EP2306097B1

EP2306097B1 - Multifunction valve group

Info

Publication number: EP2306097B1
Application number: EP10180373.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Remo Spaggiari; Alberto Spaggiari
Original assignee: Otma SNC Di Spaggiari & C
Current assignee: Otma SNC Di Spaggiari & C
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2010-09-27
Publication date: 2019-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-27
Also published as: DK2306097T3; ITBO20090616A1; EP2306097A3; EP2306097A2

Description

The present invention related to a multi-function valve assembly for autonomous metering and heat regulation modules in central heating plants.
In particular, the present invention finds advantageous, but not exclusive application in domestic heating systems, to which the description that follows makes explicit reference, without any loss of generality.
In domestic heating systems, valve assemblies are known that have a main hollow body.
The main hollow body, in turn, comprises:

an inlet duct for hot water coming from a central heating plant,
a delivery duct for hot water going to the heating means of the domestic system,
a return duct for cold water coming from the heating means of the domestic system,
an outlet duct for cold water going to the central heating plant,
a housing suitable for containing a clogging element with motorized control and opposed by elastic means, the clogging element being able to close, upon command, the outlet duct for hot water going to the heating means, and
possibly a bypass duct able to hydraulically connect the hot water inlet branch with the cold water outlet branch.

These valve assemblies contemplate the use of at least a water filter, a balancing valve for the pressure drops in the two branches of the system and, possibly, in the case where there is a bypass duct, a flow regulator for water in the bypass itself. However, in known valve assemblies, the regulation, inspection and possible maintenance of the filter, balancing valve, and possibly of the flow regulator, are troublesome as access to these elements is not always from the frontal direction. In addition, it is always necessary to anticipate different versions of the same valve assembly, depending to the different configurations of the hydraulic connections. In particular, a first model with hot water connectors on the left and a second model with the hot water connectors on the right.
Furthermore, current models do not allow any flexibility with regards to the hydraulic connections with the rest of the heating system.
Document EP-A2-1 895 245 (WATTS INDUSTRIES ITALIA S.R.L.) illustrates the preamble portion of claim 1.
The object of the present invention is therefore to create a multi-function valve assembly that is devoid of the above-described drawbacks and, at the same time, is both easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the present invention, a valve assembly, as claimed in claim 1 or in any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1, is consequently created.
The present invention shall now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limitative examples of embodiment, where:

Figure 1 illustrates a general lay-out of a domestic heating system in which a heat metering module containing a valve assembly according to the present invention is used,
Figure 2 shows a first arrangement of the valve assembly according to the present invention,
Figure 3 shows a second arrangement of the valve assembly according to the present invention,
Figure 4 illustrates the valve assembly as shown in Figures 2 and 3 with the various possibilities of hydraulic connection to the rest of the system,
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the valve assembly according to the present invention,
Figure 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section A-A (made on the device in Figure 4) of the valve assembly shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5,
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a three-way cartridge, and
Figure 8 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of the three-way cartridge in Figure 7.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 100 indicates, as a whole, a multi-function valve assembly, the subject of the present invention, inserted in a module 10 for the distribution and metering of heat in a domestic heating system.
The module 10 also comprises, in the known manner, the following mutually interconnected elements:

(a) - a central heating boiler (CLD),
(b) - a hot water distribution branch 11 running to at least one radiator (RT), the hot water being pumped to the radiator (RT) by a pump (PP),
(c) - a return branch 12 for cold water coming from the radiator (RT) to the boiler (CLD),
(d) - an electric actuator 20 acting on a two or three-way valve that is part of the valve assembly 100, the electric actuator 20 being controlled by an electronic control unit (CC),
(e) - a time thermostat (TT), located in the environment to be heated, able to detect the ambient temperature and send this information to the mentioned electronic control unit (CC), and
(f) - a heat meter 30, positioned on the return branch 12 and electrically connected to a bus 40, able to send data related to the heat consumption of the radiator (RT) to a data processing centre (not shown).

