JP2000002354A - Thermal fuse valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal fuse valve of good performance which can enhance the safety with gas fixtures or gas pipings by shutting automatically a gas supply passage in the event of abnormal over-heating without increasing the pressure loss of the gas flow. SOLUTION: A thermal fuse valve 21 is equipped with a tubular housing 25 to form gas supply passage 24, a spherical valve element 27 for shutting the gas supply passage 24 inside the housing 25, a valve element accommodating chamber 29 installed together in the gas supply passage for accommodating the valve element 27 in such a way as capable of being cast into the passage 24, a valve seat 31 which is installed in the passage 24 in its position understream of the valve element cast-in position from the chamber 29 and admits seating of the valve element 27 with the pressure of the gas flowing in the passage 24, and a bearing member 22 which bears the valve element 27 within the chamber 29 and loses the bearing force at heating to over the set level to enable casting-in of the valve element 27 into the passage 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal fuse valve, which is provided in a gas pipe of a city gas or the like or in a gas supply path of a gas appliance such as a gas meter or a gas combustion device, and supplies a gas when an abnormal overheat due to a fire or the like occurs. The present invention relates to a thermal fuse valve that automatically shuts off a passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional thermal fuse valve. The thermal fuse valve 1 shown here is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 51-134238,
It is incorporated in a tubular housing 3 constituting a gas supply path for supplying gas to a main valve 2 of a gas appliance (not shown) for burning gas. The tubular housing 3 includes:
The gas flows in the direction of arrow A in FIG. This tubular housing 3 has a structure in which a main stopper 7 for opening and closing a gas supply passage is provided on the upstream side, and a gas supply passage 5 downstream of the main stopper 7 is provided.
In addition, the thermal fuse valve 1 is incorporated.

The thermal fuse valve 1 has a valve seat 11 provided in the middle of a gas supply passage 5 and a spherical valve body which is placed on the valve seat 11 from a downstream side to shut off the gas supply passage 5. 12, a compression coil spring 13 which is a spring member for urging the valve body 12 toward the valve seat 11, and a compression coil spring 1
3. A structure comprising a spring receiver 4 for supporting the base end side of the valve spring 3 and a support body 14 for supporting the valve body 12 at a position separated from the valve seat 11 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 13. It is.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bearing body 14 has a ring-shaped outer peripheral portion 1 which engages with an inner peripheral wall of the tubular housing 3.
4a, and a supporting projection 14b projecting from the outer peripheral portion 14a toward the center of the ring and supporting the valve body 12. The supporting projection 14b is made of a low-melting metal or a thermoplastic plastic that melts at a temperature equal to or higher than a set temperature, or a set temperature. It is integrally formed of a bimetal or the like that causes a predetermined deformation when heated. Therefore, the set temperature (for example, 160 ° C. to 20 ° C.)
0 ° C.) or less, the support protrusion 14 b
However, if the support projection 14b is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature, the support projection 14b is melted or thermally deformed, thereby losing the support force on the valve body 12.

With the above configuration, the thermal fuse valve 1
When the gas supply path 5 is abnormally overheated due to a fire or the like, the valve body supporting force of the support body 14 is lost due to the melting or deformation of the support body 14, and the valve body 12 is connected to the valve seat 11 as shown in FIG. The user is seated to obtain a state in which the gas supply path 5 is shut off. In addition,
The notch 14c between the adjacent support protrusions 14b in the support body 14 is for securing a gas flow path during normal use shown in FIG.

[0006]

