GB2545847A

GB2545847A - Makeup water supply valve of boiler having air gap forming means

Info

Publication number: GB2545847A
Application number: GB1705831.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bong Choi Seong
Original assignee: ALCO CORP
Current assignee: ALCO CORP
Priority date: 2014-10-06
Filing date: 2015-09-16
Publication date: 2017-06-28
Also published as: GB201705831D0; WO2016056765A1

Abstract

According to the present invention, a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having an air gap forming means supplies makeup water to a heating water pipe by means of a simple operation of rotating an operation knob, and an air gap is automatically formed in the makeup water supply valve when the supplying of the makeup water is completed. Since the heating water pipe and a direct water pipe are maintained in a completely separated state by means of the air gap formed in the makeup water supply valve, the heating water flowing backward can be essentially prevented from flowing into the direct water pipe even if the heating water leaks and flows backward from the heating water pipe. In addition, a drain valve for discharging the heating water during the repair or replacement of the boiler is integrally formed at the makeup water supply valve of the present invention, thereby reducing an effort of separately providing the drain valve, and reducing costs.

Description

[description] [invention Title]

MAKEUP WATER SUPPLY VALVE OF BOILER HAVING AIR GAP FORMING MEANS

[Technical Fie Id]

The present invention relates to a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means that is capable of forming an air gap so as to prevent heating water flowing backward therethrough when the heating water is filled or made up from being introduced into a direct water pipe and further capable of forming a drain port unitarily therewith so as to discharge the heating water easily and simply when the boiler is repaired or exchanged.

[Background Art] FIG.14 is a circuit diagram showing a general heating boiler in a conventional practice.

As shown in FIG.14, a general heating boiler 5 is adapted to heat water by means of a burner and a heat exchanger, to circulate the heated water, and to conduct heating through the heated water.

Further, the heating boiler 5 has a direct water pipe 2 adapted to supply hot water, which is separate from a heating water pipe 1.

If the heating boiler 5 is used for a long period of time, the heating water filled in the heating water pipe 1 of the heating boiler 5 is reduced through evaporation, and accordingly, it is necessary to make up the heating water.

So as to make up the heating water, as shown in FIG. 14, a makeup water pipe (indicated by a dotted area) connecting the direct water pipe 2 and the heating water pipe 1 is formed so that it is used only when it is time to make up the heating water and is blocked in other cases, thereby preventing the heating water from being introduced into the direct water pipe 2.

In the conventional practice, generally, the makeup water pipe is blocked by means of an on/off valve and a check valve to prevent the heating water from flowing backward, but so as to totally prevent the back flow of the heating water, most desirably, the heating water pipe 1 and the direct water pipe 2 are completely separated from each other, except the time to make up the heating water.

However, the conventional makeup water pipe capable of separating the heating water pipe 1 and the direct water pipe 2 from each other is complicated in configuration, thereby undesirably raising its cost and making it inconvenient to use .

When the boiler is repaired or exchanged, further, a drain valve is additionally provided to discharge the heating water to the outside, thereby undesirably making the configuration of the boiler more complicated and raising the cost of the boiler.

An example of a makeup water pipe device in conventional practice is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Laid-open No.10-1992-0020155 (entitled 'device for automatically making up heating water of a forced hot water circulation boiler having closed expansion tank').

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a makeup water supply valve of a boiler that is capable of making up makeup water by connecting a heating water pipe and a direct water pipe to each other through simple manipulation upon the supply of the makeup water, capable of automatically forming an air gap in the interior thereof if the supply of the makeup water is finished, thereby allowing the heating water pipe and the direct water pipe to be completely separated from each other, and capable of opening a drain operating valve through simple manipulation if it is necessary to discharge heating water to the outside.

[Technical Solution]

To accomplish the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a makeup water supply valve of a boiler, including: a body having a direct water inlet, a makeup water supply port, an opening and closing port formed on a given position of a flow path connecting the direct water inlet and the makeup water supply port to each other at the inside thereof, and a discharge hole formed on one side thereof in such a manner as to communicate with the external air; a flow path opening and closing valve disposed inside the body to selectively open and close the opening and closing port; an air gap forming member coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve to selectively open and close the discharge hole of the body and having communication flow paths formed at the inside thereof; check valves disposed on the flow path between the direct water inlet and the makeup water supply port; and an operating knob coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve to move the flow path opening and closing valve forward or backward, wherein if the flow path opening and closing valve opens the opening and closing port, the air gap forming member blocks the discharge hole of the body, and if the flow path opening and closing valve closes the opening and closing port, the air gap forming member opens the discharge hole of the body.

According to the present invention, desirably, the air gap forming member includes a pair of O-rings spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to open or close the discharge hole of the body.

According to the present invention, desirably, the makeup water supply valve further includes a spring adapted to pressurize the flow path opening and closing valve in such a manner as to allow the opening and closing port to be closed by the flow path opening and closing valve, so that if an external force is removed from the operating knob after the rotation of the operating knob, the operating knob is returned to the original position thereof by means of the force of the spring pressurizing the flow path opening and closing valve.

