GB2402726A

GB2402726A - Heating valve unit

Info

Publication number: GB2402726A
Application number: GB0411405A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niels Bjerggaard; Stig Andreasson
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 2003-05-24
Filing date: 2004-05-21
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-21
Also published as: CN100374783C; CN1573227A; GB0411405D0; DE10323525B3; GB2402726B; FR2855250B1; FR2855250A1

Abstract

A heating valve unit (1) with a supply connection arrangement comprises an inlet connection (9) and a return connection (10), a first heating connection arrangement having a first heating inlet connection (5) and a first heating return connection (6), a second heating connection arrangement having a second heating inlet connection (17) and a second heating return connection (22), and a valve (13) with a thermostat valve unit (7), the connection arrangements being located in a connection housing. The valve unit is to have a compact design. For this purpose, the connection housing is divided into two parts (2, 3), a hot part (2) comprising the inlet connection (9), the first heating inlet connection (5) and the second heating inlet connection (17), and a cold part (3) comprising the return connection (10), the first heating return connection (6) and the second heating return connection (22), the hot part and the cold part adjoining with thermal isolation (4) inserted between them.

Description

_eating valve unit This invention concerns a heating valve unit with a

supply connection arrangement having an inlet connection and a return connection, a first heating connection arrangement having a first heating inlet connection and a first heating return connection, a second heating connection arrangement having a second heating inlet connection and a second heating return connection, and a valve with a thermostat valve unit, the connection arrangements being located in a connection housing.

Such a valve unit is known from DE 199 12 821 A1.

With such a valve unit, both a room radiator and a floor heating system can be connected to the supply connection arrangement. An attempt is made here to produce a unit as compact as possible but the thermostat valve unit does, however, project.

Similar valve units are known from DE 196 94 773 A1 or DE 196 50 892 A1. In both cases, attempts are made to connect a single supply connection arrangement both to a radiator and to a floor heating system.

To an increasing degree, radiators are used as design elements when designing rooms. This applies particularly when designing bathrooms. Apart from heating the room, - 2 the radiator has then, for example, the function of a towel drier. Increasingly, importance is being attached to an aesthetically pleasing design of the radiator. The use of so-called "designer" radiators is increasing.

When designing radiators, the technical peripheral requirements, particularly the connection requirements, cannot be disregarded. In connection with a radiator, the effect can be particularly spoiled when a large box or a "block" is used for the inlet and outlet of the heating medium.

The invention is based on the problem of designing a compact valve unit.

The present invention provides a heating valve unit comprising: a supply connection arrangement having an inlet connection and a return connection, a first heating connection arrangement having a first heating inlet connection and a first heating return connection, a second heating connection arrangement having a second heating inlet connection and a second heating return connection, and a valve with a thermostat valve unit, the connection arrangements being located in a connection housing, wherein the connection housing is divided into two parts, a hot part comprising the inlet connection, the first heating inlet connection and the second heating inlet connection, and a cold part comprising the return connection, the first heating return connection and the second heating return connection, the hot part and the cold part adjoining each other with thermal Insulation located between them.

In a heating valve unit as mentioned in the introduction, the abovementioned problem is solved in that the connection housing is divided into two parts, the hot part comprising the inlet connection, the first heating inlet connection and the second heating inlet connection, and the cold part comprising the return connection, the first heating return connection and the second heating return connection, the hot part and the cold part adjoining each other with thermal insulation located between them.

In such a construction, a very compact valve unit is achieved. The "hot" connections, that is, the inlet connections, can be located relatively close to each other. In the same manner, also the "cold" connections, that is, the return connections, can be packed very closely. Firstly, this results in two halves or parts of the valve unit, each of which can be made in a compact manner. Now, the two parts can also be located relatively

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close to each other. Usually, this would involve the risk that the hot heating medium in the inlet could transfer heat to the cooled heating medium In the return. from an energy point of view, this would be unfavourable.

S However, this problem is avoided in an elegant manner, in that thermal insulation is inserted between the hot part and the cold part. The insulation may be an insulating layer, that is, a layer made of a thermally insulating material. However, alternatively a spacing between the hot and the cold parts may be provided, defined, for example, by small spacers, so that the isolation mainly consists of air. Thus, when designing the valve unit, large spacings between the areas, in which the hot heating medium flows, and the areas, in which the cooled heating medium flows, need no longer be maintained. On the contrary, a compact construction can be realized.

