GB2231389A - Valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiator bleed valve has a housing (12) in which an elongate actuator (26) is axially slidable to open and close the valve. The actuator has a valve closure (22) formed at one end which engages an O-ring (21) formed in a valve seat (20) in order sealingly to close the valve. The opposite end of the actuator (26) is formed with a head (28) preventing removal of the actuator fully from the housing in the opening direction of the valve. A coil spring (30) is provided co-axially with the actuator to bias the latter into a closed position. The housing is screwed into the normal bleed valve opening in a hot water radiator of a central heating system. To bleed the radiator the user merely has to press the head (28) of the actuator to open the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Valve The present invention relates to valves and in particular to bleed valves for, for example, hot water radiators in central heating systems.

One of the problems associated with hot water central heating systems is the necessity, from time to time, of bleeding air from the systems. This is normally achieved by opening a bleed valve in each radiator of the system. Unfortunately, this requires the use of a special valve key which is normally quite small and easily misplaced.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved form of valve.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a valve for a central heating hot water radiator, the valve comprising a housing; valve actuator means slidably engaged in said housing, said valve actuator means having valve closure means engageable with a valve seat on said housing to close said valve and being movable between a first position wherein said valve is closed and a second position wherein said valve is open; and resilient means biassing said valve closure means towards said valve seat to close said valve.

In a preferred form of the invention the valve actuator means is slidably engaged in a through-bore in said housing and said valve seat is in said bore.

Preferably said valve is a radiator bleed valve.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a sectional side elevation of a preferred form of valve according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, this shows a preferred form of radiator bleed valve 1Q o Although the valve is primarily intended for use in a hot water radiator of a central heating system, it will be appreciated that the valve may be used in other water circulation systems from which, from time to time, air or other gases may need to be bled.

The valve has a housing 12 which is generally in the form of a cylinder whose radially outer wall is screw-threaded to enable the housing to be securely engaged in a screw-threaded bore (not shown) in the wall of a radiator.

The housing 12 has a central, cylindrical bore 14 which opens into E recess 16 in one end 18 of the housing 12. The recess 16 is of generally square or other suitable cross-section for engagement with a correspondingly shaped key by means of which the housing 12 is screwed into the radiator bore.

The other, inner end of the bore 14 opposite the recess 16 is formed with an annular recess forming a valve seat 20 in which an O-ring seal 21 or similar seal is located. The seal cooperates with a radially extending surface 22 of a valve closure 24. The valve closure 24 is formed at one end of an actuator 26 which slidably extends through the bore 14. The other end of the actuator is secured to a head 28 which is smaller than the recess 16 to enable it to move within the recess but is larger than the bore 14 to prevent movement of the actuator into the bore.

The actuator 26 carries a co-axial coil spring 30 which acts between the head 28 and a base wall 32 of the bore 14 to bias the head 28 away from the bore 14, therefore biassing the valve closure 24 into sealing engagement with the valve seal.

The coil spring 30 is chosen of sufficient strength to ensure adequate sealing between the valve closure 24 and the valve seal whilst allowing the valve to be opened by manual pressure on the head 28. When it is necessary to bleed a radiator in which the valve 10 is fitted, a user merely has to push the head 28 to move the valve actuator inwardly and open the valve. When the head 28 is released, the coil spring 30 returns the valve to its closed position.

Conveniently, the housing 12 and the valve closure member are brass.

As will be appreciated, the valve is very simple and easy to use and avoids the need for a valve key and its accompanying disadvantages.

Claims (6)

Claims:

1. A valve for a central heating hot water radiator, the valve comprising a housing; valve actuator means slidably engaged in said housing, said valve actuator means having valve closure means engageable with a valve seat on said housing to close said valve and being movable between a first position wherein said valve is closed and a second position wherein said valve is open; and resilient means biassing said valve closure means towards said valve seat to close said valve.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve actuator means is slidably engaged in a through-bore in said housing and said valve seat is formed in said bore.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said valve seat comprises an annular recess formed in said through-bore.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said valve actuator means has an enlarged diameter portion at one end remote from said valve closure means for preventing movement of said valve actuator means fully through said through-bore in a direction against said resilient biassing means.

5. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said valve is a radiator bleed valve.

6. A valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.