JP3909245B2 - Atmospheric release valve - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air release valve, and more particularly to an air release valve that is provided in the middle of a pipe that guides hot water from a hot water supply device to a bathtub and prevents sewage in the bathtub from flowing back to the water supply.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional hot water supply system.
In a conventional hot water supply system, a water supply water supply pipe 101 is connected to the upstream side of the heat exchanger 103 and the water bypass valve 104 via a flow sensor 102, and the downstream side of the heat exchanger 103 and the water bypass valve 104 is After joining, the water proportional valve 105 is connected. The downstream side of the water proportional valve 105 is connected to a hot water supply pipe 106 that discharges hot water to, for example, a kitchen faucet. The downstream side of the water proportional valve 105 is also piped to the bath tub 110 through the flow sensor 107, the electromagnetic valve 108, and the check valve 109, and the pipe between the flow sensor 107 and the electromagnetic valve 108 is connected to the pipe. A negative pressure breaker (vacuum breaker) 111 is provided.
[0003]
The clean water supplied from the water supply pipe 101 passes through the flow rate sensor 102, partly heated by the heat exchanger 103 to become hot water, and partly exits the heat exchanger 103 through the water bypass valve 104. Mixed with hot water. At this time, by controlling the flow rate of bypassing the heat exchanger 103 by the water bypass valve 104, the mixing ratio of the hot water and the hot water temperature is controlled. The hot water controlled to a desired temperature is further supplied with hot water from the hot water supply pipe 106 with the hot water flow rate controlled by the water proportional valve 105.
[0004]
In addition, when filling the bathtub 110 with hot water, the solenoid valve 108 is opened so that the hot water from the water proportional valve 105 is supplied to the bath bathtub 110 via the flow sensor 107, the solenoid valve 108 and the check valve 109. The
[0005]
The negative pressure breaker 111 has a check valve configuration that opens to the atmosphere, and is normally closed due to water flow pressure in the pipe, and when a negative pressure is generated in the hot water supply pipe 106 due to water breakage or the like, Open and introduce air into the pipe. Thereby, the negative pressure state in the piping is eliminated, and the hot water in the bathtub 110 is prevented from flowing back toward the hot water supply pipe 106 due to the negative pressure.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional hot water supply system, two check valves are arranged in series on the side close to the bathtub for safety. However, the check valve is not sealed due to foreign matter biting into the check valve. If it is defective, the hot water in the bathtub flows back to the upstream side of the check valve due to the head pressure, and no negative pressure is generated in the piping. There was a problem that it might flow backward.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such points, and completely prevents the sewage in the bathtub from flowing backward to the water supply even if the check valve becomes watertight due to foreign matter biting or the like. An object is to provide an air release valve capable of performing the above.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the air release valve for preventing the backflow from the bathtub to the water supply, the first opening and the first opening that form a straight pipe and that are open to the side are provided. A body having a second opening that is open to the atmosphere that is open on the side facing the portion, and a piston that is disposed so as to freely advance and retract on an axis that connects the opening centers of the first and second openings, A diaphragm provided at one end of the piston and disposed so as to close the first opening, and disposed between the outer side of the body so as to cover the diaphragm and introducing a water pressure to detect the diaphragm. A case that constitutes a pressure chamber, a valve body that is held at the other end of the piston to open or close the second opening, and a spring that biases the piston in a direction in which the valve body opens. The die The pressure receiving area of Fulham, air release valve is provided which is characterized in that at least eight times the pressure receiving area of the valve body side.
[0009]
According to such an air release valve, normally, the diaphragm receives the water pressure introduced into the pressure detection chamber to urge the piston, and the valve body provided on the opposite side opens to the atmosphere. Since the opening of 2 is closed, it functions as a simple pipe. Here, when the check valve provided between the bathtub and the check valve is in a poor watertight condition due to foreign matter, for example, when a negative pressure is generated due to water breakage, the diaphragm detects the negative pressure and controls the piston. By energizing the body in the opening direction, the second opening is opened, and the sewage in the bathtub that has flowed backward is released to the atmosphere through the second opening. Thereby, it can prevent reliably that the dirty water in a bathtub flows backward to the water supply side.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the case of application to a hot water supply system.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a hot water supply system to which an air release valve according to the present invention is applied.
