JP2016217400A - Air discharge valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air discharge valve including a float assembly of which mass can be adjusted and capable of preventing a stem of the float assembly from being dropped.SOLUTION: An air discharge valve comprises: cases 2, 3 enclosing an exhaust chamber 1; a float assembly 4 inserted into the exhaust chamber 1; and a discharging valve 7 opened or closed in response to ascending or descending of the float assembly 4 to discharge gas in the exhaust chamber outside. The float assembly 4 is constituted by float members 6a to 6c stacked up in a vertical direction and connected to each other, and a stem member 5 passing through the float members 6a to 6c and connected to the discharging valve 7. Open-holes 64, 66 of the float members 6a to 6c have expansion parts 65, 67 enabling an upper protrusion part 51 of the stem member 5 to pass and a lower protrusion part 53 of the stem member 5 not to pass, and the expansion part 65 of the open-hole 64 of a first stage float member 6a and the expansion part 67 of the open-hole 66 of a second stage float member 6b are arranged to be displaced from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air vent valve, and more particularly, to an air vent valve provided with a float assembly that can adjust its mass.

  Air bubbles mixed in a liquid such as water are gradually accumulated in pipes such as a water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe, a cooling / heating water heating / cooling pipe, and a tank. If air accumulates in the pipe or tank, air troubles such as corrosion of the pipe or tank may occur. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of air failure, an air vent valve is usually connected to the piping or the like. The air vent valve may be attached not only to the pipe or the top of the tank where the air accumulates, but also to the middle of the pipe. The following Patent Document 1 describes an air vent valve connected in the middle of a pipe.

  The air vent valve is generally composed of a case surrounding the exhaust chamber, a float inserted into the exhaust chamber, and an exhaust valve that opens and closes as the float rises and falls. A conventional air vent valve float is usually formed by molding a synthetic resin such as polypropylene having a specific gravity smaller than that of water, and has, for example, a substantially short cylindrical shape. When air accumulates in the exhaust chamber of the air vent valve and the water level in the exhaust chamber decreases, the float also descends, the exhaust valve connected to the float opens, and the air in the exhaust chamber is discharged to the outside. When air is discharged and the water level in the exhaust chamber rises, the float rises and the exhaust valve closes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-223178

  In general, in the air vent valve, the exhaust valve is opened by the weight of the float when the float is lowered due to a drop in the water level in the exhaust chamber. Therefore, the larger the float mass, the greater the valve opening force. By the way, the opening force of the exhaust valve required for the air valve may differ depending on the air vent valve. For each required valve opening force, designing and manufacturing a float having a mass corresponding to the valve opening force from the mold causes an increase in the cost of the product.

  Therefore, if a floating assembly is formed by stacking a plurality of floating members of the same size and shape having a through hole in the center and inserting a stem into the through hole, the number of floating members can be increased or decreased. The mass of the assembly can be adjusted. However, when the stem member inserted into the plurality of float members is disconnected from the exhaust valve, the stem may fall out of the plurality of float members. In particular, when the stem member falls out of the float member when the air vent valve is attached to the top of the standing pipe in a water supply system or the like, the stem member falls to the bottom of the standing pipe.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an air vent valve that includes a float assembly that can adjust the mass and that can prevent the stem member of the float assembly from dropping. It is an object.

In order to achieve the above object, the air vent valve of the present invention includes a case surrounding the exhaust chamber, a float assembly inserted into the exhaust chamber, and opening and closing according to the lifting and lowering of the float assembly, and allowing the gas in the exhaust chamber to An air vent valve having an exhaust valve for exhausting to
The float assembly is composed of a plurality of float members that are vertically connected to each other, and a stem member that vertically penetrates the plurality of float members and is connected to the exhaust valve via a link mechanism.
The stem member is formed in a main portion that penetrates the plurality of floating members and a whole portion of the stem that is formed in a portion positioned above the floating members in a state where the main portions pass through the plurality of floating members connected to each other. Of the upper part protruding in the radial direction, and the protruding part in the radial direction of the stem formed in a portion located below the plurality of floating members with the main part passing through the plurality of floating members And a lower projection
Each of the plurality of float members is formed with a through hole along the central axis, and the through hole has an extended portion through which the upper protrusion can pass and the lower protrusion cannot pass. The extended portion of the through hole of at least one float member and the extended portion of the through hole of at least one other float member are connected so as to be shifted from each other.

  An air vent valve according to the present invention includes a float assembly that includes a plurality of float members that are vertically connected to each other and a stem member that vertically penetrates the plurality of float members and engages with an exhaust valve. Yes. As a result, by adjusting the number of float members penetrating the stem member, the mass of the float assembly can be adjusted, and the valve opening force of the exhaust valve can be adjusted.

