DIVERTER VALVE FOR FLUIDS

Abstract

A diverter valve for fluid circulation circuits comprising a valve body provided with ports for the passage of the fluid, a pin slidingly mounted inside said body and at least one shutter combined with said pin so that to be able to slide and comprising a deformable element. A first and a second end portion of the valve body are combined with a first and a second fixed element arranged so that the first fixed element causes the compression of the deformable element following the sliding of the pin in a first direction, making it expand radially to define a fluid seal with the valve body in a first position, and the second fixed element causes the compression of the deformable element following the sliding of the pin in a second direction, making it expand radially to define a fluid seal with the valve body in a second position.

Claims

1. A diverter valve for fluid circulation circuits, said diverter valve comprising: a valve body having two or more ports for the fluid inflow and/or outflow; a pin slidingly mounted inside said valve body; and one or more shutters each of said one or more shutters combined with said pin and comprising a deformable element wherein a first and a second fixed element are combined with a first and a second end portion of the valve body, each of said one or more shutters is combined with said pin to slide with respect to each one or more shutters, and said first fixed element configured to interact with one of said one or more shutters, causing the compression of the deformable element of each of said one or more shutters, following the sliding of the pin in a first direction, making said first fixed element expand radially such as to define a fluid seal with the valve body in a first position, and following the sliding of the pin in a second direction, opposite said first direction, said second fixed element configure to interact with one of said one or more shutters, causing the compression of the deformable element of each of said one or more shutters, making said second fixed element expand radially such as to define a fluid seal with the valve body in a second position.

2. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said first and second fixed elements are at least partially hollow for slidingly accommodating a respective portion of the pin, each of said one or more shutters comprises a first and a second supporting element movable with respect to one another, the deformable element arranged between said first and said second supporting elements, and following the sliding of the pin in the first direction, the first supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the first fixing element and the second supporting element of each of said one or more shutters is moved closer to the first supporting element of the respective shutter, causing the compression of the deformable element to make at least one peripheral portion emerge therefrom with respect to said first and second supporting elements, to define a fluid seal with the valve body, and following the sliding of the pin in the second direction, the second supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the second fixed element and the first supporting element of each of said one or more shutters is moved closer to the second supporting element of the respective shutter, causing the compression of the deformable element, to make at least one peripheral portion emerge therefrom with respect to said first and second supporting elements, to define a fluid seal with the valve body.

3. The diverter valve according to claim 2, wherein each shutter of said one or more shutters comprises a pass-through hole for the insertion and sliding of the pin, said each shutter of said one or more shutters is kept in a predefined position by means of a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion of the pin, the first and the second abutment elements are sized so that not to be able to be inserted in said pass through hole of the shutter, following the sliding of the pin in the first direction, the first supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the first fixed element, the first abutment portion pushes the second supporting element of each of said one or more shutters towards the first supporting element of the respective shutter, moving closer thereto and causing the compression of the deformable element, and following the sliding of the pin in the second direction, the second supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the second fixed element and the second abutment portion pushes the first supporting element of each of said one or more shutters towards the second supporting element of the respective shutter, moving closer thereto and causing the compression of the deformable element.

4. The diverter valve according to claim 3, wherein the pin comprises an intermediate part to be inserted at least partially in the pass-through hole and a first and a second extension extending from opposite parts of the intermediate part, each comprising a respective portion of said first or second abutment portion and each being sized to slide inside the respective first or second fixed element.

5. The diverter valve according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second extensions are separate elements removably combined with the intermediate part, by screwing.

6. The diverter valve according to claim 5, wherein at least two shutters are combined with the pin and wherein each shutter is kept in a predefined position by said first and second abutment portions and by at least one spacing element arranged between two adjacent shutters, to be combined with the intermediate part of the pin, to be arranged between a respective couple of shutters and sized so that not to be able to be inserted in said pass through hole of the shutter.

7. The diverter valve according to claim 6, wherein each shutter and the possible first and second supporting elements have an outer profile complementary to the inner section of the valve body and are sized such as to be able to slide inside it when the deformable element is in a resting condition in which is not compressed.

