AU2012100486A4

AU2012100486A4 - Fluid Flow Control Device

Info

Publication number: AU2012100486A4
Application number: AU2012100486A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter John Morris; Garry Rodney White
Original assignee: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-08
Filing date: 2012-04-27
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-08
Also published as: AU2012100486B4

Abstract

Abstract A fluid flow control device comprising: a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, first valve means and second valve means provided in the body, the first valve means having an open condition and a closed condition, and the first valve means having at least one valve seat, the second valve means to allow flow of fluid therethrough in one direction only, the body comprising at least two body parts and the two body parts, of the body, are detachably connected, and the second valve means and a valve seat of the first valve means are positioned in the same body part, wherein, in use, when said first valve means is in said open condition, fluid is able to flow through said fluid flow control device, and when said first valve means is in said closed condition, fluid is unable to flow through said fluid flow control device.

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): Peter John Morris Garry Rodney White Divisional of: 2007100374 Address for service is: Golja Haines & Friend PO Box 1417 West Leederville Western Australia 6901 Invention Title: Fluid Flow Control Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1 Title "Fluid Flow Control Device" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid flow control device. 5 The fluid flow control device of the present invention may, for example, be used to control flow of fluid in pipelines. Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not 10 the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid flow control device comprising: a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, 15 first valve means and second valve means provided in the body, the first valve means having an open condition and a closed condition, and the first valve means having at least one valve seat, the second valve means to allow flow of fluid therethrough in one direction only, the body comprising at least two body parts and the two body parts, of the body, 20 are detachably connected, and the second valve means and a valve seat of the first valve means are provided in the same body part, wherein, in use, when said first valve means is in said open condition, fluid is able to flow through said fluid flow control device, and when said first valve means is in 25 said closed condition, fluid is unable to flow through said fluid flow control device. 2 The said second valve means is accessible only after the two body parts, of the body, are detached. The said second valve means is removable from its body part only after the two body parts, of the body, are detached. 5 Preferably, said first valve means has a second valve seat, and the second valve seat is provided in the other body part. Preferably, the second valve means is retained in said same body part such that it is substantially wholly contained within said same body part. Preferably, said first valve means and said second valve means are serially 10 aligned. Preferably, said second valve means is located closer to said first valve means than to said fluid inlet or said fluid outlet. Said first valve means may be located upstream of said second valve means. Alternatively, said first valve means may be located downstream of said second 15 valve means. Said first valve means may be located between said fluid inlet and said second valve means. Alternatively, said first valve means may be located between said second valve means and said fluid outlet. 20 Said second valve means may be located between said first valve means and said fluid outlet. Alternatively, said second valve means may be located between said fluid inlet and said first valve means. Preferably, said first valve means comprises a ball valve. 25 Preferably, said second valve means comprises a check valve. Preferably, the fluid flow path through said body from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet is substantially straight, without deviation. 3 Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid flow control device 5 in accordance with the present invention, with the ball valve in its open condition; Figure 2 is a second cross sectional view of the fluid flow control device, shown in Figure 1, with the ball valve in its closed condition; Figure 3 is a third cross sectional view, in exploded form, of the fluid flow control device shown in Figure 1; 10 Figure 4 is an underside elevation view of the fluid flow control device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the fluid flow control device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a perspective view, in exploded form, of the fluid flow control device 15 shown in Figure 1. Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a fluid flow control device 1 that comprises a body 2, a fluid inlet 3, a fluid outlet 4, a first valve 5, and a second valve 6. The body 2 is provided with the fluid inlet 3 and the fluid outlet 4. The fluid inlet 3 and 20 the fluid outlet 4 are provided at respective ends of the body 2. The first valve 5 and the second valve 6 are provided in the body 2. This arrangement can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The body 2 comprises a body part 2a and another body part 2b. The parts 2a and 2b of the body 2 are shown by the use of different directional hatching for those 25 components in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Forward slash hatching is used for the body part 2a whilst backward slash hatching is used for the body part 2b. The part 2a of the body 2 is provided with the fluid inlet 3 and the part 2b of the body 2 is provided with the fluid outlet 4. 