WO2011139146A1

WO2011139146A1 - Valve member

Info

Publication number: WO2011139146A1
Application number: PCT/NL2011/050293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Austin Charles De Bie
Original assignee: Jorc Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2010-05-04
Filing date: 2011-04-29
Publication date: 2011-11-10
Also published as: NL2004666C2

Abstract

Valve member for passage of fluid, the valve member being provided with an internally located reservoir (13) comprising an inlet (1) and an outlet channel (2) connected to the outside world. The valve member is further provided with a closing member (5) for closing the outlet channel (2), wherein the closing member (5) is displaceable via an operating member (12) coupled thereto between a closed position, wherein the closing member (5) closes the outlet channel (2) to prevent fluid being discharged via the outlet channel (2) and an open position wherein the closing member (5) does not close the outlet channel (2) so as to enable discharge of fluid via the outlet channel (2).

Description

Valve member

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a valve member for passage of fluid, the valve member being provided with an internally located reservoir comprising an inlet and an outlet channel connected to the outside world, wherein the valve member is further provided with a closing member for closing the outlet channel, wherein the closing member is displaceable via an operating member coupled thereto between a closed position, wherein the closing member closes the outlet channel to prevent fluid being discharged via the outlet channel, and an open position wherein the closing member does not close the outlet channel so as to enable discharge of fluid via the outlet channel.

The invention further relates to the device comprising such a valve member.

Such a device and valve member are known from NL-1028240.

Although the device described in this patent operates extremely well in practice, it has also been found that in determined applications the use of magnets in such a device can be disadvantageous. The drawback which can occur is that specific contaminants present in the fluid are attracted by the magnets and therefore begin to accumulate, which in the longer term can adversely affect the operation of such a valve member, this requiring inter alia more maintenance of the valve member. The known valve member is also relatively voluminous due to the floats required for operation.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compact and low-maintenance valve member.

This object is achieved using the valve member according to the present invention in that the valve member is further provided with a second reservoir in which is located a seal dividing the second reservoir into two parts, which seal closes a first part of the second reservoir fluid-tightly, i.e. gas-tightly and liquid-tightly, from a second part of the second reservoir, wherein the seal is further coupled to the operating member, wherein a first part of the second reservoir is connected via a second inlet to a space which is closed off from the outside world and to which the first inlet of the first reservoir is likewise connected such that, by means of a fluid supplied through the second inlet, the seal including the operating member and the closing member of the first reservoir are displaceable from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa.

Using the valve member according to the invention it is possible, by connecting the two inlets, i.e. both the first inlet and the second inlet, to the same space, for fluid/fluids to be discharged from this space under the influence of the pressure of the fluid or fluids themselves. Thus, if the pressure increases in the space because for instance more fluid or fluids are collected in this space, the reservoirs will fill relatively quickly, wherein from a determined pressure in the second reservoir, also referred to as control reservoir, the seal including the operating member and the closing member are displaceable from a closed position to an open position, whereby fluid is discharged via the outlet channel to the outside through the outlet. No external control fluid or magnets as shown for instance in NL-1028240 are in this way required, whereby a compact, self-regulating and relatively low-maintenance valve member is provided.

An embodiment of the valve member according to the invention comprises the features that the second reservoir is provided with a second outlet channel, wherein the second outlet channel preferably debouches in the first outlet channel.

Such an outlet channel is necessary as pressure relief valve. By having the second outlet channel debouch in the first outlet channel only one outlet is needed in the valve member for discharge of the fluid or the fluids.

A further embodiment of the valve member according to the invention comprises the features that the second outlet channel lies in the second part of the second reservoir, wherein a passage to be operated using a detection unit is arranged in the seal, through which passage the fluid can displace from the first part to the second part.

The detection unit preferably registers the distance already travelled by the seal, wherein the passage is opened when a predetermined distance is reached. A self-regulating system is in this way provided which is automatically opened in an overpressure phase and is automatically closed when the pressure falls. The detection unit is for instance a simple sensor which is activated when the seal is displaced past a determined point. The invention further relates to a device for discharging fluid provided with an above described valve member and with a container, wherein the inlets debouch in the interior space of the container and the outlet channels, or at least the second outlet channel, debouch or debouches externally or outside the container.

The invention will be further elucidated hereinafter on the basis of a description of an embodiment of a valve member according to the present invention which should not be interpreted as being limitative for the present invention, and with reference to the enclosed figures.

