CN103363184B - Thermostatic controlled valve, especially radiator valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a thermostatically controlled valve, in particular a radiator valve, comprising: an inlet (3), an outlet (4) and a valve seat positioned between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4) (5) valve housing (2), valve element (7) movable relative to said valve seat (5), bellows element (16) acting on said valve element (7), and for A control device (20) for adjusting the setpoint for the valve (1). The thermostatically controlled valve should have a simple structure. For this purpose, said control device (20) engages said valve housing (2), said control device (20) connecting said corrugated element (16) and said valve housing (2).

Description

Thermostatically controlled valves, especially radiator valves

technical field

The present invention relates to a thermostatically controlled valve, and more particularly to a radiator valve, comprising: a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat positioned between the inlet and the outlet, relative to the valve seat A moving valve element, a thermostatic element acting on said valve element, and a control device for adjusting a setpoint for said valve.

Background technique

Such a thermostatically controlled valve is known from WO92/20945. The control device is secured to a socket connected to the housing. When the control is rotated, the thermostatic shaft is moved to change the valve setting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The intrinsic aim of the present invention is to adopt a simple structure for thermostatically controlled valves.

This objective is achieved in that the control device engages the valve housing, the control device connecting the thermostatic element and the valve housing.

In other words, the present invention no longer has a socket, and therefore does not require clamping straps, hooks, coupling nuts, etc. for mounting the thermostat on the valve. Now, the thermostatic element is mounted directly on the valve housing and thus the fixing of the thermostatic element and the control element can be considered to be combined in one piece, ie the connection between the control device and the valve housing. This simplifies the structure of the valve. The number of parts used to assemble the valve is less than that of prior art valves, since the socket of the thermostat head can be omitted entirely.

Preferably, the control device has the form of a ring. The ring may for example be rotated relative to the housing in order to change the valve setting.

Preferably, the control device is formed in at least two parts connected in the circumferential direction. When the parts are separated, they can be positioned around a portion of the valve housing. When they are in place, they can be connected together, holding the valve housing and the thermostatic element together and at the same time allowing adjustment of the set point, for example, by moving the thermostatic element in the direction towards the valve seat or away from the valve seat . This setpoint is the temperature setpoint.

Preferably, the parts are connected by a hook-and-click connection. Hook connections connect the parts simply by pressing them together. The hooking mechanism prevents these parts from separating.

In a preferred embodiment, the parts are non-removably connected. When the parts are installed together, they can only be removed if they or the connection between them is broken. In this way, the thermostatic element cannot be removed from the valve.

Preferably, the thermostatic element comprises a shoulder received in the shape of a groove formed in the wall of the control device surrounding the thermostatic element. The combination of shoulders and grooves gives a simple form of axial connection between the control and the thermostatic element, while in some cases allowing the control to rotate relative to the thermostatic element. In this way, the position of the thermostatic element can be changed, for example by rotating the control device relative to the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the thermostatic element protrudes completely from the control device except for the connecting portion. The thermostatic element is also almost completely visible and is held in the control device only in the connection part. The fact that the vast majority of thermostatic elements are visible brings the advantage that the thermostatic elements are better resistant to inlet temperature dependence. The reason is that for the temperature of the heating or cooling medium controlled by the valve, it is more difficult to heat the thermostatic element than if a plastic housing were always provided, since heat can be transferred from the plastic part to the plastic part. Furthermore, the thermostat element is almost completely exposed to the ambient air so that a rather rapid reaction of the thermostat element to changes in the temperature of the ambient air can be achieved.

Preferably, the control device and the housing together form a threaded pair comprising a first thread on the valve housing, preferably on the outside of the valve housing, or when connected to the housing part of the body, and a second thread in the control device, in particular in the inner wall of the control device. The inner wall may be the same wall as the groove housing the shoulder for the thermostatic element. However, the inner wall may include steps that divide the inner wall in different sections. The use of a threaded pair is a simple way to generate movement of the thermostatic element to or from the valve seat when rotating the control device.

Preferably, the first thread is divided into at least two parts along the circumferential direction. This means that the thread rotation is interrupted in the circumferential direction. In principle, it is sufficient to use only a single thread turn in the first thread. This makes the structure even simpler.

In a preferred embodiment, the second thread forms an end stop at least in the direction of movement of the control device away from the valve seat. Therefore, the control device cannot be removed from the valve housing by rotating it. This rotation is blocked at the end stops.

Preferably, a scale is made on the outside of the valve housing, and the control means forms an indicator indicated on the scale. The indicator can be realized by the edge of the control device. In this way, an indication of the setpoint that the control device has adjusted can be given.

Preferably, the valve element is connected to a valve stem on which the thermostatic element acts directly. In this way, there is no need to use an intermediate push rod between the thermostatic element and the valve stem. The fewer parts used, the simpler the structure.

Description of drawings

Preferred examples of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic section through a thermostatically controlled valve;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the thermostatically controlled valve of Fig. 1 with the control device partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve of Fig. 1 with the control device in a fully closed position; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the thermostatically controlled valve with the controls in a fully open position.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross section of a thermostatically controlled valve 1 . The valve 1 includes a valve housing 2 . The valve housing 2 has an inlet 3 and an outlet 4 between which the valve seat 5 is arranged. However, other forms of valve housings may be used, eg, angled housings.

The valve housing 2 takes the form of an inverted "T". Inlet 3 and outlet 4 are arranged in the arms of the "T". The axis 6 of the housing extends perpendicular to the imaginary line connecting the inlet 3 and the outlet 4 .

The valve element 7 is movable between the position where it contacts the valve seat 5 and cuts the connection between the inlet 3 and the outlet 4, and the position where it leaves the valve seat 5, in which there is a passage from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4 . The distance between the valve element 7 and the valve seat 5 is the parameter defining the volume flow of heating liquid to the radiator connected to the valve 1 or the volume flow of cooling liquid to the cooling unit connected to the valve 1 , respectively.

The valve element 7 is connected to the rod 8 . The rod 8 extends parallel to the axis of the shaft 6 of the valve housing 2 . In this example, the end 9 of the rod 8 projects outwardly from the shaft 6 .

The sealing package 10 is arranged in the shaft 6 of the valve housing 2 , preventing the heating or cooling liquid in the valve housing 2 between the inlet 3 and the outlet 4 from leaking to the outside via the shaft 6 . In this example, the hermetic package 10 includes several O-rings 11 , 12 , 13 . However, the form of the hermetic package 10 may vary.

The open spring 14 is provided to act on the rod 8 via a stop device 15 . The opening spring 14 acts on the rod 8 in the direction away from the valve seat 5 . In other words, the valve element 7 moves away from the valve seat 5 as far as possible when no additional force is acting on the rod 8 .

The thermostatic element 16 is mechanically connected to the valve housing 2, more precisely, to the shaft 6 of the valve housing 2, as will be explained later. The thermostatic element 16 includes a packing 17 of material that expands with increasing temperature. This packing 17 is arranged in a cavity which is limited on its inner side by a thermostat 18 . The thermostatic element 16 further comprises a filling element 19 arranged in the thermostat 18, into which the end 9 of the rod 8 is inserted. The filling element 19 serves as a suitable thermostatic element 16 to the rod 8 . When the rod 8 is long enough, the filling element can be omitted.

The thermostatic element 16 acts directly on the valve stem 8 , ie no intermediate element is required to transmit the force from the thermostatic element 16 to the stem 8 .

In the diagram shown in FIG. 1 , the packing 17 of the thermostatic element 16 has expanded so that the thermostat 18 is compressed and the valve element 7 is pressed against the valve seat 5 . When the ambient air temperature becomes lower, the volume of the packing 17 decreases and the thermostat 18 can expand so that the expansion spring 14 moves the valve element 7 away from the valve seat 5 .

A control device 20 in the form of a ring is used to connect the thermostatic element 16 to the valve housing 2 while allowing adjustment of the position of the thermostatic element 16 relative to the valve housing 2 .

For this purpose, the thermostatic element 16 comprises a shoulder 21 which is received in a groove 22 formed in the control device 20 . The shoulders and grooves 22 allow the control device 20 to rotate relative to the thermostatic element 16 if desired. However, the thermostatic element 16 is fixedly positioned in the control device 20 in a direction parallel to the rod 8 .

When the position of the control device 20 relative to the housing 2 is adjusted, the position of the thermostatic element 16 relative to the housing 2 is also adjusted.

This adjustment can be carried out, for example, by means of the screw pair shown in FIG. 2 .

Identical elements are given the same reference numerals in FIG. 2 .

The first thread 23 is arranged on the outside of the valve housing 2 , more precisely on the outside of the shaft 6 . This first thread 23 comprises only a single thread turn on the side visible in FIG. 2 , and another similar thread turn on the opposite side of the shaft 6 . In other words, the first thread 23 is divided into at least two parts in the circumferential direction.

The control device 20 includes a second thread 24 that engages the first thread 23 . The second thread 24 has several thread turns. However, these threads are limited in length, so that the control device 20 can be rotated relative to the housing 2, only relative to the position where the second thread is formed at the end stop.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the thermostatic element 16 projects completely from the control device 20 . Only the connection part remains in the control device 20 , as can be seen from FIG. 1 . This has the advantage that the thermostatic element 16 is exposed to the ambient air, which enables the thermostatic element to respond well to changes in ambient air temperature. There is no or only very little thermal resistance between the ambient air and the thermostatic element 16 .

On top of the thermostatic element 16, a label 25, eg with a logo or the like, is placed.

The control device 20 is in the form of a ring. The control device is in the form of at least two parts connected in the circumferential direction. In Fig. 2 only a part 26 of the control device 20 is shown.

Portions 26 of control device 20 may be identical. Each section includes a hooking projection 27 and a corresponding hooking opening 28 . When the control device 20 is made of two halves or parts 26 , these parts are arranged around the shaft 6 of the valve housing 2 , the thermostatic element 16 receives the shoulder 21 in the groove 22 and places the part 26 on the first thread 23 the second thread 24. Once the parts 26 have been placed in this position, they can be pressed together so that they are connected by the hooking connection made by the hooking protrusions 27 and the hooking openings 28 . In this way, the parts 26 are inseparably connected together. When hook detection is turned on, at least one of the portions 26 is damaged so that it can no longer be used. The threaded pair can be implemented in other ways. A portion connected to the valve housing and carrying the first thread 23 can be used. It is also possible to use grooves in the valve housing 2 and threaded turns in the control device 20 . In any way, when the control device 20 is rotated relative to the valve housing 2, this thread pair allows the thermostatic element 16 to perform a translational movement. Thus, the set point 1 of the valve can be adjusted by rotating the control device 20 relative to the valve housing 2 .

It should be noted that the portions 26 may be connected in other ways, such as by ultrasonic welding, screw/nut connections, and the like. It is also conceivable to have two screws with countersunk heads, screwed from one part 26 into threads in the other part 26 . In this example, a screw that turns in only one direction can be used.

However, the present invention is not limited to the threaded connection between the control device 20 and the valve housing 2 .

The shaft 6 of the valve housing 2 includes a scale 29 . As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the control device 20 forms a pointer 30 , which in this example is the edge of the control device 20 on the side facing the valve housing 2 .

Figure 3 shows the valve 1 with the thermostatic element 16 moving in a position where the valve 1 has a relatively low set point. Scale bar 29 is barely visible.

In FIG. 4 , the thermostatic element 16 has been moved by the control device 20 to the position in which the setting of the valve 1 is at its maximum. Most of scale 29 is visible.

Claims (17)

1. A thermostatically controlled valve (1) comprising: -a valve housing (2) having an inlet (3), an outlet (4) and a valve seat (5) positioned between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4), -a valve element (7) movable relative to the valve seat (5), -a thermostatic element (16) acting on the valve element (7), and-a control device (20) for adjusting a set point for the valve (1), characterized in that: the control device (20) engages the valve housing (2), the thermostatic element being mounted directly on the valve housing (2), the control device connecting the thermostatic element (16) and the valve housing (2), and

the valve housing (2) is an integrated valve body.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein: the control device (20) has the form of a ring.

3. The valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the control device (20) is formed by at least two parts (26) connected in the circumferential direction.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein: the portions (26) are connected by a snap connection.

5. The valve of claim 3, wherein: the portions (26) are non-detachably connected.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein: the thermostatic element (16) comprises a shoulder (21), said shoulder (21) being housed in a recess (22) formed in a wall of the control device (20) surrounding the thermostatic element (16).

7. The valve of claim 6, wherein: the thermostatic element (16) projects completely from the control device (20) except for the connecting portion.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein: the control device (20) and the valve housing (2) together form a thread pair comprising a first thread (23) on the exterior of the valve housing (2) or on the part connected to the valve housing (2), and a second thread (24) in the inner wall in the control device (20).

9. The valve of claim 8, wherein: at least one of the first thread (23) and the second thread (24) is divided into at least two portions in the circumferential direction.

10. The valve according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: one of the first thread and the second thread (24) forms an end stop at least in the direction of movement of the control device (20) away from the valve seat (5).

11. The valve of claim 1, wherein: a scale (29) is made on the exterior of the valve housing (2), the control device (20) forming an indicator (30) which indicates on the scale.

12. The valve of claim 1, wherein: the valve element (7) is connected to a valve stem (8), the thermostatic element (16) acting directly on the valve stem (8).

13. Valve according to claim 12, the valve stem (8) being inserted into the thermostatic element (16).

14. A valve according to claim 12, characterized in that the valve housing (2) has an axis (6), the valve stem (8) extending parallel to the axis (6) of the valve housing (2).

15. Valve according to claim 1, the valve housing (2) having a shaft (6), the thermostatic element (16) being connected to the shaft (6) of the valve housing (2).

16. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve housing (2) takes the form of an inverted "T".

17. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is a radiator valve.

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