WO2015165465A1

WO2015165465A1 - Valve unit, a method of opening and closing such a valve unit and use of such a valve unit

Info

Publication number: WO2015165465A1
Application number: PCT/DK2015/050094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Martin Harslov
Original assignee: Skov A/S
Priority date: 2014-04-28
Filing date: 2015-04-16
Publication date: 2015-11-05
Also published as: DK178221B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve unit (1) for intake of air in a building. It includes a frame (2), which defines an opening (3) in the building and at least one closing panel (8) hinged connected to the frame (2) and a first spring (10), which is designed to move the closing panel / closing panels (8) from an open to a closing position, by which the opening (3) is blocked for air intake. The closing panel / closing panels (8) includes a master closing panel (13), which master closing panel (13) is additionally connected to the frame (2) by a toggle joint connection (14), which includes another spring (16). The toggle joint connection (14) is designed to lock the closing panel / panels (8) in its / their closing position. There is hereby achieved a locking of the closing panels in the closing position, such that the valve unit does not accidentally open.

Description

VALVE UNIT, A METHOD OF OPENING AND CLOSING SUCH

A VALVE UNIT AND USE OF SUCH A VALVE UNIT

The invention relates to a valve unit for inlet of air in a building including

- a frame, which defines an opening in the building, which frame includes a first side panel and a hereby parallel other side panel and a top panel and a hereby parallel bottom panel, which top and bottom panels connect the two side panels, by which the frame is provided;

- at least one closing panel hinged connected to the frame and a first spring, which is designed to move the closing panel / closing panels from an open to a closing position, by which the opening is blocked for air inlet,

- and that the closing panel / closing panels include a master closing panel, which master closing panel is connected to the frame by a toggle joint connection, which toggle joint connection is designed to close the closing panel / panels in its / their closing position.

The invention also relates to a method for opening and closing the valve unit.

Furthermore, the invention relates to use of the valve unit.

It is generally known to use wall valves in stables where they are intended to ensure fresh air to the stable. The air must ventilate the stable at the right height, amount and speed. At low outdoor temperatures, the ventilation is used to remove the harmful gasses that the animals emit, for example carbon dioxide. This means that cool air is coming into the stable. If this air does not have the right temperature and speed, there can occur problems. In warm weather, the ventilation must remove excess heat from the animals and if possible create air movement around the animals to give a cooling effect.

At the same time the air must be distributed throughout the whole stable and used to the maximum with minimum energy consumption. The valve has a differential opening such that the inflow amount and the direction are adjusted. This opening occurs by a rectangular plate placed in a frame, and where the closure of the plate is ensured with a spring, which connects the plate to the frame. By opening the valve, the plate is being pulled.

The ventilation in the stable is further ensured by a fan located in the ceiling, which ensures pressure differences between the inside of the barn and the exterior.

From US 3830146 is known a valve, for use in stables, including several rectangular panels, where the adjustment can be regulated such that the air current, amount and direction, which are provided between the panels, can be regulated. The locking of the panels occurs by use of a separate closing mechanism including a closing arm and a spring. To regulate the inflow opening, the valve system additionally includes a sliding door placed in front of the panels. The sliding door's position determines the size of the air intake opening. The system thus includes many components to be able to regulate both amount and direction of the air intake. Furthermore, a sliding door is an inappropriate construction in a stable environment, since the grooves which the sliding doors slide in are easily blocked.

From GB2472994 is known a valve unit as stated in the introduction. The valve unit is however constructed such that the valve unit's closing is not ensured sufficiently.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a system that does not have the above stated drawbacks or which at least provides a useful alternative to the prior art.

This object is achieved by a valve unit of the in the introduction specified, and where the toggle joint connection comprises another spring.

By this construction it is achieved that the closing panel / panels close by application of the first spring while the toggle joint connection with the other spring ensures that the closing panels are not accidentally opened if the valve unit should suddenly be exposed to a strong pressure for example strong wind, since the other spring locks the master panel and thus all the panels. Each closing panel's outermost free edge facing the interior of the building in the closed position ends up against the rear edge / bottom of the panel located above the concerned panel. The closing panels' underside thus faces against the building's inside when the valve unit is in closed position.

