GB2563897B

GB2563897B - Electrically operated fluid valve assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2563897B
Application number: GB1710402.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Wright Daniel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-29
Publication date: 2019-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-29
Also published as: GB201710402D0; GB2563897A

Description

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FLUID VALVE ASSEMBLIES

The present invention relates to electrically operated fluid valve assemblies and is concerned particularly although not exclusively with such valve assemblies as used in pumped hot water systems — for example, in domestic central heating and/or hot water installations.

In Great Britain, pumped hot water is used to feed both radiators for space heating and hot water tanks for water heating. Typically, the water is pumped through copper pipes. Motorised valves respond to timers and sensors to open and close and thereby control the flow of hot water through the copper pipes. A motorised valve typically comprises a valve body, connected to copper pipework, and an electric actuator that turns a part of the valve to open and close it.

Periodically, motorised valves fail and require replacement. Sometimes, only the electric actuator requires replacement. A skilled electrician is then typically required to unwire the old actuator and wire up the new one. If the entire motorised valve requires replacement, the valve body has to be extracted from the copper pipework, typically requiring the services of a skilled plumber and, as above, a skilled electrician is required to unwire the old electric actuator and wire up the new one.

The requirement for a skilled plumber stems from the practice of connecting motorised valves to copper pipework by permanent couplings. It may be necessary to cut pipes and re-make couplings for replacement of a complete valve. In the absence of adjacent isolating valves, the whole pipework system may need draining down. Therefore, motorised valve replacement can take several hours, adding significandy to the cost of the new parts.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide motorised valves that may be improved in this respect.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrically operated fluid valve assembly comprising: a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid oudet; a valve part moveable between an open position, in which the valve is open to the flow of fluid from the inlet to oudet, and a closed position, in which the valve is closed to the flow of fluid from the inlet to oudet; an electric actuator arranged to move the valve part between its open and closed positions; an electric cable that supplies power and/or signals to the electric actuator; and two isolating valves, detachably connected to the fluid inlet and fluid oudet respectively: wherein: the electric cable is detachably connected to the electric actuator by means of an electric connector having a first part on the cable and a second part on or connected to the electric actuator; and the fluid inlet and oudet are detachably connected to the isolating valves by releasable connectors that, when released, allow said valve body to be withdrawn from between the isolating valves.

Preferably, said actuator is detachably connected to said valve body.

Preferably, said first and second parts of said electrical connector comprise an interengaging plug and socket.

Preferably, said releasable connectors comprise unions having interengaging screwthreaded parts that are provided at said fluid inlet and fluid oudet and on the isolating valves and interengage to connect each isolating valve to a respective one of said fluid inlet and oudet in a fluid-tight manner.

Preferably, said valve body and said isolating valves connect together substantially in-line and, upon releasing said releasable connectors, said valve body may be removed from between said isolating valves transversely of said line.

Preferably, a part of each of said releasable connectors is formed on said valve body.

Preferably, a part of each of said releasable connectors is formed on each of said isolating valves.

The invention extends to a pumped hot water system incorporating an electrically operated valve assembly according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention, arranged to control the flow of hot water through the hot water system.

The invention extends to a central heating and/or hot water installation incorporating such a pumped hot water system.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrically operated fluid valve assembly comprising one example of an embodiment of the invention.

It is to be understood that the various features that are described in the following and/or illustrated in the drawing are preferred but not essential. Combinations of features described and/or illustrated are not considered to be the only possible combinations. Unless stated to the contrary, individual features may be omitted, varied or combined in different combinations, where practical.

The electrically operated fluid valve assembly 1 that is shown in Figure 1 comprises a motorised valve 2 and a pair of isolating valves 3. The isolating valves 3 are connected to copper pipework 4 of a pumped hot water system forming part of a domestic central heating and hot water system. One of the isolating valves 3 is shown in Figure 1 in full, connected to the pipework 4, whilst the other isolating valve 3 is shown partially, in chain lines. However, the two isolating valves 3 are generally identical and arranged symmetrically about the motorised valve 2.

In Figure 1, the motorised valve 2 is shown in a position displaced laterally from the isolating valves 3, such that the motorised valve 2 may be in the process of being removed or installed. In use, however, the motorised valve 2 is disposed in-line with the isolating valves 3, which are disposed in-line on a common axis.

The motorised valve 2 comprises a valve body 21 (e.g. of brass) having a fluid inlet 211 and a fluid oudet 212. The fluid inlet 211 and oudet 212 are arranged symmetrically on the valve body 21 and either can serve as an inlet or an oudet. Each of the fluid inlet 211 and oudet 212 comprises an externally screwthreaded portion 213. In this example, the screwthreaded portions 213 are formed direcdy on the valve body 21.

