GB2429263A

GB2429263A - Valve

Info

Publication number: GB2429263A
Application number: GB0616133A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Coerdt; Roland Foitzik
Original assignee: FW Oventrop GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: FW Oventrop GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2005-08-16
Filing date: 2006-08-14
Publication date: 2007-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-14
Also published as: GB2429263B; FR2889867B1; NL1032323C2; AT502342B1; FR2889867A1; DE102005038699B4; ITMI20061612A1; DE102005038699A1; AT502342A2; GB0616133D0; NL1032323A1; AT502342A3; CH698702B1

Abstract

A valve 1 including a valve housing 18 for fitting in a hot water pipe circuit is controlled by a temperature position pickup 16 and reduces the volume flow to a residual volume. The residual volume flow can be adjusted by an adjusting sleeve 4 arranged on a valve locking piece 3. The adjusting sleeve is provided with different sized flow openings that cover windows in the valve locking piece. The valve locking piece is biased against a valve seat 19 by springs 10, 14. The water temperature is adjustable from the outside by an operating element 2.

Description

1 2429263 Valve The invention relates to a valve, which is controlled by a

temperature position pickup, designed for fitting in the circuit of hot water pipes, and reduces the volume flow from a water temperature adjustable from outside by an operating element to a residual volume.

The residual volume flow is also maintained even if the water temperature continues to increase and does not decrease. Known valves show these characteristics as can be seen for example from the following publications: DE 201 09 619 U, DE 298 05 921 U, DE 198 34 151 A, DE 299 24 249 U, DE 10226289 A, DE 298 23960 U and DE 10056 715 A. In the case of some of the known valves the volume flow increases again as the temperature continues to increase, in order to make available more hot water to the water circuit for disinfection for example. These valves have on the one hand the disadvantage, that the residual volume flow which sets in for a selected temperature value cannot be changed due to one or more design- induced gaps between a valve cone and valve seat, on the other hand the valves have a bypass in addition, via which the residual volume flow can be adjusted, because the volume flow is blocked by the valve which is basically thermally driven.

However, known valves where a residual volume flow can be adjusted manually, for example strand regulating valves, have no temperaturedependent valve function.

The size of the residual volume flow is selected so that the heat losses of a hot water circuit can be compensated, a sufficient temperature level being maintained in the whole of the hot water circuit, so that the risk of contamination by bacteria (e.g. legionella) is minimised. Relatively large drinking water plants have a plurality of hot water circuits connected one behind the other, one of the valves described above being fitted in each circuit. Both various lengths of the hot water supply strands from the heat generator to the individual hot water circuits as well as the size of the hot water circuits themselves require varying residual volume flows in the hot water circuits, which cannot be adjusted in the case of the known valve. The consequence is that several circuits may have an excessively high residual volume flow and so other circuits can, no longer maintain the necessary quantity of hot water to maintain the required temperature level.

Based on this state of the art the task of the invention is to create a valve of a general type, with which various residual volume flows can be adjusted in a simple fashion.

This object is achieved by the invention in that by overcoming the disadvantages described above the residual volume flow can be adjusted by an adjusting sleeve arranged on a valve locking piece.

Further preferred further embodiments are stated in the sub-claims.

Through the embodiment as per invention the residual volume flow can be adjusted by an adjusting sleeve arranged on a valve locking piece, which adjusting sleeve has variously large flow openings, each flow opening, which covers the window present in valve locking piece, releasing the desired residual volume flow. The residual volume flow can also be released by an adjusting sleeve, which has a ramp-shaped diagonally running opening cross-section course over its periphery, which closes a partial region of the window in valve locking piece. The adjusting sleeve can be both rotatably arranged around the valve locking piece, in order to position the flow openings distributed over the periphery of the adjusting sleeve in front of the window in the valve locking piece as well as axially displaceably against elastic force, in order to block the selected flow opening on the valve locking piece. For this, toothed and/or arresting elements are preferably arranged on the inner side of the adjusting sleeve and on the hereto corresponding outer side of the valve locking piece. The elastic force acting on the adjusting sleeve can be generated in this connection by a spring, which, on the one hand, in a groove on the adjusting sleeve and on the other hand in a groove on the front surface of the valve upper part, comes into contactwith its ends.

