JP2004036243A - Antifreezing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antifreezing apparatus which simplifies a structure, facilitates assembly, and prevents a hindrance to a valve opening operation even if drainage is partially frozen. <P>SOLUTION: This antifreezing apparatus is equipped with: a cylindrical body 3, one end of which is connected to water supply piping 1; a sleeve 10 which is concentrically fixed to the inside of the body 3 and whose valve port 12 is formed at its end on the side of the piping 1; a cylindrical operation chamber 6 which is formed between an inner surface of the body 3 and an outer surface of the sleeve 10, in which an end on the other side of the pipe 1 is closed, and inside which water is to be stored; a valve element 20 which has a sealing part 21 for slidably sealing the water supply piping-side end of the operation chamber 6, and which is slid in the axial direction with respect to the body 3 and the sleeve 10 by virtue of a volume expansion action at the freezing of water in the operation chamber 6, so as to open the valve port 12; and a drainage passage 29 for discharging water in the piping 1 to the outside from the valve port 12 through the inside of the sleeve 10 by the valve opening operation of the valve element 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a freezing prevention device for preventing freezing of water in a water supply pipe such as a water supply system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an anti-freezing device capable of reliably preventing water pipes from freezing using physical properties of water without using a temperature-sensitive sensor or the like (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-28732). FIG. 7 shows an example of the freeze prevention device.
In the figure, 40 is a water supply pipe, 41 is a body connected to the water supply pipe 40, and 42 is a sleeve fixed concentrically inside the body 41. A cylindrical working chamber 43 is formed between the body 41 and the sleeve 42. The valve body 44 includes a sealing portion 44a that slidably seals an upper end portion of the working chamber 43, and a valve portion 44b that opens and closes a valve port 45 formed in the body 41.
[0003]
When the water in the working chamber 43 solidifies due to a decrease in the outside air temperature, the valve body 44 is pushed up by the volume expansion action, and the valve port 45 is opened. Since the water in the water supply pipe 40 passes through the drain passage 46 in the sleeve 42 by the valve-opening operation of the valve body 44, the heat retained by the water melts the ice in the working chamber 43 through the sleeve 42. Therefore, the volume of the working chamber 43 is reduced, and the valve body 44 can be closed. In other words, since the ice in the working chamber 43 is melted by the retained heat of the water flowing through the drain passage 46, the valve body 44 can be closed in a short time even in the cold season, and water can be saved.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of the freeze prevention device having the above-described structure, the body 41 is composed of two parts, the joint part 41a and the cylinder part 41b, because the valve port 45 is formed inside the body 41, and the valve body 44 is also composed of two parts. I have. That is, the valve portion 44b seated on the upper surface of the valve port 45 and the sealing portion 44a that slides in the working chamber 43 are vertically divided, and the shaft portion 44c formed integrally with the sealing portion 44a is a valve port. 45, and a valve portion 44b is screwed to the upper end thereof. For this reason, the structures of the body 41 and the valve body 44 become complicated, and there is a problem that the assembling work is troublesome and the cost is increased.
[0005]
When the valve body 44 opens the valve port 45, the water in the water supply pipe 40 is discharged through the valve port 45, the drain hole provided in the shaft 44c, and the sleeve 42. However, part of the drainage may accumulate downstream of the valve port 45, for example, between the shaft portion 44c of the valve body 44 and the valve port 45 or between the valve body 44 and the sleeve 42. Since this portion is open to the atmosphere, the accumulated water freezes, and there is a possibility that the smooth opening operation of the valve body 44 may be hindered.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a freezing prevention device that simplifies the structure, facilitates assembly, and does not hinder the valve opening operation even if part of the drainage freezes.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical body having one end connected to a water supply pipe, and is concentrically fixed inside the body, and a valve port is formed at an end on the water supply pipe side. A cylindrical working chamber that is formed between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the sleeve, the end opposite to the water supply pipe side is closed, and stores water therein; It has a sealing portion that slidably seals the end on the pipe side, and slides in the axial direction with respect to the body and the sleeve by the volume expansion effect at the time of water coagulation in the working chamber to open the valve port. A freezing prevention device, comprising: a valve body; and a drainage passage that discharges water in a water supply pipe from the valve port to the outside through the inside of the sleeve by opening the valve body. I do.
[0008]
When volume expansion occurs due to water coagulation in the working chamber, the valve body sealing one end of the working chamber is pushed in the axial direction. Due to the axial movement of the valve element, the valve port is opened, and water in the water supply pipe is discharged from the valve port to the outside through the inside of the sleeve.
