GB2407144A

GB2407144A - Fitting for connecting a heat exchanger to a water circuit

Info

Publication number: GB2407144A
Application number: GB0324531A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Corner; Gerhard Loffler; Roland Foitzik
Original assignee: FW Oventrop GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: FW Oventrop GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2003-10-16
Filing date: 2003-10-21
Publication date: 2005-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-21
Also published as: DE10348687B3; GB2407144B; GB0324531D0

Abstract

A fitting for connecting a heat exchanger to a water circuit comprises a one piece housing 12 with a feed duct 3, a return duct 8 and a bypass duct 2 connecting the feed 3 and return 8 ducts. The fitting has pipes 4, 5, 6, 7 for connecting feed and return lines of the water circuit, for connecting feed and return lines of the heat exchanger and for accommodating a three way valve 9. Pressure connection pipes 13, 14 are integrated with the housing and a first seating 16 of the three way valve provides an aperture 17 between the pressure connection pipes for differential pressure measurement across the aperture 17.

Description

1 2407144 Fitting for connecting a heat exchanger to a water circuit The

invention concerns a fitting for connecting a heat exchanger in a heating, cooling, or air conditioning (climate control) system to the water circuit of a hot or cold water treatment system, consisting of a one- piece housing with a feed duct, a return duct and bypass duct linking these, in which the fitting has connection pipes for connecting the feed and return lines of the hot or cold water treatment system, for connecting the feed and return lines of the heat exchanger and for accommodating the valve insert of a three-way valve fitment.

DE 198 31 993 Cl cites a familiar fitting, which is used for presetting and regulating the preset flow from heat exchangers in heating, cooling or air conditioning systems, in which the flow rate is recorded via corresponding pressure checkpoints. On this occasion, for example, the valve (a thermostat), controlled by temperature sampling, affects the flow to the heat exchanger. If a number of heat exchangers are connected to the feed and return lines in parallel, then these are in turn affected by changes to the flow rate. A bypass flow is a familiar method of countering this disadvantage, where this is likewise affected by the valve. In this case, it is a three-way mixer or distributor valve. In this connection, the bypass is normally connected to the return line of the heat consumer. A solution in which the connection with the three-way valve is accommodated in a fitments housing is familiar from DE 195 40 580 Al and DE 198 37 012 C2, for example. There are also solutions in which a Tconnector is simply mounted on a three-way valve.

The three-way valves with bypass familiar in the state of the art are limited in their function to distributing flows between main and bypass flows and for adjusting the hydraulic compensation via additionally incorporated chokes So as to be capable in this connection of performing the functions of pressure difference measurement, draining, filling, venting and blocking upstream a heat exchanger unit independently of a three-way valve, separate fittings which ffilfil the relevant functions must be mounted in advance.

The configuration of the pressure measurement borings in the three-way bypass combination as in DE 195 40 580 Al is also a disadvantage, as this is dependent on the preset cross section of the regulator insert. This means that the setting of the regulator insert must be observed during pressure difference recording.

So as to overcome the disadvantages defined above and create a small size fitting, despite all the necessary functions, which allows differential pressure measurement, as well as obviating the installation of additional fittings for filling, draining, blocking and the like, and has easily accessible operating elements, it is proposed that pressure connection pipes be integrated in the housing, and the aperture cross-section between the pressure connection pipes for pressure difference measurement be formed by the first valve seating of the three-way valve fitment.

Further preferred designs are given in the secondary claims.

The invention proposes a one-piece housing for a three-way valve with bypass for connection to a heat exchanger with feed and return connections, in which are incorporated two pressure connection pipes for pressure difference measurement, with an aperture in between, and the elements for blocking the feed and/or return for draining and filling, as well as for setting the flow. Furthermore, the setting is fitted outside the area between the pressure measuring points. In particular, on this occasion, the valve seating of the three-way valve, which is in the feed to the heat exchanger, is used as the aperture for differential pressure measurement, where the pressure connection pipes should be provided in the return channel on both sides adjoining the bypass connection.

The elements for draining, filling, presetting and feed blocking options are accommodated in a pipe fitted on the side of the housing.

The reason for the lateral fitting is accessibility, especially if several three-way valves with bypass of the type defined, which are switchable between hot and cold operation, are fitted adjoining the heat exchanger. A significant benefit is also the fitting of the pressure connection pipes and the connection pipe for a drive to the three-way valve in one plane, together with the feed and return components and the bypass. The drive for the three-way valve may be, for example, a thermostat, a handwheel or even a motorised drive.

A prototype of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and described in more detail below, This shows: Figure 1 a system depiction with the fitting as in the invention; Figure 2 the fitting as in the invention - a sectional view from the side; Figures 3 and 4 details along the lines A-A and B-B in Figure 1.

