GB2290361A

GB2290361A - An isolation valve

Info

Publication number: GB2290361A
Application number: GB9411968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Patrick Byrne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-15
Filing date: 1994-06-15
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-15
Also published as: GB2290361B; GB9411968D0

Abstract

An isolation valve has a two-part housing defining a pair of coaxial tubular sections 11, 12 with a cylindrical section 14 located intermediate and transverse to the tubular sections 11, 12. The housing is clamped about a pipe 20, so that tubular sections 11, 12 sealingly engage the pipe 20 and the pipe 20 extends through the cylindrical section 14. A sleeve member 30 is slidable within the cylindrical section 14 and has a cutting formation 33 adjacent one end by which the section of pipe 20 extending through the cylindrical section 14 may be cut. The sleeve member 30 also has diametrical apertures 51 which can be aligned with the tubular sections of the housing 11, 12. A valve member can be located in the sleeve member 30 for selectively opening and closing the apertures 51. <IMAGE>

Description

ISOLATION VALVE The present invention relates to isolation valves and in particular isolation valves which may be introduced into a fluid circuit without the need to drain the circuit.

In order to carry out repairs on, for example, central heating systems, it is necessary to drain the whole system. This can be time consuming and expensive, particularly with large systems. An alternative is to freeze the water in the pipes in order to cause a temporary blockage. This is again expensive and inefficient.

The present invention provides an isolation valve which may be introduced into the system while the fluid is flowing through the system. Isolation valves in accordance with the present invention may be introduced into the system on either side of the section requiring a repair, so that the flow of fluid through that section may be temporarily blocked.

According to one aspect of the present invention an isolation valve comprises a valve housing defining a pair of coaxial tubular sections with a cylindrical section located intermediate of the tubular sections, the axis of the cylindrical section intersecting that of the tubular sections and being transverse thereto, the housing being formed in two parts and being adapted to be clamped with the tubular sections sealingly engaging a pipe so that a section of the pipe extends through the cylindrical section of the housing, the cylindrical section of the housing having an internal diameter equal to or greater than the internal diameter of the pipe, the cylindrical section being closed at one end, a sleeve member slidable within the cylindrical portion of the housing and being sealed with respect thereto adjacent the open end of the cylindrical housing, the sleeve member having a cutting formation at one end which is adapted to cut the section of the pipe extending through the cylindrical section of the housing, the sleeve being provided with diametrically opposed apertures and means for locating the sleeve in the cylindrical section of the housing after the pipe has been cut, so that the opposed apertures are aligned coaxially with the tubular sections of the housing, and a valve member being located in the sleeve to selectively open or close the diametrically opposed apertures.

With the isolation valve described above, the housing is clamped to a section of pipe and provides a seal therewith. The sleeve/valve assembly is then introduced into the cylindrical section of the housing and is rotated by suitable means in order to cut the section of pipe extending through the cylindrical section of the housing, so that the sleeve may be positioned and located with the apertures aligned to the axis of the tubular sections of the housing and the pipe. The valve member may then be used to control flow of fluid.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve member is provided with a diametrical aperture which will align with the apertures in the sleeve, so that the flow may be controlled by rotation of the valve member. According to an alternative embodiment, the valve member may be of solid construction, means, for example screw means, being provided to move the valve means axially of the sleeve, so as to open or close the apertures of the sleeve.

An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial sectional side elevation of an isolation valve in accordance with the present invention, the valve being partially assembled; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the valve illustrated in Figure 1, prior to clamping to a pipe; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the sleeve/valve member of the isolation valve illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a part sectional side elevation of the isolation valve illustrated in Figure 1, fully assembled; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the isolation valve illustrated in Figure 1, fully assembled.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings an isolation valve 10 has a valve housing 11 defining a pair of tubular sections 12, 13 and a central cylindrical section 14, the tubular sections 12, 13 being coaxial and the axis of the cylindrical section intersecting the axis of the tubular sections 12, 13 and being transverse thereto.

As shown better in Figure 2, the housing 11 is formed in two parts llA, llB, the housing 11 being split along a diameter of the tubular sections 12, 13. The two parts 11A, 11B of the housing 11 have flange formations 15, 16 running along their longitudinal edges by means of which the two parts 11A, llB may be clamped together by means of suitable fastening means 17, 18.

The two halves 11A, l1B of the housing 11 may thus be clamped about a pipe 20, the tubular sections 12, 13 gripping the pipe 20 and the pipe 20 extending through the cylindrical section 14. Gasket means 21 is provided between the flange formations 15, 16 and between the tubular sections 12, 13 and pipe 20, to provide a seal between the housing 11 and pipe 20.

The cylindrical section 14 of the housing has a closed end 25 which, when the housing 11 is clamped to the pipe 20, is spaced away from the pipe 20.

A sleeve member 30 is a sliding fit within the cylindrical section 14 and is sealed with respect thereto by means of an elastomeric O-ring 31 located adjacent the open end 32 of the cylindrical section 14. One end of the sleeve member 30 is provided with a cutting formation 33 which upon rotation of the sleeve member 30 will cut the section of pipe 20 which extends through the cylindrical section 14. The other end of the sleeve member 30 is provided with an external screw thread formation 34, a flange 35 and a hexagonal head formation 36. The sleeve member 30 may be rotated by means of a spanner which engages the hexagonal head formation 36, to cut the pipe 20.After the pipe 20 has been cut by the sleeve member 30, the sleeve may be moved into the cylindrical section 14 until the screw thread formation 34 engages a corresponding screw thread formation 37 at the open end of the cylindrical section 14. Sleeve member 30 may then be screwed into the cylindrical section 14 and secured axially thereof, by means of screw threads 34, 37. The cut portion of the tube 20 is located between the end of the sleeve member 30 and the closed end 25 of the cylindrical section 14.

