CHECK VALVE WITH INTEGRATED PRESSURE RELIED VALVE

Abstract

A check valve having a valve that is movable by incoming water in the flow direction, from a closed position, where it bears against a first valve seat, against a restoring force into an open position, where it is raised from the first valve seat, and having a pressure relief valve with a closing member that is movable by pressure of the water flowing back against the flow direction, from a closed position, in which it bears against a second valve seat, against a restoring force into an open position where it is raised from the second valve seat. The restoring force acting on the closing member is greater than the restoring force acting on the valve body. The closing member has a closing member core made of a first material, and at least in the partial region thereof that abuts the second valve seat in the closed position, has a film or a layer made of a second relatively softer and/or elastic material.

Claims

1. A check valve (1), comprising: a valve body (3) which by incoming water in a flow direction (Pf1) is movable counter to a restoring force, from a closed position in which the valve body (3) bears on a first valve seat (4), to an open position in which the valve body (3) is raised from the first valve seat (4); a pressure relief valve (5) which has a closing member (6) which by a pressure of the water returning counter to the flow direction (Pf1) is movable counter to a restoring force, from a closed position in which the closing member (6) bears tightly on a second valve seat (7), to an open position in the closing member (6) is raised from the second valve seat (7); wherein the restoring force acting on the closing member (6) of the pressure relief valve (5) is greater in comparison to the restoring force acting on the valve body (3); and wherein the closing member (6) of the pressure relief valve (5) has a closing member core (8) from a first material, said closing member core (8) at least in the sub-region thereof that in the closed position bears on the second valve seat (7) carries a film or a layer (9) from a second, at least one of comparatively softer material than the closing member core or an elastic material.

2. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member (6) of the pressure relief valve (5) comprises a bi-component or multi-component injection-molded plastic part.

3. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the restoring force acting on the valve body (3) or the restoring force acting on the closing member (6) is applied by at least one rubber-elastic or spring-elastic restoring element.

4. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one restoring element (21; 10) comprises a compression spring.

5. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve housing (11).

6. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve (5) is integrated in the valve body (3).

7. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve body (3) is penetrated by a pressure relief duct (12), and the closing member (6) is disposed in the pressure relief duct so as to be movable between the closed position and the open position of the pressure relief valve (5).

8. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second valve seat (7) is formed by an annular face which widens conically counter to the flow direction (Pf1).

9. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member (6), at least in a circumferential sub-region thereof that at least one of in the closed position bears on the valve seat (7) or carries the film or layer (9), is as a ball segment or spherical segment.

10. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member (6) on at least one of an inflow side thereof or on an outflow side thereof carries a stopper (13; 14).

11. The check valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stopper (13) is disposed on the closing member (6) on the inflow side and is oriented in the flow direction (Pf1) and has a cylindrical shape.

12. The check valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stopper (14) is disposed on the closing member (6) on the outflow side and is oriented counter to the flow direction (Pf1) and tapers toward a free stopper end thereof.

13. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member core (8) has a diameter which is larger in comparison to a smallest diameter of the valve seat (7).

14. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member core (8) comprises a thermoplastic plastics material.

15. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film or layer (9) is comprised of silicone.

16. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film or layer (8) has a layer thickness of 0.10 to 0.50 mm.

17. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film or layer (9) has a Shore hardness of 30 to 100 Sh-A.

18. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve (1) in a region of the second valve seat (7) is produced from a hard material relative to the second material of the film or layer.

19. The check valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film or layer (9) is produced from an elastomer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Refinements according to the invention are derived from the claims in conjunction with the drawing and the description. The invention will be described in yet more detail hereunder by means of a preferred exemplary embodiment.

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a check valve which is inserted in a sanitary water line and in which a pressure relief valve is integrated;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the check valve from FIG. 1 in a longitudinal section, wherein the valve body of the check valve is penetrated by a pressure relief duct, in which pressure relief duct the closing member of a pressure relief valve is movable counter to a restoring force, from a closed position to an open position, and wherein the valve body of the check valve is situated in the open position thereof;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the check valve from FIGS. 1 and 2, having the valve body thereof that bears on a first valve seat, wherein the pressure relief valve integrated in the valve body here too is situated in the closed position thereof;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows the valve body, illustrated in isolation in a longitudinal section, of the check valve shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, having the pressure relief valve integrated therein, said pressure relief valve here being situated in the closed position thereof;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the check valve from FIGS. 1 to 3, which is likewise illustrated in a longitudinal section here, in the closed position of the valve body thereof, wherein the pressure relief valve integrated in the valve body here is situated in the open position thereof;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows the valve body of the check valve shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, having the pressure relief valve situated in the open position thereof;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows the check valve from FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, which is illustrated in an enlarged longitudinal section here, in the closed position of the pressure relief valve thereof;

