WO2022238889A1

WO2022238889A1 - Valve for adjusting a fluid flow

Info

Publication number: WO2022238889A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/054327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Bugatti
Original assignee: Valvosanitaria Bugatti S.P.A.
Priority date: 2021-05-14
Filing date: 2022-05-10
Publication date: 2022-11-17
Also published as: IT202100012518A1

Abstract

An adjustment valve of the flow of a fluid comprises a flow adjustment assembly comprising an external adjustment member operable to rotate between a complete valve opening position and a valve closing position, and an internal adjustment member (24) housed within the external adjustment member and operable independently of the external adjustment member to rotate with respect to the external adjustment member to adjust the passage port of the fluid through the external adjustment member. A minimum flow gap is formed between the external and internal adjustment members, which, when the external adjustment member is in the valve complete opening position and the internal adjustment member is in the closing position, allows a minimum amount of fluid to pass from the inlet conduit (12) to the outlet conduit (14).

Description

1

"VALVE FOR ADJUSTING A FLUID FLOW"

DESCRIPTION

[0001]The present invention generally relates to valves or taps for distributing a fluid, for example water, and it relates in particular to a valve for adjusting a fluid flow.

[0002]Valves for adjusting a fluid flow are known which, in addition to being provided with a shutter member movable between an opening position and a closing position of the valve, are provided with a throttle member, for example in the form of a disk, positioned inside, upstream or downstream of the shutter member.

[0003]A limitation of this technical solution lies in that the adjustment possibility is unique and is determined by the size of the adjustment disk.

[0004]In most cases it is impossible to replace the adjustment disk with one of different sizes to vary the flow rate of the valve, or in any case it is very expensive, so usually the choice is made to replace the entire valve.

[0005]In some situations, such as in certain water distribution networks, it may be required for the valve to still provide a minimum passage of a water flow, for example to ensure survival even in the case of users not in good standing in the payment of water fees. 2

[0006]In the current flow adjustment valves, it is very difficult, if not impossible, or otherwise inconvenient, to regulate the flow so that only a certain predetermined minimum amount of fluid is allowed to pass. [0007]One object of the invention is to propose a valve for regulating a flow of fluid that also allows it to be easily set to ensure the passage of a minimum amount of fluid.

[0008]Another object of the present invention is to propose a valve for adjusting a fluid flow having a structure and dimensions comparable to those of a traditional ball valve.

[0009]Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve in which the flow adjustment may be carried out only by authorized personnel.

[0010]Another further object of the invention is to provide a valve provided with flow adjustment means operable when the valve is in the open position and which maintain the desired position even when the valve is closed and then reopened.

[0011]Such objects are achieved with an adjustment valve according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the adjustment valve. [0012]The features and the advantages of the adjustment 3 valve according to the invention shall be made readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, provided purely by way of a non limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0013]- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the valve according to the invention;

[0014]- Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the valve; [0015]- Fig. 3 is an axial section of the valve;

[0016]- Fig. 4, 4a, 4b, and 4c are an elevation view, a plan view (with the command handle removed), a cross section, and a perspective cutaway view, respectively, of the valve according to the invention in the completely open position;

[0017]- Fig. 5, 5a, 5b, and 5c are views similar to the preceding ones, but with the valve in the flow adjustment position;

[0018]- Fig. 6, 6a, 6b and 6c are views similar to the preceding ones, but with the valve in the closing position with memorization of the flow adjustment position of Fig. 5-5c;

[0019]- Fig. 7, 7a, 7b, and 7c are views similar to the preceding ones, but with the valve in the closing position with guaranteed minimum flow, and 4

[0020]- Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the detail A circled in Fig. 7b.

[0021]In said drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates an adjustment valve according to the invention as a whole.