8. The diverter valve according to claim 7, further comprising: a circular-section valve body, wherein the shutter has circular section with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the valve body, when the deformable element is in the resting condition.

9. The diverter valve according claim 1, wherein the deformable element is made of a synthetic polymer, such as silicone, or a synthetic rubber.

10. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions are removably combined with the valve body, by screwing by means of respective first coupling means which are matched to corresponding second coupling means obtained at the level of the valve body, the first and second fixed elements being able to be an integral part of the respective first and second end portions, or separate elements combined therewith in a fixed or removable way.

11. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body has an almost continuous inner surface, except for the openings corresponding to the ports, and does not have peripheral abutment elements emerging from its inner surface.

12. The diverter valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a manually or automatically controlled driving actuator to move the pin alternately in the first and the second directions, wherein said controlling means is an actuator of the electric type.

13. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein the diverter valve: has two ports, and a single shutter is combined with the pin to allow or block the fluid flow between an inlet port and an outlet port; has three ports, and a single shutter is combined with the pin to divert the fluid flow between an inlet port and two different outlet ports; or has five ports, and two shutters are combined with the pin to divert the fluid flow between an inlet port and two different outlet ports, thus reversing the crossing direction of two intermediate ports.

14. A method for assembling a diverter valve, said method comprising: a) prearranging a valve body having two or more ports for the inflow and/or outflow of the fluid; b) combining a first or a second end portion with the valve body; c) combining, respectively, a first or a second fixed element with said first or second end portion; d) arranging a pin inside the valve body configured to be slideable within said body, said pin being provided with a first or a second abutment portion; e) slidingly combining at least one shutter comprising a deformable element with said pin; f) combining a second or a first abutment portion with said pin; g) combining, respectively, the second or the first fixed element with the second or first end portion; h) combining said first or second end portion with the valve body; and i) combining a driving actuator with the pin for moving it in opposite directions within the valve body.

15. The method for assembling the diverter valve according to claim 14, wherein the valve comprises at least two shutters, and the step e) provides to interpose a spacing element between each couple of shutters, configured to keep each couple of adjacent shutters at a predefined distance from one another.

16. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein each shutter of said one or more shutters comprises a pass-through hole for the insertion and sliding of the pin, said each shutter of said one or more shutters is kept in a predefined position by means of a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion of the pin, the first and the second abutment elements are sized so that not to be able to be inserted in said pass through hole of the shutter, following the sliding of the pin in the first direction, the first supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the first fixed element, the first abutment portion pushes the second supporting element of each of said one or more shutters towards the first supporting element of the respective shutter, moving closer thereto and causing the compression of the deformable element, and following the sliding of the pin in the second direction, the second supporting element of one of said one or more shutters is pressed against the second fixed element and the second abutment portion pushes the first supporting element of each of said one or more shutters towards the second supporting element of the respective shutter, moving closer thereto and causing the compression of the deformable element.

17. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein at least two shutters are combined with the pin and wherein each shutter is kept in a predefined position by said first and second abutment portions and by at least one spacing element arranged between two adjacent shutters, to be combined with the intermediate part of the pin, to be arranged between a respective couple of shutters and sized so that not to be able to be inserted in said pass through hole of the shutter.

18. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein each shutter and the possible first and second supporting elements have an outer profile complementary to the inner section of the valve body and are sized such as to be able to slide inside it when the deformable element is in a resting condition in which is not compressed.

19. The diverter valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a circular-section valve body, wherein the shutter has circular section with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the valve body, when the deformable element is in the resting condition.

Description

LIST OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted by the review of the following detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated by way of example and without limitations, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a diverter valve according to the present invention;

[0025] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c each show a section of the valve of FIG. 1 in a resting condition and in two different working conditions;

[0026] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show a partial section of some inner components of the valve of FIG. 1, respectively in the resting condition and in the two working conditions of FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c;

[0027] FIGS. 4a and 4b each show a section of a different embodiment of the valve according to the invention, in two different working conditions;

[0028] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c each show a section of a further embodiment of the valve according to the invention, in a resting condition and in two different working conditions;

[0029] FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c show a partial section of some inner components of the valve of FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, respectively in the resting condition and in the two working conditions; and

[0030] FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c show a section of some of the inner components of the valve shown in FIG. 3a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a diverter valve 1 according to the present invention, for hydraulic o aeraulic circuits, in which a fluid, which can be liquid or aeriform, circulates.

