FR2976328A1 - Regulation device for regulating flow of e.g. mud laden water, taken from e.g. factory, during fire-fighting in industrial environment, has adjustment wheel attached to piston for determining set point pressure to be attained - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a hollow main body (10) traversed by pressurized fluid flow and provided with inlet and outlet orifices (11, 12), and an internal obturator. The obturator is moved longitudinally according to a reciprocating motion of translation inside the body to control pressure to provide the fluid under determined downstream pressure. An isolating plug closes/opens a channel within which pressurized fluid flows upstream, where opening of the plug depends on position of the sensor. An adjustment wheel (33) is attached to a piston for determining a set point pressure to be attained.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for real-time regulation of a fluid flow under pressure, used in particular for fire fighting, transforming an upstream fluid pressure into a downstream fluid pressure as close as possible to a set pressure. . Currently, when firefighters have to obtain water in an industrial area, such as a factory, a warehouse, a shopping center, a parking lot, water supply devices, necessarily provided for this purpose, are available. However, the outlet pressure of the fluid is very variable from one site to another. It can be very high or very low. However, the firefighter's firefighting systems must meet precise standards in order to be effective, particularly with regard to the minimum outlet pressure and / or the fluid flow rate. If the pressure is too high, there is a risk of breakage of equipment, especially when connecting the supply pipes to directly propel the fluid or to fill tanks of a truck.

If the pressure is too low, the propulsion or filling is not done, or not fast enough, which can be dangerous when a fire must be extinguished quickly. Current solutions for reducing the inlet pressure to a desired outlet pressure are not entirely satisfactory because they do not make it possible to manage very wide pressure and flow ranges, are not reactive enough and can not be long enough. adapt in case of sudden pressure change in the network or are too bulky and therefore difficult to transport.

An object of the present invention is therefore to solve the problems mentioned above, using a reliable solution, simple to manufacture, inexpensive, easy to use and optimized in terms of efficiency. Thus, the present invention relates to a device for real-time regulation of a fluid flow under pressure, used in particular for fire fighting, transforming an upstream fluid pressure into a downstream fluid pressure, said device comprising minus: - a hollow main body traversed by the flow of fluid under pressure and provided with an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice and an internal shutter defining an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber of part and of other of the latter, said shutter being movable longitudinally in reciprocating translation movement inside the hollow body to regulate the pressure in order to supply the fluid under a determined downstream pressure, and - an external control unit fixed to the hollow body and connected fluidically to the downstream chamber to the upstream chamber of the latter by at least two independent circuits, the external unit driving the shutter in translation according to a pr setpoint pressure so that the downstream pressure is as close as possible thereto, characterized in that the external control unit comprises at least one. - a housing, - a piston displaceable in translation alternately to the interior of the housing from an extreme forward position to an extreme position retracted under the effect of the downstream pressure, and in the opposite direction under the action of an elastic return means, said piston having an at least locally inclined outer contact track, - a piston displacement sensor housed in a block and mounted secant, for example perpendicular to the latter and permanently resting on the contact track inclined (preferably punctually), said sensor being movable in translation between an extreme end position and an end retracted position, as a function of the longitudinal displacement of the piston in the housing, - a shutter valve closing / opening a channel inside which circulates the fluid under the upstream pressure, the opening of the valve being directly dependent on the position of the sensor, and - an adjustment member linked to the pistons one and to determine a set pressure to reach.

