WO2023212791A1

WO2023212791A1 - Mechanically actuated magnetic valve

Info

Publication number: WO2023212791A1
Application number: PCT/BR2023/050116
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fernão FALCÃO
Original assignee: Falcao Fernao
Priority date: 2022-05-02
Filing date: 2023-04-10
Publication date: 2023-11-09
Also published as: BR102022008473A2; BR102022008473B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanically actuated magnetic valve applied to hydraulic systems that can be manually opened and closed or can be automated to control the flow of liquids, such as taps, drinking fountains and water tank float valves, for example, that can be applied in civil engineering and industrial projects, and was developed to overcome the drawbacks, disadvantages and limitations of the present actuation systems, by means of a mechanical-magnetic valve that does not require electricity and only a small axial movement for being actuated, is progressively closed and can be kept constantly open by a bypass system, with the advantages of being compact, easy to install in a hidden position, allowing a free choice of metals for interior decoration, of having a low cost, being recyclable, helping to reduce water consumption and prevent the spread of micro-organisms through contact of the hands with the tap.

Description

“MAGNETIC ACTUATING VALVE

MECHANIC"

The present invention refers to a mechanically actuated magnetic valve, applied in hydraulic systems with manual opening and closing or capable of automation to control the flow of liquids, such as taps, drinking fountains and water tank floats, for example, which can can also be applied in engineering and industrial projects, whose activation is done mechanically through a minimum displacement of the activation button, bringing the advantages of not requiring electrical energy for its activation, being durable and reliable, having a small size, easy to install and low cost.

Currently, there are products on the market whose activation is done electrically by a solenoid valve, and others by infrared or other sensors, which require electrical energy to function and are vulnerable to electrical discharges, which may not function properly as they require the correct positioning of the hands or of objects to activate the system, in addition they can be expensive and often require a specific tap or device that does not always please the user visually. There are products that are operated by an electric or mechanical pedal that require a specific space to accommodate the pedal, require cables and wires, and installation is not always simple. And there are also systems with a timer, mechanical or electrical, which require frequent activations when used for a long time and in the case of rapid use, they generate waste of water, since the flow time is longer than the use time.

Searching the Brazilian and international patent banks, the following revelations were found.

The patent document BR102013012056, entitled “Foot device actuator” deals with a control device that aims to bring safety, practicality and hygiene in the use of taps in general, as well as toilets, urinals, drinking fountains and also for open bathroom doors without manual contact. The device is activated using the foot. The device consists of a pedal, a box with a valve and a cable. The pedal, in its internal part, has two supports that push a roller to which the cable is attached. When the pedal is pressed, the cable is pulled and then the box's mechanical system is activated. Inside the box, the mechanism is made up of a spring that returns the cable to its initial position after releasing the pedal and keeps the valve closed, a solenoid valve, a drag carriage with a magnet, the magnet is responsible for moving the piston of the valve. Another option can be realized with an electric valve.

The activation device presented by BR102013012056, has the limitation that it must be arranged in such a way that allows it to be activated while using the tap, in addition it has the inconvenience of requiring a useful area to position the pedal and the disadvantage of a complex assembly with multiple components (pedal, cable and box), which may break with use, especially the cable, and the aesthetics of the environment may be compromised for this reason, in addition to the fact that the pedal may cause inconvenience when moving depending on the position in which it is located in the environment.

Patent document MU8302334, entitled “Electromagnetic tap actuation system by simple leg contact” refers to a utility model for an electromagnetic tap actuation system by leg contact, comprising a shielded box and a switch. A second shielded box houses a solenoid valve that incorporates a water inlet and outlet, a diversion and a valve to divert water directly to the tap in the event of a lack of electricity to activate the solenoid valve. The shielded box with the switch is activated by the user's leg, which in turn stimulates the solenoid valve and releases the water flow, and when the leg is removed from the switch the water flow is stopped. As a prerequisite for this system, it is necessary to use flexible pipes, known as pigtails, but it can be installed on any type of brand or style of faucet.

“MECHANICAL ACTUATED MAGNETIC VALVE”, object of the present patent, was developed to overcome the disadvantages, inconveniences and limitations of current actuation, through a mechanical-magnetic valve that does not require electricity to be activated, with a small displacement actuation, which features progressive closing and with the possibility of keeping it constantly open through a “by-pass” system, bringing advantages of being compact, of being easily installed so as to be hidden and without the need to allocate space for the activation pedal, of allowing the free choice of the desired metals for the decoration of the environment, in addition to being low cost, being fully recyclable, collaborate with reducing water consumption and preventing the spread of microorganisms through hand contact with the tap, for example.