Figure 1 shows a valve member according to the present invention,

Figure 2 shows a first phase of the application of the valve member of figure 1 ,

Figure 3 shows a second phase of the application of the valve member of figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a third phase of the application of the valve member of figure 1 ,

Figure 5 shows a fourth phase of the application of the valve member of figure 1 ,

Figure 6 shows a fifth phase of the application of the valve member of figure 1.

The same components are designated in the different figures with corresponding reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a valve member 100 according to the present invention, which valve member 100 is normally mounted in a device {not shown), this device being for instance the compressed air condensate drain system shown in the figures of NL-1028240.

Valve member 100 is of the direct acting valve type, which will in general be known to the skilled person, so that a limited elucidation thereof will suffice here.

Valve member 100 is provided with a first internally located reservoir

13 which is connected via an inlet 1 and an outlet channel 2 to the outside world. Valve member 100 is further provided with a closing member 5 for closing outlet channel 2, wherein closing member 5 can displace, via an operating member 12 coupled thereto, between a closed position, wherein closing member 5 closes the outlet channel to prevent fluid being discharged via the outlet channel, and an open position wherein closing member 5 does not close outlet channel 2 so as to enable discharge of fluid via outlet channel 2 to outlet 7.

Valve member 100 is further provided with a second internally located reservoir 4 in which is located a seal 6 dividing second reservoir 4 into two parts. This seal 6 closes a first part 14 fluid-tightly from a second part 15 of second reservoir 4. Seal 6 is further coupled to operating member 12, wherein a first part 14 of reservoir 4 is connected via a second inlet 3 to a space 16, indicated with broken lines in figure 3, in which fluid or fluids are collected, such as for instance condensate and moist compressed air. First inlet 1 of first reservoir 13 is also connected to this space 16.

Second reservoir 4 is also provided with a second outlet channel 11 , which second outlet channel 11 debouches in first outlet channel 2 so as to allow discharge via the outlet out of valve member 100 and normally outside the device (not shown).

The opening of second outlet channel 11 is located in the second part 15 of second reservoir 4. Located in seal 6 is a detection unit 9 in the form of a mechanism comprising a plunger 9 which protrudes relative to seal 6. When seal 6 displaces under the influence of fluid in first part 14 of second reservoir 4 in the direction of arrow P1 shown in figure 4, plunger 9 will reach a wall 8 of reservoir 4 sooner than seal 6. Once it lies against wall 8, plunger 9 cannot be displaced further. Seal 6 can however still be displaced further, and will therefore displace relative to plunger 9. This displacement creates a passage 10 in the seal. Figure 5 shows an open passage 10. The fluid can displace from first part 14 to second part 15 through this open passage 10. Seal 6 is displaceabie relative to plunger 9, counter to the spring force of a spring (not shown) of the plunger, in a first direction indicated by P1 , wherein at the moment the spring force is greater than the pressure of the fluid in first part 14 of reservoir 4 the plunger is displaced in a second direction, indicated by arrow P2 (figure 6), opposite to the first direction P1, whereby passage 10 is closed once again as shown in figure 6.

The operation of the valve shown in the figures in a compressed air condensate system is as follows: - Fluid, for instance condensate, is collected in space 16 and, when the level is high enough, is also collected in first reservoir 13 via inlet 1. Because outlet channel 2 is closed using closing member 5, the condensate is collected in this reservoir 13. This situation is shown in figure 2.

- Present in space 16 in addition to the condensate is moist compressed air which is guided via second inlet 3 into first part 14 of second reservoir 4. If the space 16 located outside valve member 100 continues to fill, a pressure will slowly develop in first part 14 of second reservoir 4 by means of the moist compressed air. This situation is shown in figure 3.

- Owing to this pressure in first part 14 of second reservoir 4 the seal 6 is displaced toward wall 8 in the direction indicated by arrow P1. This situation is shown in figure 4.

- Due to this displacement of seal 6 having fixed thereto operating member 12 on which closing member 5 is mounted, closing member 5 will be simultaneously displaced from a closed position as shown in figures 2 and 3 to an open position as shown in figure 4, so that condensate in first reservoir 13 can flow via outlet channel 2 to outlet 7.

