WO2006080036A1

WO2006080036A1 - Device to control a fluid flow

Info

Publication number: WO2006080036A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Umberto Bertolotti
Original assignee: I.V.A.R S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-01-25
Filing date: 2005-01-25
Publication date: 2006-08-03

Abstract

A device (1) for regulating a fluid flow comprising a main body (20) having a channel (21) for the fluid and to be coupled on the inlet (22) and outlet (23) of said channel (21) to the pipes of a fluid dynamic system, a hollow secondary body (30) mounted rotatingly onto said main body (20) , a knob (40) associated with said secondary body (20) and moving with respect to the latter, a thermostatic motor (11) housed inside said knob (40) for moving integrally with the latter, and a safety cartridge (14) at least partially inserted into said main body (20) in contact with said thermostatic motor (11), associated with a shutter (18) moving inside the channel (21) of the main body (20) for regulating the fluid flow rate also thanks to a return spring (19) acting thereupon.

Description

DEVICE TO CONTROL A FLUID FLOW

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a device for regulating a fluid flow on the basis of a signal received by a suitable heat sensor or the like .

A typical example of use includes heating hydraulic systems (for rooms in houses , commercial or other buildings) , where said device through a shutter element contacted with a pipe portion of the system, for instance in a heating element (radiator) , regulates the flow rate of hot water getting through said pipe and therefore through said heating element . The invention shall be described with reference to this kind of application, although if it can easily apply to any other system in which a fluid flow has to be regulated .

As is known, two elements are used for regulating the temperature of a room by regulating the flow rate of hot water getting into a heating element : a thermostatic head and a thermostatizable valve . Thermostatic heads for hydraulic systems basically comprise a housing into which a thermostatic motor (or thermostat) is inserted, which can be equipped with its own heat sensor, or it can be connected to a separate sensor for detecting system temperature , or room temperature, or furthermore it can be connected to a central control system. They further comprise a safety system, known as safety cartridge, integral with the thermostatic motor, which once associated with the valve acts upon the inner mechanisms of said valve through a thrust element . Thermostatic heads are generally equipped also with a rotating control knob for rotating the aforesaid body in a plurality of different operating angular positions , so as to establish the desired temperature and therefore the maximum water flow rate the thermostat can define . Thermostatizable valves are generally made of brass and comprise two tube branches for ^" the connection to the pipes of the heating element and a third branch onto which the head is mounted, which can be a thermostatic head as in the case under examination but also more generally an electrothermal or manual head . Depending on the mutual position of said three tube branches , the valve can be defined as straight , at right angles , coaxial or with reverse body. Thermostatizable .valves are elements performing physically the task of regulating the flow of hot water getting into the pipes of the heating element through a shutter, actuated by a valve body fitted into the body of said valve and controlled by the thrust ele- ment connected to the safety cartridge of the thermostatic head .

The combined use of the two devices described above advantageously make rooms independent from one another, enabling a separate temperature regulation and therefore a high comfort and a huge energy saving, though it has also several drawbacks .

First of all , it is necessary to use two devices , which should be mounted one onto the other, increasing problems of compatibility between the various components , especially as far as tolerances are concerned . Secondly, the system has a very large number of components and sub-components ; this problem is particularly relevant for the valve body, - which is made up of many elements of very small size to be mounted together with extremely small tolerances .

A further disadvantage consists in that the large number of components affects consistently manufacturing, assembling, storing, order management and shipping times and especially costs .

Moreover, traditional thermostatic heads have another drawback: it may happen that the position set by the knob is changed by a rotation of said knob, either unintentional or intentional , particularly when the ^' thermostatic head is placed in public places . It is already known about solutions aiming at preventing an unwanted rotation of the knob, which however do not solve the problem in an efficient and satisfactory way.

A first way to prevent an unwanted rotation consists in fastening a covering cage around the thermostatic head, which is however of little convenience and anti- aesthetical .

A second solution consists in introducing into the thermostatic head blocking means , for instance rings , which limit or prevent knob rotation . In this case the thermostatic head should be partially disassembled for acting upon said blocking means ; therefore, most of the times skilled personnel should intervene , thus making this solution inconvenient , expensive and complex.

