GB1588918A - Valve closing arrangements - Google Patents

Description

(54) VALVE CLOSING ARRANGEMENTS (71) We, IMI KYNOCH LIMITED, formerly Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch) Limited, a British Company, of Kynoch Works, Witton, Birmingham sB6 7BA, 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 valve closing arrangements and is a modification of the invention disclosed in British Patent Specifications 1,489,578 and 1,559,834.

In our British Patent Specification 1,489,578 there is described a valve of a type comprising a valve closure pivotable about an axis which is or can be arranged upright in use at an angle to the vertical such that the closure member tends to close the valve due to gravity throughout its full range of pivoting movement about said axis. In such a valve the axis may be inclined to the vertical in a first plane, and also inclined to the vertical in a second plane at right angles to the first.

British Patent Bpecification 1,489,578 refers to a valve having a valve seat which lies in a plane inclined rearwardly from the vertical about a lower edge of the seat. One inclination of the pivot axis of the closure member is in the same direction as that of the inclined plane of the seat, and the other inclination of said pivot axis is towards the axis of a passage which opens through the valve seat.

We have now found that it is not necessary for a valve of the above type to have a valve seat which is inclined rearwardly.

According to the invention, we provide a valve with a valve seat surrounding an opening from a passageway in said valve, and a valve closure co-operable with the seat, said seat having a face adapted to engage said closure, said valve closure being carried on a pivotally mounted arm such that movement of the arm permits opening and closing of the valve, and bearing means permitting the closure to move relative to the arm to an extent sufficient to facilitate the formation of sealing contact all around the opening, the arrangement being such that in use said face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passageway lies in a substantially vertical plane and the pivot axis of said arm is so inclined to the vertical that the valve closure tends towards the valve seat under the influence of gravity.

The bearing means may comprise a pin mounted on the closure, the tip of said pin engaging a co-operating surface on the arm.

There may be additional means for de termining the setting of the closure member relative to its carrier arm. Such an additional means may comprise a setting member on one part adapted to engage an abutment surface on the other. The setting member may be in the form of a pin or screw. The setting means may so arranged that the closure member can engage a vertical seat even though the axis for the carrier arm is inclined to the vertical as described above.

By way of example one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a section through a valve housing incorporating a valve closure/seat unit in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a view taken on the plane Il-Il in Figure 1.

A valve housing 40 has an inlet or passageway 42 and an outlet 44 adapted to be secured into a gas pipeline. Inlet 42 is provided at its end adjacent housing 40 with a socket 46 to receive a valve seat closure unit 140. This comprises a valve seat member having a first portion 142 formed as a spigot for insertion in the socket 46, and a second portion 144 providing a seat for engagement by a valve closure 146. The seat and closure are connected together to form a removable and replaceable unit. The seating face provided by portion 144 to co-operate with the valve closure is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passageway 42 and substantially vertical in use, as best seen in Figure 1.

Spigot 142 has a screw threaded opening 148 to receive a fixing screw 150 extending through a bore in the housing 40. There is m O-ring seal 152 between the spigot portion 142 and the socket 46.

Seat portion 144 carries a projection 154 upon which there is mounted a spindle 156 upon which the closure flap 146 is pivoted by way of a carrier arm 158. As viewed in Figure 2, spindle 156 is inclined from its lower end inwardly towards the passage though the seat portion 144. Further, as viewed in Figure 1, spindle 156 is inclined from its lower end backwardly relative to the direction of flow through the valve. Thus, when the valve is closed as shown in Figure 1, gravity exerts a closing force on the flap due to the rearward inclination of spindle 156 in Figure 1.

Further, due to the inward inclination of the axis, as shown in Figure 2, there is no position of the flap, throughout the full range of movement permitted to it within the housing 40, in which gravity does not exert a closing action upon the flap. Said range is determined by engagement of the closure with the wall of the housing, but another limit device could be used.

Flap 146 is mounted upon its carrier arm 158 by way of a bearing pin 160 which rests upon a bearing surface 162 provided on the arm 158. It will be noted, however, that pin 160 is not received in a socket on the arm, but merely contacts a planar support surface thereon. The disposition of the flap relative to its arm is determined by its engagement with an abutment surface 164 provided by a stub 166 fitted into the arm 158. The flap can roll and/or pivot on the abutment surface 164.

