NO345781B1

NO345781B1 - Stop valve arrangement

Info

Publication number: NO345781B1
Application number: NO20201300A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Timo Risikko
Original assignee: Wet&Lock Oy
Priority date: 2019-12-12
Filing date: 2020-11-24
Publication date: 2021-08-02
Also published as: NO20201300A1; SE544088C2; FI20197157A1; FI128902B; SE2030344A1

Description

STOP VALVE ARRANGEMENT

FIELD

The present invention involves a stop valve arrangement for closing a fluid channel in a leakage situation.

BACKGROUND

Leakage damages, such as water damages in households, cause annually substantial financial losses.

Plurality of different ways to detect and handle leakages are known. Some solutions are based on detection and indication of the leakage without closing functionality. Solutions are also known, where, in addition to detection of the leakage, an attempt is made to close the leakage by means of ways based on electronic control and closed electric circuit. The disadvantage of these solutions is their complexity and dependence of feeding of electric energy.

Therefore, it is clear that there is a need to develop an improved solution for detection and prevention of leakage damages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the invention is to, at least partially, alleviate the abovementioned problem. This object is achieved by an invention that is defined in the independent claims. Some preferred embodiments have been disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention provides the advantage that detection and stopping of the leakages are quick and reliable. The electricity-free solution according to the invention is also significantly cheaper to implement than an electric stoppage arrangement.

FIGURES

The invention and its advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the accompanying figures, where

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a stop valve arrangement according to the invention; and

Figure 2 shows an advantageous embodiment of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments relate to an arrangement and a method for closing feeding of liquid in connection with a leakage associated with the liquid feeding system. Examples of the liquid feeding system include, in this context, a water feeding system in a real estate or in an industrial plant or a fuel feeding system in a vehicle. The leakage situation may be associated, for example, to a breakage of a pipe, hose, actuator or a container.

The embodiments relate to an arrangement having means for detecting the leakage, means for triggering feeding of gas in consequence of the leakage, and a stop valve for closing liquid feeding by means of an actuator coupled to the gas feeding system.

Figure 1 illustrates, on a coarse level, device parts according to the embodiments of the invention. The figure shows a feeding channel usable for feeding liquid, and a stop valve 110 mounted to the channel. The input portion leading to the input valve 110 has been designated by reference 100A, and the output portion has been designated by 100B. By means of the stop valve, the flow of the substance can be closed between the input and output portions.

It is obvious that the liquid feeding system includes other parts than the shown channel system 100A, 100B. A possible leakage in the feeding system can occur either in the channel system or in an actuator coupled to the channel system, for instance, such as in an dishwasher, pump, tap, or the leakage can be caused by a drain congestion or the leakage can occur in a container, such as a pulp digester that is connected to liquid feeding.

The embodiments also include a leakage detection apparatus 120 that is arranged to detect leakage in the substance feeding system. The leakage detection apparatus 120 can be separate from the substance feeding system 100 and is necessarily not directly connected to the substance feeding system. For instance, in connection of a residential property, the substance feeding system may refer to water feeding system whereby the leakage detection apparatus can be positioned on the floor of the residential property to detect possible water leakages from the substance feeding system. It is clear, that there may be one or more leakage detection apparatuses per substance feeding system.

The leakage detection apparatus may include a device component that loses its mechanical strength due to the influence of the substance. In connection with detection of the leakage, the mentioned device component may comprise, for instance, wood fibre pulp, starch, mineral, pulp, salt or some other similar substance that melts, dissolves or perishes under the effect of the liquid.

Figure 1 further shows the triggering device 130 of the protection activities, which triggering device is operatively connected to one or more leakage detection devices 120. The triggering device 130 may comprise a spring element, for instance, which spring element may be of coil spring or arch spring type. In the normal state, the spring device is tensioned, whereby potential energy is stored therein. The spring element is mechanically operatively connected to the device component that detects the leakage. This means that when the detection device component melts, gives way or dissolves due to the substance under detection, the spring and the potential energy stored therein release as kinetic energy of the spring.

Instead of a spring, the triggering device may be based on magnetism, for instance, such that the detection device material may be arranged to keep magnets having different polarity separated from each other, and when the material loses its mechanical strength, it allows the magnets to approach each other by releasing kinetic energy to a lever connected to one of the magnets.

In one embodiment, the triggering device 130 comprises a triggering arm operatively connected to the spring. The operative connection refers here to that upon release of the potential energy of the spring, the triggering arm receives kinetic energy either to the displacement direction of the spring, or to the opposite direction.