According to the present invention, desirably, the flow path opening and closing valve is disposed to close the opening and closing port in a direction of the introduction of water.

According to the present invention, desirably, the flow path opening and closing valve is disposed to close the opening and closing port in an opposite direction to a direction of the introduction of water.

According to the present invention, desirably, the makeup water supply valve further includes a heating water drain connected to the internal space of the makeup water supply port to discharge heating water to the outside, and the heating water drain includes: a drain port having a space portion open to the outside to discharge the heating water to the outside; a drain outlet connecting the internal space of the makeup water supply port of the body to the space portion open to the outside of the drain port; and a drain operating valve movably disposed in the internal space thereof and having a sealing packing member adapted to close the drain outlet.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to the present invention, the makeup water supply valve of the boiler can make up the makeup water to the heating water pipe just through the rotation of the operating knob and can automatically form the air gap in the interior thereof when the supply of the makeup water is finished, so that the heating water pipe is completely separated from the direct water pipe in ordinary time, and accordingly, even if the heating water leaks or flows backward from the heating water pipe, the back-flowing heating water cannot be introduced into the direct water pipe.

According to the present invention, further, the makeup water supply valve of the boiler can have the drain port formed integrally therewith so that the heating water is discharged to the outside easily and simply when the boiler is repaired or exchanged.

[Description of Drawings] FIG.l is a perspective view showing an appearance of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening and closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a flow path opening and closing valve and an air gap shutter in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.5a and 5b are perspective views showing a state wherein an operating knob and a support body are disassembled in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a concept view showing the coupled relation between a body and an operating knob in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening and closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.10 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening and closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.ll is a perspective view showing an appearance of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.12 is a sectional view showing a state wherein a drain operating valve is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.13 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the drain operating valve is open in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.14 is a circuit diagram showing a general heating boiler in a conventional practice.

[Mode for Invention]

Hereinafter, an explanation on a configuration of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing. FIG.l is a perspective view showing an appearance of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.3 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening/closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a flow path opening and closing valve and an air gap shutter in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.5a and 5b are perspective views showing a state wherein an operating knob and a support body are disassembled in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS.l to 5b, a makeup water supply valve of a boiler according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10 having a direct water inlet 11, an outlet 13 and a makeup water supply port 12 formed thereon, a flow path opening and closing valve 30 disposed inside the body 10 to selectively open and close an opening and closing port 16, an air gap shutter 50 for forming an air gap, a first check valve 60, a second check valve 65, and an operating knob 40 for operating the flow path opening and closing valve 30.

The body 10 has a pipe structure in which the interior is empty and includes the direct water inlet 11 formed on one side thereof in such a manner as to be connected to a direct water pipe (not shown), the makeup water supply port 12 formed on the other side thereof in such a manner as to be connected to a heating water pipe (not shown), and the outlet 13 formed between the direct water inlet 11 and the makeup water supply port 12 to discharge the makeup water to the outside. The outlet 13 has an air-exposed hole 14 formed on one side thereof, and the body 10 has a discharge hole 15 formed above the outlet 13 to allow the outlet 13 to communicate with the internal space of the body 10. Further, the body 10 has the opening and closing port 16 formed therein to selectively admit and block the supply of direct water, and the opening and closing port 16 is open or closed by means of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 as will be discussed later. Furthermore, the body 10 includes a disc support 17 disposed on one side of the interior thereof to allow the makeup water pass through and to mount the check valve thereon, and the disc support 17 has an insertion hole 18 along which an extension shaft of a disc slides and a communication hole 19 formed to allow the makeup water to pass through. A support body 20 is coupled to the left side end portion of the body 10 to maintain the airtight state of the body 10 and to support the flow path opening and closing valve 30 thereagainst. The support body 20 has a penetrated structure through the center thereof in such a manner as to allow the flow path opening and closing valve 30 to be fitted to the internal periphery thereof and includes an O-ring 22 disposed on the outer periphery thereof to maintain the airtight state of the body 10. Further, the support body 20 has a slant sliding portion 25 formed on the left side end portion thereof in such a manner as to be gradually increased in height along the circumference thereof.

The flow path opening and closing valve 30 is adapted to open and close the opening and closing port 16 of the body 10 and is disposed to move slidably inside the support body 20 in such a manner as to be coupled to the operating knob 40 at the rear end thereof. The flow path opening and closing valve 30 has an O-ring 31 disposed on the outer periphery thereof to perform the airtight state with respect to the support body 20. Further, the flow path opening and closing valve 30 has an expansion portion 33 formed on the front end thereof in such a manner as to be increased in diameter and a blocking surface 34 having a shape of a tapered cone formed on the front surface of the expansion portion 33. An O-ring 35 is disposed on the blocking surface 34 so that the airtight state can be maintained when the flow path opening and closing valve 30 comes into close contact with the opening and closing port 16. Further, a spring 39 is provided between the expansion portion 33 of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 and the support body 20, so that the flow path opening and closing valve 30 can be always pressurized toward the opening and closing port 16.