In the hot water supply system to which the air release valve according to the present invention is applied, the water supply water supply pipe 1 is connected to the upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and the water bypass valve 4 via the flow rate sensor 2, and the heat exchanger 3 and water The downstream side of the bypass valve 4 joins and is connected to the water proportional valve 5. The downstream side of the water proportional valve 5 is connected to a hot water supply pipe 6 for discharging hot water to a kitchen faucet, for example. The downstream side of the water proportional valve 5 is also connected to a bath tub 11 through a flow sensor 7, a solenoid valve 8, an atmosphere release valve 9, and a check valve 10, and the atmosphere release valve 9 is connected to a pressure detection tube 12. Is connected to the water supply pipe 1.
[0012]
The clean water supplied from the water supply pipe 1 passes through the flow sensor 2, partly heated by the heat exchanger 3 to become hot water, and partly comes out of the heat exchanger 3 through the water bypass valve 4. Mixed with hot water. At this time, by controlling the flow rate of bypassing the heat exchanger 3 by the water bypass valve 4, the mixing ratio of the hot water and the hot water temperature is controlled. The hot water controlled to a desired temperature is further supplied with hot water from the hot water supply pipe 6 with the hot water flow rate controlled by the water proportional valve 5.
[0013]
Further, when filling the bathtub 11 with hot water, the solenoid valve 8 is opened so that the hot water from the water proportional valve 5 flows into the bath via the flow sensor 7, solenoid valve 8, air release valve 9 and check valve 10. It is supplied to the bathtub 11. At this time, the source pressure of the water supply is introduced into the atmosphere release valve 9 through the pressure detection tube 12.
[0014]
When water breakage or the like occurs and a negative pressure is generated in the water supply pipe 1, the air release valve 9 detects a decrease in the original pressure of the water supply and releases it to the atmosphere, and releases the water in the pipe to the atmosphere. If the bathtub 11 is at a high place and the check valve 10 has poor watertightness due to foreign matter or the like, sewage in the bathtub 11 is released to the atmosphere via the check valve 10 due to the water head pressure. The sewage flows back to the valve 9, but the sewage is discharged to the atmosphere by the air release valve 9, so that the sewage in the bathtub does not flow back to the hot water supply pipe 6.
[0015]
Next, details of the atmosphere release valve 9 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve closed state of the air release valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a valve open state of the air release valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view shown.
[0016]
The air release valve 9 has a body 13 constituting a straight pipe, and the body 13 is provided with a connection part 14 connected to the pipe from the electromagnetic valve 8 and a check valve 10 at both ends thereof. And a connecting portion 15 connected to the pipe. However, since there is no directionality with respect to the flow of water, these connecting portions 14 and 15 may be connected to either the piping from the electromagnetic valve 8 or the piping to which the check valve 10 is mounted. The body 13 also has a first opening 16 at its side, in the upper center in the figure, and a second part open to the atmosphere in the side opposite to the first opening 16, in the lower center in the figure. The opening 17 is opened. On the axis connecting the opening centers of the first and second openings 16 and 17, a piston 18 is disposed so as to be able to advance and retract. The upper part of the piston 18 is formed integrally with a disc that uses the inner wall of the passage of the first opening 16 as a guide, and the lower part is formed integrally with three legs that use the inner wall of the passage of the second opening 17 as a guide. Yes. A diaphragm 21 is fixed to the disk above the piston 18 by a retainer 19 and a screw 20. The outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm 21 is held between a body 13 and a case 22 provided so as to cover the first opening 16. The case 22 constitutes a pressure detection chamber 23 together with the diaphragm 21, and a pressure detection tube connecting portion 24 to which the pressure detection tube 12 is connected is integrally formed. The pressure detection tube connecting portion 24 and the pressure detection chamber 23 are communicated with each other through a communication hole 25.
