IT202200024810A1 - DISTRIBUTOR VALVE AND FILTRATION SYSTEM CONTAINING THE SAME - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the Italian Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

?DISTRIBUTING VALVE AND FILTRATION SYSTEM CONTAINING

THE SAME?

Field of technique

The present invention relates to a distribution valve, i.e. a valve with at least three ways capable of distributing an incoming flow selectively towards a first or a second outlet, or of selectively conveying an incoming flow from a first or a second inlet towards the same outlet. The invention also relates to a filtration system that uses at least two of said distribution valves to create a by-pass system.

State of the art

As is known, fluid filtration systems, for example for liquids such as water for civil and/or industrial use, generally comprise a filter made up of an external container, equipped with an inlet for the fluid to be filtered and an outlet for the filtered fluid, and a filtering element designed to divide the internal volume of the container into two separate chambers, of which a first chamber communicates with the inlet and a second chamber communicates with the outlet.

In this way, the fluid entering the filter, before reaching the outlet, is forced to pass through the filter element, which is able to retain any impurities present in it.

In some cases, for example when the filter element is clogged or malfunctioning, or to carry out replacement and/or maintenance operations, it is necessary to isolate the filter from the hydraulic line in which it is inserted, or to ensure that the fluid cannot pass through it.

To this end, most filtration systems are equipped with a by-pass system that allows the fluid to bypass the filter, diverting it from a conduit upstream of the inlet and re-entering the line in a conduit downstream of the outlet.

This system generally comprises a by-pass duct, designed to connect the ducts upstream and downstream of the filter, and a plurality of two-way shut-off valves, generally manual ball valves, of which one valve is placed in the by-pass duct, one valve is placed in the duct upstream of the filter, downstream from the branch point of the by-pass duct, and one valve is placed in the duct downstream of the filter, upstream from the confluence point of the by-pass duct.

However, the type of valves currently used is relatively expensive and their relatively high number complicates and increases the overall cost of the hydraulic system.

Exposition of the invention

In light of these considerations, an object of the present invention is to provide a distributor valve that can be simple and economical and that allows the creation of a by-pass system using a lower number of valves than in the known art.

Another aim is to achieve the above-mentioned objective within a simple, rational and low-cost solution.

These and other purposes are achieved thanks to the features of the invention that are reported in the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention but not essential for its implementation.

In particular, one embodiment of the present invention provides a distributor valve comprising:

- a valve body suitable for delimiting an internal volume which comprises at least one seat of axisymmetric tubular shape, for example cylindrical or conical, having a predetermined axis of symmetry and two axial ends mutually opposite along said axis of symmetry,

- a first access obtained in said valve body and flowing laterally into said seat, in an intermediate section between said axial ends,

- a second access obtained in said valve body and communicating with said seat via a first of said axial ends,

- a third access obtained in said valve body and communicating with said seat via a second of said axial ends, and

- a separating septum inserted inside the seat and designed to divide the internal volume of the valve body into two separate chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber,

wherein said separating septum is rotating around the axis of symmetry of the seat between a first operating position, in which the first chamber is in communication with the first access and with the second access while the second chamber is in communication with the third access, and a second operating position, in which the first chamber is in communication with the second access while the second chamber is in communication with the first access and with the third access.

Thanks to this solution with a single distribution valve it is advantageously possible to open the communication between the first access and one between the second and third access and at the same time close the communication with the other, effectively carrying out the function that in traditional by-pass systems is delegated to two separate valves.

Consequently, just two distributor valves according to the invention may be sufficient to implement the by-pass system, making it simpler and generally more economical.

Compared to other types of three-way valves, the distributor valve of the invention is also extremely simple and, consequently, reliable and in itself inexpensive.

According to one aspect of the invention, the distributor valve may further comprise:

- an axisymmetric tubular opening, for example cylindrical or conical, made in the valve body and coaxial with the seat,

- a shutter body inserted in said opening and capable of rotating inside it around the axis of symmetry, and

- a support stem housed in the valve body and designed to rigidly connect said shutter body to the separating septum.

