GB1587669A - Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches - Google Patents

Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1587669A
GB1587669A GB33038/77A GB3303877A GB1587669A GB 1587669 A GB1587669 A GB 1587669A GB 33038/77 A GB33038/77 A GB 33038/77A GB 3303877 A GB3303877 A GB 3303877A GB 1587669 A GB1587669 A GB 1587669A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
valve
hot water
motor
thermostat
heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB33038/77A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United Gas Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
United Gas Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Gas Industries Ltd filed Critical United Gas Industries Ltd
Priority to GB33038/77A priority Critical patent/GB1587669A/en
Publication of GB1587669A publication Critical patent/GB1587669A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
    • F24D19/1066—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for the combination of central heating and domestic hot water
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
    • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D23/1927—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors
    • G05D23/193—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces
    • G05D23/1931—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces to control the temperature of one space
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
    • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D23/275—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/16—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. for a door switch, a limit switch, a floor-levelling switch of a lift

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Steam Or Hot-Water Central Heating Systems (AREA)

Description

(54) FLUID VALVE ACTUATOR CONTROLLED BY ELECTRIC SWITCHES (71) We, UNITED GAS INDUSTRIES LIMI TED of 3-4 Bentinck Street, London, W1M 6DH, a British company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to fluid valve actuators, i.e. means for driving fluid valves to selected positions when required, controlled by electric switches The invention provides a fluid valve actuator comprising a housing containing an electric motor connected through a clutch to a rotational output driving spindle having means for connection to a valve, means for manually turning said output driving spindle independently of the motor, cam means connected to be driven by said output driving spindle and three electrical switches each operated by said cam means at s different rotational position thereof, each said different position being related to a predetermined valve opening position, electrical connections between the motor and selected ones 6f said cam-operated switches so that the selected switch starts and stops said motor, and a relay operating switching devices for selecting which of said cam-operated switches is to be energised.
The relay and its switching devices may have connections for connection to two thermostats, for instance a room thermostat and a hot water thermostat of a central heating and hot water heating system, whereby the operation of the relay and switches energizes selected ones of said cam-operated switches thereby causing the motor to operate until said cam changes over the energized switch.
Preferably there is a connection for energizing a boiler and pump of a central heating and hot water system, the connection only being energized when the motor is at rest.
The invention according to another aspect comprises a combination of a valve actuator and a fluid valve, and its inclusion in a central heating and hot water system having also a programmer and room and hot water thermostat, said room thermostat being connected to energize said relay.
A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in which: Figure 1 is side view of a valve actuator, with part of the housing cut away, Figure 2 is a section through a valve for use with the actuator of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of the actuator of Figure 1, with part of the housing cut away, Figure 4 is a top view of part of the actuator of Figure 1, Figure 5 is an underneath view of the actuator part of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of the electrical parts of the valve actuator and a central heating system in which it may be installed.
The actuator is intended for operating a three port valve shown in Figure 2. This valve has three flow lines 11, 12, 13 and a valve shoe 14 rotatable with spindle 15. In a first position, as shown, the shoe is closing flow line 13. It may be rotated to a second position to close line 11 or, as described hereinafter, may take up a third, intermediate, position in which lines 11 and 13 are both fully open. Line 12 is an inlet line for hot water, line 11 leads to a domestic hot water heating system, while line 13 leads to a central heating radiator system. The opening to line 12 is enlarged at one part (not shown) so that as shoe 14 passes it, it is never fully closed.
Spindle 15 has a notched end 16 for engagement by a driving spindle 18 (Figures 1 and 3) of the actuator 19. In use, the actuator 19 is mounted on the valve and held there by spring clips 20, which engage in retaining notches (not shown) on the valve body.
The actuator has a synchronous motor 22 (Figure 3), and drives a gear box 23. An output shaft 24 from the gear box, off centre to the motor drive, is driven through a clutch from the gear box. Shaft 24 carries a cam 25 (seen best in Figure 5). A set of three microswitches 26, 27, 28 are arranged round the cam so as to be operated thereby. The output shaft 24 is either integral with or connected to drive the said driving spindle 18, and also extends in the opposite direction to spindle 18 to a manually rotatable end member 301.
The object of the microswitches 26, 27, 28 is to allow the valve to be driven into any selected one of the three operating positions described above and there halted.
Beside the motor 22 is mounted a relay unit 29 (Figure 1) comprising a solenoid 30 and two switches 36, 38 operated thereby (Figure 6).
In Figure 6 the electrical parts of actuator 19 are shown in box 191, the rest of the diagram comprising the electrical parts of a programme-controlled central heating and hot water system. A programmer 32 determines at which periods the central heating or hot water may be operated. A room thermostat 33 and a hot water cylinder thermostat 34 determine whether or not the central heating and hot water systems require heat. Therefore the requirement for the hot water system to be operating, for instance, is that both the programmer is set for the hot water system to be operating and the hot water thermostat is calling for more heat.