[0017]
A valve body 26 is fitted to the lower portion of the piston 18. This valve body 26 constitutes a valve that communicates or closes the inside of the pipe and the atmosphere in cooperation with a valve seat 27 formed of a stepped portion formed in the middle of the passage of the second opening 17. Yes. Further, a spring 28 that urges the piston 18 toward the diaphragm 21 is provided around the piston 18.
[0018]
In the air release valve 9 having the above configuration, the original pressure of the water supply is normally introduced into the pressure detection chamber 23 through the pressure detection tube 12 and the communication hole 25 formed in the case 22 as shown in FIG. ing. Therefore, the diaphragm 21 receives the original pressure to push the piston 18 downward in the figure, and the valve body 26 fitted to the piston 18 is seated on the valve seat 27. Thereby, the 2nd opening part 17 open | released by air | atmosphere is obstruct | occluded, and the air release valve 9 functions as a mere piping.
[0019]
Here, when the original pressure of the water supply decreases or becomes negative due to water breakage or the like, the pressure in the pressure detection chamber 23 decreases in response thereto. When the diaphragm 21 receives the reduced pressure, the piston 18 is pushed up as shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 26 moves away from the valve seat 27, opens the second opening 17, and the air release valve 9. The water inside is released into the atmosphere. At this time, if the check valve 10 has poor watertightness due to foreign matter biting or the like, the sewage in the bathtub 11 flows back due to its head pressure. 9 is released into the atmosphere, so that it does not flow back to the hot water supply pipe 6 or the water supply pipe 1.
[0020]
4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the pressure relationship in the atmosphere release valve. FIG. 4A illustrates the pressure, the pressure receiving area, and the spring load, and FIG. 4B illustrates the pressure and the open / closed state of the valve.
[0021]
In this air release valve 9, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pressure receiving area of the diaphragm 21 is A, the pressure receiving area of the valve body 26 is B, and the original pressure of the water supply system introduced into the pressure detection chamber 23. Assuming that the primary pressure is P1, the secondary pressure that is the flow pressure of water flowing in the atmosphere release valve 9 is P2, and the spring load of the spring 28 is Fs, the pressure relationship in the atmosphere release valve 9 is
[0022]
[Expression 1]
A (P1-P2) + B · P2 = Fs (1)
It can be expressed as If this is transformed into the primary pressure equation,
[0023]
[Expression 2]
P1 = P2 (AB) / A + Fs / A (2)
It becomes. Here, the first term on the right side shows the relationship between the pressure receiving area A of the diaphragm 21, the pressure receiving area B of the valve body 26, the primary pressure P1 and the secondary pressure P2, and the second term is the secondary pressure P2. The relationship between the primary pressure P1 and the spring load Fs when the valve starts to open when is 0 is shown.
[0024]
FIG. 4B shows the above relationship in a graph. Since the primary pressure P1 is normally high, the atmospheric release valve 9 is in the valve closing region at that time, and is in the valve opening region when the primary pressure P1 is reduced due to a water cutoff or the like. The boundary between the valve opening and the valve closing is represented by an inclination (AB) / A. Although the change due to the pressure difference can be suppressed by making this inclination close to 1, in order to achieve this, the pressure receiving area A of the diaphragm 21 is made sufficiently large or the pressure receiving area B of the valve body 26 is made sufficiently large. Just make it smaller. However, practically, in consideration of the size that can be realized, the ratio A / B between the pressure receiving area A of the diaphragm 21 and the pressure receiving area B of the valve body 26 may be 8 or more, and preferably the ratio is 10 The inclination (A−B) / A is preferably about 0.9.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of the air release valve according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same or equivalent components as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0026]
The air release valve 30 according to the second embodiment includes the air release valve 9 according to the first embodiment, the electromagnetic valve 8 and the check valve 10 on the pipe from the hot water supply pipe 6 to the bathtub 11. It has an integrally configured form.