An electric actuator 22 is detachably mounted on the valve body 21 and is arranged to move a valve part 214 (e.g. a spindle) between an open position, in which the valve is open to the flow of fluid from the inlet and oudet, and a closed position, in which the valve is closed to the flow of fluid from the inlet to the oudet. The electric actuator 22 may comprise an electric motor, solenoid, or any electrically activated element that drives the valve part 214. The general principles of operation of such a motorised valve will be well known to the skilled reader.

Electrical power and/or signals are supplied to the electric actuator 22 via a cable 5. An electric socket 222 at the end of the cable 5 and an electric plug 221 mounted on the actuator 22 interengage and make up a detachable plug and socket connector. This enables the actuator 22 to be connected to and disconnected from the electrical cable 5 in a simple and safe manner, without requiring the services of a skilled electrician. Instead of being mounted direcdy on the actuator 22, the electric plug 221 may be connected to it by a length of cable.

Each isolating valve 3 comprises a respective valve body 31 (e.g. of brass) and operating handle 32. Typically, each valve 3 may be a quarter-turn valve that allows flow to be turned on and off quickly and easily. However, any suitable isolating valve may be employed. A fitting 311 connects one end of the isolating valve 3 to the copper pipework 4. The fitting 311 may be a compression fitting or any suitable coupling. It is not envisaged that the isolating valve 3 would have to be removed from the pipework 4 frequendy.

At the other end of the isolating valve 3, the valve body 31 is formed with a part 312 that retains a nut 313 captive on the valve body 31. The part 312 mates with the oudet 212 on the valve body 21, with a washer 314 therebetween, so that the nut 313 can engage the screwthreaded portion 213 on the valve body 21, thereby to draw the valve bodies 21 and 31 together until the isolating valve 3 is connected with the fluid oudet 212 in a fluid-tight manner.

Thus, the parts 212, 213, 312 and 313 (together with washer 314) make up a union that connects the motorised valve 2 and the respective isolating valve 3 together in a fluid-tight but detachable manner. The other isolating valve 3 is connected to the fluid inlet end (211) of the motorised valve 2 in the same way.

Thus, as illustrated in Figure 1, with the unions disconnected, the motorised valve 2 can readily be withdrawn from between the isolating valves 3, transversely of their in-line axis, for service or replacement. This can be done without the services of a skilled plumber, requiring only activation of the isolating valves 3 to isolate the motorised valve 2 from the pipe network 4 and release of the captive nuts 313. The cable 5 can readily be disconnected from the actuator 22 by disconnecting the plug and socket 221, 222. Replacement of the motorised valve 2 is simply the reverse of the foregoing.

Thus, the illustrated electrically operated fluid valve assembly 1 may afford much simplified maintenance and replacement procedures, saving very significant amounts of time and not requiring skilled professional assistance. Installing a valve assembly in this way may require a litde more cost and time than traditional practices in which motorised valves are hard-plumbed in place.

However, the potential future savings in maintenance and replacement are substantial.

Whilst the motorised valve 2 and isolating valves 3 are designed to connect in-line, intermediate adapters (e.g. elbows) may be connected between either of the isolating valves 3 and the motorised valve 2 — for example, to fit the various items into a given space. However, without such adapters, the motorised valve 2 and isolating valves 3 connect in-line.

Embodiments of the invention may be used in environments other than pumped hot water systems and with fluids other than water.

In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features. The word “preferable” (or any of its derivatives) indicates one feature or more that is preferred but not essential.

Claims

1. An electrically operated fluid valve assembly comprising: a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid oudet; a valve part moveable between an open position, in which the valve is open to the flow of fluid from the inlet to outlet, and a closed position, in which the valve is closed to the flow of fluid from the inlet to oudet; an electric actuator arranged to move the valve part between its open and closed positions; an electric cable that supplies power and/or signals to the electric actuator; and two isolating valves, detachably connected to the fluid inlet and fluid oudet respectively: wherein: the electric cable is detachably connected to the electric actuator by means of an electric connector having a first part on the cable and a second part on or connected to the electric actuator; and the fluid inlet and oudet are detachably connected to the isolating valves by releasable connectors that, when released, allow said valve body to be withdrawn from between the isolating valves.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is detachably connected to said valve body.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second parts of said electrical connector comprise an interengaging plug and socket.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said releasable connectors comprise unions having interengaging screwthreaded parts that are provided at said fluid inlet and fluid outlet and on the isolating valves and interengage to connect each isolating valve to a respective one of said fluid inlet and outlet in a fluid-tight manner.

5. A valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said valve body and said isolating valves connect together substantially in-line and, upon releasing said releasable connectors, said valve body may be removed from between said isolating valves transversely of said line.

6. A valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a part of each of said releasable connectors is formed on said valve body.

7. A valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a part of each of said releasable connectors is formed on each of said isolating valves.

8. A pumped hot water system incorporating an electrically operated valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, arranged to control the flow of hot water through the hot water system.

9. A central heating and/or hot water installation incorporating a pumped hot water system according to claim 8.