The operating knob 40 is coupled to one end of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 by means of a fixing piece 42 and has a circumferentially slant sliding portion 45 formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof. The sliding portion 45 of the operating knob 40 performs a sliding operation with the sliding portion 25 of the support body 20 to convert the rotational force applied to the operating knob 40 into a linear motion. In the state where no external force is applied, the sliding portion 45 of the operating knob 40 moves down along the sliding portion 25 of the support body 20 by means of the force of the spring 39 so that the operating knob 40 comes into close contact with the body 10 and the flow path opening and closing valve 30 closes the opening and closing port 16. Contrarily, if the external force is applied to rotate the operating knob 40, the sliding portion 45 of the operating knob 40 moves up along the sliding portion 25 of the support body 20 so that the operating knob 40 becomes away from the body 10 and the flow path opening and closing valve 30 opens the opening and closing port 16.

The air gap shutter 50 is adapted to selectively open and close the discharge hole 15 of the body 10 to form the air gap and is connected integrally to the expansion portion 33 of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 by means of a shutter connection portion 37. The air gap shutter 50 has a cylindrical structure having a circumferential surface corresponding to the shape of the internal space of the body 10 and communication flow paths 55 formed at the inside from the circumferential surface thereof to supply the makeup water. A pair of O-rings 52 and 53 is spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface of the air gap shutter 50 in such a manner as to come into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the body 10. Accordingly, the makeup water introduced into the body 10 cannot move to the circumferential surface of the air gap shutter 50, but the makeup water passes through the air gap shutter 50 and moves to the opposite side to the air gap shutter 50 by means of only the communication flow paths 55 of the air gap shutter 50. The pair of O-rings 52 and 53 is formed to have an appropriate distance capable of blocking both sides of the discharge hole 15 of the body 10 when the flow path opening and closing valve 30 opens the opening and closing port 16.

The first check valve 60 and the second check valve 65 are disposed on the right side of the air gap shutter 50. The first check valve 60 includes a first seat 61, a first disc 62 coming into close contact with the first seat 61 to block a flow path and a spring 63 for elastically supporting the first disc 62. The second check valve 65 includes a second seat 66, a second disc 67 coming into close contact with the second seat 66 to block a flow path and a spring 68 for pressurizing the second disc 67 toward the second seat 66. The second disc 67 and the spring 68 of the second check valve 65 are supported against the insertion hole 18 of the disc support 17.

Now, an operation of the makeup water supply valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The supply of the makeup water will be first explained. If the operating knob 40 rotates, the sliding portion 45 of the operating knob 40 moves up along the sliding portion 25 of the support body 20, so that the operating knob 4 0 moves to the left side of FIG. 2. At this time, the flow path opening and closing valve 30 connected to the operating knob 40 pulls to the left side to open the opening and closing port 16, and the air gap shutter 50 connected to the right side end portion of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 by means of the shutter connection portion 37 moves to the left side, together with the flow path opening and closing valve 30, so that the pair of O-rings 52 and 53 of the air gap shutter 50 is located at both sides of the discharge hole 15 of the body 10 to block the discharge hole 15 from the internal space of the body 10.

In the state where the opening and closing port 16 is open, the direct water introduced into the body 10 through the direct water inlet 11 passes through the opening and closing port 16, the communication flow paths 55 of the air gap shutter 50, the first check valve 60, the second check valve 65, and the makeup water supply port 12, sequentially, and is then supplied to the heating water pipe (not shown).

If the external force applied to the operating knob 40 is removed after the supply of the makeup water to the heating water pipe has been finished, the flow path opening and closing valve 30 moves to the right side by means of the force of the spring 39 to close the opening and closing port 16, and the operating knob 40 coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve 30 rotates and moves to the right side. Also, the air gap shutter 50 moves to the right side, together with the flow path opening and closing valve 30, and accordingly, the pair of O-rings 52 and 53 is deviated from the discharge hole 15, so that the discharge hole 15 communicates with the internal space of the body 10. As the opening and closing port 16 is closed by means of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 to prevent water to flow, the first check valve 60 and the second check valve 65 become closed. At this time, the internal space of the body 10 between the first check valve 60 and the opening and closing port 16 communicates with the external air through the discharge hole 15 and the air-exposed hole 14, so that an air gap is formed between the first check valve 60 and the opening and closing port 16. That is, if the operating knob 40 is free from a user's hand, it is automatically returned to its original position by means of the force of the spring 39, so that the opening and closing port 16 is closed and the air gap is formed in the internal space of the makeup water supply valve.