If the programmer is timed for hot water only, then the hot water thermostat 34 will be energized. In the position shown in Figure 6, the thermostat indicates that more heat is required. In this condition line 41 is energized and the two-position switch 36 (one of the two relay-operated switches) supplies power to microswitch 28. The position of the three microswitches 26, 27, 28 corresponds to the valve position in which only line 11 is open, line 13 being completely closed. Microswitch 28 supplies power to the boiler 43 and pump 42, but motor 22 is not in circuit. Therefore the system begins to pump hot water through line 11 to the hot water cylinder.
When the hot water thermostat is satisfied its switch changes over and energizes line 40.
This cuts off power to the boiler and pump which thereby stop, but because switch 38 (the other of the two relay-operated) switches, is open no alternative connection is made either to the boiler and pump or to the motor 22. The valve therefore remains in the selected position and does not return to an intermediate or rest position. When the hot water thermostat calles for heat again, therefore, no valve movement is required.
If the programmer is timed for central heating then the room thermostat 33 is energized, and if this thermostat is calling for heat then line 35 is energized and the solenoid of relay 30.
This changes over both switches 38 and 36 from the positions shown. Whether the hot water thermostat is calling for heat or not, the motor 22 will be energized either through switch 38, line 39 and microswitch 26 or through switch 36, line 44 and microswitch 28. However, the boiler 43 and pump 42 will not be energized. The motor 22 therefore starts to rotate the valve until the cam 25 breaks its energizing circuit. The microswitches are positioned relative to the cam so that if the hot water thermostat is calling for heat and therefore the motor is being energized via microswitch 28, then the circuit will be broken when the valve has reached its third intermediate position in which available heat is shared between the central heating and hot water systems. When microswitch 28 changes over to break the motor circuit it makes a connection powering the boiler and pump. No heat is therefore supplied until the valve has reached its correct position.
Similarly, if the hot water thermostat is not calling for heat, the motor is being energized via microswitch 26, and the motor circuit will then be broken when the valve has reached the position in which line 13 is fully open and line 12 fully closed.
It will be appreciated that using this sytem no heat is wasted by boiler operation with the valve incorrectly positioned. Because the valve remains in the selected position until a change is called for (i.e. does not return to any base position between operations) wear on the valve is kept to a minimum.
The intermediate position of the valve provides 60% of the heat to the central heating system, 40% to the hot water system, by virtue of a restricted entry to line 11 (Figure 2).
As seen best in Figures 3 and 4 the motor, gearbox, microswitches and relay all fit neatly beneath a common housing and the electrical connections between these parts are all factory made. In installation the valve itself is fitted into the plumbed system and the actuator as a single unit is then pushed onto the valve so that driving connection 16, 18 is made and held in place by spring clips 20. In order to check the operation of the actuator the end member 301 is manually rotated. This may be a member having a cross slot which can be engaged by a coin, so that no tools are needed. Rotation of member 301 over-rides the clutch allowing the output shaft to be turned to check the operation of the valve without rotating the motor.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A fluid valve actuator comprising a housing containing an electric motor connected through a clutch to a rotational output driving spindle having means for connection to a valve, means for manually turning said output driving spindle independently of the motor, cam means connected to be driven by said output driving spindle and three elec
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. from the gear box. Shaft 24 carries a cam 25 (seen best in Figure 5). A set of three microswitches 26, 27, 28 are arranged round the cam so as to be operated thereby. The output shaft 24 is either integral with or connected to drive the said driving spindle 18, and also extends in the opposite direction to spindle 18 to a manually rotatable end member 301. The object of the microswitches 26, 27, 28 is to allow the valve to be driven into any selected one of the three operating positions described above and there halted. Beside the motor 22 is mounted a relay unit 29 (Figure 1) comprising a solenoid 30 and two switches 36, 38 operated thereby (Figure 6). In Figure 6 the electrical parts of actuator 19 are shown in box 191, the rest of the diagram comprising the electrical parts of a programme-controlled central heating and hot water system. A programmer 32 determines at which periods the central heating or hot water may be operated. A room thermostat 33 and a hot water cylinder thermostat 34 determine whether or not the central heating and hot water systems require heat. Therefore the requirement for the hot water system to be operating, for instance, is that both the programmer is set for the hot water system to be operating and the hot water thermostat is calling for more heat. If the programmer is timed for hot water only, then the hot water thermostat 34 will be energized. In the position shown in Figure 6, the thermostat indicates that more heat is required. In this condition line 41 is energized and the two-position switch 36 (one of the two relay-operated switches) supplies power to microswitch 28. The position of the three microswitches 26, 27, 28 corresponds to the valve position in which only line 11 is open, line 13 being completely closed. Microswitch 28 supplies power to the boiler 43 and pump 42, but motor 22 is not in circuit. Therefore the system begins to pump hot water through line 11 to the hot water cylinder. When the hot water thermostat is satisfied its switch changes over and energizes line 40. This cuts off power to the boiler and pump which thereby stop, but because switch 38 (the other of the two relay-operated) switches, is open no alternative connection is made either to the boiler and pump or to the motor 22. The valve therefore remains in the selected position and does not return to an intermediate or rest position. When the hot water thermostat calles for heat again, therefore, no