WO2003040600A1

WO2003040600A1 - Level regulating valve controlled by fluid pressure difference

Info

Publication number: WO2003040600A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001923
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin-Sik Cho
Original assignee: Jin-Sik Cho
Priority date: 2001-11-07
Filing date: 2002-10-15
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: KR20010113022A; KR100459333B1

Abstract

A level regulating valve, which has an inlet(10) and an outlet(20) for guiding fluid, a valve sheet(110) formed to the outlet(20) to block vertical flow of fluid, a diaphragm(200) positioned upon the valve sheet(110) and a hydraulic chamber(C) formed above the diaphragm(200) together with a valve body(100), the diaphragm(200) being contracted and expanded owing to the fluid pressure change of the hydraulic chamber(C) to control flow of the fluid, includes an inlet channel(150) for connecting the hydraulic chamber(C) to the inlet(10), an outlet channel(180) for connecting the hydraulic chamber(C) to outside, a regulation pin(350) having a pin body(352) inserted into the outlet channel(180) and a pin head(351) used for opening the outlet channel(180), and a control cam(500) having a cam(520) contacted with the regulation pin(350) and a float(530) connected with the cam(520) through an arm(510) to move the regulation pin(350) vertically with buoyancy.

Description

LEVEL REGULATING VALVE CONTROLLED BY FLUE) PRESSURE

DIFFERENCE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a level regulating valve controlled

by fluid pressure difference, and more particularly to a revel regulating

valve controlled by fluid pressure difference, which includes an inlet

hole for guiding inlet of fluid, an outlet hole for guiding outlet of the

fluid, a valve sheet formed vertically in the outlet hole for coffering the

fluid, a diaphragm formed at a top of the valve sheet, and a hydraulic

chamber formed by the diaphragm and a valve body above the

diaphragm so that the diaphragm shrinks or expands due to the change

of hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber in order to control the

flow of fluid, in which the level regulating valve further includes an inlet

conduit for connecting the hydraulic chamber and the inlet hole; an

outlet conduit for connecting the hydraulic chamber to outside; a

regulating pin having a pin body inserted into the outlet conduit and a

pin head elastically supported by a spring inserted into a regulating

chamber formed by the valve body, the pin head continuously exerting a

downward force through the regulating chamber, the pin head being

used for opening or closing a channel of the outlet conduit; and a

control cam unit having a cam contacted with the regulating pin at a lower end of the pin body of the regulating pin and a float connected to

the cam via an arm so that the buoyancy of the float is transferred to

the rotational movement of the cam according to the water level in a

water tank to move the regulating pin in a vertical direction, wherein a

hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber is converted by the control

cam unit according to the water level in the water tank to shrink or

expand the diaphragm, thus controlling channels of the inlet hole and

the outlet hole, thereby controlling the level in the water tank.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a level regulating valve controlled by fluid pressure

difference has a valve sheet and a diaphragm for opening or closing a

fluid path between an inflow hole for guiding inflow of fluid and an

outflow hole for guiding outflow of the fluid.

The valve is commonly classified into an electrical type and a

mechanical type. The electrical valve controls a channel by means of

operation of an electrically controlled diaphragm by forming a solenoid

valve in a chamber formed by the diaphragm and a valve body.

The mechanical valve is also classified variously. For example, a

spring may be inserted into the chamber formed by the diaphragm and

the valve body in order to use elasticity of the spring and hydraulic

balance of the fluid. The mechanical valve may be subdivided into a level regulating

valve controlled by in direct acting type fluid pressure difference and a

level regulating valve controlled by pilot type fluid pressure difference.

All of the level regulating valves control a channel by transmitting a

position change of a float in a water tank into a mechanical behavior.

The direct valve includes a coffering valve and a gear valve. The

coffering valve has a coffering disk valve in a direction opposite to a

water advancing direction so that the disk rotates according to

buoyancy of the float to cut off the channel. The gear valve uses gear

tooth.

The various kinds of valves introduced above are broadly known

and used, but they have some problems that a level regulating function

of the electric valve is interrupted by an electricity failure and there is

required a high cost in manufacturing.

