CH701364A1 - Valve i.e. check valve, for fluid transport pipes for transport of e.g. brackish water under pressure, has shutter mounted such that shutter is translationally moved in cavity between closing position and opening position of valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve i.e. check valve (19), has a body, and a shutter (18) moved inside the body, where the body has a shell (20) and a liner (21) made of plastic material covering an internal face of the shell and delimiting a cavity (38). The body comprises another shell (64) and another liner (51) made of plastic material covering an internal face of the latter shell and delimiting another cavity (66) which communicates with the former cavity. The shutter is mounted such that the shutter is translationally moved in the cavity between a closing position and an opening position of the valve. The shutter has a coated metal structure with plastic material. The shell is made of metal or plastic.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to valves and accessories for fluid transport conduits, the body comprises a double wall.

The invention relates in particular to two-way valves, ie two connection interfaces (a single input and a single output), three-way valves (ie three connection interfaces), valves, and accessories similar for fluid transport conduits.

The invention is particularly applicable to valves and accessories for water transport pipes - in particular brackish water or sea water - or other corrosive fluids, under pressure.

In the present application, unless explicitly or implicitly stated otherwise, the term "valve" is used to designate a valve or an accessory such as a valve in particular.

STATE OF THE ART

For the transport of corrosive fluids in particular, it is known to use a double-walled tube including an inner wall provided to resist corrosion, and an outer wall provided to ensure the mechanical strength of the tube, particularly in the case where the transported fluid is under pressure.

It has been described, in US Pat. No. 4,233,926, a valve comprising a rotary shutter shaped truncated ellipsoid, which is traversed by a fluid passage channel and disposed in a metal body equipped with flanges.

The body of the valve defines an inlet passage and an outlet passage in each of which is provided an annular spacer and an inner liner of a non-corrosive material: stainless steel, plastic, or other.

Such a valve, which has the merit of being "full passage", however, has disadvantages: its structure is complex and requires, to ensure its tightness, to be mounted very carefully from many parts that must be of "perfect" geometry and are therefore expensive.

In the case where, in the closed position of the valve, a large pressure difference prevails between the upstream and downstream of the shutter of this valve, the shutter and the surrounding parts are subject to to important mechanical constraints. Therefore, a lot of energy is needed to overcome the friction forces, for opening the valve.

The disadvantages of such a valve are even more accentuated that the section of the fluid passage is high.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide double wall fluid transport valves, which are improved and / or which remedy, at least in part, the shortcomings or disadvantages of known double wall valves.

An object of the invention is to provide double-wall and full-flow fluid transport valves, the manufacture, use and maintenance of which are simplified.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a valve comprising: - Two tube sections secured to one another and forming the casing of the valve body which has a bent shape, in particular a shape of "T"; a structure (thick) of (thermo) plastic material covering, substantially continuously and integrally, the internal faces of the casing of the valve body, and delimiting two substantially cylindrical cavities communicating through an opening; a shutter movably mounted in translation inside one of the two cavities; and - (at least) an annular sealing face - or carried - integrated in the plastic structure and on which the shutter can come into contact to prevent the passage of a fluid from one to the other of the cavities.

In other words and according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a valve having a body and a shutter - or plug - mounted movably inside the body, the body having a first envelope - or envelope portion - and a first plastic sleeve covering the inner face of the first envelope - or envelope portion - and delimiting a first cavity, in which: the body further comprises a second envelope or envelope portion and a second plastic sleeve covering the internal face of the second envelope or envelope portion and delimiting a second cavity, the first cavity communicates with the second cavity through an opening, the first and second cavities extend along two oblique (non-coincident) longitudinal axes, in particular along two orthogonal axes, the first and second folders are connected by a tight connection, and - The shutter is movably mounted in translation in the first cavity, between a closed position of the valve and an open position of the valve.

The closure of the valve may result from the closure of the opening bringing into communication the two cavities, by the shutter; the opening of the valve then results from a displacement of the shutter to a position of release / release of this opening.

In the case of a particular valve, the shutter may comprise a wall (hemi) spherical or frustoconical arranged to bear on an annular bearing shape and dimensions complementary to those of the wall of the shutter, in closing position of the valve.

This range - or annular sealing surface - may be formed in the first sleeve and may have a substantially frustoconical shape, with an axis of symmetry substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the first cavity.

In particular, the shutter may comprise a disk-shaped body and a peripheral chamfer provided on a face of the body and by which the shutter can be supported on the integrated range to the first sleeve. This shutter can be slidably mounted in translation in the body of the valve, along the longitudinal axis of the first cavity.