Under these circumstances the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive a device for regulating a fluid flow, which can basically obviate the aforesaid drawbacks . In the framework of said technical task, an important aim is to conceive a device comprising a small number of components and having a compact structure . A second aim of the present invention, is to provide a device for regulating a fluid flow, which has a small weight and above all en- ables to reduce costs . A further aim of the present invention is to provide a device for regulating a fluid flow, which is universal , i . e . which can be mounted onto radiators having connection pipes both on the left and on the right . Another aim of the invention is to propose a device for regulating a - fluid flow, which can be easily carried out . A further important aim of the invention is to provide a device for regulating a fluid flow, which has a blocking system for knob rotation with respect to the body onto which said knob is mounted, which is efficient , easily accessible and integrated into the device . These and other aims , which will be more evident from the following description, are achieved according to the present invention by means of a device for regulating a fluid flow in accordance with the appended claims .

The following contains to a merely indicative and non- limiting purpose the description of a preferred, though not exclusive embodiment of a device for regulating a fluid flow according to the invention, as shown in the accompanying figures , in which : - Figure 1 shows a side view of the device according to the invention in a first operating position for , maximum fluid passage ; - Figure 2 shows a side view of the device of Figure ..1 in a second operating position for minimum flow passage ;

- Figure 3 shows a sectioned view of the device of Figure 2 according to lines III-III ;

- Figure 3a shows a magnified detail of Figure 3 ;

- Figure .4 shows a sectioned view of the device of Figure 2 according to lines IV-IV;

- Figure 4a shows a magnified detail of Figure 4 ;

- Figure 5 shows a front view of the detail of Figure 4a;

-÷ Figure 6 shows a sectioned view of the device of Figure 4a according to lines VI-VI ;

- Figure 7 shows a sectioned view of the device of Figure 2 according to lines VII-VII ;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 without a knob .

With reference to the figures mentioned above , a device 1 for regulating a fluid flow according to the invention comprises a main body 20 that can be coupled to a secondary hollow body 30.

According to the invention, the main body 20 is char- ^• acterized by having inside a channel 21 , with an inlet 22 and an outlet 23 , for the fluid coming from a system ^■ and going to- a heating element (radiator) . Thus , the device 1 can be coupled directly to the pipes of the fluidodynamic system to be regulated, exactly through the inlet 22 and the outlet 23 of said channel 21.

A knob 40 is mounted onto the secondary body 30. Advantageously, said mounting is carried out by screwing through a helical threading 51 obtained on corresponding surface portions facing each other of the secondary body 30 and of said knob 40.

Conveniently, on the outer surface of the edge of the knob 40 there is a . graduated scale 41 with reference numbers indicating the various operating positions which said knob 40 can take with respect to the main body. Similarly, on the corresponding outer edge of the main body 20 there is at least a position indicator 24 for said graduated scale 41. For instance, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2 , the minimum end-of- str.oke value, represented by a suitable symbol 44 , indicates - when lined up with the indicator 24 - that the knob 40 lies at. the minimum relative distance with respect to the main body 20 , whereas when the maximum e'nd-of-stroke value, represented by number 5 , is lined up with the indicator 24 , this means that the knob 40 lies at the maximum relative distance still with respect -to the main body 20. ^■ Preferably, said main body 20 is made of brass by melting, whereas the secondary body 30 and the knob 40 are made with a plastic material by molding . The main body 20 and the secondary body 30 are preferably assembled together by a dap j oint . As a matter of fact , in Figure 3a it can be noted that the secondary body 30 is provided with elastic engagement portions 31 on its lower end, so as to get snap-hooked into a convenient seat 25 inside the main body, into which it is partially inserted .

Advantageously, an elastic metal ring 33 can be inserted between the main body 20 and the secondary body, which ring - once it lies in corresponding suitable seats 27 , 36 obtained in the contact between the two bodies 20 , 30 - expands thus strengthening coupling seal .

