Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/04—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only lift valves
  • F16K11/044—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only lift valves with movable valve members positioned between valve seats

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a three-way valve of the kind more clearly apparent from the preamble to claim 1.
• Three-way valves are used for variably combining two different incoming flows into a combined departing flow. They can also be used for variable division of an incoming flow into two separate departing flows.
• a three-way valve contains two co-axial valve openings co-acting with a common valve body having two seating surfaces or the like, which co-act with the valve openings. The distribution of the flow on the two-flow side tales place by moving the va l ve body between these openings. In these cases the flow proportions are also affected by the shape of the valve body, e.g. when it is provided with so-called flow contours, The flow characteristic of the three-way valve can thus be affected according to the prevailing need in this way, so that the characteristic does not necessarily vary rectal I nearly with the movement of the valve body.
• valve means for controlling the total flow This is usually achieved by mounting a constricting valve on the side of the three-way valve having the single line or a supply line coming from the outside, e.g. a heating supply pipe.
• a constricting valve means extra costs and considerably more work for adjusting such as a central heating system,
• the three-way valve is usually operated automatically with the aid of an operating means remotely controlled from a regulating and control unit co-acting with different temperature transducers, e.g. transducers outdoors, for room temperature, and on delivery pipes.
• the object of the present invention is to achieve a three-way valve, in which it is possible to provide regulation of the total flow through the valve while utilizing the valve body in the valve.
• a further object of the invention is to achieve a three-way valve, where such regulation can be provided with the aid of the ordinary operating means of the valve and in cooperation with its regulation and control unit.
• a three-way valve of the kind mentioned above is characterized above all by the distinguishing features disclosed in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
• Figure 2 is a detail view of the valve body pertaining to the valve in Figure 1 and set for maxiumum flow through the valve
• Figure 3 is the same as Figure 2 except that the valve body is set for the least possible flow through the valve
• Figure 4 is a partially sectioned detail view of a first embodiment of a three-way valve in accordance with the invention
• Figures 5, 6 are two views of a valve body in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention
• Figures 7-9 illustrate two further embodiments of the invention, with and without so-called "split range" implementation
• Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating how the flow characteristic of the valve varies with different settings of the valve body
• Figures 11, 12 are diagrams illustrating the relationsship between the movement of the valve stem and the distance between the parts of the valve body in a valve in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates a three-way valve 1 in accordance with the invention, with a first valve duct 2 and two other valve ducts 3 and 4.
• the first valve duct is the outlet duct and the second valve ducts are inlet ducts.
• the flow direction can be opposite to what is shown.
• Between the first valve duct 2 and the second valve ducts 3 and 4 are intermediate walls 10 , 11 with two co-axial through flow openings 12, 13 having valve seats 14, 15.
• a valve body 5 comprising two parts 6 and 7 is arranged in the openings. These parts 6, 7 have seating surfaces 15, 16 co-acting with said valve seats 14, 15.
• the valve body 5 is movable between the two valve seats 14, 15 with the aid of a valve stem 8 and a not more closely illustrated conventional operating, means 9.
• the means 9 can be of optional type, e.g. a hand operated valve wheel.
• the operating means comprises a motor driven valve stem operating device which is controlled by such as the regulation and control system IS of a heating system via a control line 19.
• At least one of the intermediate walls 10, 11 has a threaded insert 20 to enable assembling the valve body between the openings I ⁇ , 13.
• the insert 20 is solely illustrated in Figure 4 and is not screwed into place until the valve body 5 has been assembled.
• the insert includes the valve seats 14 and 15.
• the valve stem is assembled, in a manner not more closely shown, in the valve housing 1 with the aid of such as a bush 22 and seals 24, as well as means for fixing or changing its axial position.
• Both parts 6, 7 of the valve body 5 are mutually axially displaceable as is particularly shown in figures 2 and 3.
• the distance a between two points on the respective part 6,7 can be caused to vary between a least distance amax and a greatest distance amin.
• the least distance amax gives a maximum through flow capacity in both openings 12, 13 of the valve.
• Increasing the distance a gives increasing constriction of the through flow openings, and the greatest distance amin gives the least through flow capacity.
• Both parts 6, 7 are preferably movable between fixed setting positions, but can also be infinitely variably adjustable.
• the through flow capacity through the respective opening IS, 13 depends on the position of the valve body 5, and also on the shape of the respective part 6, 7 of the body.
• This shape determines how the through flow area, is varied for axial movement of the valve body.
• the upper valve body part 6 has an e l ip t ical or parabolic cross section.
• the lower body part 7 is cylindrical with a triangular recess 26.
• the upper body 6 and lower body 7 have cylindrical screening walls 28 and 29, respectively, with substantially parabolic or eliptical recesses 30.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a detail in a three-way valve in accordance with the invention, in a first emobodiment of an axially adjustable valve body 6, 7.
