GB2247735A

GB2247735A - Adjustable safety control valve far gas controller

Info

Publication number: GB2247735A
Application number: GB9019315A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ching-Huei Tsai
Original assignee: SOUTH TRUST ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Current assignee: SOUTH TRUST ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-04
Filing date: 1990-09-04
Publication date: 1992-03-11
Also published as: GB9019315D0

Abstract

An adjustable safety control valve for a gas controller comprises a flow channel 11 which includes a passage hole 14. When the differential pressure in the flow channel 11 exceeds a certain value, a blocking ball 36 supported on a regulating rod 33 rises to block the passage hole 14. The sensitivity of the valve is adjusted by adjusting the height of the blocking ball 36 by means of the regulating rod 33. A resetting rod 22 is pushed towards the ball 36 to reopen the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

ADJUSTABLE SAFETY CONTROL VALVE FOR GAS CONTROLLER This invention relates to a gas safety controller, in particular that kind of automatic close device for use with a gas channel. According to U.S.

Letters Patent No. 4,579,142, its main function is described as follows: If the gas conduit or a joint is cracked, or the gas flows out too rapidly, there will exist a differential pressure between the front and rear parts of a ball valve urging the ball valve to block a sealing ring. When the fault is removed, depressing a cover button will move the ball valve downward and urge the ball valve into its open position. For that gas controller, the distance between the ball valve and the sealing ring is fixed. Also, the size and weight of the ball valve cannot be changed, that is, the setting gas flow value for urging the ball valve is constant. For example, the setting value is at 2kg/hr. The gas controller will work only if the gas flow value is greater than the setting value.

Otherwise, it will not function. This is the main disadvantage of the old design. For example, there are many kinds of gas burners in household use. They may be single-outlet burners, double-outlet burners, or gas heaters, and have different gas flow values.

For example, the gas flow value of a single-outlet burner is 0.16 kg/hr, the gas flow value of a doubleoutlet burner is 0.51 kg/hr and the value for a gas heater is 0.74 kg/hr. Typically, the design value for actuating the gas controller is about 2 kg/hr (from 0.51 x 2 + 0.74 = 1.76 = 2). However, if only one single-outlet burner works, the gas controller cannot close automatically. Because of the difference in pressure between the setting value and the actual value, the ball valve still cannot work to stop gas leaking even if gas leakage reaches ten times normal gas flow. It is a very dangerous situation.

The object of the invention is to provide an adjustable gas controller having different setting values for operation. It can thus be applied to different situations.

The present invention provides a fluid flow controlling apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit, the apparatus comprising restricting means adapted to be disposed in a conduit for restricting the flow of a fluid therethrough when the flow of fluid therethrough exceeds a predetermined level, and adjusting means for adjusting the predetermined level of fluid flow above which said restricting means when in use restricts the flow of a fluid through the conduit.

In order that the invention may be well understood, a preferred embodiment thereof is described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fluid flow controlling apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the detail of Fig. 3 at a different setting; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the detail of Fig. 3 when the fluid flow has been cut off.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figures 1 and 3 show a fluid flow controlling apparatus installed in a casing 1 which has a flow channel 11 connecting an inlet from a gas supply to an outlet. There are one upper seat 12 and one lower seat 13 in the middle of the channel. Upper seat 12 and lower seat 13 have holes 121 and 131, respectively. Hole 121 is connected to hole 131 by a passage hole 14. Also, hole 131 connects vertically with flow channel 11. Upper seat 12 is provided with inner thread 122 to screw with reset device 2. Reset device 2 has a hitting rod 22 which moving downward uses seat 21 to mount on upper seat 12. Hitting rod 22 has thread to tighten with nut 23. Depressing nut 23, hitting rod 22 can move downward inside the hole 121 of upper seat 12. Hitting rod 22 can be reset automatically when spring element 24 is compressed.

In order to prevent gas leakage, anti-leak ring 25 is set in a suitable position.

The same operation principle applies both to this example and the test controller. Lower seat 13 is provided with inner thread 132 to connect with regulating knob 3. Also, regulating knob 3 is provided with a nut 31 having a thread to engage with the inner thread 132 of the lower seat 13. In order to prevent gas leakage, nut 31 having ring groove 311 is provided to mount anti-leak ring 32. Screw hole 312 located in the centre of nut 31 is provided to engage with regulating knob 33. The bottom of regulating rod 33 joins the nut 34. Regulating rod 33 having ring notch 331 is provided to mount another anti-leak ring 35. The top of regulating rod 33 is flat for supporting restricting means 36, which is in the form of a blocking ball 36.

By insertion of anti-leak ring 37 into an inner ring groove in the upper portion of hole 131 of lower seat 13, the blocking ball 36 can move up and block gas flow.

Using nut 34 drives the rotation of regulating rod 33. Regulating rod 33 rotating inside nut 31 allows regulating rod 33 to move up and down relative to lower seat 13. The distance between the flat top of regulating rod 33 and passage hole 14 can then be altered. Regulating rod 33 can be fixed by screwing tight screw ring 38. Hence the distance between the blocking ball 36 above the flat top of regulating rod 33 and passage hole 14 can be short or long; in other words, the shorter the distance between the blocking ball 36 and passage hole 14, the smaller the force needed to push the blocking ball 36 up, and vice versa. The suitable safety setting value can be adjusted depending on the quantity and type of burners used. If gas flow exceeds the safety setting value, the gas controller will automatically close the gas line.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An adjustable gas controller comprising a casing, an inlet, a flow channel in the inlet connectable to a gas supply, an outlet, said flow channel having one upper seat and one lower seat, said upper seat and said lower seat having respective holes, said holes connecting with each other to form a passage hole, said upper seat comprising a reset device including a hitting rod adapted to move downward through said passage hole, said hole in said lower seat connecting vertically with said flow channel, a regulating rod having a screw hole for engaging with a regulating rod, said regulating rod having a substantially flat top for supporting a blocking means, said regulating rod being adapted to alter the vertical position of said blocking means so that the distance between said blocking means and said flow channel can be adjusted.

2. A fluid flow controlling apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit, the apparatus comprising restricting means adapted to be disposed in a conduit for restricting the flow of a fluid therethrough when the flow of fluid therethrough exceeds a predetermined level, and adjusting means for adjusting the predetermined level of fluid flow above which said restricting means when in use restricts the flow of a fluid through the conduit.