GB2054104A - Valve assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve assembly for regulating the flow of a fluid under pressure comprises a first body portion (11) having an inlet port (14), a second body portion (12) having an outlet port (15), and a non-rising spindle mechanism (18, 30) in a third body portion (13). The first body portion (11) is held between the second (12) and third (13) body portions. A stem (17) on the spindle carries a valve closure (20) which engages a seat (21) in the first body portion (11) and also carries part of a constant flow device (23) which co-operates with another part of the constant flow device (25, 26) in the second body portion (12). The first body portion (11) can be sandwiched between the second (12) and third (13) body portions so as to provide four different orientations of the inlet port (14) relative to the outlet port (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve assembly This invention relates to a valve assembly for regulating the flow of a fluid supplied under pressure. It is particularly concerned with valve assemblies for use with water heaters. Flow regulators for providing a constant flow of fluid with a varying pressure of fluid are known. Such regulators may be constructed to provide a single constant flow rate, or they may be constructed to enable different flow rates to be achieved, in each case irrespective of the fluid supply pressure. An example of this type of regulator is that described in British patent No. 1,350,846 to Mannesmann s Keppel KG.

In water heating and supply arrangements the same type of valve may need to be installed with different water supply configurations, i.e. the water supply may come horizontally along a wall from either direction or up a wall. Furthermore, it may be desirable, especially with the closed outlet type of electrical water heating system, to provide a valve at a point of use distant from the water heater which can ensure varying flows of water at the desired temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly which provides flow adjustment, flow stabilisation and on/off control within the same body, said valve assembly being operable by a single spindle, the assembly being so constructed that it can be used with water supply pipes coming from different directions.

According to the present invention we provide a valve assembly for regulating the flow of a fluid supplied under pressure, said assembly comprising a body having entry and exit ports which houses a) a valve closure co-operable with a seat, and b) means for providing constant flow of fluid when the valve is in an open position with a varying pressure head in the fluid supplied to the valve, both a) and b) being operable by a common valve stem extending within the body, and in which the body is made in separable portions held to one another in fluid-tight engagment, the inlet port being in a first body portion and the outlet port being in a second body portion, the arrangement being such that said body portions can be assembled in different ways so as to provide different orientations of the inlet port relative to the outlet port.

The body is preferably made in three separate portions, with the first and second portions being adjacent one another. The inlet and outlet ports are suitably directed at right angles to the valve stem. The stem may be moveable in a direction along the common axis of the three portions by means of a screw-threaded co-operating with a non-rising spindle. The non-rising spindle may be located in the third body portion, the first body portion being sandwiched between the second and third body portions.

The body portions may be made in brass or a similar metal, and the valve seat may be formed in the first body portion to co-operate with a closure moveable within said first portion. The constant flow means may be provided by a regulator having a wavelike profiled core section carried on the stem co-operating with a surrounding elastic 0 ring carried in the second body portion. The core section is preferably conical in a direction along the stem to provide for varying flow rates of fluid.

The principle of operation of this type of regulator is described in British patent No. 1,350,846 to Mannesmann s Keppel KG.

The valve assembly is particularly suitable for use on the outlet side of an instantaneous electrical water heater, where it is important that pressure drops in the water supply do not substantially affect the flow rate through the water heater. The ability to change the orientation of the inlet port relative to the outlet port enables the same body portions to be assembled in different ways to suit the position of the existing water supply line relative to the valve.

The body portions may be held to one another by a number of screws extending through each body portion. Sealing between each portion may be by O-ring or washers. The screws or other means for holding the portions together should be symmetrically positioned relative to the common axis of the portions to enable the portions to be assembled with the first portion in any one of four positions relative to the second portion.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view in section through a valve assembly according to the invention, and Figure 2 is an elevation of the valve assembly of Figure 1 in the direction indicated by arrow II.

A valve body 10 comprises three body portions 11, 12 and 13, each made of brass and having an identical square cross-section when viewed as in Figure 2. The first body portion 11, which has an inlet port 14, is sandwiched between the second body portion 12, which has an outlet port 15, and the third body portion 13, and the portions are held in fluid-tight engagement with one another by screws passing through four holes 1 6 (see Figure 2) which extend symmetrically through each body portion.

A stem 1 7 extends along the common axis of the three body portions 11, 12 and 13. The stem 1 7 carries a threaded hexagon 1 8 at one end where the stem 1 7 protrudes into the third or right-hand (as seen in Figure 1) body portion 1 3. A flat circular plate 1 9 extending radially outwards from the stem 1 7 immediately adjacent the hexagon 18, carries a resilient washer 20 on its side distant from the hexagon 1 8. When the stem 1 7 is moved towards the second or left-hand portion 12, the washer 20 will engage with a circular seat 21 within the first or central body portion 11. Radially within the seat 21 is a passageway 22 through which fluid can pass from the first body portion 11 to the second body portion 1 2.