When the water inside the water supply pipe is discharged to the outside through the drain passage, the retained heat of the water is transmitted to the working chamber via the valve body, body or sleeve, and melts the ice inside the working chamber. Therefore, the volume of the working chamber is reduced, and the valve body is automatically closed by the water pressure of the water supply pipe or the spring force.
[0009]
The working chamber is formed between the body, which is a fixed member, and the sleeve. One end of the working chamber is slidably sealed by the valve body. , The valve body can move smoothly in the axial direction, and a sharp valve opening operation can be performed.
The valve port is formed not at the body but at the end on the water supply pipe side of the sleeve constituting the inner wall of the working chamber. Thus, when the valve port is opened, water only drains from the valve port through the sleeve. That is, since the sliding portion of the valve element does not exist in the drainage path downstream of the valve port, even if part of the drainage freezes, the valve opening operation of the valve element is not adversely affected.
Further, since the valve port is formed at the end of the sleeve on the side of the water supply pipe, it is not necessary to process the body into a complicated structure, and it is possible to constitute the body with one part. If the valve body also has a cap shape fitted to the upper end of the sleeve, the sealing portion and the valve portion can be formed as an integral part, so that the structure is simple and the size can be reduced. Also, the valve body need only be fitted to the end of the sleeve, and the work of assembling becomes easy.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the inside of the water supply pipe and the end of the working chamber opposite to the water supply pipe side communicate with the body to form an inflow passage which is frozen and sealed before the working chamber. Is good.
The working chamber must always be filled with water, but if air enters for any reason, even if the water freezes, the air is only compressed and the valve cannot be opened. Therefore, by providing an inflow passage for supplying a groove from the water supply pipe to the working chamber, the working chamber can always be filled with water.
The inflow passage must be frozen and sealed before the working chamber, and the ice in the inflow passage should not melt during drainage. This is because, when the working chamber freezes first, the volume expansion escapes through the inflow passage, so that the valve body cannot be opened. Further, if the ice in the inflow passage melts first during drainage, the volume expansion pressure of the working chamber escapes through the inflow passage, and the valve body closes before the ice in the working chamber melts. Since the inflow passage connects the inside of the water supply pipe with the end of the working chamber opposite to the water supply pipe side, the inflow passage freezes before the working chamber, and the ice in the inflow passage melts during drainage. The working chamber ice can be slower than melting.
The inflow passage may be provided integrally with the side wall of the body, or the water supply pipe and the working chamber may be connected using a thin pipe.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 to 5 show an example of an antifreezing device A according to the present invention.
A T-shaped joint 2 is connected in the middle of a water supply pipe 1 such as a water supply pipe, and a cylindrical body 3 of an antifreezing device A is connected to a lower connection port 2 a of the joint 2. Since the pipe 1, the joint 2 and the body 3 are screwed by the tapered screws 1a, 2b, 3a, they are sealed from each other.
[0012]
A spring receiver 5 is attached via a lock ring 4 to an upper end opening of the body 3 inserted into the connection port 2 a of the joint 2. The spring receiver 5 supports one end of a return spring 27 for urging the valve body 20 described later in the valve closing direction, and has an orifice at the center thereof for adjusting the flow rate when the valve body 20 is opened. 5a are formed.
[0013]
A valve chamber 3b bulging outward is formed near the upper end opening of the body 3, and this valve chamber 3b communicates with the inside of the water supply pipe 1 through the orifice 5a of the spring receiver 5. A valve portion 24 provided at the top of the valve body 20 faces the valve chamber 3b. A substantially cylindrical sleeve 10 is inserted into the body 3 from below, and an outer flange 10a provided on the lower end of the sleeve 10 is brought into contact with the lower surface of an inner flange 3c formed on the inner surface of the lower end of the body 3. It is positioned by that. A lock nut 16 is screwed to the lower end of the body 3, and the lock nut 16 presses the flange 10 a of the sleeve 10 to the lower surface of the inner flange 3 c of the body 3 via a flange of a hose joint 17 made of resin. Thus, the sleeve 10 is fixed concentrically inside the body 3.
