WO2018228775A1

WO2018228775A1 - Lever valve

Info

Publication number: WO2018228775A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/062950
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romain LOLIA; Jean-Claude Schmitz
Original assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company S.A.
Priority date: 2017-06-16
Filing date: 2018-05-17
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Also published as: LU100298B1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a valve (1) for regulating the pressure and/or flow of pressurized gas, comprising: a body (2) with a gas inlet (2.1), a gas outlet (2.2) and a gas passage connecting the outlet (2.2) with the inlet (2.1); the pressure being regulated by means of a pre-stressed spring; wherein the tension of said spring is set by the position of an abutment element that can slide in the valve body; the position of said abutment element being regulated by means of a lever (3) that can pivot with respect to the valve body (2), wherein a pair of connecting rods (4) is interposed between the lever (3) and the abutment element.

Description

LEVER VALVE

Description

Technical field

[0001 ] The invention is directed to a valve for fluid and in particular for pressurized gas. More particularly, the invention relates to a valve with a pre-stressed spring and a lever for manually actuating the pre-stressed spring.

Background art

[0002] Prior art patent document US 4,240,464 discloses a combined pressure control and shut-off valve for pressurized gas. A lever is provided to pivot with respect to the valve body. The lever actuates an abutment element which sets the pre-stress of a spring, said pre-stressed spring acting on a piston which opens or closes the gas channel. The lever is acting on the abutment element through a cam (number 32 in this document). Depending on the position of the lever, the pre-stress of the spring varies. After several cycles of opening/closing the valve, the cam may be damaged. As a consequence, the pre-stress on the spring is not any more precisely set as the original value. A further drawback in that system is that the lever can be put in any random angular position. By actuating the lever, the user may not put it in the "completely open" position. As a consequence, the desired outlet pressure is not reached.

Summary of invention

Technical Problem

[0003] The invention has for technical problem to provide a valve with a more reliable and more precisely set outlet gas flow.

Technical solution

[0004] The invention is directed to a valve for regulating the pressure and/or flow of pressurized gas, comprising: a body with a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a gas passage connecting the outlet with the inlet; a gas shut-off device comprising a closure element and a spring applying a force to the closure element, the closure element being movable along a first axis by means of the said spring; a piston being slideable along said first axis and adapted to contact the closure element on the side of the closure element opposite the spring; a pre-stressed spring applying a force to the piston along said first axis and positioned on the side of the piston opposite the closure element; a lever which can pivot with respect to the body around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the pivoting motion of the lever setting the desired pre-stress on the pre-stressed spring by acting on an abutment element, the abutment element being positioned on the side of the pre- stressed spring opposite the piston; wherein a pair of connecting rods is provided intermediate the lever and the abutment element, each rod being in pivoting connection with the lever and in pivoting connection with the abutment element.

[0005] Such an arrangement with connecting rods prevents a direct contact between the lever and the abutment element and is therefore particularly advantageous to limit damages to the lever. Moreover, thanks to the specific arrangement of the connecting rods, the lever has two particular preferred positions. These equilibrium positions are "closed" and "open". In the closed position, no gas flow exits the valve. In the open position a specific gas pressure exits the valve. This pre-determined pressure results from the design of the valve, and in particular the choice of the pre-stress spring. This makes the valve of the invention particularly easy to use.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, the rods are connected to the abutment element by means of an axle, the valve body being provided with two parallel elongated slots, the axle engaging the elongated slots and extending entirely through the abutment element.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, two axles are provided and each rod is connected to the abutment element through one of the axles, the valve body being provided with two parallel elongated slots and each of the two axles engaging one of the elongated slots.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the rods are positioned outside of the valve body.

[0009] Alternatively, the rods can be arranged inside the valve body. In such a case the valve body comprises through holes suitable for the movement of the connection axle between the lever and the rods.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever comprises two branches connected at their distal end to the valve body on opposite sides of the valve body.

[001 1 ] According to a preferred embodiment, the distal ends of the branches are closer to the valve body than the connecting rods. In other words, the branches are mounted radially (with respect to the first axis) internally and the rods are mounted radially externally.