If heating water flows backward from the heating water pipe, the backflow of the heating water is first prevented by the first check valve 60 and the second check valve 65, and even if the first check valve 60 and the second check valve 65 are damaged or fail to cause the heating water to flow backward therethrough, the flow path opening and closing valve 30 closes the opening and closing port 16 and further the air gap is formed on the right side of the opening and closing port 16, so that the heating water flowing backward through the first check valve 60 is discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 15. Accordingly, the heating water is not introduced into the direct water inlet 11 through the opening and closing port 16.

In the state wherein the O-rings 52 and 53 of the air gap shutter 50 block both sides of the discharge hole 15, the air gap becomes not formed in the internal space of the makeup water supply valve, and contrarily, when the O-rings 52 and 53 of the air gap shutter 50 are deviated from the discharge hole 15 to cause the discharge hole 15 to communicate with the internal space of the body 10, the air gap becomes formed in the internal space of the makeup water supply valve.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, even in case where a direct water valve (not shown) is open to make a strong pressure of the direct water inside, the blocking surface 34 of the flow path opening and closing valve 30 in the interior of the body 10 pushes the opening and closing port 16 to the right side of FIG. 3, so that even if the pressure of the direct water is strong, the opening and closing port 16 does not open at all. Accordingly, even if the direct water valve is erroneously open, the direct water introduced into the body 10 is not discharged at all through the discharge hole 15 to the outside.

Hereinafter, an explanation on a configuration of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG.7 is a concept view showing the coupled relation between a body and an operating knob in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.8 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening and closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS.6 to 8, a makeup water supply valve of a boiler according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a body 110 having a direct water inlet 111 and a makeup water supply port 112 formed thereon and a flow path opening and closing valve 130, an air gap shutter 150, and a check valve 160 disposed inside the body 110.

The body 110 includes the direct water inlet 111 connected to a direct water pipe to receive direct water, the makeup water supply port 112 formed to supply makeup water to a heating water pipe, and an opening and closing port 116 formed therein to selectively block the movement of the direct water introduced thereinto. Also, the direct water inlet 111 and the makeup water supply port 112 communicate with each other through the interior of the body 110. The opening and closing port 116 has a surface slant to the right side. An outlet 113 is formed at a given position of the body 110 to discharge the makeup water to the outside if necessary. The outlet 113 has an air-exposed hole 114 formed on one side thereof, and the body 110 has a discharge hole 115 formed above the outlet 113 to allow the internal space of the outlet 113 to communicate with the internal space of the body 110. The outlet 113 is closed by means of a stopper if necessary. Further, the body 110 includes a disc support 117 disposed on one side of the interior thereof to mount the check valve 160 and at the same time to allow the makeup water to pass through, and the disc support 117 has an insertion hole 118 into and from which a disc 162 goes and comes and a communication hole 119 formed to communicate with the makeup water. The body 110 further includes a locking protrusion 109 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left side end portion thereof to perform the forward and backward movements of the operating knob 140 as will be discussed later.

The flow path opening and closing valve 130 is disposed on one end of the body 110 and includes an expansion portion 133 having a blocking surface 134 adapted to open and close the opening and closing port 116 of the body 110. The left side end portion of the flow path opening and closing valve 130 is coupled to the operating knob 140 as will be discussed later, and the right side of the expansion portion 133 is connected to the air gap shutter 150 adapted to selectively open and close the discharge hole 115 of the body 110. The blocking surface 134 and the air gap shutter 150 are located at the right side of the opening and closing port 116 with respect to the opening and closing port 116 of the body 110.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment of the present invention, the air gap shutter 150 has a pair of 0-rings 152 and 153 spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface thereof and communication flow paths 155 formed at the inside of the circumferential surface thereof. Further, a spring 139 is provided at the right side of the air gap shutter 150, and the right side end portion of the spring 139 comes into close contact with a seat 161 of the check valve 160, while the left side end portion of the spring 139 is coming into close contact with the air gap shutter 150, so that the air gap shutter 150 and the flow path opening and closing valve 130 become pressurized toward the left side by means of the spring 139.

The operating knob 140 is fixedly coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve 130 and has a spiral protrusion 142 formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to be locked onto the locking protrusion 109 of the body 110 to move up along the locking protrusion 109. The operating knob 140 is configured to surround the outer periphery of the locking protrusion 109 of the body 110 and to lock the spiral protrusion 142 onto the locking protrusion 109, so that it is not deviated from the body 110.

The check valve 160 includes the seat 161, the disc 162 and a spring 163 for elastically supporting the disc 162, and while the extension shaft of the disc 162 is being inserted into the insertion hole 118 of the disc support 117 in the interior of the body 110, the disc 162 is supported by the spring 163 and the seat 161 is fixed to the body 110 at the left side of the disc 162.

Now, an operation of the makeup water supply valve according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

If a user rotate the operating knob 140 against the force of the spring 139, the operating knob 140 rotates to allow the spiral protrusion 143 to move up along the locking protrusion 109, so that the operating knob 140 moves to the right side. At this time, the flow path opening and closing valve 130 connected to the operating knob 140 moves to the right side to permit the blocking surface 134 of the expansion portion 133 to become away from the opening and closing port 116, so that the opening and closing port 116 becomes open.

