JPH08200542A - Float structure of air valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a float structure that is reduced in size although having sufficient strength by having an opening in its lower end face, and having a cavity therein that communicates with the opening. CONSTITUTION: This float structure for an air valve 1 is such that in a valve box 3 which has an air hole 4 formed at its upper end and has its lower part communicated with the inside of tubing 2, a float 11 opening and closing the air hole 4 is placed in such a way as to freely rise and fall along a guide. An opening 14 is provided in the lower end face of he structure, and a cavity 13 communicating with the opening 14 is provided inside the structure. Therefore pressures inside and outside the cavity 13 are equalized, and when the level of water in the valve box 3 rises air in the cavity 13 contracts, and water enters the cavity 13 through the opening 14 and equalizes the pressures inside and outside the cavity 13, so that the strength of the float 11 against water pressure is maintained. Also, during the work of filling pipelines with water, the cavity 13 is filled with a large quantity of air, and the float readily floats up with a rise in the level of water and closes the air hole 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a float structure of an air valve arranged in industrial piping or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The role of an air valve is to automatically perform the discharge of air in a pipeline when refilling water, the supply of air to the pipeline when draining water, and the discharge of air mixed in water during running water. , To ensure the safety of pipes and smooth water flow. Conventional air valves include, for example, those shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes an air valve arranged in a pipe 2 for industrial use, and a valve box 3 has a large-diameter air hole 4 formed at an upper end thereof and a communication hole 5 at a lower portion thereof. It communicates with the inside of the pipe 2. A guide cylinder 6 is disposed inside the valve box 3 concentrically with the large-diameter air hole 4. The guide cylinder 6 has a flow hole 7 in the upper part and a small air hole 8 is formed inside. The floating valve body 9 and the float 10 are arranged so as to be able to move up and down, and the floating valve body 9 opens and closes the large diameter air hole 4, and the float 10 opens and closes the small air hole 8.

In the above structure, when a large amount of air is exhausted, such as when the entire pipe is filled with water, the floating valve body 9 and the float 10 are both located in the lower part of the guide cylinder 6 as shown in the figure. The exhaust air from the pipe 2
It flows into the valve box 3 through the communication hole 5, then flows into the guide cylinder 6 through the flow hole 7, and is discharged to the outside of the valve box 3 through the large-diameter air hole 4.

When a large amount of air is taken in, such as when draining the entire pipeline, in a state in which both the floating valve body 9 and the float 10 are located in the lower portion of the guide cylinder 6 as described above, Intake air is taken into the pipe 2 from the outside of the valve box 3 along a path that sequentially passes through the large-diameter air hole 4, the flow hole 7, and the communication hole 5.

On the other hand, when the entire pipeline is filled with water and becomes nearly full, water enters and rises in the valve box 3 of the air valve 1,
The float 10 moves up and down due to the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box 3,
While raising and lowering the floating valve body 9, the small air hole 8 is opened and closed. That is, when the valve box 3 is almost filled with water, the floating valve body 9 is located in the upper part to close the large diameter air hole 4, and the float 10 is located in the upper part to close the small air hole 8. It is completely shut off. Once the floating valve body 9
Therefore, when the large air hole 4 is closed and internal pressure is applied, the floating valve body 9 cannot be lowered and the large air hole 4 is not opened. In this state, when the air gradually accumulates in the valve box 3 and the water level drops, the float 10 descends to open the small air hole 8, and the air is discharged to the outside of the valve box 3 through the small air hole 8. After the air is released, the water level in the valve box 3 rises, so the float 10 rises and closes the small air holes 8 again.

[0007]

In the conventional air valve 1 described above, the float 10 is formed as a rigid body and in a closed shape, so that the water does not flow out to the outside when the water is full during the filling operation. In order to close the large air hole 4, it is necessary that the buoyancy of the float> the weight of the floating valve body + the force for sealing. On the other hand, when water is passed (in use), the weight of the float needs to be greater than the hole diameter of the small air hole × internal pressure in order to exhaust the air from the small air hole 8 under the internal pressure. Therefore, it is preferable that the float is light because buoyancy is required during the water filling work, and conversely, a certain amount of weight is required during water flow. Therefore, in designing, it is necessary to satisfy the contradictory conditions of increasing both the weight and the buoyancy of the float, and the float is large. Further, since a high pressure is applied to the float, it is necessary to pay attention to its shape, size and material from the viewpoint of strength.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a float structure of an air valve which has sufficient strength and is reduced in size.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an air hole formed at an upper end thereof, and has a lower portion for opening and closing the air hole in a valve box communicating with a pipe. A float structure of an air valve in which a float is arranged so as to be able to move up and down along a guide body, wherein the air valve has an opening at a lower end surface and a cavity communicating with the opening is provided inside. It provides a float structure.