[0012] Alternatively, the connecting rods can be closer to the valve body than the distal ends of the branches. In this embodiment, the branches are mounted radially (with respect to the first axis) externally and the rods are mounted radially internally.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever is substantially flat. This allows the valve to be compact, at least in the position of the lever which corresponds to a closed valve.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever extends in one direction of its longest dimension such that the pivoting connection with the valve body and the pivoting connection with the rods are both substantially close to one end of the lever in this direction of longest dimension. This is particularly advantageous to limit the force that must be applied to the lever by the user.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the lever has two recesses on its sides. These features have an ergonomic effect since the recess can fit the average size of human fingers.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the abutment element is substantially in the form of a disc. [0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve comprises a second gas shut-off device in series with said gas shut-off device, the second gas shut-off device comprising a second closure element and a second spring applying a force to the second closure element, the second closure element being movable along said first axis by means of the said second spring, wherein said closure element is slideable along said first axis and adapted to contact said second closure element on the side of the second closure element opposite the second spring. This is particularly advantageous for the reliability of the valve. Should one of the shut-off device be used or damaged, the second device will ensure that no gas can escape a container when the lever is in the closed position.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve body comprises a closable filling opening and a pressure sensor arranged in fluidic communication with each other and in fluidic communication with a channel that is independent from said gas passage. When the valve of the invention is connected to a container, the filling opening can serve to fill in the container with gas. Once the container is filled in, the filling opening is closed and the valve only acts as emptying device.

Advantages of the invention

[0019] The invention is particularly interesting in that the force to be applied on the lever is reduced and the lever will take two preferred positions (open and close) such that a precise outlet flow is reached.

Brief description of the drawings

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a valve according to an embodiment of the invention in the closed condition;

Figure 2 illustrates a partial cross-section of the valve in the closed condition;

Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the valve in the open condition;

Figure 4 illustrates a partial cross-section of the valve in the open condition.

Description of an embodiment

[0021 ] The words "up", "down", "upwards", "downwards", "lateral" or "side", refer to the orientation of the valve as illustrated in the figures. The valve is in no way limited to be used in that orientation and these words serve the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 shows the valve according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The valve 1 comprises a valve body 2. The valve body has an inlet opening 2.1 that is suitable for being put in fluidic communication with a source of gas, preferably a gas container, and an outlet opening 2.2. The valve body contains a gas passage (2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 on figures 2 and 4) that is opened or closed to let gas flow from the inlet 2.1 to the outlet 2.2.

[0023] The valve is provided with a pressure sensor 2.3 mounted in a channel independent from the gas passage. The pressure sensor 2.3 is a manometer that indicates the pressure in the container or bottle on which the valve can be mounted. Whatever the condition of the valve (open/close), the pressure sensor 2.3 is in fluidic communication with the container/bottle.

[0024] It is to be noted that the valve of the invention does not need a flow pressure sensor to indicate the pressure of the gas that exits the valve. Indeed, as explained below, the outlet pressure has a pre-determined value.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the valve body also comprises a filling opening 2.10.

[0026] The valve can be opened or closed by manual actuation of a lever 3. The lever is mounted to pivot with respect to the valve body 2. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the lever 3 comprises two branches 3.1 , 3.2 which are positioned around the valve body 2. The lever has two recesses 3.3 for ergonomic reasons.

[0027] The lever 3 is connected to a pair of connecting rods 4. The rods 4 are mounted to pivot with respect to the lever. The rods are preferably positioned symmetrically on both sides of the valve body.

[0028] The connections between the rods 4 and the branches 3.1 , 3.2 on the one hand, and between the branches and the valve body 2 on the other hand, are all positioned substantially close to the distal ends of the branches 3.1 , 3.2. This maximizes the lever effect and reduces the force to be applied by the user when actuating the lever.

[0029] In the example shown, the connecting rods 4 are positioned radially outwardly from the branches 3.1 , 3.2.

[0030] In an embodiment not shown, the rods 4 are arranged inwardly, i.e. within the space delimited by the branches 3.1 ,3.2. The rods 4 can be positioned inside the valve body 2. In such a case, the valve body is provided with through holes to allow the connection between the branches and the rods in all positions of the lever 3.

[0031 ] The rods 4 are connected to an abutment element (not shown on figure 1 but visible on figure 2). In the illustrated embodiment, an axle 5 allows the rods 4 to pivot with respect to the abutment element. The axle 5 traverses the abutment element. Alternatively, the axle 5 is made of two parts, each engaging the abutment element in one of two radial holes diametrically opposed.

[0032] The axle 5 and the pivoting axis of the rods 4 on the lever 3 are both parallel to the pivoting axis of the lever 3 with respect to the valve body.

[0033] When the lever 3 pivots, the axle 5 slides in elongated slots 2.4 of the valve body 2. The motion of the lever 3 aims at making the abutment element slide.