The triggering arm may be a straight bar, for instance. In one embodiment, one end of the triggering arm may be designed as a pointed spike, which is arranged to puncture the shell of a gas container belonging to the arrangement in order to release gas from the container. Alternatively, instead of a spike puncturing the gas container, triggering can also take place such that the triggering arm removes a locking pin or similar locking element from the pressure container thus releasing feeding of the gas.

The stop valve arrangement according to the embodiments further comprises gas feeding means 140, which are operatively connected to the triggering device 130 for releasing compressed air. The gas feeding means can comprise a container having compressed air or carbon dioxide stored therein.

Use of carbon dioxide is especially preferable as carbon dioxide reacts less than air to temperature, whereby the pressure in the pressure container holds better its stability enhancing the operational security of the device.

In the above-disclosed embodiment, where the triggering arm is designed as pointed from its other end, the arrangement is arranged to operate such that the triggering arm designed as pointed is arranged to puncture the shell of the gas container. Preferably, the shell of the gas container is made of metal to ensure long-lasting operation and mechanical strength. In another embodiment, the triggering arm is operatively connected to a valve or tap of the gas container in order to release compressed air or carbon dioxide from the container.

According to the embodiments, the gas is thus not active in the channel system in the normal operational status of the device, which thus refers to a situation where the leakage has not yet been detected and stop activities have not yet been activated. This provides significant advantages in the endurance of the system as the gas, in this normal situation, does not cause stress to the gas feeding channel system. The arrangement is also operationally more secure because it is not dependent on continuous pressure supply, but in the embodiments the gas is provided only when the leakage occurs.

Furthermore, by the solution according to the embodiments forming of condensed water is avoided, which risk is present in a continuously pressurized system. The condensed water, may convey, in a pressurized system, to the triggering element thus causing an erroneous triggering event.

Furthermore, in a continuously pressurized system, where the triggering element, such as salt or pulp element, which is continuously in connection with compressed air, may absorb humidity from the compressed air. Thereby the triggering element is prone to perishing and may not be able to hold compressed air and ensure tightness of the system. The triggering element may also petrify due to the effect of humidity and heat, which has detrimental effects, and causes uncertainty to the melting time of the triggering element.

In the solution according to the embodiments, where the pressure is initiated only after the detection of the leakage, there is no gas pressure on the triggering element, and the above-mentioned problems can be avoided.

Figure 1 shows a compressed air channel 142 connected to the compressed air supply means 140, to which compressed air channel the compressed air is lead to. Preferably it has been ensured by sealing, for instance, that the gas discharged from the gas container cannot, at least substantially, discharge towards the triggering means, if the triggering means has been implemented as a spike puncturing the gas container.

Figure 1 also shows a stop actuator 150 for closing the stop valve 110. In one embodiment, the stop actuator comprises a shutter arm that is arranged movable on the effect of the gas, which shutter arm is coupled to a tap belonging to the stop valve for turning the tap in a leakage situation. The embodiments are not, however, limited to that the closing of the stop valve 110 is done with a stop actuator separate from stop valve, but the closing functionality can also be implemented with device parts arranged within the stop valve and operable on the effect of the gas released into the system.

Even though Figure 1 shows one detection device, one triggering device, one gas provision means and one stop valve, plurality of variations can be formed out of these. It can be arranged, for instance, such that one detection device is connected to plurality of stop valves such that a leakage detected in one detection device closes liquid feeding a several positions of the feeding system or even in several separate feeding systems. Alternatively, it can be arranged such that there are several detection devices per one stop valve, whereby a leakage detected in any of those closes the stop valve in question.

Figure 2 shows one preferred embodiment of a method according to the embodiments.

In the initial step 200 of the method, there is arranged stoppage equipment in connection with a substance flow system in order to detect a leakage in the channel system of the flow system or in an actuator belonging to system. The equipment can also detect leakages on the floor that are caused by a drain blockage or rising of liquid level in an oil or pulp tank caused by a blockage.

In step 202, a leakage is detected in a flow system for a substance. The leakage can be detected, for instance, by a piece reacting with said substance. The piece can be, for instance, wood fiber -based material, such as pulp or paper pulp peeling off due to effect of liquid, or solid dissolving to liquid such as salt or some similar chemical compound.

In step 204, the closing functionality is triggered due upon effect of the detected leakage. The detection of the leakage according to step 202 and reacting to it such that the material used for detection loses its mechanical strength, can lead to release of potential energy of a spring operatively connected to the detection material. As for the spring, there can be operatively connected an arm or a similar actuator, whereby the release of the potential energy of the spring causes also movement of the arm.

