GB2134220A

GB2134220A - Improvements relating to valves for fluid materials

Info

Publication number: GB2134220A
Application number: GB08300661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Badham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-11
Filing date: 1983-01-11
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8300661D0

Abstract

In a valve comprising a barrier supported centrally in the flow passageway of a hopper for pulverulent materials or a fluid pipeline, one or more diaphragms are inflatable to close the gap(s) between the barrier and the passageway. In one embodiment (Fig. 1) a support ring 2 carries a conical barrier member 10 on support arms 5 of which one 5A is hollow to provide a gas supply line to inflate a diaphragm 9. The member 10 may be supported directly by the arms 5 (Fig. 2) and air may be blown through small holes in its upper surface to create low pressure fluidising of pulverulent materials from a hopper 1. In a second embodiment (Fig. 4) diaphragms 20 are inflatable to close openings 23 in a barrier having a conical portion 24 which again may have air blown through holes in its upper surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to valves for fluid materials This invention is concerned with a valve for incorporation in a passageway through which fluid materials will flow. These fluid materials can, for example, be liquids orfree flowing orfluidisable powders. It is an object of this invention to provide a valve for this purpose which will act positively to block the flow of fluid materials (for example as discharged from a hopperorflowing along a pipe). It is desirable that such a valve should be relatively compact and capable of being attached to a pipe or hopper in such a waythat it will not project to any substantial extent.

Accordingly this invention provides a valve for closing the passagewayforfluid materials and comprising a support carrying a barrier memberto be positioned centrally within the passageway, one or more diaphragms which are inflatable to close offthe gaps between the barrier member and the walls of the passageway, and a supply line for providing compressed gas to inflate the diaphragm(s) to the closed condition.

The diaphragms for such valves can be inflated symmetrically with respect to the passageway in which the valve will be incorporated which therefore prevents uneven loading. Furthermore the diaphragms can be offairly small size as they only have to close offthe gaps between the centrally positioned barrier member and the walls ofthe passageway.

Consequently the overall dimensions ofthe whole valve can be quite small compared with existing, conventional,valves for this purpose.

In the preferred embodimentthe barrier member is substantially conical or pyramid-shaped and is de signedto be positioned sothatthe point of the barrier memberwillfacethe oncoming direction offlowofthe fluid material in the passageway. This form ofvalve shape induces flow and aids proper discharge ofthe fluid materials, especially where the valve is mounted in the outlet of a hopperfor powdered materials. It is advantageous (particularly where the valve is to be used with powdered materials) to provide that the barrier member is partially porous and communicates with the compressed gas supply lineforthe diaphragm(s) ora separate compressed gas supply line.

This allows powdered material to befluidised in the region ofthe valve, thus permitting flow both when the valve is opened and during the period whilstthe valve is in the open condition.

In one arrangementthe diaphragm can be an inflatable bag positioned attheend of the barrier memberwhich will be downstream of the fluid flow when situated within the passageway. As an alternative there could be two or more diaphragms positioned for inflation to close offgaps defined between the barrier member and walls ofthevalve which will be attached directly to an outlet of the passageway for the fluid materials.

The supply line for compressed gas may readily be housed within the supportthat carries the barrier member.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereofwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa cross-section viewthrough the base of a hopper incorporating one form ofvalve member of this invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are diagrammatic illustrations of modified forms of valve similar to that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectionthrough an alternative form of valve of this invention for mounting adjacent the outlet of a hopper; and Figure 5 illustrates operational characteristics ofthe valve shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 1, atthe base of a hopper 1 there is mounted a support ring 2for a valve member between the hopper outlet 3 and an outlet pipe 4. The support ring 2 has arms Swhich are attached to a central support member 6 at the upper wend of which is attached a conical barrier member 7. A diaphragm is illustrated in a deflated condition 8 on the right hand side ofthe drawing and in an inflated condition 9 on the left-hand side ofthe drawing. The diaphragm is held at its two ends by ring members 10. One ofthe arms 5A is hollow and leads from a connection opening 11 to which will be attached a hosefrom a compressed air supply (not shown).The passageway in the arm 5Acommunicateswith a supporttube leading from the support member6tothe barrier member7 and the compressed gas can leave through openings in this tube so asto inflate the diaphragm from the condition 8 to the condition 9.

In use, and before compressed air is directed into the hollow arm 5A, materials within the hopper 1 may readily flow outthrough the exhaust pipe 4, the conical barrier member7 helping to induce flow in the direction of the outlet passageways 12 between the supporttube and the walls ofthe hopper 1. When it is desired to stop flow of materialsfrom the hopper 1 compressed air is injected into the support tube so as to inflate the diaphragm 9 into contact with the walls of the hopper 1,thus closing off the passages 12. If desired the support tube could communicate with the conical barrier member 7 which will be formed with small exit holes.Air can be blown out th rough the holes in the conical barrier member7 from a low pressure source which is insufficient to inflate the diaphragm 9,so asto createfluidisation of powdered materials within the hopper 1 and assist flow to the outlet pipe 4.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 2 the conical barrier member 7 is supported directly by the arms 5, one of which (5A) is in communication with a compressed air supply. Atthe base ofthe conical barrier member7 there is fitted a diaphragm 13 which can be expanded to the condition 14 indicated in dashed outline by the application of compressed air through the hollow arm 5A leading to outlet openings in the base of the conical barrier member 7. Again small holes can be formed in the upper surface of the conical barrier member 7 to create low pressure fluidising of powdered materials within the hopper.

