US 12,222,047 B2
Rotary valve with encoder on rotor
John Greene, San Jose, CA (US); Michael John Kennedy, Los Gatos, CA (US); Torleif Ove Björnson, Gilroy, CA (US); and Werner Hälg, Männedorf (CH)
Assigned to TECAN TRADING AG, Männedorf (CH)
Appl. No. 17/822,666
Filed by TECAN TRADING AG, Männedorf (CH)
PCT Filed Nov. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/000945
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 26, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/096911, PCT Pub. Date May 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0304602 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F16K 11/08 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 37/0041 (2013.01) [F16K 11/08 (2013.01); F16K 31/042 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary valve, comprising:
a stator member with a stator face, the stator member having at least two stator channels for conducting a fluid and opening into the stator face;
a rotor member with a rotor face facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member having a rotor channel in the rotor face, wherein the rotor member is rotatable with respect to the stator member about a rotation axis, such that in a conducting position, the rotor channel interconnects the at least two stator channels to be in fluid communication;
a rotary encoder assembly adapted for determining a rotary position of the rotor member, the rotary encoder assembly comprising an encoder member and an encoder module, which is adapted to sense a rotary position of the encoder member;
a housing for accommodating the rotor member and the stator member; and
a rotary bearing for mounting the rotor member in the housing,
wherein the encoder member is arranged adjacent to the bearing
wherein the encoder member is rigidly connected to the rotor member and surrounds the rotor member,
wherein the rotor member comprises a cylindrical body,
wherein the rotor member comprises a rotor body providing the rotor face, which is made one-piece with the cylindrical body,
wherein the encoder member is attached to an outer surface of the cylindrical body,
wherein the cylindrical body comprises an opening for receiving a shaft of the rotary valve, and
wherein the encoder member surrounds the opening for receiving the shaft.