GB2184208A

GB2184208A - Fluid flow control valve

Info

Publication number: GB2184208A
Application number: GB08530938A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Edin
Original assignee: POLYVENTIONS
Current assignee: POLYVENTIONS
Priority date: 1985-12-16
Filing date: 1985-12-16
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: GB8530938D0; CH668464A5

Abstract

A fluid flow control valve has a main inlet (11), a secondary outlet (14), a first valve (18) controlling fluid flow from the main inlet to the secondary outlet, a secondary inlet (25) separated from the secondary outlet in a common conduit by a fixed partition, a main outlet (30), and a second valve (28) controlling fluid flow from the secondary inlet to the main outlet, said second valve being thermostatically controlled and having means for adjusting the flow through the valve, whereby in use both the first and second valves are operable to block fluid flow between the main inlet and the main outlet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid flow control valve The present invention is concerned with fluid flow control valves and in particularwith valves used in hot water central heating systems.

Acommon central heating system employs radiators connected across main feed and return pipes through a valve which controls the flow of hot water and enables the radiator to be shut off if desired. Valves used in this way may be thermostatically controlled for efficient heating of the room or space in which the radiator is located and should beadjustabletoallowtheoverallsystem to be properly balanced, i.e. to ensure that all the radiators in the system receive a proper share of hot water from the boiler. Apart from these general operating requirements there is also the need forthe valve to be neat and compact not merely for aesthetic considerations but also for economic considerations as the valves are made from expensive materials.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid flow control valve.

The present invention is a fluid flow control valve having a main inlet, a secondary outlet, a first valve controlling fluidflowfrom the main inlettothe secondary outlet, a secondary inlet separated from the secondary outlet in a common conduit by a fixed partition, a main outlet, and a second valve controlling fluidflowfrom the secondary inlettothe main outlet, said secondary valve being thermostatically controlled and having means for adjustingtheflowthroughthevalve,wherebyinuse both the first and second valves are operable to block fluid flow between the main inlet and the main outlet.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows a cross-sectionai elevation of a fluid flow control valve according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the body 10 of a control valve for a hot water central heating system has main inlet 11 which communicates with first cavity 12 and thence through a first valve seat 13 with a secondary outlet passage 14, this path from the main inlet 11 tothe secondary outlet passage 14 being the feed path through the control valve. In the cavity 12 is located a shut-offvalve member 18which has a threaded connection 1 with the wall ofthe cavity 12 and which may be reciprocated in the cavity by rotating the external knob 20. Movement of the valve member 18 from the position shown in the drawing, in which the feed path is unobstructed,to the left hand end of the cavity 12 causes the member 18 to engage the valve seat 13 and close the feed path completely.

A return path through the body 10 is defined by a secondary inlet passage 25 which connects with a second cavity 26 through a second valve seat 27, the cavity 26 communicating with a main outlet 30 through an opening 29.

Thesecondaryoutletand inlet passages 14and25 are defined in a common conduit 31 by afixed partition 32.

In the cavity 26 is located a thermostatically controlled valve 28 which, as the ambient temperature rises, advances towards the seat a valve member (notillustrated) which, attheset temperature, seats against the valve seat 27 and thus closes the return path through the valve body. The valve 28 is also provided with a rotatable sleeve 37 provided with cutouts which extend axially from the end of the sleeve at the valve seat 27. Withoutthe cutouts the sleeve would largely block the opening 29, but heir presence ensures an effective opening 29 the size of which can be adjusted by rotating the sleeve 37 to adjust the position of the cutouts relative to the opening 29. Rotation of the sleeve 37 is effected by an indexing knob 38 located inside the main temperature control knob 39 (illustrated in outline) so that the knob 38 is normally inaccessible.

In use the control valve has its main inlet 11 connected to the main hotwaterfeed line and its main outlet 30 connected to the main return line, whilethe secondary inlet 25 and outlet 14 are connected to a radiator. It can be seen thatthe radiator can be disconnected from the hot water supply quite simply by closing the shut-offvalve 18 and thus the feed path. If howeverthe radiator is in usethentheflowofhotwaterthrough it is controlled by the valve 28 depending upon the ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature rises to the set temperature ofthe valve then the valve 28 closes to shut off the flow ofwaterthrough the radiator until the ambienttemperature falls below the set temperature.

For the purpose of balancing the overall system, the sleeve 37 in the valve 38 is rotated to adjustthe flow through the radiator as previously described.