With reference to Figures 2 and 6 in particular, the valve assembly 100 has a hollow main body 101 in metal or plastic, preferably, but not necessarily, made with a single die-casting. In other words, the hollow main body 101 is a hollow single block equipped with a plurality of openings (see further on).
As shown in Figure 6, the main hollow body 101 has a hot water inlet opening 102, with axis (X) and an outlet opening 103 for the same hot water, with axis (Y). In the embodiment shown in the attached figures, axes (X) and (Y) are not aligned with each other.
With reference to Figures 1 and 6, the inlet opening 102 and the delivery opening 103 are respectively connected to pipe 11A and pipe 11B, both being part of the hot water distribution branch 11.
Figure 6 also shows a return opening 104 for cold water coming from the radiator (RT) and an outlet opening 105 for cold water going to the boiler (CLD). Always with reference to Figure 1, the return opening 104 and outlet opening 105 for cold water are respectively connected to pipe 12A and pipe 12B, both being part of the cold water return branch 12. The cold water return opening 104 and outlet opening 105 are aligned along a single axis (Z).
Actually, in the present invention, as shall be better seen further on, with reference to Figure 4 for example, the main body 101 is provided with three openings 103A, 103B and 103C, only one of which is effectively coupled with an end of duct 11B during assembly. Each of the other two unused openings, chosen from openings 103A, 103B and 103C, are closed by the installer by means of a respective plug (not shown). The choice of which of the three openings 103A, 103B and 103C must be connected to pipe 11B is made by taking into account how pipe 11B is arranged within the system 10.
In addition, the main body 101 has two openings 104A and 104B, only one of which is effectively coupled with the heat meter 30 (Figures 4 and 6). The other opening that remains unused is closed by the installer by means of a respective plug (not shown). The choice of which of the two openings 104A and 104B must be connected to the heat meter 30 is made by taking into account what is the easiest arrangement for the heat meter 30 itself (whether vertical or horizontal), from the plant engineering viewpoint. It should also be noted that the cold water returning from the radiator (RT) passes through the heat meter 30 before flowing through the main body 101.
From observation of Figure 6, it can be deduced that the central main body 101 can also be considered as a set of pipes, in the case in point:

pipes 202 and 203A (203B and 203C not indicated in Figure 6) for hot water to send to the radiator (RT),
pipes 204A (204B) and 205 in which cold water returning from the radiator (RT) flows,
pipe 206 (with axis (K)) able to contain a three-way cartridge 220, provided with a main body 220a inside which there is a stem 221 of an cut-off valve 222, opposed in the known manner by a coil spring 223, and
bypass pipe 207 between branches 11 and 12, with pipes 206, 207 and 104B all having the same axis (K).