[0032] The valve comprises a hollow, preferably substantially tubular, valve body 2 having at least two ports 3 for the inflow and/or outflow of fluid into/from the valve. Preferably, the valve can be a 2-way valve, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, or a 3-way valve, as shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, and 6c, or a 5-way valve, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b and 3c. The body can be made of a plastic material, stainless steel, or any other material and extends between a first end portion 4 and a second end portion 5.

[0033] The valve further comprises a pin 6 provided with one or more shutters 7. The pin is combined with the valve body so that to slide inside it, alternately in a first direction D1 and in a second direction D2 opposite the first direction.

[0034] Each shutter has a shape complementary to the inner section of the body and is sized to be able to slide inside it. In case of a valve body with a circular section, each shutter is in the form of a disc having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the inner circumference of the tube, so that to be able to slide inside it, when in a resting position, as shown in FIGS. 2a, 3a, 5a and 6a.

[0035] According to the invention, each shutter is combined with the pin so that to be able to slide with respect to it and can comprise or be combined with a first supporting element 8 and a second supporting element 9 between which a deformable element 10, of the type able to radially expand when subjected to pressure, such as a gasket sealing by crushing, is arranged. The first and the second supporting elements are slidingly mounted on the pin so that to be movable one with respect to the other such as to be able to move closer or away from one another. In case of a shutter with a circular section, it comprises a circular gasket, preferably in the form of a disc, arranged between two supporting elements, also in the form of discs made of a rigid material. Advantageously, and as shown in FIG. 7a, each shutter 7 has a pass-through hole 7′, preferably in a central position thereof, in which the pin is inserted. Preferably, the deformable element is a small centrally-perforated disc or a ring made of silicone or synthetic rubber, such as rubber of the EPDM type.

[0036] The pin comprises an intermediate part 6′ having a first cross-section, sized to be able to be inserted in said pass through hole 7′, and a first and second extension 6″ and 6′″, each extending from a respective end of the intermediate part, as shown in particular in FIG. 7b.

[0037] Each shutter is combined with the intermediate part 6′ of the pin and is kept in a predefined position by a first abutment portion 6b and a second abutment portion 6c of the first and the second extension of the pin and by at least one possible spacing element 6a, whenever there is more than one shutter, each to be combined with the intermediate part such as to be arranged between a respective couple of shutters, as shown in detail in FIG. 7a. At least the first and the second abutment elements, but preferably the entire first and the entire second extensions of the pin, have a second cross-section sized so that to not allow the insertion of the shutter in said pass-through hole 7′. At least the ends, but preferably the entire spacing element, has a third cross-section also sized so that to not allow the insertion of the shutter in said pass-through hole 7′. Preferably, the second and the third cross-sections are equal.

[0038] Advantageously, the first and the second extension of the pin are separate elements, preferably removably combined with the intermediate part, for example by screwing.

[0039] A first fixed element 11 and a second fixed element 12 are respectively combined with the first and the second end portions 4, 5 of the tubular body. The two fixed elements are hollow so that to each accommodate a respective first or second extension of the pin and to allow it to slide inside it.

[0040] This way, when the pin is moved in the first direction D1, following the displacement, the first supporting element 8 comes into contact with the first fixed element 11 and the shutter is pressed against it. Since the pin can slide with respect to the shutter, a further displacement thereof in the direction D1 also causes a displacement of the second end extension and, with it, of the second abutment portion, which is pressed against the second supporting element 9 of the shutter, so that to move it closer to the first supporting element 8, thus causing the compression and the consequent radial expansion of the deformable element, which emerges with respect to the surfaces of the supporting elements, as shown in FIGS. 2b, 3b, 5b and 6b, thus pressing on the inner surface of the valve body to ensure a mechanical seal against the hydraulic force of the fluid and to force it to follow the desired direction, as shown in FIGS. 2b and 5b.