[0022]In a general embodiment, the valve 1 comprises a valve body 10, which forms a fluid inlet conduit 12, a fluid outlet conduit 14 and, between the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit, a flow adjustment chamber 16. [0023]The fluid inlet 12 and outlet 14 conduits may be aligned along a valve body axis X, as in the example shown. In alternative embodiments, the inlet and outlet conduits 12, 14 may form an angle with each other, for example an angle of 90°. [0024]The inlet 12 and outlet 14 conduits may be provided with threaded portions 12', 14' for connection to pipes or fittings of a fluid distribution system, for example for water. In other embodiments, the inlet 12 and outlet 14 conduits may form crimp or weld compression terminals, with or without an extendable fitting.

[0025]A flow adjustment assembly 18 is sealingly housed in the flow adjustment chamber 16. For example, the flow adjustment assembly 18 rests on a pair of adjustment chamber annular gaskets 20, opposite each other. [0026]According to an aspect of the invention, the flow 5 adjustment assembly 18 comprises an external adjustment member 22 and an internal adjustment member 24.

[0027]For the passage of fluid through the external adjustment member 22, said adjustment member is crossed by an external member passage 23 delimited by lateral external member walls 25.

[0028]For the passage of fluid through the internal adjustment member 24, said adjustment member is crossed by an internal member passage 27 delimited by lateral internal member walls 29.

[0029]The external adjustment member 22 is operable for rotating between a complete valve opening position, in which it allows the maximum amount of fluid to pass from the inlet conduit 12 to the outlet conduit 14 through the external member passage 23, and a valve closing position, in which it prevents the fluid from passing from the inlet conduit 12 to the outlet conduit 14.

[0030]The internal adjustment member 24 is housed inside the external adjustment member 22 and is independently operable by the external adjustment member 22 for rotating with respect to the external adjustment member 22 so as to adjust the passage port of the fluid through the external adjustment member 22.

[0031]The external adjustment member 22 is mainly usable to open/close the valve and therefore to actuate a 6 switching function between the completely open valve and the closed valve.

[0032]The internal adjustment member 24, on the other hand, is responsible for controlling the flow, that is, the flow rate of the fluid, in particular when the valve is completely open. In addition, as will be described below, the internal adjustment member 24 is also responsible for passing a guaranteed minimum flow when the valve is completely open, i.e., when the external adjustment 22 is in the completely open position.

[0033]In an embodiment, the external adjustment member 22 is an external ball shutter. The internal adjustment member 24 may be an internal ball shutter, coaxial to the external ball shutter 22. "Ball shutter" means not only a shutter having a spherical main body, but also a shutter having at least some portions having spherical surfaces so as to be rotatable about its own axis with respect to corresponding spherical walls delimiting the control chamber 16. [0034]In other embodiments, the external shutter member and/or the internal shutter member may have a cylindrical shape or other hollow shapes which allow the flow passage port through such members to be modified by varying the angular position thereof with respect to the inlet and outlet conduits. 7

[0035]Preferably, the internal shutter member 24 is received with shape coupling in the external shutter member 22, in such a way that substantially all the fluid entering the passage to the external member passage 23 is intercepted by the internal shutter member 24.

[0036]According to an aspect of the invention, when the external adjustment member 22 is in a completely open valve position, the internal adjustment member 24 is rotatable to a closing position of the passage port of the fluid in the external member passage 23, in which it still ensures the passage of a minimum flow (in jargon called "vital flow"). For example, this minimum flow may have a flow rate of 501/h.