• the upper body part 6 comprises a cylindrical screening wall 28, a transverse wall 3S and a cylindrical wall 34 forming the middle portion of the valve body.
• the transverse wall has a passage 36 for the valve stem 8 and is also provided with a seal 38, e.g. an O ring, for sealing against the stem.
• the screening wall 28 has a sealing ring 40 intended for sealing engagement against the wall of the opening 12 in an insert 20.
• the wall 34 has arranged in an axial direction on its inner face a plurality of arresting recesses 42 of spherical segmental shape.
• the wall 34 has a sealing ring 44 intended for engagement against the cylindrical outside of the lower valve body part 7.
• the lower valve body part 7 comprises a cylindrical screening wall 29, a transverse Wall 46 and a cylindrical wall portion 48.
• the transverse) wall has a through evacuating orifice 50 and a fastening hole 52 for the valve stem B.
• the part 7 and the valve stem 8 have transverse holes for a pin 54, which keeps them together.
• the screening wall 29 includes a groove for a sealing ring 56, this ring being intended for sealing engagement against the wall of the through flow opening 13.
• the wall 48 also has a radial hole 58 accomodating a spring 60 and a ball 6 ⁇ . The end of the spring away from the ball engages against a bottom plate 64, which is fixed in the hole 58 with the aid of threads or a press fit.
• the hole 58 can be a blind hole with a solid bottom.
• the cylindrical wall 48 can extend right up to the valve stem fixing hole 52, the transverse wall 46 then coinciding with the central wall 48.
• the hole 58 can then be straight through, with the spring 60 engaging against the valve stem 8, as illustrated in figures 7-9.
• the three-way valve function is as follows.
• the valve body 5 is moved vertically by the valve stem 8 within the space .defined by the intermediate walls 10 and 11, With the aid of the arresting ball 62 and its accommodating arresting recesses 42 the upper valve body part 6 is caused synchronously to move with the valve stem in its movement. The movement of the valve body will then determine the flow distribution from, or to, the valve ducts 3 and 4.
• an abutment 66 in the upper end of the wall 34 is brought into engagement with an abutment surface 68 on the insert 20, alternatively on the intermediate wall 10.
• the arresting ball 6S will be pressed out of its arresting recess and transferred to the one nearest above this recess.
• the arresting recesses are given the alphabetical denotations a-g.
• the upper body part 6 will be moved downwards, until it reaches a lower end position 6 ' ' indicated by dashed lines.
• the end surface 70 of the wall 34 will then be brought into engagement against an abutment surface 72 on the intermediate wall 11, or on an insert arranged in this wall.
• the arresting ball 62 will be moved downwards one or more steps in a corresponding manner to a more downwardly positioned arresting recess 42.
• the downward movement of the body part 7 in relation to the body part 6 is restricted by a locking ring or circlip 74, arranged in a groove on the valve stem 8.
• the evacuation orifice 50 allows liquid to pass out from, and into, the space 76 defined by the transverse walls 32 and 46 when the body parts are mutually relatively displaced.
• the total through flow area and capacity of the, valve are varied by this displacement of the parts 6 and 7 of the valve body 5.
• the through flow capacity is expressed as the kv value.
• Figure 10 illustrates how the flow A through the valve duct 3 and the flow B through the valve, duct 4 vary in response to the position (stroke) of the body 5 and the mutually relative positions of its parts 6, 7.
• the instant position of the valve body is read off along the X axis and the through flow capacity kv through the openings 12, 13 along the Y axis.
• the flow through the upper opening 12 is shown by the curve A and the flow through the lower opening 13 is corresponded to by a plurality of curves Ba-Bg, which correspond to the different arresting positions of the body parts 6 and 7 in relation to each other.
• the instant flows A and B through the openings are obtained by going upwards from the position of the valve body on the X axis to the curve A and the applicable curve among the curves Ea-Bg (only a few are illustrated), the flows being read off on the Y axis.
• An example using dashed lines relating to the working range "d" is illustrated in the figure.
• the flows A and B can have different characteristics, and therefore the flow B is illustrated to the left in the figure for indicating scale graduation, which may possibly be different.
• the whole of the stroke range is thus available for all the curves Ba-Bg.
• the working ranges in question are denoted by double arrows a, d, g under the curves.
• valve body 5 When the valve body 5 is outside the working range in question, between it and an upper or lower end position 148 or 150, a liquid flow is obtained solely through one of the openings 13 or 12 according to the app l icab le curve Ba-Bg or the curve A.
• the total flow AB consists of the sum of the instantly read-off flows on the curve A and the applicable curve Ba- Bg. This sum is usually substantially constant for each of the arresting positions of the valve body parts.