When the flow path opening and closing valve 130 moves to the right side, the air gap shutter 150 connected to the flow path opening and closing valve 130 moves to the right side, so that the pair of O-rings 152 and 153 is located at both sides of the discharge hole 115 of the body 110 to block the discharge hole 115 from the internal space of the body 110. Accordingly, the discharge hole 115 becomes completely blocked from the internal space of the body 110 by means of the circumferential surface of the air gap shutter 150 and the O-rings 152 and 153.

In the state where the opening and closing port 116 is open, the direct water introduced through the direct water inlet 111 passes through the opening and closing port 116 and the communication flow paths 155 of the air gap shutter 150 and pushes the disc 162 of the check valve 160 to the right side. Next, the direct water passes through the communication hole 119 of the disc support 117 and is supplied to the makeup water supply port 112 and finally to the heating water pipe .

If the external force applied to the operating knob 140 is removed after the supply of the makeup water to the heating water pipe has been finished, the operating knob 140 rotates by means of the force of the spring 139 applied to pressurize the air gap shutter 150 to allow the air gap shutter 150, the flow path opening and closing valve 130 and the operating knob 140 to move to the left side. At this time, the blocking surface 134 of the flow path opening and closing valve 130, along which the O-ring 135 is disposed, closes the slant surface of the opening and closing port 116 to permit the flow path along which the makeup water moves to be blocked. When the flow path opening and closing valve 130 moves to the left side, the air gap shutter 150 also moves to the left side to permit the pair of O-rings 152 and 153 to move to the left side of the discharge hole 115, so that the discharge hole 115 communicates with the internal space at the right side of the opening and closing port 116 of the body 110. As the discharge hole 115 communicates with the internal space at the right side of the opening and closing port 116 of the body 110, an air gap is formed at the right side of the opening and closing port 116. Accordingly, even if heating water flows backward from the heating water pipe and passes through the check valve 160, the heating water flowing backward through the check valve 160 is discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 115, so that the heating water is not introduced into the direct water inlet 111 through the opening and closing port 116.

Hereinafter, an explanation on a configuration of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state wherein an opening and closing port is open in a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.10 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the opening and closing port is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a makeup water supply valve of a boiler according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a body 210 having a direct water inlet 211 and a makeup water supply port 212 formed thereon and a flow path opening and closing valve 230, an air gap shutter 250, and a check valve 260 disposed inside the body 210.

The body 210 includes the direct water inlet 211 connected to a direct water pipe to receive direct water, the makeup water supply port 212 formed to supply makeup water to a heating water pipe, and an opening and closing port 216 formed therein to selectively block the movement of the direct water introduced thereinto. Also, the direct water inlet 211 and the makeup water supply port 212 communicate with each other in the interior of the body 210. The opening and closing port 216 has a surface slant to the right side. An outlet 213 is formed at a given position of the body 210 to discharge the makeup water to the outside if necessary. The outlet 213 has an air-exposed hole 214 formed on one side thereof, and the body 210 has a discharge hole 215 formed above the outlet 213 to allow the internal space of the outlet 213 to communicate with the internal space of the body 210. Further, the body 210 includes a disc support 217 disposed on one side of the interior thereof to mount the check valve 2 60 and at the same time to communicate with makeup water, and the disc support 217 has an insertion hole 218 into and from which a disc 262 goes and comes and a communication hole 219 formed to communicate with the makeup water .

Further, a support body 220 is coupled to one end of the body 210 to support the flow path opening and closing valve 230 and at the same time to maintain the airtight state on one end thereof. The support body 20 has a structure passing through the interior thereof in such a manner as to allow the flow path opening and closing valve 230 to move slidably therealong. The support body 220 includes a locking protrusion 225 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left side end portion thereof to perform the forward and backward movements of an operating knob 240 as will be discussed later.

The flow path opening and closing valve 230 is fitted to the support body 220 of the body 210 and includes an expansion portion 233 having a blocking surface 234 formed on the right side end portion thereof to open and close the opening and closing port 216 of the body 210 and an O-ring 235 disposed along the blocking surface 234. The left side end portion of the flow path opening and closing valve 230 is coupled to the operating knob 240 as will be discussed later, and the left side of the expansion portion 233 is connected to the air gap shutter 250 adapted to selectively open and close the discharge hole 215 of the body 210. With respect to the opening and closing port 216 of the body 210, the blocking surface 234 is located at the right side of the opening and closing port 216 and the air gap shutter 250 is at the left side of the opening and closing port 216.

In the same manner as in the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the air gap shutter 250 has a pair of O-rings 252 and 253 spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface thereof and communication flow paths 255 formed at the inside of the circumferential surface thereof. Further, a spring 239 is provided at the right side of the expansion portion 233 of the flow path opening and closing valve 230 in the interior of the body 210, and the right side end portion of the spring 239 comes into close contact with a seat 261 of the check valve 260, while the left side end portion of the spring 239 is coming into close contact with the expansion portion 233 of the flow path opening and closing valve 230, so that the spring 239 pressurizes the flow path opening and closing valve 230 toward the left side.