[0034] Figure 2 shows a partial cross-section of the valve in the position of figure 1 . The abutment element 6 is shown on the top of this view. The abutment element 6 abuts a pre-stressed spring 7. The abutment element 6 is mounted to be slideable along a first axis A. The spring 7 applies a force on the piston 8 along the axis A. The lower part of the piston 8 seats in the low-pressure chamber 2.7 of the valve body 2. The piston 8 is submitted to the force of the spring 7 on one side and to the pressure of the gas in the low-pressure chamber 2.7 on the opposite side. The lower part of the piston 8 is received in a seat 9 and comprises a pin 8.1 . The piston 8 can be made of one single element or two pieces permanently in contact with each other by the action of spring 7.

[0035] The pin 8.1 contacts a first pusher 10. The first pusher 10 is pushed against the seat 9 by means of a first spring 1 1 . A resilient seal is provided at the connection between the pusher 10 and the seat 9. In the closed position, the force of spring 1 1 is higher than the force exerted by pin 8.1 on the pusher 10. The first pusher 10 and the first spring 1 1 are received in a first chamber 2.8 of the valve body 2.

[0036] A second pusher 12 is pushed against a conical surface of the valve body 2 by means of a second spring 13. A resilient seal is provided at the connection between the pusher 10 and the seat 9. The second pusher 12 and the second spring 13 are received in a second chamber 2.9 of the valve body 2. In the closed position, pushers 10 and 12 are not in contact with each other. Nothing hinders therefore the spring 13 from pushing the pusher 12 upwards to close the gas passage. The first and second pushers 10, 12 form a redundancy for safety reasons. The second pusher 12, the second spring 13 and the second chamber 2.9 are together an optional feature of the valve.

[0037] The inlet opening (2.1 on fig. 1 ) is in fluidic communication with the channel 2.6 leading to the second chamber 2.9. This is shown in more details on figure 4.

[0038] The channel 2.5 leading to the pressure sensor 2.3 is in fluidic communication with the container or bottle on which the valve can be mounted.

[0039] The channel 2.5 can lead to the filling opening (2.10 on figure 1 ) of the valve body 2, which opening 2.10 is normally closed. When the valve is connected to a container, the container can be filled through the filling opening 2.10 and the pressure sensor 2.3 serves at controlling the instantaneous pressure in the container.

[0040] In the closed condition as illustrated on figures 1 and 2, the high pressure of the gas source is in fluidic communication with the sensor 2.3 and with the inlet channel 2.6. The second chamber 2.9 is closed due to the action of spring 13. The first chamber 2.8 is closed due to the action of spring 1 1 . The low-pressure chamber 2.7 and the outlet 2.2 are therefore not connected to the inlet 2.1 . The gas passage is therefore closed.

[0041 ] Fig. 3 shows an isometric view of the valve in the open condition. The lever 3 is pivoted upwards and the connecting rods 4 have followed the motion of the lever 3. As a consequence, the axle 5 has slid downwards and the abutment element (not visible on fig. 3) has also slid downwards.

[0042] Figure 4 shows a partial cross-section view of the valve in the open condition. The same numbers refer to the same parts of the valve. [0043] The movement of the lever 3 made the abutment element 6 slide down through the motion of the connecting rods 4 and the axle 5 sliding within the elongated slots 2.4.

[0044] By moving downwards, the abutment element 6 compresses the pre- stressed spring 7. As a consequence, the force applied to the piston 8 increases. The piston 8 is pushed downwards and the pin 8.1 comes into contact with the pusher 10. Since the spring 7 is more rigid than spring 1 1 , the pusher 10 is pushed downwards and the chamber 2.8 is fluidly connected to the chamber 2.7 since the diameter of the pin 8.1 is smaller than the inner diameter of the seat 9.

[0045] By moving downwards, the pusher 10 comes into contact with the pusher 12. Since the spring 7 applies a force to the piston 8 which is greater than the combined force of springs 1 1 and 13, the pusher 12 is moved downwards and the chamber 2.9 is put in fluidic communication with chamber 2.8 and chamber 2.7. The passage between inlet 2.1 and outlet 2.2 is therefore opened and gas can flow through the valve.

