0L030MIENT0 PORO ONE VOLUME OF GOS Q SIMILOR AND METHOD PORO CONECTOR TWO PORTIONS OF ACCOMMODATION BETWEEN
DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY
The invention relates to a housing for a gas valve or the like, said housing comprises a first housing portion, which is connected to a second housing portion with the interposition of a
If) flexible sealing element, whereby each housing portion is provided with a substantial circular contact surface, against which the sealing oper- anent rests. Such a housing can also be used for components for fluid control and the application of fluid power, where there may be a pressure difference between the space within the housing and the ambient atmosphere. Accordingly, the term "gas valve" as used herein, should be considered as an example of such a component. A housing of this type comprises two or more housing portions that together must form a liquid-tight or gas-tight wrapper for the component. It is therefore very important that the sealing element be able to provide an adequate seal on the portions
accommodation. Odernás, that seal must be reliable, that is, also when it is not adapted by an expert, the seal must satisfy all the requirements for which it will be done. With a normal seal, with which two contact surfaces between which a flexible sealing element is provided, are pressed together, the magnitude of the pressure drop determines the quality of the seal and it is commonly difficult to ensure that The required pressure force is applied, in particular when the adaptation operation must be carried out without the use of special tools.The sealing element and / or any one or both contact surfaces may be configured such that only a part of a The contact surface is in contact with a part of the surface of the sealing element at the location on the contact surfaces, whereby the two contact surfaces are kept apart a predetermined distance by means of connecting means, so that only There is a local deformation in the part of the sealing element that is located between the contact surfaces. The contact element is not completely filled with parts of the sealing element, so that the contact surfaces are pressed together with relatively little force, whereby the sealing element deforms only locally. Small differences in the spacing between the contact surfaces can easily be compensated by means of the sealing element, so that there will hardly be any variations in the pressing force of the contact surfaces. DE-C-813.161 shows two housing portions with separate contact surfaces apart and a sealing element which is a membrane, EP-fl-0 297 260 discloses a fluid control component having a first portion of housing which is connected to a second housing portion with the interposition of a flexible sealing element, whereby each housing portion is provided with a substantially circular contact surface, with which the sealing element abuts. The sealing element is a membrane and the two housing portions are held together by the clamping force of an annular clamping means which engages both housing portions from the outside. The object of the invention is to provide an accurate fixation of the two housing portions together, which can be carried out in a reliable and simple manner, whereby an adequate and reliable sealing can be achieved between two portions of the locker. To achieve that goal, the two housing portions are kept apart at a predetermined distance by means of methyl connectors comprising a clamping connection, with which a spring fastener engages parts of said first housing portion, as well as parts of the second housing portion, thereby securing said portions relative to each other. Preferably, said fastener consists of a substantially annular metal rod having a circular shape and capable of abutting against radially oriented detent surfaces of the first and second housing portions. According to another aspect of the invention, the first housing portion is provided near its contact surface with a groove that is open in radial outer direction, in which said fastener can be provided, said groove being provided in a number of locations with a depression extending behind said fastener, within which connecting portions of the other housing portion may extend, said connecting portions having a hook-shaped part that is capable of moving * the fastener against its force of spring when the housing portions are brought into contact with one another, and which is provided with a detent surface that abuts against said fastener, thus preventing the housing portions from moving. In this way the maximum spacing between the contact surfaces is determined, while the contact surfaces are maintained in their relative positions by means of the force of the sealing element pressing on the contact surfaces apart. This structure of the fastener connection will be explained in more detail by means of a modality. In order to be able to position the two housing portions precisely relative to each other, the connecting parts are provided, according to another aspect of the invention, with a cylindrical retainer surface on its radial inner side, said retainer surface surrounds a cylindrical surface of said a housing portion in the interconnected position of the housing portions. The invention further relates to components that are provided for the above described housing and to a method for connecting two housing portions to each other, as will be defined in the claims. Other aspects of the invention that can be used separately, as well as in combination with one another, are described with reference to the figures and as defined in the claims. In the following, some embodiments of a housing of a gas valve will be described by way of illustration with reference to the drawing. Figure 1 is a sectional view of the gas valve; Figure 2 is a side view of the gas valve; Figure 3 is a plan view of the a < Figure 4 is an exploded view of the gas valve; Figure 5 shows an alternative valve body; Figure 6 shows a detail indicated with VI in Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a gas valve: Figure 8 shows a detail indicated with HIV in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the valve body of the second embodiment: Figure 10 shows a detail indicated with X in Figure 9; Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the valve body of the second embodiment; and Figure 13 shows a detail of another modality. The figures are merely schematic representations of the modalities, where the similar parts have similar numbers in the different figures. The figure shows the different parts of the gas valve in sectional view. The gas valve comprises a housing consisting of a valve housing 1 and a cover 2. The valve housing 1 comprises a gas inlet 3 and a gas outlet 4. Both openings are provided with connecting means, so that the piping gas can be connected to them. In the illustrated embodiment said means consist of internally threaded openings 3 and 4 so that the end of an externally threaded pipe can be screwed into said openings. By properly selecting the proper form of the screw thread for screwing or interposing a sealing element, a gas-tight seal can be obtained. In the position of the gas valve shown in Figure 1, said gas valve is closed, and in that position a valve member 5 bears against the seat of the valve 6. The valve seat is formed in such a way that the resistance to gas is minimal in the open position of the valve. Preferably the valve seat 6 is designed to have a relatively long radius, and a valve member 5 forms a seal thereon in such a way that the annular commuting surface between the valve member 5 and the seat of valve 6 rests on a conical surface. The valve member 5 is connected to a membrane 7, which is fixed between the valve housing 1 and the cover 2 at its outer edge. The membrane 7 is flexible to a point such that the valve member 5 can be lifted out of the seat of the valve 6, for a free passage of the gas from the gas inlet 3 towards the gas outlet 4 is carried out. The housing 1 is provided with guide bars 8 (only one is shown), which guide the valve member 5 during its movement. In the embodiment according to figure 1 the lower side of the membrane 7 is in direct contact with the gas inlet 3, so that the pressure of the gas supply prevails on this side of the membrane. A control chamber 9 is formed on the other side of the membrane 7; the control chamber 9 is connected to the gas inlet by means of a regulating channel 10. The cover 2 is also provided with a connector opening 11 by means of which said control chamber can be connected to a control unit. control (not shown). Said control unit (not shown) is capable of closing the connector opening 11 so that gas can not pass through the connector opening 11, while said control unit is also capable of allowing the gas to escape from the chamber of gas. control 9 by means of the control opening 11 to open the gas valve. The operation of the gas valve shown in Figure 1 is as follows. As long as the passage of the gas through the connecting opening 11 is blocked, the gas valve will be closed because the valve member 5 bears against the seat of the valve 2. The pressure of the gas supply at the inlet of gas 3 is therefore greater than the gas pressure at the gas outlet 4. The pressure of the gas supply prevails not only at the gas inlet 3 on the inner side of the membrane 7, but also at the the control chamber 9, which is connected to said gas inlet by means of a regulating channel 10. As long as the connecting opening 11 is closed, the result of the forces exerted on the membrane and the valve member will be directed downward, as a result of which the gas valve remains closed. The gae valve can be opened allowing the gas to escape from the control chamber 9 through the connector opening 11, to which the gas pressure in the control chamber drops. The result of the force exerted on the membrane and the valve member will be directed upwards. The amount of gas that can be supplied by means of the regulating channel 10 will therefore be insufficient to accumulate a sufficient pressure in the control chamber 9 so that the pressure of the gas supply remaining on the lower side of the membrane 7 will cause the gas valve to remain open until the gas discharge through the connector opening 11 is stopped, whereby a pressure will accumulate in the control chamber 9 again as a result of the gas being supplied to the control chamber 9 by means of the regulating channel 10, which will cause the gas valve to close. The control unit q? E connected to the connector opening 11 can be a magnetic valve which is connected directly to the connector opening 11. It is also possible for many gas valves to be controlled by means of a central control unit, - what a gas pipe to said central control unit is connected in the connector opening 11. Figure 2 is a side view of the gas valve according to figure 1, and figure 3 is a plan view to Of the same. The valve member 5 is fixed to the membrane 7 because the membrane 7 is placed in a radiating oxtepor slot of the valve member 5. The membrane 7 is at that point provided with a circular hole in the central part thereof, whereby the board of said hole extends into the slot 12. The placement of the membrane 7 in the slot 12 can take place by deformation of the membrane 7, which is made of a flexible material. The hole in the membrane 7 can also be large enough to make it possible to place the valve member 5 without the said hole expanding, whereby the valve member 5 is provided on the membrane 7 with certain play. . Since the fixing of the membrane 7 between the valve body 1 and the cover 2 does not take place on a flat surface but slightly oblique, that is, according to the surface of a cone, the membrane has a certain inclination, which it will keep the valve in its closed position when there is no pressure difference inside the gas valve. The membrane 7 is positioned between the valve housing 1 and the cover 2 with a certain clearance, ie the distance between the valve housing 1 and the cover 2 is slightly larger than the thickness of the membrane. As shown in greater detail in Figure 13, the fixation and sealing of the membrane can take place, since the valve housing 1 and / or the cover 2 are provided with one or more edges 13, 14, which are slightly pressed into the surface of the membrane 7. In this way an adequate fixation is obtained li