Alternatively, the body of the shutter of the valve may be spherical in shape, and disposed freely in translation and in rotation in the first cavity, between a bearing position on the annular bearing surface -for closing the valve - and a position away from the annular bearing - for the opening of the valve-.

In the case of a valve (at least) two or three channels in particular, the opening may be formed in a wall of the first liner; at least a portion of the first cavity has a cylindrical shape and extends on either side of the opening; the shutter is slidably mounted in said portion of the first cavity, along the longitudinal axis of this cavity.

The shutter can then comprise a body - or substantially cylindrical wall whose length is greater than the largest dimension (transverse) of the opening.

Two annular grooves may be formed on the inner face of the first liner and respectively disposed on either side of the opening, each groove being provided for receiving - or receiving - an annular sealing member - such as an O-ring - sealing between the first jacket and the shutter.

The substantially cylindrical body of the shutter can be hollow and open at both longitudinal ends, or solid or closed at at least one of its two longitudinal ends.

The body of the shutter may comprise a portion / flared wall -non cylindrical - extending a portion / central cylindrical wall - and preferably substantially tangential to the latter - at each of its two longitudinal ends. The flared wall may have depressions on its outer face.

According to one embodiment, the thickness of at least one of the shirts is greater than the thickness of the envelope that receives it.

The valve may comprise two or three bodies (substantially identical) connected in pairs in a sealed manner, each of the bodies having two non-aligned jacketed envelopes, a first jacketed envelope defines a first cylindrical cavity, the first cylindrical cavities of the two or three bodies being aligned along their common longitudinal axis, the shutter being slidably mounted along this axis.

In the case of a valve comprising three bodies, the shutter can be slidably mounted between a closed position of the opening provided in the wall of the first jacketed envelope of the three bodies occupying a central position, a first release position of this opening, and a second release position of this opening which extends the opposite (with reference to this opening) of the first release position.

The valve may comprise an electrical circuit embedded in the junction region of two non-aligned sleeves of a valve body, and / or an electrical circuit embedded in the junction region of two aligned jackets respectively integrated with two bodies joined together between them butt.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention appear in the following description which refers to the accompanying figures and illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGS.

[0030] <tb> Fig. 1 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, the shutter is in the closed position of the valve. <tb> Fig. 2 <sep> is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve of FIG. 1, whose shutter is in the open position of the valve. <tb> Fig. 3 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a valve body according to another embodiment of the invention. <tb> Fig. 4 <sep> is a schematic and "exploded" longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention, which comprises two "T" -shaped bodies to be assembled end-to-end. <tb> Fig. <Sep> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the valve body of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2. <tb> 1 Fig. 6 <sep> is a schematic perspective view of the cylindrical wall of the shutter body of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2. <tb> Fig. 7 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a shutter of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention. <tb> Fig. 8 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a shutter of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention. <tb> Fig. 9 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention, which comprises three bodies of "T" assembled end to end. <tb> Fig. 10 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention. <tb> Fig. 11 <sep> is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to another embodiment of the invention.

In figs. 9 to 11, the hatching of pieces cut along the longitudinal sectional plane have been removed to improve the readability of these figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise explicitly or implicitly indicated, elements or members - structurally or functionally - identical or similar are designated by identical references in the different figures.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, 10 and 11 in particular, it can be seen that the valve - the valve - 19 comprises a body in the shape of a "T": the body is essentially composed of two composite tubes connected to each other and extending along two axes 26, 39 perpendicular.

Each of these "composite" tubes has an outer casing 20, 64, for example metal, and a jacket 21, 51 internal thermoplastic material.

The envelopes - or portions of the envelope - may be metallic, welded together, and equipped with flanges 67.

The shirts can also be welded together, as described in more detail below.

Alternatively, the sleeves covering the inner faces of the casing 20, 64 may be obtained by molding, for example by roto molding of a plastic material disposed inside the casing. These shirts can then be machined to delimit two cavities 38, 66 communicating with the desired geometry.

For this purpose in particular, the thickness 69 of each liner 21, 51 may be greater than the thickness 70 of the envelope 20, 64 which receives it (see Fig. 1).

We can observe fig. 1notamment that the first cavity 38 communicates with the second cavity 66 through an opening 56, that these cavities extend along two longitudinal axes 26, 39 orthogonal, and that the first and second folders 21,51 are connected by a sealed connection.

In the configurations illustrated in FIG. 1, 2, and 9 to 11, a shutter 18 is mounted movable in translation in the first cavity 21, between a closed position of the valve and an open position of the valve.

