FR2579068A1 - Device intended to direct a flow of liquid towards an outlet chosen from among several others and applications of such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device intended to direct a flow of liquid to one output chosen from among several others. Such a device 1 includes a movable element C carrying out a cam function, capable of placing, opposite each output S1 to Sn, a ball b1 to bn either in high position such that it then blocks the output S1, S2, S3, S5, S6 with which it is associated, or in low position such that it is resting on the bottom of the corresponding cavity C4, and it b4 frees the passage in the region of the output concerned S4. An intermediate plate B serves as a guide for the balls b1 to bn and a membrane 20 provides sealing of the chamber V, itself linked to the input E of the fluid. The applications of a device according to the invention lie mainly in the field of sequential watering systems.

Description

DEVICE FOR DIRECTING A FLOW OF LIQUID
TOWARDS A SELECTED EXIT FROM SEVERAL OTHERS
AND APPLICATIONS OF SUCH A DEVICE
The invention relates to a device intended to direct a flow of liquid towards an outlet chosen from among several others. It also relates to the applications of such a device.

The problem often arises from a single arrival of liquid, to open or close at will one or the other of a plurality of outlets
For example, when from a single source, it is desired to supply several watering points sequentially, it is most often, in the current state of the art, to call on organs such as solenoid valves which allow effectively the passage or the interruption of the liquid Such a switching, towards an exit at the same time, has the advantage of preserving the pressure of the inlet fluid (except for the pressure drop in line) When watering, better pressure allows 'spread the watered area. But known systems are expensive and difficult to set up. The cost of the assembly therefore increases very quickly with the number of directions of the fluid to be controlled.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and relates to a device which is provided with extremely simple switching means, in the form of a member which, receiving the fluid, distributes it by releasing or obstructing on demand, a chosen outlet in advance by simple rotation of a control cylinder cooperating with a set of shutter balls.

The invention also relates to an application of said device which is more particularly situated in the field of watering.
It relates more precisely to a device intended to direct a flow of liquid towards an outlet chosen from among several others, comprising an inlet orifice connected to the fluid supply source and a plurality of outlets, characterized in that at each outlet is associated the combination of a shutter ball and at least one cavity carried by a movable member so that depending on the position of the movable member, the balls are either in the high position, pressed against the outlet orifices, either in the low position, bearing at the bottom of the cavity then releasing the outlet concerned.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the explanations which follow and of the appended figures among which
- Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram.

 - Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a first alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention.

 - Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second variant of a device according to the invention.

 - Figures 5 and 6 (referenced 5a and 5b) are an illustration, plan view, of two examples of structure of the two essential parts of a device according to the invention and cooperating with each other.

 - Figure 7 schematically illustrates another alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention.

 - Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the implementation of an example of application of a device according to the invention.

 - Figure 9 shows an example of a control unit suitable for an application of a device according to the invention.

 For the sake of clarity, the same elements are given the same references in all the figures.

A device 1 in accordance with the invention is intended, as shown in FIG. 1, to direct the outlet of a fluid introduced into a chamber (V) by an inlet E and connected to the outside by a plurality of outlets S1,
S2, S3 ... If ... Sn. There is therefore an input E and as many directions possible for the fluid as there are outputs Sl ... Sn. It is sort of a hydraulic "demultiplexer".

 A first embodiment of a device 1, according to the invention is illustrated by means of Figure 2, supplemented by Figure 3 which is an illustration of an enlarged detail of the previous figure. Such a device 1 comprises a body 2 consisting of a base 3 with two side walls 4 and 5 and an upper plate A. Inside this body is trapped a movable member C which, in the example described here , is a cylinder whose axis xx 'is carried by two bearings 7 and 8, which allows it to impart a rotational movement symbolized by the arrow R in one direction or the other. This movement is obtained either manually or using a motor, for example of the stepping type.