A peculiar characteristic of the connection between said two bodies 20 , 30 is to enable their relative rotation . As a matter of fact , under normal operating conditions of the device 1 , the main body 20 and the secondary body 30 are fixed, i . e . integral in rotation with respect to the knob 40. Conversely, during installation, so as to make the device universal , i . e . so that it can be mounted onto radiators having connection pipes both on the left and on the right , the two bodies 20 , 30 are rotated until a convenient correspondence between the graduated scale 41 of the knob 40 and one of the indicators 24 on the main body 20 is obtained, so as to enable a correct calibration and therefore a correct use of the device 1. In order to enable the fastening of the two bodies 20 , 30 in different relative positions , the secondary body 30 , on the portion -of outer surface coupled to the upper end of the main body 20 , has a proj ecting elastic element 32 , a tooth for instance , as can be inferred from Figure 7 , which can be inserted into suitable seats 26 obtained on the inner surface of the main body 20 , which seats are preferably non-through seats so as not to affect the outer appearance of the device 1. In practice, during the ^' installation onto the heating element , in order to orient correctly the knob 40 with respect to the main body 20 , by means of a tool , a normal screwdriver for instance, the aforesaid proj ecting elastic element 32 of the secondary body 30 is released from the seat 26 to which it is associated, preferably by placing the knob 40 in the position of maximum distance from the main body 20. Then, by rotating the secondary body 30 with respect to the main body 20 , this element 32 is introduced back into one of the following seats 26 so as to fasten again the two bodies 20 , 30 with respect to rotation . In a preferred embodiment , there are two fastening positions between the main body 20 and the secondary body 30 , and thus the seats 26 obtained on the inner surface of the main body 20 are placed at a reciprocal distance basically of 180 ° : according to other variants , however, said two bodies 20 , 30 are fastened in more than two mutual angular positions .

Moreover, so that the knob 40 rotates with respect to the secondary body 30 and to the main body 20 between two end-of-stroke positions (referred to, as explained above and shown in Figures 1 and 2 , with symbol 44 and with number 5 on the graduated scale 41) and, therefore , so that it does not get unscrewed from the secondary body onto which it is mounted during said rotation, the device 1 is provided with interference means 50. Preferably, said interference means 50 have another function, i . e . they block the knob 40 and the secondary body 30 with respect to rotation in a position between both end-of-stroke positions , as defined by the user . Said function is very useful when room temperature to be regulated has to be kept to a fixed value and the device 1 is located in places where it can be easily tampered with, unintentionally or intentionally, by other people (public places or places with children, for instance) .

A further component of the device 1 is a thermostatic motor 11 (thermostat) arranged between knob 40 and secondary body 30 and in contact and integral with the knob 40. Preferably, said thermostat 11 consists of a fixed portion 12 , comprising a temperature sensor, and of a moving portion 13 executing slight axial movements (around a few tenths of millimeter) when the value detected by the sensor 12 changes . In other variants of the invention, the heat sensor 12 , i . e . the fixed portion of the thermostat , can be outside the device 1 for detecting system or room temperature , or it can further be connected to a central control system.

A safety cartridge 14 is inserted, at least partially, into the main body 20.. It comprises a cup 15 , preferably placed coaxiaily with respect to the main body 20 , a spring 16 , more generally known as elastic thrust element , placed inside said cup 15 , and a thrust element 17 acting onto the spring 16 and associated and integral with the moving portion 13. of the thermostat 11.

The device 1 further comprises a shutter 18 , which being preferably connected to the lower end of the cup 15 of the safety cartridge 14 can move inside the channel 21 obtained inside the main body 20 for regulating the -flow rate of fluid getting into the- pipes of the heating element . Said shutter 18 is first positioned inside the channel 21 by rotating the knob 40 , which is executed by the user so as to set the desired room temperature-. This operation is made easier by the graduated scale 41 of said knob 40 and by the related indicator 24 : as can be easily inferred by the preceding explanations , symbol 44 refers to the maximum forward shift of the shutter 18 inside the channel 21 , whereas number 5 refers to the maximum backward shift . Secondly, the thermostat 11 through its moving portion 13 and the three components of the safety cartridge 14 further thrusts forwards or backwards the shutter 18 with respect to the set position, depending on the fact that room temperature as detected by the heat sensor 12 of the thermostat 11 is higher or lower than desired temperature, which has been set through the knob 40.