The operating knob 240 is fixedly coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve 230 and has a spiral protrusion 245 formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to be locked onto the locking protrusion 225 of the support body 220 as mentioned above to move up along the locking protrusion 225. The operating knob 240 is configured to surround the outer periphery of the locking protrusion 225 of the support body 220 and to lock the spiral protrusion 245 onto the locking protrusion 225 so that it is not deviated from the support body 220. According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the structure between the spiral protrusion 245 of the operating knob 240 and the locking protrusion 225 of the support body 220 is almost similar to that between the spiral protrusion 142 of the operating knob 140 and the locking protrusion 109 of the body 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The check valve 260 includes the seat 261, the disc 262 and a spring 263 for elastically supporting the disc 262. While the guide shaft of the disc 262 is being inserted into the insertion hole 218 of the disc support 217 in the interior of the body 210, the disc 262 is supported by the spring 263, and the seat 261 is fixed to the body 210 at the left side of the disc 262.

Now, an operation of the makeup water supply valve according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

If a user rotate the operating knob 240 against the force of the spring 239, the operating knob 240 rotates to allow the spiral protrusion 245 to move up along the locking protrusion 225 of the support body 220, so that the operating knob 240 moves to the right side. At this time, the flow path opening and closing valve 230 connected to the operating knob 240 moves to the right side to permit the blocking surface 234 of the expansion portion 233 to become away from the opening and closing port 216, so that the opening and closing port 216 becomes open.

When the flow path opening and closing valve 230 moves to the right side, the air gap shutter 250 connected to the flow path opening and closing valve 230 also moves to the right side, so that the pair of O-rings 252 and 253 of the air gap shutter 250 closes the discharge hole 215 at both sides of the discharge hole 215 of the body 210. Accordingly, the discharge hole 215 becomes completely blocked from the internal space of the body 210 by means of the circumferential surface of the air gap shutter 250 and the 0-rings 252 and 253.

In the state where the opening and closing port 216 is open, the direct water introduced through the direct water inlet 211 passes through the communication flow paths 255 of the air gap shutter 250, moves to the opening and closing port 216, passes through the opening and closing port 216, pushes the disc 262 of the check valve 260 to the right side to ensure a flow path, and passes through the check valve 260. Next, the direct water passes through the communication hole 219 of the disc support 217 and is supplied to the makeup water supply port 212 and finally to the heating water pipe.

If the external force applied to the operating knob 240 is removed after the supply of the makeup water to the heating water pipe has been finished, the operating knob 240 pushes to the left side by means of the force of the spring 239 applied to pressurize the air gap shutter 250, and the flow path opening and closing valve 230 moves to the left side. At this time, the blocking surface 234 of the flow path opening and closing valve 230, along which the 0-ring 235 is disposed, closes the slant surface of the opening and closing port 216 to make the flow path along which the direct water moves be blocked. When the flow path opening and closing valve 230 moves to the left side, the air gap shutter 250 also moves to the left side to permit the pair of O-rings 252 and 253 to move to the left side of the discharge hole 215, so that the discharge hole 215 communicates with the internal space at the left side of the opening and closing port 216 of the body 210. As the discharge hole 215 communicates with the internal space at the left side of the opening and closing port 216 of the body 210, an air gap is formed at the left side of the opening and closing port 216. Accordingly, even if heating water flows backward from the heating water pipe after passing through the check valve 260, the opening and closing port 216 and the flow path opening and closing valve 230, the heating water flowing backward through the opening and closing portion 216 is discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 215, so that the heating water is not introduced into the direct water pipe.

According to the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the makeup water supply valve further has operating knob fixing means (not shown) disposed between the operating knob and the body to maintain the rotation state of the operating knob in the process where the operating knob rotates to supply the makeup water. For example, the operating knob fixing means has a structure wherein holes are formed on the operating knob and the body and pins are coupled to the holes to fix the operating knob to the body.

The bodies used in the makeup water supply valves according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention have a structure wherein two parts are coupled to each other so as to easily install their internal parts in interior. FIG.11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG.12 is a sectional view showing a state wherein a drain operating valve is closed in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.13 is a sectional view showing a state wherein the drain operating valve is open in the makeup water supply valve of a boiler having air gap forming means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS.11 to 13, a makeup water supply valve of a boiler according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a body 310 having a direct water inlet 311, an outlet 313 and a makeup water supply port 312 formed thereon, a flow path opening and closing valve 330 disposed inside the body 310 to selectively open and close an opening and closing port 316, an air gap shutter 350 for forming an air gap, a first check valve 360, a second check valve 365, and an operating knob 340 for operating the flow path opening and closing valve 330.