[0027]
In the atmosphere release valve 30, the electromagnetic valve 8 is disposed in the body 13 on the connection portion 14 side, and the check valve 10 is disposed on the body 13 on the connection portion 15 side. The solenoid valve 8 includes a main valve including a cylindrical valve seat 31 formed integrally with a body 13 and a valve body 33 supported by a diaphragm 32, and a valve seat formed at the center of the valve body 33 of the main valve. 34 and a pilot valve including a valve body 36 held by a solenoid plunger 35. The check valve 10 has a valve seat 37 protruding inwardly at the upstream end of the cylindrical case, and is disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of water facing the valve seat 37 from the downstream side. It has a valve body 38 and a spring 39 that urges the valve body 38 in the direction in which the valve body 38 is seated against the valve seat 37, and two such structures are arranged in series in the water flow direction.
[0028]
In the above configuration, when the solenoid valve 8 is not energized, as shown in the figure, the plunger 35 seats the valve body 36 on the valve seat 34 by the biasing force of the spring, thereby closing the pilot valve. As a result, the upstream pressure is introduced into the chamber on the upper surface side of the valve body 33 of the main valve through the orifice formed in the valve body 33, and there is no pressure difference between the chambers on both sides of the diaphragm 32. Thus, the main valve is closed by the pressure on the upstream side, and the piping to the bathtub 11 is closed.
[0029]
When the solenoid valve 8 is energized, the plunger 35 is sucked and moved upward in the figure, so that the pilot valve is opened. As a result, the water in the chamber on the upper surface side of the valve body 33 of the main valve can be By flowing downstream through the valve hole, a pressure difference is generated in the chambers on both sides of the diaphragm 32, and the valve element 33 is lifted from the valve seat 31 by the pressure difference, so that the main valve is fully opened. At this time, since the primary pressure P <b> 1 is applied to the pressure detection chamber 23 via the pressure detection tube connecting portion 24, the valve body 26 is seated and the second opening portion 17 is closed. Therefore, the water that has passed through the electromagnetic valve 8 flows through the check valve 10 and into the bathtub 11.
[0030]
When the primary pressure P1 is reduced due to water breakage or the like, the valve body 26 is lifted by the same operation as the air release valve 9 of the first embodiment, and the water therein is released to the atmosphere. At this time, even if the check valve 10 has poor water tightness and the sewage from the bathtub 11 flows back through the check valve 10, the sewage is released to the atmosphere and flows back to the hot water supply pipe 6. There is no going.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a valve open state of the air release valve according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same or equivalent components as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0032]
In addition to the air release valve 30 according to the second embodiment, the air release valve 40 according to the third embodiment integrally includes a flow rate sensor 7 that detects the amount of water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 6 to the bathtub 11. It has a configured form.
[0033]
In the air release valve 40, the flow sensor 7 is disposed in the body 13 between the connection portion 14 and the electromagnetic valve 8.
The flow sensor 7 is disposed on the upstream side and passes through an impeller 41 having a plurality of magnetized blades, a magnetic sensor 42 embedded in the body 13 in the vicinity of the impeller 41. And a rectifier 43 for generating a vortex in the water.
[0034]
The electromagnetic valve 8 and the check valve 10 other than the flow rate sensor 7 are arranged in the same manner as the air release valve 30 of the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of an air release valve according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same or equivalent components as those shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0035]
The atmosphere release valve 50 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the atmosphere release valve 40 according to the third embodiment, but has a form in which the mounting position of the flow sensor 7 is changed.
[0036]
In this atmosphere release valve 50, the solenoid valve 8, the atmosphere release valve main body 51, the flow sensor 7 and the check valve 10 are arranged coaxially.