Under normal operation, conditions , therefore, the spring 16" of the safety cartridge 14 basically behaves like a stiff body (it has indeed a low elasticity) , so that the elements of the safety cartridge 14 and the shutter 18 are integral in their movement . Said spring 16 -is present for safety reasons and is actuated under particular conditions so as to prevent damages to the components of the device 1 : for instance, during summer when the radiator is closed, since as a consequence the shutter 18 lies in a position of maximum closing of the channel 21 for the fluid and also undergoes a further thrust by the thermostat 11. For a correct operation, the device 1 further comprises a return spring 19 , preferably connected to the main body 20 and to the upper end of the cup 15 ,- as can be inferred from Figure 3 : This spring is actuated so as to thrust the shutter 18 backwards when the thrust of the thermostat 11 stops . In order to perform its function correctly, said spring should have a lower elastic constant than the one of the spring 16 of the safety cartridge 14 (preferably the elastic constant of the spring 16 of the safety cartridge 14 is at least twice as much as the constant of the return spring 19) .

Advantageously, the device 1 further comprises sealing elements 34 arranged in contact position between the main body 20 and the secondary body 30 and inserted into suitable seats 37 obtained inside the secondary body 30 , and between the secondary body 30 and the thrust element 17 of the safety cartridge 14 , so as to prevent that the fluid coming...from the system gets in contact with the inner portion of the device 1 , in particular with the thermostat 11 and thus gets out into the room to be heated (Figure 3a) . In particular, these sealing elements 34 are ring gaskets , more correctly known as 0-rings .

Preferably, the structure of the device 1 is strengthened by a cage 35 placed inside the inner cavity of the secondary body 30.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the knob 40 has openings 42 on its outer surface, so as to make heat exchange between the room and the thermostat 11 easier . In other variants , the device 1 can have other means for improving the functionality of the thermostat 11 , such as for instance heat conduction means placed around the inner surface of said knob 40. In a variant of the invention, the secondary body 30 can be absent .

In this case the knob 40 is mounted directly onto the main body 20 , preferably by means of a helical threading 51 obtained on the portions of the two elements contacting each other .

The device 1 is anyhow equipped with interference means 50 for limiting the rotation between , the two end-of-stroke positions , arranged in this case between the knob 40. and the main body 20 , and preferably also for^' blocking the two elements 20 , 40 in an intermediate position defined by the user .

More to the point , this possible variant follows the same operating principles as the preferred embodiment of the invention as disclosed above .

Still according to the invention, the helical threading 51 obtained on a surface portion of the secondary body 30 has a secondary groove 53 .of given length, which develops between the main grooves 52 of the threading 51 , and a plurality of teeth 55 arranged on the top portion 54 of the thread coupled to said secondary groove 53 (Figure 8 ) . Advantageously, the secondary groove 53 starts and ends on the two desired end-of-stroke positions in the rotation between the knob 40 and the secondary body 30.

The ^' device 1 further comprises a plug 56 lying on the outer surface of the knob 40 inside a suitable seat 43 (as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2 ) and snap-connected to the knob 40 by means of elastic teeth 57 (as shown in Figure 4a) . Said plug 56 is equipped with an inner proj ecting element 58 and can move between two positions . In a first position said proj ecting element 58 is inserted into the secondary groove 53 and slides therein, thus limiting the rotation between the knob 40 and the secondary body 30 between the two end-of- stroke positions as designed . In a second position it is blocked inside the space 61 between two adjacent teeth 55 developing on the thread top 54 , thus preventing the rotating movement between the knob 40 and the secondary body 30 (Figure 6 and 8 ) . During the mounting step, the knob 40 is first screwed onto the secondary body 30 , then the plug 56 is snap- inserted into the suitable seat 43 of the knob 40 , so that the proj ecting element 58 gets into the secondary groove 53 , thus preventing the knob 40 from getting out of the secondary body 30.

Advantageously, the opening 43 made on the knob 40 , through which said proj ecting element 53 can move , is provided with a narrow portion 59 , so as to prevent the accidental passage of the plug 56 between the two described positions (Figure 5) .