With reference to FIG. 11, the shutter comprises a body delimited by a spherical wall 124 provided to bear on a bearing surface 127 of shape and dimensions complementary to those of the wall of the shutter, in the closed position of the valve. This annular bearing surface is formed in the first sleeve 21 and has a substantially frustoconical shape, with an axis of symmetry substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis 26 of the first cavity 38.

The spherical shutter 18 is mounted free in translation and in rotation in the first cavity 38, between a bearing position on the annular bearing surface 127 for closing the valve, which position corresponds to the full line illustration / continuous, and a position away from the annular bearing, for opening the valve, this position corresponding to the illustration in broken lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the shutter has a disk-shaped body 128 and a peripheral chamfer 125 provided on one side of the body and through which the shutter can rest on the bearing surface 127 integrated in the first jacket 21. The shutter is mounted sliding in translation in the body of the valve, along the longitudinal axis 26 of the first cavity 38.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 9 in particular, an opening 56 is provided in a wall of the first sleeve 21, through which the cavities 38 and 66 communicate. At least a central portion of the first cavity has a cylindrical shape, of circular section, extending on either side of the opening 56.

The shutter 18 is slidably mounted in this central portion of the first cavity, and has a cylindrical wall 129, of circular section, whose length 130 (FIG 6) is greater than the largest dimension of the opening .

The cylindrical wall 129 of the body of the shutter extends along the longitudinal axis 131 of the shutter, which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis 26 of the cavity 38, in the operating position.

We can observe fig. 2 and 3 in particular that two annular grooves 132, 133 are formed on the inner face 135 of the first sleeve 21 and are respectively disposed on either side of the opening 56.

The distance 175 (FIG 3) separating the grooves 132, 133 is smaller than the length 130 of the wall 129 of the shutter.

Each groove is provided to receive a seal 134 sealing the seal between the first sleeve and the shutter.

The shutter 18 illustrated in FIG. 1, 2, 7 is hollow and open at its two longitudinal ends 136, 137, while the shutter illustrated in FIG. 8is closed at both longitudinal ends 141, 142.

The use of a hollow shutter and open can allow to cancel the component along the axis 26 of displacement of the shutter, the resultant forces applied by the fluid contained in the valve on the body of the shutter, which minimizes the effort required to open and close the valve.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the shutter has a flared wall 143, 144 extending the cylindrical central wall 129 at each of its two longitudinal ends. This flared wall may include depressions (not shown) on its outer face.

These flared end portions and these depressions can provide progressive opening and closing of the valve, and limit the variations of the pressure inside the fluid flowing in the valve, when the opening and closing of the valve.

The valve generally further comprises an actuator (not shown) which may be mechanical electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic, and connected to the shutter by an elongated connecting structure such as a rod 160, to drive the shutter in motion along the axis 26, 131.

We can observe fig. 1, 2, and 5 in particular that the shutter 18 comprises three radial arms extending between the body 129 and the rod 160 they are used to connect.

The rod 160 extends along the axis 26, 131 through a sealed passage formed in a buffer 68, 71 closing one end of the cavity 38, which buffer is fixed to the valve body by a flange 67 (see Figs 1 and 2).

The valve - such as those of FIGS. 10 and 11- may comprise a return member such as a spring (not shown), which is based on the shutter to keep it in the closed position as the shutter is not subjected to sufficient effort of sense contrary to the support force exerted by the return member.

The body of the shutter may comprise a composite structure, in particular a tubular metal structure coated or coated with a plastic material, or a tubular metal structure fitted into a tubular structure made of plastic material.

With reference to FIG. 4, the valve 19 may comprise two substantially identical bodies 152, 153 which may be sealingly connected by end-to-end welding of their respective first shirts 21.

For this purpose, the liner 21 of each body is provided with a shoulder - or annular groove opening - 171, 172 on its inner face 135 at one of its ends.

An annular insert 148 is disposed partly in each of these two grooves, this insert having an electrical circuit embedded in the thermoplastic material of the insert, this material being of the same nature as that of the shirts 21. The welding of the insert and portions of the sleeves defining the shoulders receiving the insert can be obtained as described below, in particular by circulating a sufficient electric current in the circuit embedded in the insert 148, through the terminals 61, 62 connecting the circuit to a current source (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 9, each of the three bodies 152 to 154 comprises two non-aligned jacketed envelopes as previously described in relation with FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular, one of which delimits a first cylindrical cavity. The first cylindrical cavities of the three bodies are aligned along their common longitudinal axis 26, the shutter 18 being slidably mounted along this axis.