A second spring, which is supported also in the region of the front surface of the valve upper part on an outer support, has opposite as outer support a contact surface of the locking piece directed at the temperature position pick up. In this connection it reaches through the adjusting sleeve and presses the valve locking piece against the valve seat present in the valve housing.

If the adjusting sleeve lies both on the valve locking piece as well as the locking piece on the valve seat, then only the pre-set residual volume flow flows through the regulating valve.

A further feature of the invention is at least one push rod arranged eccentrically to the rammer of the locking in device, accommodated in a guide borehole of the valve locking piece and which reaches through this. This also lies on the one hand on the inner surface of the tie-shaped locking in part and is supported on the other hand on the inner surface of the adjusting sleeve facing the locking piece.

Starting from the position of the valve with residual volume flow, with the lifting movement facing the temperature position pickup of the locking in rod the adjusting sleeve is initially raised against the weaker spring opposite the valve locking piece by the push rod, before the inner surface of the tie-shaped locking in part comes into contact with the valve locking piece and raises this further together with adjusting sleeve. In doing so, the restrictor formed by the valve locking piece and the valve seat opens, so that the residual volume flow determined by the flow opening of the adjusting sleeve is no longer released, rather an essentially larger main volume flow. The amount by which the adjusting sleeve opposite the valve locking piece is raised by the push rod, is determined by the overlapping part of the push rod out of the valve locking piece.

The advantage of this lifting of this adjusting sleeve from the valve locking piece is that in doing so the window in the valve locking piece is fully released and in the event of contamination can be rinsed if need be. So that the adjusting sleeve can also come into permanent contact with the push rod even when the push rod is lifted, the pressure spring is also positioned between adjusting sleeve and valve upper part.

By rotating the operating element guided in the valve upper part and abutting the temperature position pickup the lifting position, whereby the valve locking piece is lifted from the valve seat, can be adjusted.

Inspection of the residual volume flow using suitable measuring devices is possible due to the known arrangement of measuring valve connection pieces on the valve housing in front of and behind the valve seat.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail in the following.

Figure 1 shows a valve as per invention viewed in central longitudinal section; Figures 2 to 11 show details and features in single representation, partially enlarged.

A valve I is shown in the drawing. This comprises a valve housing 18 with connection pieces arranged coaxially to one another, so that the valve can be switched into the circuit of a hot water pipe. A valve seat 19 is formed in the valve housing 18 in the flow channel.

A component of the valve is also a valve locking piece 3, a pot-like adjusting sleeve 4 respectively 7 overlapping this locking piece, a valve upper part 28, an operating element 2 as well as a temperature position pickup 16, which is arranged between the operating element 2 and the valve locking piece.

The drawing shows a valve 1 controlled by a temperature position pickup 16 for fitting in the circuit of hot water pipes. The volume flow can be reduced to a residual volume from a water temperature adjustable from outside via the operating element 2. To do this, an adjusting sleeve 4 arranged on the valve locking piece 3 is provided, which has variously large flow openings 5 and which is adjustable by rotation, so that respectively one flow opening covers the window 6 present in the valve locking piece 3. In this way the desired residual volume flow is released. Alternatively, the residual volume flow can, be released through the adjusting sleeve 7, which has a ramp-shaped, diagonally running front edge and so makes available a corresponding opening cross-section 29 over the periphery, which closes a partial region of the window 6 in the valve locking piece 3 depending on the rotating position of the adjusting sleeve 7. In order to block the selected flow opening on the valve locking piece 3, toothed and/or locking elements 8,9 can be provided on the inner side of the adjusting sleeve 4 respectively 7 and on the hereto corresponding outer side of the locking piece 3. An elastic force acts on the adjusting sleeve 4, 7, which elastic force is generated by a spring 10, which is supported on the one hand in a groove 11 on the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 and on the other hand in a groove 12 on the front surface of the valve upper part 28.A further spring 14 is also provided, which is also supported in the region of the front surface 13 of the valve upper part 28 on an outer support 15 and opposite as outer support on a contact surface 17 of the locking piece 3 facing the temperature position pickup 16.