Further, according to the air vent valve of the present invention, each float member is formed with a through-hole having an extended portion through which the upper projection of the stem member can pass and the lower projection cannot pass, and the float members are The extended part of the through hole of at least one float member and the extended part of the through hole of at least one other float member are connected so as to be displaced. Thereby, when the stem member is about to fall off from the float member, the upper protrusion of the stem member is locked by any of the float members, and the stem member is prevented from falling.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air vent valve that includes a float assembly that can adjust the mass and that can prevent the stem of the float assembly from dropping.

It is sectional drawing of the air vent valve by embodiment of this invention. (A) is a top view of the stem member which comprises the float assembly of the air vent valve of this invention, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view. (A) is a top view of the float member which comprises the float assembly of the air vent valve of this invention, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view. (A) is a top view of the first-stage and second-stage float members that are connected one above the other, and (b) is a side view.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air vent valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air vent valve according to the embodiment of the present invention opens and closes according to the lower and upper cases 2 and 3 surrounding the exhaust chamber 1, the float assembly 4 inserted into the exhaust chamber 1, and the lift of the float assembly 4. And an exhaust valve 7 for exhausting the gas in the chamber 1 to the outside.

  The lower case 2 has an open upper end 20 and has a bottomed hexagonal shape, and a tubular mounting portion 21 that constitutes the communication hole 20 protrudes from the bottom. The exhaust chamber 1 communicates with the pipe through the communication hole 20 by screwing the mounting portion 21 onto the top of a pipe (not shown) such as a water supply pipe. An upper case 3 is screwed into the opening of the upper end 2 in a watertight manner with an O-ring 9a interposed therebetween, and the lower case 2 and the upper case 3 constitute an exhaust chamber.

  The upper case 3 includes a cylindrical lower portion 3a and an upper portion 3b having a shape extending from the lower portion 3a to the side while narrowing upward. A lower end 30 of the lower portion 3a opens downward and is screwed into the upper end 20 of the lower case 2. Further, the side projecting portion 31 which is a portion extending to the side of the upper portion 3b opens toward the side, and the exhaust valve 7 is attached to the side projecting portion 31.

  The exhaust valve 7 includes a valve seat 71 fitted to the opening of the side projecting portion 31 of the upper case 3 via a valve seat guide 70, a valve body 72 that contacts and opens the valve seat 71, and the valve And a spring member 73 that urges the body 72. The valve seat guide 70 is screwed and attached to the side projecting portion 31 of the upper case 3 with the O-ring 9b interposed therebetween. The valve seat 71 is also screwed and attached to the valve seat guide 70 with the O-ring 9c interposed therebetween. The valve seat 71 opens laterally toward the inside of the exhaust chamber 1, and the disc 72 a held by the disc holder 72 a of the valve body 72 contacts the opening 71 a. The spring member 73 is a coil-shaped push spring. One end of the spring member 73 abuts on the valve body 72 and the other end abuts on the internal projecting portion 32 of the upper case 3, thereby It is biased toward the seat 71.

  In the air vent valve of the present embodiment, since the valve seat 71 opens to the side, the contact surface of the disc 72a of the valve body 72 that contacts the opening 71a of the valve seat 71 is vertical while the valve is closed. Orient. As a result, water droplets adhering to the vicinity of the opening 71a of the valve seat 71 can return to the exhaust chamber 1 along the inner wall of the upper case 3 by gravity. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the exhaust valve 7 from being closed poorly due to deposits or the like from the accumulated water droplets on the disk 72a surface of the valve body 72.

  One end of a lever 8 as a link mechanism is inserted into the valve body 72, and the vicinity of the other end of the lever 8 is engaged with the float assembly 4. FIG. 1 shows the float assembly 4 raised by buoyancy when the gas accumulated in the exhaust chamber 1 is low and the water level (not shown) is high. When the float assembly 4 is raised, the weight of the float assembly 4 is not applied to the lever 8. At this time, the disc 72a of the valve body 72 to which one end of the lever 8 is attached remains in contact with the opening 71a of the valve seat 71, and the exhaust valve 7 is closed.

  On the other hand, when gas accumulates in the exhaust chamber 1, the water level in the exhaust chamber decreases and the float assembly 4 descends. As a result, the weight of the float assembly 4 is applied near the other end of the lever 8, and the other end of the lever 8 is lowered. Thus, the disc 72a of the valve body 72 is separated from the valve seat 71 above the opening 71a by inclining the valve body 72 with the vicinity of the lower end of the opening 71a of the valve seat 71 as a fulcrum (to the right in the drawing in FIG. 1). The exhaust valve 7 is opened. When the exhaust valve 7 is opened, the gas accumulated in the exhaust chamber 1 is discharged to the outside, and the water level in the exhaust chamber 1 rises again.