The toggle joint itself in the toggle joint connection will together with the spring function as a lock, and thus prevent that a force on the outside of the closing panels opens these. By contrast, if there is pulled in the toggle joint, which is exposed in towards the interior of the building, the lock will be triggered and the panels will in their hinges be able to turn to the desired position and thus expose openings between the panels and of the desired size. By changing the panels' angle in relation to the vertical plane, the wind inlet's direction can be controlled and regulated.

By master closing panel it is understood the closing panels, if there are several, which includes the toggle joint connection.

By opening is understood the air intake openings between the closing panels and between the closing panels and the frame.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the valve unit includes several parallel and with distance between them placed closing panels, which closing panels are each hinged connected to the first and second side panel and additionally connected to each other by a first connection element. It is hereby supported that the panels carry out the same synchronous movement by opening and closing of the valve unit, and that the angle between them is kept and the openings provided between the closing panels are of the same direction and size. Connection element can be a chain, a cord/rope, wire, rod or cable, which is placed in each of the free corners of each closing panel and thus connect them with each other. The element is mounted in the corner of each of the rectangular closing panels in a flexible connection, such that the movement of the closing panels is not hindered. By short panels it is however sufficient that there is only placed a wire / rod in one side of the panels, while it by longer, is necessary that there is placed a connection in both the free corners of the panels or at least in the rim area.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the toggle joint connection includes a first arm and another arm connected rotatably to each other in a toggle joint, between which arms the other spring is placed, which first arm with first items is rotatably connected directly or indirectly to the frame and which other arm with other items is rotatably connected to the master closing panel.

This is an appropriate form of the toggle joint connection itself and ensures that the closing panels are locked in closing position.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, there is formed between the first and other arm, measured between the respective longitudinal axes of the arms, an angle v1 turning towards the master closing panel's underside, which angle has the size a, when the closing panel / panels are in open position and has the size b when the closing panels are in closing position and where a is smaller than b and that the angle v1 in the valve unit's closing position is larger than 180 degrees.

It is hereby ensured that the valve remains closed even under large force influence on the panels' upper side in the closing position.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the other spring is designed to be tensioned and to exercise its largest spring power when the valve is in open position.

The two springs each have their function since the first spring ensures that the valve closes while the other spring ensures that the valve remains closed and that the closing panels will lock in their closing position.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the other spring includes a first free end and another free end, which first free end is fixed to the first arm, and which other free end is fixed to the other arm, whereby there is exercised a force between the first and other arm when the valve unit is in its closing position.

A spring is hereby achieved with the desired and contracting spring power, which exercises a force on the toggle joint connection such that the two arms are exposed to a force influence, which seeks to press the two legs apart. The spring can for example be a coil spring, a leaf spring or a spiral spring.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the valve unit includes a pull unit including a pulling machine, which pulling unit by exercising a force opens the valve unit and that the valve unit is designed for the closing panels taking closing position when the pulling unit is not active.

The pulling machine is typically an activator, which is connected to the toggle joint connection by application of a flexible element such as a cord, rope, wire which thus constitutes the pulling unit. The pulling machine can however also be an electromotor, which is placed directly or indirectly in connection with the toggle joint; finally, the pulling machine can be a sheave and manually operated.

In a additionally preferred embodiment, the pulling unit includes the pulling machine and a first wheel, placed in the toggle joint, and a cord / wire connection, which cord / wire connection is secured directly or indirectly to the first and / or second side panel in the cord / wire's one free end, and the second free end of the cord / wire connection is secured in the pulling machine, and that the first wheel is designed to support the same cords / wire connection. Typically, the pulling unit will also include an auxiliary wheel placed on the frame itself and which the wire is passed over. By this arrangement is achieved a good exchange between the force which the pulling machine is to exercise and the force that must be overcome. Typically, the gearing is 1 :2 such that when the second spring exerts a closing force of 30 kg, the pulling machine must only exert a force of 15 kg to neutralize the closing force.