This solution means that by rotating the shutter body, it is easy to also rotate the separator septum and therefore move it between the first and second operating positions.

In this regard, one aspect of the invention provides that the distributor valve may also comprise a control body, for example a knob, placed outside the valve body and rigidly connected to the shutter body.

In this way, the separating septum can be moved between the first and second positions manually, simply by rotating the operating body located on the outside.

According to one aspect of the invention, said separating septum, support stem, shutter body and operating body can be made as a monolithic body, for example by injection moulding.

Thanks to this solution, the number of components of the distribution valve is advantageously reduced, making it simpler, more reliable and economical.

Essentially for the same reason, another aspect of the invention provides that the valve body may be a monolithic body, made for example by injection molding.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second access and the third access may have axes coplanar with the axis of symmetry of the seat.

This orientation of the accesses facilitates the construction of the valve body, which can therefore be more economical.

Another aspect of the invention provides that the first access, the first access, the second access and the third access can have axes perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the tubular seat.

This orientation makes it easier to connect the distributor valve in a hydraulic system.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first access, the second access and the third access can be individually provided with a connecting tube, for example made of metal material and for example threaded, which can possibly be co-molded with the valve body.

Through these connection sleeves it is easier and quicker to connect the distributor valve to a hydraulic system.

As previously indicated, the distributor valve of the invention is primarily, though not exclusively, intended for use in a by-pass system for a filter.

Another embodiment of the invention therefore provides a filtration system, comprising:

- a filter equipped with an inlet for a fluid to be filtered and an outlet for the filtered fluid,

- a first distributor valve as previously outlined having the third access connected to the filter inlet,

- a second distributor valve as previously outlined having the third access connected to the filter outlet,

- a bypass duct designed to connect the second inlet of the first distributor valve with the second inlet of the second distributor valve.

This solution allows for the provision of a by-pass system equipped with only two valves and, consequently, generally simpler, cheaper and more reliable than those currently known.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become evident from reading the following description provided by way of example and not limitation, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the attached tables.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a distributor valve according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the distributor valve of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is the III-III section indicated in figure 2 with the separating septum shown in a first operating position.

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 3 with the separator shown in a second operating position.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a filtration system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is the VI-VI section of figure 5 with both separator baffles of the two distributor valves in the second operating position.

Figure 7 is a section of Figure 6 with both separator baffles of the two distributor valves in the first operating position.

Detailed description

In the aforementioned figures, the numerical reference 100 indicates a distributor valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The distributor valve 100 comprises a valve body 105, internally hollow, which delimits an internal volume 110.

The internal volume 110 of the valve body 105 comprises at least one seat 115 of axisymmetric tubular shape.

By axisymmetric tubular seat we mean a portion of the internal volume 110 of the valve body 105, which is delimited laterally by an internal surface of the valve body 105 which is shaped as a so-called rotation (or revolution) surface with respect to a pre-established axis of symmetry A, or ideally obtained by rotating a curve (called generator or profile) around said pre-established axis of symmetry A.

In this way, any cross-section of said internal surface, carried out according to a section plane orthogonal to the axis of symmetry A, turns out to be a circumference.

In the illustrated example, the seat 115 is cylindrical but it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, it could be conical or of any other axisymmetric tubular shape.

The seat 115 has two axial ends, or two extreme cross-sections of obviously circular shape, which are mutually opposed along the direction defined by the axis of symmetry A and axially delimit the internal surface of the valve body 105 which is shaped like a rotation (or revolution) surface.

In particular, these axial ends are indicated by a dotted line in figure 3 and include a first axial end 120 and a second axial end 125.

The valve body 105 may also comprise an opening 130, also of an axisymmetric tubular shape, which is formed in the valve body 105 and is designed to connect the internal volume 110 with the space outside the valve body 105 itself.