Technical problems that currently exist and the way in which the present invention resolved:

17a) Current technologies work with some electrical or electronic type of valve actuation. Solved by the present invention by a mechanically driven magnetic valve, bringing the technical improvement of dispensing with the installation of electrical wiring and the use of solenoid valves, sensors, among others;

17b) Current technologies use systems with blocks or boxes and feature a drive device or a drive pedal not integrated into the valve, which take up a lot of useful space inside a sink cabinet, for example, or which can obstruct free user movement in the case of technologies that have a pedal. Solved by the present invention through a compact valve that adds the actuation functionality to the valve body, thus eliminating the need for actuators or pedals that are separated from the block or box; It is

17c) Current technologies use systems with several components requiring a greater number of hydraulic connections, in the case of electrical technologies they require a nearby electrical point and in the case of those with a pedal they require cables and unobstructed space for their correct operation, which makes their operation difficult. installation. Solved by the present invention through a valve that requires a minimum number of hydraulic connections, without requiring an electrical point or cables for its operation, therefore making it easy to install.

When needing an axial mechanical actuation valve with a reduced stroke and low cost, the inventor was faced with a lack of product on the market. In order to overcome this problem, the inventor developed a system that allows the use of a commercial solenoid valve simply by replacing the electrical part with a mechanical-magnetic system that does not depend on electrical energy for its operation. The solution proved to be ideal for hands-free operation of kitchen and bathroom taps where there was only the hydraulic system and no electrical power points. The product demonstrated several advantages in addition to the possibility of activating it without the need for electricity, since its use ended up generating considerable water savings and increasing the durability of the tap, as the tap mechanism always remains open and is almost never turned on. used to control water flow. It also brought advantages in the hygienic aspect, as it is not necessary to have any type of hand contact on the tap, but rather a light pressure on the door of the sink, kitchen or bathroom cabinet, for the tap to be activated, thus avoiding the spread of microorganisms through the hand contact with the tap.

For a better understanding of the mechanically driven magnetic valve, object of this patent, the following figures are attached:

FIGURE 1, which shows the perspective view of the mechanically actuated magnetic valve with valve fixing support (SF), in the normal operating position, indicated through the alignment and convergence between the actuator position indicator (IPa) with the housing position indicator (IPc); FIGURE 2, which shows the perspective view of the mechanically actuated magnetic valve without the valve fixing support (SF), in the “by-pass” position, indicated by the divergence between the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc);

FIGURE 3, which shows the exploded view of the mechanically driven magnetic valve without the valve fixing support (SF);

FIGURE 4, which shows the longitudinal sectional view of the mechanically driven magnetic valve with the valve fixing support (SF);

FIGURE 5, which shows the cross-sectional view of the mechanically actuated magnetic valve with the valve fixing support (SF), in the normal operating position, when the actuator position indicator (IPa) converges with the position indicator of the carcass (IPc); It is

FIGURE 6, which shows the cross-sectional view of the mechanically actuated magnetic valve with the valve fixing support (SF), in the “by-pass” position, indicated by the divergence between the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc).

According to figures 1 to 6, the mechanically driven magnetic valve has a valve body (V); diaphragm (DF) with central hole; diaphragm disc (DD) with central hole; piston (E) cylindrical and stepped; plunger spring (ME); spacing pin (PE) with a cylindrical and stepped shape; piston support (SE) with a cylindrical, stepped and hollow shape; return magnet (IR) with a circular shape and central hole, a permanent magnet preferably made of neodymium; circular magnet spacer (ESr) with recess and central hole; return spring (MR); drive magnet (IA) with a circular shape and central hole, a permanent magnet preferably made of neodymium; circular ring shaped drive magnet spacer (ESa); actuator (A) of cylindrical, stepped and hollow shape containing locking pin (PTa) and actuator position indicator (IPa); housing (C) of cylindrical shape and with a central hole at one of its ends, containing a housing cavity (CAc) for the locking pin (PTa), locking grooves (RT) for the valve fixing support and housing position indicator (IPc), with flaps containing holes for screws (PF) and valve fixing support (SF) containing holes for fixing the support (FS).