Bypass pipe 207 is useful if a constant-flow pump (PP) is available. However, as we shall see, in the case where the manufacturer has a variable-flow pump (PP) available, it is possible to close the bypass duct 207 via a flow regulator and use a two-way valve instead of a three-way valve. In this case, the flow of hot water through pipe 11A is self-regulated depending on the heat demand of the radiator (RT).
A pleated filter 230, also visible in the exploded drawing in Figure 5, is housed inside the main body 101, and in particular inside the duct 202 and therefore on the side where the hot water arrives. This pleated filter 230 serves to filter the hot water before it passes from pipe 202 to pipe 203A (or, as preferred, 203B or 203C). The pleated filter 230 advantageously has a W-shape. In addition, a temperature probe (not shown) can be advantageously positioned inside the filter element 230.
As shown in greater detail in Figure 5, the pleated filter 230 is housed in a substantially cylindrical seat 231, the axis (J1) of which is transversal to axis (X). Each opening to the outside of seat 231 is closed by a respective cover 232A and 232B. A respective seal 233A and 233B is inserted between each cover 232A and 232B and each respective opening of seat 231. The covers 232A and 232B are fixed to the main body 101 using screws (VT) screwed into specially provided threaded seats on the outer surface of the main body 101 itself (Figure 5).
Figure 6 also shows that inside duct 207 there is a preset differential bypass valve that, as shall be better seen further on when the operation of the valve assembly 100 is explained, serves, as needed, to simulate the pressure drops that would occur downstream of the valve assembly 100 when the passage of hot water to the radiator (RT) is blocked by the closure of duct 103A (or 103B, or 103C) by the cut-off valve 222.
It has been incidentally mentioned that in the configuration shown in Figure 6, pipe 203A is closed, while the bypass duct 207 is open.
The bypass duct 207 is also equipped with a flow regulator 240 housed in a seat 241 with a transversal axis (J2) (substantially parallel to axis (J1)) obtained in the main body 101. This flow regulator 240 can function as an on/off cock to render the bypass duct 207 active or to exclude it.
As shown in Figure 5, the flow regulator 240 is advantageously shaped like a cylinder through which a hole 242 passes transversal to axis (J2). In addition, the flow regulator 240 has, on each one of its two ends, a respective notch 234A and 234B that allows the degree of opening/closing of the flow regulator 240 to be regulated by working both according to VIEW A and according to VIEW B (Figures 2 and 3). In other words, the same valve assembly 100 shown in Figure 2 is shown in Figure 3, except that it is rotated 180° around a generic vertical axis. The regulation of the degree of opening/closing of the flow regulator 240 takes place by making it turn around axis (J2) using a screwdriver (not shown) engaged with one of the two notches 234A and 234B.
A suitable seat 250 (Figures 5 and 6) is made in pipe 205 to hold a balancing valve 251, basically shaped like the flow regulator 240. The balancing valve 251 also advantageously has a cylindrical shape, through which a hole 252 passes transversal to axis (J3). The axes (J1), (J2) and (J3) are substantially parallel to each other. In addition, the balancing valve 251 has, on each one of its ends, a respective notch 253A and 253B that allows the balancing valve 251 to be regulated by working both according to VIEW A and according to VIEW B (Figures 2 and 3) .
The regulation of the degree of opening/closing of the balancing valve 251 takes place by making it turn around axis (J3) using a screwdriver (not shown) engaged with one of the two notches 253A and 253B.
The balancing valve 251 serves to balance (through the regulation of its degree of opening/closing) the pressure drops in the two branches 11 and 12.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, seats 241 and 250 are closed by two transversal plates 260A and 260B, placed on opposite sides and fixed to the main body 101 during use, provided with respective pass-through holes for the front surfaces of the flow regulator 240 and the balancing valve 251. The border of each hole made on the plates 260A and 260B is provided with an associated graduated scale to allow the user to precisely adjust the opening/closing of the flow regulator 240 and the balancing valve 251.
It is obvious to an expert in the field that any type of device (for example, a knob) can be used instead of notches 234A and 234B and/or notches 253A and 253B to turn the flow regulator 240 and/or the balancing valve 251 around axis (J2) or around axis (J3) respectively.
Thanks to the fact that, as we have seen, the pleated filter 230 can be inspected according to VIEW A (Figure 2) by just removing cover 232A, or according to VIEW B (Figure 3) by just removing cover 232B, extreme flexibility in use has been achieved for the valve assembly 100, which can therefore be used both in the configuration in Figure 2 and in that in Figure 3 without having to make any structural changes to them.
Similar reasoning can be made regarding the flow regulator 240 and/or the balancing valve 251, which are adjustable both in the configuration in Figure 2 and in that in Figure 3 without having to make any structural changes to them.
As mentioned, a strong contribution to the extreme flexibility of the valve assembly 100 is also given by both the presence of openings 103A, 103B and 103C that allow the installer to choose the easiest connection with pipe 11B, and by the existence of the two openings 104A and 104B for mounting the heat meter 30 in the most convenient manner.
With reference to Figures 1, 5 and 6, the mounting of the valve assembly 100 and the setting of the system 10 takes place according to the following operations:

the best valve assembly 100 is chosen and mounted on the system 10 based on the type of system (i.e. ultimately, it is established whether to mount the valve assembly 100 as shown in Figure 2, or as shown in Figure 3),
the valve assembly 100 is connected to the rest of the system 10 using one of the delivery openings 103A, 103B and 103C and one of the return openings 104A and 104B,
it is chosen whether to use a three-way valve or a two-way valve depending on the type of pump (PP) (if it is constant flow or variable flow),
if the bypass pipe 207 is used, a preset differential bypass valve is chosen having certain characteristics that simulate the pressure drops in the water passing through pipe 11B, the radiator (RT) and pipe 12A placed in series,
if the bypass pipe 207 is used, the flow regulator 240 is opened, and
the opening/closing of the balancing valve 251 is regulated based on the pressure drops in the water that flows in the system 10.

It should also be noted that, in an inventive manner, always as shown in Figure 6, some elements have been positioned in correspondence to the four vertices (VI), (V2), (V3) and (V4) of a parallelogram (PLG).
In detail:

vertex (V1) corresponds to the centre of the pleated filter 230,
vertex (V2) corresponds to the centre of the seat 250 able to hold the balancing valve 251,
vertex (V3) corresponds to the centre of the flow regulator 240, and
vertex (V4) corresponds to the centre of the opening 103B of the main body 101.