By axisymmetric opening we mean, in this case too, a portion of the internal volume 110 of the valve body 105, which is delimited laterally by an internal surface of the valve body 105 which is shaped as a so-called rotation (or revolution) surface with respect to a pre-established axis of symmetry.

For example, the opening 130 can be cylindrical (as in the example illustrated) or conical.

In any case, the opening 130 is preferably coaxial with the seat 115, that is, the axis of symmetry of the opening 130 can coincide with the axis of symmetry A of the seat 115.

The seat 115 and the opening 130 can be, for example, created as two mutually aligned sections of the internal cavity of a single tubular portion (in this case cylindrical) of the valve body 105, which can have an open end, corresponding to the opening 130, and an opposite closed end.

The valve body 105 also comprises at least three accesses, usually called "ways", each of which can be shaped as a tubular cavity, for example of a cylindrical shape, which is made in the valve body 105 and is suitable for placing the internal volume 110 in communication with the outside of the valve body 105 itself.

In particular, these accesses include a first access 135, a second access 140, and a third access 145, each of which extends along a respective central axis B, C, and D.

The central axes B, C and D of the accesses can be coplanar with the axis of symmetry A of seat 115 and, in any case, can be perpendicular to said axis of symmetry A.

The first access 135 may face the opposite direction to the second and third accesses 140 and 145.

The first access 135 can open into the internal volume 110 at the seat 115, or on the lateral rotation (or revolution) surface that delimits it, in a section between the first axial end 120 and the second axial end 125.

The second and third accesses 140 and 145 can instead open into the internal volume 110 in correspondence with a section external to the seat 115 but in such a way as to be in communication with it through the first and second axial ends 120 and 125.

For example, the second access 140 may communicate with the seat 115 through the first axial end 120, preferably remaining located on the opposite side of the seat 115 with respect to the opening 130.

The third access 145 may instead be in communication with the seat 115 through the opposite second axial end 125, preferably remaining located between the seat 115 and the opening 130.

Each of said first, second and third accesses 135, 140 and 145 can be provided with a respective connection tube, indicated respectively with 150, 155 and 160, which is coaxially inserted and fixed in the corresponding access and has a section protruding externally.

The protruding portion of each connecting tube 150, 155 and 160 can be threaded, so that it can be connected to hydraulic fittings and/or other conduits of a hydraulic system.

The valve body 105, including the corresponding opening 130 and the corresponding first, second and third accesses 135, 140 and 145 can be made as a single monolithic body, preferably of polymeric material, for example by means of an injection moulding process.

The connecting tubes 150, 155 and 160 can be made of metallic material, for example brass, and can be integrated into the valve body 105 by means of a co-molding process.

The distributor valve 100 also comprises a separating septum 165, which is entirely housed inside the seat 115, so as to be able to completely obstruct it and thus divide the internal volume 110 of the valve body into two separate chambers, of which a first chamber 170 and a second chamber 175.

In addition, the separating septum 165 is able to rotate inside the seat 115 around a rotation axis coinciding with the symmetry axis A, so that it can move, for example following a 180° rotation, between a first operating position and a second operating position.

In the first operating position (illustrated in figure 3), the first chamber 170 delimited by the separating partition 165 is in communication with the first access 135 and with the second access 140, connecting them to each other, while the second chamber 175 is in communication (only) with the third access 145, isolating it or closing it with respect to the other accesses.

In the second operating position (illustrated in figure 4), the first chamber 170 delimited by the separating partition 165 is in communication (only) with the second access 140, isolating it or closing it with respect to the other accesses, while the second chamber 175 is in communication with the first access 135 and with the third access 145, connecting them to each other.

To obtain this effect, the separating septum 165 can be shaped as a sort of plate which, observed along the direction of the axis of symmetry A, has a conjugated circular shape and substantially the same dimensions as the cross-section of the seat 115, but which, in longitudinal section, is substantially inclined with respect to the axis of symmetry A, so as to have a section of its edge axially interposed between the first access 135 and the second access 140 and another section of its edge axially interposed between the first access 135 and the third access 145.