In addition, in case of the mechanical valve, the coffering valve

may be worn when they are used for a long time, and its

opening/ closing operation is not smooth under high hydraulic pressure

since the buoyancy of the float is not capable of enduring the hydraulic

pressure. Moreover, the gear valve has a problem that it may

malfunction in its opening/ closing function since impurities in the fluid

get gammed between gear teeth. The pilot valve needs so high costs for

manufacturing. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is designed to solve such problems of the

prior art, and therefore an object of the invention is to provide a level

regulating valve which keeps a desired water level in a water tank by

inducing pressure change within a hydraulic chamber formed by a

diaphragm and a valve body so that the diaphragm may expand or

shrink by means of the pressure change in the hydraulic chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a level

regulating valve controlled by fluid pressure difference, which coffers

dirt flowing into the valve with a simple control structure, thus reducing

a manufacturing cost and ensuring a long life cycle.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention

provides a level regulating valve, which includes an inlet hole for

guiding inlet of fluid, an outlet hole for guiding outlet of the fluid, a

valve sheet formed vertically in the outlet hole for coffering the fluid, a

diaphragm formed at a top of the valve sheet, and a hydraulic chamber

formed by the diaphragm and a valve body above the diaphragm so that

the diaphragm shrinks or expands due to the change of hydraulic

pressure in the hydraulic chamber in order to control the flow of fluid,

in which the level regulating valve further includes an inlet conduit for

connecting the hydraulic chamber and the inlet hole; an outlet conduit for connecting the hydraulic chamber to outside; a regulating pin

having a pin body inserted into the outlet conduit and a pin head

elastically supported by a spring inserted into a regulating chamber

formed by the valve body, the pin head continuously exerting a

downward force through the regulating chamber, the pin head being

used for opening or closing a channel of the outlet conduit; and a

control cam unit having a cam contacted with the regulating pin at a

lower end of the pin body of the regulating pin and a float connected to

the cam via an arm so that the buoyancy of tlie float is transferred to

the rotational movement of the cam according to the water level in a

water tank to move the regulating pin in a vertical direction, wherein a.

hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber is converted by the control

cam unit according to the water level in the water tank to shrink or

expand the diaphragm, thus controlling channels of the inlet hole and

the outlet hole, thereby controlling the level in the water tank.

Preferably, there are provided two inlet conduits so as to prevent

the inlet conduits from clogging at the same time by dirt flowing in

through the inlet hole.

In addition, the inlet hole may have a filtering net for preventing

dirt from flowing into the valve.

Preferably, the outlet conduit forms a rectangular through hole

and the pin body of the regulating pin has a cylindrical shape inserted into the outlet conduit so that there is formed a gap between the

rectangular hole of the outlet conduit and the circular section of the pan

body.

Also preferably, the regulating chamber forms a rectangular

through hole or a circular through hole having a groove so as to be

communication with the hydraulic chamber through a channel formed

at a lower end, and the pin head of the regulating pin has a circular

shape, whereby the fluid flows through a gap formed between tlie

regulating chamber and the pin head to an upper portion of the pin

head so that the regulating pin is pressed downward continuously by

an elastic force of the spring and a hydraulic pressure in the regulating

chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred

embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in tlie

following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In tlie

drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a level regulating valve

controlled by fluid pressure difference according to a preferred

embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a fluid path in the level regulating valve controlled by fluid pressure difference according to the present invention, in which

fa) shows a fluid path when the valve is closed and (b) shows a fluid

path when the valve is open; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing an outlet conduit

and a regulating pin of the level regulating valve controlled by fluid

pressure difference according to the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is

described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a level regulating valve

controlled by fluid pressure difference according to the present

invention, FIG. 2 show a fluid path in the level regulating valve

controlled by fluid pressure difference according to the present

invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing an outlet conduit and

a regulating pin of the level regulating valve controlled by fluid pressure

difference according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the level regulating valve of the present

invention includes inlet and outlet holes 10 and 20 for guiding inflow or

outflow of fluid, a valve sheet 110 formed vertically, a diaphragm 200

positioned at a top of the valve sheet 110, and a hydraulic chamber C

formed by the diaphragm 200 and a valve body 100. In addition, the level regulating valve has an inlet conduit 150 for

connecting the hydraulic chamber C to the inlet hole 10, an outlet

conduit 180 for connecting the hydraulic chamber C to outside, a

regulating pin 350 and a control cam unit 500. At this time, the

regulating pin 350 includes a pin body 352 inserted into the outlet

conduit 180, and a pin head 351 elastically supported by a spring 310

inserted into a regulating chamber 300 and guided by the regulating

chamber 300 to continuously exert a downward force and open/ close a

channel of the outlet conduit 180. In addition, the control cam unit

500 has a cam 520 contacted with the regulating pin 350 at a lower end

of the pin body 352, and a float 530 connected to the cam 520 via an

arm 510. Thus, when a water level rises, the buoyancy of the float 530

changing according to the water level in the water tank is transferred to

rotational behavior of the cam 520 to ascend the regulating pin 350.

Hereinafter, operation of the level regulating valve controlled by

fluid pressure difference according to the present invention is described

with reference to FIGs. 1 and 2.

(a) of FIG. 2 shows a fluid path when the valve is closed, while (b)

of FIG. 2 shows a fluid path when the valve is open.

A fluid path along which a main stream of the fluid passes

(hereinafter, referred to as 'a. flow path') is configured with the inlet hole

10, a space formed by a lower end of the diaphragm 200 and the valve sheet 110, and the outlet hole 20.