[0037]To this end, a minimum flow gap 31 (Fig. 8) is formed between the external adjustment member 22 and the internal adjustment member 24 which, when the external adjustment member 22 is in the completely open valve position and the internal adjustment member 24 is in the closing position, a minimum amount of fluid may pass from the inlet duct to the outlet duct. For example, in this valve configuration, the maximum gap between the internal adjustment member 24 and the external adjustment member 22, i.e., the width of the minimum flow gap 31, may be between 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm. [0038]More specifically, in an embodiment, when the 8 external adjustment member 22 is in the completely open valve position and the internal adjustment member 24 is in the closing position, the internal member passage 27 is substantially perpendicular to the external member passage 23. In this valve configuration, as may be appreciated from Fig. 7b and 8, the lateral external member passage walls partially overlap the lateral internal member passage walls. In particular, end portions of the inner side of the lateral external member passage walls 25 overlap, i.e., are facing, end portions of the outer side of the lateral internal member passage walls 29. In this configuration, as depicted particularly in the enlarged view of Fig. 8, the minimum flow gap 31 is obtained between said facing wall portions. [0039]Thus, in this closing valve configuration with guaranteed minimum flow, the fluid entering the inlet conduit 12 of the valve finds the barrier given by the internal adjustment member 24 in the closed position, but a small portion of the flow manages to penetrate in the adjustment chamber 16 through two portions of the inlet gap and from the adjustment chamber 16 manages to pass into the outlet conduit 14 through two portions of the outlet gap.

[0040]In an embodiment, the external adjustment member 22 comprises a hollow external actuation pin 22a having a 9 distal portion 22a' protruding from the adjustment chamber 16 so as to be rotationally engaged by a command handle 26.

[0041]The external adjustment member 22 may be rotatably retained in the valve body 10 by means of a gland 28. For example, the gland 28 is screwed, with the interposition of a sealing ring 28', into a threaded neck 30 of the valve body 10 open on the adjustment chamber 16. The hollow external actuation pin 22a forms a radial step 222 on which the gland 28 rests following its screwing into the threaded neck 30.

[0042]In an embodiment, the internal adjustment member 24 comprises an internal actuation pin 24a partially sealingly housed inside the hollow external actuation pin 22a. The internal actuation pin 24a has a distal portion

24a' protruding from the hollow external actuation pin 22a so as to be rotationally engageable by flow adjustment control means 32, described hereinafter.

[0043]In an embodiment, the flow adjustment control means 32 are switchable between a first position, in which they are disengaged from the external adjustment member 22 so as to cause a rotation of the internal shutter member 24 only, and a second position, in which they are angularly engaged by the external adjustment member 22, so that the internal adjustment member 24 and the external adjustment 10 member 22 are mutually integrally rotatable.

[0044]In an embodiment, the distal portion 22a' of the external actuation pin 22a is angularly engaged by a switching disk 34, which is rotationally operable by the command handle 26. For example, the distal end 22a' of the external actuation pin 22a forms at least two parallel surfaces, and the switching disk 34 has an internal cavity 34', which geometrically mates with the distal end 22a' of the pin 22a. In turn, the switching disk 34 has a lateral wall shaped in such a way as to be angularly engaged by the command handle 26.

[0045]Therefore, a rotation of the command handle 26 causes a corresponding rotation of the switching disk 34, and therefore of the external actuation pin 22a. [0046]The distal portion 24a' of the internal actuation pin 24a is angularly engaged by a flow adjustment disk 36 superimposed on the switching disk 34 and axially translatable along the distal portion 24a' of the internal actuation pin 24a between a lowered position, in which it is rotationally integral with the switching disc 34, and a raised position, in which it is disengaged from the switching disk 34. The flow adjustment disk 36 therefore forms, in this embodiment example, the flow adjustment means 32. [0047]For example, the distal end 24a' of the internal 11 actuation pin 24a forms at least two parallel surfaces and the flow adjustment disk 36 has a central through cavity 36' which geometrically mates with the distal end of the pin 24a'. [0048]In an embodiment, the switching disk 34 is provided with an annular collar 35 extending upwardly and on the inner surface of which a toothing 35' is formed. The adjustment disk 36 is dimensioned to be accommodated, when in the lowered position, within the annular collar and is provided, on its lateral surface, with a counter toothing 37 suitable for shape-coupling with the toothing 35' of the switching disk. Therefore, in this configuration, a rotation of the switching disk 34 solidly pulls the adjustment disk 36 into rotation as well.