The body 310 has a pipe structure in which the interior is empty and includes the direct water inlet 311 formed on one side thereof in such a manner as to be connected to a direct water pipe (not shown), the makeup water supply port 312 formed on the other side thereof in such a manner as to be connected to a heating water pipe (not shown) , and the outlet 313 formed between the direct water inlet 311 and the makeup water supply port 312 to discharge the makeup water to the outside. The outlet 313 has an air-exposed hole 314 formed on one side thereof, and the body has a discharge hole 315 formed above the outlet 313 to allow the outlet 313 to communicate with the internal space of the body 310. Further, the body 310 has the opening and closing port 316 formed therein to selectively admit and block the supply of direct water, and the opening and closing port 316 is open or closed by means of the flow path opening and closing valve 330 as will be discussed later. Furthermore, the body 310 includes a disc support 317 disposed on one side of the interior thereof to communicate with the makeup water and to mount the check valve thereon, and the disc support 317 has an insertion hole 318 along which an extension shaft of a disc slides and a communication hole 319 formed to communicate with the makeup water . A support body 320 is coupled to the left side end portion of the body 310 to maintain the airtight state of the body 310 and to support the flow path opening and closing valve 330. The support body 320 has a structure passing through the center thereof in such a manner as to allow the flow path opening and closing valve 330 to be fitted to the internal periphery thereof and includes an O-ring 322 disposed on the outer periphery thereof to maintain the airtight state of the body 310. Further, the support body 320 has a slant sliding portion 325 formed on the left side end portion thereof in such a manner as to be gradually increased in height along the circumference thereof.

The flow path opening and closing valve 330 is adapted to open and close the opening and closing port 316 of the body 310 and is disposed to move slidably inside the support body 32 0 in such a manner as to be coupled to the operating knob 340 at the rear end thereof. The flow path opening and closing valve 330 has an O-ring 331 disposed on the outer periphery thereof to perform the airtight state with respect to the support body 320. Further, the flow path opening and closing valve 330 has an expansion portion 333 formed on the front end thereof in such a manner as to be increased in diameter and a blocking surface 334 having a shape of a tapered cone formed on the front surface of the expansion portion 333. An O-ring 335 is disposed on the blocking surface 334 so that the airtight state can be maintained when the flow path opening and closing valve 330 comes into close contact with the opening and closing port 316. Further, a spring 339 is provided between the expansion portion 333 of the flow path opening and closing valve 330 and the support body 320, so that the flow path opening and closing valve 330 can be always pressurized toward the opening and closing port 316.

The operating knob 340 is coupled to one end of the flow path opening and closing valve 330 by means of a fixing piece 342 and has a circumferentially slant sliding portion 345 formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof. The sliding portion 345 of the operating knob 340 performs a sliding operation with the sliding portion 325 of the support body 320 to convert the rotational force applied to the operating knob 340 into a linear motion. In the state where no external force is applied, the sliding portion 345 of the operating knob 340 moves down along the sliding portion 325 of the support body 320 by means of the force of the spring 339 so that the operating knob 340 comes into close contact with the body 310 and the flow path opening and closing valve 330 closes the opening and closing port 316. Contrarily, if the external force is applied to rotate the operating knob 340, the sliding portion 345 of the operating knob 340 moves up along the sliding portion 325 of the support body 320 so that the operating knob 340 becomes away from the body 310 and the flow path opening and closing valve 330 opens the opening and closing port 316.

The air gap shutter 350 is adapted to selectively open and close the discharge hole 315 of the body 310 to form the air gap and is connected integrally to the expansion portion 333 of the flow path opening and closing valve 330 by means of a shutter connection portion 337. The air gap shutter 350 has a cylindrical structure having a circumferential surface corresponding to the shape of the internal space of the body 310 and communication flow paths 355 formed at the inside from the circumferential surface thereof to supply the makeup water. A pair of 0-rings 352 and 353 is spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface of the air gap shutter 350 in such a manner as to come into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the body 310. Accordingly, the makeup water introduced into the body 310 cannot move to the circumferential surface of the air gap shutter 350, but passes through the air gap shutter 350 and moves to the opposite side to the air gap shutter 350 by means of only the communication flow paths 355 of the air gap shutter 350. The pair of O-rings 352 and 353 of the air gap shutter 350 is formed to have an appropriate distance capable of blocking both sides of the discharge hole 315 of the body 310 when the flow path opening and closing valve 330 opens the opening and closing port 316.

The first check valve 360 and the second check valve 365 are disposed on the right side of the air gap shutter 350. The first check valve 360 includes a first seat 361, a first disc 362 coming into close contact with the first seat 361 to block a flow path and a spring 363 for elastically supporting the first disc 362. The second check valve 365 includes a second seat 366, a second disc 367 coming into close contact with the second seat 366 to block a flow path and a spring 368 for pressurizing the second disc 367 toward the second seat 366. The second disc 367 and the spring 368 of the second check valve 365 are supported against the insertion hole 318 of the disc support 317. A heating water drain 370 is disposed at the right side of the second check valve 365. The heating water drain 370 is adapted to discharge heating water filled in the heating pipe of a heating system to the outside so as to repair or exchange the heating system.