The shutter is slidably mounted between a closed position of the opening provided in the wall of the first jacketed envelope 21 of 153 of the three bodies occupying a central position, a first release position of this opening, and a second disengagement position of this opening which extends opposite the first disengagement position.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular, for the manufacture of the valve body 19 delimiting the two cylindrical cavities 38, 66, the first tube - or jacket - 21 of plastic material can be introduced into a first tubular cavity of the casing 20 of the valve body , by fitting - or interlocking - force.

Then can be introduced a second tube - or sleeve - 51 of plastic material in the second tubular cavity of the casing 64, by fitting - or interlocking - forcefully, substantially to the contact of the first tube, and then make a connection sealed between the two tubes in their region of contact - or proximity - mutual (the), in the vicinity of the opening 56.

The connection between the tubes 21 and 51 can be performed by welding, causing the two tubes to soften in their portions in contact or mutual proximity (the), a mutual contact and / or a mixture of the plastics material soft of the two tubes, then a cooling and hardening of this material, to form the sealed connection.

For this purpose, one can subject the respective neighboring regions (junction) of the two tubes 21, 51 to a stream of air - or another fluid - hot enough to cause the softening of the plastic material of these junction regions, or infrared radiation.

Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to cause the softening and the welding - electro-welding - of the tubes 21, 51 by Joule effect, as indicated below concerning the connection of an annular piece to the end of the tube 21. .

For this purpose, it is possible to insert into one of the tubes 21, 51, in one or the other region of the tubes intended to be placed in mutual contact, a heating element - or an electro-fuse insert. - having a resistive circuit designed to heat the element and cause softening or melting of the plastic material of these regions - and if necessary of the insert - when the resistive circuit is crossed by an electric current of sufficient intensity .

Alternatively, this element or heating insert can be disposed in the casing 64 of the valve body, in contact with the first tube 21 previously fitted, before introduction of the second tube 51 into the casing 64.

To weld the two tubes to one another, it can further exercise on them a mutual support force, in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal axis 39 of the second tube.

In order to avoid deforming the first tube 21 by exerting this support, it is possible to insert inside this tube, before exerting the support, a force distribution structure which marries at least a part of the inner face of the first tube. This structure may take the form of a cylindrical mandrel whose outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of the first tube.

The (or) tube (s) of thermoplastic material may for example consist of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

The envelope may be made of metal, in particular steel, or of a plastic material reinforced by fibers, in particular carbon fibers.

To fit a tube 21, 51 in an envelope 20, 64, aligning the tube and the cavity of the envelope for receiving the tube, maintaining a first of the two parts (tube or envelope) and one exercises a insertion force on the second piece, substantially along their common longitudinal axis.

The value of the insertion force (or support) necessary to obtain the fitting varies according to the nature of the materials constituting the two parts, the diameter of the tube, and its adjustment in the envelope. This value can be in a range from about 103 Newton (N) to about 106 N. This effort can be exerted by a hydraulic press for example.

To reduce the outer diameter of the sleeve 21, 51 and the insertion force required, it can proceed to the fitting of the tube 21, 51 previously cooled in the envelope maintained at room temperature.

It is also possible to coat the outer surface of the tube 21, 51 or the inner surface of the cavity of the envelope 20, 64 with a material - solid, liquid, pasty, or gelatinous - which promotes the mutual sliding of the respective surfaces of the tube and the envelope which are brought into mutual contact during fitting. This material may be a product based on silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene, for example.

It is also possible to form a chamfer (of small size) at the periphery of one end of the tube through which it is introduced into the envelope, or else at the end of the cylindrical cavity through which the tube is fitted in order to facilitate the introduction of the tube into the cavity of the envelope.

After fitting, if necessary cut the composite tube obtained to the desired length, and then at least one end face of the plastic tube 21, 51.

According to an embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 3, 4, and 9 to 11, a seal housing 40 is formed in a rib projecting from an external projection at one end of the plastic tube and extending out of the casing, the rib being integral with the tube 21, 51 or to an annular piece which is secured to one end of the tube 21, 51. This housing has a peripheral opening which extends by a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the casing receiving the plastic tube.

This connection can be obtained by welding the annular piece to the end of the tube 21, 51, the annular piece being made of a thermoplastic material identical or similar to that constituting the tube.

This weld can be obtained by melting / softening the zones facing each other of the two parts to be welded, and if necessary by exerting a mutual support force on the areas to be welded.

