Control valve for a process plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a control valve (10) for a process plant, comprising an actuator (16) which is connected to, and spaced from, a valve body (12) of a valve unit (11) via a yoke (14), the valve body (12) having a housing flange (32) which is detachably connected to the yoke (14), with the valve body (12) having an inlet (20) and an outlet (22) adapted to allow the flow of a process fluid therethrough, which inlet (20) and outlet (22) are each arranged in a fluid connection region (18, 19), and with an actuating member adapted to be displaced by the actuator (16) for controlling the flow rate of the process fluid being arranged in the passage (24) from the inlet (20) to the outlet (22). The invention is characterized in that the housing flange (32) connected to the yoke (14) has at least one recess (44) as well as a yoke fastening region (33), with the yoke fastening region (33) being formed as a bolt hole circle (34) with radially arranged connecting holes (36).

Claims

1. Control valve (10) for a process plant, comprising: an actuator (16) connected to, and spaced from, a valve body (12) of a valve unit (11) via a yoke (14); said valve body (12) of said valve unit (11) includes a housing flange (32) that is detachably connected to said yoke (14); said housing flange (32) includes a recess therethrough; said valve body (12) having an inlet (20) and an outlet (22) for the flow of a process fluid therethrough; said inlet (20) and said outlet (22) each being located in a fluid connection region (18, 19); said inlet (20) and said outlet (22) interconnected by a passageway 24 therebetween; an actuating member (28) resides in said passageway (24) is adapted to be displaced by said actuator for controlling the flow rate of said process fluid within and through said valve body (12); a sensor (56) is mounted in said valve body (12); said sensor (56) is connected via an electrical cable (54) for communication with a measuring device (52) arranged on said yoke (14) and/or on said actuator (16); said electrical cable (54) resides partially in said recess (44) of said housing flange (32) of said valve body (12) connected to said yoke (14).

2. Control valve according to claim 1, further comprising: said actuator (16) includes a connection (40); said yoke (14) includes a sealing flange (38); said sealing flange (38) includes at least two support columns (46); said at least two support columns (46) of said sealing flange (38) of said yoke (14) extend in an axial longitudinal direction (L); said sealing flange (38) connected to said housing flange (32) for sealing said valve body (12); said support columns (46) of said sealing flange (38) of said yoke connecting said sealing flange (38) of said yoke to said connection (40) of said actuator (16); said housing flange (32) of said valve body and said actuator (16) are arranged spaced apart from one another in said axial longitudinal direction (L) of said support columns (46).

3. Control valve according to claim 2, further comprising: said support columns (46) of said sealing flange (38) are arranged between the inlet (20) and the outlet (22) of said valve body.

4. Control valve according to claim 1, further comprising: said sealing flange (38) has a recess (48) formed integrally therewith; and, said sealing flange recess (48) being aligned with said recess (44) of said housing flange (32) of said valve body (12).

5. Control valve according to claim 4, further comprising: said support columns (46) of said sealing flange (38) of said yoke have recesses (50) formed integrally with said sealing flange (38) of said yoke (14).

6. Control valve according to claim 5, further comprising: said sealing flange recess (48) and said support column recess (50) are aligned with one another; said electrical cable (54) communicates between said sensor (56) and said measuring device 52, and said electrical cable (54) resides within said valve body (12), said recess (44), said sealing flange recess (48) and said support column recess (50).

7. Control valve according to claim 6, further comprising: said support columns (46) have lengths; said support column recesses (50) are provided over the entire lengths of said support columns (46).

8. Control valve according to claim 5, further comprising: said sealing flange recess (48) and/or said support column recess (50) has a closed cross-sectional contour.

9. Control valve according to claim 1, further comprising: said recess (44) of said housing flange (32) has a closed cross-sectional contour.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a control valve according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a valve body of a control valve according to the invention connected to a yoke; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a valve unit, taken through a housing flange, as viewed from above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a control valve 10 according to the invention. The control valve 10 comprises a valve unit 11 whose valve body 12 is connected to an actuator 16 via a yoke 14. In this view, the valve body 12 has an inlet 20 and an outlet 22 which are each located in a fluid connection region 18, 19. The fluid connection regions 18, 19 each serve for connection to a counter piece of the process plant. A passage 24 extends along a longitudinal axis between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22, which passage is adapted for the flow of a process fluid therethrough. A valve seat 26 is provided in the passage 24 from the inlet 20 to the outlet 22. The aperture of the valve seat 26 is opened and/or closed by a valve cone 28 of the control valve so as to allow or obstruct the flow of process fluid from the inlet 20 to the outlet 22. The valve cone 28 is located on a valve stem 30 connected to the actuator 16.

(6) The valve body 12 is detachably connected to the yoke 14 via a housing flange 32. For connection to the yoke 14, the housing flange 32 has a yoke fastening region 33 with a bolt hole circle 34, which region 33 is not shown here. This bolt hole circle 34 has connecting holes 36 for the insertion of connecting means, for example screws, via which a contact pressure can be applied for connecting the housing flange 32 to the yoke 14 in a sealing and detachable manner.

(7) As shown here, the yoke 14 is designed to have a sealing flange 38 and two support columns 46 extending in an axial longitudinal direction L. The support columns 46 connect the sealing flange 38 to a connection 40 that connects the actuator 16 to the yoke 14. The sealing flange 38 is detachably connected to the housing flange 32 of the valve unit 11 and is designed with a cover 42 that seals the valve unit 11 towards the yoke 14.