According to preferred embodiments, the device according to the present invention comprises at least one of the following features: the piston bears against a compression spring mounted in a stress bushing connected to the pressure regulating member; setpoint by action on the compression force exerted by said spring; - The inclined contact track of the piston is constituted by a conical outer surface oriented so that, when the piston is in its advanced extreme position, the sensor is in the retracted position and when the piston is in its extreme retracted position, the sensor is in its extreme outward position; - The control unit comprises a first fluid circuit connected to the downstream chamber and sending the fluid to the downstream pressure on the piston for the displacement of the latter from its extreme forward position to its extreme rearward position; - The external control unit also comprises a second fluid circuit connected to the upstream chamber and sending the fluid to the upstream pressure at the valve; the external control unit comprises a secondary channel in fluid communication with an exhaust of said unit in extreme position output from the sensor, or with the second circuit in all the other positions of said sensor, so as to regulate the downstream pressure by acting on the displacement of the shutter via a variable volume control chamber; - The piston is movable and can take any equilibrium position between: * a retracted position in which the downstream pressure is greater than the set pressure so that the sensor is in the extended position, the valve comes into sealing contact against a shoulder of the block, the upstream pressure fluid of the second circuit exerting a pressing force on said valve to maintain this contact, and the secondary channel is released freely via passages to reduce the downstream pressure in the main body until at the set pressure, and * an advanced position in which the downstream pressure is lower than the set pressure so that the sensor is in position at least partially retracted into the block, the valve is raised to isolate the exhaust and releasing the fluid flow between the second circuit and the secondary channel through a passageway so that the fluid exiting the device is lower or equal to the set pressure, as close as possible to the latter; the device comprises retractable feet connected to the main body; the main body is provided with upstream and downstream pressure gauges; and the device is portable and comprises a handle.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to particular embodiments given by way of illustration only and shown in the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pressure regulating device of fluid according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a view from above of FIG. 2; - Figures 4 and 5 are right and left views of Figure 2; - Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line CC of Figure 4; - Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of Figure 2 showing a controller of the device in a first position; - Figure 8 is a detail view in section along the line AA of the control member in the first position; - Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of Figure 2 showing the controller of the device in a second position; and - Figure 10 is a detail view in section along the line AA of the control member in the second position. FIGS. 1 to 6 generally represent a device 1 for regulating the pressure of a fluid according to the present invention, intended to transform an upstream fluid pressure into a downstream fluid pressure as close as possible to a pressure of setpoint. This device, particularly usable by firefighting teams, particularly in industrial settings, is of the portable type and comprises for this purpose an elongated hollow main body 10 provided with lower legs 3 which can be unfolded by rotation so as to place it on the ground stable and a top handle 5 for easy transport. The main body 10 comprises a fluid inlet 11 intended to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid present at the place where the device is installed, for example a water supply circuit of a plant, and an outlet of fluid 12, intended to be connected for example to flexible pipes used by firefighters to propel the pressurized water, or to supply the tanks of a truck provided for this purpose. The inlet 11 and the fluid outlet 12 are normalized, in particular with regard to their diameters and respective connection / blocking means. The hollow body 10 also comprises an inner shutter 20 defining, on either side of the latter and in the direction of flow of the fluid (referenced by the arrow FF), a downstream chamber 21 and an upstream chamber 22. The shutter 20 is movable in translation inside the hollow body 10 in a reciprocating movement to and fro causing a change in volume of a variable volume control chamber 15 to regulate the pressure of the fluid in order to provide a determined downstream pressure as close as possible to a set pressure. The shutter 20 comprises for this purpose a slightly flexible head 23 (mounted for example on a ball joint) adapted to bear, in a fully closed state of said shutter 20, that is to say with the control chamber 15 occupying a minimum volume, against a sealing seat 24, and to move more or less away from said seat 24 against compression springs 28 and 29 to an end position abutting against a bearing surface 16 in which the pilot chamber 15 occupies its maximum volume in order to allow the flow of the fluid under pressure. The reciprocating movements of the shutter 20 are controlled by a control unit 30 fluidly connected to the variable volume control chamber 15. This control unit 30 is placed outside the hollow body 10 and will be described more in detail below, particularly in relation to FIGS. 7 to 10 describing its mode of operation. The external control unit 30 is fixed to the hollow body 10, close to the handle 5, and is fluidly connected to the downstream chamber 21 by a first circuit 31, and to the upstream chamber 22 by a second circuit 32 independent of the first circuit. This control unit 30 makes it possible to fix a setpoint pressure by means of a wheel 33 mounted at one end of a housing 34, and acts in order to match as much as possible the outlet pressure with said set pressure, as will be explained later. The housing 34 encloses a piston 35 that can be moved alternately in translation from a first advanced end position (FIGS. 7 and 8) to an extreme retracted position (FIGS. 9 and 10) under the effect of the downstream pressure, and in the direction inverse under the action of an elastic return means 36 such as a compression spring housed in a stress sleeve 37 whose bottom rests against a rod 39 of the control wheel 33. The housing 34 further comprises a purge 27 of the piston 35 disposed near the first circuit 31.

The piston 35 is of conical shape and has for this purpose an inclined outer track 38 on which permanently rests a point contact end 41 of a displacement sensor 40 mounted to move in translation in a block 42 of the control unit 30 between an extreme end position and an extreme position retracted as a function of the longitudinal displacement of the piston 35 in the case 34.

