JPS6141498Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Subject of the Invention) The present invention relates to a temperature-responsive valve that automatically discharges fluid below a predetermined temperature from a fluid system. Discharge condensate from heating radiators, discharge low-temperature water from trace pipes that keep oil transport pipes warm with steam or hot water, or supply water below a specified temperature to prevent equipment that uses steam or hot water from freezing. Used when discharging.

(Prior Art) The outline of the structure of a temperature-responsive valve in which the temperature-responsive element is made of a shape memory alloy, proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 55-54644, is as follows. The valve casing defines an inlet, a valve chamber into which the inlet fluid enters, and an outlet through which the valve chamber fluid exits through the valve port. A valve seat is formed at the valve chamber side opening of the valve port. A valve body is placed on the valve chamber side of the valve port so that it seats on the valve seat to close the valve port and moves away from the valve seat to open the valve port. Fix the valve stem to the valve body. A partition is provided in the center of the valve chamber to form a guide hole, into which the valve stem is fitted and slidably supported. A temperature-responsive element made of a shape memory alloy is placed around the valve stem, with both ends against the bulkhead and the valve head, and a bias spring is placed with both ends against the spring receiving member attached to the end of the valve stem and the bulkhead. The temperature-responsive element transforms in response to the temperature of the fluid in the valve chamber and drives the valve body, so that when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the valve body seats on the valve seat and closes the valve port.

In this temperature-sensitive valve, the valve stem is simply slidably fitted into one guide hole provided in the partition wall, and the valve body cannot be reliably guided to the valve seat. Further, although shape memory alloys have the advantage of being able to be formed into small shapes such as spiral shapes, there has been no suitable guide structure for the valve body that takes advantage of this advantage to make the entire valve compact.

(Technical problem of the present invention) The technical problem of the present invention is to take advantage of the advantage of making the temperature-responsive element small using a shape memory alloy, so that the valve body can be reliably guided to the valve seat, and the entire valve can be made small. It is to obtain.

(Structure and operation of the present invention) The structure of the temperature-responsive valve of the present invention is as follows.
The valve casing defines an inlet, a valve chamber into which fluid from the inlet enters through the valve port, and an outlet from which fluid from the valve chamber exits. A valve seat is formed at the valve chamber side opening of the valve port. A valve body is placed on the valve chamber side of the valve port so that it seats on the valve seat to close the valve port and moves away from the valve seat to open the valve port.
Fix the valve stem to the valve body. A movable support member is attached to the valve body side portion of the valve stem so as to move together with the valve stem, and its outer peripheral portion slides on the inner peripheral wall of the valve chamber. A fixed support member is attached to the outlet side portion of the valve chamber, and the outlet side portion of the valve stem is fitted into the guide hole and slid therein. A temperature-responsive element made of a shape memory alloy that undergoes a thermoelastic martensitic transformation from the parent phase to a martensitic phase when cooled below a predetermined temperature and undergoes the reverse transformation when heated above a predetermined temperature is installed around the valve stem. The temperature-responsive element transforms according to the temperature of the fluid in the valve chamber, drives the valve body, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, seats the valve body on the valve seat and closes the valve opening. to block it.

The action is as follows. The fluid of the fluid system enters the valve chamber from the inlet through the valve port and heats or cools a temperature-responsive element disposed within the valve chamber. When a shape memory alloy is cooled to a predetermined temperature or below, it undergoes a thermoelastic martensitic transformation from a parent phase to a martensitic phase, and when heated above a predetermined temperature, it undergoes the reverse transformation. The temperature-responsive element uses this transformation to drive the valve body,
When the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the valve body is seated on the valve seat to close the valve port. Fluid at a temperature below this temperature flows into the valve chamber through the valve port and flows out through the outlet. Since the valve body is placed on the outlet side with respect to the valve port, it is pulled away from the valve seat by fluid pressure. Therefore, a bias spring for opening the valve is not required. The movable support member attached to the valve body side portion of the valve stem moves together with the valve body while its outer peripheral portion slides on the inner wall of the valve chamber. The end of the valve stem slides into a guide hole of a fixed support member fixed to the valve casing. In this way, the valve stem is supported at both ends and the valve body is reliably guided to the valve seat.
A temperature-responsive element made of a shape memory alloy was placed around the valve shaft with both ends against both support members. Therefore, the structure of the entire valve has become denser and smaller.