The invention also relates to a method for opening and closing the valve unit, where the valve unit is opened by providing a force Kx with working point in the toggle joint connection, which force exceeds the other spring's spring force; and that the valve unit by closing the opening is closed by the force Kx being changed to 0, whereby the first spring power's spring force provides closing of the panel, and that the other spring and the toggle joint connection provide a locking of the closing panels in the closing position. The invention also relates to use of the valve unit for stable buildings for storage of preferably pigs, poultry and other animals. Claim 10

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the closing panels are manufactured in an isolating material such as polyurethane.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the closing panels are provided with wires / cords / chains / rods in both the free corners such that there occurs a uniform force influence on the panels, also by very long panels. In an additionally preferred embodiment, the master closing panel is placed in the middle of rows of closing panels. It is hereby achieved that the locking force becomes distributed in the best way.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the valve unit includes 1 -7 closing panels, preferably 3-5 closing panels.

By using an uneven number of closing panels it is ensured that the master closing panel can be placed precisely in the middle.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the closing panels provide, in closed position, a closed surface without openings.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the valve unit is placed in the wall of a stable building.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the closing panel's / panels' lower side face towards the building's inside when the valve is in closing position.

In an additionally preferred embodiment, the closing panels are rectangular plates. The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, where

Fig. 1 shows a valve unit according to the invention seen in perspective Fig. 2 shows the valve unit in fig. 1 seen from the front and with closed closing panels.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed image of the valve unit according to the invention, which shows the master closing panel, seen from the side, and the connection element for the adjacent closing panels. Fig. 4 shows a detailed image of an embodiment example of a toggle joint connection for use in a valve unit according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a detailed image of an embodiment of a first spring, which is included in the closing of the valve unit according to the invention and the relation to a closing panel.

Fig. 6 shows detailed image of the master closing panel, seen from the side, when this is in closed position, and its relation to the adjacent closing panels.

Fig. 1 shows a valve unit 1 according to the invention seen in perspective. This includes a frame 2, which consists of a first side panel 4, another side panel 4, a top panel 6 and a bottom panel 7. The panels provide a quadratic or rectangular frame 2. In the frame 2 there is at hinges 9 mounted rectangular closing panels 8, which by turning in the hinge can take different open positions and a closing position as shown in fig. 2 where the closing panels' 8 lower side 11 faces in towards the room, the stable, which they close off in towards. The number of closing panels 8 is in this embodiment 5. In open position, air will enter into the stable between a closing panel's 8 upper side 12 and the adjacent closing panel's 8 lower side 13, which constitutes a part of an opening 3. Each closing panel 8 is at two first springs 10 consisting of a spiral spring or similar mounted to respectively the first side panel 4 and other side panel 5. The first springs 10 ensure that the closing panels take closing position if the closing panels are not exposed to an open force.

In the middle of the closing panels 8, there is a master closing panel 13 mounted. The master closing panel 13 is shaped as the additional closing panels 8, but also includes a toggle joint connection 14. The toggle joint connection 8 will be explained further with reference to fig. 3 and 4. All the closing panels 8 are pre connected to each other in the two anterior free corners 31 by application of a first connection element 17 consisting of a chain / rod. The connection element 17 includes in this case 8 rods. They are clicked in on the side of the panels and rotatably embedded, perpendicular to the panels' end surface.

Fig. 2 shows the valve unit in fig. 1 seen from the front and with closed closing panels 8. Hereby, a coherent closing surface is provided, which the air can not penetrate through. The closing panels are appropriately designed in an isolating material, such as a polyurethane foam material. Dependent on the climatic conditions, the panels can also be manufactured from other materials such as hard plastic. The reference numbers shown in fig. 2 refer to the same concepts as stated by fig. 1.

Closing of the valve unit 1 occurs by the first spring 10 exercising closing force on the closing panels 8 such that the closing panels 8 lie mostly plane to the frame 2 and rest in a flange in the frame 2 in the actual closing position. By opening of the valve unit, a pulling unit is activated (not shown on the drawing) including a pulling machine for example consisting of an activator, which is placed appropriately below the lowermost closing panel 8. A cord / wire (not shown on the drawing) is connected to the activator with the one free end (not shown on the drawing) and runs over another wheel arrangement 30 mounted on the frame's lowermost part. From here, the wire runs up over a first wheel 27, which is mounted in the toggle joint connection 14 and from here further down to a helping arm 32, which is a profile placed below the master closing panel 13.

The wire attaches here with its other free end. By this arrangement, a good exchange is achieved between the force, which is necessary to open the panel and the force itself, which locks the closing panels 8 in their closing position.