The fluid on the flow path is controlled by opening or closing the

valve sheet 110 according to shrinkage or expansion of the diaphragm

200.

The diaphragm 200 forms a hydraulic chamber C together with

the valve body 100. At this time, the inlet conduit 150 for connecting a

channel to the inlet hole 10 is formed in the hydraulic chamber C so

that fluid may flow in.

However, if the fluid flowed in the hydraulic chamber C has a

high hydraulic pressure, the diaphragm 200 expands and closes the

flow path, while if the hydraulic pressure is low, the diaphragm 200

shrinks and opens the flow path.

At this time, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber C is

compared with a hydraulic pressure generated at a lower end of the

diaphragm 200, i.e. a hydraulic pressure in the flow path, thereby

causing the shrinkage or expansion of the diaphragm 200.

In addition, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber C is

controlled according to the existence of fluid flow.

As described above, the hydraulic chamber C has the outlet

conduit 180 communicated with outside of the valve, and the regulating

pin 250 is inserted into the outlet conduit 180. The regulating pin 350

also has the pin body 352 inserted into the outlet conduit 180 and the pin head 351 for opening or closing a channel of the outlet conduit 180.

The spring 310 inserted into the regulating chamber 300 formed

by the valve body 100 is positioned at a top of the pin head 351 and

elastically supports the pin head 351 to exert a downward force

continuously.

Thus, without a mechanical change of the regulating pin 350, the

regulating pin 350 always closes the outlet conduit 180.

As mentioned above, the cam 520 of the control cam unit 500 is

formed in contact with the regulating pin 350 at a lower end of the pin

body 352 of the regulating pin 350. If the cam 520 rotates as the float

530 of the control cam unit 500 ascends according to the water level in

the water tank, the regulating pin 350 changes its position along a

curved surface of the cam 520 and ascends.

In more detail, the cam 520 of the control cam unit 500 ascends

the regulating pin 350 when the float 530 descends according to the

level. On the while, if the float 530 ascends, the regulating pin 350

descends.

Thus, when the water level in the water tank is a full water level,

the regulating pin 350 descends so that the outlet conduit 180 is closed

by the pin head 351 of the regulating pin 350. In addition, the

hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic chamber C increases larger than

that of the flow path, so the diaphragm 200 becomes expanded. A hydraulic pressure of the fluid is determined based on

Bernoulli's Equation teaching that the hydraulic pressure is low as a

flow rate is rapid and the hydraulic pressure is high as a flow rate is

slow. In particular, since the valve sheet 110 is perpendicularly

protruded in the valve, the hydraulic pressure is focused only on a

circumference of the valve sheet 110, i.e. a lower circumference of the

diaphragm 200 when the diaphragm 200 is expanded and seated on the

valve sheet 110. Thus, since the area to which the hydraulic pressure

of the flow path is applied is small, the flow path is stably closed.

If the water level in the water tank descends, the regulating pin

350 also descends by means of the rotation of the cam 520 of the

control cam unit 500, whereby the fluid in the hydraulic chamber C is

discharged outside through the outlet conduit 180.

In other words, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber

C is lowered owing to the rate of the fluid, and the fluid flow on the

lower circumference of the diaphragm 200 is stopped so as to increase

the pressure. Therefore, the diaphragm 200 shrinks.

Now, the regulating pin 350 is described in detail with reference

to FIGs. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the regulating pin 350 is elastically

supported by the spring 310 inserted into the regulating chamber 300

formed by the valve body 100. At this time, if the regulating chamber 300 is formed as a circular

through hole having grooves or as a rectangular through hole, and if the

pin head 351 ascending or descending through the regulating chamber

300 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the fluid may flow into the

regulating chamber 300 through a gap A formed by the grooves or

between the rectangular chamber and the circular pin head.

In other words, since the lower end of the regulating chamber 300

is communication with the hydraulic chamber C, the fluid may flow into

the regulating chamber 300 through the lower end of the regulating

chamber 300 and the gap A.

This fluid has a hydraulic pressure in the regulating chamber 300

identical to the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber C. Thus,

the pin head 351 of the regulating pin 350 is pressed due to the

hydraulic pressure, so the outlet conduit 180 may keep its closed state

stably.

In addition, the outlet conduit 180 forms a rectangular through

hole and the pin body 352 of the regulating pin 350 has a cylindrical

shape with a circular section so that there is formed a gap B between

the pin body 352 and the outlet conduit 180.

Thereby, though the pin head 351 ascends to be spaced apart

just a little, the fluid may flow through the gap B of the outlet conduit

180, improving the control efficiency. By using the level regulating valve according to the present

invention as described above, the water level in a water tank is

converted into the pressure change in the hydraulic chamber, thus

automatically keeping a still water level.