(Example) The illustrated example will be described. Pipe joint-shaped main body 1
This forms an inlet 2, a valve chamber 4 into which fluid at the inlet flows in through a valve port 5, and an outlet 3 through which fluid in the valve chamber flows out. The main body 1 has a modified shape of a bushing, with an internally threaded portion forming an inlet 2 having a larger diameter than an externally threaded portion forming a valve chamber 4 and an outlet 3. A valve seat member 6 is screwed onto the partition wall between the inlet 2 and the valve chamber 4 from the inlet side via a gasket 14, and a hole is made to form a valve port 5. The head of the valve seat member 6 has a hexagonal shape on which a tightening tool can be attached. A valve seat 15 is formed at the opening portion of the valve port 5 on the valve chamber side. The valve chamber 4 has an inner peripheral wall formed into a cylindrical shape, and has a valve body 11 and a valve stem 1 made integrally therewith.
Insert 0. The tip of the valve body 11 has a conical shape and can be seated on the valve seat 15 to close the valve port 5. The valve body 11 has a larger diameter than the valve stem 10, and a step is formed at the connecting portion between the two. A groove is carved in the rear end of the valve stem 10 and a snap ring 12 is fitted therein. The movable support member 8 is placed against the stepped portion between the valve body 11 and the valve stem 10. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the movable support member 8 viewed from the entrance side. A hole 19 into which a valve stem is fitted is formed in the center of the support member 8, a receiving portion 83 for a temperature responsive element is provided around the hole 19, and a plurality of sliding pieces 81 are formed radially outside the hole 19. The tip 82 of the sliding piece 81 is bent so that its outer diameter is approximately the same as the diameter of the inner circumferential wall of the valve chamber 4, and the outer circumferential surface is formed into a cylindrical surface so that it can slide along the inner circumferential wall of the valve chamber. do. A fixed support member 9 is attached and fixed to the outlet side end of the valve chamber 4 with a snap ring 13. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fixed support member 9 viewed from the entrance side. A guide hole 20 into which the valve stem 10 is fitted is formed in the center, a receiving portion 92 for a temperature responsive element is provided around the guide hole 20, and a plurality of support pieces 91 are formed radially outside the guide hole 20. A temperature-responsive element 7 made of a shape-memory alloy in a spiral shape is arranged around the valve stem 10 so that its both ends are in contact with the receiving part 83 of the movable support member 8 and the receiving part 92 of the fixed support member 9. Both support members 8 and 9 are made by press-molding thin metal plates such as stainless steel. The assembly involves attaching the movable support member 8, the temperature-responsive element 7, to the valve stem 10, which is made integrally with the valve body 11.
The fixed support member 9 is fitted in this order, the snap ring 12 is fitted to the end of the valve stem to form a unit, this is inserted into the valve chamber 4, and the snap ring 1 is inserted into the valve chamber 4.
Attach and secure it to the main body 1 with step 3. The fluid flow in the valve chamber 4 flows between the projections of both support members 8, 9. As the shape memory alloy, a copper-zinc-aluminum alloy having a reversible shape memory effect is used. When this element 7 is cooled below a predetermined temperature, it undergoes thermoelastic martensitic transformation and becomes shorter, and when heated above a predetermined temperature, it undergoes reverse transformation and becomes longer.
A titanium-nickel alloy may be used as the shape memory alloy.

It operates as follows. The temperature-responsive valve of the present invention is the first
It may be mounted upward or downward as shown in the figure, or it may be mounted horizontally. In FIG. 1, the valve chamber 4 is at a high temperature, the temperature-responsive element 7 is elongated, and the valve body 11 is elongated.
is seated on the valve seat 15 and the valve port 5 is closed. From this state, when the temperature of the valve chamber 4 gradually decreases due to heat radiation etc. and reaches a predetermined temperature, the element 7
undergoes martensitic transformation from the parent phase to the martensitic phase and shrinks to a memorized short shape. The valve body 11 is pushed by the pressure of the fluid on the inlet 2 side, and the valve seat 1
5 and open the valve port 5. Fluid flows from the inlet 2 through the valve port 5 into the valve chamber 4 and moves into the movable support member 8.
, around the temperature-responsive element 7 , and between the protrusions 91 of the fixed support member 9 , and flows out from the outlet 3 . During this time, when the temperature of the fluid increases and reaches a predetermined temperature, the element 7 reversely transforms from the martensitic phase to the parent phase and assumes the elongated shape that has been memorized. The valve body 11 is driven to seat on the valve seat 15 and the valve port 5 is closed. In this way, the valve opening is opened and closed according to the temperature of the fluid, and fluid below a predetermined temperature is automatically discharged.