The edge of the separating septum 165 can be equipped with a gasket 180 designed to ensure, in both operating positions, hermetic separation between the first chamber 170 and the second chamber 175.

The separating septum 165 can be brought to the end of a support stem 185 which, extending parallel to the axis of symmetry A, is accommodated in the internal volume 110 of the valve body 105, for example in the second chamber 175, and is suitable for rigidly connecting the separating septum 165 to a shutter body 190 which is inserted in the opening 130.

The support stem 185 has a generally smaller radial footprint than that of the seat 115, so as not to obstruct it and not to impede communication between the first access 135 and the third access 145, when the separating septum 165 is in the second operating position.

The shutter body 190 is instead sized to completely occlude the aperture 130.

To ensure a hermetic seal, the edge of the shutter body 190 can be equipped with one or more gaskets 195.

In particular, the shutter body 190 may have the shape of a rotational (or revolutionary) solid conjugated and having substantially the same dimensions as the opening 130.

In this way, the shutter body 190 is able to rotate, inside the opening 130, around the axis of symmetry A, maintaining the closure but rigidly transmitting this rotation also to the support stem 185 and consequently to the separating septum 165.

In some embodiments, such rotation could be operated by means of suitable motorized members positioned outside the valve body 105.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated here, the rotation can however be operated manually by means of a control body 200 located outside the valve body 105 and rigidly connected to the shutter body 190.

The operating body 200 may be, for example, a knob placed coaxially with the shutter body 190.

In this way, by manually rotating the operating body 200 around the axis of symmetry A, the shutter body 190 is also set in rotation and, with it, the support stem 185 and the separating septum 165.

Limit switches may be provided to stop rotation when the first and second operating positions are reached.

The separating septum 165, the support stem 185, the shutter body 190 and the operating body 200 can be made as a single monolithic body, preferably in polymeric material, for example by means of an injection moulding process.

In this way, the distributor valve 100 is substantially made up of just two components, namely the valve body 105 and the monolithic body which incorporates the separating septum 165, the support stem 185, the shutter body 190 and the operating body 200, thus making the production and assembly phases simpler, quicker and more economical.

The valve body 105 can be further provided with a connection 205 suitable for connecting the internal volume 110 to the outside and suitable for accommodating a sensor 210, for example a pressure sensor suitable for measuring the pressure inside the distributor valve 100.

In particular, it is preferable that the coupling 205 is positioned so as to always open into the second chamber 175, i.e. the one which is in communication with the third access 145, regardless of the position occupied by the separating septum 165 in the seat 115.

In the position opposite to the coupling 205, a second coupling 215 can be provided, identical to the previous one and having the same function, which can be used if the distribution valve 100 is mounted upside down and which, if not in use, can be closed by a cap.

According to a preferred but not exclusive aspect of the invention, a pair of distributing valves 100 like the one described above can be used to create a by-pass system for a filtration system 500 for fluids, for example for water for civil and/or industrial use.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the filtration system 500 first comprises a filter 505.

The filter 505 can generally comprise an external container 510, preferably openable, which is equipped with an inlet 515 for the fluid to be filtered and an outlet 520 for the filtered fluid, and a filtering element (not visible) suitable for dividing the internal volume of the container 510 into two separate chambers, of which a first chamber communicates with the inlet 515 and a second chamber communicates with the outlet 520.

In this way, the fluid entering the filter 505, before reaching the outlet 520, is forced to pass through the filter element, which is able to retain any impurities present in it.

The filtration system 500 also includes two distributor valves of the type described above, including a first distributor valve 100? and a second distributor valve 100?.

The third access 145 of the first distributor valve 100? can be connected, for example thanks to the respective connection tube 160, to the inlet 515 of the filter 505.

The third access 145 of the second distributor valve 100? can be connected, for example thanks to the respective connection tube 160, to the outlet 520 of the filter 505.