Preferably, the hot part and the cold part are fixedly connected to each other. This facilitates tight sealing of the valve unit. Although it comprises at least three parts, namely the housing of the hot part, the insulating layer and the housing of the cold part, the valve unit is still inherently a closed entity and can be handled as a unit.

Preferably, the hot part comprises a hot water chamber and the cold part comprises a cold-water chamber, each being bounded by the insulating layer. This makes it easier to keep the valve unit compact. A complicated piping arrangement is not required. On the contrary, all opcninc3s leading to the inlet connections and the outlet connec:tions, respectively, can open into the hot water chamber and the cold-water chambers, respectively. The valves which are used for control of the heating medium through the individual heating circuits can then be provided at a suitable point. Forming of chambers, namely the hot water chamber and the cold-water chamber, is in many cases simpler than forming channels. This applies even more so when the chamber is accessible from one side.

This is the side at which the insulating layer will later be located.

It is preferred in this connection that the insulating layer be in the form of a part of plastics material. A plastics part is easily manufactured, for example by injection moulding. It can have the desired shape, enabling the cold part and the hot part to be connected to one another with tight sealing.

Preferably, the supply connection arrangement and the second heating connection arrangement are located on the rear side, whereas the first heating connection arrangement is located on the upper side. This takes account of the fact that the first heating connection - 6 - serves to supply a radiator, whereas the second heating connection Is meant to supply a floor heating system, the plpowork of which laid In the floor is led upwards through a wal] to the place at which the valve unit will later be located.

Preferably, the first heating connection arrangement is in the form of bores into which connection pipes can be inserted. In this way, the use of inelegant fixing means, for example union nuts, for fixing the connection pipes can be avoided. When inserting the connection pipes, a connection between the valve unit and the radiator which IS sufficiently tightly sealed can be realized.

Preferably, the second heating connection arrangement has a return thermostat valve. The first heating connection arrangement can then be controlled in the inlet and the second heating connection arrangement can be controlled in the return. Particularly when using floor heating, the use of a return thermostat valve is advantageous, as the return thermostat valve then controls the floor heating so that the returning heating water has a predetermined temperature. The valve for the first heating connection arrangement can, as mentioned above, be provided with a thermostat valve unit. The valves for the first heating connection arrangement and the second heating connection arrangement do not interfere with one - 7 - other either spatially or functionally, in this construction.

It is preferred that the return thermostat valve has an losers, inserted to form a seal in a recess of the cold part, said insert forming a valve seat and serving as guide for a valve element co-operating with the valve scat. This further simplifies the construction of the valve unit. The housing of the valve unit no longer has to be able to form a valve seat. On the contrary, the insert forms the valve seat. The insert In turn is inserted to form a seal in a recess of the cold part, that is, the insert separates the second return connection from the cold-water chamber.

Preferably, the return thermostat valve has a thermostat element which actuates the valve element and IS supported on the insulating layer. Thus, the insulating layer assumes a further function. It no longer serves merely to separate the hot part and the cold part from each other thermally. It also assumes a mechanical function, namely to form the support for the thermostat element.

It is preferred in this connection that in the area of the thermostat element the insulating layer has a recess. The dimensions of the thermostat element can then be chosen more freely, that is, a longer thermostat - 8 - element can even be used. This thermostat element no longer has to fit into Lee cold part alone. The valve unit can therefore be kept compact without forgoing any of the functionality of the thermostat element. Eurthermore, the recess has the advantage that the thermostat element can be guided laterally.

It is preferred in this connection that the recess has a section of increased diameter, in which an overpressure spring is located and supported on the thermostat element or a part connected to the thermostat element. The overpressure spring ensures that the thermostat element can expand even when the valve element is already abutting the valve seat. The fact that the recess has a section of increased diameter ensures that the overpressure spring has sufficient room without forgoing the guide for the thermostat element.

Preferably, the valve element has a star-shaped support with which it is guided in the guide.

A heating valve unit constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an external view of a valve unit; - 9 - Fig. 2 shows the valve unit with its contents in a perspective view; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of Fig. 2. r :]

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows a heating valve unit 1 with a housing comprising a first housing part 2, a second housing part 3 and an Intermediate insulating layer 4. The first housing part 2 has a first heating inlet connection 5 and the second housing part 3 has a first heating return connection 6.