[0014]
Between the inner surface of the body 3 and the outer surface of the sleeve 10, a cylindrical working chamber 6 for storing water therein is formed. The lower end side (the side opposite to the water supply pipe side) of the working chamber 6 is closed by a sealing material 11 such as an O-ring mounted on the outer periphery of the outer flange 10 a of the sleeve 10. A small annular space 13 is formed between the inner flange 3c of the body 3 and the outer flange 10a of the sleeve 10, and the annular space 13 and the working chamber 6 are formed through an inflow hole 14 vertically passing through the inner flange 3c. Communicating. The annular space 13 communicates with the valve chamber 3b of the body 3 via the inflow passage 7. The inflow passage 7 is formed inside an axially extending ridge 8 (see FIG. 2) integrally formed with the outer wall of the body 3. In this embodiment, the inflow passage 7 forms a through hole that penetrates the ridge 8 in the axial direction, the lower end thereof is sealed with a set bolt 15, and the inflow direction from the annular space 13 is oblique to the through hole. And a drill hole 12 is formed in the hole.
In the above embodiment, the inflow hole 14 was formed in the inner flange 3c in order to communicate the annular space 13 and the lower end of the working chamber 6, but the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the inner flange 3c ( (See FIG. 6).
[0015]
The upper end of the sleeve 10 extends to the valve chamber 3a of the body 3, and the upper end thereof is formed with a valve port 12 having a slightly reduced diameter. As shown in FIG. 3, a cap-shaped valve element 20 is fitted to the upper end of the sleeve 10 so as to be movable in the axial direction. A cylindrical sealing portion 21 for sealing the upper end side of the working chamber 6 is formed integrally with a lower end portion of the valve body 20. A seal member 22 such as an O-ring that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 and a seal member 23 that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the body 3 are attached to the inner and outer periphery of the sealing portion 21. A cylindrical valve portion 24 is provided at an upper end portion of the valve body 20, and a valve gasket 25 for opening and closing the valve port 12 is attached to an inner ceiling surface of the valve portion 24. A communication hole 26 is provided between the valve portion 24 of the valve body 20 and the sealing portion 21 to allow communication between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface. Water in the valve chamber 3 b passes through the communication hole 26. It is always guided to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 (valve port 12). In this embodiment, since the diameter of the valve port 12 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the sleeve 10, an annular space 9 (see FIG. 4) is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the valve portion 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve port 12. Water is guided to the annular space 9 through the communication hole 26. A return spring 27 for urging the valve body 20 downward and pressing the gasket 21 against the valve port 12 is disposed between the upper surface of the valve portion 24 of the valve body 20 and the spring receiver 5. In this embodiment, the spring load of the return spring 27 is set low, so that the valve body 20 is stable with respect to the valve port 12 even when, for example, the freeze prevention device A is installed obliquely with respect to the water supply pipe 1. It has the role of supporting the user to sit down.
[0016]
In this embodiment, since the valve port 12 is formed at the upper end of the sleeve 10, the cap-shaped valve body 20 is inserted from the upper end opening of the body 3, and is assembled only by fitting into the upper end of the sleeve 10. And assembly is simplified. Further, since there is no need to form a valve port in the body 3, the structure of the body 3 is simplified. As a result, each of the valve body 20 and the body 3 can be composed of one part, and there is an advantage that the valve body 20 and the body 3 can be reduced in size.
[0017]
A resin drain pipe 29 is inserted into the sleeve 10. When the valve element 20 opens the valve port 6, the water in the water supply pipe 1 passes through the valve chamber 3 b, the communication hole 25, the valve port 12, the drain pipe 29 inserted into the sleeve 10, and the hose joint 17. Drained to the outside via. Therefore, a drain passage is formed by the drain pipe 29 and the hose joint 17. The drain pipe 29 and the hose joint 17 prevent water droplets from adhering to the inner surface of the sleeve 10 and freezing when draining the water in the water supply pipe 1. It is preferable to use a resin material having low properties. As a result, the heat retained in the water at the time of drainage is less likely to be transmitted to the sleeve 10, but since the water in the working chamber 6 is slightly melted and the valve is closed as described later, there is almost no influence by the drainage pipe 29. If necessary, the drainage pipe 29 may be omitted or shorter than that shown, so that drainage flows along the inner surface of the sleeve 10.
[0018]
The body 3 is preferably made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as brass. Therefore, when the outside air temperature decreases, the heat retained in the water in the inflow passage 7 and the working chamber 6 is radiated from the outer surface of the body 3 constituting the outer wall, and the water in the inflow passage 7 and the working chamber 6 is quickly solidified. . Moreover, since the working chamber 6 is formed of a thin cylindrical space, the contact area of the working chamber 6 with the body 3 with respect to the volume is large, and the working chamber 6 can quickly respond to the outside air temperature.
