WO2000055532A1

WO2000055532A1 - Valve assembly including shut-off valve unit and magnetic key therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2000055532A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dror Benatav
Original assignee: Ben-Ro Industry And Development Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-03-15
Filing date: 2000-03-13
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: AU3188200A; IL128998A0

Abstract

A valve assembly is provided, which includes a shut-off valve (2) including a valve housing (20) enclosing and hermetically seating a valve member (29) movable to open and closed positions, and a magnetic operator (35) including a permanent magnet (35) for moving the valve member to its open and closed positions; and a magnetic key (4) external of the valve housing (20) and magnetically coupleable to the magnetic operator (35) therein to move the valve member (29) in a first direction to its open position, and in a second direction to its closed position. The magnetic key (4) includes a key housing for application to the valve unit; a permanent magnet (35) within the key housing for magnetically coupling the magnetic key (4) to the magnetic operator within the valve housing (20) and a magnet carrier member (51) carrying the permanent magnet (35) and movably mounted within the key housing such that, whereby the magnetic member (51) indicates, by its position, when the opening and closing movements of the valve member have been completed.

Description

VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SHUT-OFF VALVE UNIT AND

MAGNETIC KEY THEREFOR

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a valve assembly including a shut-off valve and an external magnetic key for operating the valve unit externally of the valve housing. The invention is particularly useful with respect to shut-off valves included in air conditioning systems, and is therefore described below with respect to the application, but it will be appreciated that the invention, and the various features thereof, could be used in many other applications as well. There are many applications wherein it is desirable to enclose the working parts of a valve within a hermetically-sealed housing which is not penetrated by any physical member for actuating the valve. By thus eliminating the need for physically penetrating the housing, the operating members within the valve housing can be constructed with relatively few and simple parts which can be produced in volume and at low cost. Such valves are particularly useful in air conditioning systems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve assembly of the foregoing type which includes a hermetically-sealed housing and which permits the valve to be operated by a magnetic key applied externally of the housing. A further object of the invention is to provide such an assembly wherein the magnetic key provides a clear indication when the valve has been moved to its fully closed or fully opened positions. A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic key, and also a shut-off valve, particularly useful in such assemblies and especially useful in air conditioning systems. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve assembly, comprising: a shut-off valve including a valve housing enclosing and hermetically sealing a valve member movable to open and closed positions, and a magnetic operator including a permanent magnet for moving the valve member to its open and closed positions; and a magnetic key external of the valve housing and magnetically coupleable to the magnetic operator therein to move the valve member in a first direction to its open position, and in a second direction to its closed position; characterized in that the magnetic key includes: a key housing for application to the valve unit; a permanent magnet within the key housing for magnetically coupling the magnetic key to the magnetic operator within the valve housing; and a magnet carrier member carrying the permanent magnet and movably mounted within the key housing such that: when the magnetic key has completed the movement of the valve member in the first direction to its open position, continued movement of the magnetic key in the first direction causes the magnet carrier member to be moved to a first position with respect to the key housing; and when the magnetic key has completed the movement of the valve member in the second direction to its closed position, continued movement of the magnetic key in the second direction causes the magnet carrier member to be moved to a second position with respect to the key housing, whereby the magnet carrier member indicates, by its position, when the opening and closing movements of the valve member have been completed.

As will be described more particularly below, such an assembly permits the shut-off valve to be constructed of relatively simple and inexpensive parts which can be produced and assembled in volume and at low cost.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel magnetic key as set forth above for use in opening and closing a shut-off valve.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel shut-off valve, comprising: a valve housing, and a stem which is rotated in a first direction to open the valve, and in the opposite direction to close the valve; the shut-off valve including a main valve member which is opened and closed by the stem, and a pilot valve which is automatically opened by the stem before the main valve when the stem is rotated in the first direction from its closed position to equalize the pressure applied to the main valve, and which is also automatically closed before the main valve when the stem is rotated in the opposite direction from its open position.

