HYDRANT VALVE SYSTEM, AND HYDRANT HAVING SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydrant valve system (12), comprising: a hydrant main valve (14), which has a main valve body (16) and a valve seat (18), wherein the main valve body (16) can be moved axially in relation to the valve seat (18); and a housing (19), which defines a clearance volume (20) into which the main valve body (16) can be moved. The hydrant valve system (12) also comprises a sealing body (24), which is provided in the clearance volume (20), wherein the sealing body (24) has a higher density than water.

Claims

1. A hydrant valve system (12), comprising: a hydrant main valve (14) having a main valve body (16) and a valve seat (18), wherein the main valve body (16) is axially adjustable in relation to the valve seat (18), a housing (19) defining a clearance volume (20) into which the main valve body (16) is adjustable, and a sealing body (24) provided in the clearance volume (20), wherein the sealing body (24) has a higher density than water.

2. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing body (24) has a density greater than 997 kg/m3.

3. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing body (24) comprises a rubber material.

4. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing body (24) is a ball.

5. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sealing body guides (31,31) which are provided in the clearance volume (20), adapted to guide the sealing body (24) substantially vertically.

6. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 5, wherein the sealing body guides (31,31) are integrally formed with the housing (19).

7. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (19) has an inlet opening (28), wherein the inner diameter of the housing (19) at the inlet opening (28) is smaller than the diameter of the sealing body (24).

8. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 7, wherein the inner surface of the housing (19) at the inlet opening (28) is provided with a sealing surface (32,32,32).

9. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 8, wherein the sealing surface (32,32,32) at the inlet opening (28) is shaped to correspond to corresponding surface sections of the sealing body (24).

10. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (19) has an outlet opening (34), wherein the inner diameter of the housing (19) at the outlet opening (34) is smaller than the diameter of the sealing body (24).

11. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the housing (19) is provided with a sealing surface (36) at the outlet opening (34).

12. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 11, wherein the sealing surface (36) at the outlet opening (34) is shaped to correspond to corresponding surface sections of the sealing body (24).

13. The hydrant valve system (12) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (19) is integrally formed with a lower part (10) of a hydrant.

14. The hydrant valve system according to claim 1, wherein the valve seat (18) is a changeover valve seat.

15. A hydrant lower part (10), wherein the lower part (10) comprises: a hydrant main valve (14) having a main valve body (16) and a valve seat (18), wherein the main valve body (16) is axially adjustable relative to the valve seat (18), a housing defining a clearance volume (20) into which the main valve body (16) is adjustable, and a sealing body (24) provided in the clearance volume (20), wherein the sealing body (24) has a higher density than water.

16. A hydrant, comprising a lower part (10) according to claim 15.

Description

[0029] In the following, the present invention is further explained with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant with a first sealing insert to show a hydrant valve system in a closed position,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant with a first sealing insert to show a hydrant valve system in an open position,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant with a first sealing insert to show a hydrant valve system in an open position during e.g. a pressure drop in the water distribution system,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant with a first sealing insert to show a hydrant valve system during e.g. an overhaul,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant as in FIG. 1 with a second sealing insert, and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a lower part of a hydrant similar to FIG. 2 with a second sealing insert.

[0036] FIGS. 1-6 each show a sectional view of a lower part 10 of a hydrant in the section of a bottom end of the lower part 10. The views provide a view of a hydrant valve system 12 of the lower part 10 and show the hydrant valve system 12 in various positions or operations.

[0037] The hydrant valve system 12 comprises a hydrant main valve 14, which comprises a main valve body 16 and a corresponding valve seat 18 or sealing surface with which the main valve body 16 can be brought into sealing engagement, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Here, the main valve body 16 is axially adjustable in relation to the valve seat 18. Furthermore, the hydrant valve system 12 includes a clearance volume 20 defined by a housing 19 into which the main valve body 16 is adjustable to open the hydrant main valve 14. The clearance volume 20 may be defined as a space provided substantial y between the hydrant main valve 14 and a bottom-side water inlet 22 connected to a water distribution system (not shown). The clearance volume 20 is again provided with a sealing body 24, explained in more detail below, which in the example shown is in the form of a ball or sealing sphere. As shown in the figures, the housing 19 may be formed integrally with the lower part 10.

[0038] The main valve body 16 is a sealing element that seals with the valve seat 18 in a closed position of the hydrant main valve 14. To open the hydrant main valve 14, the main valve body 16 is moved downward as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The main valve body 16 is provided with wings 26,26 which guide its displacement axially by sliding along from an inner surface section of the lower part 10 and along the valve seat 18, respectively. When the hydrant main valve 14 is opened, a substantially annuler gap opens. Water flows through this gap from the bottom-side water inlet 22, through an inlet opening 28 of the lower part. 10, through the clearance volume 20 and finally upwardly into the interior of the hydrant, in order to then be withdrawn from the outside.

[0039] The main valve body 16 is coupled to a valve rod 30, via which the main valve body 16 is vertically displaceable, e.g. from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The valve rod 30 extends within the hydrant in the axial direction and can be adjusted, for example, by converting a manually applied torque into an axial adjustment by means of, for example, a spindle drive (not shown). This moves the valve rod 30 and the main valve body 16 connected thereto axially up or down.