The inlet connection 5 and the return connection 6 have a mutual spacing A, for example 50 mm. This is a standard dimension for many radiators currently available on the market.

For the purpose of the following description, the

side of the valve unit 1 in which the inlet connection 5 and the return connection 6 are located is called the upper side. The side, which is shown in its full extent in Fig. 1, is called the front side. The side opposite the upper side is called the bottom side. The side opposite the front side is called the rear side.

Accordingly, the sides forming the left and the right sides in Fig. 1 are called the "left side" and the "right side" respectively. -

A thermostat valve unit (sometimes called a thermostatic top part) 7 projects from the left side of the first housing part 2. This is the only ->art.

projecting from the valve unit 1. Otherwise, projecting parts are substantially or even completely avoided.

Instead of the thermostat valve unit 7, a remote sensor element can be used, so that only the remote sensor projects from the housing or is located elsewhere. When a vapour filling is used, the sensor will always sense at the coldest spot, in this case the sensor itself. Thus, an even more compact unit can be achieved. In principle, the complete housing of this construction can be located in a wall.

The left sidewall of the first housing part 2 further shows a shut-off valve body 8, which is screwed into the first housing part 2. Furthermore, this valve body 8 does not project outwards from the valve unit 1.

Fig. 2 shows the inner construction of the valve unit 1. Parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1 have the same reference numbers.

In the rear side of the valve unit a supply connection arrangement with an inlet connection 9 and a return connection 10 is provided. The inlet connection 9 opens into a hot water chamber 11, which is formed in the 11 first housing part 2. The first housing part 2 and the insulating layer 4 bound the hot water chamber 11.

In a similar manner, the return connection 10 of the supply connection arrangement opens into a cold water chamber 12, which is bounded by the second housing part 3 and the insulating layer 9. Both the hot water chamber 11 and the cold water chamber 12 are therefore accessible from the outside, when the two housing parts 2, 3 are still separated from each other. This enables both housinc3 parts 2, 3 to be manufactured from plastics material, for example by injection moulding, as no complicated channels have to be made.

The hot water chamber 11 is connected to the first heating inlet connection 5 by way of a valve 13 with a valve seat 14 and a valve element 15. The thermostat valve unit 7 controls the valve element 15. The thermostat valve unit 7 registers the room temperature and opens the valve to a greater or lesser degree in dependence on the room temperature.

The hot water chamber 11 is connected to the second heating inlet connection 17 by way of a shut-off valve 16.

The shut-off valve 16 is normally open. When, however, the valve body 8 is screwed further into the first housing part 2, it comes into contact with a valve seat 18, to interrupt a connection between the inlet connection 9 and - 12 a heating circuit (not shown) of a floor heating system.

Within certain limits, the valve body 8 permits presetting of the circulation in the above-mentioned floor heating system.

The cold-water chamber 12 is connected to the first heating return connection 6 by way of a shut-off valve 19.

The shut-oft valve l9 has a valve body 20, which can be screwed into the second housing part 3 until it comes into contact with a valve seat 21, to interrupt a connection between the cold water chamber 12 and the first heating return connection. Normally, however, the shut-off valve 19 is open. Furthermore, the valve body 20 does not project from the second housing part 3.

The connection between the inlet connection 9, the return connection 10 or the second heating inlet connection 17 and a second heating return connection 22, located on the rear side of the valve unit, respectively, and the corresponding pipes projecting from a wall, is relatively uncritical with regard to its external design, as such connections are covered by the valve unit 1.

Here, for example, screw connections or the like can be used.

Radiator connections, which are connected to the first heating inlet connection 5 and the first heating return connection 6 are, on the other hand, simply inserted In the corresponding openings in the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 3.

The cold water chamber 12 is connected to the second heating return connection 22 by way of a return-path thermostat valve 23. The detailed construction of this return thermostat valve 23 is explained with reference to Fig. 3. Here too, parts corresponding to those In Figs. 1 and 2 have the same reference numbers.

The return-path thermostat valve 23 has an insert 24, which is inserted In the second housing part 3, or rather in a bore 25. An extension 26 extends on the right outside of the second housing part 3 so that turning the insert 24 can change the position of the insert 24 in the second housing part 3. The extension 26 can have a thread 27 so that during turning the distance between the insert 24 and the insulating layer 4 changes. Again, the extension 26 projects hardly at all from the second housing part 3.