valve movement is required. If the programmer is timed for central heating then the room thermostat 33 is energized, and if this thermostat is calling for heat then line 35 is energized and the solenoid of relay 30. This changes over both switches 38 and 36 from the positions shown. Whether the hot water thermostat is calling for heat or not, the motor 22 will be energized either through switch 38, line 39 and microswitch 26 or through switch 36, line 44 and microswitch 28. However, the boiler 43 and pump 42 will not be energized. The motor 22 therefore starts to rotate the valve until the cam 25 breaks its energizing circuit. The microswitches are positioned relative to the cam so that if the hot water thermostat is calling for heat and therefore the motor is being energized via microswitch 28, then the circuit will be broken when the valve has reached its third intermediate position in which available heat is shared between the central heating and hot water systems. When microswitch 28 changes over to break the motor circuit it makes a connection powering the boiler and pump. No heat is therefore supplied until the valve has reached its correct position. Similarly, if the hot water thermostat is not calling for heat, the motor is being energized via microswitch 26, and the motor circuit will then be broken when the valve has reached the position in which line 13 is fully open and line 12 fully closed. It will be appreciated that using this sytem no heat is wasted by boiler operation with the valve incorrectly positioned. Because the valve remains in the selected position until a change is called for (i.e. does not return to any base position between operations) wear on the valve is kept to a minimum. The intermediate position of the valve provides 60% of the heat to the central heating system, 40% to the hot water system, by virtue of a restricted entry to line 11 (Figure 2). As seen best in Figures 3 and 4 the motor, gearbox, microswitches and relay all fit neatly beneath a common housing and the electrical connections between these parts are all factory made. In installation the valve itself is fitted into the plumbed system and the actuator as a single unit is then pushed onto the valve so that driving connection 16, 18 is made and held in place by spring clips 20. In order to check the operation of the actuator the end member 301 is manually rotated. This may be a member having a cross slot which can be engaged by a coin, so that no tools are needed. Rotation of member 301 over-rides the clutch allowing the output shaft to be turned to check the operation of the valve without rotating the motor. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A fluid valve actuator comprising a housing containing an electric motor connected through a clutch to a rotational output driving spindle having means for connection to a valve, means for manually turning said output driving spindle independently of the motor, cam means connected to be driven by said output driving spindle and three elec
trical switches each operated by said cam means at a different rotational position thereof, each said different position being related to a predetermined valve opening position, electrical connections between the motor and selected ones of said cam-operated switches so that the selected switch starts and stops said motor, and a relay operating switching devices for selecting which of said cam-operated switches is to be energized.
2. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing carries spring clip means whereby it may be secured to a valve with said output driving spindle connected thereto.
3. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said output driving spindle is integral with or drivingly connected to a manually rotatable member located in said housing at the opposite side thereof from the said driving spindle.
4. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electric motor has an output shaft which drives said output driving spindle through a clutch, said output driving spindle being parallel to but spaced from said output shaft, and extdning past said electric motor to said manually rotatable member.
5. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said cam means is mounted on said output driving spindle and said three cam-operated switches are arranged in a circle about said cam means.
6. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said relay and switching devices are located in said housing on the other side of said output drive spindle from the said motor.
7. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said switching devices comprise two relay switches one of which is a two-position switch, said relay switches having connections in series with respective cam-operated switches whereby to supply electrical power to a selected one thereof and thereby to the motor.
8. A fluid valve actuator substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.
9. A fluid valve actuator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, when combined with a three port valve said output driving spindle being drivingly connected to a drive shaft of the valve, and said three predetermined valve positions comprising a first position in which one port is closed, a second position in which another port is closed and a third position in which all ports are open.
10. A fluid valve actuator and valve as claimed in claim 9, when included in a central heating and hot water system having also a programmer and room and hot water thermostats, said room thermostat being connected to energize said relay.
11. A central heating and hot water system substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings accompanying the Provisonal Specification, and incorporating a fluid valve actuator as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.
GB33038/77A 1978-05-31 1978-05-31 Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches Expired GB1587669A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB33038/77A GB1587669A (en) 1978-05-31 1978-05-31 Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB33038/77A GB1587669A (en) 1978-05-31 1978-05-31 Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1587669A true GB1587669A (en) 1981-04-08

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ID=10347683

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB33038/77A Expired GB1587669A (en) 1978-05-31 1978-05-31 Fluid valve actuator controlled by electric switches

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB1587669A (en)

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PS Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949]
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Effective date: 19980530