[0040] As previously mentioned, the sealing body 24 is provided in the clearance volume 20 of the hydrant valve system 12. According to the invention, the sealing body 24 has a higher density than water. Provided that the hydrant main valve 14 is shut off, the sealing body 24 seals the inlet opening 28. In the event of water or residual water in the clearance volume 20, the sealing body 24 sinks therein and seats the inlet opening 28.

[0041] Sealing body guides 31, 31 can be provided on the inner wall of the housing 19, which project into the clearance volume 20 in a substantially radially inward direction. These sealing body guides 31, 31 are dimensioned and arranged relative to one another in such a way that they can reliably guide the sealing body 24 in a merely vertical direction. Although only two sealing body guides 31,31 are shown in the figures for illustrative reasons, four sealing body guides can, for example, be provided on the inner wall of the housing 19 with, for example, uniform angular spacing from one another, which are dimensioned in such a way that the inserted sealing body 24 can only be adjusted vertically. Thus, it can be ensured that the sealing body 24, among other things, reliably abuts against the underside of the main valve body 16 as soon as the hydrant main valve 14 is opened. The sealing body guides 31, 31 are preferably formed integrally with the housing 19 or the lower part 10. This can save manufacturing costs.

[0042] The lower part 10 may comprise, in the section of the inlet opening 28, an Inlet opening seal 32 in the design of a first sealing insert 32, e.g. a sealing ring (see FIGS. 1 to 4), or in the design of a second sealing insert 32, e.g. a sealing cone (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The sealing inserts 32, 32 are arranged between the water inlet 22 and the underside of the lower part 10 and may, for example, be shaped to substantially correspond to corresponding surface sections of the (seated) sealing body 24. This increases the sealing surface. The material of the sealing inserts 32,32 may be a rubber material. The diameter of the inlet opening 28 is equal to or larger than the diameter of the sealing body 24, while the diameter of the water inlet 22 is smaller than the diameter of the sealing body 24.

[0043] For example, the sealing body 24 may include a rubber material. Thus, the inlet opening 28 is reliably sealed by the rubber material of the seated sealing body 24. An advantage is that no residual water can enter the water distribution system.

[0044] Once the hydrant main valve 14 is opened, the clearance volume 20 is subjected to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure. As the applied line pressure in the water distribution system is higher, the water flows into the clearance volume 20 and the incoming water pushes the sealing body 24 upward, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The sealing body 24 thereby comes into contact against the underside of the main valve body 16, which underside of the main valve body 16 may be shaped to correspond to the corresponding surface section of the sealing body 24. The incoming water flows around the sealing body 24 in the clearance volume 20, or along the exposed surface section thereof, and then flows into the hydrant through the open hydrant main valve 14. The sealing body 24 is reliably forced or swept against the underside of the main valve body 16 throughout.

[0045] As soon as the hydrant main valve 14 is closed again, the water flow is shut off, resulting in the sealing body 24 falling down due to gravity. Due to its higher density than water, e.g. in this case water remaining in the clearance volume 20, the sealing body 24 sinks reliably even in the liquid medium and arrives in reliable contact with the inlet opening seal 32 of the inlet opening 28 and seals it.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the lower part. 10 to illustrate the hydrant valve System 12 in a state in which the hydrant main valve 14 is open and at the same time the line pressure in the water distribution system is lower than the pressure at the hydrant outlet. This condition may occur, for example, when the hydrant main valve 14 is open and at the same time there is a pressure drop in the water distribution system. This condition can also occur, for example, if the hydrant main valve 14 is open and liquids, e.g. a possibly contaminated liquid, enter or are forced Into the hydrant from outside.

[0047] In the case described, the sealing body 24 sinks due to its higher density than water in the liquid medium and reliably sits on the inlet opening sealing surface 32, thereby blocking the inlet opening 28 or the water inlet 22 laid on the bottom side. This reliably prevents accidental or possibly intentional contamination of the water in the water distribution system.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the lower part 10 to illustrate the hydrant valve System 12 during, for example, an overhaul. An overhaul may necessitate the complete or partial removal of the valve rod 30 together with the main valve body 16, also referred to as the linkage, in order, for example, to subject the main valve body 16 to an overhaul or to be able to carry out maintenance and/or overhaul on other components of the hydrant. In this case, the main valve body 16 is adjusted upward until it is no longer in sealing engagement with the valve seat 18. In this condition, water from the water distribution system flows into the clearance volume 20 and pushes or washes the sealing body 24 upwardly toward an outlet opening 34 against which the sealing body 24 abuts. The outlet opening 34 may have an outlet opening sealing surface 36 shaped to correspond to corresponding surface sections of the pressed-on sealing body 24. The sealing body 24 is pressed firmly against the outlet opening sealing surface 36 for the entire duration of the overhaul. No water penetrates into the hydrant during this process. Thus, the overhaul work can advantageously be carried out reliably even under line pressure. The water distribution system does not have to be interrupted to any great extent beforehand. Further advantageously, no solid and/or liquid substances can penetrate the water distribution system even in this state. Any solid and/or liquid substances that may have been introduced into the hydrant from the outside can be drained off into the ground via a drainage opening 38.