 According to an important characteristic of the invention, the upper plate A has as many outlet orifices S1, S2, S3 ... Sn (in the example described n = 6) as required by the application concerned, as well as 'an inlet orifice E intended to put the device in communication with a fluid supply source not shown in the figure. The set of balls bl, b2 ... bn in a number equal to the number of outlet ports Sl ... Sn is trapped between the upper plate A and the external surface of the cylinder C. These balls are positioned opposite each of the outlet ports and, this positioning is guaranteed thanks to the presence of an intermediate plate B comprising as many perforations (P1, P2 ... Pn) as there are balls, these perforations having a diameter very slightly greater than that of the balls bl ... bn.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, this external surface of the cylinder C comprises a set of cavities C1, C2, C3 ... Cn (n = 6 in the example chosen) in a number equal to both that of the outputs ( Sl ... Sn), to that of the positioning lights (Pl ... Pn) formed in the intermediate plate B, and, to that of the balls (bl ... bn). According to the invention, these cavities (Ci ... Cn) are located at the intersections of the vertical planes passing through the center of the balls (bl ... bn) and the meridians offset by 2n- / n.

It follows that, as a function of the relative position of the cylinder and of the upper plate A, the balls occupy either a high position, as is the case in the figures for the balls bl, b2, b3, b5, b6, or a low position, that is to say in support in one of the cavities - this case is illustrated in the two figures at the level of the ball b4 resting at the bottom of the cavity
C4.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, a membrane 20 made integral with the intermediate plate B or forming an integral part thereof, covers the balls (bl to bn) and constitutes a tight barrier thus delimiting the chamber or free volume (V ), in which is distributed the fluid introduced into the device from the inlet orifice E.

The seal at the junction of the walls of the body 2 and the intermediate plate is produced in a known manner by any suitable means.

 This membrane 20 is made of elastic material and may include a bellows 21. It therefore has two functions: firstly to contribute to the sealing at the outlets closed by a ball, secondly to prevent the passage of the fluid from the free volume to the cavity (Ci ... Cn) of cylinder C in which a ball rests (bl ... bn).

 To further improve the seal at each ball blocking an outlet orifice (Sl ... Sn), the material and the configuration of the profile constituting the lips 25 of the outlet orifices (S1 to Sn) are produced so that 'They have an elasticity and a deformation such that the balls (bl to bn) covered with their membrane 20 are applied against it creating a maximum seal. To avoid deformation under the effect of pressure, it is possible to drown, within the material constituting this intermediate plate B, a layer 30 of a rigid material.

 In the example which has just been described, the plate A has a planar face situated in a plane parallel to the axis xx 'of the cylinder C.

According to another alternative embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention, and as shown in FIG. 4, this same upper plate
A has a flat face but, this time, in a plane perpendicular to the axis xx 'of the movable member C which, in this case, is a circular plate parallel to the previous one. They therefore both have a circular section in this case. We find in this figure 4, drilled in the upper plate A, the outlet orifices (Sl ... Sn) as well as the inlet orifice E which may be central, therefore focused on the axis of rotation xx 'of the member C of which it is the flat face 40, perpendicular to the said axis xx 'which comprises a cavity (C1), visible in this figure 4. This member C is held in place by means of a support plate 41 and d 'a bearing 42.

A drive motor 43 gives it its rotational movement symbolized by the arrow R. A power cable 45, via a control circuit 46, supplies the motor 43. It can also supply a solenoid valve 50 placed on the fluid inlet circuit 51 connected to the inlet orifice E of the upper plate A, the function of which will be explained below. This can be integrated into the device, as in the case of the figure, or placed externally to the latter, on the normal supply circuit.

FIGS. 5a and 5b, 6a and 6b illustrate two examples of the distribution of the ball outlet orifices (bl to bn) and of the cavity (C1) formed in the movable member C, the radius rl being identical. In both cases, (n), chosen by way of nonlimiting example for the number of these orifices and / or these balls, is 12, hence the numbering from 1 to 12 in FIGS. 5 and 6. However , in the case of FIG. 6a, this distribution is such that the distance D2 between one output and the next (for example S1 and S2) is greater than the corresponding distance D1 obtained in the configuration illustrated by means of FIG. 5. leads to greater accessibility and therefore to a simpler installation later on, to @ s fittings or plugs, etc. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6b, two cavities are provided in the movable member C, on the same radius but, at a distance Fi for the cavity Ci eC, r2 r2 for the cavity C'î. To position the balls (b1-bn) located on two concentric circles r1 and r2, two cavities C1 and C'1 are therefore provided, describing, during the rotation of the movable member C, circles identical to cen ::: connecting the centers of the beads
Figure 7 is another embodiment of a device i according to the invention. These are two concentric cylinders, one constituting the upper plate A which remains fixed and the other, the internal cylinder C which is movable Here again, an intermediate plate and a membrane 20 perform the same function as in the previously described versions.