An adjustable three-way regulating valve with bypass 2 is fitted into a one-piece housing l as in Figure 2, in which the bypass 2 is connected with the return and feed lines 8, 3 of a heat exchanger in the form of a T. The fitting has pipes 5, 4 for connecting the feed and return lines of a hot or cold water treatment system, as shown in diagram form in Figure 1. The fitting also has pipes 7, 6 for connecting the feed and return lines of a heat exchanger. The valve seating 9 of the three-way valve is accommodated in the duct (return line 8) connecting the return pipes 6, 4, said valve seating mixing the flow in the return duct 8 with that in the bypass duct, or blocking one of the two ducts. In this connection, the valve fitment 9 is activated by a drive 10, with the drive mounted on the housing 12 via a connection pipe 11. The pressure connection pipes 13, 14 formed on the housing, in which are mounted the measuring valves 15, are aligned on the same side as that in which the pipe 11 lies, in the same plane. The three-way valve fitment 9 is positioned between the pressure connection pipes 13, 14, in the duct for the return line 8.When the bypass is in its closed position, the open valve seating 16 of the flow duct for the feed serves as the aperture 17 for measurement of pressure or flow rate.

A blocking device 18, which is produced in the prototype by means of a stopcock, is incorporated into the return pipes 4, which are accommodated in the return line in the hot or cold water treatment system. A connection pipe 19, in which is machined a second valve seating 20, is formed on the side of the feed pipes 5, which are accommodated in the feed line of the heating, cooling or air conditioning system. A valve seating 21 known per se is mounted in said connection pipe 19, thereby allowing pre-setting, draining, filling and venting of the heat exchanger. In this connection, the angle of said connection pipe 19 to the housing is chosen such that the valve seating 21 is also operated from the same direction as the other functional elements. As all connection pipes (4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19) and flow management housing parts form a one-piece housing, the dimensions are very economical, which also obviates the need to install additional fittings, used for filling, draining, blocking, for example. In this connection, all operating elements are accessible from the same side.

The invention is not restricted to the prototype, but is capable of many variations

within the meaning of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the definition and/or the drawing are viewed as significant inventions.

Claims

Claims: 1. Fitting (1) for connecting a heat exchanger in a heating,

cooling, or air conditioning system to the circuit of a hot or cold water treatment system, comprising a one-piece housing (12) with a feed duct (3), a return duct (8) and a bypass duct (2) connecting these, in which the fitting has connecting pipes (5, 4), (7, 6), (11) for connecting the feed and return lines of the hot or cold water treatment system, for connecting the feed and return lines of the heat exchanger, and for accommodating the valve cap (9) of a three- way valve fitment, characterized in that pressure connection pipes (13, 14) are integrated with the housing (12), and the aperture between the pressure connection pipes is formed to measure a pressure difference by means of the first valve seating ( 16) of the three-way valve fitment.
2. Fitting as in Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure connection pipes (13, 14) and the connection pipes (11) for the drive (10) for the three-way valve fitment are in the same plane with the feed duct (3), return duct (8) and the bypass duct (2) and the pipes (11, 13, 14) protrude from the same side of the fitting (1).
3. Fitting as in either of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a device for adjusting the flow rate is integrated with the housing (12).
4. Fitting as in Claim 3, characterized in that the device for presetting the flow rate is outside the area of the pressure measuring points formed by the junctions of the pressure connecting pipes (13, 14) feeding into the return duct.
5. Fitting as in any of Claims I to 4, characterized in that the pressure connecting pipes (13, 14) and the connecting pipes (11) for the drive (10) are on the side of the return duct (8) facing away from the feed duct (3) and the bypass duct (2)
6. Fitting as in any of Claims I to 5, characterized in that a first element for blocking the feed and/or a second element for blocking the return and/or a third element for draining and filling is/are integrated with the housing (12).
7. Fitting as in Claim 6, characterized in that the first and third elements, and the device for adjusting the flow rate are fitted in at least one pipe formed on the side of the fitting (1).
8. Fitting as in either of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the second element is used to block the return in the connecting pipe (4) for connecting the return line of the hot or cold water treatment system, and is activated by means of a handle or similar device protruding from one side of the housing (1).
9. Fitting as in any of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the first and third elements for blocking the feed, and draining and filling, as well as the device for adjusting the flow rate in the feed duct (3) are fitted upstream of the bypass duct connection and the latter is connected to a valve fitment (21).
10. Fitting as in Claim 9, characterized in that the valve fitment (21) is fitted in a housing pipe at an oblique angle to the pressure connecting pipes (13, 14) going to the return.