More precisely, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 to 10, the conical outer surface 38 of the piston 35 is oriented so that, when the piston 35 is in its extreme forward position (FIGS. 7 and 8), the sensor 40 is in extreme position retracted (or high) and, when the piston 35 is in its extreme rearward position (Figures 9 and 10), the sensor 40 is in its extreme (or low) output position. The sensor 40 is adapted to move in translation a shutter valve 43 to allow the passage of fluid in different passages 45 and 47 according to its position, the opening of the valve 43 being directly dependent on the position of the sensor 40. A this effect, the sensor 40 has, at its end opposite to the point contact end 41, a sealed annular bearing surface 48.

As previously mentioned, the movement of the piston 35 to move from the advanced position (FIG. 7) to the retracted position (FIG. 9) is determined by the downstream pressure prevailing in the downstream chamber 21 of the hollow main body 10, behind the shutter 20.

More specifically, in operation, the first fluid circuit 31 (so-called "subcapping" circuit) connected to the downstream chamber 21 sends fluid to the downstream pressure on the piston 35, against the spring's elastic return force. 36, which determines, by its stiffness and its length, the set pressure to be reached. In operation, the downstream pressure is substantially equal to the set reference pressure when there is an equilibrium of the forces exerted on said piston 35, that is to say when it no longer moves or remains substantially static. In this position, called stability, the position of the piston 35 is a reflection of the downstream pressure. Meanwhile, the second fluid circuit 32 connected to the upstream chamber 22 sends the fluid to the upstream pressure at the valve 43. The control unit 30 further comprises a secondary channel 25 that can be connected to an exhaust 26 of said unit in extreme position output of the sensor, or second pressure fluid circuit 32 in all other positions of said sensor 40, when the valve 43 is more or less raised, as will be explained. Thus, the piston 35 is movable in translation and can take any position of equilibrium between: - an advanced position (which can go to an end to an extreme position) shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and in which the downstream pressure is less than the set pressure so that the sensor 40 is in position at least partially retracted into the block 42. In this state, the valve 43 is lifted by the annular surface 48 of the sensor 40, creating a seal with the latter, so as to isolate the exhaust 26 by closing the passage 47 and to release the fluid flow (arrows E1) between the second circuit 32 and the secondary channel 25, then the control chamber 15, this via the passage 45 so that the fluid leaving the device 1 is less than or equal to the set pressure, as close as possible to the latter, and - a retracted position (which can go to an end to an extreme position) illustrated by the FIGS. 9 and 10 and in which the downstream pressure is greater than the set pressure so that the sensor 40 is in the extended position. In this state, the valve 43 comes into sealing contact against a shoulder 46 of the block 42, the upstream pressure fluid of the second circuit 32 exerting a pressing force on said valve 43 to maintain this contact, and the secondary channel 25 is placed at the free exhaust 26 (arrows E2) via the passages 45 and 47 to reduce the downstream pressure in the main body 10 to the set pressure. The operation summarized above of the device 1 according to the present invention is essentially based on that of the control unit 30. Thus, after setting a setpoint downstream pressure by means of the rotary control wheel 33, which therefore acts by crushing / loosening the length of the spring 36, the device 1 is pressurized. The fluid then enters the inlet 11 and enters the upstream chamber 22. As a function of this upstream pressure and the set pressure, the control member 30 continuously reads the downstream pressure and thereby operates by controlling the following way. Either the upstream pressure is higher than the set pressure. In this case, the objective of the control unit 30 is to maintain the outlet outlet pressure at the set pressure whatever the variations of the upstream pressure and the flow rate. A part of the water of the control chamber 15 is thus evacuated by the purge 26 to reduce the pressure in the downstream chamber 21. The control chamber 15 decreases in volume which has the effect of displacing the head 23 of the shutter 20 to the sealing seat 24. When the upstream pressure changes, while remaining higher than the set pressure, the piston 35 moves (arrows F1 and F2) alternately (depending on whether the pressure increases or decreases) and a quantity more or less fluid is discharged through the purge 26. As the upstream pressure can vary continuously (considering that the set pressure is fixed), the piston 35 also oscillates permanently according to the arrows F1 and F2 to find a equilibrium position, causing the rise and fall of the sensor 40 according to the arrows T1 and T2 to create a seal between the valve 43 and either the shoulder 46 of the block 42, or the annular bearing surface 48 of the sensor 40, mo thereby increasing the volume of the control chamber 15 acting on the reciprocating displacement of the shutter 20.

Either the upstream pressure is lower than the set pressure. In this second case, the objective is to create a minimum pressure drop so that the downstream pressure is as close as possible to the set pressure. The upstream pressure fluid is then introduced into the secondary channel 25 and allows the displacement of the shutter 20 at the rear stop to open the maximum opening of the fluid passage 24 and seek to reach the set pressure. In this case, the control chamber 15 occupies its maximum volume. To enable real-time verification of the various pressures involved, the device comprises upstream and downstream pressure gauges 72 visible from outside the main body.

