VALVE DEVICE

Abstract

A valve device includes: a hollow member having a through-hole with an axis, an internal surface delimiting the through-hole, a peripheral surface delimiting the hollow member's transverse extent with respect to the axis, and at least one deformation zone deformable to reduce the transverse extent when compression forces act on the peripheral surface, the deformation of the deformation zone moving the hollow member from a rest to a use state, and at least one closure portion extending radially from the hollow member inside the through-hole up to a respective free edge, in contact with the internal surface of the hollow member and/or with at least one free edge of another closure portion occluding the through-hole when in use. The at least one closure portion includes a flexible membrane, foldable when subjected to a fluid and/or solid pressure which moves in the through-hole along the axis, thereby defining a passage.

Claims

1. A valve device (100) comprising: a hollow member (1) which comprises: a through-hole (2) having an axis X, an internal surface (2a) which delimits the through-hole (2), a peripheral surface (3) which delimits the transverse extent of the hollow member (3) with respect to the axis X, and at least one deformation zone (4, 5, 6) which is capable of being deformed so as to reduce the transverse extent of the hollow member (1) when one or more compression forces act on the peripheral surface (3), the deformation of the at least one deformation zone (4, 5, 6) moving the hollow member (1) from a rest state to a use state, at least one closure portion (7, 8, 9) which extends radially from the hollow member (1) inside the through-hole (2) up to a respective free edge (10, 11, 12), which is substantially in contact with the internal surface (2a) of the hollow member (1) and/or with at least one free edge of another closure portion so as to occlude the through-hole (2) when the hollow member (1) is in the use state, wherein the at least one closure portion (7, 8, 9) comprises a flexible membrane which is capable of folding when the flexible membrane is subjected to a pressure of a fluid and/or solid which moves in the through-hole (2) along the axis X, thereby defining a passage which allows the fluid and/or solid to pass through the through-hole (2).

2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deformation zone (4, 5, 6) is made of deformable material, or of resiliently deformable material.

3. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one deformation zone (4, 5, 6) corresponds to a recess of the hollow member (1).

4. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one deformation zone corresponds to a projection of the hollow member (1), the projection having a longitudinal extent in accordance with the axis X.

5. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane of the at least one closure portion (7, 8, 9) is made of deformable material and is subjected to resilient deformation when the pressure applied to the relevant closure portion is greater than or equal to 50 Pa.

6. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein the deformable material has an elasticity modulus between 1 Mpa and 5 Mpa according to the standard ASTM D412 DIE C.

7. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the free edge (10, 11, 12) of the at least one closure portion (7, 8, 9) comprises an edging (10a, 11b, 12c) which extends substantially along the axis X when the hollow member (1) is in the state for use.

8. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device (100) comprises a plurality of closure portions (7, 8, 9), each closure portion (7, 8, 9) being in the form of a circular sector and extending between a deformation zone (4, 5, 6) and a subsequent deformation zone.

9. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member (1) and the at least one closure portion (7, 8, 9) are formed from a single piece of deformable material, preferably resiliently deformable material, more preferably silicone material.

10. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member (1) extends along the axis X from a first end (13) to a second end (14), the at least one closure portion (7) extending from the first end (13) towards the second end (14) when the respective free edge (10) is substantially in contact with the internal surface (2a) of the hollow member (1) and/or with at least one free edge of another closure portion.

11. The valve device according to claim 1, comprising a belt (15) which has a transverse extent less than that of the hollow member (1) when the belt (15) is in the rest state so as to press the hollow member (1) by means of the contact between an internal face (16) of the belt (15) and the peripheral surface (3) of the hollow member (1) when the hollow member (1) is inserted in the belt (15), placing and maintaining the hollow member (1) in the state for use.

12. A water trap (200) comprising: a box-shaped tank (17) which comprises a base (18) and a plurality of side walls (19) which delimit a cavity (20) in communication with an opening (21) of the tank (17) opposite the base (18), a valve device (100) according to claim 1, a support (22) which is configured to fix the valve device (100) to the tank (17) by blocking the valve device (100) inside the cavity (20), wherein the support (22) and the valve device (100) together subdivide the cavity (20) into two chambers (23, 24), one under the other, and a cover (25) which is positioned above the valve device (100) for closing the opening (21).

13. A pipe (300) for discharging waste water comprising a tube (30) and a valve device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the valve device (100) is positioned inside the tube (30) and the tube (30) has a transverse extent less than that of the hollow member (1) of the valve device (100) when the hollow member (1) is in the rest state so as to press the hollow member (1) by means of the contact between an internal surface (31) of the tube (30) and the peripheral surface (3) of the hollow member (1), placing and maintaining the hollow member (1) in the use state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] Features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended Figures, in which:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a tank with a trap according to the prior art,

[0083] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a valve device according to the invention,

[0084] FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan view and a perspective bottom view of the valve device of FIG. 2, respectively,

[0085] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the valve device of FIG. 1 in a different operating condition,

[0086] FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic views of a valve device according to the invention provided with a belt,

[0087] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an additional embodiment of a valve device according to the invention,

[0088] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an additional embodiment of a valve device according to the invention,

[0089] FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the valve device of FIG. 9,

[0090] FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional view of a water trap according to the invention,

[0091] FIGS. 12 and 13 are a cross-sectional plan view and front view of the water trap of FIG. 11, respectively, and

[0092] FIG. 14 is a cross-section of a pipe for discharging waste water according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0093] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the tank provided with a trap constructed according to the prior art.

[0094] With reference to FIG. 2, a valve device according to the present invention is generally designated 100.