The melting (softening) of the plastic material can be obtained by sweeping these areas by a stream of hot air, by heating these areas by subjecting them to infrared radiation, and / or by mutual friction of the areas to be welded. This can also be obtained by means of a heating insert placed in contact with the zones of the parts to be welded and comprising an electric circuit traversed by a current of sufficient intensity to melt / soften the insert and the plastic of the zones. respective parts to be welded.

[0085] A fixed or pivoting flange 67 is generally attached to each of the three ends of the valve body to facilitate attachment of the valve to a conduit or other fluid transport apparatus.

According to one embodiment, the body may comprise a one-piece envelope - in one piece, for example metal -, a first sleeve delimiting a first cavity, as well as several second folders delimiting as many second cavities which open each into the first cavity, to make a distributor for example.

The invention makes it possible in particular to manufacture valves having a (integral) fluid flow diameter in a range from 10 <-1> meter (m) to about 5 * 10 <-1> meter.

Claims (16)

1. Valve (19) having a body and a shutter (18) movably mounted within the body, the body having a first casing (20) and a first sleeve (21) of plastic covering the inner face of the body. the first envelope and delimiting a first cavity (38), characterized in that: the body further comprises a second envelope (64) and a second jacket (51) of plastic material covering the internal face of the second envelope and delimiting a second cavity (66), the first cavity communicates with the second cavity via an opening (56), the first and second cavities extend along two oblique longitudinal axes (26, 39, 122, 123), in particular along two orthogonal axes, the first and second folders are connected by a tight connection, and - The shutter is movably mounted in translation in the first cavity, between a closed position of the valve and an open position of the valve. 2. Valve according to claim 1 wherein the shutter comprises a wall (hemi) spherical (124) or frustoconical (125) arranged to rest on a bearing surface (127) of shape and dimensions complementary to those of the wall of the shutter, in the closed position of the valve, this annular bearing being formed in the first sleeve (21) and having a substantially frustoconical shape, with an axis of symmetry substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis (26) of the first cavity ( 38). 3. Valve according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the shutter comprises a disk-shaped body (128) and a peripheral chamfer (125) provided on one side of the body and through which the shutter can rest on a bearing surface. (127) integrated in the first sleeve (21), the shutter being slidably mounted in translation in the body of the valve, along the longitudinal axis (26) of the first cavity (38). 4. Valve according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the shutter comprises a body (128) of spherical shape, which is free in translation and rotation in the first cavity (38) between a bearing position on the annular bearing surface - for closing the valve - and a position away from the annular bearing - for opening the valve-. 5. Valve according to claim 1 wherein the opening (56) is formed in a wall of the first sleeve (21), at least a portion of the first cavity having a cylindrical shape and extending on either side of the opening, the shutter being slidably mounted in said portion of the first cavity, and the shutter having a cylindrical wall (129) whose length (130) is greater than the largest dimension of the opening. 6. Valve according to claim 5 wherein two annular grooves (132, 133) are formed on the inner face (135) of the first sleeve and respectively disposed on either side of the opening (56), each groove being provided to receive a sealing member (134) sealing between the first sleeve and the shutter. 7. Valve according to any one of claims 5 or 6 wherein the shutter is hollow and open at its two longitudinal ends (136, 137). 8. Valve according to any one of claims 5 or 6 wherein the shutter is solid or closed at at least one of its two longitudinal ends (141, 142). 9. Valve according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the shutter comprises a flared wall (143, 144) extending the cylindrical wall at each of its two longitudinal ends. 10. Valve according to claim 9 wherein the flared wall has depressions on its outer face. 11. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the thickness of at least one of the sleeves (21, 51) is greater than the thickness of the casing (20, 64) which receives it. 12. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the shutter comprises a metal structure coated with a plastic material. 13. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, or 5 to 9, which comprises at least two substantially identical bodies (152 to 154) sealingly connected, each of the bodies comprising two non-aligned jacketed envelopes, one of which delimits a first cylindrical cavity, the first respective cylindrical cavities of the bodies being aligned along their common longitudinal axis (26), the shutter (18) being slidably mounted along this axis. 14. A valve according to claim 13 which comprises three bodies (152 to 154) and wherein the shutter is slidably mounted between a closed position of the opening provided in the wall of the first jacketed envelope (21) of the 153) of the three bodies occupying a central position, a first position of disengagement of this opening, and a second position of disengagement of this opening which extends opposite the first disengagement position. 15. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 10 which comprises an electric circuit (47, 148) embedded in the junction region of two shirts (21, 51). 16. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the tabular sleeves (21, 51) are made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, or polytetrafluoroethylene, and wherein the envelopes (20) , 64) are made of metal or of a fiber reinforced plastics material.