It goes without saying that the detailed description of the subject of the invention, given solely by way of illustration, does not in any way constitute a limitation, the technical equivalents also being included in the scope of the present invention.

Thus, the fluid can also be a water loaded with foam or sludge. The track may take other forms than a straight line of a conical profile, for example hyperbolic, since there is a gradient or a difference in level to move the sensor when the piston moves. The sensor is preferably orthogonal to the piston track at the point of contact, but may be inclined. The contact between the sensor and the piston track is preferably punctual but it can be formed by several points of contact or even by a surface.

Claims (8)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for regulating (1) in real time a fluid flow under pressure, used in particular for fire fighting, transforming an upstream fluid pressure into a downstream fluid pressure, said device comprising at least: a hollow main body (10) traversed by the fluid flow under pressure and provided with an inlet port (11), an outlet port (12) and an internal shutter (20) defining an upstream chamber (22) and a downstream chamber (21) on either side of the latter, said shutter (20) being movable longitudinally in reciprocating translation movement inside the hollow body (10) to regulate the pressure in order to supply the fluid under a predetermined downstream pressure, and - an external control unit (30) fixed to the hollow body (10) and fluidly connected to the downstream chamber (21) and to the upstream chamber (22) thereof by at least two circuits independent (31; 32), the external unit (30) driving the shutter (2 0) in translation as a function of a set pressure so that the downstream pressure is as close as possible to it, characterized in that the external control unit (30) comprises at least. - a housing (34), - a piston (35) movable in translation alternately inside the housing (34) from an extreme end position to an extreme position retracted under the effect of the downstream pressure, and in the opposite direction under the action of an elastic return means (36), said piston (35) having an at least locally inclined external contact track (38), - a piston displacement sensor (40) (35) housed in a block (42) and secant mounted, for example perpendicular to the latter and permanently resting on the inclined contact track (38), said sensor (40) being movable in translation between an extreme end position and an extreme position retracted, as a function of the longitudinal displacement of the piston (35) in the housing (34), - a shut-off valve (43) closing / opening a channel (45) inside which the fluid flows under the upstream pressure, opening of the valve (43) being directly dependent on the position of the (40), and - an adjusting member (33) connected to the piston (35) and for determining a target pressure to be reached. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston (35) bears against a compression spring (36) mounted in a stress sleeve (37) connected to the adjusting member (33) of the pressure of set by action on the compression force exerted by said spring. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inclined contact track (38) of the piston is constituted by a conical outer surface oriented so that, when the piston (35) is in its extreme forward position, the sensor (40) is in the retracted position and, when the piston (35) is in its extreme retracted position, the sensor (40) is in its extreme extended position. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external control unit (30) comprises a first fluid circuit (31) connected to the downstream chamber (21) and sending the fluid to the downstream pressure. on the piston (35) for the displacement of the latter from its extreme forward position to its extreme rearward position. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external control unit (30) also comprises a second fluid circuit (32) connected to the upstream chamber (22) and sending the fluid to the pressure upstream at the valve (43). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the external control unit (30) comprises a secondary channel (25) in fluid communication with either an exhaust (26) of said unit in extreme position output of the sensor (40). ), or with the second circuit (32) in all the other positions of said sensor (40), so as to regulate the downstream pressure by acting on the displacement of the shutter via a control chamber (15) to variable volume. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the piston (35) is movable and can take any position of equilibrium between: - a retracted position in which the downstream pressure is greater than the set pressure so that the sensor (40) is in the extended position, the valve (43) comes into sealing contact against a shoulder (46) of the block (42), the upstream pressure fluid of the second circuit (32) exerting a pressing force on said valve ( 43) to maintain this contact, and the secondary channel (25) is vented freely (26) via passages (45, 47) to decrease the downstream pressure in the main body (10) to the pressure set point, and 15 - an advanced position in which the downstream pressure is lower than the set pressure so that the sensor (40) is in position at least partially retracted into the block (42), the valve (43) is raised to isolate the exhaust (26) and release the circulation of fluid between second circuit (32) and the secondary channel (25) via a passage (47) so that device (1) is less than or equal to the according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that (3) related to the main body. 9. Device according to previous, characterized in upstream pressure gauges 10. Device according to 30 previous, characterized by gripping handle (5). the fluid leaving the set pressure, closer to the latter. 8. Device that includes retractable feet any of claims that the main body is provided with (71) and downstream (72). any of the claims that it is portable and has a