Much of Cycle-Therm’s expertise lies in the design and manufacture of patented electro-mechanical valve drive systems for either two chamber or multiple odd number chamber designs. Cycle-Therm’s two-chamber semi-prepackaged units feature a PATENTED quick acting (less than ½ second) poppet valve. This valve is cam operated, electrically driven and has completely removed the slam associated with poppets. Cycle-Therm’s multiple chamber (3 plus) units utilize a slow moving (75 second), cam operated, electric driven butterfly valve arrangement. Both systems are patented, both utilizing a single drive motor to transfer all valves, depending on type, in unison or in sequence. These patented systems have eliminated all the problems associated with the use of hydraulic and/or pneumatic piston valve operators used in other two-position and rotary RTOs. These very common problems include seal failures, line leaks, moisture freezing, sluggish winter operation, summer slamming, divergent piston speed, lead/lag valve disk movement, valve slamming deterioration, difficult to change finite PLC programming, overall valve contaminant leakage, air dryer replacement, solenoid failure, dedicated compressors and hydraulic pumps.

The two-chamber units use an intermittently operated four-way poppet valve. The valve ports, located within a cylindrical housing, are opened and closed by moving 2 flat flexible disks. The disks, which move vertically between the 4 port seats are attached to 2 spring-loaded shafts. The two shafts are driven by two opposed position cams, connected to a drive motor which indexes 180 F° each time it receives a signal from the RTO’s PLC. A VFD controls the drive motor accelerations and deceleration. This valve disk motion is preprogrammed within the VFD to accelerate the 2 disks for 0.1 seconds and decelerating for 0.3 seconds, bringing the disks from seat to seat in less than 0.5 seconds. Since the disk is electronically decelerated for 0.3 seconds they come to a coasting, non-slamming, repeatable stop. The use of the VFD and cam system is patented. The VFD and drive motor is “off the shelf.”

Since the patented poppet valve transfers both chamber from reheat to preheat simultaneously, in 500 milliseconds, the two-chamber RTO generic pressure spike and contaminant bypass is almost eliminated.