The valve is assembled as follows:

21a) Initially the plunger pin (PE), the plunger spring (ME) and the plunger (E) are inserted in their respective order into the smaller diameter inner part of the plunger support (SE), and the diaphragm disc (DD ) and the diaphragm (DF) are inserted, in this order, into the largest diameter internal part of the piston support (SE);

21b) The result of the assembly carried out in step 21a is fitted to the valve body (V);

21c) The return magnet (IR), the return magnet spacer (ERs), the return spring (MR), the drive magnet (IA), the drive magnet spacer (ESa), the driver (A ) and the housing (C), in this order, are fitted to the piston support (SE); It is

21 d) The housing (C) and the valve body (V) are joined by screws (PF), and then the valve fixing bracket (SF) is fitted to the housing (C) through the locking grooves (RT ) completing the assembly of the mechanically actuated magnetic valve.

The operation of the mechanically driven magnetic valve is based on a housing (C), which houses inside a driver (A) that moves in the direction of its axial axis when activated by pressing, having at its end a drive magnet (IA), preferably made of neodymium, which in turn is maintained in its initial position by means of the return spring (MR), when pressing the actuator (A), it slides along its axial axis and approaches the plunger (E), the plunger (E) is attracted by the magnetic field of the drive magnet (IA), moving and releasing the diaphragm orifice (DF) and the diaphragm disc (DD) and allowing liquid flow; the plunger (E) has its displacement limited by the plunger pin (PE) which limits the opening and closing range of the valve; when removing the pressure exerted on the actuator (A), it returns to its initial position through the return spring (MR), which causes the piston (E) to move away from the actuation magnet (IA), reducing the effect of the field magnet on the piston (E); the plunger (E) then returns to its initial position, attracted by the return magnet (IR), preferably neodymium, and assisted by the plunger spring (ME), which causes the openings of the diaphragm (DF) and the diaphragm disc (DF) to close. diaphragm (DD) stopping the flow of liquid; The return magnet spacer (ESr) has the function of keeping the return spring (MR) in the correct position for valve operation.

For the valve to function as mentioned above, which is its normal operation, the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) must be aligned and converging, causing the locking pin (PTa) of the actuator (A) fits into the housing cavity (CAc) of the housing (C), keeping the plunger (E) in the closed position while the valve is not activated; and to keep the valve constantly open, in “by-pass”, the actuator (A) must be pressed and rotated so that the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) are in a divergent position , in this way the locking pin (PTa) leaves the housing cavity (CAc) and causes the displacement of the actuator (A), and consequently the displacement of the actuation magnet (IA), causing the piston (E) to be attracted by the magnetic field of the driving magnet (IA), which releases the liquid flow through the holes of the diaphragm (DF) and the diaphragm disc (DD); and to resume normal valve operation, simply rotate the actuator (A) until the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) are aligned and convergent, in order to restore the locking pin (PTa) of the driver (A) in the housing cavity (CAc) of the housing (C).

In one embodiment of using a mechanically actuated magnetic valve, for domestic application, the installation of the valve begins by fixing the valve fixing support (SF), with screws passing through the holes for fixing the support (FS) on the edge of the a cabinet stop, in such a way that the actuator (A) remains in contact with the inner face of the cabinet door and in a position opposite to the axis of rotation of this door, in order to keep the door briefly open, so that when pressed, it causes the actuator (A) to move. Next, the inlet and outlet connections of the hydraulic network are connected, the outlet is connected to a tap. The tap is opened according to the flow desired by the user, and is activated by applying light pressure to the cabinet door, with a minimum displacement of between 2 and 6 mm, and preferably 3 mm, which maintains clearance. of the closet door almost imperceptible, maintaining the closed door appearance.

The mechanically actuated magnetic valve can also be used in construction or industries to control the liquid level in a water tank or tank instead of traditional float valves or electrical solenoid valves, substantially reducing filling time. due to the liquid flow being constant until the closing level is reached. Still in the area of civil construction and hydraulic installations, the mechanically driven magnetic valve can still be used as a discharge valve, also known commercially as “HYDRA® valve”, whose operating mechanism is the same as previously described.

Varied sizes of the mechanically driven magnetic valve of the present patent do not limit the obtainability of the valve in question.