[0041] Vice-versa, when the pin is moved in the direction D2, following the displacement, the second supporting element 9 comes into contact with the second fixed element 12 and the shutter is pressed against it. Since the pin can slide with respect to the shutter, a further displacement thereof in the direction D2 also causes a displacement of the first extension and, with it, of the first abutment portion, which is pressed against the first supporting element 8 of the shutter, thus moving it closer to the second abutment element and causing the radial expansion of the deformable element, which emerges at least partially with respect to the surfaces of the supporting elements, as shown in FIGS. 2c, 3c, 5c and 6c, and presses on the inner surface of the valve body to ensure a mechanical seal against the hydraulic force of the fluid to force it to follow the desired direction, as shown in FIGS. 2c and 5c.

[0042] In case of the 2-way valve which is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, when the pin is moved in a direction, following the displacement, the first supporting element 8 comes into contact with the first fixed element, or anyhow with the first end portion 4 of the valve body, so that to fluidically connect the two ports of the valve to one another and to allow the fluid to run inside the valve, as shown in FIG. 4a; vice-versa, when the pin is moved in the opposite direction, following the displacement, the second supporting element 9 comes into contact with the second fixed element 12 and, thanks to the thrust exerted by the first abutment portion 6b, the first supporting element 8 is moved closer to the second supporting and compresses the deformable element 10, which emerges with respect to the surfaces of the outer portions and presses on the inner surface of the valve body so that to ensure a mechanical seal against the thrust of the fluid, so that to isolate the two ports from one another and to prevent the passing of the fluid in the valve, as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0043] Advantageously, the first and the second end portions of the valve are elements separate from the valve body and are removably combined therewith, for example by screwing, For this, each end portion has first hooking means 13, such as a thread, and the valve body has corresponding second hooking means 14, such as a thread, intended to couple with the first hooking means. The first and the second fixed elements can be an integral part of the respective first and second end portions, or separate elements combined therewith in a fixed but preferably removable way, by means of respective hooks 15 so that to be able to combine fixed elements of different sizes depending on the type and size of the valve itself.

[0044] This configuration allows to have a valve body with an almost continuous inner surface except for the openings corresponding to the ports and this advantageously allows to obtain the valve body by molding.

[0045] A driving actuator 16 is combined with the valve—shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c. The actuator can be operated manually, for example by means of a switch, or automatically, for example by means of a pressure switch. Preferably and thanks to its configuration, the valve can be combined with an actuator of the electric type, thus significantly simplifying it with respect to the known valves, which must be driven by pneumatic actuators. The driving actuator is combined with the pin 6 and, specifically, with the first or the second extension 6″, 6″′ to cause its movement in the direction D1 or in the direction D2 as needed. The particular structure of the valve allows the use of an electric actuator, with respect to the valves of the known art which require a pneumatic actuator, since the deformable element also acts as a damper to compensate possible imprecisions of the actuator during the travel of the piston. Thanks to the particular configuration of the valve, it is possible to cause the expansion of the deformable element in two different directions and positions of the actuator with respect to the valve body by using a single actuator, both when the shutter is pulled against the first fixed element and when it is pushed against the second fixed element; in addition, it is also possible to cause the almost instantaneous expansion of each of the deformable elements of at least two shutters in different positions, so that to be able to also drive, always with a single actuator, a 5-way valve.

[0046] In specific, FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b and 2c show a 5-way valve, thus provided with five ports 3 that can alternatively be inlet or outlet ports of the fluid, depending on the type and method of use of the valve itself in the circuit with which it is combined. As shown, the 5-way valve comprises two shutters 7 borne by the same pin 6 and movable in the valve body so that to fluidically connect different couples of ports of the valve, as needed, so that to vary the flows of the fluid. In specific, by moving the shutters, it is possible to deviate the fluid coming in through an inlet port alternatively towards two different outlet ports, as denoted by the arrows of FIGS. 2b and 2c, by moving the shutters kept in a resting condition shown in FIG. 2a, in which the deformable element of each shutter is not expanded and thus stays detached from the inner wall of the valve body, such as not to generate frictions, which would hinder the movement of the shutters and which would cause undesired wearing of the deformable elements.

