Diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve, and diaphragm valve

Abstract

A diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve is described, which has a diaphragm which includes a functional portion adapted to cooperate with further components of the diaphragm valve and to separate opposite chambers. The diaphragm further includes a tab projecting laterally from the functional portion and having a through-opening provided therein. A marking element is fastened in the through-opening. In addition, a diaphragm valve having such a diaphragm assembly is presented.

Claims

1. A diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve, comprising: a diaphragm which includes a functional portion adapted to cooperate with further components of the diaphragm valve and to separate opposite chambers; and a tab projecting laterally from the functional portion, wherein a through-opening is provided in the tab, and a marking element is fastened in the through-opening; wherein the diaphragm is a multilayer diaphragm, and the through-opening extends through all layers of the multilayer diaphragm; wherein in an installed position, the diaphragm comprises an upper side and a lower side; and the marking element has substantially the same color as the lower side, the color being an indicator for the material on the lower side, or the marking element is made from the same material as the lower side, or the marking element has a shape being an indicator for the material on the lower side.

2. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the marking element is visible from a viewing direction directed onto the upper side.

3. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the marking element protrudes in relation to at least one of an upper boundary surface and to a lower boundary surface of the diaphragm.

4. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the marking element includes at least one lateral extension for retaining the marking element in the through-opening.

5. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 4, wherein the marking element includes two lateral extensions for retaining the marking element in the through-opening, the lateral extensions being arranged on opposite sides of the diaphragm in the assembled state.

6. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 4, wherein the marking element includes a lateral extension on each of the two axial ends for retaining the marking element in the through-opening, and wherein an axial end face of each extension facing the middle portion rests against the diaphragm.

7. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the marking element is substantially cylindrical and the through-opening has a cross-section substantially corresponding to a cross-section of the marking element.

8. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 7, wherein a circumference of the cylindrical marking element is larger than a circumference of the through-opening such that the marking element and the through-opening form an interference fit.

9. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the marking element comprises an electronic data storage element, in particular an RFID chip.

10. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 9, wherein the marking element comprises a data readout interface for reading out data stored on the electronic data storage element and/or a data write interface for writing data to the electronic data storage element.

11. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 9, wherein a visual display device is provided, which is coupled to the electronic data storage element.

12. The diaphragm assembly according to claim 11, wherein the visual display device is an indicator light.

13. A diaphragm valve comprising a diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve, comprising a diaphragm which includes a functional portion adapted to cooperate with further components of the diaphragm valve and to separate opposite chambers, and a tab projecting laterally from the functional portion, wherein a through-opening is provided in the tab, and a marking element is fastened in the through-opening; wherein the diaphragm is a multilayer diaphragm, and the through-opening extends through all layers of the multilayer diaphragm; wherein in an installed position, the diaphragm comprises an upper side and a lower side; and the marking element has substantially the same color as the lower side, the color being an indicator for the material on the lower side, or the marking element is made from the same material as the lower side, or the marking element has a shape being an indicator for the material on the lower side.

14. A diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve, comprising: a diaphragm which includes a functional portion adapted to cooperate with further components of the diaphragm valve and to separate opposite chambers; and a tab projecting laterally from the functional portion, wherein a through-opening is provided in the tab, and a marking element is fastened in the through-opening; wherein the diaphragm is a multilayer diaphragm, wherein a first diaphragm layer is an elastomer layer and a second diaphragm layer is made of PTFE; wherein in an installed position, the diaphragm comprises an upper side and a lower side; and the marking element has substantially the same color as the lower side, the color being an indicator for the material on the lower side, or the marking element is made from the same material as the lower side, or the marking element has a shape being an indicator for the material on the lower side.