  In order to open the exhaust valve 7, in addition to the biasing force by the spring member 73 that biases the valve body 72, a valve opening force that overcomes the pressure difference between the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber 1 and the external atmospheric pressure is required. It is. In this embodiment, since the length of the lever 8 is longer than the diameter of the disc 72a of the valve body 72 of the valve seat 71, the lever 8 also functions as a booster by the principle of lever.

  Furthermore, since the float assembly 4 of the present embodiment is configured by connecting a plurality of float members as described below, the number of float members to be connected can be adjusted. Thereby, the magnitude | size of the valve opening force can be adjusted by adjusting the weight of the float assembly 4 applied to the lever 8. For example, by increasing the number of floating members to be connected, the exhaust valve 7 can be opened even when the interior of the exhaust chamber 1 is under a higher pressure condition.

The float assembly 4 is vertically connected to each other through three float members 6a, 6b, and 6c that are connected to each other in the vertical direction, and through the three float members 6a, 6b, and 6c through the exhaust valve 7 and a lever 8. Stem member 5. Further, the three float members 6 a to 6 are locked by the lower protrusion 53 of the stem member 5. For this reason, when the water surface in the exhaust chamber 1 is lowered and the float assembly 4 is lowered, the weights of the three float members 6 a to 6 c are applied to the stem member 5, and the lever 8 is engaged with the connection hole 52 of the stem member 5. The weight of the entire float assembly 4 can be multiplied.
Further, the float assembly 4 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the central axis, and the center of gravity of the float assembly 4 overlaps with the central axis, so that the float assembly 4 can be lifted and lowered in a balanced manner.

  In the present embodiment, the stem member 5 and the floating members 6a to 6c are all formed of poly (4-methylpent-1-ene) resin. Further, the three float members 6a, 6b, 6c have the same size and shape. In addition, the material of the float assembly 4 is not limited to this, The material whose specific gravity is smaller than fluids, such as water in piping, can be used.

  FIG. 2 shows the stem member 5 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a top view of a stem member constituting the float assembly of the air vent valve of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. 2C is a bottom view. FIGS. 2A to 2C show the stem members 5 rotated by 90 ° around the central axis.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stem member 5 includes a main portion 50 that penetrates the three float members 6 a to 6 c and three float members 6 a to 6 c that are connected to each other. 3 in a state in which the main portion 50 penetrates the upper protrusion 51 that protrudes in the radial direction of a part of the entire circumference of the stem member 5 and the three float members 6a to 6c that are formed in the upper portion. It has the lower projection part 53 which protruded in the radial direction of the stem member 5 formed in the part located under the two float members 6a-6c.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper protrusion 51 of the stem member 5 has a top view shape that protrudes in two opposite directions when viewed from the central axis of the stem member 5, As shown in FIG. 2B, the main portion 50 has a width L2 longer than the diameter L1.
It should be noted that the shape of the upper protrusion viewed from the central axis direction need not be an isotropic shape such as a circle, and may be a shape protruding in only one direction, or a shape protruding in three or more directions. Good. The top projection shape of the upper projection may be an anisotropic contour shape such as a keyhole shape, dumbbell shape, fan shape, triangle, square, star shape, oval shape, oval shape, or irregular shape. .

An engagement hole 52 that engages with the lever 8 is formed in the upper protrusion 51 of the stem member 5.
The structure for engaging with the lever 8 is not limited to the engagement hole 52, and any suitable shape such as a hook or a protrusion can be adopted in accordance with the structure of the link mechanism.

The lower protrusion 53 of the stem member 5 has a structure in which the lower end portion of the stem member 5 projects in a flange shape in the entire circumferential direction. The lower protrusion 53 has a diameter L3 that is larger than the width L2 of the upper protrusion 51. A ridge 53 a is formed on the lower surface of the lower protrusion 53.
In addition, although the lower protrusion part 53 of this embodiment has the structure protruded in the flange shape in the perimeter direction of the stem member 5, a lower protrusion part protrudes in a part radial direction of the perimeter. It is good also as the shape made. Further, the diameter or the maximum width L3 of the lower protrusion 53 may be equal to or smaller than the width L2 of the upper protrusion 51. In this case, L3 is larger than the diameter L1 of the main portion 50 and the central axis line. When viewed from the direction, the area where the lower protrusion 53 protrudes from the diameter L1 of the main portion 50 is preferably larger than the area where the upper protrusion 51 protrudes from the diameter L1 of the main portion 50.