[0047] In particular, such a type of valve is widely used in the hydraulic systems in which it is necessary to carry out cleaning operations of the water treatment filters. In specific, a first working condition of the valve for the recirculation of the liquid from and to the tank containing the liquid, such as a pool or the like, is shown in FIG. 2b. In such condition, the water coming out of the tank is channeled through a filter and then sent back in the tank. FIG. 2c shows the valve in a second working condition, in which the displacement of the shutters determines a variation of the flow of the fluid. In such condition it is possible, for example, to carry out the counter-washing of the filter, by forcing the water to cross the filter in the direction opposite the filtering one, so that to allow the removal of the particles captured previously; the water is then channeled towards an outlet different from the previous one to be released, without entering the tank.

[0048] Correspondingly, the shutters in the resting condition corresponding to the movement steps are shown in FIG. 3a, while FIGS. 3b and 3c show the shutters when they are in the working positions of FIGS. 2b and 2c. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a, the deformable elements 10 of both the shutters are in a resting condition, in which they stay inside the first and the second supporting elements, thus allowing the shutter itself to slide in the valve body. Vice-versa, when in the working conditions shown in FIGS. 2b, 2c, 3b and 3c, the displacement of the shutters, together with the first or the second fixed element 11, 12, causes the first and the second supporting elements 8, 9 of each shutter to move closer to one another and the consequent crushing of the respective deformable element 10, so that at least its peripheral portion 10′ emerges from the respective first and second supporting elements, thus coming into contact and establishing a fluid seal with the inner surface of the valve body.

[0049] Instead, FIGS. 4a and 4b show a two-way valve. In this case, a single shutter, movable between a first position shown in FIG. 4a, in which it establishes a fluidic connection between the two ports, and a second position shown in FIG. 4b, in which the shutter is pushed against the second fixed element 12 to cause the compression of the deformable element and to thus isolate the inlet port from the outlet one, is combined with the pin.

[0050] Finally, FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b and 6c show a 3-way valve. Also in this case, there is a single shutter for fluidically connecting an inlet with a different outlet from time to time. In specific, when the shutter 7 is pulled or pushed against the first fixed element 11, the peripheral portion 10′ of the deformable portion emerges from the supporting elements 8, 9 and defines a fluid seal with the valve body to isolate a port with respect to the other two, as shown in FIGS. 5b and 6b, while when the shutter 7 is moved in the opposite direction, so that to be pressed against the second fixed element 12, the deformable element 10 defines a fluid seal in a different position, thus allowing the passing of the fluid between two different ports and preventing the passing in the third, as shown by the arrows of FIG. 5b.

[0051] For assembling the valve, it is sufficient to prearrange a valve body having two or more ports; to combine the first or the second end portion, with which the respective first or second fixed element has in turn to be combined, with the valve body; to arrange the pin provided with the first or the second abutment portion inside the valve body, with the pin slidingly mounted inside the valve body; to slidingly combine at least one shutter provided with a deformable element, with the pin; to combine the second or the first abutment portion with the pin; to combine the second or the first fixed element with the respective second or first end portion; to combine the second or the first end portion with the valve body; and to combine the driving actuator with the pin for its movement.

[0052] Whenever the valve comprises at least two shutters, the step of interposing a respective spacing element between each couple of shutters is necessary, so that to keep the shutters at a predetermined distance, depending on the distance and the arrangement of the ports of the valve.

[0053] Advantageously, the maintenance operations are also simplified; in fact, to replace the deformable element, it is sufficient to separate the first or the second end element from the valve body, to slip off the pin with the respective shutters and to move the supporting elements away from each other in order to remove the deformable element and to replace it.

[0054] Reference was made to the 2-, 3- and 5-way valves, in specific configurations, in the description since they are the most widely used ones, but this does not exclude the fact that the same inventive concept can be applied to valves with a different number of ports and with different types of use.