Thus, when the flow sensor 7 is disposed between the air release valve main body 51 and the check valve 10, when the flow sensor 7 has a backflow of sewage due to poor water tightness of the check valve 10, Since the backflow can be detected, it becomes possible to detect a watertight failure of the check valve 10.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the original pressure of the water supply is detected, and when the original pressure of the water supply is lowered due to water breakage or the like, the air release valve is opened to release the internal water to the atmosphere. If the water supply pressure drops due to water outage, the internal pressure is reduced by releasing the internal water into the atmosphere. At this time, the check valve installed in front of the bathtub is not watertight. In this case, the sewage in the bathtub flows backward due to the head pressure, but the sewage is released to the atmosphere by the air release valve, so that the sewage flowing back from the bathtub does not flow back to the water supply side. Thus, the reliability of the hot water supply system to which this air release valve is applied can be improved.
[0038]
Further, by integrating the flow sensor, the solenoid valve, and the check valve, the number of parts and the number of mounting steps can be reduced, and the cost of the hot water supply system can be reduced.
Further, the diaphragm may be damaged, but even in this case, since the air release valve is kept closed by the main pressure of the water supply, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the water is continuously discharged into the atmosphere.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a hot water supply system to which an air release valve according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve closed state of the air release valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of the atmosphere release valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the pressure relationship in the atmosphere release valve, where FIG. 4A illustrates pressure, pressure receiving area, and spring load, and FIG. 4B illustrates pressure and the open / closed state of the valve. .
FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of an air release valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of an air release valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a valve open state of an air release valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional hot water supply system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water supply pipe 2 Flow sensor 3 Heat exchanger 4 Water bypass valve 5 Water proportional valve 6 Hot water supply pipe 7 Flow sensor 8 Solenoid valve 9 Atmospheric release valve 10 Check valve 11 Bathtub 12 Pressure detection pipe 13 Body 14, 15 Connection part 16 1st Opening portion 17 Second opening portion 18 Piston 19 Retainer 21 Diaphragm 22 Case 23 Pressure detecting chamber 24 Pressure detecting tube connecting portion 25 Communication hole 26 Valve body 27 Valve seat 28 Spring 30 Air release valve 31 Valve seat 32 Diaphragm 33 Valve body 34 Valve seat 35 Plunger 36 Valve body 37 Valve seat 38 Valve body 39 Spring 40 Atmospheric release valve 41 Impeller 42 Magnetic sensor 43 Rectifier 50 Atmospheric release valve 51 Atmospheric release valve body

Claims (6)

In the air release valve that prevents backflow from the bathtub to the water supply,
A body that forms a straight pipe and has a first opening that is open to the side and a second opening that is open to the atmosphere that is open to the side facing the first opening;
A piston disposed so as to freely advance and retract on an axis connecting the opening centers of the first and second openings;
A diaphragm provided at one end of the piston and arranged to close the first opening;
A case that is arranged so as to cover the diaphragm from the outside of the body and introduces an upper water pressure to form a pressure detection chamber between the diaphragm and the case;
A valve body that is held at the other end of the piston and opens or closes the second opening;
A spring that urges the piston in a direction in which the valve element opens;
Equipped with a,
An air release valve characterized in that the pressure receiving area of the diaphragm is at least eight times the pressure receiving area on the valve body side . 2. The air release valve according to claim 1, wherein an electromagnetic valve for opening or closing the passage in the body and a check valve for preventing a backflow of water passing through the body are integrally provided. 3. The air release valve according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic valve is arranged upstream of the passage in the body, and the check valve is arranged downstream of the passage in the body. The air release valve according to claim 2, wherein a flow rate sensor for detecting the amount of water passing through the body is integrally provided. The atmosphere release valve according to claim 4, wherein the flow sensor is disposed in a passage in the body upstream of the electromagnetic valve. The atmosphere release valve according to claim 4, wherein the flow rate sensor is disposed between the piston and the check valve.

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