GB2123118A - Diverter valves - Google Patents

Abstract

A diverter valve for hydraulic grouts of cementitious material directed to overcome problems posed by setting of the material in the valve. The valve includes passages (19), (20) of deformable material which can be compressed alternately by a square section member (10) to cut off flow. The member (10) is moved via rollers (13) on a lever arm (8) by a handle (6) on a spindle (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Diverter valve This invention relates to diverter valves.

There is a need for a simple and inexpensive valve for diverting the flow in one branch of a junctioned duct to flow in the other branch, whilst at the same time stopping flow in that branch from which flow has been diverted. One specific but not exclusive application for such a valve is in connection with the diversion of flow of hydraulic grouts of cementitious material from a continuous concrete producer to a position where the concrete is being applied, eg a civil engineering construction, to a second position which can be another part of the construction or a limited period (in view of the setting propensity of concrete) hold up position, thus avoiding the need to stop the continuous production of the concrete during relatively short periods when the use of the concrete at a particular position has to be stopped for some legitimate reason.For use with setting slurries such as concrete, or for use with highly corrosive fluids, the use of a valve whose moving parts are exposed to the slurry or corrosive fluid is obviously undesirable because the moving parts would rapidly be rendered inoperative by setting of residue remaining in the valve causing jamming or by corrosion caused by said residue and leading to leakage and maloperation.

According to the invention, a diverter valve for controlling the flow of fluid between flow in one duct or a series thereof and flow in another duct or series thereof, the ducts or series of ducts being of deformable material, comprises means foF applying a compressive force alternately to the ducts or series thereof whereby progressively to deform the ducts in a manner such that in one limiting position of the valve one duct or the respective series is or are closed or substantially closed to flow therein whilst the other duct or series thereof is open to flow, in the other limiting position, the reverse applies, and in intermediate positions, limited flow in the ducts can take place in controllable manner.

The said means for applying a compressive force may comprise a body with a passage for each of the two ducts or their associated series and a member movable in said housing between limiting positions in which one passage is caused to be narrowed so as to squash the respective duct or series thereof so as to prevent or substantially prevent flow therein, whilst the other passage is of maximum width so that the duct or series thereof in said other passage is fully open to flow therein.

The said movable member may be moved in said housing by mechanism involving a cam or the equivalent.

A constructional example of a diverter valve will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the valve, Figure 2 is a view from beneath, and Figure 3 is a view in section of line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in the construction shown therein, we provide a valve having a body 1 which has a closed top 2 and base 3 and sides 4, the ends of the body 1 being open. The top 2 and base 3 provide central mountings for a valve spindle 5 able to rotate in such mountings and having secured to it at its upper end a handle 6 and at its lower end a collar 7. Within the body a lever arm 8 is centrally secured to the spindle 5. Spacing bushes 9 on the spindle 5 abut the arm 8 and engage a generally cylindrical movable member 10 carried on the spindle 5 via elongate slots 11 in the top and bottom of the member 10. The member 10 can thus float on the spindle 5 and is caused to occupy operational positions by rotation of the spindle 5 as will be apparent from the following.Since the member 10 is of square section it presents a flat surface to a pipe 1 9 enabling a large contact area to be made.

The arm 8 carries a spindle 1 2 which has rollers 1 3 journalled thereon, the rollers 1 3 being in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 14 of the member 10. Rotation of the spindle 5 causes the member 10 to move its position relative to the axis of the spindle 5 and hence to the fixed body 1. The member 10 also carries lead-in and lead-out lugs 1 5 which register with opposed lugs 1 6 on the sides 4 of the body 1.

Referring mainly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that the construction provides two open-ended passages 17, 1 8 respectively, through the valve body 1, one on each side of member 10. These passages each have a deformable (eg of plastics) pipe extending therethrough. In Fig. 3, the pipe in passage 1 7 is designated 1 9 (as mentioned above) and that in passage 1 8 is referenced 20. It will be observed that pipe 19 is undeformed whilst pipe 20 is deformed by the compressive action of the outside of member 10 against the inside of side 4 of the body 1, in the limiting position of member 10 shown in Fig. 3. Thus the flow in pipe 20 is prevented or substantially prevented, whereas that in pipe 1 9 is wholly or largely unimpaired.Rotary movement of the spindle 5 by means of handle 6 through 180 from the position shown in Fig. 3 causes the arm 8 through the contact of rollers 1 3 with the interior of member 10 to move the latter as permitted by slots 11 into a position which is a mirror image of that shown in Fig. 3, thus compressing the pipe 19 and opening the pipe 20. The collar 7 may be provided with opposed detents 21 in which the two arms of a spring clip 22 mounted on one side 4 of body 1 beneath base 3, see Figs. 2 and 3. The angular position of the detents 21 coincide with the limiting positions of member 10 as previously described, and the spring clip 22 serves to retain the member 10 in one or the other of these limiting positions.In an alternative, not shown, a friction-operated device of conventional form can be mounted on spindle 5 so as to retain it not only in either limiting position but also intermediate positions, giving controllable flow in the pipes 19, 20 depending on the position of member 10, and bearing in mind that the construction is such that as flow is increased in one pipe, it is decreased in the other.

The diverter valve is particularly suitable for applications to slurries particularly of hydraulic grouts of cementitious material, and to fluids of a corrosive or toxic character, since the fluid remains confined in uninterrupted and unbreached pipes or conduits.

Although only one pipe is shown in each passage 17, 18 in the illustrated construction, it is possible to include a plurality of deformable pipes in each passage, provided that all the pipes in each passage can be deformed sufficiently to close or substantially close all of them, where desired. Thus a single stack of pipes in each passage may be required for complete closure.

The valve can be used purely as a shut-off valve.

Claims (4)

1. A diverter valve for controlling the flow of fluid between flow in one duct or a series thereof and flow in another duct or series thereof, the ducts or series of ducts being of deformable material, comprising means for applying a compressive force alternately to the ducts or series thereof whereby progressively to deform the ducts in a manner such that in one limiting position of the valve one duct or the respective series is or are closed or substantially closed to flow therein whilst the other duct or series thereof is open to flow, in the other limiting position, the reverse applies, and in intermediate positions, limited flow in the ducts can take place in controllable manner.

2. A diverter valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for applying a compressive force comprises a body with a passage for each of the two ducts or their associated series and a member movable in said housing between limiting positions in which one passage is caused to be narrowed so as to squash the respective duct or series thereof so as to prevent or substantially prevent flow therein, whilst the other passage is of maximum width so that the duct or series thereof in said other passage is fully open to flow therein.

3. A diverter valve, as claimed in claim 2, in which said movable member is moved in said housing by mechanism involving a cam or the equivalent.

4. A diverter valve substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.