GB2138108A

GB2138108A - Valve units and systems incorporating valve units

Info

Publication number: GB2138108A
Application number: GB8310083A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Allen Smith
Original assignee: APV International Ltd
Current assignee: APV International Ltd
Priority date: 1983-04-14
Filing date: 1983-04-14
Publication date: 1984-10-17
Also published as: GB8310083D0; GB2138108B

Abstract

The present invention relates to valve units and systems incorporating valve units, such as may be employed in for example, dairy engineering, brewing plant or chemical engineering. The valve unit (1) comprising a fluid valve (3) and a valve control unit (2) comprising means to provide a continuous local visual indication of the operative condition of the valve by illumination of an indicator lamp (16). The valve control unit may also comprise a battery and further indicator lamps, e.g. lamp (23). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve units and systems incorporating valve units The present invention relates to valve units and systems incorporating valve units, such as may be employed in for example, dairy engineering, brewing plant or chemical engineering.

It is common practice, in the above mentioned fields, to employ remotely operated valves. These may be controlled by hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical systems. In installations involving multiple storage tanks, flow pathways, heat exchangers and so forth, control is most effectively maintained from a central point.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve unit comprising a fluid valve and means to provide a continuous local visual indication of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or nonillumination of at least one indicator lamp comprised in the valve unit.

By providing a local indication of the operative condition of a valve it is possible that the operative condition of a valve may be rapidly and locally determined without consultation of the central control point. The operative conditions may be, for example, "valve open", "valve closed" or "valve dysfunction".

The latter being particularly useful if local inspection is intended to locate a valve which is, for example, jammed in an intermediate position.

Conveniently the valve unit further comprises means for enabling remote control of the valve.

In an embodiment the means for enabling remote control comprise hydraulic or pneumatic ram means.

In an embodiment the means for enabling remote control comprise a solenoid operated ram means.

In an embodiment the valve unit further comprises means for enabling remote monitoring of the operative condition of the valve.

In an embodiment said at least one indicator lamp is comprised in a part of the valve unit, said part being removably mountable upon the remainder of the valve unit, said part including switch means for controlling said at least one lamp.

By providing a removable part comprising at least one indicator lamp and the switch means, it is possible to have a readily mobile valve testing device, which may be employed to provide a continuous local visual indication of the operative condition of a valve without having to fit such a part permanently onto a valve unit.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a remote control valve system comprising a valve unit and a control system remote from the valve unit for controlling said valve unit, the control system including means to indicate the operative condition of the valve, characterized by means including at least one lamp comprised in the valve unit to give a local visual indication continuously of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or non-illumination of said lamp.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section, partially broken, through a valve unit in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connections within the valve unit of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a vertical section, partially broken through a valve unit according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a valve unit 1 having a topmounted control unit 2 and a valve means 3.

The control unit 2, comprises air-line connectors 4, 5 mounted on a base-plate 6 having bores 7 and a central orifice 8. The bores 7 communicate with a control valve 9, actuated by a solenoid 10. Line 24 connects air-line connector 5 with the valve means 3.

A spindle 11 of the valve means 3, protrudes through orifice 8. The spindle is provided with a head 1 2. Micro-switches 1 3 and 14 are mounted on body 1 5. Screw means (not shown) enable micro-switches 1 3 and 14 to be positioned such that triggers 1 3a and 1 4a are correctly actuated by the head 12, as it reciprocates along a longitudinal axis common with the spindle 11.

Lamps 16, 23 are mounted in holders 1 7 fixedly attached to plate 18. Plate 18 is supported by body 1 5. An electrical connector 1 9 is provided, to enable the control unit 2 to be connected via wires (not shown) to a remote control location (not shown).

The control unit 2 is surrounded by a casing 20 having light-transmissive windows 21. The lamps 16, 23 are positioned behind the windows 21. Either the windows 21 or the lamps 16, 23 may be suitably coloured.

Lugs 22 are provided for the electrical interconnection of the components within the casing 20.

Turning now to Fig. 2, lines 25 and 26 are of + 24 volts and zero volts respectively. Line 27 places the common carriers of micro-switches 1 3 and 1 4 at a potential of + 24 volts.

Lamp 1 6 is illuminated, lamp 23 is not illuminated.

In operation, line 30 (shown dotted in Fig.

2) is put at a voltage of - 24 volts. Solenoid 10 actuates control valve 9, allowing air to flow through bore 7 from connector 4 to connector 5, and via line 24 t the valve means 3. Actuation of the valve means, by air flowing along line 24, causes vertical displacemnt of the spindle 11. The head 12, moves upward releasing trigger 1 3a and causing change-over of micro switch 1 3. Lamp 16 is extinguished thereby indicating that spindle 11 is no longer at its lowest position. The head 1 2 continues to move upward, thereby actuating switch 14 via trigger 14a. At the end of the spindles upward movement, trigger 14a is depressed and switch 14 has changedover to illuminate lamp 23.