However, in the conventional thermal fuse valve 1 described above, components such as the valve body 12 and the support body 14 are located in the gas supply passage 5 even during normal use. However, there is a problem that the pressure loss of the gas flow is increased. Therefore, the thermal fuse valve 1 which causes a pressure loss
Cannot be installed in gas pipes or the like, which limits the location and number of equipment. The thermal fuse valve 1 is
Since the compression coil spring 13 and the spring receiver 4 must be incorporated in the gas supply path 5, the number of parts increases, and in order to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flow, the diameter of the gas supply path 5 must be increased and the support 14 must be installed. However, there is a problem that the shape is complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to automatically shut off a gas supply path at the time of abnormal overheating without increasing the pressure loss of a gas flow, thereby ensuring safety of gas equipment and gas piping. An object of the present invention is to provide a good thermal fuse valve capable of improving the performance.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve element for shutting off a gas supply path, and a valve element provided alongside the gas supply path so that the valve element can be inserted into the gas supply path. A valve body storage chamber, and a valve seat that is provided in a gas supply passage downstream of a valve body insertion position from the valve body storage chamber, and on which the valve body can be seated by gas pressure of gas flowing in the gas supply path. And a bearing body for supporting the valve body in the valve body storage chamber and losing the bearing force when heated to a set temperature or higher and allowing the valve body to be inserted into the gas supply path, This is achieved by a thermal fuse valve characterized in that when the supply path is abnormally heated, the valve element introduced into the gas supply path due to the loss of the bearing force of the support body sits on the valve seat and shuts off the gas supply path. You.

According to the above configuration, the components such as the valve body and the bearing body are located outside the gas supply path during normal use and do not hinder the gas flow, so that the pressure loss of the gas flow increases. There is no fear. Therefore, in the thermal fuse valve of the present invention, there is no restriction on the location and the number of equipment. Further, it is not necessary to increase the diameter of the gas supply path or to complicate the shape of the support in order to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flow. Further, since the valve element is seated on the valve seat by the gas pressure of the gas flowing in the gas supply path, the number of components can be reduced by omitting a spring member or the like for urging the valve element, and the structure of the gas supply path can be simplified. Can be achieved.

[0010] Preferably, the valve seat is configured to be able to be seated by free fall of the valve body due to its own weight, so that the gas flowing in the gas supply passage is weak or the gas is flowing. Even when there is no valve, the valve body can be reliably seated on the valve seat to shut off the gas supply path. or,
Preferably, the support is made of a low melting point metal or a thermoplastic resin material that melts at a temperature higher than a set temperature, or a bimetal or a shape memory material that undergoes a predetermined deformation when heated at a temperature higher than the set temperature.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a thermal fuse valve according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a non-operating state of the thermal fuse valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an operational state of the thermal fuse valve shown in FIG. It is.

The thermal fuse valve 21 according to the first embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, a tubular housing 25 forming a gas supply path 24, a spherical valve body 27 for shutting off the gas supply path 24 in the tubular housing 25, and a gas supply path 24 are provided. And a valve body housing chamber 29 for housing the valve body 27 so that the valve body 27 can be inserted into the gas supply path 24, and a gas supply path 24 provided in the gas supply path 24 downstream of the valve body insertion position from the valve body storage chamber 29. A valve seat 31 on which the valve element 27 can be seated by the gas pressure of the gas flowing in the passage 24;
Is supported in the valve body accommodating chamber 29, and when heated above a set temperature, the bearing force is lost and the gas supply path 2 of the valve body 27 is
4 and a support body 22 that allows the insertion into the support 4.

The gas supply passage 2 in the tubular housing 25
The flow path diameter of the valve body 4 corresponds to the valve body 2 inserted into the gas supply path 24.
The outer diameter of the valve body 27 is set slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valve body 27 so that 7 can move toward the valve seat 31. A male screw 30 connected to a gas pipe (not shown) is provided on the outer periphery of the downstream end of the tubular housing 25, and the male screw 30 is connected to a gas pipe (not shown) on the inner periphery of the upstream end of the tubular housing 25. A female screw 31 is provided.

In the side surface of the tubular housing 25, a communication hole 25 which can communicate with the gas supply passage 24 and into which the valve body 27 can be inserted.
The substantially cylindrical case member 33 defining the valve housing chamber 29 is hermetically fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular housing 25 so as to cover the communication hole 25a. The thermal fuse valve 21 of the first embodiment is based on the premise that the thermal fuse valve 21 is installed substantially horizontally, and a valve housing chamber 29 provided alongside the tubular housing 25 is provided above the tubular housing 25. Attached to be located.

