partition. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 10  further including a gasket disposed between and engaging said partition and said pivot shaft for restricting gas flow between said input and output zones of said housing. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said gasket is of graphite. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further including a seal of a resilient material disposed on each of said duct ends for sealing said dampers to said ducts to restrict the flow of gas between said ducts engaged with said dampers and the associated one of the input and output zones of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further including an actuator operably connected to said pivot shaft and configures to rotate said pivot shaft and said dampers to a first position during said first cycle with one of said dampers engaging said duct end of said first input duct and the other of said dampers engaging said duct end of said second output duct and configured to rotate said pivot shaft and said dampers to a second position during said second cycle with one of said dampers engaging said duct end of said second input duct and the other of said dampers engaging said duct end of said first output duct. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said four-way valve is in a regenerative thermal oxidizer assembly for cleaning a contaminated gas. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 15  further including a combustion chamber in said flow path and including a burner for burning contaminants in the contaminated gas to produce a clean gas. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 16  further including a first recovery chamber in said flow path and in fluid communication with said four-way valve and said combustion chamber for conveying the clean gas from said combustion chamber to said four-way valve during said first cycle and for conveying the contaminated gas from said four-way valve to said combustion chamber during said second cycle and for storing heat from the clean gas during said first cycle and for preheating the contaminated gas during said second cycle. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 17  further including a second recovery chamber in said flow path and in fluid communication with said four-way valve and said combustion chamber for conveying the clean gas from said combustion chamber to said four-way valve during said second cycle and for conveying the contaminated gas from said four-way valve to said combustion chamber during said first cycle and for storing heat from the clean gas during said second cycle and for preheating the contaminated gas during said first cycle. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 18  further including a first conduit extending between said four-way valve and said first recovery chamber for conveying the gas therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . A regenerative thermal oxidizer assembly establishing a flow path for cleaning a contaminated gas and for alternating between a first cycle with the gas flowing in a first direction and a second cycle with the gas flowing in a second direction, including:
 a combustion chamber in said flow path and including a burner for burning contaminants in the contaminated gas to produce a clean gas,   a first recovery chamber in said flow path and in fluid communication with said combustion chamber for receiving the clean gas from said combustion chamber during said first cycle and for dispensing the contaminated gas to said combustion chamber during said second cycle and for storing heat from said clean gas to preheat the contaminated gas,   a second recovery chamber in said flow path and in fluid communication with said combustion chamber for dispensing the contaminated gas to said combustion chamber during said first cycle and for receiving the clean gas from said combustion chamber during said second cycle and for storing heat from said clean gas to preheat the contaminated gas,   a four-way valve in said flow path for receiving the contaminated gas during both cycles and for directing the contaminated gas to said second recovery chamber during said first cycle and for directing the contaminated gas to said first recovery chamber during said second cycle and for receiving the clean gas from said first recovery chamber during said first cycle and for receiving the clean gas from said second recovery chamber during said second cycle and for dispensing the clean gas out of said flow path during both cycles,   a first conduit extending between said four-way valve and said first recovery chamber for conveying the gas therebetween and a second conduit extending between said four-way valve and said second recovery chamber for conveying the gas therebetween,   said four-way valve including a housing having a top plate and a bottom plate and a front plate and a back plate and an input side plate and an output side plate to define a closed housing having an open interior,   said input and output side plates being in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and disposed on opposite sides of said housing,   a partition disposed in said interior of said housing and extending in spaced and parallel relationship with said input and output side plates between said front and back plates to divide said open interior into an input zone adjacent to said input side plate and an output zone adjacent to said output side plate,   said input side plate defining an intake for receiving the contaminated gas and for delivering the contaminated gas to said input zone of said housing,   said output side plate defining an outlet for dispensing the clean gas out of said output zone of said housing,   said front plate of said housing defining a first input aperture establishing fluid communication between said first conduit and said input zone of said housing,   said back plate of said housing defining a second input aperture establishing fluid communication between said second conduit and said input zone of said housing,   said front plate of said housing defining a first output aperture establishing fluid communication between said first conduit and said output zone of said housing,   said back plate of said housing defining a second output aperture establishing fluid communication between said second conduit and said output zone of said housing,   a first input duct disposed in said input zone of said housing and extending inwardly from said first input aperture for channeling the contaminated gas from said input zone of said housing to said first input aperture,   a second input duct disposed in said input zone of said housing and extending inwardly from said second input aperture for channeling the contaminated gas from said input zone of said housing to said second input aperture,   a first output duct disposed in said output zone of said housing and extending inwardly from said first output aperture for channeling the clean gas from said first output aperture to said output zone of said housing,   a second output duct disposed in said output zone of said housing and extending inwardly from said second output aperture for channeling the clean gas from said second output aperture to said output zone of said housing,   each of said input and output ducts being disposed at an angle relative to the associated one of said front and back plates and angling toward the associated one of said input and output side plates,   each of said input and output ducts extending into inwardly from the associated one of said input and output apertures to a duct end,   said duct ends of said first input duct and said second output duct being disposed in substantially the same plane,   said duct ends of said second input duct and said first output duct being disposed in substantially the same plane,   said partition of said housing presenting a gap between said front and back side plates,   a pivot shaft rotatable about an axis and disposed in said gap of said partition and extending axially between said top and bottom plates of said housing,   a gasket disposed between and engaging said partition and said pivot shaft for restricting gas flow between said input and output zones of said housing,   a pair of opposing dampers engaging said pivot shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of said pivot shaft for rotating with said pivot shaft to engage said duct end of one of said input ducts and said duct end of one of said output ducts to restrict gas flow through the engaged ones of said input and output ducts,   an actuator operably connected to said pivot shaft and configured to rotate said pivot shaft to a first position during said first cycle with one of said dampers engaging said duct end of said first output duct and the other of said dampers engaging said duct end of said second input duct and configured to rotate said pivot shaft to a second position during said second cycle with one of said dampers engaging said duct end of said first input duct and the other of said dampers engaging said duct end of said second output duct,   a seal disposed adjacent to each of said duct ends for engaging said dampers to seal said dampers to said duct ends engaging said dampers, and   said actuator including a motor and a motion loss connector for operably connected to said motor and said pivot shaft for preventing said dampers from slamming said duct ends and for maintaining a compression seal between said seals and said dampers engaging said seals.