An adjustable flow regulator is provided at the end of stem 1 7 passing into the second or left hand body portion 12. The regulator comprises a wavelike profiled core 23 secured to the stem by means of nut 24, which co-operates with a resilient O-ring 25 fitted around the core 23 and held in a housing 26 secured to the inner walls of the second portion 12 adjacent the first body portion 11. The core 23 is tapered in a direction towards the end of the second body portion 12 to enable different flow settings to be provided by axial movement of the stem 1 7, and thereby core 12, relative to the O-ring 25. The details of operation of this type of constant-flow regulator are described in British patent No. 1,350,846 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The threaded hexagon 1 8 is retained centrally in the third of right-hand body portion 13 by means of an annular securing plate 27 which in turn is held to the third body portion 13 by countersunk screws 28. A spindle 29 enters the third body portion 13 from its side distant from the first body portion 11. The spindle 29 carries at one end a cup-shaped portion 30 freely rotatable within the third body portion 13. The cup-shaped portion 30 is threaded internally to co-operate with the threaded hexagon 18 on the stem 17.

Rotation of the "non-rising" spindle 29 thereby causes the hexagon 18 and stem 17 to move along the common axis of the body portions 11, 12 and 13. Atone end of the stem movement, plate 19 is stopped by securing plate 27 with the valve fully open; at the other end, the washer 20 engages the seat 21 with the valve fully closed. In use, the spindle 29 is fitted with a suitable knob or wheel (not shown).

Each body portion 11, 12 and 13 is sealedly held to the other, by means of a washer 30 between portions 11 and 12, and an O-ring 31 between 11 and 13. Each portion is symmetrical about the common axis along which the stem 17 extends, with the exception of the inlet port 14 in the first body portion and the outlet port 15 in the second body portion 12. The first body portion 11 can be located relative to the second body portion 12 in four different positions, with the inlet port 14 in each case pointing in four respective different directions, each at 90 to the next.

Similarly with the first body portion 11 fixed, the second body portion 12 can be located in four different positions with the outlet port 1 5 pointing in four respective different directions, each at 900 to the last. To re-orient either by of body portions 11 and 12 relative to one another, the screws through holes 1 6 are removed, the orientation changed, and the body portions secured once again to each other.

When the valve is used in a wall-mounted system, the arrangement shown in Figure 1 would enable the spindle 29 to point outwardly from the wall only with a water supply pipe entering the inlet port 14 from the left. If the supply pipe came from below, the valve could be dissembled and reassembled with inlet port 14 facing downwardly. The valve could either be closely adjacent a suitable water heater in the water outlet pipe, or it could be positioned at the point of use, which might be in the next room to the water heater. The use of such a valve at a point of use remote from the heater can reduce vandalism to heater, and also may enable the heater itself to be placed in a less aggressive atmosphere in terms of steam and dust.

Claims (13)

1. A valve assembly for regulating the flow of a fluid supplied under pressure, said assembly comprising a body having entry and exit ports which houses a) a valve closure co-operable with a seat, and b) means for providing constant flow of fluid when the valve is in an open position with a varying pressure head in the fluid supplied to the valve, both a) and b) being operable by a common valve stem extending within the body, and in which the body is made in separable portions held to one another in fluid-tight engagement, the inlet port being in a first body portion and the outlet port being in a second body portion, the arrangement being such that said body portions can be assembled in different ways so as to provide different orientations of the inlet port relative to the outlet port.

2. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the body is made in three separate portions, with the first and second portions being adjacent one another.

3. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the inlet and outlet ports are directed at right angles to the valve stem.

4. A valve assembly as claimed in any preceding Claims in which the valve stem is moveable in a direction along the common axis of the body portions by means of screw threads cooperable with a non-rising spindle.

5. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 4 in which the non-rising spindle is located in a third body portion, the first body portion being sandwiched between the second and third body portions.

6. A valve assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the valve seat is formed on the first body portion and co-operates with a closure moveable within said first portion.

7. A valve assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the constant flow means includes a regulator having a wavelike profiled core section carried on the stem and co-operating with a surrounding elastic O-ring in the second body portion.

8. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 7 in which the core section is conical in a direction along the stem to provide for varying flow rates of fiuids.

9. A valve assembly as claimed in preceding Claim in which the portions are held together, and the holding means are symmetrically positioned relative to the common axis of the portions so as to enable the portions to be assembled with the first portion in any one of four positions relative to the second portion.

10. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 9 in which the body portions are held to one another by a number of screws which extend through or into each body portion.

11. Avalve assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim in combination with an instantaneous electrical water heater.

12. A combination as claimed in Claim 11 in which the valve assembly is located on the outlet side of the heater.

13. A valve assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings