FR3094062A3 - VALVE EQUIPPED WITH A SOCKET ALLOWING THE CONNECTION TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve (1) with direct insertion into conduits (2, 3) of a hydraulic installation, comprising a valve body (4) capable of defining a passage (6) for a fluid inside said valve body, and provided with a shutter device (5) adapted to selectively allow and prevent the passage of a fluid through said passage (6) of said valve body (4), wherein said valve body (4) comprises a sleeve of bypass (7) for connection to an external device (100) capable of performing operations and / or measurements once connected to said valve (1), said bypass sleeve (7) for connection to an external device being made integral with said valve body and having an orifice (7a) in fluid communication with said passage (6) of said valve body and with the environment external to said valve (1), wherein said valve comprises a reversible sealing element (7b) received inside said sleeve (7), said sealing element reversible seal (7b) operable at least between two conditions: a first condition in which it prevents the flow of a fluid between said external environment and said passage (6) in at least one direction; a second condition in which it allows the flow of a fluid between said external environment and said passage (6) in at least one direction. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

VALVE

Field of invention

The present invention relates to the field of valves, in particular valves equipped with a socket allowing connection to an external device, for example capable of controlling the pressure of a fluid inside the valve.

Valves are known that are provided with sockets to which external devices can be connected, such as devices capable of controlling the pressure of the fluid flowing inside the valve and the like. The connection of these elements is often complex and often requires the use of an adapter to be connected to the pressure tap of the valve and a sealing element to be placed inside the adapter. This operation may also involve the need to temporarily interrupt the flow of fluid through the valve, or through the hydraulic circuit to which the valve is connected.

The object of the present invention is to produce a valve which allows a simple connection to an external device, such as a device for measuring the pressure of the fluid inside the valve, and which at the same time guarantees good sealing. of the valve, thus reducing the possibility of leaks.

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention, by providing a valve according to one or more of the appended claims.

In particular, the present invention relates to a valve according to appended claim 1. Preferred aspects of the invention are further listed in the corresponding dependent claims.

In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, a valve for direct insertion into pipes of a hydraulic installation comprises a valve body able to define a passage for a fluid inside the valve body, and provided with a shutter device capable of selectively allowing and preventing the passage of a fluid through the passage of the valve body. The valve body includes a branch sleeve for connection to an external device capable of performing operations and/or measurements, once connected to the valve. The bypass sleeve for connection to an external device is made in one piece with the valve body and has an orifice in fluid communication with the passage of the valve body and with the environment outside the valve. The valve includes a reversible sealing element located inside the sleeve. The reversible sealing element can be actuated at least between two conditions: a first condition in which it prevents the flow of a fluid between the external environment and the passage in at least one direction; a second position in which it allows the flow of a fluid between the external environment and the passage in at least one direction.

Thanks to the present solution, a pressure measuring device, or an analogous element, is easily and quickly applicable to the valve, that is to say without the need to carry out complex operations and to apply adapters to it. Above all, this solution makes it possible to connect an outlet using a minimal number of elements connected together, thus reducing the risk of leaks.

According to one aspect of the invention, the valve is provided with a plug secured to the branch sleeve for connection to an external device.

According to one aspect of the invention, the valve includes a connector attached externally to the branch sleeve for connection to an external device and to the plug.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sleeve has a threaded part on its outer surface. The sleeve preferably has a length of at least 10mm, more preferably at least 11mm.

According to one aspect of the invention, the threaded part extends over at least 8 mm, preferably over at least 10 mm.

According to one aspect of the invention, the reversible sealing element is configured to remain inside the branch sleeve for connection to an external device in both the first and the second condition.

According to one aspect of the invention, the reversible sealing element is configured to operatively connect to the external device, so that the external device can selectively actuate the reversible sealing element in the first and/or in the second condition.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the reversible sealing element has a threaded part, coupled to a threaded part of the branch sleeve.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged and sectional view of the detail highlighted in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of what is shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional front view similar to Figure 3, in a condition in which the passage of fluid through the sleeve is allowed;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the elements shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the valve of Figure 1 connected to an external device (not shown to scale) for pressure reading.

Detailed description of figures

With reference to the figures, a valve 1 comprises a valve body 4 able to define a passage 6 for a fluid inside the valve body 4.

In known manner, the valve body 4 can be connected to pipes of a hydraulic installation (not shown in detail), generally by means of the connectors 2, 3 provided for this purpose.

The connectors 2, 3 generally have a hollow part, configured to receive and to couple directly, namely without other interposed parts, apart from known sealing elements such as hemp, anaerobic sealants, or others still known in the technique, with the lines of the hydraulic installation.

For example, the connectors 2, 3 can be threaded, in order to allow the corresponding conduits to be screwed to the connectors 2, 3.

The configuration shown is only one example of the possible embodiments of the direct coupling between the fittings 2, 3 and the corresponding conduits. Any embodiment which allows direct coupling between the connectors 2, 3 and the corresponding conduits falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

The fittings 2, 3 are obviously in fluidic continuity with the passage 6 of the valve body 4, in order to allow the flow of a fluid inside said valve 1.

The valve body 4 is provided with a shutter device 5, known in the art, able to selectively allow and prevent the passage of a fluid through the passage 6 of the valve body 4, that is to say between the connectors 2, 3 of the valve 1. In the embodiment shown in the figures, we see a handle 5a of the shutter device 5, capable of controlling a shutter element of the rotary type, known in the art and not shown in detail on the figures, such as, for example, a sphere.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the valve body is secured to a base 9, capable of reversibly coupling to a corresponding external support. Variants of embodiments in which the base 9 is absent are however possible.

The valve body 4 includes a branch sleeve 7 for connection to an external device 100 (shown in Figure 6, with dimensions not to scale, reduced compared to reality) capable of performing operations and/ or measurements once connected to the valve 1 of Figure 1. The branch sleeve 7 (hereinafter also referred to as "sleeve 7") for connection to an external device 100 is made in one piece with the body of valve 4, generally so as to protrude from it.

As can be seen in the figures, this branch sleeve 7 can be arranged so as to protrude from the inlet connector 2 or from the discharge connector 3 of the valve body 4, depending on the specific functionalities of the external device 100 to be connected to said sleeve 7.

The sleeve 7 generally has a threaded part 7c, arranged on the outer surface of said sleeve. Generally, the threaded part has an extension (measured along the axis of the sleeve 7) of at least 8 mm, preferably at least 10 mm. This threaded part allows a simple and stable connection between the sleeve and an external device 100 that can be secured to the sleeve 7 (and possibly also the connection of the plug 8, described in more detail below, to the sleeve 7).

As seen in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the sleeve 7 has an orifice 7a in fluid communication with the passage 6 of the valve body and with the environment outside the valve 1. In other words, the orifice 7a places passage 6 of valve body 4 in fluid communication with the external environment.

The sleeve 7 generally has a smaller diameter than the connectors 2, 3. Preferably, the outer diameter of the sleeve 7 is between 2 and 8 times smaller than the outer diameter of the connectors 2, 3, more preferably between 2 and 5 times smaller.

A reversible sealing element 7b is received inside the sleeve 7, in order to prevent, under normal conditions of use of the valve 1, the exit of fluid from the valve 1 through the orifice 7a.

The reversible sealing element 7b (hereinafter also referred to as "sealing element 7b") can be actuated at least between two conditions: a first condition in which it prevents the flow of a fluid between the external environment and the passage 6 (i.e. it prevents the passage of a fluid through the orifice 7a) in at least one direction, and a second condition in which it allows the flow of a fluid between the external environment and the passage 6 (that is to say that it allows the passage of a fluid through the orifice 7a) in at least one direction.

Different types of sealing elements 7b can be used according to the invention. In one possible embodiment, the sealing element 7b is obtained by means of a valve element, for example a non-return valve element.

According to one possible embodiment, the sealing element 7b generally comprises a body 71, having dimensions substantially complementary to those of the orifice 7a (which is preferably provided with a constricted part), in order to serve as a shutter. A rod 72 can be actuated with respect to the body 71. The end part 72a can selectively mate in a sealed manner (through a joint provided for this purpose) or move away from an opening 71a of the body. 71, crossed by the rod 72. In the rest condition, the end part 72a is coupled to the opening 71a of the body 71, in order to prevent the passage of fluid through the body 71. When the rod 72 is manipulated axially relative to the body 71, the end part 72a moves away from the opening 71a, allowing the passage of fluid through the body 71 and, therefore, through the orifice 7a of the sleeve 7, as shown in Figure 4.

The configuration of the sealing element is therefore preferably such that, both in the first condition and in the second condition, the sealing element 7b is maintained inside the sleeve 7.