The device 1 disclosed until now can undergo some variants .

First of all , the particular threading 51 described above comprising the plug 56 can be carried out also on the main body 20 and can therefore . apply to the variant in which the device 1 is not equipped with the secondary body 30.

Secondly, this particular type of threading 51 enabling to limit or. block the rotation of the knob 40 with respect to the body onto^' which it is mounted can apply also to conventional thermostatic heads , i . e . thermostatic heads that should be associated with a valve provided with a valve body and a shutter 18 for regulating the fluid getting into the heating element . The invention has important advantages . First of all , it allows to regulate the flow of the fluid getting into a heating element of a fluid dynamic system using one device instead of two, as it occurs as a rule . This has enabled first of all a significant reduction of the number of components with several positive effects , among which a consistent reduction of manufacturing, assembling, storing and order management and transport costs for instance . Secondly, some functional redundancies between traditional components have been eliminated, thus obtaining a device with a more rational , light and compact structure . In practice , with respect to known solutions , the valve body traditionally mounted into the thermostatizable valve has been eliminated and its functions are now performed by the safety cartridge onto which a shutter is mounted.

Further advantages of the device are its simple feasibility and its flexible use since it can be adapted basically to various types of systems . . :. Finally, the invention is provided with a knob blocking system integrated into the knob, which can be easily set and is safe against unintentional tampering . In practice , any . material and size can be used, depending on needs , and moreover all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements .

Claims

1. A device ( 1) for regulating a fluid flow comprising : a main body (20 ) having at least a channel (21) with an inlet (22 ) and an outlet (23 ) for said fluid, a knob (40 ) associated with said main body (20 )^" and moving with respect to said main body (20 ) , a safety cartridge ( 14 ) at least partially inserted into said main body (20 ) , a thermostatic motor (11) housed inside said knob (40) • for moving integrally with the latter and acting operatively upon said safety cartridge (14 ) ; characterized in that : said main body (20 ) can be coupled on said inlet (22 ) and said outlet (23 ) to pipes of a fluidodynamic system, and in that it further comprises a shutter (18 ) operatively associated with said safety cartridge (14 ) and moving inside said channel (21) for regulating fluid flow rate and an elastic return element ( 19) of said shutter (18 ) .

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises a hollow secondary body (30 ) mounted onto said main body (20 ) and in that said knob (40) is ^■ mounted rotatingly onto said secondary body (30) and can move axially with respect to said secondary body (30) and to said main body (2O) .

3. The device according to claim 2 , characterized in that said secondary body (30) is mounted rotatingly onto said main body (20) .

4. The device according to claim 3 , characterized in that said secondary body (30) is equipped with means for being fastened to said main body (20) in at least two distinct angular positions .

5. The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that said at least two positions for fastening said secondary body (30) to said main body (20) are located at a mutual distance basically of 180 ° .

6. The device according to claim 5 , characterized in that said fastening means comprise at least two seats (26) on said main body (20) in said at least two distinct angular positions, and at least a fastening element (32) associated with said secondary body (30) and to be elastically inserted into said seats (26) .

7. The device according to any of the preceding claims,- characterized in that said safety cartridge (14) comprises : a cup (15) , an elastic thrust element

(16) placed inside said cup (15) and a thrust element

(17) having a first end associated with said thermo- static motor ^• (11) and a second end acting upon said elastic thrust element (16) .

8. The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that said shutter ( 18 ) is connected outside said cup ( 15 ) . . ^{• ■}

9. The device according to claims 7 or 8 , characterized in that said elastic return element (19 ) has a first end associated with said main body (20 ) and a second end acting operatively upon said cup (15 ) , and in that it has a higher elasticity than said elastic thrust element (16) of said safety cartridge ( 14 ) .

10. The device according to any of the claims 2 to 9 , characterized in that it further comprises interference means (50 ) for limiting the relative shifting between said second body (30 ) and said knob (40 ) , at lea;st between a maximum and a minimum flow position, and for blocking selectively said knob (40 ) with respect to said secondary body (30 ) in a plurality of given intermediate positions .