This solution has been chosen to contain the height of the valve assembly 100 and in this way make it more compact without altering the dimensions of the individual components.
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the three-way cartridge 220 also has structural particularities.
In fact, the border of the cut-off valve 222 is substantially contained within the perimeter of an ellipse (ELS) in order to avoid disturbing the flow of water in transit and to completely close the valve. In addition, the profile of a central portion 220b of the main body 220a is also substantially contained on an arc of a circle (ARC), in order to avoid the creation of vortices as the water passes through.
In use, if the system 10 employs a constant-flow pump (PP) and if the thermostat (TT) detects that a certain preset temperature has been exceeded in the environment, the electronic control unit (CC) sends a signal to the electric actuator 20 so that pipe 203A (or 203B, or 203C) is closed by the cut-off valve 222. The hot water is made to bypass directly from pipe 202 to pipe 205 (and therefore from branch 11 to branch 12). The flow of hot water in pipes 11B and 12A and in the radiator (RT) is therefore blocked. Consequently, heat is not given off into the environment by means of the radiator (RT).
If the ambient temperature drops, the system ensures that the cut-off valve 222 is set to leave the water free to flow from pipe 202 to pipe 203A (or 203B, or 203C).
The main advantage of the valve assembly, the subject of the present invention, consists in the fact that the same valve assembly can be used in the configuration shown in Figure 2, or in the configuration in Figure 3. In other words, if it is easier to mount the valve assembly as shown in Figure 3, it is sufficient to rotate the valve assembly shown in Figure 2 by 180° around a generic vertical axis.
The inspection and possible replacement of the filter and/or regulation of the degree of opening/closing of the flow regulator and/or the balancing valve can be carried out according to VIEW A (Figure 1), or according to VIEW B, using, and this is the most important thing, the same valve assembly.
A further advantage of the valve assembly according to the invention consists in the fact that there are at least three hot water outlet openings from the assembly, and at least two openings for mounting a heat meter. The openings will be chosen based on the arrangement of the other elements of the heating system.

Claims

A valve assembly (100) for modules in central heating plants, the valve assembly (100) comprising a main hollow body (101) comprising, in turn:
- an inlet duct (202) for hot water coming from a boiler (CLD),

- at least one delivery duct (203A, 203B and 203C) for hot water going to heating means (RT),

- at least one return duct (204A and 204B) for cold water coming from the heating means (RT),

- an outlet duct (205) for cold water going to the boiler (CLD),

- a housing (206) suitable for containing a clogging element (222) opposed by elastic means (223), said clogging element (222) being able to close under electrical control at least one of said at least one delivery duct (203A, 203B and 203C),

- and a bypass duct (207) able to hydraulically connect said at least one inlet duct (202) and said at least one delivery duct (203A, 203B and 203C), on one side, with said at least return duct (204A and 204B) and said outlet duct (205), on the other,

- wherein there is at least one filter element (230) able to be inspected and/or replaced in a direction (J1) transversal to an axis (X) of said inlet duct (202), and

- wherein the inspection and/or replacement of the filter element (230) on the same valve assembly (100), can be carried out according to both a first front view and a second front view;
wherein the valve assembly also comprises balancing means (251), the axis (J3) of which is positioned transversely to an axis (Z) of said outlet duct (205); said balancing means (251) comprising a balancing valve (251) that advantageously has a cylindrical shape through which a hole (252) passes transversal to the axis (J3); and
characterized in that said balancing valve (251) has, on each one of its ends, respective means (253A and 253B) that enable the adjustment of the balancing valve (251) according to both the first front view and the second front view.
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment of the degree of opening/closing of the balancing valve (251) takes place by rotating it around its own axis (J3).
A valve assembly (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that, said bypass duct (207) is provided with a flow regulator (240) housed in a seat (241) having an axis (J2) substantially transversal to an axis (K) of the bypass duct (207).
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the flow regulator (240) is advantageously shaped like a cylinder through which a hole (242) passes transversal to the axis (J2).
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises two transversal plates (260A and 260B), placed on opposite sides and fixed to said main body (101), said two transversal plates (260A and 260B) being provided with respective pass-through holes for the front surfaces of said flow regulator (240) and said balancing valve (251) .
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the border of each hole made in said plates (260A and 260B) is provided with an associated graduated scale to allow the user to precisely adjust the opening/closing of said flow regulator (240) and/or said balancing valve (251).
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that said flow regulator (240) has, on each one of its ends, respective means (234A and 234B) that enable the adjustment of the flow regulator (240) according to both the first front view and the second front view.
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the adjustment of the degree of opening/closing of the flow regulator (240) takes place by rotating it around its own axis (J2).
A valve assembly (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it has at least three openings (103A, 103B and 103C) on the delivery side of hot water going to the heating means (RT), each of said at least three openings (103A, 103B and 103C) being suitable for coupling, as preferred, with a duct (11B).
A valve assembly (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it has two return openings (104A and 104B) for cold water coming from the heating means (RT), each of said at least two openings (104A and 104B) being suitable for coupling, as preferred, with a heat metering device (30).
A valve assembly (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said filter element (230) is pleated.
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that said filter element (230) has a W-shape.
A valve assembly (100) according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that a temperature probe is arranged inside said filter element (230).