4 The first valve 5 may be a ball valve and comprises a ball 7 and valve seats 8a and 8b. The first valve 5 further comprises a stem 9 that extends from the ball 7 at one end thereof. A handle 10 is attached to the other end of the stem 9 by way of a screw 11. O-ring seals 12 and 13 are provided along the stem 9 to seal with the 5 inner surface of a portion 14 of the body 2. The first and second valves 5 and 6 are aligned in sequence, i.e. serially aligned. The first valve 5 is located between the fluid inlet 3 and the second valve 6. The second valve 6 is located between the first valve 5 and the fluid outlet 4. The first valve 5 is located upstream of the second valve 6. 10 Alternatively, the first valve 5 may be located downstream of the second valve 6. In this alternative, the first valve 5 is located between the second valve 6 and the fluid outlet 4, and the second valve 6 is located between the fluid inlet 3 and the first valve 5. The ball valve seats 8a and 8b are positioned in respective recesses 15 and 16 of 15 the body 2. The valve seat 8a and the recess 15 are provided in the first part 2a of the body 2. The valve seat 8b and the recess 16 are provided in the part 2b of the body 2. The valve seats 8a and 8b are circular in form. The second valve 6 comprises a valve head 17 and a valve seat 18. A stem 19 extends from the valve head 17 in the direction toward the fluid outlet 4. The 20 second valve 6 further comprises a stop member 20 spaced from the valve head 17. The stop member 20 is in a fixed position relative to the body 2. The stem 19 extends through an aperture in the stop member 20. A spring 21 is mounted on the stem 19 between the valve head 17 and the stop member 20. The spring 21 biases the valve head 17 against the valve seat 18. A clip 22 retains the second 25 valve 6 and the valve seat 18 in a fixed position relative to the body 2. The second valve 6 is located proximate the first valve 5 and spaced from the fluid inlet 3 and the fluid outlet 4. The second valve 6 is located closer to the first valve 5 than to the fluid inlet 3 or the fluid outlet 4.The body 2 is provided with a respective nut 23 adjacent to the fluid inlet 3 (on the part 2a) and adjacent to the 30 fluid outlet 4 (on the part 2b). Each nut 23 is attached to a respective end of the body 2 via a screw thread 24a on the external surface of the body 2, adjacent the 5 fluid inlet 3 and the fluid outlet 4, and a screw thread 24b on the internal surface of each respective nut 23. The screw threads 24a and 24b engage to create a screw threaded engagement. An olive collar 25 is provided adjacent each end of the body 2 and covered by a respective nut 23. 5 The part 2b of the body 2 is provided with an internal circumferential flange 26. Shoulders 28 of the second valve 6 abut against the internal circumferential flange 26. The shoulders 28 are connected with the stop member 20. In this way, the second valve 6 is positioned between the clip 22 and the internal circumferential flange 26, in the body part 2b. Accordingly, the second valve 6 is 10 wholly, or substantially wholly, contained within the body part 2b. This is best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The clip 22 is itself located in an internal circumferential groove 30 in the part 2b of the body 2. The second valve 6 is provided with an O-ring 31 near its end that is opposed to the end having the stop member 20. The O-ring 31 forms a seal against the 15 internal surface of the part 2b of the body 2. The parts 2a and 2b of the body 2 are connected together. The connection is by way of a screw threaded engagement 32 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The screw threaded engagement 32 is formed by an internal screw thread 34 on body part 2a and an external screw thread 36 on the body part 2b. The screw threaded 20 engagement 32 means that the body parts 2a and 2b can be detached, i.e. disconnected, from each other by undoing the screw threaded engagement 32. The ball 7 is provided with a bore 38 therethrough. The body 2 is provided with a bore 40 therethrough. The bore 40 extends between the fluid inlet 3 to the fluid outlet 4. 25 The ball 7 and the second valve 6 are located in the bore 40. The handle 10 can be used to turn the ball 7 within the bore 40. The fluid flow control device 1 can be assembled by inserting the ball valve seat 8a, via the opening 42, into the recess 15 of the part 2a of the body 2. The opening 42 is at the end of the body part 2a opposed to the end at which the fluid 30 inlet 3 is located. The stem 9 is connected to the ball 7 and the handle 10 is then 6 attached to the other end of the stem 9 by way of the screw 11. The O-ring seals 12 and 13 are provided along the stem 9, as previously hereinbefore described. The second valve 6 is inserted into the part 2b of the body 2 via the opening 44 of the body part 2b, such that it is provided in the part 2b, as can be best seen in 5 Figures 1 and 2. The opening 44 is located at the end of the body part 2b that is opposed to the end at which the fluid outlet 4 is located. The second valve 6 is inserted into the body part 2b until the shoulder 28 abuts with the internal circumferential flange 26. The clip 22 is then inserted through the opening 44 until it is received in the internal circumferential groove 30. The second valve 6 is then 10 retained between the internal circumferential flange 26 and the clip 22. The circumferential groove 30 is provided proximate the opening 44 such that the second valve 6 is provided closer to the opening 44 (and the first valve 5) than it is to the fluid outlet 4 (or the fluid inlet 3). The ball valve seat 8b is then positioned in the recess 16 in the part 2b of the 15 body 2. The parts 2a and 2b of the body 2 are then joined together by aligning the opening 38 of the body part 2a and the opening 40 of the body part 2b and connecting them together by way of the screw threaded engagement 32 previously hereinbefore described. The olive collars 25 are then positioned adjacent each end of the body 2 at the fluid inlet 3 and the fluid outlet 4, 20 respectively, and then covered by a respective nut 23. Thus, the