IE904538A1 - Valve assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve assembly includes two mutually opposed valves (10). Each valve (10) comprises a casing (12) in which a through passage (14) is defined. The passages (14) have at contiguous ends internally circumferential valve seats (16) against which respective movable valve elements (18) are biased. The elements (18) are capable of opening each other when held together. A coupling member (42) is provided to hold the valves (10) together. The casing (12) of one of the valves (10) has an extension (44) accommodating a flow regulating control valve (30, 64) at its distal end. The extension (44) has a branch (46) to be connected to a reservoir.

Description

IDS, NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM This invention relates to valve assemblies for use with, for example radiators or other liquid holding containers or reservoirs (hereinafter in the specification and claims simply called reservoirs) integrated or to be integrated into a piped liquid system.

G3 Patent No. 1,359,142 discloses a two part, manually operable radiator valve for use in closing off a water supply to enable a radiator to be removed. The valve has a first portion with a port containing a spring-loaded primary valve member, and a second portion with a port containing a second valve member with an externally accessible adjustment control capable of opening the second and first valve members to allow water to flow through the valve. Essential to the operation of this valve is the requirement that to remove the radiator, the second valve member has first to be manually closed to cut off outflow of water from the radiator and by so doing to allow the primary valve -member to close under its spring-loading to cut off flow of water from the central heating system.

This is disadvantageous particularly if the radiator valve is not manually-operable.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a valve assembly including two mutually opposed valves, each of which comprises a casing in which a through passage is defined, the passages having at contiguous ends internally circumferential valve seats against which respective movable valve elements are biased, the elements being capable of opening each other when together, a coupling member to hold the valves together, and the casing of one of the valves having an extension accommodating a flow regulating control valve at its distal end, the extension having a branch to be connected to a reservoir.

Preferably, the coupling member is a collar which is rotatable and axially fast or substantially so around the casing of the other valve. The casing of the one valve having the control valve preferably has two or more bayonets extending radially therefrom to engage with slots provided in outer end of the collar.

Preferably also, both casings have at contiguous ends on their respective outside faces a peripheral seal gland to engage against the inside surface of the collar. Each seal gland desirably consists of an O-ring seated in a peripheral groove.

Alternatively, the other valve has its contiguous end reduced in diameter to be accommodated in the contiguous end of the one valve, and peripheral seal glands are provided in the outside of the reduced diameter part of the casing of the other valve to engage against the inside surface of the one valve.

Preferably further, the control valve is manuallyoperable .

Alternatively, the control valve is thermostatically controlled.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a valve assembly according to the present invention, the assembly having a manually-operable flow regulating control valve; and Fig. 2 shows a side view in part vertical section of a modified valve assembly having a thermostatically controlled flow regulating control valve.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a valve assembly includes two mutually opposed elongate valves 10 in a lengthwise relationship. Each valve 10 comprises a tubular casing 12 in which a through passage 14 is defined. The passage 14 has at one end, ie. the end to which the second valve 10 is to be connected, an internally circumferential valve seat 16 against which a movable valve element 18 is spring biased.

The valve element 18 is a poppet valve which is conical in shape and of rubber or other suitable synthetic plastics material. The valve element 18 has a spigot device 20 centrally thereof with part of the spigot device 20 projecting outwardly of said one end to extend under the influence of the spring biasing beyond the contiguous end of the casing 12. The biasing is provided by a helical compression spring 22.

In the lower of the two valves (ie. the other valve) as shown in Fig. 1, the spring 22 extends between the rear of the element 18 and an annular retaining plate 24 which is held in position against a collar 26, integral with the casing 12, by a circlip 28. The other end of the spigot 20 extends, as shown, through the hole in the plate 24 when the valve element 18 is out of its seat. The other end of the casing 12 of the lower valve terminates with an external screw thread 32 to allow the valve assembly to be integrated into a piped liquid system.

The casing 12 of the upper or one valve 10 as shown in Fig. 1, is extended to accommodate a flow regulating control valve at its other end. The extension 44 terminates with an internal screw-thread 55 into „which a manually-operable control valve 30 is fitted.

The extension 44 has a branch 46 having an external screw thread 48 to allow the assembly to be connected to a reservoir.

The spring 22 for the upper valve 10 extends between the rear of the valve element 18 and the front of a valve element 34 of the control valve 30. The element 34 can be manually screwed into abutment with a seat 36 provided internally of the respective casing 12. When the control valve 30 is in a closed position, ie. with the element 34 in abutment in the seat 36, the through passage 14 in the respective casing 12 is closed off.