and a suitable sealing with a predetermined position of the cover 2 with respect to the valve housing 1, without the cover 2 and the valve housing 1 being pressed together with some force. The cover 2 is connected to the valve housing 1 by means of a fastener 15; the fastener 15 consists substantially of an elastic annular round bar. The fastener 15 is placed in a radially outer groove IB of the housing 1, the groove 16 comprises segments of a circle, as shown in particular in Figure 4. The fastener 15 is retained within said groove 15, with which at least one side wall of the groove 16 forms a radial detent surface. The cover 2 is provided with a connecting part 1 7, which is divided equally in three segments of a circle, the connecting part 17 can extend behind the fastener 15 when the cover 2 is mounted on the valve housing 1 The connecting part 17 has a hook-shaped part 12 comprising a tilting surface, which is capable of pushing the fastener 15 outwards against its spring force when the cover 2 is being pressed on the valve body 1. The connecting part 17 further comprises a radially oriented detent surface, the caul which bears against the fastener 16 in the position in which the cover 2 is mounted on the valve body 1. On the inner side the tree parts of the part connector 17 forms parts of a cylindrical retainer surface that is capable of abutting against corresponding parts of the valve body l so that the cover is properly positioned with r The valve body 1 is thus mounted on the valve body 1 in a simple but highly effective manner, in which the fastener 15 is first mounted on the valve housing 1, after which the valve body 1 is mounted on the valve housing 1. which cover 2 can be moved in position and closed there. Other, the cover 2 can be removed from the valve housing 1 in a simple manner by removing the fastener 15 by means of a screwdriver, after which the cover 2 can be detached from the valve housing 1. Holes 18 are provided for making it possible to remove the fastener 15, into which the end of a screwdriver can be inserted. With the fastener connection described above, the cover 2 can be mounted on the valve body 1 and can be removed therefrom by hand, without using special tools while maintaining a proper seal. The sealing action of the sealing element 7 will be retained as a result of the small amount of deformation of the same. It is apparent in particular from Figure 1 that the use of the valve member 5 makes it possible to place the valve seat centrally in the valve housing in the desired location, while the membrane 7 can be placed near the cover 2 for get a camera of contr-ol that has a minimum volume. The use of the valve member also makes it possible to carry out a flow of optimum passage of the gas, because there is a high degree of freedom to select the shape of the valve seat. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the valve member 5 and the membrane 7, wherein the membrane 7 has a circumferential edge formed with ribs 21, as shown in a larger scale in Figure 6. Said ribs 21 extend over each side of the membrane 7 and they are inclined outwards from the membrane, as it is observed anversively. The ribs 21 are thus tilted in the direction of the central axis of the valve member 5, whereby a gas pressure inside the valve body 1 will press the ribs 21 against parts of the valve body 1 and cover 2 in such a manner that a seal be formed when the edge of the membrane 7 is present between said parts. This will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 8. Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the gas valve, wherein the valve body, which comprises a membrane 7, as well as a valve member 5, is integrally made of the same material, preferably plastic material. The part of the valve body forming the membrane 7 has relatively thin walls to obtain the required flexibility, while the part of the valve body forming the valve member 5 has a thinner wall and is also provided with reinforcement ribs 20. Figure 8 is a detailed view of the manner in which the circumferential edge of the membrane 7 is clamped between the valve housing 1 and the cover 2. The edge of the membrane 7 thus fits into a chamber which is between the valve housing 1 and the cover 2, whereby four ribs 21, "on each side of the membrane near the edge of the membrane 7, are slightly deformed, so that an adequate fixing The membrane is obtained. The membrane 7 is therefore confined with a certain inclination. Since the ribs 21 are inclined outside the membrane 7 as seen in transverse view, and extend obliquely in the direction of the valve member 5 (see FIG. 10), the deformation (during the fixing will be such that the action The sealing of the ribs 21 will be reinforced as a result of the pressure of the gas inside the valve body.The force with which the valve housing 1 and the cover 2 are pressed together can remain limited, so that the connection of the housing valve 1 and cover 2 can be made manually without using any auxiliary means In addition to this, the sealing action is not sensitive to small variations in the spacing between valve housing 1 and cover 2, as a result of which the fastener connection described above can be used * without any problems Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the valve body 5, 7, showing that at least part of the membrane 7 is substanc almente COMEA in its stable form. Because the valve body 5, 7 has more or less this stable shape in the closed condition of the valve, it has become apparent in practice that no additional means such as guide rods 8 are needed to guide the valve member. 5. The membrane 7 provides the guide of the valve member 5 during the closing of the valve. Figure 10 is a view of the edge of the membrane 7, showing the ribs 21, two on each side of the membrane. The ribs 21 are preferably oriented and inclined obliquely, as viewed transversely. Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the valve body 5, 7 wherein the regulating channel 10 and the ribs 20 can be clearly distinguished. The embodiments described above should be considered as examples, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art who have studied the invention, that many variations in the use of the invention are possible.