The filtration system 500 may therefore comprise a bypass duct 525 designed to connect the second access 140 of the first distributor valve 100? with the second access 140 of the second distributor valve 100?, for example by being inserted, with their opposite ends, into the respective connection sleeves 155, onto which a respective tightening bush 530 can be screwed. In this way, when the separating baffles 165 of the first and second distributor valves 100? and 100? are both in the second operating position (see fig. 6), a fluid entering the filtration system 500 through the first access 135 of the first distributor valve 100? is forced to flow towards the third access 145 of the latter and, from here, into the filter 505 to be filtered.

At the same time, the filtered fluid exiting the filter 505 enters the third access 145 of the second distributor valve 100?, where it is forced to flow towards the first access 135 of the latter.

Conversely, when the separating baffles 1 65 of the first and second distributing valves 100' and 100? are both in the first operating position (see fig. 7), a fluid entering the filtration system 500 through the first access 135 of the first distributing valve 100? is forced to flow towards the second access 140 of the latter and, from here, into the by-pass duct 525, which conveys it towards the second access 140 of the second distributing valve 100?, where it is forced to flow towards the first access 135 of the latter.

In this case, therefore, the fluid does not pass through the 505 filter, which is appropriately by-passed.

Obviously, a technician in the sector may make numerous technical-applicative modifications to everything described above, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (9)

1. A distributor valve (100) comprising: - a valve body (105) suitable for delimiting an internal volume (110) which comprises at least one seat (115) of axisymmetric tubular shape having a predetermined axis of symmetry (A) and two axial ends (120, 125) mutually opposite each other along said axis of symmetry (A), - a first access (135) obtained in said valve body (105) and flowing laterally into said seat (115), in an intermediate section between said axial ends (120, 125), - a second access (140) obtained in said valve body (105) and communicating with said seat (115) via a first (120) of said axial ends, - a third access (145) obtained in said valve body (105) and communicating with said seat (115) via a second (125) of said axial ends, and - a separating septum (165) inserted inside the seat (115) and suitable for dividing the internal volume (110) of the valve body (105) into two separate chambers, of which a first chamber (170) and a second chamber (175), in which said separating septum (165) is rotating around the axis of symmetry (A) of the seat (115) between a first operating position, in which the first chamber (170) is in communication with the first access (135) and with the second access (140) while the second chamber (175) is in communication with the third access (145), and a second operating position, in which the first chamber (170) is in communication with the second access (140) while the second chamber (175) is in communication with the first access (135) and with the third access (145). 2. A distributor valve (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: - an axisymmetric tubular opening (130) made in the valve body and coaxial with the seat (115), - a shutter body (190) inserted in said opening (130) and capable of rotating inside it around the axis of symmetry (A), and - a support stem (185) housed in the valve body (105) and designed to rigidly connect said shutter body (190) to the separating septum (165). 3. A distributing valve (100) according to claim 2, comprising a control body (200) placed outside the valve body (105) and rigidly connected to the shutter body (190). 4. A distributing valve (100) according to claim 3, wherein said separating septum (165), support stem (185), shutter body (190) and operating body (200) are made of a monolithic body. 5. A distributor valve (100) according to claim 4, wherein said monolithic body is made by injection molding. 6. A distributor valve (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (105) is made by injection molding. 7. A distributor valve (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first access (135), the second access (140) and the third access (145) have axes (B, C, D) coplanar with the axis of symmetry (A) of the seat (115). 8. A distributor valve (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first access (135), the second access (140) and the third access (145) are individually provided with a connecting tube (150, 155, 160), threaded and made of metal material, which is co-molded with the valve body (105). 9. A filtration system (500), comprising: - a filter (505) equipped with an inlet (515) for a fluid to be filtered and an outlet (520) for the filtered fluid, - a first distributor valve (100?) according to any of the preceding claims having the third access (145) connected to the inlet (515) of the filter (505), - a second distributor valve (100??) according to any of the preceding claims having the third access (145) connected to the outlet (520) of the filter (505), - a bypass duct (525) designed to connect the second access (140) of the first distributor valve (100?) with the second access (140) of the second distributor valve (100??).