Such a shut-off valve also permits the valve to be of a relatively simple and inexpensive construction since it effects both the opening and the closing of the valve in two stages, first operating a pilot valve to equalize the pressure on the main valve, and then operating the main valve.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating one form of assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, including a shut-off valve, and an external magnetic key for operating the valve;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view along line 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a 3-dimensional exploded view of the shut-off valve unit;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shut-off valve unit in assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the shut-off valve unit showing the main valve and pilot valve in their closed conditions;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 5 but showing the pilot valve in its open condition; FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the main complements of the external magnetic key in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the condition of the magnetic key in the open position of the valve;

FIG. 9 is a corresponding view illustrating the magnetic key in the closed position of the valve; and

FIG. 10 is a corresponding view illustrating the magnetic key after the valve has been moved to its closed position and the magnetic key is continued to be moved in the direction of the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The Overall Assembly

FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate a valve assembly comprising a shut-off valve unit generally designated 2 which includes a hermetically-sealed housing, and ι an external magnetic key unit, generally designated 4, which may be used for actuating the valve unit 2 to its open or closed position from the outside of the valve unit without penetrating into the interior of the valve unit The valve unit 2 is more particularly illustrated in FIGS 3 - 6, whereas the external magnetic key unit 4 is more particularly illustrated in FIGS 7 - 10 lo The Shut-Off Valve Unιt 2

As shown particularly in FIG 4, the shut-off valve unit 2 includes a housing 20 of generally cylindrical configuration defining a central passageway 21 One end 22 of housing 20 serves as the inlet into the valve unit, and the opposite end 23 serves as the outlet As shown in FIG 2, the inlet end 22 of the housing is i3 adapted to be hermetically-sealed to an inlet tube 24 in any suitable manner, as by brazing 25, and similarly the outlet end 23 of the housing is adapted to be fixed to an outlet tube 26 in any suitable hermetically-sealing manner

The inner surface of housing 20 is formed with an annular seat 27 of conical configuration engagable by an annular sealing ring 28 carried on the outer

20 surface of a valve member 29 movable within housing 20 Valve member 29 is formed with an axial bore 30 closable by a rounded tip 31 of a valve stem 32 movable axially within the housing 20

The opposite end 33 of stem 32 is threadedly received within a bridge 34 extending transversely across the inlet end 22 of housing 20 A permanent

25 magnet 35 is carried by stem 32 between its threaded end 33 and its rounded tip 31 at the opposite end of the stem

As will be described more fully below, magnet 35 serves as a magnetic operator, cooperable with the external magnetic key 4, for moving stem 32 upwardly (FIG 4) to open the valve, and also for moving it downwardly to close

30 the valve (FIG 2) As will also be described below, valve member 29 and its outer sealing ring 28 serves as the main valve member cooperable with conical seat 27 to open and close the main valve.

Tip 31 at one end of stem 32 cooperates with bore 30 through valve member 29 to define a pilot valve which is automatically opened and closed before the opening and closing, respectively, of the main valve. For this purpose, stem 32 is coupled to valve member 29 by a lost-motion coupling constituted of an annular flange 36 formed at the end of the stem 32 just inwardly of its tip 31 , and a shoulder 37 formed in the corresponding end of the valve member 29. Shoulder 37 is located such that during the upward movement of stem 32, the stem traverses a small distance before its flange 36 engages the under side of shoulder 37 to raise the valve member 29 away from the valve seat 27; and similarly, when stem 32 is lowered, a limited movement of the valve stem is permitted before the rounded tip 31 of the valve stem engages the mouth of bore 30 of valve member 29 first to close the pilot valve, and then to press the valve member firmly against the valve seat 27.