FIG. 3 shows the float member of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first-stage to third-stage floating members 6a to 6c have the same size and shape, and therefore, here, the first-stage floating member 6a is shown as a representative. FIG. 3A is a top view of the float member 6a constituting the float assembly of the air vent valve of the present invention, FIG. 3B is a side view of the float member 6a, and FIG. 3C is a float member. It is a bottom view of 6a.
In addition, by making the dimensional shape of each floating member the same, it becomes possible to mass-produce the floating member with a single mold, and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

  The float member 6a has an upper surface 60 and a lower surface 61 that are parallel to each other. On the side surface between the upper surface 60 and the lower surface 61, recesses and projections extending in the central axis direction are alternately formed over the entire circumference. Further, a through hole 64 along the central axis A is formed between the upper surface 60 and the lower surface 61. The through hole 64 has an extended portion 65 through which the upper protrusion 51 can pass and the lower protrusion 53 cannot pass. The non-expanded portion of the through hole 64 has a diameter D1 that is smaller than the width L2 of the upper protrusion portion 51 of the stem member 5, while the expanded portion 65 of the through hole 64 is the width of the upper protrusion portion 51 of the stem member 5. It has a diameter D2 that is larger than L2. For this reason, the upper projection 51 of the stem member 5 has a through-hole in the float 6a when the projection direction, that is, the maximum width direction coincides with the direction of the extension 65 of the through-hole 64 in the float 6a. 64, but cannot pass through the through hole 64 if they do not match.

  On the other hand, since the diameter L3 of the lower protrusion 53 of the stem member 5 is larger than the diameter D2 of the expanded portion 65 of the through hole 64, the lower protrusion 53 does not pass through the through hole 64 regardless of its orientation. Can not.

  Here, FIG. 4 shows two float members that are connected one above the other. Fig.4 (a) is a top view of the 1st stage | stage and 2nd stage | paragraph floating member connected up and down, and FIG.4 (b) is a side view. In addition, in order to make an understanding of invention easy, illustration of the 3rd stage float member is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the two float members 6a and 6b include an extended portion 65 of the through hole 64 of the first stage float member 6a and an extended portion of the through hole 66 of the second stage float member 6b. 67 and are connected so as to be displaced. At this time, if the protruding direction of the upper protruding portion 51 of the stem member 5 coincides with the extended portion 65 of the through hole 64 of the first stage floating member 6a, the through hole 66 of the second stage floating member 6b Therefore, even though the upper protrusion 51 can pass through the through hole 64 of the first stage floating member 6a, it can pass through the through hole 66 of the second stage floating member 6b. Can not.

  Further, when the protruding direction of the upper protruding portion 51 of the stem member 5 coincides with the extended portion 67 of the through hole 66 of the second stage floating member 6b, the expansion of the through hole 64 of the first stage floating member 6a. Therefore, even though the upper protrusion 51 can pass through the through hole 66 of the second stage floating member 6b, it cannot pass through the through hole 64 of the first stage floating member 6a. . As a result, when the stem member 5 is about to fall off from the float members 6a and 6b, the upper protrusion 51 of the stem member 5 is locked by any of the float members 6a or 6b to prevent the stem member 5 from falling. Is done.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the extended portion 65 of the first-stage floating member 6a and the extended portion 67 of the second-stage floating member 6b are shifted from each other. The extension part 65 and the extension part 67 of the second-stage float member 6b may be aligned, and the extension parts of the third-stage and later float members may be shifted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the float member 6 a has three convex portions 62 formed on the upper surface 60 and three concave portions 63 formed on the lower surface 61. The three protrusions 62 are arranged at positions on the upper surface 60 that are equidistant from the central axis A of the float member 6a and at 120 ° apart from each other when viewed from the central axis A. Yes. The three recesses 63 are also located at the same distance from the central axis A of the float member 6a on the lower surface of the float member 6a, and at 120 ° intervals from each other when viewed from the central axis A. Is arranged. As a result, each of the three concave portions 63 can be fitted in correspondence with each of the three convex portions 62.
The floating member 6a shown in FIG. 3 is formed at a position where the three convex portions 62 and the three concave portions 63 overlap each other when viewed from the central axis direction. You may form in the position mutually shifted in the direction.

  The first-stage floating member 6a and the second-stage floating member 6b are overlapped with each other by fitting the concave portion 63 of the first-stage floating member and the convex portion 62 of the second-stage floating member 6b. Connected. At this time, the recess 63 of the first stage float member 6a and the convex part 62 of the second stage float member 6b are the extension part 65 of the first stage float member 6a and the extension part of the second stage float member 6b. 67 can be fitted when they are displaced from each other.