A main concept of the present invention is in that the operation of

the valve is controlled by the fluid flowed into the hydraulic chamber C.

Thus, the flow of fluid passing through the hydraulic chamber C

in the valve plays an essential role, and impediment of the fluid flow

may be a cause of breakdowns.

However, the inlet conduit 150 and the outlet conduit 180

commonly have a small diameter. Thus, if dirt is flowed in together

with the fluid, the inlet conduit 150 or the outlet conduit 180 is apt to

clog, thus causing a breakdown.

The level regulating valve of the present invention may have a

filtering net 130 at the inlet hole 10 so as to prevent dirt from flowing

into the valve. In addition, there may be provided two inlet conduit

150 in order to prevent breakdown of the valve in advance which may

happen by small sized dirt.

According to the present invention, the valve opens or closes a

channel of the fluid by means of shrinkage or expansion of the

diaphragm caused by the difference between the hydraulic pressure in

the hydraulic chamber and the hydraulic pressure in the flow channel. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber may be

controlled by means of the water level in the water tank sensed by the

control cam unit. To improve the control efficiency, there is also

formed a gap between the regulating chamber and the outlet conduit.

Therefore, the water level in the water tank is fed back to the

hydraulic chamber, and the level regulating valve may always keep a

still water level.

In addition, since there is provided a means for filtering dirt

flowing into the hydraulic chamber in advance, the level regulating valve

may prevent breakdown in advance.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The level regulating valve of the present invention described as

above is advantageous in that breakdown of the valve is prevented by

filtering dirt flowing in the valve and the level change in the water tank

is converted into the behavior of the valve to keep the water level in the

water tank constantly.

In addition, the level regulating valve of the present invention may

improve its control efficiency by using the gaps formed between the

outlet conduit and the regulating chamber.

The present invention has been described in detail. However, it

should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention,, are

given by way of illustration only, since various changes and

modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become

apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A level regulating valve which includes an inlet hole (10) for

guiding inlet of fluid, an outlet hole (10) for guiding outlet of the fluid, a

valve sheet (110) formed vertically in the outlet hole (20) for coffering the

fluid, a diaphragm (200) formed at a top of the valve sheet (110), and a

hydraulic chamber (C) formed by the diaphragm (200) and a valve body

(100) above the diaphragm (200) so that the diaphragm (200) shrinks or

expands due to the change of hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic

chamber (C) in order to control the flow of fluid, the level regulating

valve comprising:

an inlet conduit (150) for connecting the hydraulic chamber (C)

and the inlet hole (10);

an outlet conduit (180) for connecting the hydraulic chamber (C)

to outside;

a regulating pin (350) having a pin body (352) inserted into the

outlet conduit (180) and a pin head (351) elastically supported by a

spring (310) inserted into a regulating chamber (300) formed by the

valve body (100), the pin head (351) continuously exerting a downward

force through the regulating chamber (300), the pin head (351) being

used for opening or closing a channel of the outlet conduit |180); and

a control cam unit (500) having a cam (520) contacted with the regulating pin (350) at a lower end of the pin body (352) of the

regulating pin (350) and a float (530) connected to the cam (520) via an

arm (510) so that the buoyancy of the float (530) is transferred to the

rotational movement of the cam (520) according to the water level in a

water tank to move the regulating pin (350) in a vertical direction,

wherein a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber (C) is

converted by the control cam unit (500) according to the water level in

the water tank to shrink or expand the diaphragm (200), thus

controlling channels of the inlet hole (10) and the outlet hole (20),

thereby controlling the level in the water tank.

2. A level regulating valve according to claim 1,

wherein there are provided two inlet conduits (150) so as to

prevent the inlet conduits (150) from clogging at the same time by dirt

flowing in through the inlet hole.

3. A level regulating valve according to claim 1,

wherein the inlet hole (10) has a filtering net (130) for preventing

dirt from flowing into the valve.

4. A level regulating valve according to claim 1,

wherein the outlet conduit (180) forms a rectangular through hole and the pin body (352) of the regulating pin (350) has a cylindrical

shape inserted into the outlet conduit (180) so that there is formed a

gap (B) between the rectangular hole of the outlet conduit (180) and the

circular section of the pin body (352).

5. A level regulating valve according to claim 1,

wherein the regulating chamber (300) forms a rectangular

through hole or a circular through hole having a groove so as to be

communication with the hydraulic chamber through a channel formed

at a lower end, and the pin head (351) of the regulating pin (350) has a

circular shape,

whereby the fluid flows through a gap (A) formed between the

regulating chamber (300) and the pin head (351) to an upper portion of

the pin head (351) so that the regulating pin (350) is pressed downward

continuously by an elastic force of the spring (310) and a hydraulic

pressure an the regulating chamber (300).