In doing so, it reaches through the adjusting sleeve 4,7 and presses the valve locking piece 3 against the valve seat 19 present in the valve housing 18. As long as both the adjusting sleeve 4,7 lies on the valve locking piece 3 and the locking piece 3 on the valve seat 19, only the pre-set residual volume flow flows through the regulating valve.

A locking in device driven by the temperature position pickup 16 is also provided, which device has a rammer 20, which reaches centrally through the adjusting sleeve 4,7 and also sealed the valve locking piece 3 and the valve upper part 28 and which is shaped at its end facing away from the temperature position pickup 16 to a tie-shaped locking in part 21. This rammer lifts the valve locking piece 3 together with the adjusting sleeve 4,7 from the valve seat 19 as the water temperature falls. In doing so, the inner surface 22 of the tie-shaped locking in part facing the temperature position pickup abuts a counter surface 23 of the valve locking piece, which is supported by thesecond spring 14 described above between valve locking piece 3 and valve upper part 28. Parallel to rammer 20 of the locking in device at least one push rod 24 is eccentrically arranged, which push rod reaches through a guide borehole 25 of the valve locking piece 3 and on the one hand also abuts the inner surface 22 of the tie-shaped locking in part and is supported on the other hand at the inner surface 26 of the adjusting sleeve 4,7 directed at the locking piece 3.

Starting from the position of the valves with residual volume flow (cf. Figure 9) the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 is, during a fall in temperature during the lifting movement directed towards the temperature position pickup 16 of the locking in rod 20, initially raised by the push rod 24 against the weaker spring 10 opposite the valve locking piece 3, before the inner surface 22 of the tie-shaped locking in part comes into contact with the valve locking piece 3 (Figure 10) and lifts this further together with the adjusting sleeve 4, 7. In dong so, the restrictor formed by the valve locking piece 3 and the valve seat 19 opens, so that the residual volume flow determined by the flow opening 5 of the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 is no longer released, rather an essentially larger main volume flow (cf. Figure 11.).

The amount "A" by which the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 opposite the valve locking piece 3 is raised by the push rod 24, is determined by the length of the overlying part 27 of the push rod 24 out of the valve locking piece 3. The advantage of this lifting of the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 from the valve locking piece 3 is that in doing so the window 6 in the valve locking piece 3 is fully released and can be rinsed if necessary in the event of contamination. So that the adjusting sleeve 4, 7 can come into permanent contact with the push rod 24 even when this is raised, the pressure spring 10 is clamped between adjusting sleeve 4, 7 and valve upper part 28.

By rotating the operating element 2 guided in the valve upper part 28 and abutting the temperature position pickup 16 the lifting position, with which the valve locking piece 3 lifts from the valve seat 19, can be set. The housing can in addition have measuring valve connection pieces 30, 31, in order to permit inspection of the residual volume flow using suitable measuring devices.

The invention is not restricted to the example embodiment, rather variable in

many ways within the context of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are regarded as essential to the invention.

Reference numerals: 1. Valve 2. Operating element 3. Valve locking piece 4. Adjusting sleeve 5. Flow openings 6. Window 7. Adjusting sleeve 8. Locking/toothed element 9. Locking/toothed element 10. Spring 11. Groove 12. Groove 13. Front face 14. Spring 15. Outer support 16. Temperature position pickup 17. Contact surface 18. Valve housing 19. Valve seat 20. Rammer 21. Tie-shaped locking in.part 22. tnnersurfacev.21 23. Counter surface 24. Push rod 25. Guide borehole 26. Inner surface v. 4 27. Overlying part v. 24 28. Valve upper part 29. Ramp-shaped cross-section run 30. Measuring valve 31. Connection piece

Claims

1. Valve (1), which is controlled by a temperature position pickup (16), for fitting in the circuit of hot water pipes, and reduces the volume flow from a water temperature adjustable from outside by an operating element (2) to a residual volume flow, characterised in that the residual volume flow is adjustable by an adjusting sleeve (4, 7) arranged on a valve locking piece (3).

