Robert Boschgmbh

George Popovici

Lesley Wang

Adarsh Venkiteswaran

A rotary valve has a valve plug that is rotatable in a valve body about a rotational axis. Surface features of the valve plug and surface features of the valve body cooperate to provide a bearing by which the valve plug is rotatably supported with respect to the valve body. In addition, each of the valve plug and the valve body include a plurality of annular projections that encircle the plain bearing and axially overlap one another so as to form a labyrinth that surrounds the bearing. The labyrinth forms a fluid path that collects abrasive particles suspended in the fluid passing through the valve, whereby wear of the valve is reduced.

Rotary plug valve with labyrinth

A fluid valve includes a valve body and a plug. The body includes a chamber and ports that communicate with the chamber. The plug is rotatably disposed in the chamber, and includes a seal disposed in an annular groove provided on the plug surface. An elastic member is disposed in the groove, and biases the seal against an inner surface of the chamber. The seal includes a seal retaining feature that is configured to retain the seal within the groove.

Fluid valve assembly including seal having retention features

A fluid valve includes a valve body and a plug. The body includes a chamber and ports that communicate with the chamber. The plug rotates within the chamber, and includes a seal disposed in an annular groove provided on the plug surface. An elastic member is disposed in the groove, and biases the seal against an inner surface of the chamber. When the plug is oriented relative to the body so that the groove is aligned with a port, the seal segregates the chamber into a first chamber that borders an outer surface of the seal and a second chamber that borders an inner surface of the seal, and provides a fluid-tight seal between the first chamber and the second chamber. In addition, the seal inner and outer diameters vary based on a fluid pressure difference across the seal.

Fluid valve assembly including fluid driven sealing

A fluid valve includes a valve body, and a valve plug disposed in the valve body. The valve body includes a base and a cylindrical sidewall that together define a valve plug chamber. The valve body includes valve ports. The valve plug is rotatable relative to the valve body about a rotational axis. The valve plug supports an annular seal in such a way that, a) for certain orientations of the valve plug with respect to the valve body, the seal abuts and inner surface of the sidewall and provides a fluid-tight seal between the valve plug and the valve body, and b) during rotation of the valve plug relative to the valve body, the seal is moved relative to the valve body along a circular path. At least one of the valve ports includes a guiding feature that guides the seal along the circular path.

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Swampscot, MA, United States of America

George Popovici