ball valve seat 8b is positioned in the body part 2b and the ball valve seat 8a is positioned in the other body part 2a, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The first and second valves 5 and 6 are separate components of the fluid flow control device 1, i.e. they are distinct and individual components. They are 25 spaced apart, although located in proximity to one another, in the body 2. The first and second valves 5 and 6 are axially, or longitudinally, spaced apart in the body 2. This is best seen in Figures 1 and 2. When access is required to the second valve 6, the parts 2a and 2b of the body 2 can be disconnected by undoing the screw threaded engagement 32. Once the 30 body parts 2a and 2b are disconnected, the clip 22 can be disengaged from the internal circumferential groove 30 such that the second valve 6 can be extracted through the opening 44 of the body part 2b and thereby removed from the body 7 part 2b. The second valve 6 may then be repaired or replaced. The body parts 2a and 2b may be reconnected by engaging their respective screw threads 34 and 36 and re-tightening the screw threaded engagement 32. A thread locking/sealing compound (for example, such as that sold under the trade mark LOCTITE*) may 5 be applied to the screw threads 34 and 36 prior to engaging them and re tightening the screw threaded engagement 32. The abutment on the shoulders 28 with the internal circumferential flange 26 means that the second valve 6 cannot move any further in the direction of the fluid outlet 4. This means that the second valve 6 is not accessible for removal via 10 the fluid outlet 4. The second valve 6 is not accessible via the fluid inlet 3 either. The only way to access the second valve 6 is to disconnect the body parts 2a and 2b by undoing the screw threaded engagement 32. Thus, the second valve 6 is removable from the body part 2b only after the two body parts 2a and 2b are disconnected. 15 The second valve 6 ensures that fluid can flow through the fluid flow control device 1 in one direction only. That is, fluid can flow only in the direction from the fluid inlet 3 to the fluid outlet 4, as shown by arrow A in Figures 1 and 2. In the event that there is a pressure build-up on the fluid outlet 4 side of the second valve 6, that pressure would act to seat the valve head 17 against the valve seat 20 18 to ensure that fluid did not pass through the fluid flow control device 1 in the direction opposite to arrow A, i.e. in the direction from the fluid outlet 4 to the fluid outlet 3. The fluid flow control device 1 of the present invention can be connected into a pipeline using the respective nuts 23. Fluid flowing in the pipeline enters the fluid 25 flow control device 1 at the fluid inlet 3, as shown by arrow B in Figures 1 and 2, and flows out of the fluid flow control device 1 from the fluid outlet 4, as shown by arrow C in Figures 1 and 2. The operation of the fluid flow control device 1 will now be further described. In Figure 1, the first valve 5 is in a first, open condition in which the bore 38 of the 30 ball 7 is in registration with the bore 40 of the body 2. In this open condition, fluid is able to flow through fluid inlet 3, the bore 40 and through the bore 38 in the ball 7. The pressure of the fluid flow is able to unseat the valve head 17 from the valve seat 18, against the biasing action of the spring 21, such the fluid flows through 8 the second valve 6 and out through the fluid outlet 4. (That is, fluid is able to flow through the second valve 6 only in the direction corresponding to fluid flow in the direction from the fluid inlet 3 to the fluid outlet 4.) In this condition, the fluid flow control device 1 is in its open condition and allows fluid flow therethrough. 5 The first valve 5 can be placed in a second, closed condition by turning the handle 10 to thereby turn the ball 7 within the bore 40. The closed condition of the first valve 5 is shown in Figure 2. The handle 10 can be turned a quarter turn to thereby turn the ball 7 in the bore 40 such that the bore 38 is transverse to the bore 40. In this closed condition, the surface of the ball 7 seats against the ball 10 valve seats 8a and 8b. In this closed condition of the first valve 5, fluid entering the bore 40 through the fluid inlet 3 cannot pass through the first valve 5 in the closed condition. Accordingly, in this condition, the fluid flow control device 1 is in its closed condition and prevents fluid flow therethrough. The fluid flow control device 1 of the present invention provides that the fluid flow 15 path through the fluid flow control device 1, from the fluid inlet 3 to the fluid outlet 4, is substantially in a straight line, i.e. linear, without deviation in the direction of flow of fluid. This provides for a smooth fluid flow path from the fluid inlet 3 to the fluid outlet 4 through the bore 38 of the ball 7 and the bore 40 of the body 2. The fluid flow control device 1 of the present invention has application, for 20 example, in plumbing installations for hot water systems. For example, the fluid flow control device 1 may be placed at the cold water inlet to a water heating unit. Flow of water to the inlet of the water heating unit can be controlled using the fluid flow control device 1. In normal operation, the fluid flow control device 1 is in its open condition, as shown in Figure 1, allowing flow of fluid, being water, to the 25 inlet of the water heating unit. However, should the flow of water to the water heating unit need to be halted, the fluid flow control device 1 can be placed in its closed condition by turning the handle 10 to thereby use the ball 7 to close the flow path that was created by the alignment of the bore 38 and the bore 40 in the open condition of the valve 1. 30 Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein before described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those specific embodiments, and may be embodied in other ways, as will be apparent to a skilled addressee. 9 Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 10