In step 206, the movement of the spring/arm is utilized in releasing gas, such as compressed air from a compressed air container belonging to the system. In one embodiment, the arm comprises a spike for breaking the shell of the compressed air container and releasing compressed air from the aperture thereby formed. In the embodiments, the compressed air is thus stored in a container until it is needed due to the triggering actions.

In step 208, the released compressed air is lead along the compressed air channel. The compressed air channel can lead either to a stoppage actuator or directly to the stop valve. The stoppage actuator can comprise, for instance, a piston-type stoppage arm, which is arranged to move within the gas channel due to the effect of the gas. The stoppage arm can be operatively connected to a tap portion of the stop valve for instance in such a way that the movement of the stoppage arm is arranged to close the stop valve. The stop valve can be, for instance, a disc valve or a ball valve. In a stop valve arrangement operating without external stoppage actuator, the stop valve can itself comprise a pneumatic stoppage member.

In step 210, the feeding of compressed air in the compressed air channel leads to closing of the stop valve and feeding of the substance in the feeding channel. It is to be noticed that if the system has a liquid container and the leakage has been caused by a leakage in the container, the liquid channel to be closed can either be a channel leading to the container or leaving the container, or both channels can be closed. For instance, in a case of a fuel container it is essential to close the liquid channel leaving from the container, whereas in an industrial plant it is essential to close the channel leading to the container.

The device and method disclosed in the embodiments are for singleuse, that is, when the leakage has been detected and the stop activities have been performed, service activities need to carried on the equipment in order to make it again functional. The service activities can include, for instance, replacing the material used for detection with a new corresponding material, tensioning the spring again, and changing or refilling the compressed air container.

It is clear, that when the technology develops the inventive idea can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the embodiments disclosed above but can vary in the scope of the patent claims.

Claims

1. Stop valve arrangement, which is arranged in connection of a fluid channel to detect and stop a fluid leakage in the channel or in an actuator or container connected to the channel, which stop valve arrangement comprises means for detecting (120) the leakage, characterized in that the stop valve arrangement comprises triggering means (130) operatively connected to the leakage detection means for triggering feeding of gas, which triggering means (130) comprises a tensioned spring element and the leakage detection means (120) are operatively connected to the spring element such that when the leakage detection means (120) loses its mechanical strength, potential energy of the tensioning of the spring is arranged to be released, which stop valve arrangement further comprises to the triggering means operatively connected gas feeding means (140) for feeding and leading gas to a stop valve (110) comprised by the stop valve arrangement, and means for closing (150) the stop valve closing the fluid channel by means of the gas lead from the gas feeding means (140).

2. The stop valve arrangement according to claim, characterized in that the leakage detection means (120) comprises substance which loses its mechanical strength by melting, dissolving or perishing under the effect of the fluid.

3. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the triggering means (130) comprises a triggering arm operatively connected to the spring element for releasing gas from the gas feeding means (140).

4. The stop valve arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the triggering arm comprises a spike, and the gas feeding means (140) comprises a gas container, and the spike comprised by the triggering arm is arranged to puncture the gas container in order to release gas from the gas container.

5. The stop valve arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas feeding means (140) comprises a valve in connection of the gas container, and that the triggering arm is arranged to open the valve of the gas container to release gas from the gas container.

6. The stop valve arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas feeding means (140) comprises a detachable stoppage member in connection of the gas container, and that the triggering arm is arranged to detach said stoppage member to release gas from the gas container.

7. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a gas channel connected to the gas feeding means (140) for leading the released gas to the stop valve.

8. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the closing means (150) for closing the stop valve comprises a piston moving on the effect of the gas, which piston is arranged to turn a stoppage member of the stop valve for closing the stop valve.

9. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the gas comprises compressed air.

10. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the gas comprises carbon dioxide.

11. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a pulp container, a fuel or oil container or other container for storing fluid substance, and the leakage detection means (120) is arranged to detect a leakage situation is said container and to close a fluid channel leading to the container or leaving from the container.

12. The stop valve arrangement according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a real estate, the fluid channel is a water or drain pipe of the real estate, and that the leakage detection means (120) are arranged on the floor of the real estate to detect a leakage in a water or drain pipe.

13. A method to detect and stop a leakage in connection with a fluid channel, characterized by

detecting (202) the leakage by the help of a substance losing its mechanical strength under the influence of the fluid, in consequence of which triggering (204) a tensioned spring, and triggering upon the detected leakage feeding of gas into a gas feeding system, and opening (208) feeding of gas from a gas container by the help of a triggering arm (206) connected to the spring, and stopping (210) fluid flow in said fluid channel by a stop valve by help of an actuator connected to the gas feeding system.