[0049]On the other hand, when the flow adjustment disk 36 is disengaged from the switching disk 34, a rotation of the flow adjustment disk 36 causes the rotation of the internal actuation pin 24a only and therefore of the internal adjustment member 24.

[0050]According to an embodiment, the switching disk 34 has at least one circular crown portion 342, for example, formed in the radially external position with respect to the annular collar, on which a graduated scale 342' is represented. The adjustment disk 36 is provided with 12 position indicator means, for example at least one pointer 38, which, when the adjustment disk 36 is in a lowered position, point towards the circular crown 342 so as to allow an operator to view the angular position of the adjustment disk 36 relative to the switching disk 34. [0051]The graduated scale 342' may show progressive numerical values, for example from 1 to 5, corresponding to as many intermediate positions of the adjustment disk 36 and therefore of the internal adjustment member 24, between the completely open position and the completely closed position.

[0052]In an embodiment, the adjustment disk 36 is further provided with a pair of gripper teeth 39 extending from its top surface, about the central opening 36', to allow an operator to lift the adjustment disk 36 with respect to the switching disk 34.

[0053]Fig. 4-7c show the adjustment valve in four positions. Fig. 4-4c show the valve in a completely open position. In fact, both the external adjustment member 22 and the internal adjustment member 24 are rotated to the maximum opening position, i.e. with the respective passages aligned with each other and with the inlet and outlet conduits. In this situation, as may be seen in the plan view of Fig. 4a, without the command handle, the pointer 38 of the adjustment disc is oriented parallel to 13 the valve axis X.

[0054]Fig. 5-5c show the valve in a flow or fluid flow rate adjustment configuration through the valve. In this configuration, the external adjustment member 22 is still in the maximum opening position. The internal adjustment member 24 is instead rotated into an intermediate adjustment position, in which the fluid passage port through the valve is reduced. In this situation, as may be seen in the plan view of Fig. 5a of the valve, without the command handle, the adjustment disk 36 is rotated with respect to the underlying switching disk 34. In the example shown, the user sees the pointer 38 indicating number 3 on the 1-5 scale, thus it is in an intermediate adjustment position. [0055]Fig. 6-6c show the valve in the closing configuration, obtained by rotating, by means of the command handle 26, the external adjustment member from the completely open position of Fig. 5-5c to the completely closed position. In Fig. 6a and 6b it may be seen that the rotation of the external adjustment member 22 has caused a simultaneous rotation of the internal adjustment member 24 which, with respect to the position of Fig. 5-5c, is also rotated by 90°. Therefore, when the valve is reopened by rotating the external adjustment member 22, the internal adjustment member 24 returns to 14 the flow adjustment configuration of Fig. 5-5c.

[0056]Fig. 7-7c show the valve in the closing position with guaranteed minimum flow. In this configuration, the external adjustment member 22 is in the maximum opening position. Conversely, the internal adjustment member 24 is rotated to the closed position. In this situation, as may be seen in the plan view of Fig. 7a of the valve, without the command handle, the pointer 38 of the adjustment disk 36 is oriented perpendicular to the valve axis.

[0057]In an embodiment, the command handle 26 is axially connected to the internal actuation pin 24a. Therefore, once the position of the internal adjustment member 24 has been adjusted through the adjustment disk 36 and made integral with the switching disk 34, following the actuation of the command handle 26, the internal adjustment member 24 follows the rotation of the external adjustment member 26, ensuring the memorization of the adjustment . [0058]In an embodiment, the command handle 26 forms, on a portion thereof which is concentric to the internal and external actuation pins, two limit shoulders 26a, 26b angularly spaced apart and adapted to rest alternately against a stop tooth 102 obtained radially in the valve body 10 to define the opening and closing positions of 15 the external adjustment member 22.

[0059]Furthermore, in an embodiment, the command handle 26 forms, on the portion which is concentric to the internal 24 and external 22 actuation pins, at least one locking recess 26c adapted to geometrically mate with the stop tooth 102 to keep the command handle in a fixed opening or closing position of the external adjustment member, thus preventing the rotation thereof.