 Several parts of the device 1 can be a rubber-based material resistant to the liquids used and easily obtained by a hot stamping and vulcanization operation. The movable member C C can be obtained by molding and machining.

 The operation of such a device is summarized below. The cylinder C (or the movable member, in general) is positioned so that the outlet being chosen for the evacuation of the liquid, the ball concerned is located at the bottom of the cavity, thus releasing the corresponding outlet. The other balls are then in the high position and obstruct the corresponding orifices of the volume V. The liquid entering through the inlet orifice E therefore escapes from the volume V through the free outlet concerned.

 During the switching operation, it is by birbe during the rotation of the movable member C which brings a ball into a cavity, releasing another which returns to its high position, it may be advantageous to neutralize the arrival of the fluid, this to release the assembly from too high a pressure.

For this, we equip, as has already been described by means of FIG. 4, the device 1 of a solenoid valve 50. An example of time diagram corresponding to this sequence is illustrated by means of FIG. 8. In (a ) is shown the control duration T during which
V solenoid valve will neutralize the arrival of the fluid. It is therefore inside this time Tc that we will proceed to the movement of the movable member C intended to bring a cavity facing the ball which is associated with it and which therefore, automatically, falls into said cavity, releasing thus the output concerned. For example, if the output Sj is open, the movement will take place when it is desired to close this output Sj by placing the corresponding ball bj (j being an arbitrary reference corresponding to one of the outputs S1 to Sn) in the high position and, on the other hand, open an outlet (Sj + 1). The time T therefore covers the switching order from the channel Sj to the channel Sj + 1. At the time tO, the solenoid valve is therefore closed; this has a switching time tc which varies significantly depending on the type of solenoid valve. As shown in the diagram (line b), this solenoid valve is kept closed for the time T defined above. Then, as illustrated in (c) on the diagram, a delay time (tl - t0) greater than tc is established to enhance the protection of the membranes before initiating the movement of the city associated with the exit Sj which, until then , was therefore busy and whose reaction time is equal to (t2 - tl). The movable member continues its course until ten! Ps t3 where the ball associated with the output Sj + 1 begins its fall in the corresponding cavity, fall which will last the time corresponding to (t4 - t3). rotation of the movable member is (t4 - tI). The output Sj + i es. then open and ready to release the fluid which will be introduced into the volume V by opening the solenoid valve at time t5, the time (t4 - tl) being in any case comprised in time (t5 - to = T ). It is certain that the solenoid valve will indeed block the arrival of the fluid during the movement of the movable member playing the function of a cam and therefore during the passage of the balls concerned from the high position to the low position and vice versa.

 An example of application of a device according to the invention is illustrated by means of FIG. 9 which schematically represents the front face of a control box of a sequential sprinkler equipped with: a device according to the invention. This set allows you to order different watering programs. On the front of this box appear the various programmable functions. The front face of this box 70 comprises three pushers 71, 72, 73 corresponding respectively to the hours (H), minutes (MN) and seconds (S) corresponding to the current time appearing on the screen 75, for example, thanks to to a display by light-emitting diodes (LED) or by liquid crystals (LCD).

 Two types of operation are provided in the example chosen.

A first operating mode is established automatically by action on the pusher 76 which controls the blocks 77, 91 and 102, called the start of automatic watering. The pushers 81 and 82 make it possible to display the hours (H) and the minutes (MN) on the screen 80 chosen for the start of the operation which will actually occur when there is a coincidence between the coordinates hours, minutes of screen 75 and those programmed and displayed on screen 80 of block 77.

 A second type of operation governed by the pusher 83 which controls the blocks 91 and 102, authorizing manual operation.

The watering cycle is thus controlled on demand, by the operator, whatever the hour.

 Finally, to inhibit all this, a third command button, called initialization - 83, allows, when a cycle is started, to stop it without any modification of the automatic or manual choice already made.