The control valve described thus has all the operational features that may be required while remaining compact, unobtrusive in use and relatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

1. Afluid flow control valve having a main inlet, a secondary outlet, a first valve controlling fluid flow from the main inlettothesecondaryoutlet,a secondary inlet separated from the secondary outlet in a common conduit by a fixed partition, a main outlet, and a second valve controlling fluid flow from the secondary inlet to the main outlet, said second valve being thermostatically controlled and having means for adjusting the flow through the valve, whereby in use both the first and second valves are operable to blockfluid flow between the main inlet and the main outlet.

2. Afluidflowcontrol valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fluid flow control valve The present invention is concerned with fluid flow control valves and in particularwith valves used in hot water central heating systems. Acommon central heating system employs radiators connected across main feed and return pipes through a valve which controls the flow of hot water and enables the radiator to be shut off if desired. Valves used in this way may be thermostatically controlled for efficient heating of the room or space in which the radiator is located and should beadjustabletoallowtheoverallsystem to be properly balanced, i.e. to ensure that all the radiators in the system receive a proper share of hot water from the boiler. Apart from these general operating requirements there is also the need forthe valve to be neat and compact not merely for aesthetic considerations but also for economic considerations as the valves are made from expensive materials. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid flow control valve. The present invention is a fluid flow control valve having a main inlet, a secondary outlet, a first valve controlling fluidflowfrom the main inlettothe secondary outlet, a secondary inlet separated from the secondary outlet in a common conduit by a fixed partition, a main outlet, and a second valve controlling fluidflowfrom the secondary inlettothe main outlet, said secondary valve being thermostatically controlled and having means for adjustingtheflowthroughthevalve,wherebyinuse both the first and second valves are operable to block fluid flow between the main inlet and the main outlet. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows a cross-sectionai elevation of a fluid flow control valve according to the present invention. Referring now to the drawing, the body 10 of a control valve for a hot water central heating system has main inlet 11 which communicates with first cavity 12 and thence through a first valve seat 13 with a secondary outlet passage 14, this path from the main inlet 11 tothe secondary outlet passage 14 being the feed path through the control valve. In the cavity 12 is located a shut-offvalve member 18which has a threaded connection 1 with the wall ofthe cavity 12 and which may be reciprocated in the cavity by rotating the external knob 20. Movement of the valve member 18 from the position shown in the drawing, in which the feed path is unobstructed,to the left hand end of the cavity 12 causes the member 18 to engage the valve seat 13 and close the feed path completely. A return path through the body 10 is defined by a secondary inlet passage 25 which connects with a second cavity 26 through a second valve seat 27, the cavity 26 communicating with a main outlet 30 through an opening 29. Thesecondaryoutletand inlet passages 14and25 are defined in a common conduit 31 by afixed partition 32. In the cavity 26 is located a thermostatically controlled valve 28 which, as the ambient temperature rises, advances towards the seat a valve member (notillustrated) which, attheset temperature, seats against the valve seat 27 and thus closes the return path through the valve body. The valve 28 is also provided with a rotatable sleeve 37 provided with cutouts which extend axially from the end of the sleeve at the valve seat 27. Withoutthe cutouts the sleeve would largely block the opening 29, but heir presence ensures an effective opening 29 the size of which can be adjusted by rotating the sleeve 37 to adjust the position of the cutouts relative to the opening 29. Rotation of the sleeve 37 is effected by an indexing knob 38 located inside the main temperature control knob 39 (illustrated in outline) so that the knob 38 is normally inaccessible. In use the control valve has its main inlet 11 connected to the main hotwaterfeed line and its main outlet 30 connected to the main return line, whilethe secondary inlet 25 and outlet 14 are connected to a radiator. It can be seen thatthe radiator can be disconnected from the hot water supply quite simply by closing the shut-offvalve 18 and thus the feed path. If howeverthe radiator is in usethentheflowofhotwaterthrough it is controlled by the valve 28 depending upon the ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature rises to the set temperature ofthe valve then the valve 28 closes to shut off the flow ofwaterthrough the radiator until the ambienttemperature falls below the set temperature. For the purpose of balancing the overall system, the sleeve 37 in the valve 38 is rotated to adjustthe flow through the radiator as previously described. The control valve described thus has all the operational features that may be required while remaining compact, unobtrusive in use and relatively inexpensiveto manufacture. CLAIMS