[0060]In an embodiment, the command handle 26 and the switching disk 34 are configured in such a way that the command handle 26 may be locked by the coupling between the stop tooth 102 and the locking recess 26c are when the external adjustment member 22, and therefore the switching disk 34, are in the closing position. [0061]Preferably, the command handle 26 is connected to the internal actuation pin 24 by means of an anti tampering screw 40 having a special head 42 to be screwed/unscrewed only with a specific key, so as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the handle, at least when this is in the fixed position.

[0062]Therefore, the command handle may be engaged on the valve body in two ways: a first switching mode, in which it may be rotated, for example by 90°, to allow the passage from the opening position to the closing position, and vice versa, and a locking position, in 16 which the handle is locked by the engagement of the stop tooth in the locking recess, so as to keep the previously assumed opening or closing position.

[0063]According to some embodiments of the valve described above, in order to adjust the flow, i.e. the flow rate, of the fluid in the valve, it is therefore necessary to remove the command handle from the internal actuation pin, so as to be able to disengage, for example by lifting it, the flow adjustment disk from the switching disk. At this point, the adjustment disk may be manually rotated to the desired position, i.e., completely open position, closed position, intermediate adjustment position. Once the positioning of the adjustment member has been carried out, the adjustment disk may be constrained again to the switching disk, for example by pushing it downwards. Finally, the command handle may be re-connected to the internal actuation pin.

[0064]As mentioned above, if the command handle is rotated, the valve will memorize the previously set adjustment position.

[0065]In the event that an authorized operator wishes to safely lock the valve in an opening or closing position, preventing unauthorized rotation of the handle, it is sufficient for the operator to engage the command handle on the valve body, so that the locking recess is 17 geometrically mated with the stop tooth. At this point, the command handle may be locked in the set position by screwing the anti-tampering screw into the internal actuation pin by means of a specific anti-tampering key. [0066]It is apparent that the described adjustment valve allows the predetermined objects to be achieved.

[0067]The valve may be configured so as to ensure the minimum flow of the fluid by keeping the valve completely open and simply rotating the internal adjustment member to the closing position.

[0068]The control valve has substantially the same shape and the same dimensions as a traditional ball valve.

[0069]The flow adjustment is carried out in a precise manner and independent from the position of the adjustment member which determines the opening and closing positions of the valve.

[0070]This allows, among other things, the adjustment position to be memorized even when the valve is switched from the opening position to the closing position, and vice versa.

[0071]The adjustment of the flow or flow rate may be made within a wide range of possible adjustments and with a visual indication of the desired adjustment level.

[0072]In some embodiments, it is possible to allow only authorized personnel to adjust the flow, as this 18 operation requires the disassembly of the command handle, which may only be carried out with a suitable specific key.

[0073]In some embodiments, it is also possible to allow only authorized personnel to carry out the valve opening/closing operation.

[0074]A person skilled in the art may make several changes, adjustments, adaptations and replacements of elements with others that are functionally equivalent to the embodiments of the adjustment valve according to the invention in order to meet incidental needs, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be obtained independently of the other described embodiments.

Claims

19 CLAIMS

1. A valve for adjusting a fluid flow, comprising: a valve body forming a fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and, between the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit, a flow adjustment chamber;

- a flow adjustment assembly sealingly housed in the flow adjustment chamber, the valve being characterized in that the flow adjustment assembly comprises: - an external adjustment member, operable for rotating between a complete valve opening position, wherein it allows the maximum passage of the fluid from the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit, and a valve closing position, wherein it prevents the fluid from passing from the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit; an internal adjustment member, housed inside the external adjustment member and which is independently operable by the external adjustment member for rotating with respect to the external adjustment member for adjusting the fluid passage port through the external adjustment member, wherein, when the external adjustment member is in the complete valve opening position, the internal adjustment member is rotatable to a closing position of the fluid passage port, 20 and wherein a minimum flow gap is obtained between the external adjustment member and the internal adjustment member, which gap, when the external adjustment member is in the complete valve opening position and the internal adjustment member is in the closing position, allows a minimum amount of fluid to pass from the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the external adjustment member is an external ball shutter and wherein the internal adjustment member is an internal ball shutter, coaxial to the external ball shutter.