15. A diaphragm valve comprising a diaphragm assembly for a diaphragm valve, comprising a diaphragm which includes a functional portion adapted to cooperate with further components of the diaphragm valve and to separate opposite chambers, and a tab projecting laterally from the functional portion, wherein a through-opening is provided in the tab, and a marking element is fastened in the through-opening; wherein the diaphragm is a multilayer diaphragm, wherein a first diaphragm layer is an elastomer layer and a second diaphragm layer is made of PTFE; wherein in an installed position, the diaphragm comprises an upper side and a lower side; and the marking element has substantially the same color as the lower side, the color being an indicator for the material on the lower side, or the marking element is made from the same material as the lower side, or the marking element has a shape being an indicator for the material on the lower side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a diaphragm valve according to the invention with a diaphragm assembly according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows the diaphragm valve from FIG. 1 in a top view along the direction II;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a single-layer diaphragm of a diaphragm assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 shows the diaphragm from FIG. 3 in a view sectioned along IV-IV;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a two-layer diaphragm of a diaphragm assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 6 shows the diaphragm from FIG. 5 in a view sectioned along VI-VI; and

(7) FIGS. 7 to 13 show different embodiments of a marking element of a diaphragm assembly according to the invention.

(8) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a diaphragm valve 10 comprising a diaphragm assembly 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the diaphragm assembly 12, more precisely a diaphragm 14 of the diaphragm assembly 12, is arranged between a first diaphragm valve component 16 and a second diaphragm valve component 18.

(10) The first diaphragm valve component 16 comprises a valve actuator 20.

(11) The diaphragm valve 10 is coupled to fluid pipes 22, 24 via the second diaphragm valve component 18.

(12) The diaphragm assembly 12 is arranged inside the diaphragm valve 10 such that a functional portion 26 of the diaphragm 14, delimited by broken lines, can cooperate with components of the diaphragm valve 10 and can separate opposite chambers from each other as part of the valve function.

(13) The diaphragm 14 furthermore comprises a tab 28 which projects laterally from the functional portion 26.

(14) The tab 28 has a through-opening 30 provided therein (see FIG. 3), in which a marking element 32 is fastened.

(15) FIGS. 3 to 6 show two embodiments of a diaphragm 14 in detail. For greater clarity, no marking element 32 is arranged in the through-opening 30 in each of the Figures here.

(16) The embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a single-layer diaphragm.

(17) The diaphragm according to FIGS. 5 and 6 has a two-layer structure. A first diaphragm layer 14a is an elastomer layer. A second diaphragm layer 14b is made of PTFE.

(18) Various embodiments of the marking element 32, which may, of course, also be fastened in the through-openings 30 of the diaphragms 14 from FIGS. 3 to 6, are apparent from FIGS. 7 to 13.

(19) Irrespective of its embodiment, the marking element 32 serves to provide information on the diaphragm type to a user in the installed state of the diaphragm assembly 12. It is of particular importance here to identify, by means of the marking element 32, the material from which the diaphragm 14 is made.

(20) A common case here is that when the diaphragm 14 is in an installed position (see FIG. 1), a user can only look at an upper side 34 of the diaphragm. More precisely, a user can look at the upper side 34 of the diaphragm 14 only in the region of the tab 28 and cannot see a lower side 36 of the diaphragm 14.

(21) It is, however, important for the user to know from which material the lower side 36 of the diaphragm 14 is made (see FIGS. 5 and 6), for example in connection with maintenance work in which the diaphragm 14 is to be replaced. Only in this case, the user can have a suitable replacement diaphragm ready even before the actual removal of the diaphragm 14.

(22) To make this possible, the marking element 32 may have substantially the same color as the lower side 36. The color of the marking element 32 can then be used to draw conclusions about the material of the lower side 36.

(23) In an alternative embodiment, the marking element 32 is made from the same material as the lower side 36. Thus, the material of the lower side 36 can be identified from the upper side 34 in this case as well.

(24) In all embodiments, the marking element 32 is visible from a viewing direction directed toward the upper side 34 (see FIG. 2, for example).

(25) In the following, special configurations of the various embodiments of the marking element will be discussed.

(26) In the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 9, the marking element 32 protrudes in relation to an upper boundary surface, which in the present case corresponds to the upper side 34, of the diaphragm 14.

(27) In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1, 11, 12 and 13, the marking element 32 protrudes in relation to both an upper boundary surface and a lower boundary surface of the diaphragm 14. In this case, the upper boundary surface corresponds to the upper side 34 again, and the lower boundary surface corresponds to the lower side 36.

