FR2481840A1 - FLUID ACTUATING SWITCHING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IS A FLUID ACTUATED SWITCHING SYSTEM. IT IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT INCLUDES A MUSHROOM VALVE 20 ACTUATED BY FLUID WHICH IS MOUNTED IN A PASSAGE 15 SO AS TO MOVE INTO A FIRST POSITION, CORRESPONDING TO AN ABSENCE OF FLUIDIC FLOW, UP TO A SECOND POSITION IN RESPONSE HAS A PREDETERMINED FLUID FLOW; FURTHER PROVIDED FOR A FIRST PERMANENT MAGNET 25 MOUNTED ON THE MUSHROOM 20 SO AS TO MOVE ALONG ITS AXIS OF MOVEMENT AS WELL AS A SECOND PERMANENT MAGNET 34 PLACED OUTSIDE THE FLUID PASSAGE IN A ZONE ADJACENT TO THE FIRST MAGNET PERMANENT 25, THIS SECOND PERMANENT MAGNET ACTING IN ITS TURN AN ELECTRICAL OR PNEUMATIC SWITCH OR CONTACTOR 31; THE MUSHROOM 20 IS MOVING ALONG AN AXIS WHICH IS ORIENTED PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXES OF THE INPUT 11 AND OUTPUT 12 ORIFICES OF THE CASING 10, AND THE LARGE AXES OF THE MAGNETS 25, 34 ARE ORIENTED PARALLEL TO THE MOVEMENT AXIS OF THE MUSHROOM 20 SO THAT ALL THE MOVABLE ELEMENTS ARE ORIENTED IN THE SAME PLAN, INDEPENDENT OF THE ORIENTATION OF THE INLET AND OUTLET DUCTS. THE INVENTION APPLIES TO FLUIDIC INSTALLATIONS.

Description

FLUIDICALLY ACTUATED SWITCHING DEVICE

  The present invention relates to a switching device with

  which can be used to fulfill indication functions

  and control, and it relates more specifically to a device for

  magnetic type in which a magnetic element housed in or in communication with the flow ensures the actuation of a switch

  placed outside the flow.

  Devices are known which are placed in a path followed by a flow for actuation of an electrical switch or contactor in response to fluid flow in a conduit. Many actuating devices of this type use a reciprocating valve which is moved away from its seat and brought into an open position in response to

  a flow of fluid passing through the conduit. This flapper moves physically-

  a permanent magnet or magnetic element into a position of interaction with a second magnetic element, and this interaction causes the displacement of an electrical switching element of a first magnetic element.

  in a second working position. Examples of such schemes

  Contactor or switch assembly has been described in US Pat. 3,200,214, 3,297,843, 3,327,079, 3,446,986,

3,562,455 and 4,081,635.

  The main purpose of the invention is to provide an actuating device

  which serves to effectively operate and maintain a change of

  fluid-operated contactor or contactor in each of two operating conditions. The invention further aims to provide a switching device

  fluid actuated, which is of exceptional construction and

very simple.

  The invention also aims to improve reliability and sensitivity.

  bility of a fluid actuated switching device.

  It is another object of the invention to provide a flow operated switching device which operates with identical reactions in

  any orientation of a conduit.

  In summary, the objectives defined above, and other objects of the present invention, are achieved by using two elongated permanent magnets.

  which are mounted so as to move axially along substantially

  parallel. The first of these permanent magnets is coupled

  tionally with a valve or other element physically placed in a

  flow of fluid for movement in response to said fluid flow.

  dique. The second permanent magnet is placed outside the fluid stream and is operatively coupled to a switch or switch for moving between a first and a second service position. In a first position of the two permanent magnets, the magnetic fields cooperate to produce a repulsion of the second permanent magnet

  to maintain the switch or switch in a service position.

  In a second position of the first permanent magnet, the fields cooperate again to ensure an attraction of the two magnets in order to get the second permanent magnet into a position where the contactor or switch

  is maintained in a second service position.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from

  reading of the following description and accompanying figures given as

illustrative but not limiting.

  Figure 1 is an elevational view in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in its installation condition in a conduit

fluid flow.

  Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown

on.Figure 1.

  Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view showing part of the arrangement

  Figure 1, wherein the flow actuated means, in accordance with

  according to the present invention, are bypassed.

  Figure 4 is a bottom view, on a reduced scale, of the device of

Figures 1 to 3.

  Figure 5A is a schematic view showing permanent magnets which are used in the device according to the invention in a first

operating condition.

  FIG. 5B is a schematic view showing permanent magnets which are used in the device according to the invention in a second

operating condition.

  Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the preferred position

  installation of the device in a vertically oriented conduit.

  Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the preferred installation position of the device in a horizontally extending conduit; and Figure 8 is an elevational view in section corresponding to the

  Figure 1, a variant of the first embodiment.

  Referring first to Figure 1, it is seen that the device according to the invention comprises a housing 10 which is provided with two openings 11 and 12 in which are engaged conduit ducts 13 and 14. The openings of the housing and the ends of the pipe sections can be connected by

  threads or otherwise, so as to obtain fluid-tight seals.

  A first flow passage 15 extends through the housing since

  the threaded end 11 to the outlet 12. A valve 16 is placed in the in-

  interior of this passage. In the position shown in Figure 1, the valve is in the closed position where it stops the flow of fluid in said passage. The valve 16 is provided with an orifice 17 and, when this valve is rotated 900 around its vertical axis from the closed position to the position indicated in FIG. 3,

  the fluid flow can be adjusted between zero flow and maximum flow.

  It is provided just upstream of the valve 16 a second flow passage-

  18 which includes a portion 19 of reduced diameter in which is housed

  a fluid actuated member, such as a mushroom or valve member 20.

  The poppet member 20 is provided with a rod 21 which is guided in an extension or tubular projection 22, which extends upwardly from a threaded pad 23 which is screwed into the casing side wall in such a manner that

  to allow access, where appropriate, to the mushroom element 20.

  The mushroom element 20 is preferably pushed elastically into the position shown in FIG. 1, for example using the spring

  24, although this spring may be unnecessary in some installations.

  when the mushroom is vertically oriented and can return to the closed position by gravity. A permanent magnet 25 of elongate profile is mounted at the upper part of the mushroom 20 so as to

  move along its long axis during a movement of the mushroom.

  The magnet 25 moves while remaining inside the contour of a cavity 26.

  which is defined by a small enclosure projecting from the housing side 10.

  When the valve 16 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, fluid entering the housing, in the direction of the arrow 26, raises the mushroom 20 upwards (looking at Fig. 1), opposed to the force exerted by the spring 24. In a given flow condition which is controlled by the spring 24, the flow of fluid passing through the first passage being adjusted with the aid of the valve 16,

  the mushroom and the magnet 25 are moved to the position

  dashed lines in Figure 1.

248 18 4 0

  A second housing 30 is bolted or otherwise fixed to the housing 10.

  The housing 30 contains an electric or pneumatic switch or switch.

  In the embodiment shown, there is provided an electric switch 31 with sudden action, which comprises an actuating arm 32 displacing contact elements, not shown, between a first and a second

  service position. Preferably, a spring 33 holds the control arm

  in one of its two service positions, as shown in

Figure 1.

  The end of the actuating arm 32 carries a second permanent magnet 34 of elongate profile. This permanent magnet 34 is positioned so as to follow

  a path which is oriented essentially parallel to the travel path of

of the permanent magnet 25.

  According to the present invention, the permanent magnets 25 and 34 are placed so that, in a first operating condition highlighted in FIG. 1 and FIG. SA, the fields generated by the permanent magnets keep the contactor or switch in a service position. This is preferably achieved by giving the permanent magnets polarities which are such that adjacent identical poles of the two magnets are positioned to cooperate to repel the two magnets, the element 34 being away from the magnet. magnet 25 so that the switch 31 is pushed into its first operating position. When the flow of fluid passing through the conduit 13 is sufficient to move the poppet 20 to its open position, represented by dashed lines in FIG. 1 and by solid lines in FIG. 5B, the magnets 25 and 34 are displaced relative to each other so that different poles are adjacent to each other by exerting a strong attraction and moving the magnet 34 downward, looking at 5B, so that the contacts of the switch or switch 31 are brought into the second service position. As fluid flows around the valve or poppet 20 holding it in the up position shown in Figure 5B, the switch or switch is magnetically pushed in an efficient manner.

  and continues, in the second service position.

  Figure 8 shows a variant of the first embodiment.

  Identical parts have been designated by identical reference numerals, while corresponding but modified parts have been

  designated by the same reference numerals, increased by 100.

248 18 4 0

  The mushroom valve 120 is then sealingly applied against a seat 120a. The poppet valve 20 of Figure 1 has no seat. This valve therefore does not establish a complete seal but a small intermediate flow over the valve does not change its operation. To prevent the valve 20 from leaving the chamber 19, the

  buffer 23 has a tubular projection 22 on which the valve rests.

  A projection 21 in the form of pin has been provided on the lower side of the

  valve 20, said projection helping to guide the valve during its movement.

  is lying. The valve 120 shown in FIG. 8 has on its underside a disc-shaped portion 120b, which contributes to increasing the opening speed of the valve when the pressure of the fluid flow becomes

  greater than the spring pressure 24.

