GB2528977B

GB2528977B - Valve adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2528977B
Application number: GB1414082.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pearcy Alan
Original assignee: Adey Holdings 2008 Ltd
Current assignee: Adey Holdings 2008 Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-08
Filing date: 2014-08-08
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-08
Also published as: GB2528977A; GB201414082D0

Description

Valve Adaptor

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of use of a valve adaptor with a flow diverter valve in a combination boiler hot water and heating system

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is common for domestic hot water and central heating systems to require periodic cleaning of the boiler, pipework, radiators and fittings to remove any buildup of sludge or scale.

In a conventional system it is relatively easy to carry out a power flush of the system. Such systems generally have a readily accessible circulation pump which can be disconnected form the system and the power flushing apparatus can then be connected in its place. The power flushing apparatus is then operated to flush the whole system including the heating system radiators and any heat exchangers for the hot water system.

In recent years however there has been a significant move away from such systems both in new installations and in replacement boiler systems towards combination boiler systems. Combination boiler systems (combis) dispense with the need for a hot water cylinder and cold water cistern as all the major components are housed in one unit, making them very convenient to install as they take up very little space. Most Combi units house a primary heat exchanger for the central heating system and a secondary heat exchanger for the domestic hot water. The systems generally have an inbuilt diverter valve which operates selectively to connect either the external heating (radiator) circuit or an internal secondary heat exchanger for the hot water system.

While there are many advantages to such systems in normal usage they are not immune to the buildup of sludge or scale as with a conventional system. Given the compact all in one nature of such systems this presents certain difficulties in carrying out power flushing of the whole system.

Power flushing such systems is generally done by connecting the power flushing apparatus into the external heating circuit. Flushing can then be carried out of the heating circuit and the main boiler heat exchanger as before. However in most combination central heating boilers the diverter valve, sometimes known as the three way valve, is in either the domestic hot water position or the central heating position; there is no mid position possible. Consequently the secondary heat exchanger is isolated from the heating circuit and is not included in the flushing process. To clean both heat exchangers a pump head adapter can be used connecting the power flushing machine to the pump inside the combi, manufacturers are making this very difficult by having specially designed pumps which make it impossible to connect the pump adapter.

Typically then incomplete flushing of such systems has to be accepted. Alternatively if it is desired that the secondary heat exchanger be cleaned also then it will be necessary to remove it from the system which greatly complicates the process.

One solution would be to configure such systems such than an intermediate position of the diverter valve is possible so allowing flow in both circuits for cleaning purposes. However while that might be a possibility for new installations it would increase the cost and it does not provide a solution to the large number of existing systems not so configured and of course it is these existing systems already in operation that are likely to require cleaning sooner rather than later. Converting existing systems is not a practical option given the number and variety of systems and the likely costs involved.

Accordingly it is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use of a valve adaptor with a motor driven flow diverter valve of a combination boiler system according to claim 1.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use of a valve adaptor with a hydraulic diverter valve of a combination boiler system according to claim 3.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of power flushing a combination boiler system according to claim 5.

Preferable I optional features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a domestic combination boiler hot water and heating system illustrating a diverter valve in a first position;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a domestic combination boiler hot water and heating system illustrating a diverter valve in a second position;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a domestic combination boiler hot water and heating system illustrating a diverter valve in an intermediate position in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4a is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a valve adaptor for use with a flow diverter valve in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4b is a side view of the valve adaptor of Figure 4a;

Figure 4c is a front view of the valve adaptor of Figure 4a;

Figure 4d is a back view of the valve adaptor of Figure 4a;

Figure 5a is a side view of a second embodiment of a valve adaptor for use with a flow diverter valve in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5b is a top view of the valve adaptor of Figure 5a;

Figure 6a is a side view of a third embodiment of a valve adaptor for use with a flow diverter valve in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 6b is a top view of the valve adaptor of Figure 6a;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings Figures 1 & 2 are schematic diagrams of a conventional domestic combination boiler hot water and heating system 10 providing an illustration of the effect of the position of a system diverter valve 11 on liquid flow around the system. The purpose of the diverter valve is to selectively allow fluid flow through either a main heat exchanger 12 for the heating circuit or a secondary heat exchanger 13 for the domestic hot water system under influence from a system pump 14.