(28) In this way, the marking element 32 is well visible even from viewing directions that are at an angle to the upper side 34 of the diaphragm 14.

(29) The marking element 32 further comprises an electronic data storage element 38, which is illustrated merely schematically in the Figures. More particularly, the data storage element 38 is an RFID chip.

(30) The data storage element 38 may have information stored thereon relating to the materials from which the diaphragm 14 is made.

(31) In addition, information about the utilization and/or about the life cycle of the diaphragm valve 10 to which the marking element 32 is assigned can be stored there.

(32) For reading out data stored on the data storage element 38, a data readout interface is provided, which is not illustrated in more detail.

(33) To allow data to be written to the data storage element 38, a data write interface is provided, which is also not shown in more detail.

(34) Further provided is a visual display device 40, which is coupled to the data storage element 38.

(35) The display device 40 is illustrated by way of example only in the embodiments according to FIGS. 10 and 12. However, all other embodiments may be equipped with a display device 40 just as well.

(36) In the examples shown, the display device 40 is an indicator light in the form of an LED, which emits light when a data transfer takes place from or to the data storage element 38. In an environment involving a plurality of diaphragm valves 10 and therefore a plurality of data storage elements 38, it can be easily seen in this way with which data storage element 38 a communication is in progress.

(37) The display device 40 may also be arranged at a different point of the diaphragm valve 10. In particular, it may be configured as an illuminated ring on the valve actuator 20, which may also be generally referred to as a drive.

(38) In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the marking element 32 is a tag 42 which is fastened in the through-opening 30 by a fastening ring 44. The data storage element 38 is integrated in the tag 42.

(39) In addition to this, further information about the diaphragm assembly 12 and/or about the diaphragm valve 10 may be stored on the tag 42, for example in the form of an inscription or an imprint.

(40) The marking elements 32 according to FIGS. 8 and 9 include a lateral extension 46 for retaining the marking element 32 in the through-opening 30. Here, the head-like extension 46 blocks the marking element 32 from being pushed out of the through-opening 30 at least in one direction.

(41) The marking elements 32 according to FIGS. 11 to 13 include two lateral extensions 46, 48 each, which are shaped like discs or lenses. Both of them are adapted for retaining the marking element 32 in the through-opening 30.

(42) In the condition with the marking element 32 mounted to the diaphragm 14, the extensions 46, 48 are furthermore arranged on opposite sides of the diaphragm 14. In the present case, the extension 46 is always positioned on the upper side 34 and the extension 48 is always positioned on the lower side 36.

(43) In other words, each of the extensions 46, 48 blocks the marking element 32 from being pushed out in one direction. In this way, the marking element 32 is axially firmly held in the through-opening 30.

(44) In the embodiments according to FIGS. 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13, the marking element 32 is substantially circular cylindrical, with a cross-section in the middle portion of the marking element 32 corresponding to a cross-section of the through-opening 30.

(45) In these exemplary embodiments, the extensions 46, 48 extend around the whole circumference and may also be referred to as thickened diameter portions.

(46) Moreover, the axial end faces 50, 52 of the extensions 46, 48 facing the middle portion of the marking element 32 each rest against the diaphragm 14. In other words, there is no gap between the extensions 46, 48 and the diaphragm 14. These embodiments are especially insusceptible to dirt deposits. They are also easy to clean.

(47) In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, a circumference of the marking element 32 and a circumference of the associated through-opening 30 are selected such that the marking element 32 and the through-opening 30 form an interference fit. This means that the circumference of the marking element 32 is slightly larger than the circumference of the through-opening 30. It is only the elasticity of the diaphragm 14 that allows the marking element 32 to be inserted in the through-opening 30.

(48) The marking element 32 is held in the through-opening 30 with a force fit.

(49) The same applies to the embodiment according to FIG. 10. In this case, in addition, a lateral surface 54 of the marking element is convex.

(50) In contrast to the other marking elements 32, the marking element 32 according to FIGS. 12 and 13 has a two-part design. Here, the two parts of the marking element 32 are snap-locked to each other.

(51) This ensures that the marking element 32 remains in the through-opening 30 even in the case of vibrations or shocks as may occur in valve operation.