11. The device according to any of the claims 2 to 10 , characterized in that it further comprises sealing elements (34 ) placed between said secondary body (30 ) and said main body (20) and between said secondary

-bϋdy — (^"3Oi — a3id—s^±dr^]ircreir^leτrtHπt — t vent said fluid coming from said system from getting OUt .

12. The device according to any of the claims 2 to 11 , characterized in that it further comprises assembling means (33 ) placed between said main body (20 ) and said secondary body (30 ) for enabling their relative rotation and preventing their release .

13. The device (1) for regulating a fluid flow preferably according to one of the preceding- claims , comprising : a main body (20) that can be coupled on a first end to a fluidodynamic system and that has a threading (51) near a second end, a knob (40 ) screwed onto said main body (20) by means of a counter-threading, a thermostatic motor (11) moving integrally with said knob (40 ) , a safety cartridge (14 ) at least partially inserted into said main body (20) and associated operatively with said thermostatic motor (11) , interference means (50 ) for limiting the relative shifting between said main body (20 ) and said knob (40) , at least between a maximum and a minimum flow position, and for blocking selectively said knob (40) with respect to said main body (20 ) in a plurality of giveni'intermediate positions ; , .'... characterized in that said interference means (50 ) comprise a plurality of seats ( 61) arranged on said main body (20 ) and a moving element (56) associated with said knob (40 ) and to be selectively engaged with said seats (61) .

14. The device according to claim 13 , characterized in that said interference means (50 ) are placed between two main grooves (52 ) of said threading (51) .

15. The device according to claim 14 , characterized in that said interference means (50 ) comprise a secondary groove (53 ) of given length arranged between said two main grooves (52 ) of said threading (51) and a plurality of teeth (55) arranged on a top portion (54 ) coupled to said secondary groove (53 ) .

16. The device according to claim 15 , characterized in that said moving element (56) has a proj ecting element (58 ) and in that it can shift from a first posi tion in which said proj ecting element (58 ) is inserted into said secondary groove (53 ) and slides therein, for limiting the rotation between said main body (20 ) and said knob (40 ) between two end-of-stroke positions , to a second position in which said proj ecting element (58 ) is blocked inside one of said seats (61 ) between two of said teeth (55)^' , for preventing the relative rotation between said main body (20 ) and said knob (40 ) .

17. The device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said moving element (56) is a plug snap- connected to said knob (40 ) for sliding between said two positions , and in that said knob (40 ) comprises resistance means (59) for preventing the unintentional passage of said plug (56) between said two positions .

18. The device according to any of the claims 13 to 17 , characterized in that it is a thermostatic head arid in that said main body (20 ) can be coupled by means of said first end to a thermostatizable valve .

19. The device according to any of the claims 13 to 17 , characterized in that : said main body (20 ) has a channel (21) for said fluid having an inlet (22 ) and an outlet (23 ) on said first end, and in that it can be coupled to pipes of a fluid dynamic system on said inlet (22 ) and on said outlet (23 ) , it further comprises a shutter (18 ) operatively associated with said safety cartridge (14 ) and moving inside said channel (21) for regulating fluid flow rate and an elastic return element ( 19) of said shutter (18 ) .

20._. The device / according to claim 19 , characterized in that it further comprises a secondary body (30) having a cavity, mounted onto said main body (20) on said second end of said main body (20 ) , and in that : said threading (51) is arranged on said secondary body (30) , said knob (40 ) is screwed onto said secondary body (30 ) through said counter-threading, said interference means (50 ) are placed between said secondary body (30) and said knob (40) for limiting the relative shifting between said secondary body (30 ) and said knob (40 ) , at least between a maximum and a minimum flow position, and for blocking selectively said knob (40) with respect to said secondary body (30 ) in a plurality of given intermediate positions , and comprise a plurality of seats ( Sl) arranged on said secondary body (30 ) and a moving element (56) associated with said knob (40) and to be selectively engaged with said seats (61) .

21. A heating element characterized in that it comprises and is coupled to a device for regulating a fluid flow according to any of the preceding claims .

22. A fluid dynamic system characterized in that, it comprises a device for regulating a fluid flow according to any of the preceding claims .