Multifunction valve

Abstract

A multifunction valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, and outlet and an interior chamber. A flow control gate is disposed within the interior chamber and is rotatable through an arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet providing a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve. A method of modulating a fluid flow rate includes directing fluid flow through a multifunction valve from an inlet to an outlet, the multifunction valve including a flow control gate, adjusting the flow rate through the multifunction valve by rotating a control shaft to position the flow control gate to variably occlude the outlet of the fluid control valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multifunction valve system comprising:
 a valve comprising:
 a valve body defining an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet, the valve body further defining an interior chamber disposed in a fluid flow pathway between the inlet and the outlet; 
 a control shaft disposed within the interior chamber and coupled to the valve body for rotational movement relative thereto; 
 a flow control gate disposed within the internal chamber and coupled to the control shaft for movement therewith, the flow control gate includes a full occlusion section and a partial occlusion section, the flow control gate rotatably adjustable through a arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet of the valve body; and 
 wherein when the full occlusion section is adjacent to the outlet the fluid flow through the valve body is prevented, and when the partial occlusion section is adjacent to the outlet the fluid flow through the valve body is diminished proportionately to the occlusion of the outlet by the flow control gate; and 
   a first force controller configured to engage the control shaft of the valve to provide rotational motion of the flow control gate.   
     
     
         2 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second retaining plates disposed adjacent to the flow control gate. 
     
     
         3 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 2 , further comprising first and second guide plates disposed respectively adjacent to the first and second retaining plates such that the first guide plate forms a channel at the first retaining plate in which the flow control gate is retained as it traverses rotatably through the arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet of the valve body. 
     
     
         4 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the partial occlusion section of the flow control gate comprises a linear edge profile. 
     
     
         5 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the partial occlusion section of the flow control gate comprises a non-linear edge profile. 
     
     
         6 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second force controller configured to translational motion to the control shaft along a longitudinal axis of the control shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising a system controller in electronic communication with the force controller, said system controller configured to generate instructions to direct the force controller to rotate the flow control gate to change the fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         8 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 7 , further comprises a sensor configured to measure at least one flow characteristics chosen from a flow rate, a temperate, a pressure, and a viscosity; and
 the sensor is configured to generate a signal based on the measured at least one flow characteristics.   
     
     
         9 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the system controller comprises a computing device configured to receive the signal from the sensor and provide actuation control signal to the force controller based, at least in part, on the signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a flow rate and generate a signal based on the measured flow rate; and
 wherein the system controller is configured to control the flow rate of fluid through the valve body in response to the signal from the sensor that an attribute of the fluid flow has deviated from a set point or set range.   
     
     
         11 . The multifunction valve system of  claim 7 , wherein the system controller is configured to control the flow rate through the valve body based on a predetermined sequence of flow rate modulation over time. 
     
     
         12 . Method of operation a multifunction valve including a valve body defining an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet, a control shaft disposed within the valve body for rotational movement relative thereto, and a flow control gate coupled to the control, said method comprising:
 providing a force controller configured to engage the control shaft of the valve to provide rotational motion of the flow control gate to control the flow rate of fluid through the valve body;   providing a system controller in electronic communication with the force controller, the system controller configured to direct the force controller to rotate the flow control gate to change the flow rate;   sensing an attribute of fluid flow through the valve body; and   manipulating the flow control gate based, at least in part, on the sensed attribute of fluid flow to manipulate the flow rate through the valve body.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sensing an attribute further comprises generating a sensor signal based on the sensed attribute to be communicated to system controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of manipulating the flow control gate further comprises the system controller receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal being based, at least in part, on the sensed attribute of fluid flow. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , furthering comprising the step of the system controller generating a control signal in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of communicating the control signal to the force controller, the control signal being based on previously programmed operation parameters for the force controller in response to the sensor signal. 
     
     
         17 . Method of operation a multifunction valve including a valve body defining an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet, a control shaft disposed within the valve body for rotational movement relative thereto, and a flow control gate coupled to the control, said method comprising:
 providing a force controller configured to engage the control shaft of the valve to provide rotational motion of the flow control gate to control the flow rate of fluid through the valve body;   providing a system controller in electronic communication with the force controller, the system controller configured to direct the force controller to rotate the flow control gate to change the flow rate; and   manipulating the flow control gate using the system controller based on predefined programming or instructions to control the flow rate through the valve body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of manipulating the flow control gate further comprises the system controller generating a control signal based on the predefined programming or instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of communicating the control signal to the force controller, the control signal being based on the predefined programming or instructions.