In this example, since an alloy having a reversible shape memory effect is used, the temperature-responsive element automatically shortens at low temperatures. Therefore, even with low pressure fluid, the valve body can be pushed to open the valve port. Does not require bias spring for valve opening. On the valve chamber and outlet side of the main body, temperature-responsive elements, etc. are arranged closely, and the pipe diameter is made small to form a male thread, while on the inlet side, the inner diameter becomes larger because the valve seat member is attached with a tool, but this was taken into consideration. A female thread was formed. Therefore, it is easy to attach to piping, and the overall shape of the valve is extremely small. It is small and requires few materials, so it can be made economically.

(Special effects of the present invention) The valve chamber generally communicates with the atmosphere through the outlet and is at a considerably lower pressure than the inlet, and high-temperature water is re-evaporated in the low-pressure region, reducing the temperature to the saturation temperature. Therefore, the temperature inside the valve chamber does not exceed the set temperature at which the temperature-responsive element closes the valve port, that is, the maximum operating temperature, so the performance of the shape memory alloy does not deteriorate. Therefore, since precipitation phenomena and aging effects do not occur, performance does not deteriorate. Longer lifespan.

Since the valve body is placed on the outlet side with respect to the valve port, the pressure of the fluid can be used to open the valve, so bias springing can be omitted. In addition, even if the performance of the shape memory alloy deteriorates, the valve port will not be blocked.
Do not allow condensate to accumulate in steam-using equipment.

The valve body and valve stem can be economically manufactured from thin rod material, and the support member can be economically manufactured from sheet metal, such as by pressing.

Since the valve body, temperature-responsive element, etc. are arranged in the valve chamber on the outlet side with respect to the valve port, internal parts can be replaced without removing the valve from the piping.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the temperature-responsive valve of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a movable support member, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a fixed support member. 2...Inlet, 3...Outlet, 4...Valve chamber, 5...
Valve port, 6... Valve seat member, 7... Temperature responsive element made of shape memory alloy, 8... Moving support member, 9...
Fixed support member, 10... Valve stem, 11... Valve body, 1
9, 20... Guide hole, 83, 92... Temperature-responsive element receiving portion, 81, 91... Projection.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The main body 1 forms an inlet 2, a valve chamber 4 into which fluid from the inlet 2 flows in through a valve port 5, and an outlet 3 from which fluid from the valve chamber 4 flows out. The valve port 5 is seated on the valve seat 15 to close the valve port 5, and is moved away from the valve seat 15 to open the valve port 5.
A valve body 11 is arranged on the valve chamber 4 side, a valve stem 10 is fixed to the valve body 11, and a movable support member 8 is attached to the valve body 11 side portion of the valve stem 10 so as to move together with the valve stem 10. The part slides on the inner circumferential wall of the valve chamber 4, attaches the fixed support member 9 to the outlet 3 side part of the valve chamber 4, and fits the outlet 3 side part of the valve stem 10 into its guide hole 20 and slides thereon. , a temperature-responsive element 7 made in a coil shape of a shape memory alloy that undergoes thermoelastic martensitic transformation from the matrix phase to a martensitic phase when cooled to a predetermined temperature or below, and undergoes the reverse transformation when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. is arranged around the valve stem 10 with both ends against both support members 8 and 9, and the temperature responsive element 7 is placed in the valve chamber 4.
A temperature-responsive valve characterized in that the valve body 11 is driven by transforming according to the temperature of the fluid inside the fluid, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the valve body 11 is seated on a valve seat 15 and closes the valve port 5.