• a changed arresting position i.e. an increased or decreased constriction, results in a substantial alteration of the total flow AB over the whole of the possible setting or working range for the valve body 5.
• the lower boundary value for the flow does not necessarily need to be zero, since the flow contour can be such that a certain minimum flow is always present. In such a case, no sealing ring 40 or 56 is used.
• Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of a valve body 5 in accordance with the invention with an upper part 6 and a lower part 7 attached to a valve stem 8.
• the upper part 6 comprises a body 78 and a closure portion 30 with an annular flange 82 having a seating surface 16.
• the body 78 has an arresting member 86 in the form of a spring, fastened in a conventional and optional way to the body 78. This member can also be formed in som other way, e.g. as a spring biassed detent member.
• the body 78 and the closure portion 80 are attached to the valve stem 8 with the aid of a threaded connection.
• the lower valve body part 7 has essentially the form of a cylinder with an upper connection portion 84 and a lower closure part 88. This part also has an annular flange 90 With a seating surface 17.
• the closure part 88 has a seat or base 92, in the form of an externally threaded disk, for a return spring 94, The other end of the spring engages against the underside of the body 78.
• An evacuating orifice 96 is arranged in the base 92 for communication with an intermediate space 98 accommodating the spring 94.
• the closure part 88 can have an optional shape, suitable for obtaining the desired flow contour. It ca n also include recesses corresponding to the recesses 26 or 30.
• the base can have the form of a ring, or arresting bosses projecting out from the closure part 88.
• the connection part 84 of the part 7 is provided with a glide sleeve 100, e.g. of plastics, which engages against the cylindrical outer wall of the space 76.
• the cylindrical inner wall of the connection portion engages against the similarly cylindrical body 78.
• a row of arresting projections 102 are arranged on the inner wall, and there are return and guide grooves in it for the arresting member 86, which is best seen in the detail view of Figure 6. In this figure there is seen a row of arresting projections 102, and to one side of the row a return and accommodating groove 104 for the arresting member 86.
• a guide groove 106 for a guide means 108, e.g. a cylindrical projection.
• the guide groove 106 has sloping deflection surfaces 110, 112, and at its lower end it has an open insertion groove 114 open to the space 98.
• a change in the relative setting positions of both valve body parts 6, 7 is achieved in the following way.
• the valve body is moved downwards with the aid of the valve stem 8 until the seating surface 17 comes into engagement with the valve seat 15.
• a continued downward movement only moves the upper part 6, the arresting member 86 being displaced downwards past one or several arresting projections 102 to a new engagement position.
• the arresting member 86 is arrested behind the arresting projection nearest above, and the valve parts maintain the obtained relative mutual position until the valve body is once again taken towards the valve seat 15 and a new adjustment takes place.
• the embodiment according to figures 7 and 8 substantially corresponds to the one in Figure 4.
• a cylindrical wall 28 and a cylindrical wall 34 of greater Diameter there is here a single cylindrical wall 124 having the same diameter throughout us length.
• a circlip 126 which forms a shoulder 66.
• the circlip can be finally fitted by inserting a tool through the valve duct 2, and thus there is not required any threaded insert 20 in this embodiment.
• This embodiment further lacks an evacuation orifice 50 and sealing ring 44. Liquid passage to, and from, the space 76 takes place via a gap 128 between the cylindrical wall 124 and the valve body part 7, and particularly through the empty arresting recesses 42.
• auxiliary valve body is used to reduce the range of uncertain adjustment.
• Such an auxiliary valve body 130 is illustrated in Figure 9, and has a sealing ring 132 arranged at a central opening 134 with a valve seating 136 in the valve body part 6.
• the auxiliary valve body 130 is disposed on a tubular shaft 138 which surrounds the valve stem 8.
• the shaft has an outwardly directed flange 140, which is retained with a given clearance adjacent the valve bushing 142 by a member 144.
• the valve body is pressed downwards by a spring 146. Apart from the main flow within the opening 12 past the valve body part 6, a minimum flow passes the auxiliary valve body 130 via the opening 134 and further through the gap 128.
• Positional alteration takes place in this case by the valve body being pulled up until its auxiliary valve body closes, and further so that the flange 140 assumes a position 140', indicated by dashed lines, when it is in engagement against the bush 22. Further movement upwards of the valve body causes the arresting body 62 to assume a new arresting position 42 corresponding to a total larger through flow capacity. Alteration of the arresting position of the valve body parts 6, 7 in the opposite direction takes place in the same way as in Figure 4.
• both parts 6 and 7 of the valve body 5 may be varied in many different ways within the scope of the invention.
• the arresting member 86 may be arranged on the part 7 and the arresting projections on the part 6.
• the guide groove 106 and guide means 108 can also be optionally placed on one or other valve body part and do not need to connect up to arresting means and arresting projections.