The External Magnetic Key 4

The external magnetic key unit 4 is a separate unit from the shut-off valve 2 and may be manually applied to the valve unit whenever it is desired to open or close the valve. The basic components of the magnetic key 4 are shown in FIG. 7, wherein it will be seen that it includes a housing 40 constituted of four side walls 41 , 42, 43, 44, closed at one end by the end wall 45, and open at the opposite end. The two opposed side walls 43, 44 are formed with slots 43a, 44a, starting from the open end of the housing, which slots are of a width slightly larger than the diameter of the valve housing 20 to receive the valve housing when the magnetic key unit is applied thereto.

The opposed end walls 41 , 42 are formed with a first pair of aligned openings 46 for receiving a rod 47 for pivotally mounting one end of a U-shaped mounting member 48, via a bore 48a therethrough, with respect to the magnetic key housing 40. The opposite ends of the U-shaped mounting member 48 are formed with parallel legs 49 having aligned holes 49a for receiving a second rod 50 which pivotally mounts one end of a U-shaped carrier member 51 via a bore 51a therethrough. The opposite ends of carrier member 51 are formed with parallel legs 52, 53, each carrying a permanent magnet 54, 55, of cylindrical configuration

The assembled condition of the magnetic key unit 4 is shown in FIG 2, wherein it will be seen that the two magnets 54, 55 are mounted by their respective legs 52, 53, in spaced relationship to each other so as to straddle the valve unit 2 when received within slots 43a, 44a of the magnetic key unit When the magnetic key unit is so applied, the two permanent magnets 54, 55 are aligned with the permanent magnet of magnetic operator 35 carried by stem 32 of the valve unit 2 so as to be magnetically coupled to that operator Thus, as shown in FIG 2, the two sides of the magnetic operator 35 are of polarities opposite to the polarities of the permanent magnets 54, 55 which they face, so as to produce a force of attraction between the two permanent magnets 54, 55 and the magnetic operator 35 FIG 2 illustrates permanent magnet 54 as of South polarity, and the left side of magnetic operator 35 facing it as of North polarity, whereas the right side of magnetic operator 35 is of South polarity, and permanent magnet 55 facing it is of North polarity Accordingly, the rotation of the magnet key unit 4 in one direction will, by the magnetic coupling between magnets 35, 54 and 55, cause the stem 32 within the valve housing 20 to follow in the same direction OPERATION

The above-described valve assembly operates in the following manner It will be assumed that the valve unit 2 is installed with the stem 32 in its fully-closed, lowermost position In this condition, the rounded tip 31 of the stem closes the mouth of bore 30 in the main valve member 29 (thereby closing the pilot valve), and sealing ring 28 of the main valve member 29 is firmly seated against the conical seat 27 (thereby closing the main valve), as shown in FIGS 2 and 5

When it is desired to open the valve, the magnetic key unit 4 is applied to the valve unit 2 via the slots 43a, 44a of the magnetic key unit These slots are located and dimensioned such that they align the two permanent magnets 54, 55 of the key unit with the magnetic operator 35 of the valve unit, as shown in FIG 2

The magnetic key unit 4 is then rotated to align the South pole 54 with the North pole of the magnetic operator 35 and the North pole 55 of the magnetic key 4 with the South pole of the magnetic operator, as shown in FIG. 2.

The magnetic key unit is then rotated, with stem 32 magnetically coupled to the key unit, in the direction to cause the threaded end 33 of the stem 32 to rise within the valve housing 20. Because of the lost-motion connection between stem 32 and valve member 29, the initial rising movement of the stem first moves the rounded tip 31 of the stem away from the mouth of bore 30 of the valve member 29, thereby opening the pilot valve. This produces an equalization of the pressure on the opposite sides of the main valve defined by the sealing ring 28 and valve seat 27 thereby aiding the opening of the valve member.