On the other hand, the valve body 20 is preferably made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the body 3 (for example, stainless steel). That is, when the valve body 20 is also formed of a material having high thermal conductivity like the body 3, the heat retained in the water inside the valve chamber 3b is transmitted to the working chamber 6 through the valve body 20, and the water in the working chamber 6 is May delay clotting. On the other hand, if the valve body 20 is formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the body 3, the amount of heat transmitted from the valve chamber 3b to the working chamber 6 via the valve body 20 is reduced, and water in the working chamber 6 is removed. This is because it can be rapidly solidified.
Also, the sleeve 10 may be formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the body 3 (for example, stainless steel). The reason for this is to prevent the heat of the air layer inside the sleeve 10 constituting the inner wall of the working chamber 6 from being transmitted to the working chamber 6, and to prevent the solidification of water in the working chamber 6 from being delayed. However, it goes without saying that the sleeve 10 may be formed of a material having high thermal conductivity like the body 3.
[0019]
On the side wall of the body 3 located at the upper part of the working chamber 6, a blow hole 30 is formed in which an inner end communicates with the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion 21 of the valve body 20 and an outer end communicates with the outside. A female screw 31 is formed at the outer end of the blow hole 30, and a blow valve 32 capable of opening and closing the blow hole 30 is screwed into the female screw 31. The blow valve 32 has a discharge hole 33 for discharging the water flowing through the blow hole 30 to the outside.
When the blow valve 32 is opened, the internal pressure of the working chamber 6 decreases, so that the water in the water supply pipe 1 is introduced into the working chamber 6 from below through the valve chamber 3 b and the inflow passage 7. Accordingly, the water in the working chamber 6 is discharged from the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 20 and the body 3 through the blow hole 30 and the discharge hole 33 of the blow valve 32. The air that has accumulated in the tank is discharged together with the water. Since the air is a compressive fluid, if any air remains in the working chamber 6, the valve opening operation of the valve body 20 will be significantly delayed. Since the blow hole 30 communicates with the lowermost part and the blow hole 30 communicates with the uppermost part of the working chamber 6, the residual air in the working chamber 6 can be efficiently discharged.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the antifreezing device A having the above configuration will be described.
When the outside air temperature drops below zero, the heat retained in the water in the inflow passage 7 and the working chamber 6 is released through the body 3, and the water in the inflow passage 7 is frozen first, and then the water in the working chamber 6 is cooled. Begins to solidify. In particular, due to the effect of the retained heat of water in the valve chamber 3b, the lower part of the working chamber 6 solidifies faster than the upper part near the valve chamber 3b. When the water in the working chamber 6 starts to solidify, the inflow passage 7 is already frozen and closed, so that the valve body 20 is pushed up by the volume expansion of the working chamber 6 at the time of water solidification, and the valve port 12 is opened ( (See FIG. 5). Therefore, the water in the water supply pipe 1 is discharged outside through the valve chamber 3b, the valve port 12, and the drain pipe 29. As a result, the flow of water in the water supply pipe 1 is promoted to prevent the water supply pipe 1 from freezing, and the retained heat of the discharged water is transmitted to the working chamber 6 via the body 3, the valve body 20 or the sleeve 10. Then, the ice in the working chamber 6 is melted. As a result, the volume of the working chamber 6 is reduced, the valve body 20 is pushed down by the water pressure of the water supply pipe 1 and the spring force of the spring 27, and the valve is automatically closed. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated.
[0021]
In the valve opening operation, the valve element 20 is disposed on the upper end side of the working chamber 6 and receives only the axial force due to the volume expansion of the working chamber 6, so that the axial movement of the valve element 20 becomes very smooth. . Therefore, the valve can be opened only when the water in the working chamber 6 starts to solidify in a sherbet-like manner, and the other pipes such as the water supply pipe 1 can be reliably prevented from reacting sharply to a decrease in the outside air temperature. Also, when the valve port 12 is opened and drained, the sherbet-like ice in the working chamber 6 is quickly melted by the retained heat of the drainage, so that the valve can be closed without wasting a large amount of water, thereby saving water. it can.