The opening of the valve unit 1 could occur in other ways; for example there could be placed an electromotor directly in the toggle joint and which carried out opening of the valve unit. Fig. 3 shows a detailed image of the valve unit 1 according to the invention and shows the master closing panel 13 seen from the side, the toggle joint connection 14 and a first connection element 17 for the adjacent closing panels 8 while fig. 4 shows a toggle joint 15, which is included in the toggle joint connection 14. With reference to these figures, the toggle joint connection 14 will be gone through.

The toggle joint connection 14 is a construction, which is only attached to the master closing panel 13, of which there in the shown example is only 1. There could, however, be more if desired. The toggle joint connection 14 includes a first arm 18 and another arm 19, which is connected rotatably to each other in a toggle joint 15. Between the two arms 18,19 is provided an angle v1 with the reference number 20. The angle is acute when the closing panels 8 are in open position. In the toggle joint 15 is placed another spring 16. This spring 16 is here a spiral spring including a first free end 21 fixed to the first arm 18 and another free end 22 fixed to the other arm 19. The spring provides a force between the two arms. The spring 16 is placed on the surface of the arms / profiles 18,19, which faces towards the closing panels 8. Opposite this surface is placed the first wheel 27, which reduces the friction by opening of the closing panels 8, when the pulling unit includes a wire / cord 25, which proceeds with contact above the toggle joint connection 14 and is here fixed in the free end 29 for the helping arm 32. The wire 25 could, however, also be fixed directly in the toggle joint connection 14, but in such case the force, which is provided during the opening of the valve unit, must be as large as the closing force, which the other spring 16 exercises by locking of the valve unit 1.

The helping arm 32 is fixed to the frame 2, which is a profile placed below the master closing panel 13, which is included in the pulling unit's function. On the tip of this is attached a helping wheel 33, which supports the pulling wire. The first arm 18 is rotatably connected directly or indirectly to the frame 2 by a first item 34 consisting of a hinge connection and the other arm 19 is connected rotatably to the master closing panel 13 by another item 35 consisting of a hinge connection.

Fig. 5 shows a closing panel 8, shown from the side, and where its hinged connection to the frame 2 appears. The connection comprises a hinge 9 and a first spring 10. The hinge 9 ensures that the closure panel can rotate freely in relation to the frame 2, while the first spring 10 exerts a force on the closing panel 8 in upward direction. Hereby, the panel will turn up into its closing position, where the closing panels 8 are mostly in vertical position, as opposed to the open position, where the closing panels are in a position other than a vertical. The shown closing panel 8 is the lowermost placed closing panel 8, wherefore the first connecting element 17 connects only upwards towards the above located closing panel 8. Below the lowermost closing panel 8, the other wheel arrangement 30 is placed on the frame and includes two wheels, which guide the wire from the toggle joint connection 14 down to the pulling machine in the desired angle.

Figure 6 shows the toggle joint connection 14 when the valve unit 1 is closed. Reference numbers indicated in the figure are the same as indicated by the previous figures. The closing panel's 8 upper side 12 faces the stable's external environment, while the lower side 13 faces in towards the stable's interior. The angle v1 - between the longitudinal axis of the first arm 18 and second arm's 19 longitudinal axis and in direction towards the stable's external side - is greater than 180 degrees in this position. When the closing panels 8 are in open position, the angle assumes the size a (less than 180 degrees) and the size b when the closing panels are in closing position. The other spring 16 itself is clamped in this position and ensures together with the toggle joint's 15 position that the closing panels 8 are locked in the closing position. This ensures that pressure changes do not result in the valve opening and / or stands and chatters. The valve unit thus functions by it being opened by providing a force Kx with working point in the toggle joint. The force exceeds the spring force of the second spring. A pulling unit is used for this purpose, as described above; When the closing panels have taken the correct position, the pulling unit is locked in this position. The closing panels can take different angles in relation to the vertical plane depending on which direction and which amount of air that is desired to be blown into the stable.

The valve unit is closed by the force Kx being changed to 0, whereby the first spring's spring power provides closure of the panel. As a result of the interaction between the toggle joint and the other spring there occurs a locking of the closing panels in this closing position.

The valve unit is suitable for stables housing pigs, hens, or other animals. The stable will often further comprise a ventilator for example placed in the ceiling and which ensures that there arises pressure difference between the interior of the stable and the exterior. It is hereby ensured that an injection occurs through the valve unit.