The insert 24 has a sealing arrangement 28 which separates the cold water chamber 12 from the bore 25, or at least from the area of the bore 25 into which the second heating return connection 22 opens.

The insert 24 forms a valve seat 29 which co-operates with a valve element 30. The valve element 30 is guided in the insert 24 by means of a star-shaped support 31.

- 14 - Water entering the bore 25 from the second heating return connection 22 and being forced through the gap between the valve element 30 and the valve seat 29 can reach the cold water chamber 12 between the arms of the star-shaped support 31.

The valve element 30 is controlled by a thermostat element 32, for example a wax cartridge, which works against the force of an opening spring 33. The opening spring 33 is supported in the insert 24 and acts upon the support 31, so that the valve element 30 is moved away from the valve seat 29.

The thermostat element 32 is supported by way of an overpressure spring 34 on the insulating layer 4. In this area, the insulating layer 4 forms a recess 35 in which an extension 36 of the thermostat element 32 is guided. The recess 35 has a section 36 of increased diameter. The section 36 is dimensioned so that it can receive the overpressure spring 34.

The insert 24, the valve element 30 and the star shaped guide 31 can be made of plastics material, for example by injection moulding. This simplifies manufacture.

Presetting of the return thermostat valve 23 can be carried out by turning the insert 24 in the second housing - 15 part 3 to change the spacing between the valve element 30 and the valve seat 29.

As can be seen particularly from Fig. 2, the valve unit 1 earl be kept extremely compact. The distances between the Individual inlet connections can be kept small, as all inlet connections open loto the first housing part 2, also called the "hot" part. Here, the distances can thus be kept small.

The return connection 10, 6, 22 all open into the housing part 3, also called the "cold" part. The insulating layer 4 between the hot part and the cold part keeps the risk of mutual thermal influence relatively small.

Furthermore, the insulating layer 4 has the function of serving as abutment for the thermostat element 32 of the return thermostat valve 23. Thus, the insulating layer 4 does not have to have be of planar construction.

On the contrary, a part of it, which receives the recess and the section 36, can project into the hot water chamber 11.

The two housing parts 2, 3 and the intermediate insulating layer are fixedly connected to each other, for example by means of adhesive bonding or welding. The complete valve unit can therefore be handled as one unit.

Claims

C L A I M S: A heating valve unit comprising: a supply connection

arrangement having an inlet connection and a return connection, a first heating connection arrangement having a first heating inlet connection and a first heating return connection, a second heating connection arrangement having a second heating inlet connection and a second heating return connection, and a valve with a thermostat valve unit, the connection arrangements being located in a connection housing, wherein the connection housing is divided into two parts, a hot part comprising the inlet connection, the first heating inlet connection and the second heating inlet connection, and a cold part comprising the return connection, the first heating return connection and the second heating return connection, the hot part and the cold part adjoining each other with thermal insulation located between them.
2. A valve unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hot part and the cold part are fixedly connected to each other. - 17
3. A valve unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal insulation comprises an insulating layer, the hot part comprises a hot water chamber, and the cold part comprises a cold water chamber, each being bounded by the insulating layer.
4. A valve unit according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermal insulation comprises an insulating layer in the form of a part of plastics material.
5. A valve unit according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the supply connection arrangement and the second heating connection arrangement are located on the rear (as described herein) side, whereas the first heating connection arrangement is located on the upper (as described herein) side.
6. A valve unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first heating connection arrangement is in the form of bores into which connection pipes can be inserted.
7. A valve unit according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the second heating connection arrangement has a return-path thermostat valve.
S. A valve unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the return-path thermostat valve has an insert inserted to form a seal in a recess of the cold part, said insert - 18 forming a valve seat and serving as a guide for a valve element co-operating with the valve seat.
9. A valve unit as claimed In claim 8, wherein the thermal insulation comprises an insulating layer, and the return-path thermostat valve has a thermostat element which, in use, actuates the valve clement and is supported on the insulating layer.
10. A valve unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the area of the thermostat element the insulating layer has a recess.
11. A valve unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the recess has an increased-diameter section in which an overpressure spring is located, which spring is supported on the thermostat element or a part connected to the thermostat element.
12. A valve unit according to any one of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the valve element has a star-shaped support with which it is guided in the guide.
13. A valve unit substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.