The setting of the flap on its arm is further determined by the setting pin 168 mounted in a projection 170 connected to the flap and extending into a socket 172 on the arm so that its end engages an abutment surface 174 therein. The three point contact of the flap with the arm at (1) surface 164 (2) surface 162 and (3) surface 174, together with the engagement of the pin 168 with the sides of the socket 172 locates the flap relative to its carrier arm so that in the closed position the flap is substantially vertical to engage the vertical seating surface 176 on the seat portion 144.

The closure is provided with a lower pin 178 extending into a socket 180 on the carrier arm.

This pin is normally clear of the surfaces within socket 180, but if the closure is displaced substantially from its normal disposition the pin 178 provides an additional locating means.

Closure 146 is provided with a ridge 182 projecting towards the seat surface 176. That surface has a groove 184 aligned with the ridge, and an annulus 186 of resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber, extends across the groove 184. The annulus is secured to the seat at its inner edge by the short sleeve 188 which is a friction fit within a cut away portion of the bore through the seat. When the valve is closed, annulus 186 is deformed into the groove 184 by the ridge 182, and this ensures a good seal around the full periphery of the bore through the seat.

The valve housing is provided with an inlet filter 190, and may also be provided with a spirit-level (not shown) to aid correct installation in a gas pipeline. The valve may be designed for operation with the spindle inclined to the vertical at an angle of approximately 80 in each direction ie both inwardly and rearwardly of the flow passage. However, the invention is not limited to this precise angle. The valve has operated satisfactorily with angles of inclination in the range of X12 . The use of a substantially vertical seating surface as in the valve of this invention is preferred since this arrangement is easier to produce and gives satisfactory flow characteristics for larger valves, say of about 4" diameter for the flow passage through the seat.For smaller valves however, say of 2" in diameter, it may be preferred to use the inclined seat described in our British Patent Specification 1,489,578 to obtain desired flow characteristics. When an inclined seat is used, there is no need to arrange the spindle at the same rearward angle as the seat surface.

The seat/closure unit shown in the drawings is designed so that the spindle 156 adopts a predetermined orientation relative to the housing when the unit is mounted therein. Thus, the spindle will adopt the required orientation relative to the vertical when the housing is correctly installed in use. However, difficulty may sometimes be found in arranging the housing in the desired disposition, for example, because the infeed and outfeed pipes are at the wrong angle and cannot be re-aligned. If a nominal spindle angle of 8t to the vertical is used, some misalignment is tolerable while retaining adequate closure perfol-mance. However, if the misalignment is too great, the seat/ closure unit may be modified, or some other modification may be incorporated, to enable the spindle axis to be adjusted relative to the housing.A suitable modification to the seat/ closure unit is disclosed in our Patent Specification No. 1,559,834.

The invention is especially useful in check valves employed in gas supply lines.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A valve with a valve seat surrounding an opening from a passageway in said valve, and a valve closure co-operable with the seat, said seat having a face adapted to engage said closure, said valve closure being carried on a pivotally mounted arm such that movement of the arm permits opening and closing of the valve, and bearing means permitting the closure to move relative to the arm to an extent sufficient to facilitate the formation of sealing contact all around the opening, the arrangement being such that in use said face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passageway lies in a substantially

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   142 and the socket 46.

   Seat portion 144 carries a projection 154 upon which there is mounted a spindle 156 upon which the closure flap 146 is pivoted by way of a carrier arm 158. As viewed in Figure 2, spindle 156 is inclined from its lower end inwardly towards the passage though the seat portion 144. Further, as viewed in Figure 1, spindle 156 is inclined from its lower end backwardly relative to the direction of flow through the valve. Thus, when the valve is closed as shown in Figure 1, gravity exerts a closing force on the flap due to the rearward inclination of spindle 156 in Figure 1.

   Further, due to the inward inclination of the axis, as shown in Figure 2, there is no position of the flap, throughout the full range of movement permitted to it within the housing 40, in which gravity does not exert a closing action upon the flap. Said range is determined by engagement of the closure with the wall of the housing, but another limit device could be used.

   Flap 146 is mounted upon its carrier arm 158 by way of a bearing pin 160 which rests upon a bearing surface 162 provided on the arm 158. It will be noted, however, that pin

   160 is not received in a socket on the arm, but merely contacts a planar support surface thereon. The disposition of the flap relative to its arm is determined by its engagement with an abutment surface 164 provided by a stub 166 fitted into the arm 158. The flap can roll and/or pivot on the abutment surface 164.