2. Valve according to Claim 1, charactensed in that the adjusting sleeve (4) have variously large flow openings (5) distributed on the periphery, one flow opening (5) respectively covering a window (6) provided in the valve locking piece (3) and releasing the corresponding volume flow.

3. Valve according to Claim 1, charactensed in that the adjusting sleeve (7) has a ramp-shaped opening cross-section run (29) running diagonally in the direction of the periphery, which run closes a partial region of a window (6) in the valve locking piece (3) and releases the corresponding volume flow.

4. Valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) is rotatable around the central axis of the valve locking piece (3), in order to position the flow openings (5) in front of the window (6) in the jacket of the valve locking piece (3), and in that the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) is arranged axially and displaceably against elastic force, in order to block the selected flow opening (5) in its position on the valve locking piece (3).

5. Valve according to Claim 4, characterised in that on the inner side of the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) and on the thereto corresponding outer side.f the valve locking piece (3) toothed elements and/or locking elements (8, 9) are arranged, in order to block the selected flow opening (5) opposite the valve locking piece (3). I0

6. Valve according to Claims 4 to 5, charactensed in that the elastic force acting on the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) is generated by a spring (10), which is clamped between the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) and a front face (13) of a valve upperpart (28) of the valve (1)

7. Valve according to Claim 6, characterjsed in that the spring (10) with its ends on the one hand in a groove (11) of the adjusting sleeve (4, fl and on the other hand in a groove (12) on the front surface (13) of the valve upper part (28).

8. Valve according to one of Claims I to 7, characterised in that a second spring (14) is provided, which is supported on the front surface (13) of a valve upper part (28) of the valve (1) and as outer support on a locking piece contact surface (17) directed towards the temperature position pickup (16), the spring (14) pushing the valve locking piece (3) against a valve seat (19) provided in the valve housing (18).

9. Valve according to Claim 8, characteilsed in that the second spring (14) reaches through the adjusting sleeve (4, 7).

10. Valve according to one of Claims 1 to 9, charactensed in that a locking in device operated or driven by the temperature position pickup (16) is provided, by means of which the valve locking piece (3) can be or is raised together with the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) from the valve seat (19) as the temperature falls.

11. Valve according to Claim 10, characterised in that the locking in device has a rammer, which reaches through the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) and also in sealed manner the valve locking piece (3) and the valve upper part (28) preferably centrally and at its end region facing away from the temperature position pickup (16) forms a locking in part (21) preferably a tie.

12. Valve according to Claim 11, characterised in that the inner surface (22) of the locking in part (21) facing the temperature position pickup (16) abuts a counter surface (23) of the valve locking piece (3), the abutment is supported by * ) the second spring (14), which is clamped between valve locking piece (3) and valve upper part (18).

13. Valve according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that at least one push rod (24) is provided, which reaches through the valve locking piece (3), and is supported with its ends on the one hand on parts of the locking in device and on the other hand on the adjusting sleeve (4).

14. Valve according to Claim 13, characterised in that the push rod (24) is arranged eccentrically to the centrally-arranged rammer (20).

15. Valve according to Claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the push rod (24) reaches through a guide borehole (25) of the valve locking piece (3) and overlaps this, one end of the push rod (24) abutting the inner surface (22) of the locking in part (20) and the other end being supported at the inner surface (26) of the adjusting sleeve (4, 7) facing the valve locking piece (3).

16. Valve according to one of Claims I to 15, charactensed in that the operating element (2) is guided rotatably in the valve upper part (28) and abuts the temperature position pickup (16), so that by rotating the operating element.

(2) the lifting position at which the valve locking piece (3) lifts from the valve seat (19), can be adjusted.

17. Claim according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the valve housing (18) has measuring valve connection pieces (30, 31) for inspection of the residual volume flow.