- As seal 6 is displaced further in the direction indicated by arrow P1, and therefore further in the direction of wall 8, plunger 9 will come up against wall 8. This situation is shown in figure 5.

- As soon as plunger 9 lies against wall 8 and seal 6 is displaced further in the direction indicated by arrow P1, seal 6 will be displaced relative to plunger 9, whereby a passage 10 is opened in seal 6.

- In this situation the compressed air collected due to this seal 6 in first part 14 of second reservoir 4 will escape via passage 10 to second part 15 of second reservoir

4. In second part 15 of second reservoir 4 the air will escape via second outlet channel 11.

- The air that has escaped will then flow via second outlet channel 11 and via a part of first outlet channel 2 to outlet 7, this outlet 7 being the same outlet 7 as that of first outlet channel 7. This situation is likewise shown in figure 5.

- Owing to the escape of air the pressure which has developed in first part 14 of second reservoir 4 falls, whereby plunger 9, by means of a resistance generated by a spring (not shown), will move away from wall 8 in the direction indicated by arrow P2. This displacement takes place relative to seal 6, whereby passage 10 will automatically close. This situation is shown in figure 6.

- When the seal and the plunger together displace further in the direction indicated by arrow 92, the closing member 5 mounted on operating member 12 will be simultaneously displaced back to the closed position so that discharge of liquid through outlet channel 2 is no longer possible. This situation is likewise shown in figure 6.

- As soon as pressure develops again via second inlet 3, outlet channel 2 will again be opened and the cycle will begin all over again.

It is also possible in principle for the control gas, in this exemplary embodiment compressed air collected in the second reservoir, to be a control liquid, even the same liquid as that collected in reservoir 1.

It is further possible to reverse the reservoirs so that the control reservoir is on the underside. It is even possible to dispose the reservoirs adjacently of each other. It is also possible for closing member 5 and seal 6, which in the shown embodiment displace vertically, to both displace horizontally or for only one of the two to displace horizontally.

Although not shown, it should be noted that as alternative a valve member can be used of the indirect acting valve type or diaphragm valve type. These types of valve member are also per se known to the skilled person, so that a lengthy description of such a type of valve member need not be given within the context of the present invention.

Claims

1. A Valve member for passage of fluid, the valve member being provided with an internally located reservoir comprising an inlet and an outlet channel connected to the outside world, wherein the valve member is further provided with a closing member for closing the outlet channel, wherein the closing member is displaceabte via an operating member coupled thereto between a closed position, wherein the closing member closes the outlet channel to prevent fluid being discharged via the outlet channel, and an open position wherein the closing member does not close the outlet channel so as to enable discharge of fluid via the outlet channel, characterized in that the valve member is further provided with a second reservoir in which is located a seal dividing the second reservoir into two parts, which seal closes a first part of the second reservoir f!uid-tightly from a second part of the second reservoir, wherein the seal is further coupled to the operating member, wherein a first part of the second reservoir is connected via a second inlet to a space which is closed off from the outside world and to which the first inlet of the first reservoir is likewise connected such that, by means of a fluid supplied through the second inlet, the seal including the operating member and the closing member of the first reservoir are displaceable from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa.

2. Valve member according to claim 1, characterized in that the second reservoir is provided with a second outlet channel.

3. Valve member according to claim 2, characterized in that the second outlet channel debouches in the first outlet channel.

4. Valve member according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second outlet channel lies in the second part of the second reservoir, wherein a passage to be operated using a detection unit is arranged in the seal, through which passage the fluid can displace from the first part to the second part.

5. Valve member according to claim 4, characterized in that the detection unit registers a distance travelled by the seal, wherein the passage is opened when a predetermined distance is reached.

6. Valve member according to claim 4, characterized in that the detection unit is a mechanism comprising a plunger which protrudes from the seal and which, when the seal is displaced, reaches a wall of the reservoir sooner than the seal, after which the seal displaces relative to the plunger, wherein the passage is created.

7. Valve member according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal is displaceable in a first direction relative to the plunger counter to the spring force of a spring of the plunger, wherein at the moment the spring force is greater than a pressure of the fluid in the first part of the reservoir the plunger is displaced in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

8. Device for discharging fluid and provided with a valve member according to any one of the preceding claims and with a container, wherein the inlets debouch in an interior space of the container.

9. Device for discharging fluid provided with a valve member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a condensate and humidified compressed air are present in the space.