Therefore, the introduction of the valve body 27 housed in the valve body housing chamber 29 into the gas supply passage 24 is achieved by free fall of the valve body 27 by its own weight. Therefore, the support body 22 is provided with the valve body 2 so as to restrict the free fall of the valve body 27.
7 are supported. In addition, on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular housing 25 constituting the gas supply passage 24 slightly upstream of the injection position of the valve element 27, a position for preventing the input valve element 27 from moving upstream is provided. A regulating rib 26 is provided to protrude.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the bearing body 22 has a disk shape having a circular hole for positioning and mounting the valve body 27, and has a set temperature (for example, 160 ° C. to 20 ° C.).
0 ° C.) or less, the valve body 27 is supported. However, when the valve body 27 is heated to a set temperature or more, the valve body 2 is melted or deformed by heat.
In order to lose the bearing force for the metal 7, a low melting point metal or a thermoplastic resin material that melts at a temperature equal to or higher than a set temperature, or a bimetal or a shape memory material that causes a predetermined deformation when heated at a temperature higher than the set temperature is integrally formed. I have. The bearing in the present invention only needs to regulate the free fall of the valve body 27, and need not be provided with a cutout portion 14c for securing a gas flow path as in the bearing 14 shown in FIG. Therefore, a simple disk shape that completely closes the communication hole 25a may be used.

Therefore, when the support body 22 is heated to a set temperature or more due to a fire or the like, as shown in FIG.
The supporting portion that supports the first member is melted or deformed, so that the supporting force is lost, and the free fall of the valve body 27 realizes the introduction of the valve body 27 into the gas supply path 24. Then, the valve body 27 put into the gas supply path 24 is seated on the valve seat 31 as shown in FIG. 2 by the gas pressure due to the gas flow acting from the upstream side of the gas supply path 24, The gas supply path 24 is shut off.

When there is no gas flow such as in a gas non-use state, there is no differential pressure between the upstream and downstream of the valve body 27, so that the valve body 27 cannot be seated on the valve seat 31, Supply path 24
However, when gas is released due to melting of a rubber hose or the like on the downstream side and a gas flow is generated, the valve body 27 is moved to the valve seat 31.
To the gas supply path 24.
Further, by setting the dimensional difference between the flow path diameter of the gas supply path 24 and the outer diameter of the valve element 27 to be very small to reduce the clearance, the valve element 27 moves toward the valve seat 31 even with a small amount of gas flow. Thus, the gas supply path 24 can be shut off.

That is, when the gas supply path 24 is abnormally overheated due to a fire or the like, the above-mentioned thermal fuse valve 21
The valve body 27 introduced into the gas supply path 24 due to the loss of the bearing force is seated on the valve seat 31 by the urging force of the gas pressure of the gas flowing in the gas supply path 24 to shut off the gas supply path 24. Since the components such as the valve body 27 and the support body 22 are located outside the gas supply passage 24 during normal use and do not hinder the gas flow, there is no possibility that the pressure loss of the gas flow increases.

The location and number of the thermal fuse valves 21 are not limited, and the diameter of the gas supply path is increased in order to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flow, and the shape of the support is complicated. There is no need to convert. Further, the valve body 27 is provided with a valve seat 31 by the gas pressure of the gas flowing through the gas supply passage 24.
Since the spring member and the spring receiver for urging the valve body 27 can be omitted, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the conventional thermal fuse valve 1 shown in FIG. The structure of the road 24 can be simplified. Therefore, the thermal fuse valve 21 can be provided in any part of the gas pipe as in the present embodiment, or at any place such as a gas supply path of a gas appliance such as a gas meter or a gas combustion appliance. Safety can be easily improved, and the manufacturing cost of the thermal fuse valve 21 can be reduced.

Further, the valve body 27 for shutting off the gas supply passage 24 when abnormally overheated is structured to be seated on the valve seat 31 from the upstream side of the gas supply passage 24. Therefore, for example, when a pressure regulator is installed on the upstream side of the gas pipe, the valve 2
When the gas pressure in the gas pipe on the downstream side of 7 becomes higher than the gas pressure in the gas pipe on the upstream side by heating,
The valve element 27 is displaced upstream due to the pressure difference between the upstream and downstream gas pressures, and can operate as a relief valve that allows the downstream high-pressure gas to escape from the upstream pressure regulator. Explosion accidents due to pressure rise can also be prevented.