Further rotation of the magnetic key unit 4 continues to raise the stem 32, such that the annular flange 36, engaging shoulder 37, raises the valve member 29, to move the sealing ring 28 away from the valve key 27, thereby opening the main valve. At the start of, and during, the rotation of the magnetic key unit 4 in the opening direction, the mounting member 48 and the magnet carrier member 51 , within the housing 4, are in the closed positions illustrated in FIG. 9. As soon as the stem 32 reaches its fully raised position, it no longer rotates, so that continued rotation of the magnetic key unit 4 will cause the magnet carrier member 51 to pivot to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. Accordingly, when the magnetic carrier member is in the position illustrated in FIG. 8, this indicates to the user that the valve is in its fully opened condition. Any suitable means, such as a spring-biased ball-detent 56a may be used for releasably retaining the magnet carrier member 51 in this position. Also any suitable means may be used for providing indicia to show that the valve is in its "open" position. For example, housing 40 of the magnetic key unit 4 may be transparent and provided with an "open" indicia marking, as shown at 57a in FIG. 8.

When the valve is in its fully opened condition and it is desired to close it, the magnetic key unit 4 is again applied, but this time it is rotated in the opposite direction, to thereby cause the threaded end 33 of stem 32 to lower within the valve housing 20. During the initial lowering movement of the stem, its rounded tip 31 closes the mouth of bore 30 in the valve member 29, thereby closing the pilot valve Further lowering movement of the stem 32 lowers the main valve member 29 until its sealing ring 28 firmly seats against the conical seat 27, thereby closing the main valve

As soon as the pilot valve is closed, the differential pressure on the opposite sides of the valve member increase, aiding the movement of the valve member towards its closed position As the clearance between sealing ring 28 and valve seat 27 decreases, the differential pressure increases thereby aiding the movement of the valve member to its fully closed position Accordingly, relative little pressure is required to move the valve member to its closed position, as well as to its open position

The magnetic carrier member 53, at the start of and during the rotational movement of the magnetic key unit 4 in the closing direction, is in the position shown in FIG 8 As soon as the sealing ring 28 of valve member 29 becomes firmly seated against the valve seat 27, stem 32 will no longer be able to move downwardly, and therefore further rotation of the magnetic key unit 4 will cause the magnetic carrier member 51 to move to the position illustrated in FIG 9, to indicate that the valve has been closed Housing 40 of the magnetic key unit 4 is provided with a releasable retainer, in the form of a spring-urged ball-detent 56b, to releasably retain the magnet carrier member 51 in this closed position, and also with a "closed" indicia marking 57b to indicate this closed condition of the valve

Further rotation of the magnetic key unit 4, after the valve has been firmly closed as shown in FIG 9, will cause the South pole 54 of the magnetic key unit to become aligned with the South pole of the magnetic operator 35 with the valve unit 2, and also the North pole 55 of the magnetic key unit to become aligned with the North pole of the magnetic operator 35 within the valve unit These magnets will therefore produce a repellent force which will be effective to pivot the magnet carrier member 51 , and also the mounting member 48, to the position illustrated in FIG 10, thereby further assuring that the valve has been fully closed The key housing is provided with a third spring-urged ball-detent 56c to releasably retain the mounting member 48 in this position The movement of the mounting member 48 to the position illustrated in FIG. 10 may be felt by the user, thereby assuring the user that the valve is in its fully closed condition. The movement of mounting member 48 to the FIG. 10 position also removes the permanent magnets 54, 55 from alignment with permanent magnet 35 in the valve thereby assuring that the magnetic key will not be able to apply an opening force to the valve should the user continue to rotate the magnetic key.

In order to determine the condition of the valve, it is only necessary to apply the magnetic key to the valve and to release the magnetic key, whereupon the magnetic key will automatically assume the FIG. 8 condition if the valve is open, and the FIG. 10 condition if the valve is closed.