The sealing element 7b can be configured in different ways. According to a possible aspect, the sealing element 7b can be configured in order to allow the passage of fluid in a single direction along the sleeve 7, generally through the passage 6 towards the outside of the valve. It is however possible that the passage of fluid can also take place in an opposite direction, namely from the outside towards the inside of the valve 1, for example to introduce pressure into the installation in order to carry out a test on it.

In general, the sealing element 7b is preferably configured to be able to function in order to selectively allow and prevent the passage of fluid through the sleeve 7.

For example, referring to the embodiment shown, stem 72 may be formed so that it can be coupled to, and actuated by, an external device 100 (i.e., the connector attachable to sleeve 7 for connecting device 100 to the valve 1) for measuring the pressure of the fluid in the valve 1, or in general by an element that can be secured to the sleeve 7.

According to one possible aspect, the sealing element 7b has a threaded part 74, which mates with a corresponding threaded part 7d of the sleeve 7. The threaded part 7d of the sleeve 7 is an internal thread of the sleeve 7. The coupling between the two threaded parts 74, 7d makes it possible to secure the sealing element 7b to the sleeve 7.

In the embodiment shown, the threaded part 74 is made on the body 71 of the sealing element 7b, and is crossed by the rod 72, so that the rod 72 can slide relative to the threaded part 74.

A cap 8 can be attached to the sleeve 7 in order to further guarantee the fluid seal of the orifice 7a and to protect the sealing element 7b against external agents. For this purpose, a seal 73 can be inserted between the plug and the sleeve 7, generally at one end of the sleeve 7.

According to one possible aspect, a connector 10 can be fixed to the sleeve 7 and to the plug 8, in order to maintain the plug secured to the sleeve 7, even when the second does not close the first.

In use, the sealing element 7b is in the first condition (in which it prevents the passage of fluid through the sleeve 7). Generally, the sleeve 7 is further closed by the cap 8.

Under these conditions, the actuation of the closing device allows or prevents the passage of fluid through the valve body 4, between the connections 2, 3.

When an external device 100 for intervention and/or measurement, for example a device for measuring the pressure of the fluid inside the valve body, must be connected to the valve 1, the latter is fixed to the sleeve (in possibly removing the plug 8, if present).

The sealing element 7b is arranged in the second position, so that fluid can flow through the sleeve, and therefore reach the external device.

Once the necessary operations have been carried out, the sealing element 7b is again placed in the first condition, in which it prevents the passage of fluid through the sleeve 7 and the device is detached from the sleeve 7. Optionally, the plug 8 is returned to the condition of closing the sleeve 7.

It should be emphasized that, so far, only a two-way valve has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to three-way or more valves, using embodiments not shown in the figures. .

Claims (8)

Valve (1) for direct insertion into the ducts of a hydraulic installation, comprising a valve body (4) able to define a passage (6) for a fluid inside the said valve body, and provided with a device shutter (5) adapted to selectively allow and prevent the passage of a fluid through said passage (6) of said valve body (4), in which said valve body (4) comprises a bypass sleeve (7) for connection to an external device (100) capable of carrying out operations and/or measurements once connected to said valve (1), said branch sleeve (7) for connection to an external device (100) being made of integral with said valve body (4) and being provided with an orifice (7a) in fluid communication with said passage (6) of said valve body and with the environment external to said valve (1), wherein said valve comprises a reversible sealing element (7b) received inside said sleeve (7), said element reversible seal (7b) operable at least between two conditions: a first condition where it prevents the flow of a fluid between said external environment and said passage (6) in at least one direction; a second condition in which it allows the flow of a fluid between said external environment and said passage (6) in at least one direction. Valve (1) according to claim 1, provided with a plug (8) secured to said bypass sleeve (7) for connection to an external device (100). Valve according to claim 2, comprising a connector fixed externally to said branching sleeve (7) and to said plug (8). Valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said sleeve (7) has a threaded part (7c) on its outer surface. Valve (1) according to claim 4, wherein said threaded part extends for at least 8 mm, preferably for at least 10 mm. Valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said reversible sealing element (7b) is configured to remain inside said branch sleeve (7) for connection to an external device (100), both in the first and in the second condition. Valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said reversible sealing element (7b) is configured to operatively connect to said external device (100), so that the external device can selectively actuate said sealing element. reversible seal (7b) in said first and/or said second condition. Valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said reversible sealing element (7b) is provided with a threaded part (4) coupled to a threaded part (7d) made on the inner surface of said branch sleeve (7).