   The setting of the flap on its arm is further determined by the setting pin 168 mounted in a projection 170 connected to the flap and extending into a socket 172 on the arm so that its end engages an abutment surface 174 therein. The three point contact of the flap with the arm at (1) surface 164 (2) surface 162 and (3) surface 174, together with the engagement of the pin 168 with the sides of the socket 172 locates the flap relative to its carrier arm so that in the closed position the flap is substantially vertical to engage the vertical seating surface 176 on the seat portion 144.

   The closure is provided with a lower pin 178 extending into a socket 180 on the carrier arm.

   This pin is normally clear of the surfaces within socket 180, but if the closure is displaced substantially from its normal disposition the pin 178 provides an additional locating means.

   Closure 146 is provided with a ridge 182 projecting towards the seat surface 176. That surface has a groove 184 aligned with the ridge, and an annulus 186 of resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber, extends across the groove 184. The annulus is secured to the seat at its inner edge by the short sleeve 188 which is a friction fit within a cut away portion of the bore through the seat. When the valve is closed, annulus 186 is deformed into the groove 184 by the ridge 182, and this ensures a good seal around the full periphery of the bore through the seat.

   The valve housing is provided with an inlet filter 190, and may also be provided with a spirit-level (not shown) to aid correct installation in a gas pipeline. The valve may be designed for operation with the spindle inclined to the vertical at an angle of approximately 80 in each direction ie both inwardly and rearwardly of the flow passage. However, the invention is not limited to this precise angle. The valve has operated satisfactorily with angles of inclination in the range of X12 . The use of a substantially vertical seating surface as in the valve of this invention is preferred since this arrangement is easier to produce and gives satisfactory flow characteristics for larger valves, say of about 4" diameter for the flow passage through the seat.For smaller valves however, say of 2" in diameter, it may be preferred to use the inclined seat described in our British Patent Specification 1,489,578 to obtain desired flow characteristics. When an inclined seat is used, there is no need to arrange the spindle at the same rearward angle as the seat surface.

   The seat/closure unit shown in the drawings is designed so that the spindle 156 adopts a predetermined orientation relative to the housing when the unit is mounted therein. Thus, the spindle will adopt the required orientation relative to the vertical when the housing is correctly installed in use. However, difficulty may sometimes be found in arranging the housing in the desired disposition, for example, because the infeed and outfeed pipes are at the wrong angle and cannot be re-aligned. If a nominal spindle angle of 8t to the vertical is used, some misalignment is tolerable while retaining adequate closure perfol-mance. However, if the misalignment is too great, the seat/ closure unit may be modified, or some other modification may be incorporated, to enable the spindle axis to be adjusted relative to the housing.A suitable modification to the seat/ closure unit is disclosed in our Patent Specification No. 1,559,834.

   The invention is especially useful in check valves employed in gas supply lines.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A valve with a valve seat surrounding an opening from a passageway in said valve, and a valve closure co-operable with the seat, said seat having a face adapted to engage said closure, said valve closure being carried on a pivotally mounted arm such that movement of the arm permits opening and closing of the valve, and bearing means permitting the closure to move relative to the arm to an extent sufficient to facilitate the formation of sealing contact all around the opening, the arrangement being such that in use said face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passageway lies in a substantially

   vertical plane and the pivot axis of said arm is so inclined to the vertical that the valve closure tends towards the valve seat under the influence of gravity.
2. 2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said axis is adapted to be inclined from its lower end both in a direction from the closure member towards the seat and in a direction towards the axis of the passageway.
3. 3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the axis is adapted to be inclined at an angle in the range 40--12" to the vertical when the valve is in use.
4. 4. A valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein said angle is approximately 8".
5. 5. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means are provided for enabling adjustment of the disposition of the closure on its arm.
6. 6. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure is suspended on its arm for limited movement relative thereto.
7. 7. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat and closure are connected together as a removable and replaceable unit.
8. 8. A valve seat/closure unit for a valve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said seat has a face adapted to engage said closure, said valve closure being carried on a pivotally mounted arm such that movement of the arm permits opening and closing of the valve, with bearing means permitting the closure to move relative to the arm to an extent sufficient to facilitate the formation of sealing contact all around the opening, the arrangement being such that in use said face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a valve passageway lies in a substantially vertical plane, and wherein the seat is adapted to be mounted in a valve body so that the pivot axis for the closure will be in, or can be adjusted to lie in, such a position inclined relative to the vertical that the valve closure tends towards the valve seat under the influence of gravity.
9. 9. A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which the bearing means comprises a pin mounted on the closure, the tip of the pin engaging a co-operating surface of the arm.
10. 10. A valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.