The contiguous ends of the valves 10 are coupled together by a coupling member providing each contiguous end with a seal gland, namely an external groove 38 into which an O-ring 40 is positioned. The coupling member is a collar 42 mounted around the lower valve casing 12.

The collar 42 has an internally extending flange 50 which abuts a peripheral stop 52 on the casing 12 and has a free rotational movement but a restricted axial movement between said stop 52 and abutment against a circlip 54 provided in a peripheral groove on the outside of the casing 12 as shown. The collar 42 holds the two valves 10 together, and is locked by two or more spaced bayonet connections, each L-shaped slot 56 (Fig.2) of which connections engaging with a respective bayonet 58. The bayonets 58 need not necessarily be similarly positioned on the casing 12 of upper valve 10 but may be arranged at different levels as indicated in Fig. 2.

The lower valve 10 and collar 42 serves as a female part of the assembly and the upper valve as the male part of the assembly.

In use, valve assemblies as above described are fitted to pipes of the system and pipes of the reservoir. When the male upper valve 10 is inserted into the collar 42, the bayonets 58 enter the slots 56 and the collar 42 is rotated for the bayonets to enter the lower parts of the slots and be locked therein. The mutually opposed spigot devices 20 hold the valve elements 18 open against their spring biasing. If the reservoir requires to be removed, the collar 42 fastening the valves 10 together is released by rotating it, the male upper valve is lifted away from the female lower valve, thereby causing the valve elements 18 immediately to close under the influence of their respective springs 22 to prevent leakage of liquid therefrom. A cap (not shown) can be provided to be fastened to the one end of the lower valve 10 to protect against accidental downward movement of the spigot device 20 causing liquid leakage.

In the modified valve assembly as shown in Fig. 2, ►the spring 22 of the upper valve 10 is held in position by a screwed-in annular fitment 62 and the extension 44 has a thermostatically controlled flow regulating control valve 64 (shown diagrammatically) fitted into the screw thread 55. The integral collar 26 is replaced in this modified assembly by a circlip 66. The lower valve 10, at its inner end, is reduced in diameter and two peripheral grooves 68 are provided to seat O-rings 70 fitted therein, the groves 68 and O-rings 70 forming seal glands. This arrangement, as can be seen, replaces grooves 38 and O-rings 40 in the assembly of the embodiment. The O-rings 70 bear against the inside wall of the casing 12 of the upper valve 10 as shown.

In a first modification of the assembly or modified assembly, the poppet valve elements 18 have four spines 60 which extend to the full internal diameter of the casing 12 as shown in Fig. 2.

In a further modification of both the assembly and the modified assembly, the valve elements 18 are extended away from the seats and have a co-axial tubular housing for the springs 22 as shown in Fig. 2.

This invention is advantageous in that it allows for ready removal of reservoirs without the hitherto disadvantages. Also in a domestic situation, several pipes for fitment for radiator(s) can be provided whereby the positioning of the radiator(s) can be altered to suit the housewife's requirements in furnishings and decoration. In an industrial situation, the reservoirs may contain other liquids such as milk, beverages or chemicals. Also, for a water system, a water storage tank may constitute the reservoir.

Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as above described.

Claims (10)

1. A valve assembly including two mutually ocpcsed valves, each cf which comprises a casing in which a through passage is defined, the passages having at contiguous ends internally circumferential valve seats against which respective movable valve elements are biased, the elements being capable of opening each other when together, a coupling member tc held the valves together, and the casing of one of the valves having an extension accommodating a flew regulating control valve at its distal end, the extension having a branch to be connected to a reservoir.

2. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a collar which is rotatable and axially fast or substantially so around the casing of the other valve.

3. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the casing of the one valve having the control valve has two or more bayonets extending radially therefrom to engage with slots provided in outer end of the collar.

4. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein both casings have at contiguous ends on their respective outside faces a peripheral seal gland to engage against the inside surface of the collar.

5. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each seal gland consists of an O-ring seated in a peripheral groove.

6. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the other valve has its contiguous end reduced in diameter to be accommodated in the contiguous end of the one valve, and peripheral seal glands are provided in the outside of the reduced diameter part of the casing of the other valve to engage against the inside surface of the one valve.

7. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the control valve is manuallyoperable.

8. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 .to 6, wherein the control valve is thermostatically controlled.

9. A valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described vith reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings . Dated this 17th day of December 1990 Dermot P Cummins & Co By: 7....,^. .................... 41 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 Agent for the applicant WILLIAM ALEXANDER ERWIN