GB2171388A

GB2171388A - A valve having a cross-sectional flow area of variable dimension

Info

Publication number: GB2171388A
Application number: GB08604354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Mattiske; Bernd Sonje
Original assignee: Joh Vaillant GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Vaillant GmbH
Priority date: 1985-02-22
Filing date: 1986-02-21
Publication date: 1986-08-28
Also published as: BE904262A; DE8505055U1; CH669646A5; FR2578023A1; AT391359B; FR2578023B3; NL8600426A; ATA28786A; GB8604354D0; GB2171388B

Abstract

A valve for a thermostatically controlled radiator, having a cross-sectional flow area of variable dimension includes a prefabricated carrier (7) of a number of dimension-displaying sections (10,10') each indicating the size of a different predetermined maximum cross-sectional flow area, the carrier being securable to the valve casing (3) and the displaying sections, by means of breaking points (11,11'), being removable from the carrier, the arrangement being such that any of the displaying sections (10,10') not appropriate to the actual maximum cross-sectional flow area of the respective valve is removable, as need be, so that only that displaying section which indicates the size solely appropriate to the respective valve is left joined to the carrier (7). The carrier may comprise a split ring resiliently clamped on the valve casing, and the breaking points may comprise indentations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A valve having a cross-sectional flow area of variable dimension This invention relates to a valve having a crosssectional flow area of variable dimension.

Valves of this kind, which permit a subsequent variation of the volume of water flowing therethrough, are used, for example, in conjunction with theremostatically-controlled radiators and include a cylinder defining a predetermined maximum flow rate. Thus, these valves are characterised by predetermined - mainly standardised - cross-sectional flow areas which differ from one another by increments.

It is an aim of the present invention to lastingly indicate, in the case of all such valves, the crosssectional flow area solely appropriate to a particular valve, that is to say, to render the size recognisable even after the valve has been fitted, and this without the need for any expensive manual or mechanical operation.

With this aim in view, the invention is directed to a valve which may be provided with any one of a plurality of different members to define any one of a plurality of different cross-sectional flow areas for the valve, having a prefabricated carrier with a plurality of dimension-display sections each indicating the size of a different cross-sectional flow area, the carrier being secured to the valve casing and the display sections being removably joined to the carrier via breaking points, the arrangement being such that the or each display sections not appropriate to the actual cross-sectional flow area of the valve is removable, as need be, leaving only that display section that indicates the actual crosssectional flow area of the valve.

Thus, in order to identify the cross-sectional flow area of any particular valve fitted to a radiator, it is sufficient, according to the invention, to remove manually - for example to break off or tear off or the like - all those dimension displays that are not appropriate to the particular valve, as a result of which only that dimension display is left on the carrier that is sorely appropriate thereto and to the valve to which it is fitted. The relevant dimension display can be used, and is adapted to serve, as a permanent and unmistakable identification of this particular valve.

Examples of valves made in accordance with the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 'to 3 show respective side views of three examples of such radiator valves; and Figure 4 is a top view of such a valve, looking along the axis thereof.

Each of the illustrated radiator valves comprises a cylindrical valve casing 3 having pipe connections 1 and 2. The casing axis is denoted by the reference numeral 4, and the valve's other components housed in the casing are secured therein by means of nuts 5 and 6. A cylindrical member which determines the maximum cross-sectional flow area of the valve is usually incorporated therein. The present invention renders it possible to provide, with little effort and by simple means, any valve with a display indicating this maximum cross-sectional flow area. A prefabricated annular carrier 7 or 7' is secured to the valve and is provided with a number of displays indicating the (standardised) sizes of different cross-sectional flow areas for this purpose.

Any of the two or more dimension displays not appropriate to the actual cross-sectional flow area of the respective valve is removable to leave only that display which is actually appropriate to the valve concerned.