Claims

1. A fluid flow control device comprising: a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, first valve means and second valve means provided in the body, 5 the first valve means having an open condition and a closed condition, and the first valve means having at least one valve seat, the second valve means to allow flow of fluid therethrough in one direction only, the body comprising at least two body parts and the two body parts, of the body, are detachably connected, 10 and the second valve means and a valve seat of the first valve means are provided in the same body part, wherein, in use, when the first valve means is in said open condition, fluid is able to flow through said fluid flow control device, and when the first valve means is in said closed condition, fluid is unable to flow through said fluid flow control device. 15

2. A fluid flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the second valve means is accessible only after the two body parts, of the body, are detached.

3. A fluid flow control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second valve means is removable from its body part only after the two body parts, of the body, are detached. 20

4. A fluid flow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first valve means has a second valve seat, and the second valve seat is provided in the other body part.

5. A fluid flow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second valve means is retained in said same body part such that it is 25 substantially wholly contained within said same body part.

6. A fluid flow control device according to claim any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first valve means and the second valve means are serially aligned. 11

7. A fluid flow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first valve means and the second valve means are separate and spaced apart in the body.

8. A fluid flow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 wherein the fluid flow path through the body from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is substantially straight without deviation.

9. A fluid flow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second valve means is located closer to the first valve means than to the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet. 12