GB2384288A

GB2384288A - Actuator detachable from a valve body

Info

Publication number: GB2384288A
Application number: GB0229533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joaquin Garcia; Iban Retolaza
Original assignee: Orkli SCL
Current assignee: Orkli SCL
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2002-12-18
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Also published as: ES1050920U; GB0229533D0; ES1050920Y; DE20216989U1

Abstract

The motor-operated zone valve for a hydronic system comprises a two or three-way valve body enclosed with a cover (11), a valve spindle (8) projecting above the cover (11), an actuator (4) with a motor (5) coupled to the valve spindle (8) and an actuator housing (6) mounted on the valve body, and a device (6a,8a,8,10,12a,13) for connecting and disconnecting the actuator (4) for the purpose of its manual detachment from the body, which includes an actuator housing base (6a), an intermediate platform (12) attached to the body cover (11) and a pair of elastic retaining bridges (10) of flat configuration guided on two of their opposite sides, with a retaining hook (13) formed at each end that makes contact against an edge (12a) of said intermediate platform for retaining the actuator (4). The elastic retaining bridges may be in the form of leaf spring clips to allow push-fit connection of the actuator.

Description

MOTOR OPERATED VALVE WITH AN ACTUATOR DISCONNECTION DEVICE The present invention relates to a motor-operated zone valve for a hydronic heating or cooling system, comprising a two or three-way valve body with a sealing member operated by means of a motor actuator detachable from the valve body, and a device for connecting and disconnecting the actuator to and from the valve body.

Prior art An example of a zone valve which has a motor-operated actuator detachable from the valve body is described in the publication US-A-5540414. The actuator of the known valve is provided with a housing fitted on a three-way water valve body, which has a valve spindle and ball type sealing member coupled to the actuator. On the known zone valve the device for connecting and disconnecting the actuator to and from the valve body comprises a pair of projecting arched spring leaves on opposite sides of the actuator which have a retaining end bent inwards. For exchange purposes the actuator is disconnected manually with the assistance of tools, but it has the drawback of requiring a number of manoeuvres, first to grasp both retaining spring leaves, then to exert individual pressure on each spring leaf to release them from a retainer on the valve body, and lastly to pull on the actuator housing.

Disclosure of the invention The present invention is provides a zone valve with a motor actuator coupled to a two or three-way water valve body with a valve spindle and with manual elastic connection and disconnection means between both parts of the valve for purposes of interchangeability.

To couple to the valve body, the elastic actuator connection means comprises a pair of elastic retaining bridges arranged on opposite sides of the actuator housing, with two bent ends projecting downwards which hook up to a corresponding edge of the valve body, so that the actuator is detached from the body by means of a single manual operation, grasping the housing from the outside and pulling it, with no need to find the retaining members previously in order to grasp them, and without having to release the coupling between the actuator and body with an additional mechanism. The elastic connection means are simple to make and fit on the valve, they do not project from their outer profile, and they do not require additional means of connection or connection locking. The actuator disconnecting device makes it possible to dispense with additional means for directing the actuator'when connected to the body.

In addition, the actuator disconnection device has another advantage, as two types of zone valves-normally open or normally closed-are used, the design of the connection means enables the same actuator to be used for both types, since the actuator is adapted to the other type of valve by merely turning the actuator through 1800 in relation to the valve body.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zone valve, showing the means for connecting the actuator to the valve body.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the zone valve in FIG. 1.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment With reference to FIG. 1-2, an embodiment of a zone valve 1 according to the present invention comprises a threeway A, B, AB valve body 2 with a valve spindle 8 and ball or clapper type rotary sealing member 3, an actuator 4

provided with a motor 5 connected to a valve spindle 8 in a sheet metal housing mounted on the valve body 2, while the actuator 4 may be detached manually from the body by pulling the housing 6.

FIG. 1-2 show the actuator 4 connected on top of the valve body 2 directly onto an intermediate platform 12.

The actuator housing 6 is made of die-stamped sheet metal and has a square-shaped base 6a. A plastic support piece 7, on which the valve spindle 8 operating and rotation drive 9 mechanisms are mounted, is fixed in the actuator 4 on the base 6a of the housing. The valve body 2 has a cover 11 with a flat outer surface and there is an intermediate platform 12 screwed to it on which the base 6a of the actuator housing rests.

In the embodiment showh in the drawings, the cover 11 has a square outside shape and four peripheral entering edges 11a of a width referenced with number 18 in figure 2. In the body the cover extends downwards with a tubular part lib which guides the valve spindle 8. The intermediate platform 12 has a rectangular plate shape and four peripheral entering edges 12a, these of a width 19 greater than that of the peripheral cover edges 12a, so the edges 12a of the platform 12 extend beyond the edges lla of the cover.