The heating water drain 370 has a space portion formed at the inside thereof and includes a drain port 371 adapted to allow the space portion thereof to communicate with the outside and a drain operating valve connection portion 372 formed at the right side thereof in such a manner as to be screw-coupled to a drain operating valve 380. The drain operating valve connection portion 372 has a female screw 374 formed at a given position of the inner periphery thereof. The space portion of the heating water drain 370 communicates with the space under the makeup water supply port 312 by means of a drain outlet 373.

The drain operating valve 380 has a soft sealing packing member 381 disposed on one end thereof to close the drain outlet 373, a male screw 382 formed on the outer periphery thereof, and an O-ring 383 disposed between the drain operating valve 380 and the drain operating valve connection portion 372 to prevent the leakage therebetween. The drain operating valve 380 further includes a contact portion 384 formed at the right side of the 0-ring 383 in such a manner as to come into contact with a fixing screw 377. Further, the drain operating valve 380 includes a rotary handle 385 having a plurality of projections disposed at the right end thereof.

The fixing screw 377 is coupled to a fixing screw coupling hole 376 formed at an adjacent position to the end portion of the drain operating valve connection portion 372, and the fixing screw coupling hole 376 has a female screw formed at the inner periphery thereof. If the fixing screw 377 is fastened to allow the lower end periphery thereof to come into close contact with the contact portion 384 of the drain operating valve 380, the rotation of the drain operating valve 380 is prevented.

An operation of the makeup water supply valve according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and accordingly, the explanation on the operation will be avoided for the brevity of the description.

Hereinafter, an operation of draining the heating water through the makeup water supply valve according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

Normally, the sealing packing member 381 of the drain operating valve 380 closes the drain outlet 373. Accordingly, the space under the makeup water supply port 312 is blocked from the internal space of the drain port 371.

If there is a need to discharge the heating water to the outside, the rotary handle 385 is turned to move the drain operating valve 380 to the right side. If the drain operating valve 380 moves to the right side, the drain outlet 373 becomes open. At this time, the internal space of the makeup water supply port 312 communicates with the internal space of the drain port 371, and the heating water is introduced through the makeup water supply port 312 connected to the heating pipe, passes through the drain outlet 373, and is then discharged to the outside through the drain port 371.

If there is a need to fill the heating water again in the heating pipe, the drain operating valve 380 moves to close the drain outlet 373, and next, the makeup water is supplied to fill the heating water in the heating pipe.

[industrial Applicabili tyl

The present invention relates to the makeup water supply valve of the boiler having air gap forming means, which is used to fill or make up heating water in the heating pipe.

Claims

[claims] [claim l] A makeup water supply valve of a boiler, comprising: a body having a direct water inlet, a makeup water supply port, an opening and closing port formed on a given position of a flow path connecting the direct water inlet and the makeup water supply port to each other at the inside thereof, and a discharge hole formed on one side thereof in such a manner as to communicate with the external air; a flow path opening and closing valve disposed inside the body to selectively open and close the opening and closing port; an air gap forming member coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve to selectively open and close the discharge hole of the body and having communication flow paths formed at the inside thereof; check valves disposed on the flow path between the direct water inlet and the makeup water supply port; and an operating knob coupled to the flow path opening and closing valve to move the flow path opening and closing valve forward or backward, wherein if the flow path opening and closing valve opens the opening and closing port, the air gap forming member blocks the discharge hole of the body, and if the flow path opening and closing valve closes the opening and closing port, the air gap forming member opens the discharge hole of the body. [claim 2] The makeup water supply valve according to claim 1, wherein the air gap forming member comprises a pair of 0- rings spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to open or close the discharge hole of the body. [claim 3] The makeup water supply valve according to claim 1, further comprising a spring adapted to pressurize the flow path opening and closing valve in such a manner as to allow the opening and closing port to be closed by the flow path opening and closing valve, so that if an external force is removed from the operating knob after the rotation of the operating knob, the operating knob is returned to the original position thereof by means of the force of the spring pressurizing the flow path opening and closing valve. [Claim 4] The makeup water supply valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path opening and closing valve is disposed to close the opening and closing port in a direction of the introduction of water. [claim 5] The makeup water supply valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path opening and closing valve is disposed to close the opening and closing port in an opposite direction to a direction of the introduction of water. [claim 6] The makeup water supply valve according to claim 1, further comprising a heating water drain connected to the internal space of the makeup water supply port to discharge heating water to the outside, the heating water drain comprising: a drain port having a space portion open to the outside to discharge the heating water to the outside; a drain outlet connecting the internal space of the makeup water supply port of the body to the space portion open to the outside of the drain port; and a drain operating valve movably disposed in the internal space thereof and having a sealing packing member adapted to close the drain outlet.