[0022]
As described above, since the valve port 12 is formed at the upper end of the sleeve 10 constituting the inner wall of the working chamber 6, when the valve port 12 is opened, water in the valve chamber 3 b passes through the valve port 12. It is only emitted. That is, the water that has passed through the valve port 12 is discharged without passing through the gap between the valve body 20 and the body 3 or the gap between the valve body 20 and the sleeve 10. In a small anti-freezing device, since the inner diameter of the sleeve 10 is small, a part of the drainage may accumulate in the drainage passage 29. Since the drainage passage 29 is open to the atmosphere, the accumulated drainage may freeze. There is. However, since the sliding portion of the valve body 20 does not exist in the drain passage 29 downstream of the valve port 12, even if the accumulated drain water freezes in the drain passage 29, the valve opening operation of the valve body 20 is completely adversely affected. Has no effect.
The ice frozen in the drain passage 29 is instantaneously melted when the valve port 12 is opened and the water in the water supply pipe 1 flows, so that there is no problem. Further, by using a material having a small coefficient of friction such as a tetrafluoroethylene resin as the drain pipe 29, ice can be discharged even by a differential pressure at the time of opening the valve.
The upstream side of the valve port 12 (the valve chamber 3b, the communication hole 26, and the annular space 9) communicates with the water supply pipe 1 and is filled with water under pressure, so that it does not freeze.
[0023]
In the above embodiment, the inflow passage 7 is formed inside the ridge 8 integrally formed on the outer wall of the body 3. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the inflow passage is connected by connecting a separate pipe 18. It may be formed. The inflow pipe 18 should be formed of a thin metal pipe with good heat conduction, because the water inside must be frozen earlier than the working chamber 6. In this case, since the entire circumference of the inflow pipe 18 is exposed to the outside air, freezing can be accelerated.
[0024]
The anti-freezing device A of the present invention is not limited to being installed in the middle of the water supply pipe 1 as shown in FIG. For example, it can be attached near the water tap at the end of the pipe, or attached to the pipe of the water heater.
In the above embodiment, the body 3 of the anti-freezing device A is constituted by an integral structure, but may be constituted by a plurality of parts as in JP-A-8-28732. For example, if the joint portion to be screwed to the joint 2 is formed of a separate part, even if the diameter of the connection port of the joint 2 is different, it can be easily dealt with only by replacing the joint.
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the valve body 20 is operated by the water in the working chamber 6 solidifying after the inflow passage 7 is frozen and closed first, but a check valve is provided in the inflow passage 7. Even if the inflow passage 7 does not freeze first, the expansion pressure due to solidification of the water in the working chamber 6 may be prevented from escaping to the inflow passage 7.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the valve port is formed not at the body but at the end of the water supply pipe side of the sleeve constituting the inner wall of the working chamber, the drain port is formed at the drain path downstream from the valve port. Does not have a sliding portion of the valve element. Therefore, even if a part of the drainage freezes in the sleeve, the valve opening operation of the valve body is not adversely affected.
Further, since the valve port is formed at the end of the sleeve on the water supply pipe side, there is no need to process the body into a complicated structure as in the case of forming the valve port on the body, and the valve body also covers the upper end of the sleeve. With the cap shape, the sealing portion and the valve portion can be configured as an integral part, so that the structure is simple and the assembly is easy. Therefore, an inexpensive and small freezing prevention device can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of a first embodiment of an antifreezing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve body.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1 during operation.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an antifreezing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional anti-freezing device.
[Explanation of symbols]
A antifreeze device 1 water supply pipe 3 body 6 working chamber 7 inflow passage 10 sleeve 12 valve port 20 valve body 21 sealing portion 24 valve portion 25 gasket 27 return spring 29 drainage pipe (drainage passage)

Claims (2)

A cylindrical body with one end connected to the water supply pipe,
A sleeve fixed concentrically inside the body and having a valve port formed at an end of the water supply pipe side;
A cylindrical working chamber formed between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the sleeve, the end opposite to the water supply pipe side being closed, and storing water therein;
A sealing portion that slidably seals an end of the working chamber on a water supply pipe side, and slides in the axial direction with respect to the body and the sleeve by a volume expansion effect at the time of water coagulation in the working chamber; A valve element for opening the valve port,
A dewatering passage for discharging water inside the water supply pipe from the valve port to the outside through the inside of the sleeve by opening the valve body. The freeze prevention device according to claim 1,
The body has an inflow passage that connects the inside of the water supply pipe and an end of the working chamber on the side opposite to the water supply pipe side and is frozen and sealed before the working chamber. Antifreeze device.

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