The valve illustrated in Figure 3 is intended for use in pipelines through which liquids will flow. Avalve sleeve 15 for attachment to one end of a pipeline 16 has arms 17 supporting a conical barrier member 18.

One arm 17Aishollowandcan beconnectedtoa compressed air supply which communicates with outlet openings in the base ofthe conical barrier member 18. Mounted across this base is a diaphragm 19 which can be expanded by compressed airtothe condition indicated so as to close off the passageway through the valve sleeve.

The form of valve member illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 employs a number of diaphragms 20 attached to sloping walls 21 of a valve housing 22 which isto be attached to the outlet 3 of the hopper 1. Internally this valve housing 22 defines a number of openings 23 in conjunction with a conical barrier member 24 supported on a base 25 carried by arms 26. In normal use fluid materials will pass from the hopper 1 through the openings 23 and thence to an outlet 27. However when compressed air is injected through inlet pipes 28 the diaphragms 20 are caused to expand so as to close off each ofthe openings 23 and thus preventfurtherflow ofthefluid materials.Again, if desired, the interior of the conical barrier member 24 could be connected to a compressed gas supplythrough one ofthe arms 26 so asto be emitted through small openings in the upper surface ofthe conical barrier member 24to cause localised fluidising of powdered materials. It will be noted thatthevalve member shown in Figure 4 is slightly modified in thatthe conical barrier member 24 is a hollow cone supported by the ends of the walls defining the openings 23.

The arrangements of valves shown in the drawings can be used with a greatvariety offluid materials in gaseous liquid or powdered form. They are relatively compact and can, if desired, be housed entirely within the hopper or pipeline with which they are associated.

CLAIMS (Filed on 11.1.84).

1. Avalvefor closing a passagewayforfluid materials and comprising a support carrying a barrier member to be positioned centrally within the passageway, one or more diaphragms which are inflatableto close offthe gaps between the barrier member and the walls ofthe passageway, and a supply line for providing compressed gas to inflate the diaph ragm (s) to the closed condition.

2. Avalve according to claim 1, wherein the barrier member is substantially conical or pyramid-shaped and is designed to be positioned so that the point of the barrier member will face the oncoming direction offlowofthefluid material in the passageway.

3. Avalve according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein outlet openings from the barrier member into the passageway communicate with the compressed gas supply lineforthe diaphragm(s) or with a separate compressed gas supply line.

4. Avalve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the diaphragm is an inflatable bag positioned atthe end of the barrier memberwhich will be downstream ofthefluid flow when situated within the passageway.

5. Avalve accordingto anyoneofolaims 1 to 3, wherein there are two or more diaphragms connected for inflation to the supply line so as to be able to close off gaps defined between the barrier member and walls of the valve which will be attached directlyto an outlet ofthe passageway for the fluid materials.

6. Avalve accordingto any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the supply lineforcompressed gas is housed within the support.

7. Avalveforclosinga passagewayforfluid materials, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. conical barrier member 7 to create low pressure fluidising of powdered materials within the hopper. The valve illustrated in Figure 3 is intended for use in pipelines through which liquids will flow. Avalve sleeve 15 for attachment to one end of a pipeline 16 has arms 17 supporting a conical barrier member 18. One arm 17Aishollowandcan beconnectedtoa compressed air supply which communicates with outlet openings in the base ofthe conical barrier member 18. Mounted across this base is a diaphragm 19 which can be expanded by compressed airtothe condition indicated so as to close off the passageway through the valve sleeve. The form of valve member illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 employs a number of diaphragms 20 attached to sloping walls 21 of a valve housing 22 which isto be attached to the outlet 3 of the hopper 1. Internally this valve housing 22 defines a number of openings 23 in conjunction with a conical barrier member 24 supported on a base 25 carried by arms 26. In normal use fluid materials will pass from the hopper 1 through the openings 23 and thence to an outlet 27. However when compressed air is injected through inlet pipes 28 the diaphragms 20 are caused to expand so as to close off each ofthe openings 23 and thus preventfurtherflow ofthefluid materials.Again, if desired, the interior of the conical barrier member 24 could be connected to a compressed gas supplythrough one ofthe arms 26 so asto be emitted through small openings in the upper surface ofthe conical barrier member 24to cause localised fluidising of powdered materials. It will be noted thatthevalve member shown in Figure 4 is slightly modified in thatthe conical barrier member 24 is a hollow cone supported by the ends of the walls defining the openings 23. The arrangements of valves shown in the drawings can be used with a greatvariety offluid materials in gaseous liquid or powdered form. They are relatively compact and can, if desired, be housed entirely within the hopper or pipeline with which they are associated. CLAIMS (Filed on 11.1.84).