(8) According to the invention, the housing flange 32 connected to the yoke 14 has at least one recess 44 in addition to the connecting holes 36 of the bolt hole circle 34. As shown here, the recess 44 is completely encased radially by the structure of the housing flange 32. It is also conceivable for the recess 44 to form a portion that is recessed in the radial direction R of the housing flange 32, for example a groove or a channel. The recess 44 can be advantageously used to guide a cable, such as electrical wiring. The housing flange is connected to the sealing flange 38 of the yoke 14 via a yoke fastening region 33 not shown here. The sealing flange 38 has a cover 42 for sealing the valve body 12.

(9) The recess 44 of the housing flange 32 merges into the recess 48 of the sealing flange 38, which recess 48 in turn merges directly and seamlessly into the support column recess 50, which in this case extends over the entire length of the support column 46. In the present case, the recess 44 is radially encased over its entire length by the base material of the housing flange 32. The sealing flange recess 48 and the support column recess 50 are completely encased by the base material of the yoke 14. This provides increased protection, in particular against mechanical damage such as pinching and/or cutting, for a cable guided through the housing flange 32 and the yoke 14. The support column 44 is preferably made of metal and adapted to protect against radiation, for example radiation emitted by the cable itself or radiation acting on the cable from outside.

(10) FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view of a control valve 10 according to the invention.

(11) The actuator 16 of the control valve 10 is connected to the valve body 12 of the valve unit 11 via the yoke 14. The control valve is of a modular design. In particular, the yoke 14 connected to the actuator and the valve body 12 can be combined in order to provide a high degree of flexibility for the configuration of the control valve 10.

(12) As seen here, a measuring device 52 is located at an end of yoke 14 opposite the valve body 12. It is also conceivable for a positioner or any other peripheral device to be arranged on the yoke 14 and/or on the actuator 12. The measuring device 52 is connected to a sensor 56 located on the valve body 12 via a line 54 which in particular takes the form of electrical cabling. In the present case, the sensor 56 is arranged in a through-hole in the valve body 12 so that it protrudes into the passage 24 between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22, for example for measuring a process variable of the process fluid.

(13) In this case, the sensor 56 is located behind the fluid connection region 18 which is provided with a flange 58 for connection to a counter piece of the process plant. The flange 58 thus extends in a projection that partially protrudes beyond the valve body 12. The line 54 of the sensor 56 is arranged behind the fluid connection region 18, i.e. behind the projection of the flange 58, on the outside of the valve body 12 and extends uncovered up to the recess 44 of the housing flange 32. The uncovered line 54 which extends on the outside of the valve body 12, is advantageously protected by the radially projecting flange 58, in particular against mechanical damage. Furthermore, as seen here, a jacket 49 may be arranged behind the fluid connection region 18 between the projecting flange 58 and the yoke 14, for example a screwed-on sheet metal jacket which encases the region in which the exposed line 54 is arranged, thus increasing the protection of the line 54.

(14) As shown in FIG. 2, the line 54 is guided in the recess 44 of the housing flange 32. As seen here, the recess 44 is radially encased over its entire length by the base material of the housing flange 32. The recess 44 of the housing flange 32 is aligned with the sealing flange recess 48, which merges seamlessly into the support column recess 50. As seen here, the support column recess 50 extends over the entire length of the support column 46. The sealing flange recess 48 and the support column recess 50, in which the line 54 is guided, have a closed cross-sectional contour over their entire length, as shown here. The line 54 is guided within the respective structure of the housing flange 32 and the yoke 14, which affords increased protection for the line 54, both against mechanical damage and radiation.

(15) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of the housing flange 32 of the control valve 10 of FIG. 2. The valve body 12 has a housing flange 32 which can be connected to a sealing flange 38 (not shown here) of the yoke 14. According to the invention, the housing flange 32 has a recess 44 and a yoke fastening region 33 which is designed as a bolt hole circle 34 with radially arranged connecting holes 36. As seen here, the recess 44 is radially encased by the housing flange 32. The connecting holes 36 of the housing flange are arranged symmetrically in this view. They serve to accommodate connection means, for example screws, used for applying a contact pressure for connecting the housing flange 32 to the sealing flange 38 of the yoke 14 in a sealing and detachable manner.

(16) The valve body 12 has a passage 24 between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 adapted to allow process fluid to flow therethrough. The inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are each formed in a fluid connection region 18, 19 which has a projecting flange 58. In this view, a sensor 56 is located on the valve body 12 behind the fluid connection region 18. Line 54 connects the sensor 56 to a measuring device 52 (not shown here) in a communicating manner, which line 54 runs on the outside of the valve body 12 where it extends from the sensor 56 to the recess 44 of the housing flange 32, from where the line 54 is then guided in the recess 44 of the housing flange 32, then in the sealing flange recess 48 (not shown here) and finally in the support column recess 50. The support columns 46 (not shown here) are each arranged between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 behind the two fluid connection regions 18, 19 at an angle of between 0° and 15° relative to the main axis HA. As seen here, the entire routing of the line 54 is arranged behind the projecting flange 58 of the fluid connection region 18 and is thus advantageously protected from being gripped from behind and from mechanical damage.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 10 control valve 11 valve unit 12 valve body 14 yoke 16 actuator 18 fluid connection region 19 fluid connection region 20 inlet 22 outlet 24 passage 26 valve seat 28 valve cone 30 valve stem 32 housing flange 33 yoke fastening region 34 bolt hole circle 36 connecting hole 38 sealing flange 40 connection 42 cover 44 recess in the housing flange 46 support column 48 recess in the sealing flange 49 jacket 50 support column recess 52 measuring device 54 line 56 sensor 58 flange L longitudinal direction R radial direction HA main axis