As part of a maintenance schedule for such systems it may be desirable from time to time to carry out a power flush of the system to dislodge sludge and scale which builds up over time in use of the system thus reducing its efficiency. In such combination boiler systems the power flushing apparatus will typically be connected into the heating circuit externally of the combination boiler. The power flushing apparatus circulates cleaning fluid around the heating system and, as can be seen in Figure 1, the main heat exchanger when the diverter valve 11 is in a first position. However in that configuration the secondary heat exchanger 13 is not included in the cleaning fluid circulation. Switching the diverter valve 11 to its second position, as shown in Figure 2, connects the secondary heat exchanger 13 to the normal operating circuit and pump 14 but still leaves it isolated from the externally connected power flushing apparatus. Thus power flushing of a combination boiler system using conventional methods leaves part of the system untouched so reducing the effectiveness of the flushing procedure.

Referring now to Figure 3 it can be seen that by configuring the diverter valve 11 to have an intermediate position fluid flow through both the main heat exchanger 12 and the secondary heat exchanger 13 is possible thus allowing the whole system to be flushed. However the diverter valve 11 on most systems is not ordinarily capable of being set in the intermediate position. A solution to that problem is provided in the case of a motor driven valve by the valve adaptor 15 illustrated in Figures 4a-d. To use this adaptor an operator disconnects the drive motor from the diverter valve and attaches the valve adaptor 15 in its place. The valve adaptor 15 is configured such as to retain the diverter valve 11 in an intermediate position as shown in Figure 3. This allows flushing of the whole system.

The method is intended to have wide application across the broad variety of differing combi boiler systems already installed. Thus while the valve adaptor 15 illustrated in Figures 4a-d shows one particular means of implementing the invention it will be appreciated that a range of such adapters can be provided to

Allow power flushing to be fully effective across the range of systems without the need to make any permanent changes to the system.

By way of example a simple alternative design of valve adaptor 16 is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This simple one piece mechanical adaptor shown formed in metal, Figure 5, and nylon material, Figure 6, simply provides a movement restrictor suitable for use with hydraulic type diverter valves to allow such valve to be configured in the intermediate position illustrated in Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that further types of adaptors can be readily configured to interact with the vast majority of combi systems from a range of manufacturers.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Throughout this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps. Throughout this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Claims

1. A method of use of a valve adaptor with a motor driven flow diverter valve of a combination boiler system, in which a drive motor of the diverter valve is disconnected from the diverter valve, and the valve adaptor is attached in its place, so as to retain the diverter valve in a position intermediate its normal operating positions, allowing flushing of the combination boiler system.

2. A method of flushing a combination boiler system, including carrying out the method of claim 1, and then flushing the system.

3. A method of use of a valve adaptor with a hydraulic diverter valve of a combination boiler system, in which the valve adaptor is in the form of a movement restrictor and is used to retain the diverter valve in a position intermediate its normal operating positions, allowing flushing of the combination boiler system.

4. A method of flushing a combination boiler system, including carrying out the method of claim 3, and then flushing the system.

5. A method of power flushing a combination boiler system comprising attaching power flushing apparatus to a combination boiler system heating circuit and providing means for selectively positioning a system flow diverter valve intermediate its normal operation positions so as to allow fluid flow from the power flushing apparatus simultaneously around both primary and secondary heat exchanger circuits of the combination boiler system.

6. A method according to claim 6, in which the means for selectively positioning the system flow diverter valve is a valve adaptor adapted for attachment to said flow diverter valve.

7. A method according to claim 7, in which the valve adaptor is configured to fit in place of a conventional electric drive motor of a flow diverter valve.

8. A method according to claim 7, in which the valve adaptor is configured so as to restrict the movement of a hydraulically driven diverter valve.