The device for disconnecting the actuator 4 comprises an end 8a of the valve spindle connected to the rotation drive mechanism 9, a pair of flat elastic retaining bridges 10, which are fitted on two opposite sides of the actuator base 6a, and said peripheral edges 12a of the intermediate platform. The elastic retaining bridges may be made of spring leaf or spring wire, and at either end they have a retaining hook 13 bent downwards at an acute angle, passing through the base 6a of the housing by way of an aperture 17. The intermediate platform 12 remains fixed to the cover 11 of the valve body, and it is

traversed by the end of the spindle 8. During the connection of the actuator 4 pushed towards the body 2, the retaining hooks 13 open and they are pressed by spring force up against a corresponding edge 12a of the mounting platform, and they keep the actuator 4 locked against the body 2. To assist the disconnection of the actuator 4, the retaining hooks 13 are shaped with an arched inner surface 13a and their end sharp edge concealed to prevent rubbing against the intermediate platform 12. Only the curved surface 13a of the retaining hook presses against the corresponding edge 12a, and preferably only making contact at one of the cants of the edge 12a. In this way, at a future moment when the actuator 4 is pulled up by hand in order to detach the actuator 4, the upward sliding of the retaining hook is facilitated.

The spring leaf bridges 10 are previously fixed onto the sheet metal base 6a and linked to it by inserting a shoulder or rivets 15. This actuator plastic support piece bears said drive mechanisms, for which it has a flat part 7a resting on the housing base 6a and a tubular part 7b which guides the end 8a of the valve spindle up to its connection to the drive mechanism 9. The retaining bridges are housed in their respective guide groove 14 in the under side of said flat part 7a of the plastic support.

The base 6a of the housing, of a substantially square shape, has a notch cut 16 giving shape to a tab bent downwards, which has the function of preventing a turning movement of the actuator 4 relative to the body 2 during the disconnection manoeuvre.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. - A motor-operated zone valve assembly adapted for installation in a hydronic system, comprising: a two or three-way valve body provided with a body cover, and a substantially flat surface on the body cover; - a rotary valve spindle fitted to a valve member in the valve body for controlling the flow through said ways, the free end of the valve spindle projecting through the body cover; - a valve actuator provided with a motor and a coupling for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the valve spindle; a substantially square-shaped actuator housing containing said rotation transmission coupling, and provided with a flat housing base mounted on said substantially flat surface on the valve body, whereby the actuator is connected to the valve spindle; - means for retaining the actuator mounted on the valve body, which are guided on the base of the housing and hooked into the peripheral edges of said flat surface, wherein the actuator retaining means may be operated by traction in an axial direction on the actuator housing, whereby the actuator is disconnected and detached from the valve body.
2.-The motor-operated zone valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprise a pair of elastic retaining bridges, guided transversely on two opposite sides of the housing base and provided with elastic retaining hooks shaped at their ends.
3.-The motor-operated zone valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said elastic bridges are made of spring leaf and said retaining hooks have an arched surface

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formed so as to make sliding contact in an axial direction on one of said peripheral edges of the flat surface of the valve body.
4.-The motor-operated zone valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said substantially flat surface of the valve body is constructed by means of an intermediate platform attached to said body cover, with two peripheral edges jutting out laterally, acting as a support for the housing base and the hook of said retaining means.
5.-A motor-operated zone valve assembly adapted for installation in a hydronic system, comprising: a two or three-way valve body provided with a body cover; - a rotary valve spindle fitted to a valve member in the valve body for controlling the flow through said ways, the free end of the valve spindle projecting through the body cover; - a valve actuator provided with a motor and a coupling for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the valve spindle; a substantially square-shaped actuator housing containing said rotation transmission coupling and provided with a flat housing base mounted on the valve body; a manually operated device for the guided connection of the actuator to the valve spindle, comprising an intermediate platform attached to said body cover for supporting the housing base, and elastic means for retaining the actuator guided over the base of the housing and hooked to said intermediate platform, which may be operated by traction in an axial direction on the actuator housing, whereby the actuator is disconnected and the actuator detached from the valve body.

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6.-The motor-operated zone valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein the retaining means comprise a pair of elastic retaining bridges, guided transversely on two opposite sides of the housing base and provided with elastic retaining hooks shaped at their ends.
7.-The motor-operated zone valve assembly according to claim 6, wherein said elastic bridges are made of spring leaf and said retaining hooks have an arched surface formed so as to make sliding contact in an axial direction on one of said peripheral edges of the intermediate platform.
8. A valve assembly for a hydronic system, comprising: a valve body defining at least one fluid passageway therethrough; a rotary valve spindle coupled to a valve member in the valve body for regulating fluid flow through the at least one fluid passageway; and an actuator for rotating the rotary valve spindle, wherein the actuator is releasably coupled to the valve body with fastening means, the fastening means being configured to engage with a push fit action and disengage when the actuator is pulled away from the valve body with a force exceeding a threshold level.
9. A valve assembly according to claim 8, in which the fastening means comprises a resilient member which flexes when engaging an opposing profile.
10. A valve assembly according to claim 9, in which the resilient member provides a bias urging the actuator towards the valve body when fully engaged with the opposing profile.
11. A motor-operated zone valve assembly adapted for installation in a hydronic system, as is described

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substantially above with reference to Figures 1-2 of the drawings.