[0036] FIG. 8 shows the valve body of the check valve shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 7, having the pressure relief valve situated in the closed position thereof;

[0037] FIG. 9 shows the check valve from FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 7, which is likewise in a longitudinal section here, in the open position of the pressure relief valve thereof; and

[0038] FIG. 10 shows the valve body of the check valve shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 7 and 9, having the pressure relief valve situated in the open position thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 7 and 9 is a check valve 1 which can be inserted for example into the supply line 2 of a cold water or hot water supply so as to in the inflow direction be in front of a single-lever mixer valve. The check valve 1 has a valve body 3 which by the incoming water in the flow direction is movable counter to a restoring force, from the closed position shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 9, in which closed position the valve body 3 bears tightly on a first valve seat 4, to the open position shown in FIG. 2, in which the valve body 3 is raised from the first valve seat 4. Since the valve body 3 by the incoming water in the usual flow direction Pf1 is moved from the closed position of the former to the open position, the incoming water in the usual flow direction Pf1 can pass the check valve 1.

[0040] In contrast, a backflow flowing counter to the usual flow direction Pf1 presses the valve body 3 against the first valve seat 4 so that such backflows cannot flow through the valve seat 4 counter to the flow direction Pf1.

[0041] If the pressure prevalent on the outflow side of the check valve exceeds an established maximum value, and there is as a result the threat of a pressure-related destruction of the components located in a fitting disposed on the outflow side, for example, a pressure relief valve 5 which is integrated in the check valve 1 swings into action. This pressure relief valve 5 has a closing member 6 which, by the pressure of the water returning counter to the flow direction Pf1, is movable counter to a restoring force in the direction of the arrow Pf2 of the pressure relief valve 5, from a closed position in which the closing member 6 bears tightly on a second valve seat 7, to an open position in which open position the closing member 6 is raised from the second valve seat 7. The restoring force acting on the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 here is greater in comparison to the restoring force acting on the valve body 3.

[0042] It can be readily seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 10 that the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 has a closing member core 8 from a first material, said closing member core 8 in the sub-region thereof that in the closed position bears tightly on the second valve seat 7 carrying a film or a layer 9 from a second, comparatively softer and/or more elastic material. Since the layer 9 or film that surrounds the closing member core 8 at least in the sub-region thereof that bears on the valve seat 7 of the pressure relief valve 5 is composed of a softer and/or more elastic material compared to the closing member core 8, the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 in the closed position of the former can readily bear on the second valve seat 7, wherein manufacturing tolerances are also well equalized. Since the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 has a closing member core 8 from a comparatively harder material and is not composed of the same soft and/or elastic material as the film or layer 9, it is avoided that the closing member 6 is excessively depressed into the valve seat 7, and malfunctions of the pressure relief valve 5 caused by the former are avoided. Therefore, the check valve 1 illustrated here to this extent is also distinguished by a high level of functional reliability, even at high opening pressures of the pressure relief valve 5.

[0043] The closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 here can also be designed as a bi-component or multi-component injection-molded plastic part.

[0044] As becomes obvious when viewing FIGS. 1 to 10 in combination, the restoring force acting on the valve body 3 as well as the restoring force acting on the closing member 6 are in each case applied by at least one rubber-elastic restoring element, or—as here—a spring-elastic restoring element. The restoring elements assigned to the valve body 3, or to the closing member 6, respectively, are configured here as compression springs 10, 21.

[0045] It can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 7 and 9 that the check valve 1 has a valve housing 11, and that the pressure relief valve 5 is integrated in the check valve 1. It becomes obvious when viewing FIGS. 1 to 10 in combination that the pressure relief valve 5 is integrated in the valve body 3 of the check valve 1. To this end, the valve body 3 of the check valve 1 is penetrated by a centrally disposed pressure relief duct 12, in which pressure relief duct 12 the closing member 6 is disposed so as to be movable between the closed position and the open position of the pressure relief valve 5.

[0046] The second valve seat 7, which is assigned to the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5, is formed by an annular face which preferably widens conically counter to the flow direction Pf1. Since the closing member 6 at least in the circumferential sub-region thereof that in the closed position bears on the second valve seat 7 and carries the film or layer 9 has a shape in the form of a ball segment or spherical segment, the closing member 6 in the closed position of the pressure relief valve 5 bears on the annular face of the second valve seat 7 only in a linearly encircling region.

[0047] The closing member 6 here has an elongate shape. The closing member 6 here, on the inflow side thereof as well as on the outflow side thereof, carries in each case one stopper 13, 14. While the stopper 13 that is disposed on the inflow side on the closing member 6 and is oriented in the flow direction Pf1 has a cylindrical stopper shape, the stopper 14 that is disposed on the outflow side on the closing member 6 and is oriented counter to the flow direction Pf1 is configured so as to be frustoconical and tapers toward the free stopper end thereof.

[0048] In order for the closing member core 8 that carries the elastic layer 9 not to plunge into the available opening cross section of the valve seat 7 and be jammed therein, the closing member core 8 has a diameter which is larger in comparison to the smallest diameter of the valve seat 7.

[0049] The closing member core 8 can be produced from a comparatively hard thermoplastic plastics material, for example from POM or PBT, or from any other suitable material. In contrast, the elastic film or layer 9 is preferably composed of silicone. The film or layer 9 here can have a layer thickness of 0.10 to 0.50 mm, preferably of 0.15 to 0.40 mm, and in particular of 0.17 to 0.32 mm. It is advantageous for this film or layer 9 to have a Shore hardness of 30 to 100 Sh-A, preferably of 70 to 90 Sh-A.

[0050] The valve seat 7 of the pressure relief valve 5 is preferably produced from a hard material and in particular from a hard thermoplastic plastics material. When comparing in particular FIGS. 8 and 10 it becomes obvious that the pressure relief valve 5 in the open position thereof shown in FIG. 10 opens only so far that the check valve 1 loses tightness in the region of the valve seat 7 of the pressure relief valve 5 of said check valve 1. In the process, the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 is only slightly raised from the valve seat 7 so as to release the water path for a minor sub-quantity of water prevalent at a positive pressure on the outflow side and so as to correspondingly dissipate the positive pressure.

[0051] It can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9 that when assembling the check valve 1 shown here, the closing member 6 by way of the stopper 13 thereof oriented in the flow direction Pf1 of the check valve is first pushed into the pressure relief duct 12. Once the compression spring 10, which serves as the restoring force, has been placed on the outflow-side stopper 14, which is oriented counter to the flow direction Pf1 of the check valve, the pressure relief duct 12 is constricted by a sleeve-shaped plug 15, said plug 15 between itself and the closing member 6 of the pressure relief valve 5 clamping the compression spring 10.

[0052] The check valve 1 has a valve housing 11 which on the outflow side thereof has a spring receptacle 16 in the shape of a pocket. The compression spring 21, which serves as the restoring force, is inserted into this spring receptacle 16 in such a manner that this compression spring 21 is clamped between the spring receptacle 16 and the outflow side of the valve body 3. The valve body 3 here is configured approximately in the shape of a mushroom. Provided on the valve seat 4 of the check valve 1 is an annular seal 17, the valve body 3 in the closed position of the check valve 1 bearing tightly on said annular seal 17. A sealing ring 18 which seals the annular gap between the external circumference of the valve housing 11 and the internal circumference of the supply line 2, which therein receives the valve housing 11 of the check valve 1, is provided on the external circumference of the valve housing 11. Latching arms 19 project outward on the circumference of the valve housing 11, said latching arms 19 in the use position of the check valve 1 being supported on an annular shoulder on the internal circumference of the supply line 2. The valve housing 11 here is inserted into an insertion opening 20 of the supply line 2, said insertion opening 20 being configured as a cross-sectional widening of this supply line 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 1 Check valve

[0054] 2 Supply line

[0055] 3 Valve body

[0056] 4 (First) valve seat of the check valve 1

[0057] 5 Pressure relief valve

[0058] 6 Closing member

[0059] 7 (Second) valve seat of the pressure relief valve 5

[0060] 8 Closing member core

[0061] 9 Layer

[0062] 10 Compression spring of the pressure relief valve

[0063] 11 Valve housing

[0064] 12 Pressure relief duct

[0065] 13 Inflow-proximal stopper on the closing member 6, oriented in the flow direction Pf1 of the check valve

[0066] 14 Outflow-proximal stopper on the closing member 6, oriented counter to the flow direction Pf1 of the check valve

[0067] 15 Plug

[0068] 16 Spring receptacle

[0069] 17 Annular seal

[0070] 18 Sealing ring

[0071] 19 Latching arms

[0072] 20 Insertion opening

[0073] 21 Compression spring of the check valve

[0074] Pf1 Flow direction of the check valve 1

[0075] Pf2 Flow direction of the pressure relief valve 5