If line 30 is now returned to a potential of zero volts, solenoid 10 closes control valve 9 under the action of a return spring (not shown). This shuts off the airflow in line 24 causing the valve means 3 to be deactuated.

Spindle 11 and head 1 2 returns to their lowest position, firstly releasing trigger 1 4a to cause change-over of switch 14 and thereby extinguishing lamp 23 and secondly engaging trigger 1 3a to cause change-over of switch 1 3 and illuminate lamp 16.

During the above cycle, remote monitoring of the operative condition of the valve is enabled by lines 31, 32 and 33.

Fig. 3 shows a valve unit 1, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The valve unit 1 has a top mounted control unit 2 and a valve means 3. The control unit 2 comprises an air line connector 4 mounted on a base plate 6 having bores to define passageways for a control fluid. The base plate 6 is also provided with a central orifice 8. A control valve (not shown) actuated by a solenoid (not shown) acts to control the flow of air from air line connector 4 to the valve means 3.

A spindle 11 of the valve means 3, protrudes through orifice 8. The spindle is provided with an internal bore 40 which communicates with the control valve and admits the controlling air flow into the main cylinder of valve means 3. Magnetic reed switches 1 3 and 14 are mounted on screw means 15 which enable the reed switches to be positioned such that they are correctly actuated by magnets 41 and 42 mounted on the spindle 11, as it reciprocates along a longitudinal axis. Lamp 23 is mounted in holder 43. An electrical connector 1 9 is provided, to enable the control unit 2 to be connected via wires (not shown) to a remote control location (not shown). A cable gland 44 is provided in an external casing 20.

The casing 20, may have one or more light transmissive windows 21, or, may be entirely transparent. A separate inner sleeve may contain apertures to show the indicator lamp or lamps and the colour of this sleeve could possibly be varied to indicate the particular duty of the valve.

In operation, the solenoid actuates the control valve, substantially in the same manner as in the previous example, allowing air to flow from the connector 4 through the bore 40 to actuate the valve means 3. Actuation of the valve means, causes vertical displacement of the spindle 11, operating magnetic reed switch 14. At the end of the spindles upward movement, magnet 41 actuates magnetic reed switch 13.

During the above half cycle, lamp 23 may be lit or extinguished according to the particular configuration of electrical wiring within the control unit.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. A battery may be provided to supply electricity to the lamps. The unit may also be made detachable from the valve unit. Furthermore, at least one lamp may be illuminated when and if the valve unit fails.

Claims

1. A valve unit comprising a fluid valve and means to provide a continuous local visual indication of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or non-illumination of at least one indicator lamp comprised in the valve unit.

2. A valve unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve unit further comprises means for enabling remote control of the valve.

3. A valve unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for enabling remote control comprise hydraulic or pneumatic ram means.

4. A valve unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for enabling remote control comprise a solenoid operated ram means.

5. A valve unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve unit further comprises means for enabling remote monitoring of the operative condition of the valve.

6. A valve unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said at least one indicator lamp is comprised in a part of the valve unit, said part being removable mountable upon the remainder of the valve unit, said part including switch means for controlling said at least one lamp.

7. A valve unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said part comprises means for operatively connecting a spindle of said valve with said switch means.

8. A valve unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said unit comprises a battery pack capable of supplying power to said at least one indicator lamp.

9. A valve unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A remote control valve system comprising a valve unit and a control system remote from the valve unit for controlling said valve unit, the control system including means to indicate the operative condition of the valve, characterized by means including at least one lamp comprised in the valve unit to give a local visual indication continuously of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or non-illumination of said lamp.

1 0. A valve unit substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figs. 1 and 2.

11. A valve unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying Fig. 3.

CLAIMS (30 Jan 1984)

1. A valve unit comprising a fluid flow control valve, remotely controllable operating means for the valve, means for enabling remote monitoring of the operative condition of the valve, and means to provide a continuous local visual indication of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or nonillumination of at least one indicator lamp located at the valve unit.

2. A valve unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for enabling remote control comprise hydraulic or pneumatic ram means.

3. A valve unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for enabling remote control comprise a solenoid operated ram means.

4. A valve unit is claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the said at least one indicator lamp is mounted in a part of the valve unit, the said part being removably mountable upon the remainder of the valve unit, said part including switch means for controlling said at least one lamp.

5. A valve unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said part of the valve unit comprises means for operatively connecting a spindle of the said valve with the said switch means.

6. A valve unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the said unit comprises a battery pack capable of supplying power to the said at least one indicator lamp.

7. A remote control valve system comprising a valve unit and a control system remote from the valve unit for controlling said valve unit, the control system including means located at the control system to indicate the operative condition of the valve, characterized by means including at least one lamp located at the valve unit to give a continuously local visual indication of the operative condition of the valve by illumination or non-illumination of the said lamp.

8. A valve unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.