3. A valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external adjustment member is crossed by an external member passage delimited by lateral external member passage walls, wherein the internal adjustment member is crossed by an internal member passage delimited by lateral internal member passage walls, wherein, when the external adjustment member is in the complete valve opening position and the internal adjustment member is in the closing position, the internal member passage is substantially perpendicular to the external member passage and the lateral walls of the external member passage partially overlap the lateral internal member passage walls, the minimum flow gap being obtained between the lateral external member passage walls and the 21 lateral internal member passage walls, at least in the overlapping zone.

4. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external adjustment member comprises an external hollow actuation pin having a distal portion protruding from the adjustment chamber so as to be rotationally engaged by a command handle.

5. A valve according to claim 4, wherein the internal adjustment member comprises an internal actuation pin partially sealingly housed inside the external actuation pin, the internal actuation pin having a distal portion protruding from the external actuation pin so as to be rotationally engageable by flow adjustment control means.

6. A valve according to the preceding claim, wherein the flow adjustment control means are switchable between a first position, wherein they are disengaged from the external adjustment member so as to cause a rotation of the internal shutter member only, and a second position, wherein they are angularly engaged by the external adjustment member, so that the internal shutter and the external shutter are mutually integrally rotatable.

7. A valve according to the preceding claim, wherein the distal portion of the external actuation pin is angularly engaged by a switching disk, which is rotationally operable by the command handle, and wherein 22 the distal portion of the internal actuation pin is angularly engaged by a flow adjustment disk overlapping the switching disk and axially translatable along said distal portion of the internal actuation pin between a lowered position, wherein it is rotationally integral with the switching disk, and a raised position, wherein it is disengaged from the switching disk.

8. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the switching disk is provided with an annular collar extending upwards and on the internal surface of which there is obtained a toothing, and wherein the adjustment disk is dimensioned so as to be accommodated, when in the lowered position, inside the annular collar and is provided, on the lateral surface thereof, with a counter-toothing suitable to obtain a shape-coupling with the toothing of the switching disk.

9. A valve according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the switching disk comprises at least one circular crown portion provided with a graduated scale, and wherein the adjustment disk is provided with position indicator means, which, when the adjustment disk is in the lowered position, point towards the graduated scale so as to allow an operator to view the angular position of the adjustment disk with respect to the switching disk.

10. A valve according to any one of claims 5-9, wherein 23 the command handle is connected to the internal actuation pin.

11. A valve according to the preceding claim, wherein the command handle forms, on a portion thereof which is concentric to the internal and external actuation pins:

- two limit shoulders angularly spaced apart and suitable to rest alternately against a stop tooth obtained radially in the valve body to define the opening and closing positions of the external adjustment member; - at least one locking recess suitable to geometrically mate with said stop tooth to keep the command handle in a fixed opening or closing position of the external adjustment member, thus preventing the rotation thereof, and wherein the command handle is connected to the internal actuation pin by means of an anti-tampering screw having a special head to be screwed/unscrewed only with a specific key, so as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the handle, at least when this is in the fixed position.

12. A method of adjusting a fluid flow controlled by the adjustment valve according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

- removing the command handle from the internal actuation pin; - disengaging the flow adjustment disk from the switching 24 disk;

- manually rotating the adjustment disk to a desired position;

- constraining the flow adjustment disk to the switching disk;

- connecting the command handle to the internal actuation pin.

13. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the step of connecting the command handle to the internal actuation pin comprises the sub-steps of:

- engaging the command handle onto the valve body, so that the locking recess geometrically mates with the stop tooth; locking the command handle by screwing the anti- tampering screw into the internal actuation pin by means of a specific anti-tampering key.