While the invention has been described with respect to one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that this is set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A valve assembly, comprising: a shut-off valve including a valve housing enclosing and hermetically sealing a valve member movable to open and closed positions, and a magnetic operator including a permanent magnet for moving the valve member to its open and closed positions; and a magnetic key external of said valve housing and magnetically coupleable to the magnetic operator therein to move the valve member in a first direction to its open position, and in a second direction to its closed position; characterized in that said magnetic key includes: a key housing for application to the valve unit; a permanent magnet within said key housing for magnetically coupling the magnetic key to the magnetic operator within the valve housing; and a magnet carrier member carrying said permanent magnet and movably mounted within said key housing such that:

(a)when the magnetic key has completed the movement of the valve member in said first direction to its open position, continued movement of the magnetic key in said first direction causes the magnet carrier member to be moved to a first position with respect to said key housing; and

(b)when the magnetic key has completed the movement of the valve member in said second direction to its closed position, continued movement of the magnetic key in said second direction causes the magnet carrier member to be moved to a second position with respect to said key housing, whereby the magnet carrier member indicates, by its position, when the opening and closing movements of the valve member have been completed. 2 The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said magnet carrier member is movably mounted within said key housing such that further continued movement of the magnetic key in said second direction after the magnet carrier member has moved to said second ι position, causes the magnet carrier member to move to a third position with respect to said key housing

3 The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said magnet carrier member is pivotally mounted within said key housing to said first and second positions lo 4 The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said magnet carrier member includes a pair of parallel arms carrying at one end a pair of permanent magnets adapted to straddle the valve housing when the magnetic key is applied thereto, the opposite ends of said pair of parallel arms being pivotally mounted with respect to said key housing iτ 5 The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said opposite ends of said pair of parallel arms are parts of a U-shaped carrier member which is pivotally mounted with respect to said key housing

6 The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said U-shaped carrier member is pivotally mounted to a U-shaped mounting member which is, in 0 turn, pivotally mounted to the key housing

7 The assembly according to claim 6, wherein one of said permanent magnets on said magnet carrier member is magnetized as a North pole, and the other of said permanent magnets is magnetized as a South pole, such that continued movement of the magnetic key in said second

25 direction after said magnet carrier member has moved to the second position produces a repellent force between the magnetic operator in the valve housing and the permanent magnets in the key housing, to cause the mounting member to pivot with respect to said key housing, and thereby to cause the magnet carrier member to move to a third position 0 with respect to said key housing

8. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein said key housing further includes releasable retainer elements for releasably retaining the magnet carrier member to its moved position.

9. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein said key housing includes four side walls closed at one end by an end wall, and open at the opposite end for application to the valve unit.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein opposed side walls are formed with parallel slots for accommodating the shut-off valve when the magnet key is applied thereto. 11. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 - 10, wherein said valve member and said magnet operator in said valve housing of the shut-off valve are carried by a stem which is rotated in a first direction to open the valve, and in the opposite direction to close the valve.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein one end of said stem is threaded and is threadedly received in a bridge extending transversely across an end of the valve housing.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein said magnetic operator extends transversely through said stem between said threaded end thereof and said valve member. 14. The assembly according to either of claims 12 or 13, wherein said shut-off valve includes a main valve which is opened and closed by said valve member, and a pilot valve which is automatically opened before the main valve when the valve member is moved in said first direction from its closed position to equalize the pressure applied to the main valve, and which is also automatically closed before the main valve when the valve member is moved in said second direction from its open position.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said pilot valve is present in a lost-motion connection between said stem and said valve member.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said main valve includes a sealing ring around said valve member and cooperable with an annular valve seat in said valve housing; and said pilot valve includes the tip of the stem at the end thereof opposite to its threaded end, which tip is cooperable with a bore through the valve member.

17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said lost-motion connection comprises an annular flange formed in said tip of the stem engagable with an annular shoulder formed in the adjacent end of the valve member.