A control unit can control a potential interaction between the valve unit, according to the invention, and the ventilator.

Reference numbers

I Valve unit

2 frame

3 opening

4 first side panel

5 other side panel

6 top panel

7 bottom panel

8 closing panel

9 hinges

10 first spring

I I the closing panel's / panels' lower side 12 the closing panel's / panels' upper side

13 master closing panel

14 toggle joint connection

15 toggle joint

16 other spring

17 first connection element.

18 first arm

19 other arm

20 the angle v1

21 first free end

22 other free end

25 cords / wire

27 first wheel

29 free end of the cord / wire connection 30 other wheel arrangement

31 free corners helping arm helping wheel first items other items

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

Valve unit (1) for inlet of air in a building including a frame

(2), which defines an opening

(3) in the building, which frame (2) includes a first side panel

(4) and a hereby parallel other side panel

(5) and a top panel

(6) and a hereby parallel bottom panel (7), which top and bottom panels (6,

7) connect the two side panels (4,5), by which the frame (2) is provided; at least one closing panel (8) hinged connected to the frame (2) and a first spring (10), which is designed to move the closing panel / closing panels (8) from an open to a closing position, by which the opening (3) is blocked for air inlet, that the closing panel / closing panels (8) include a master closing panel ( 3), which master closing panel ( 3) is additionally

connected to the frame (2) by a toggle joint connection (14), which toggle joint connection (14) is designed to lock the closing panel / panels (8) in its / their closing position characterized in that the toggle joint connection (14) includes another spring (16).

Valve unit (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the valve unit (1) includes several parallel and with distance between them placed closing panels (8), which closing panels (8) are each hinged connected to the first (4) and second (5) side panel and additionally connected to each other by a first connection element (17).

Valve unit (1) according to claim 1 -2 characterized in that the toggle joint connection (14) includes a first arm (18) and another arm (19) connected rotatably to each other in a toggle joint (15), between which arms (18,19) the other spring (16) is placed, which first arm (18) with first items (34) is rotatably connected directly or indirectly to the frame (2) and which other arm (19) with other items (35) is rotatably connected to the master closing panel (13).

Valve unit (1 ) according to claim 3 characterized in that there is formed, between the first (18) and other (19) arm, measured between the respective longitudinal axes of the arms (18,19), an angle v1 turning towards the master closing panel's (13) underside, which angle v2 has the size a, when the closing panel / panels (8) are in open position and has the size b when the closing panels (8) are in closing position and where a is smaller than b and that the angle v1 in the valve unit's (1) closing position is larger than 180 degrees.

Valve unit (1 ) according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the other spring (16) is designed to be tensioned and to exercise its largest spring power when the valve unit (1) is in open position.

Valve unit (1) according to claim 3-5 characterized in that the other spring (16) includes a first free end (21) and another free end (22), which first free end (21 ) is fixed to the first arm (18), and which other free end (22) is fixed to the other arm (19), whereby there is exercised a force between the first (18) and other (19) arm when the valve unit (1) is in its closing position.

Valve unit (1 ) according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the valve unit (1 ) includes a pull unit including a pulling machine, which pulling unit by exercising a force opens the valve unit (1) and that the valve unit (1) is designed for the closing panels taking closing position when the pulling unit is not active.

8. Valve unit (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the pulling unit includes the pulling machine and a first wheel (27) placed in the toggle joint (15), and a cord / wire (25) connection, which cord / wire connection (25) is secured directly or indirectly to the first (4) and / or second (5) side panel in the cord / wire's one free end (29), and the second free end of the cord / wire connection is secured in the pulling machine, and that the first wheel (27) is designed to support the same cords / wire (25) connection.

9. Method for opening and closing a Valve unit (1) according to any of the previous claims characterized in that the valve unit (1 ) is opened by providing a force Kx with working point in the toggle joint connection (14), which force exceeds the other spring's (16) spring force; and that the valve unit (1) by closing the opening (3) is closed by the force Kx being changed to 0, whereby the first spring power's (10) spring force provides closing of the panel, and that the other spring (16) and the toggle joint connection (14) provide a locking of the closing panels (8) in the closing position.

10. Use of a Valve unit (1) according to claim 1 -8 for stable buildings for storage of preferably pigs, poultry and other animals.