  In addition, the separate housing 30 of Figure 1, which contains the switch 31, has been replaced by a portion of the housing designated 110 in Figure 8 and which is integral with the housing 30. The orientation and position of the contactor

  31 have been slightly modified, while spring 33 has been removed.

  With all these changes, we got for the switching system

  a more compact and less expensive structure.

  Although Figures 1 to 5 and Figure 8 show an orientation of the parts in which the two permanent magnets are moved in vertical planes, it goes without saying that this orientation has been given for illustrative purposes only. It is preferable that the parts are oriented in the same plane, both when the system according to the invention is installed in a horizontally oriented duct and in a vertically oriented duct,

  so that the reaction of the parts during the actuation of the system is always

  days exactly the same. Figures 6 and 7 show respectively

  system of the invention in a vertically oriented conduit.

  and in a horizontally oriented conduit. In each case,

  permanent magnets 25 and 34 * are oriented in the same direction.

  Flow operated switching devices arranged in accordance with the present invention are extremely sensitive and have been found to operate in an extremely stable manner. The reliability is established by the permanent magnets, which are two in number and which are polarized so that, in each service position, the magnets push the

  switch or switch towards the intended operating position.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments

  described above, which may be subject to many variations.

248 18 40

Claims (7)

  A switching system responsive to a fluid flow in a passage, characterized in that it comprises a fluid actuated member (20) which is mounted to move in said passage (15) in response to a flow. of fluid, a first permanent magnet (25) of elongate profile which is movable with said fluid actuated element (20), said permanent magnet having poles which are spaced apart from each other along its major axis and being movable by said fluid actuated member along said major axis from a first position corresponding to a lack of fluid flow to a second position in response to a predetermined fluid flow, a second permanent magnet (34) of an elongated profile, having poles spaced apart along the longitudinal axis thereof and being mounted to move along said major axis in an area adjacent to the first magnet p ermanent (25), the longitudinal axes of the first and second permanent magnet being oriented substantially paraillement them, andin that said permanent magnets are positioned relative to each other so that the poles of the magnets repel each other for bringing the second magnet (34) into a switch actuating position (31) when the first magnet (251 is in the first position and attracting each other to bring the second magnet (34) into a second actuating position of switch when the   first magnet is in the second position.   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first permanent magnet (25) is placed inside said fluid passage, and in that   that the second permanent magnet (34) is placed outside said passage.   3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said fluid-actuated element is a poppet valve (20), in that a means (24) is provided for pushing said poppet into a position where flow in said passage is throttled, said poppet (20) being displaceable by a fluid flow to pass the first permanent magnet from the first to the second position and thereby to produce movement of the second magnet into the second actuation position of switch.  4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said permanent magnets (25, 34) are positioned so that ends of identical polarities are spaced apart from each other when the first permanent magnet is in the first position, and in that said magnets repel each other and are positioned side by side with 248 18 40   ends of different polarities that are adjacent when the first   magnet is in the second position.   5.- switching system responsive to the flow of a fluid in a passage, characterized in that it comprises a housing (10) having coaxial inlet and outlet openings (11, 12) and a passageway (15) formed in the housing to permit fluid flow, a poppet valve (20) responsive to the flow and located in the housing (10), said poppet (20) being movable in response to a flow of fluid propagating along an axis which is perpendicular to the axes of said inlet and outlet openings (11, 12), a first permanent magnet (25) of elongated profile which is movable with said mushroom (20), said permanent magnet having its major axis which is oriented parallel to the axis of displacement of the mushroom and having poles spaced along said major axis, said magnet being movable by said mushroom along said axis from a first position corresponding to the no flow fluid in a second position in response to a predetermined fluid flow, in that a second permanent magnet (34) is provided   elongated profile, which has poles spaced along its longitudinal axis   tudinal and which is mounted to move along said axis in an area adjacent to said first permanent magnet (25), the longitudinal axes   first and second permanent magnets (25, 34) being oriented substantially   parallel to one another, in that said permanent magnets are positioned relative to one another so that the poles of the magnets repel each other to bring the second magnet into a switch actuation position when the first magnet is found in the first position, and in such a way that the poles attract each other to   bringing the second magnet into a second switching actuation position   when the first magnet is in the second position.   6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the first permanent magnet is placed inside said fluid passage, and in that   the second permanent magnet is placed outside said passage.   7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said permanent magnets (25, 34) are positioned so that ends of identical polarities are spaced apart from each other when the first permanent magnet is in the first position, and in that said magnets repel each other and are positioned side by side with ends of different polarities which are adjacent when the   first magnet is in the second position.