18. A magnetic key for use in opening and closing a shut-off valve including a valve housing enclosing and hermetically sealing a valve member movable in a first direction to its open position and in a second direction to its closed position, and a magnetic operator for moving the valve member to its open and closed positions; said magnetic key comprising: a key housing for application to the shut-off valve; a permanent magnet within said key housing for magnetically coupling the magnetic key to the magnetic operator within the valve housing; and a magnet carrier member carrying said permanent magnet and movably mounted within said key housing such that:

(b)when the magnetic key has completed the movement of the valve member in said second direction to its closed position, continued movement of the magnetic key in said second direction causes the magnet carrier member to be moved to a second position with respect to said key housing, whereby the magnet carrier member indicates, by its position, when the opening and closing movements of the valve member have been completed.

19. The magnetic key according to claim 18, wherein said magnet carrier member is movably mounted within said key housing such that further continued movement of the magnetic key in said second direction after the magnet carrier member has moved to said second position, causes the magnet carrier member to move to a third position with respect to said key housing.

20. The magnetic key according to claim 18, wherein said magnet carrier member is pivotally mounted within said key housing to said first and second positions. 21. The magnetic key according to claim 20, wherein said magnet carrier member includes a pair of parallel arms carrying at one end a pair of permanent magnets adapted to straddle the valve housing when the magnetic key is applied thereto, the opposite ends of said pair of parallel arms being pivotally mounted with respect to said key housing. 22. The magnetic key according to claim 21 , wherein said opposite ends of said pair of parallel arms are parts of a U-shaped carrier member which is pivotally mounted with respect to said key housing.

23. The magnetic key according to claim 22, wherein said U-shaped carrier member is pivotally mounted to a U-shaped mounting member which is, in turn, pivotally mounted to the key housing.

24. The magnetic key according to claim 23, wherein one of said permanent magnets is magnetized as a North pole, and the other of said permanent magnets is magnetized as a South pole, such that continued movement of the magnetic key in said second direction after said magnet carrier member has moved to the second position produces a repellent force between the magnetic operator in the valve housing and the permanent magnets in the key housing, to cause the mounting member to pivot with respect to said key housing, and thereby to cause the magnet carrier member to move to a third position with respect to said key housing.

25. The magnetic key according to any one of claims 18 - 24 wherein said key housing further includes releasable retainer elements for releasably retaining the magnet carrier member to its moved position.

26. The magnetic key according to any one of claims 18 - 25, wherein said key housing includes four side walls closed at one end by an end wall, and open at the opposite end for application to the valve unit.

27. The magnetic key according to claim 26, wherein opposed side walls are formed with parallel slots for accommodating the shut-off valve when the magnet key is applied thereto. 28. A shut-off valve comprising: a valve housing, and a stem which is rotated in a first direction to open the valve, and in the opposite direction to close the valve; said shut-off valve including a main valve member which is opened and closed by said stem, and a pilot valve which is automatically opened by said stem before the main valve when the stem is rotated in said first direction from its closed position to equalize the pressure applied to the main valve, and which is also automatically closed before the main valve when the stem is rotated in said opposite direction from its open position. 29. The shut-off valve according to claim 28, wherein said pilot valve is present in a lost-motion connection between said stem and said main valve member.

30. The shut-off valve according to claim 29, wherein said main valve member includes a sealing ring around said main valve member and cooperable with an annular valve seat in said valve housing; and said pilot valve includes the tip of the stem at the end thereof opposite to the threaded end of the stem, which tip is cooperable with a bore through the main valve member.

31. The shut-off valve according to claim 30, wherein said lost-motion connection comprises an annular flange formed in said tip of the stem engagable with an annular shoulder formed in the adjacent end of the main valve member.

32. The shut-off valve according to any one of claims 28 - 31 , wherein said stem is threaded at one end thereof and is threadedly received in the valve housing; and wherein said stem includes a permanent magnet operator extending transversely of said stem between said threaded end and said main valve member, said magnetic operator enabling said valve to be actuated by a magnetic key applied externally of the valve housing and magnetically coupled to said magnetic operator.