  The floating members 6a and 6b of the present embodiment can be fitted even when the extended portion 65 of the first-stage floating member 6a and the extended portion 67 of the second-stage floating member 6b are arranged in alignment. It is. The extended portions 65 and 67 are aligned and connected once, and after the upper protrusion 51 of the stem member 5 is passed through the extended portions 65 and 67, the two float members 6a and 6b are disengaged, and the central axis A May be rotated relative to each other, and the expansion portions 65 and 67 may be shifted from each other to be fitted again.

  Here, referring again to FIG. 1, the top of the convex portion 62 of the upper surface 60 of the first-stage floating member 6 a is in contact with the inner wall of the upper case 3 when the floating assembly 4 is lifted by buoyancy. . Thus, the convex part 62 functions not only as a connecting part but also as a stopper for preventing the float assembly 4 from being lifted too much. For this reason, the float assembly 4 of this embodiment has the further advantage that it is not necessary to provide another part as a stopper or to add work to the upper case 3.

  Although the specific configuration of the present invention has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the floating body is configured by connecting the floating members in three or two stages has been described. However, in the present invention, the floating body is configured by connecting four or more floating members. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the three float members have the same size and shape has been described. However, in the present invention, the plurality of float members may have different size and shape. In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the float member and the stem are formed of the same material has been described. However, in the present invention, the float member and the stem may be formed of different materials. You may form with a different material.

In the above-described embodiment, the example of the air vent valve provided with the exhaust valve 7 in which the valve seat 71 is opened to the side has been described. However, in the present invention, the structure of the valve seat 71 is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to an air vent valve provided with an exhaust valve 7 having a seat 71 opened downward.
The present invention can be applied not only to an air vent valve having only an exhaust function, but also to an air vent valve having both an exhaust function and an intake function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exhaust chamber 2 Lower case 3 Upper case 3a Upper part 3b Lower part 4 Float assembly 5 Stem member 6a, 6b, 6c Float member 7 Exhaust valve 8 Lever 9a, 9b, 9c O-ring 20 Opening part 21 Communication hole 22 Attachment part 30 Lower end part 31 Opening part 50 Main part 51 Upper protrusion part 52 Engagement hole 53 Lower protrusion part 53a Ridge 60 Upper surface 61 Lower surface 62 Convex part 63 Concave part 64 Through-hole (first step)
65 Enlarged part (first stage)
66 Through hole (second stage)
67 Enlarged part (third stage)
70 Valve seat guide 71 Valve seat 71a Opening 72 Valve body 72a Disc 72b Disc holder 73 Spring member

Claims (3)

A case surrounding the exhaust chamber;
A float assembly inserted into the exhaust chamber;
An air vent valve that includes an exhaust valve that opens and closes according to the raising and lowering of the float assembly and exhausts the gas in the exhaust chamber to the outside,
The float assembly is
A plurality of float members that are connected one above the other,
It is composed of a stem member that vertically penetrates the plurality of float members and connected to the exhaust valve via a link mechanism,
The stem member is
A main portion penetrating the plurality of float members;
An upper protrusion that is formed in a portion positioned above the plurality of float members in a state where the main portion passes through the plurality of float members connected to each other and projects in a radial direction in a part of the entire circumference of the stem. And
A lower protrusion projecting in the radial direction of the stem, formed in a portion located below the plurality of float members with the main portion penetrating the plurality of float members;
Each of the plurality of float members is formed with a through hole along a central axis, and the through hole has an extended portion through which the upper protruding portion can pass and the lower protruding portion cannot pass.
The plurality of float members are connected so that an extended portion of a through hole of at least one float member and an extended portion of a through hole of at least one other float member are arranged to be shifted from each other. Air vent valve. Each of the plurality of float members has a convex portion formed on the top surface of the float member and a concave portion formed on the bottom surface,
The concave portion of one float member and the convex portion of the other float member can be fitted when the extended portion of the one float member and the extended portion of the other float member are arranged to be shifted from each other. The air vent valve according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the plurality of float members has a plurality of the convex portions and a plurality of the concave portions,
The plurality of convex portions are arranged at equidistant positions from the central axis of the floating member on the upper surface of each floating member, and at equal angular positions as viewed from the central axis.
The plurality of recesses are arranged at equidistant positions from the central axis of the float member on the upper surface of each float member and at equiangular positions from the central axis. The air vent valve according to claim 2, wherein:

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