The sleeve member 30 has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 40, 41 which when the sleeve member 30 is secured in position in the cylindrical section 14 of the housing 11, will be aligned coaxially of the tube sections 12, 13 and the tube 20, so that fluid flowing through the tube 20 may flow through the apertures 40, 41.

A valve member 50 is rotatably located in the sleeve member 30. The valve member 50 has a body portion 51 which engages in the bore of the sleeve member 30 and a reduced diameter shank portion 52. The shank portion 52 of the valve member 50 extends from the end of the sleeve member 30 defining the hexagonal head formation 36, the valve member 50 being located axially of the sleeve member 30 by means of a ring 53 which screw threadedly engages the sleeve member 30, a washer 54 being located between the ring 53 and the shoulder defined by the body portion 51.

The body portion 51 of the valve member 50 has a transverse bore 55 which may be aligned with the apertures 40, 41 in the sleeve member 30, to permit flow of fluid. The shank portion 52 of the valve member 50 has an axially extending hexagonal bore 56 which may be engaged by an Allen key, by which the valve member may be rotated so that the bore 55 is located transverse to the apertures 40, 41 and the flow of fluid interrupted.

In the embodiment described above, when the cutting formation 33 engages the pipe 20, the O-ring 31 engages the sleeve member 30 at the region thereof defining the apertures 40, 41. Consequently, during the cutting operation, the valve member 50 must be located in its closed position, in order to maintain a seal. According to a modified embodiment of the present invention, the open end of the cylindrical section 14 of housing 11 may be extended and the portion of the sleeve member 30 between the apertures 40, 41 and the head formation 36 extended correspondingly, so that the O-ring 31 will engage the sleeve member 30 between the apertures 40, 41 and the head formation 36. With this modified embodiment, a seal will be maintained between the sleeve member 30 and cylindrical section 14 during the cutting operation, irrespective of the position of the valve member 50.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, while in the above embodiment the valve member 50 is rotatable to open or close the apertures 40, 41, a solid valve member may alternatively be provided which is moved axially of the cylindrical section 14 by suitable means, for example a screw thread mechanism.

Claims

1. An isolation valve comprising a valve housing defining a pair of coaxial tubular sections with a cylindrical section located intermediate of the tubular sections, the axis of the cylindrical section intersecting that of the tubular sections and being transverse thereto, the housing being formed in two parts and being adapted to be clamped with the tubular sections sealingly engaging a pipe so that a section of the pipe extends through the cylindrical section of the housing, the cylindrical section of the housing having an internal diameter equal to or greater than the internal diameter of the pipe, the cylindrical section being closed at one end, a sleeve member slidable within the cylindrical portion of the housing and being sealed with respect thereto adjacent the open end of the cylindrical housing, the sleeve member having a cutting formation at one end which is adapted to cut the section of the pipe extending through the cylindrical section of the housing, the sleeve being provided with diametrically opposed apertures and means for locating the sleeve in the cylindrical section of the housing after the pipe has been cut, so that the opposed apertures are aligned coaxially with the tubular sections of the housing, and a valve member being located in the sleeve to selectively open or close the diametrically opposed apertures.

2. An isolation valve according to Claim 1 in which the two parts of the housing have flange formations along their longitudinal edges, the flange formations being clamped together by suitable fastening means to clamp the housing about a pipe.

3. An isolation valve according to Claim 2 in which gasket means are provided between the flange formations and between the tubular sections and pipe.

4. An isolation valve according to any one of the preceding claims in which an O-ring is provided between the sleeve and cylindrical section of the housing, adjacent the open end of the cylindrical section.

5. An isolation valve according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sleeve member is provided with a threaded formation for engagement of a corresponding threaded formation on the cylindrical section of the housing, to locate the sleeve in the housing, after the pipe has been cut.

6. An isolation valve according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sleeve member is provided with a formation at its end remote from the cutting formation, by which the sleeve member may be rotated during the cutting operation and/or for securing the sleeve to the cylindrical portion of the housing.

7. An isolation valve according to any one of the preceding claims in which the closed end of the cylindrical portion of the housing is spaced below the sleeve member, when located in the cylindrical portion, to provide a receptacle for waste products from the cutting operation.

8. An isolation valve according to any one of the preceding claims in which the valve member is rotatably mounted in-the sleeve, the valve member having a diametric aperture which in a first position may be aligned coaxially of the apertures in the sleeves to allow flow of fluid therethrough, and when rotated through 900 will close the aperture in the sleeves to prevent flow of fluid therethrough.

9. An isolation valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which the valve member is adjustable axially of the sleeve so that it may be moved outwardly to open the apertures in the sleeve and permit flow of fluid therethrough and be moved inwardly to close the apertures in the sleeve and to prevent flow of fluid therethrough.

10. An isolation valve according to Claim 9 in which screw thread means is provided for axial movement of the valve member.

11. An isolation valve substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of locating an isolation valve as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 into a length of tube comprising the following steps: locating the two parts of the housing with the tubular portions engaging the tube and clamping them together to seal the housing to the tube; assembling the valve member into the sleeve and adjusting the valve member to close the apertures of the sleeve; inserting the sleeve with the cutting formation leading into the cylindrical portion of the housing, so that the sleeve is sealed with respect to the cylindrical portion of the housing; rotating the sleeve/valve member assembly so that the cutting formation of the sleeve will cut the pipe extending through the cylindrical section of the housing; and locating the sleeve with respect to the housing, so that the apertures in the sleeve are aligned coaxially with the tubular sections of the housing.

13. A method substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.