[0095] The valve device 100 comprises a hollow member 1 which comprises a through-hole 2 having an axis X, an internal surface 2a which delimits the through-hole 2, a peripheral surface 3 which delimits the transverse extent of the hollow member with respect to the axis X and three deformation zones 4, 5 and 6 which are made of resiliently deformable material.

[0096] The deformation zones 4, 5 and 6 are suitable for being compressed so as to reduce the transverse extent of the hollow member 1 when one or more compression forces act on the peripheral surface 3. The compression of the deformation zones 4, 5 and 6 moves the hollow member 1 from a rest state to a state for use.

[0097] The deformation zones 4, 5 and 6 of the hollow member 1 correspond to respective recesses of the hollow member 1. In particular, the deformation zones 4, 5 and 6 are delimited by respective concavities of the peripheral surface 3, those concavities having a longitudinal extent in accordance with the axis X.

[0098] The valve device 100 further comprises three closure portions 7, 8 and 9 which extend radially from the hollow member 1 inside the through-hole 2 up to respective free edges 10, 11 and 12 which are substantially in contact with each other so as to occlude the through-hole 2 when the hollow member 1 is in the state for use.

[0099] Each closure portion 7, 8 and 9 is a flexible membrane which is suitable for being bent when it is subjected to a pressure of a fluid and/or solid which moves in the through-hole 2 along the axis X and in accordance with a first direction (indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 5), thereby defining a passage which allows the fluid and/or solid to pass through the through-hole 2.

[0100] With reference to the Figures, in particular FIG. 4, the hollow member 1 has a continuous and substantially circular profile. The closure portions 7, 8 and 9 are constructed in the form of circular sectors, each circular sector extending between a deformation zone and the subsequent deformation zone.

[0101] In particular, the hollow member 1 is a cylindrical wall and the peripheral surface 3 delimits the external diameter of the hollow member 1. The external diameter of the hollow member 1 has a greater extent in the rest state than in the state for use.

[0102] The hollow member 1 and the closure portions 7, 8 and 9 are formed from a single piece of resiliently deformable material, for example, silicone material.

[0103] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the hollow member 1 extends along the axis X from a first end 13 to a second end 14, the closure portions 7, 8 and 9 extending from the first end 13 so as to converge towards the second end 14.

[0104] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the device 100 comprises a belt 15 having a transverse extent less than that of the hollow member 1 when it is in the rest state so as to press the hollow member 1 by means of the contact between an internal face 16 of the belt 15 and the peripheral surface 3 of the hollow member 1 when it is inserted in the belt 15, placing and maintaining the hollow member 1 in the state for use. In particular, the internal diameter of the belt 15 is less than the external diameter of the hollow member 1 when it is in the rest state.

[0105] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the valve device according to the invention. The valve device, which is generally designated 100′, comprises a plurality of edgings 10a, 11a and 12a. In particular, the free edges 10, 11 and 12 of the closure portions 7, 8, 9 each comprise an edging 10a, 11a and 12a which extend substantially along the axis X when the hollow member 1 is in the state for use.

[0106] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a valve device according to the present invention is generally designated 100″. This valve device 100″ differs from the one shown in the preceding Figures in that it has a single closure portion 7. The closure portion 7, in particular the free edge 10 of this closure portion 7, is substantially in contact with the internal surface 2a of the hollow member 1. The internal surface 2a of the hollow member 1 is provided with an abutment 2b, with which the closure portion 7 is intended to move into abutment when the hollow member 1 is in the state for use.

[0107] The peripheral surface 3 of the hollow member 1 has an upper peripheral projection 3a and a lower peripheral projection 3b while the internal face 16 of the belt 15 has a groove 16a which is formed so as to receive in an engaging manner the upper peripheral projection 3a mentioned above. The lower peripheral projection 3b abuts a lower edge 15a of the belt 15 when the hollow member 1 is inserted in the belt 15.

[0108] With reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, a water trap according to the present invention is generally designated 200.

[0109] The water trap 200 comprises a box-shaped tank 17 which comprises a base 18 and a plurality of side walls 19 which delimit a cavity 20 in communication with an opening 21 of the tank 17 opposite the base 18.

[0110] The water trap 200 further comprises the valve device according to 100 and a support 22 which is capable of fixing the valve device 100 to the tank 17, blocking it inside the cavity 20, in which the support 22 and the valve device 100 together subdivide the cavity 20 into two chambers 23, 24, one below the other.

[0111] A cover 25 is placed on the valve device 100 so as to close the opening 21.

[0112] The support 22 has an inverted frustoconical shape and is provided at an upper end thereof with a peripheral end piece 26 which is intended to move into abutment with an edge 27 of the tank 17 which delimits the opening 21 thereof. The support 22 terminates in a circular opening 28 which is delimited by a surface 29 which is suitable for pressing the hollow member 1 by means of the contact with the peripheral surface 3 thereof (or with an external surface of the belt 15, if present), placing and maintaining the hollow member 1 in the state for use.

[0113] With reference to FIG. 14, a pipe for discharging waste water according to the present invention is generally designated 300.

[0114] The pipe 300 comprises a tube 30 and the valve device 100 placed inside the tube 30. The tube 30 has a transverse extent less than that of the hollow member 1 of the valve device 100 when it is in the rest state so as to press the hollow member 1 by means of the contact between an internal surface 31 of the tube and the peripheral surface 3 of the hollow member 1, placing and maintaining the hollow member 1 in the state for use.

[0115] The invention thereby solves the problem set out, at the same time achieving a number of advantages. In particular, the valve device according to the invention solves the problem of aeriform fluids rising in the water traps and/or pipes for discharging waste water.