Claims

1. “MECHANICALLY ACTUATED MAGNETIC VALVE” which has a valve body (V), has a diaphragm (DF) with central orifice, has a diaphragm disc (DD) with central orifice, has a piston (E) with a cylindrical and stepped shape, has piston spring (ME), has a piston support (SE) with a cylindrical, stepped and hollow shape characterized by additionally having a spacing pin (PE) with a cylindrical and stepped shape; return magnet (IR) with a circular shape and central hole, a permanent magnet preferably made of neodymium; return magnet spacer (ESr) circular in shape with recess and central hole; return spring (MR); drive magnet (IA) with a circular shape and central hole, a permanent magnet preferably made of neodymium; circular ring shaped drive magnet spacer (ESa); actuator (A) of cylindrical, stepped and hollow shape containing locking pin (PTa) and actuator position indicator (IPa); housing (C) of cylindrical shape and with a central hole at one of its ends, containing a housing cavity (CAc) for the locking pin (PTa), locking grooves (RT) for the valve fixing support and housing position indicator (IPc) with tabs containing holes for screws (PF) and valve fixing support (SF) containing holes for fixing the support (FS).

2. “MECHANICAL ACTUATED MAGNETIC VALVE OPERATION PROCESS” according to claim 1, characterized in that it is based on a housing (C), which houses inside an actuator (A) that moves in the direction of its axis axial when activated by pressing, having at its end a drive magnet (IA), which in turn is maintained in its initial position by means of the return spring (MR), when pressing the driver (A), it slides along its axial axis and approaches the plunger (E), the plunger (E) is attracted by the magnetic field of the drive magnet (IA), moving and releasing the diaphragm orifice (DF) and the diaphragm disc ( DD) and allowing liquid flow; the plunger (E) has its displacement limited by the plunger pin (PE) which limits the opening and closing range of the valve; when removing the pressure exerted on the actuator (A), it returns to its initial position through the return spring (MR), which causes the piston (E) to move away from the actuating magnet (IA), reducing the effect of the field magnet on the piston (E); the plunger (E) then returns to its initial position, attracted by the return magnet (IR) and assisted by the plunger spring (ME), which causes the openings of the diaphragm (DF) and the diaphragm disc (DD) to close, interrupting the flow of liquid; The return magnet spacer (ESr) has the function of keeping the return spring (MR) in the correct position for valve operation.

3. “MECHANICALLY ACTUATED MAGNETIC VALVE OPERATING PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized by its normal operation where the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) must be aligned and converging, causing the locking pin (PTa) of the actuator (A) to fit into the housing cavity (CAc) of the housing (C), keeping the plunger (E) in the closed position while the valve is not activated.

4. “MECHANICALLY ACTUATED MAGNETIC VALVE OPERATING PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized by operation with the valve constantly open, in “by-pass”, the actuator (A) must be pressed and rotated so that the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) are in a divergent position, thus the locking pin (PTa) comes out of the housing cavity (CAc) and causes the actuator (A) to move, and consequently the displacement of the drive magnet (IA), causing the plunger (E) to be attracted by the magnetic field of the drive magnet (IA), which releases the liquid flow through the holes in the diaphragm (DF) and the disc of the diaphragm (DD); and to resume normal valve operation, simply rotate the actuator (A) until the actuator position indicator (IPa) and the housing position indicator (IPc) are aligned and convergent, in order to restore the locking pin (PTa) of the driver (A) in the housing cavity (CAc) of the housing (C).

5. “PROCESS FOR INSTALLING A MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED MAGNETIC VALVE” for domestic use, according to claim 1, characterized by fixing the valve fixing support (SF), with screws passing through the holes for fixing the support (FS) on the edge of a cabinet stop, in such a way that the actuator (A) remains in contact with the internal face of the door. a cabinet and in a position opposite to the axis of rotation of this door, in order to keep the door briefly open, so that when pressed, it causes the actuator (A) to move; then, the inlet and outlet connections of the hydraulic network are connected, the outlet is connected to a tap; the tap is opened according to the flow desired by the user, and the activation is done using light pressure on the cabinet door, with a minimum displacement, between 2 and 6 mm, and preferably 3 mm, which maintains the clearance of the closet door almost imperceptible, maintaining the closed door appearance.

6. “MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED MAGNETIC VALVE”, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is used in civil construction or in industries to control the liquid level of a water tank or tank instead of traditional float valves or electrical solenoid valves; be used as a flush valve.