The carriers 7 or 7' are, in the embodiments illustrated, annular ones which concentrically surround at least a part of the valve axis 4. They carry the dimension displays - indicating the different increments of the cross-sectional flow areas as laid down by the standards -on extensions 8 which, as need be, can be removed. The carrier 7, in each of the different embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, is a split ring each of the two oppositely directed ends of which is provided with an extension 10 which is removable, in the sense that it is adapted to be broken off. The extension 10 extends the circumference of the ring's wall and is coaxial with the valve axis 4.

A breaking point 11 in the form of an indentation on the ring's inner face, so that it is invisible, is provided between each of the extensions 10 and the remainder of the carrier 7.

The annular carrier 7 may be secured to the valve casing 3 between valve components which are detachable from one another, for example between a nut 6 and a washer 12 or the like - so that the carrier may be secured indirectly. Alternatively, the carrier may surround the valve casing 3 directly, for example it may be pushed or clamped on to it. If the carrier 7 is a split ring - as illustrated - it may be resiliently clamped on to the valve casing 3.

The annular carriers 7 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are each provided with only two dimension displays which differ from one another and one of which may be left, as required, on the carrier 7.

However, Figure 3 iliustrates that it is feasible to accommodate a third dimension display by providing the carrier 7 - in addition to the extensions 10 on the ends 9 of the split ring - with at least one more, that is to say a third, removable extension 10' which extends within the same cylinder as the ring's wall but in an axial direction therefrom. The extension 10' is also joined to the annular carrier 7 via an indentation 11' to provide an easy breaking point.

Finally, Figure 4 illustrates that it is possible for the wall of the annular carrier 7' to be contained in a plane which is normal to the valve axis 4 and for the carrier to be provided with removable extensions 10' which extend radially outwardly in this plane and which bear the dimension displays in the plane containing the ring.

Thus, whereas the dimension displays of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 may be read from a side view of the valve (so to speak, radi ally), they may be read, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, from above the valve, that is to say along the direction of the valve axis 4. The removable extensions 10' bearing the dimension displays contained in this plane of the ring extend, in this embodiment, radially outwardly and are circular ring sectors.

Claims

1. A valve which may be provided with any one of a plurality of different members to define any one of a plurality of different cross-sectional flow areas for the valve, having a prefabricated carrier with a plurality of dimension-display sections each indicating the size of a different cross-sectional flow area, the carrier being secured to the valve casing and the display sections being removably joined to the carrier via breaking points, the arrangement being such that the or each display sections not appropriate to the actual cross-sectional flow area of the valvue is removable, as need be, leaving only that display section that indicates the actual cross-sectional flow area of the valve.

2. A valve having an annular carrier of dimension-display sections, the carrier concentrically surrounding at least a part of the valve axis.

3. A valve according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which individual extensions of the carrier display a different dimension and are removable, as need be, from the carrier, for example by breaking it off therefrom.

4. A valve according to claim 3, in which the carrier is a split ring each of the two oppositely directed ends of which face one another across the split and are extended by a respective one of the removable extensions, and in which each of the said extensions is a continuation of the ring's wall in a circumferential direction in relation thereto, the ring's wall being coaxial with the valve axis.

5. A valve according to claim 4, in which a respective indentation invisibly arranged on the ring's inner face defines a boundary of each extension and also defines the respective breaking point

6. A valve according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 read as appended to claim 2, in which the carrier is provided - possibly in addition to the extensions which extend the ends of the split ring - with at least one extension which extends in the axial direction of the ring's cylindrical wall and which is also removable.

7. A valve according to claim 2, in which the carrier is provided with removable extensions extending radially outwardly in a plane normal to the valve axis.

8. A valve according to claim 7, in which the extensions are circular ring sectors.

9. A valve according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the annular carrier is clampedly secured to the valve casing between valve components which are detachable from one another, for example between a nut and a washer or the like.

10. A valve according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the annular carrier, even if split, surrounds, possibly resiliently, the casing.

11. A valve substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.