| CPC F16K 1/222 (2013.01) [F04D 27/0215 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A butterfly valve for a conduit defining a passage for a flow of a fluid therethrough in a flow direction, the butterfly valve comprising:
a shaft rotatably mounted to the conduit and defining a longitudinal axis along its length, such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and
a valve body coupled to the shaft, such that the valve body is rotatable along with the shaft about the longitudinal axis between a closed position and a fully open position, the valve body defining a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein, in the closed position, the valve body engages the conduit to close the passage, wherein, in the fully open position, the valve body opens the passage to allow the flow of the fluid, the valve body comprising:
a first major surface facing the flow of the fluid when the valve body is in the closed position, wherein the first major surface comprises a first central line extending along the length of the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a second major surface opposite to the first major surface, wherein the second major surface comprises a second central line extending along the length of the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a perimeter surface that is arcuate and extends between the first major surface and the second major surface, wherein the perimeter surface is configured to engage with the conduit in the closed position of the valve body, the perimeter surface comprising a leading portion that is spaced apart from each of the first central line and the second central line, and a trailing portion that is diametrically opposite to the leading portion, wherein, in the fully open position, the leading portion is a most upstream edge of the perimeter surface with respect to the flow direction and the trailing portion is a most downstream edge of the perimeter surface with respect to the flow direction, the transverse axis of the valve body extending between the leading portion and the trailing portion;
a central plane disposed between the first major surface and the second major surface, wherein the central plane contains the longitudinal axis, a central point of the leading portion, and a central point of the trailing portion, the perimeter surface defining a diameter of the valve body in the central plane, the valve body further defining a first direction normal to the central plane and extending towards the first major surface and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a first lobe partially forming the first major surface and extending at least partially from the leading portion towards the first central line along the transverse axis, the first lobe further extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first lobe comprises a first peak edge that is disposed proximal to the leading portion, such that the first lobe ascends from the leading portion to the first peak edge at least along the first direction and descends from the first peak edge towards the first central line;
a second lobe partially forming the second major surface and extending at least partially from the leading portion towards the second central line along the transverse axis, the second lobe further extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second lobe comprises a second peak edge that is disposed proximal to the leading portion, such that the second lobe ascends from the leading portion to the second peak edge at least along the second direction and descends from the second peak edge towards the second central line; and
a third lobe spaced apart from each of the first lobe and the second lobe and partially forming the second major surface, the third lobe extending from the trailing portion towards the second central line along the transverse axis, the third lobe further extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the third lobe comprises a third peak edge that is disposed proximal to the trailing portion, such that the third lobe ascends from the trailing portion to the third peak edge at least along the second direction and descends from the third peak edge towards the second central line;
wherein the first lobe and the second lobe are disposed on opposing sides of the central plane, wherein the second lobe and the third lobe are disposed on the same side of the central plane, and wherein each of the first peak edge, the second peak edge, and the third peak edge is rounded.
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