[0046] In this open condition, the valve also operates as a regulator that limits the outer pressure: if the inlet pressure is bigger than the pre-determined outlet pressure, the pressure applied to the piston in chamber 2.7 counteracts the force of the spring 7, the piston 8 moves upwards and the pusher 12 and/or 10 move upwards. The passage is therefore at least partially closed and the flow of gas is reduced. This reduces the pressure in chamber 2.7 until it decreases back to the pre-determined desired value. The spring 7 can move the piston 8 downwards again. The passage is opened again.

[0047] Due to the arrangement of the valve, there are two positions of equilibrium for the lever 3. Starting from the closed position, when the user starts pivoting the lever 3, the lever tends first to go back to the closed position until a certain angle is reached, from which the lever 3 tends to pivot further towards the open equilibrium position. This position will depend on the dimensions of the pistons and pushers and of the rigidity of the springs. In other words, for one particular design, the valve has only one pre-determined open position and one associated outlet gas pressure. Although this is not the purpose of the present invention, the user could theoretically maintain by force the lever in any random intermediate position to reach an intermediate gas pressure.

[0048] The valve of the present invention is preferably fixed to an opening of a container or a bottle.

[0049] The valve depicted on the figures comprises further element such as safety valves or seals. The skilled person would know how to adapt the illustrated embodiment with such features, without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1 . Valve (1 ) for regulating the pressure and/or flow of pressurized gas, comprising:

- a body (2) with a gas inlet (2.1 ), a gas outlet (2.2) and a gas passage (2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9) connecting the outlet (2.2) with the inlet (2.1 );

- a gas shut-off device (10, 1 1 ) comprising a closure element (10) and a spring (1 1 ) applying a force to the closure element (10), the closure element (10) being movable along a first axis (A) by means of the said spring (1 1 );

- a piston (8) being slideable along said first axis (A) and adapted to contact the closure element (10) on the side of the closure element (10) opposite the spring (1 1 );

- a pre-stressed spring (7) applying a force to the piston (8) along said first axis (A) and positioned on the side of the piston (8) opposite the closure element (10);

- a lever (3) which can pivot with respect to the body (2) around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis (A), the pivoting motion of the lever (3) setting the desired pre-stress on the pre-stressed spring (7) by acting on an abutment element (6), the abutment element (6) being positioned on the side of the pre- stressed spring (7) opposite the piston (8);

characterized in that

a pair of connecting rods (4) is provided intermediate the lever (3) and the abutment element (6), each rod (4) being in pivoting connection with the lever

(3) and in pivoting connection with the abutment element (6).

2. Valve according to claim 1 , characterized in that the rods (4) are connected to the abutment element (6) by means of an axle (5), the valve body (2) being provided with two parallel elongated slots (2.4), the axle (5) engaging the elongated slots (2.4) and extending entirely through the abutment element (6).

3. Valve according to claim 1 , characterized in that two axles (5) are provided and each rod (4) is connected to the abutment element (6) through one of the axles (5), the valve body (2) being provided with two parallel elongated slots (2.4) and each of the two axles (5) engaging one of the elongated slots (2.4).

4. Valve according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the rods

(4) are positioned outside of the valve body (2).

5. Valve according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the lever

(3) comprises two branches (3.1 , 3.2) connected at their distal end to the valve body (2) on opposite sides of the valve body (2).

6. Valve according to claim 5, characterized in that the distal ends of the branches (3.1 , 3.2) are closer to the valve body (2) than the connecting rods

(4) .

7. Valve according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting rods (4) are closer to the valve body (2) than the distal ends of the branches (3.1 , 3.2).

8. Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lever (3) is substantially flat.

9. Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lever (3) extends in one direction of its longest dimension such that the pivoting connection with the valve body (2) and the pivoting connection with the rods (4) are both substantially close to one end of the lever (3) in this direction of longest dimension.

10. Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lever (3) has two recesses (3.3) on its sides.

1 1 . Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the abutment element (6) is substantially in the form of a disc.

12. Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 1 1 , characterized in that it comprises a second gas shut-off device (12, 13) in series with said gas shut-off device (10, 1 1 ), the second gas shut-off device (12, 13) comprising a second closure element (12) and a second spring (13) applying a force to the second closure element (12), the second closure element (12) being movable along said first axis (A) by means of the said second spring (13), wherein said closure element (10) is slideable along said first axis (A) and adapted to contact said second closure element (12) on the side of the second closure element (12) opposite the second spring (13).

13. Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the valve body (2) comprises a closable filling opening (2.10) and a pressure sensor (2.3) arranged in fluidic communication with each other and in fluidic communication with a channel (2.5) that is independent from said gas passage (2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9).