 In the event of automatic operation requested, the cycle will start again at the new coincidence of the current time with the watering start time displayed on the screen 80.

 We can consider that a watering cycle includes the successive supply of all the existing outputs (S1 to Sn). It is then possible to program, using the push-button 90 controlling the block 91 which governs the number of cycles displayed in (x), a command from 1 to 9 cycles. This control 90 is operational in automatic or manual operation.

 Then comes the duration of watering. It is possible to program a watering time per output (S1, S2ooS12) between zero and 99 minutes. In FIG. 9, the control block for the duration of the opening time of each of the outputs from 1 to 12 is illustrated by means of an example of time taken quite arbitrarily such as 15 min for the output 1, 0 for exit 3 and 23 min for exit 11, etc. an on 100 and off 101 switch controls the box 70.

A microprocessor and integrated circuits will be implemented
to allow the realization of all the functions previously described:
time elaboration, counting, engine control, etc.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to overcome the
need to block each outlet by an independent solenoid valve,
which leads, as previously stated, to sets
very expensive. A simple cam in the form of an organ
mobile provided with cavities and capable of positioning balls in position
high or low position performs the same function.

The switching of the outputs is ensured by means of a motor, by
example of the type step by step. Only the possible presence of a solenoid valve
connected to the general fluid inlet, allows the flow to be interrupted
liquid at the inlet so as not to overload the internal membranes
ensuring Pétanchélte.

The applications of such a device are numerous and are located
especially in the area of watering. They are also found in the food industry, chemistry. By associating a working module
in multiplexer and another in demultiplexer, we can transfer
different fluids in specific containers or, mix
(of different nature or temperature). Such a device, compliant
to the invention, can also be applied in the field of agriculture,
especially for filling animal water tanks.

Claims (10)

 1) Device intended to direct a flow of fluid towards an outlet chosen from among several others, comprising an inlet orifice (E) connected to the source of fluid supply external to the device, and a plurality of outlets (S1 to Sn) , this input (E) and these outputs (S1 to Sn) being characterized in that each output (S1 to Sn) is associated with a combination of a ball (bl to bn) and a cavity (C1 to Cn) carried by a movable member (C) so that depending on the position of this movable member (C), one of the balls (b1 ... bn) is in coincidence with the cavity (Cl ... Cn) which corresponds to it and then falls in the low position at the bottom of this cavity, thereby freeing the passage of the liquid at the outlet (Sl ... Sn) associated; the other balls remaining in the high position, pressed against the outlets associated therewith and thus preventing, at this level, the outlet of the fluid contained in said chamber (V).  2) Device 1 according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of an upper plate A supporting the outputs (S1 to Sn) and the input (E), an intermediate plate (B) comprising as many d '' openings (P1 to Pn) that there are outlets and, positioned facing them, with a diameter very slightly greater than the diameter of the balls (b1 to bn), means such as a bearing (7, 8, 42 ) supporting the axis (xx ') of the movable member (C) allowing the latter to rotate relative to this axis (xx'), the balls (bl to ba) then being positioned between the plate (A) and the external surface of the movable member (C), guided through the openings (P1 to Pn) and capped by a sealing membrane (20) which delimits the chamber (V).  3) Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the upper plate (A) is a flat surface located in a plane parallel to the axis (xx ') of the movable member (C) which, in this case, is a cylinder trapped in the body (2) of the device.  4) Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the plate (A) is a planar surface of circular seetion positioned in a plane perpendicular to the axis (xx ') of the movable member (C) .  5) Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the plate (A) is a fixed cylinder and the movable member (C), a concentric movable cylinder of the previous one.  6) Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a solenoid valve is interposed between the input (E) and the power source, and actuated so that it is in the blocking position therefore interrupting the fluid on arrival for the duration of the movement of the movable member (C).  7) Application of at least one device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in supplying sequentially, according to a plurality of directions, a system.  8) Application according to claim 7, characterized in that this system is equipped with a control box (70) capable of adjusting the operation in automatic and manual mode with a complementary initialization function.  9) Application according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that means (102) are provided for adjusting the duration of passage of fluid at each outlet (1 to n), the movements of movable member (C ) then being subject to said means (102).  10) Application according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said system is a sprinkler system.