• arresting means and arresting projections directed in the opposite direction as compared with Figure 5.
• the valve stem 8 must pass through a passage in the part 6 and be fastened in the part 7.
• the return spring 94 is then disposed in the space 76 between the closure part 80 and the upper surface 122 on the connection portion 84.
• the arresting member and arresting projections can be placed optionally on the respective parts 6 and 7.
• the evacuation orifice 50 or 96 can be optionally arranged in the lower valve body part 7, or in the upper part 6. As illustrated in the figures, the evacuation orifice can be axially directed towards one of the valve ducts 3 or 4, but can also be radially directed towards the valve duct 2. It should be emphasized here that the return and accommodation groove 104 as well as the insertion groove 114 and guide groove 106 also serve as evacuation openings between the spaces 76 and 98.
• the relative movements between the parts 6 and 7 in Figure 5 are illustrated in the diagram in Figure 11.
• the X axis here illustrates the stroke of the valve stem for relative displacement of both valve parts.
• the relative displacement only takes place in one direction and is followed by a jumping return to the initial position. If the valve stem is taken backwards and forwards after having reached the reversing position, without having reached the return position, when the guide means comes into engagement with the opposing upper deflecting surface, only the upper valve opening will be affected by such a. movement of the stem.
• Figure 11 illustrates the relationship between the stroke of the stem movement and the distance a between two points on the parts 6 and 7 of the valve body 5.
• the greatest distance here is denoted by amin, since this distance corresponds to the least total through flow area of the three-way valve.
• the least distance Is denoted by amax,
• Figure 12 is a corresponding diagram for a valve with a valve body essentially corresponding to the one in Figure 5, but where the arresting projection and arresting member are directed in the opposite direction. Changing the arresting position takes place there when the valve seating surface 16 comes against the upper valve seat 14.
• the movement of the body parts takes place in steps in both directions.
• the distance a will thus accompany a stair-like curve in both directions without any sudden return.
• the movement in one direction takes place here by utilizing one abutment surface and in the other direction by utilizing the opposing abutment surface.
• valve stem may be connected to the lower valve body part 7 from below, it then not having to pass through the upper part 6. In this case no passage 36 for the valve stem 8 is required. However, it is possible to allow an extension of the valve stem to pass through the part 6 to enable the arrangement of a circlip 74.
• the incoming valve duct on the stem side always comes from one side.
• an abutment surface on the valve body is brought into engagement against an abutment surface on the valve housing.
• These surfaces can in principle have an optional shape, as valve seats and corresponding seating surfaces or abutments and abutment surfaces or some other implementation, e.g. projections or protruding abutments.
• the arresting members and the arresting projections or recesses co-acting therewith can have optional conventional embodiment.
• they can include an arresting body with at least partially spherical shape, which is actuated by or fastened to a spring.
• the arresting body can also have a triangular or other shape for co-acting with correspondingly formed arresting recesses or projections.
• the arresting member can also be a spring attached to one valve body part or it can be a sprung tongue integral with one valve body part.
• a three-way valve in accordance with the invention can to advantage be used in a central treating system and be remotely operated with the aid of an operating means 9 from a control or regulating unit in an operating panel.
• the operating means must include sensing means for sensing alteration of the two parts of the valve body and for sending a signal to the control and regulating unit.
• This unit must namely have information as to the setting of the three-way valve, and which of the kv curves a-g in Figure 10 is the one to reckon with, for giving a correct instruction for setting the valve.
• a valve in accordance with the invention can be provided with optional, closely spaced arresting positions to obtain the desired kv curves for the three-way valve in accordance with the invention.
• the arresting means can have a friction surface which is pressed against a friction surface on the other valve body part.
• the arresting means can, for example, include a permanent magnet, while the opposing arresting surface is manufactured from ferromagnetic material.
• the placing and/or total absence of different seals or the like, 24, 33, 40, 44, 56, 100, 132 on one or other (the opposing) sealing surface is optional and does not affect the principle or function of the invention.
• the flow contours can be optionally formed on the valve body parts, e.g. to include more than two V ports 26.
• the three-way valve in accordance with the invention is not restricted to co-acting with a motor driven operating means 19, and the latter can be of optional kind, e.g. the valve can he hand operated.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lift Valve (AREA)
• Servomotors (AREA)
• Multiple-Way Valves (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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Cited By (5)

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Citations (2)

• 1987
  • 1987-03-05 SE SE8700924A patent/SE456689B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1988
  • 1988-03-02 WO PCT/SE1988/000093 patent/WO1988006690A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1988-03-02 EP EP19880902587 patent/EP0418222A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1988-03-02 AU AU14243/88A patent/AU1424388A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1988-11-01 DK DK606888A patent/DK163598C/da active
• 1989
  • 1989-09-05 FI FI894172A patent/FI88821C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (2)

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