The positional relationship between the gas supply passage 24 and the valve body storage chamber 29 is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. For example, like the thermal fuse valve 35 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the gas supply path 24 is installed in a substantially vertical direction, and the gas flow is changed from above to below (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4). ), And the gas supply path 24
The valve housing chamber 29 provided alongside the tubular housing 25 may be attached to the side of the tubular housing 25.

The case member 33 constituting the valve body storage chamber 29 is provided with an inclined surface 33a for guiding the valve body 27 into the gas supply path 24, and the bearing body 22 is abnormally heated by a fire or the like. When the support of the valve body 27 by the support body 22 is released by melting, the valve body 27 rolls on the inclined surface 33a, falls freely from the valve body storage chamber 29 into the gas supply path 24 by its own weight, and quickly The seat can be seated on the valve seat 31. Therefore, even when the gas flow of the gas flowing in the gas supply path 24 is weak or when the gas is not flowing, the valve body 2
7 can be reliably seated on the valve seat 31 and the gas supply path 24 can be shut off.

Also, for example, the tubular housing is formed in a substantially L-shape, and the tubular housing is installed so that the downstream end faces downward and the upstream end faces horizontal. By providing the valve body storage chamber above, when the support by the support body is released, the valve body may be freely dropped straight in the gas supply path and seated on the valve seat.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the valve body 27 is configured to be introduced into the gas supply path 24 by free fall. However, for example, the fusible bearing body 22 is melted to release the support to the valve body 27. Sometimes, a biasing means such as a spring member for positively pushing the valve body 27 into the gas supply passage 24 may be provided in the valve body storage chamber 29. Further, in the above embodiment, the valve body is spherical, but the present invention is not limited to this. The valve body only needs to be able to be seated on the downstream valve seat by gas pressure, and the outer shape is not limited to a spherical shape.

[0026]

According to the thermal fuse valve of the present invention, the components such as the valve element and the support are located outside the gas supply path during normal use and do not hinder the gas flow. There is no danger that the pressure loss of this will increase. Therefore, in the thermal fuse valve of the present invention, there is no restriction on the location and the number of equipment.
Further, it is not necessary to increase the diameter of the gas supply path or to complicate the shape of the support in order to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flow. Further, since the valve element is seated on the valve seat by the gas pressure of the gas flowing in the gas supply path, the number of components can be reduced by omitting a spring member or the like for urging the valve element, and the structure of the gas supply path can be simplified. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to provide a good thermal fuse valve capable of automatically shutting off the gas supply path at the time of abnormal overheating and improving the safety of gas equipment and gas piping without increasing the pressure loss of the gas flow.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state when a thermal fuse valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention is not operated.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state when the thermal fuse valve shown in FIG. 1 is operated.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state when a thermal fuse valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention is not operated.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a conventional thermal fuse valve is not operated.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bearing shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state when the thermal fuse valve shown in FIG. 4 is operated.

[Description of Signs] 21 Thermal fuse valve 22 Bearing body 24 Gas supply path 25 Tubular housing 27 Valve body 29 Valve body storage chamber 31 Valve seat 33 Case member

Claims (3)

[Claims] A valve body for shutting off a gas supply path, a valve body storage chamber provided adjacent to the gas supply path for storing the valve body so that the valve body can be inserted into the gas supply path, and the valve body storage chamber A valve seat provided in a gas supply path downstream of a valve element input position from which the valve element can be seated by the gas pressure of gas flowing through the gas supply path; and And a bearing that loses the bearing force when heated to a set temperature or more and allows the valve element to be inserted into the gas supply path, and when the gas supply path is abnormally overheated, A thermal fuse valve characterized in that a valve element introduced into a gas supply path due to a loss of bearing force sits on the valve seat and shuts off the gas supply path. 2. The thermal fuse valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat is configured to be able to be seated by free fall of the valve body due to its own weight. 3. The support member is made of a low melting point metal or a thermoplastic resin material that melts at a temperature higher than a set temperature, or a bimetal or a shape memory material that undergoes a predetermined deformation when heated at a temperature higher than the set temperature. The thermal fuse valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein