Valve for fluids, preferably for gases
11501904 · 2022-11-15
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16K31/0658
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y10T137/88062
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F16K27/029
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y10T137/1516
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
Y10T137/87981
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
F16K31/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16K1/44
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16K27/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
Valve (1) for fluids, preferably for gases, comprising an inlet passage (2) for a fluid; an outlet passage (3) for the fluid; a shutter (4) interposed between the inlet passage (2) and the outlet passage (3) and movable along a movement direction (L) between an open position and a closed position; first magnetic attraction means (5) operatively active on the shutter (4) for attracting and/or keeping the shutter (4) itself towards the open position; a box-shaped body (7) containing the first magnetic attraction means (5) and extending along the movement direction (L) between an outer face and an inner face with respect to an inner volume (V) of the valve (1) interposed between the inlet passage (2) and the outlet passage (3). The box-shaped body (7) further comprises a dividing wall (10) for isolating the first magnetic attraction means (5) from the inner volume (V).
Claims
1. A valve for fluids or gases, comprising: an inlet passage for a fluid; an outlet passage for the fluid; a shutter interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage and movable along a movement direction (L) between an open position, in which it allows the flow of the fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage along a sliding direction (S), and a closed position, in which it prevents the flow of fluid; a first magnet of the retaining type operatively active on the shutter for attracting and/or keeping the shutter itself towards the open position; said first magnet being configured to generate magnetic field lines at the shutter; a box-shaped body containing the first magnet and extending along the movement direction (L) between an outer face and an inner face with respect to an inner volume (V) of the valve interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage; wherein said box-shaped body comprises a dividing wall made of ferromagnetic material and arranged between the inner volume (V) and a housing in which the magnet first is positioned; said dividing wall being arranged outside the dimensions of the first magnet according to the movement direction (L), and said shutter being arranged on an opposite side to the first magnet with respect to the dividing wall so as to prevent the gas from coming into contact with the first magnet; said shutter being at least partly made of a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material so as to be traversed by a transverse component of said magnetic field lines with respect to the movement direction (L) and extending beyond said dividing wall so that said transverse component interacts with the shutter between the open position and the closed position wherein said shutter has a lateral portion thereof that overlaps a geometric protrusion of the magnet on a plane passing through the shutter and orthogonal to the movement direction (L); said lateral portion being at least partly made of a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material, wherein said dividing wall is afforded in a single body without solutions of continuity with the box-shaped body or with a central insert of the box-shaped body that occupies the volume interposed between the first magnet, so as to isolate the first magnet from the inner volume (V), and wherein no mechanical movable element penetrates the dividing wall.
2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the box-shaped body comprises an outer wall made of ferromagnetic material so as to convey the field lines towards the dividing wall.
3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said shutter extends orthogonally to the movement direction (L) and has a surface extension substantially equal to a transverse section of said box-shaped body with respect to said movement direction (L).
4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is made of at least two pieces constrained to each other and integral with the movement of the shutter.
5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the dividing wall is arranged at the inner face of the box-shaped body to delimit the inner volume (V) with respect to the box-shaped body.
6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the dividing wall faces the shutter, when the latter is kept in the open position.
7. The valve according to claim 1, comprising an elastic element interposed between the dividing wall and the shutter to facilitate the movement of the shutter from the open position to the closed position.
8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outer face of the box-shaped body comprises a removable bottom to allow access from the external environment to the housing in which the first magnet is arranged.
9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the first magnet comprises an electromagnet configured to generate magnetic field lines able to attract the shutter into the open position and keep it in such position.
10. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said box-shaped body has a hole communicating with the housing for allowing the passage of at least one cable between the housing and the external environment.
11. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the shutter comprises a first plate, which defines a support surface for the shutter on the inner face when the shutter is in the open position, and a second sealing plate to prevent the flow of fluid between the inlet passage and the outlet passage when the shutter is in the closed position.
12. The valve according to claim 1, comprising a movement member for moving the shutter along the movement direction (L) and operatively associated with the shutter for moving it from the closed position towards the open position.
13. The valve according to claim 12, comprising a second magnet operatively active between a fixed portion of the valve and the movement member for moving the movement member itself along the movement direction (L).
14. The valve according to claim 1, comprising a through cavity interposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage and extending along the movement direction (L) so as to face towards the shutter; said through cavity comprising a further inlet passage in fluid communication with the inlet passage, and a further outlet passage in fluid communication with the outlet passage; said further inlet passage and said further outlet passage being arranged along the movement direction (L) transversally to the inlet passage and the outlet passage arranged along the sliding direction (S).
15. The valve according to claim 14, further comprising a movement member for moving the shutter along the movement direction (L) and operatively associated with the shutter for moving it from the closed position towards the open position, wherein the movement member is inserted in the through cavity to allow the movement of the movement member along the movement direction (L).
16. A valve comprising two stages, wherein at least a first stage comprises the characteristics of the valve according to claim 1.
17. A valve comprising two stages, wherein at least a first stage comprises the characteristics of the valve according to claim 14, wherein a second stage comprises a further shutter movable along the movement direction (L) between a locked position, in which it disables the passage of fluid between the through cavity and the outlet opening, and a sliding position, in which it is distanced from the further outlet passage to allow the fluid to reach the outlet opening.
18. The valve according to claim 17, comprising a movement member for moving the shutter along the movement direction (L) and operatively associated with the shutter for moving it from the closed position towards the open position, wherein the movement member is operatively active on both shutters and is configured to move the shutter and the further shutter.
19. The valve according to claim 17, comprising a movement member for moving the shutter along the movement direction (L) and operatively associated with the shutter for moving it from the closed position towards the open position, and a second magnet operatively active between a fixed portion of the valve and the movement member for moving the movement member itself along the movement direction (L), wherein the movement member comprises a rod-shaped body passing through the further shutter and a ferromagnetic portion interacting with the second magnet.
20. The valve according to claim 17, comprising: a movement member for moving the shutter along the movement direction (L) and operatively associated with the shutter for moving it from the closed position towards the open position, a second magnet operatively active between a fixed portion of the valve and the movement member for moving the movement member itself along the movement direction (L), and a first electromagnetic circuit operatively connected to the first magnet and a second electromagnetic circuit operatively connected to the second magnet; said first electromagnetic circuit and said second electromagnetic circuit being independent from each other so that the movement along the movement direction (L) of the further shutter is independent from the movement of the shutter along the movement direction (L).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an approximate, and thus non-limiting, description of a preferred, but non-exclusive embodiment of a valve for fluids, preferably for gases, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7) With reference to the drawings, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention with the aim of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles at the basis of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
(8) The present invention relates to a valve for fluids, preferably for gases.
(9) With reference to the figures, a valve for fluids, preferably for gases, has been generically indicated with the number 1.
(10) The other numerical references refer to technical features of the invention which, barring indications otherwise or evident structural incompatibilities, the person skilled in the art will know how to apply to all the variant embodiments described.
(11) Any modifications or variants which, in the light of the description, are evident to the person skilled in the art, must be considered to fall within the scope of protection established by the present invention, according to considerations of technical equivalence.
(12)
(13) The first stage of the valve 1, as shown in
(14) Furthermore, the valve comprises first magnetic attraction means 5 of the retaining type operatively active on the shutter 4 for maintaining the shutter 4 itself towards the open position and a box-shaped body 7 containing the first magnetic attraction means 5 and extending along the movement direction L between an outer face 9 and an inner face 8 with respect to an inner volume V of the valve 1 interposed between the inlet passage 2 and the outlet passage 3.
(15) It should be noted that the first magnetic attraction means 5 is configured to generate magnetic field lines at the shutter 4 and are closed through the shutter 4 in the open position.
(16) It should be noted that the first magnetic attraction means 5 is configured to generate magnetic field lines outside the dimensions of the first magnetic attraction means 5 according to the movement direction L and towards the inner volume V.
(17) According to one aspect of the invention, shown in
(18) According to another aspect of the invention, shown in
(19) Preferably, the box-shaped body 7 comprises an insert 30, preferably metallic, interposed between the magnetic attraction means 5 in order to centrally convey the flow lines of the magnetic field. In other words, the field lines pass inside the insert 30 and are closed through the shutter 4 when it is arranged in the open position.
(20) In addition, the box-shaped body 7 comprises a dividing wall 10 arranged between a housing 11 in which the first magnetic attraction means 5 and the inner volume V of the valve 1 are positioned.
(21) The dividing wall 10 is arranged outside the dimensions of the first magnetic attraction means 5 according to the movement direction L. In addition, the shutter 4 is arranged on an opposite side to the first magnetic attraction means 5 with respect to the dividing wall 10.
(22) According to one aspect of the invention, the dividing wall 10 is made of metallic material, preferably ferromagnetic material.
(23) Preferably, the dividing wall 10 is afforded in a single body or without solutions of continuity with the box-shaped body 7 or with the central insert 30 of the box-shaped body 7 that occupies the volume interposed between the first magnetic attraction means 5, so as to isolate the first magnetic attraction means 5 from the inner volume V of the valve 1.
(24) Alternatively, as shown in
(25) According to the aspect shown in
(26) Preferably, as shown in
(27) In addition, as better explained hereinafter, the concave portion 37 is also configured to receive and hold in position an elastic element 6 interposed with the shutter 4 and configured to move it towards the closed position.
(28) According to one aspect of the invention, the box-shaped body 7 comprises an outer wall 36 made of ferromagnetic material such as to convey the magnetic field lines generated by the magnetic attraction means 5 towards the dividing wall 10.
(29) It should be noted that said box-shaped body 7 defines as a whole a portion of the valve 1 separated from the rest of the valve 1.
(30) During its maintenance in the open position, the shutter 4 defines a connecting “bridge” between the poles of the first magnetic attraction means 5.
(31) Preferably the inlet opening 2 and outlet opening 3 are arranged facing each other along a sliding direction S of the fluid through the valve 1.
(32) Specifically, a through cavity 21 (better shown in
(33) In the configuration in which the valve 1 allows being crossed by the fluid between the inlet opening 2 and the outlet opening 3, therefore, the passage of the fluid will follow a path divided into three parts.
(34) The first stretch is along the sliding direction S, between the inlet passage 2 and the further inlet passage 22.
(35) Then, the second stretch crosses the through cavity 21 along the movement direction L, in a manner substantially transverse to the sliding direction S.
(36) Finally, the third stretch is along the sliding direction S between the further outlet passage 23 and the outlet passage 3.
(37) Preferably, the shutter 4 and the box-shaped body 7 are arranged consecutively to the through cavity 21 along the movement direction L. The shutter 4, movable along this direction, is advantageously able to place itself in abutment against the further inlet passage 22 to prevent the flow of the gas towards the outlet passage 3 of the valve 1 (closed position shown in
(38) Preferably, as better visible in
(39) Advantageously, thanks to the large contact surface between the shutter 4 and the box-shaped body 7, mainly the dividing wall 10 and the outer wall 36, the maintenance of the shutter 4 in the open position requires that the magnetic attraction means 5 provides little energy through the magnetic field lines.
(40) According to one aspect of the invention, the shutter 4 comprises a first plate 16, which defines a support surface of the shutter 4 on the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7, when the shutter 4 is in the open position.
(41) In addition, the shutter 4 comprises a second sealing plate 17 for preventing the flow of fluid between the inlet passage 2 and the outlet passage 3, when the shutter 4 is in the closed position.
(42) Specifically, the first plate 16 is arranged towards the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7, while the second sealing plate 17 is facing towards the further inlet passage 22 of the through cavity 21.
(43) Preferably, the first plate 16 is made of magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material, while the second plate 17 is made of rubber material and has an annular shape so as to be able to fit into a special seat on the first plate 16.
(44) According to one aspect of the invention, the shutter 4 is made of at least two pieces bound together and integral during movement between the open position and the closed position. In other words, the pieces that compose the shutter 4 are not mutually movable between them.
(45) According to one aspect of the invention, the shutter 4 is completely immersed inside the magnetic field lines generated by the magnetic attraction means 5 to interact directly with them, both in the closed position and the open position.
(46) Advantageously, therefore, in the closed position the shutter 4 (immersed in the magnetic field lines) is able to be drawn into the open position by the magnetic attraction means 5, placing itself in contact with the dividing wall 10.
(47) The shutter 4, at least in part, is arranged on the outside of the box-shaped body 7 and totally beyond the magnetic attraction means 5 according to the movement direction L.
(48) According to one aspect of the invention, the box-shaped body 7 is partially inserted in the main volume V of the valve 1, in such a way that its inner face 8 is inside the valve 1 and its outer face 9 is outside the valve 1 to be more easily accessible to a user during inspection and/or maintenance operations.
(49) Specifically, the inner face 8 and the outer face 9 are both arranged along the movement direction L, opposite with respect to the outer wall 36 of the box-shaped body 7, which preferably has a circular cross section.
(50) Preferably, the outer face 9 of the box-shaped body comprises a removable bottom 12 to further facilitate access from the external environment to the housing 11 in which the first magnetic attraction means 5 is arranged.
(51) Preferably, this removable bottom 12 is made of metallic material.
(52) In the preferred embodiment the removable bottom 12 is a washer having a central hole 54 (shown in
(53) The housing 11 is defined between the removable bottom 12 and the dividing wall 10, which can be realised in a single body or without solutions of continuity with the box-shaped body 7, i.e. as a single body with the box-shaped body 7, to prevent any leakage of gas from the inner volume V of the valve 1 towards the box-shaped body 7 and/or the environment outside the valve 1.
(54) Consequentially, the dividing wall 10 is arranged at the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7 to delimit the inner volume V with respect to the box-shaped body 7 itself. In this way, the dividing wall 10 faces the shutter 4 when the shutter 4 is kept in the open position.
(55) More precisely, the dividing wall 10 is arranged inside the box-shaped body 7, substantially parallel to the removable bottom 12 and the shutter 4.
(56) According to one aspect of the invention shown in
(57) Moreover, the dividing wall 10 and the portion of the cylinder outside the housing 11 define a seat 27 suitable for the arrangement of an elastic element 6, which is useful for facilitating the movement of the shutter 4 from the open position to the closed position.
(58) Preferably, the elastic element 6 is a spring having a specific elastic constant. The spring is interposed at the contact between the dividing wall 10 and the shutter 4.
(59) Preferably, the seat 27 is recessed relative to the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7. Moreover, this seat 27 preferably has a circular contour.
(60) Advantageously, the shape of the housing 11 allows stably placing the first magnetic attraction means 5 therein.
(61) According to one aspect of the invention, the first magnetic attraction means 5 comprises an electromagnet 13 configured to generate magnetic field lines having a suitable intensity to attract the shutter 4 into the open position and keep it in such position.
(62) Preferably, the electromagnet 13 is a coil consisting of a plastic reel containing a copper winding, whose electrical contacts are connected to a first electromagnetic circuit arranged outside the box-shaped body 7.
(63) As shown in
(64) Preferably, the hole 14 is afforded on a portion of the outer wall 36 of the box-shaped body 7.
(65) According to one aspect of the invention, the valve 1 comprises a movement member 18 movable along the movement direction L, which is operatively associated with the shutter 4 for moving it from the closed position towards the open position.
(66) Specifically, the movement member 18 acts on the side of the shutter 4 opposite that facing the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7.
(67) Even more specifically, the movement member 18 interacts with a portion of the shutter 4 facing towards the through cavity 21, since the movement member 18 itself is inserted through the through cavity 21 to be free to move along the movement direction L.
(68) The movement of the movement member 18 is obtained by second magnetic attraction means 19 operatively active between a fixed portion 20 of the valve 1 and the movement member 18 itself, for moving the latter along the movement direction L.
(69) Alternatively, the movement member 18 can be a pneumatic actuator or a hydraulic pusher or a manual movement means or any other means not expressly described here but having an equivalent function.
(70) According to one aspect of the invention, the second magnetic attraction means 19 is arranged along the movement direction L opposite the first magnetic attraction means 5 with respect to the movement member 18.
(71) In particular, the second magnetic attraction means 19 acts at one end of the movement member 18 opposite the end of the same member that acts on the shutter 4.
(72) As shown in the accompanying figures, the valve 1 has a second stage comprising a further shutter 24 movable along the movement direction L between a locking position and a sliding position.
(73) In the locking position the further shutter 24 disables the passage of gas between the through cavity 21 and the outlet opening 3, while in the sliding position the shutter 4 is distanced from the further outlet passage 23 to allow the gas to reach the outlet opening 3.
(74) Advantageously, the movement member 18 is common to both shutters 4,24 and is configured to move the shutter 4 and the further shutter 24.
(75) Even more advantageously, the movement member 18 comprises a rod-shaped body 25 and a ferromagnetic portion 26 interacting with the second magnetic attraction means 19 for moving the rod-shaped body 25 along the movement direction L.
(76) According to one aspect of the invention, the rod-shaped body 25 has a first end connected to the ferromagnetic portion 26 and a second end adapted to collide with the shutter 4 to move it from the closed position to the open position. On the rod-shaped body 25, more precisely on a portion comprised between the second end and the further shutter 24, there is an abutment 29 able to abut against the further shutter 24 to move it along the movement direction L from the locking position to the sliding position.
(77) A further elastic element 28 is able to move the further shutter 24 from the sliding position to the locking position when the abutment 29 of the rod-shaped body 25 does not exert an opposite force to hold it in position.
(78) The further elastic element 28 is interposed between the further shutter 24 and a portion of the valve 1 facing towards the second magnetic attraction means.
(79) According to one aspect of the invention, the valve 1 comprises a second electromagnetic circuit operatively connected to the second magnetic attraction means 19 distinct from the first electromagnetic circuit operatively connected to the first magnetic attraction means 5. The first and the second electromagnetic circuits are independent of each other in such a way that the movement of the further shutter 24 along the movement direction L is also independent from the movement of the shutter 4 along the same movement direction L.
(80) With regard to an operating example of the valve 1 for fluids, preferably for gases, it derives directly from what is described above which is referred to below.
(81) Under normal conditions, the shutter 4 is in the closed position due to the elastic element 6, while the further elastic element 28 keeps the further shutter 24 in the locked position.
(82) In this condition the gas is able to flow from the inlet passage 2 only to the portion of the inner volume V comprised between the shutter 4 and the inner face 8 of the box-shaped body 7, i.e. where the elastic element 6 is located.
(83) The activation of the second magnetic attraction means 19 allows the movement of the movement member 18 along the movement direction L. When the second end of the rod-shaped body 25 collides with the shutter 4, the latter moves from the closed position towards the open position along the movement direction L. At a certain distance from the inner face 8, the field lines generated by the first magnetic attraction means 5 are able to interact with the first plate 16 of the shutter 4, causing it to complete its stroke up to abutting in the open position in which it is kept.
(84) Advantageously, the rod-shaped body 25 passes through the further shutter 24 thanks to a suitable cavity present on the latter, so that this process does not interfere with the positioning of the further shutter 24.
(85) In this configuration the gas is able to flow inside the through cavity 21, in which it meets obstacle of the further shutter 24 in the locked position.
(86) Finally, during the maintenance of the shutter 4 in the open position by the first magnetic attraction means 5, the second magnetic attraction means 19 moves the movement member 18 along the movement direction L away from the box-shaped body 7. In this way, the abutment 29 present on the rod-shaped body 25 allows the movement of the further shutter 24 from the locking position to the sliding position, counteracting the force exerted by the further elastic element 28 on the further shutter 24 to hold it in the locking position.
(87) Preferably, the abutment 29 is a circular ring with a greater section of the cavity of the further shutter 24.
(88) In this configuration the gas is able to flow up to the outlet passage 3 from the through cavity 21.
(89) Advantageously, the positioning of the shutter 4 is independent from the positioning of the further shutter 24, therefore a possible configuration of the valve provides that the shutter 4 is in the closed position during the movement of the further shutter 24 from the locking position to the sliding position, in such a way as to only allow the gas contained in the through cavity 21 to flow outside the valve 1 through the outlet passage 3.
(90) Advantageously, the invention allows making the device safer during use, as the dividing wall is an integral part of the body containing the first electromagnet and therefore cannot be penetrated by the gas.
(91) Moreover, the present invention allows an easy replacement of the electromagnet since there is an opening on the outer face of the valve.