The present invention also provides a float structure for an air valve, which is characterized by having a spherical outer shell and having a weight at the bottom. Further, the present invention provides a float structure for an air valve, which is characterized in that it is formed in a cylindrical shape, an upper part thereof forms a hollow part sufficient to secure buoyancy, and a lower part forms a cylindrical part forming a hollow part. Is.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the air valve is formed in a cylindrical shape, the upper part of which constitutes a solid part having a low specific gravity sufficient to ensure buoyancy, and the lower part of which constitutes a cylindrical part forming a cavity. It provides a float structure of.

Further, according to the present invention, the float structure of the air valve is characterized by comprising a spherical hollow portion sufficient to secure buoyancy and a cylindrical portion which covers a lower portion of the hollow portion to form a hollow portion. Is provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that it is composed of a spherical solid portion having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy and a cylindrical portion which covers the lower portion of the solid portion to form a hollow portion. A float structure for an air valve is provided.

[0014]

According to the above-mentioned first structure, since the opening is formed in the lower end surface of the float and the cavity communicating with the opening is provided inside, the pressure inside and outside the cavity becomes equal.
Even when the water level in the valve box rises, the air inside the cavity contracts and water enters the cavity through the opening, and the pressure inside and outside the cavity becomes equal, so the strength of the float against water pressure is secured. . When the pipe line is filled with water, the float has a high buoyancy with a large amount of air filled in the cavity due to the low pressure inside the valve box, and easily floats as the water level rises to create air holes. To block. After the pipe is filled with water, water enters the cavity in proportion to the pressure in the valve box, so the weight of the float and the weight of the water in the cavity are downward forces. The float easily descends as the water level lowers, opening the air holes.

Further, according to the second configuration, since the weight is arranged at the bottom, the opening is always located at the lower end even if it is spherical, and the cavity is filled with water depending on the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box. Will move in and out, and will function as a float as above.

According to the third structure, since the buoyancy is secured by the hollow portion and the outer peripheral surface of the columnar shape is guided by the guide body, the hollow portion of the float is located at the upper portion and the cylindrical portion is located at the lower portion. While maintaining the above state, the water moves up and down from the lower end surface into and out of the hollow portion inside the cylindrical portion according to the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box, and functions as a float in the same manner as above.

According to the fourth construction, since the buoyancy is ensured by the solid portion of the low specific gravity and the outer peripheral surface of the columnar shape is guided by the guide body, the solid portion of the float is located at the upper portion and the cylindrical portion. In the state in which the portion is located at the lower portion, it moves up and down while letting water into and out of the hollow portion inside the cylindrical portion from the lower end surface according to the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box, and functions as a float like the above.

According to the fifth structure, buoyancy is ensured by the spherical hollow portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is guided by the guide body, so that the hollow portion of the float is located at the upper portion and the cylindrical portion is at the lower portion. In the state of being located at, the water moves up and down from the lower end surface into and out of the hollow portion inside the cylindrical portion in accordance with the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box, and functions as a float in the same manner as above.

According to the sixth construction, since the buoyancy is ensured by the spherical solid part and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part is guided by the guide body, the solid part of the float is located at the upper part and the cylindrical part is In the state of being located at the lower part, the water moves up and down from the lower end surface into and out of the hollow portion inside the cylindrical portion in accordance with the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box, and functions as a float in the same manner as above.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an air valve that is provided in an industrial pipe or the like for supplying and exhausting air. Since this air valve is configured similarly to the conventional air valve described with reference to FIG. 6, members having the same action. Are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the float 11 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer shell 12 is formed by a spherical outer shell 12, and the inside of the outer shell 12 is a cavity 13. Further, the float 11 has an opening 14 of an appropriate size,
Weights 15 are evenly arranged around the opening 14 and inside the outer shell 12.

According to the above structure, since the weights 15 are evenly arranged around the opening 14, the opening 14 is always located at the lower end portion even if it is spherical, and the float 11 is the hollow portion 1.
When air enters 3 and buoyancy is secured, it moves up and down according to the fluctuation of the water level in the valve box 3.

In addition, the inside of the spherical outer shell 12 is the hollow portion 1.
3 and the cavity 13 passes through the opening 14 and the outer shell 12
By communicating with the outside of, the pressure inside and outside the cavity 13 becomes equal, and even when the water level in the valve box 3 rises,
Since the air inside the hollow portion 13 contracts and water enters the hollow portion 13 through the opening 14, the pressure inside and outside the hollow portion 13 becomes equal, so that the float 11 has sufficient strength.

Since the float 11 has a low pressure in the valve box 3 during the filling operation of the pipe line, the cavity portion 1
3 is filled with a large amount of air and has a high buoyancy, and easily floats as the water level rises, blocking the large air holes 4 and the small air holes 8.

After the conduit is filled with water and the large-diameter air hole 4 is closed, the air in the cavity 13 is contracted and opened in proportion to the pressure in the valve box 3. Since water penetrates into the hollow portion 13 from 14, the weight of the float 11 itself, that is, the weight of the outer shell 12 and the weight 15, and the hollow portion 1
The weight of water in 3 works as a downward force. Therefore, even if the float 11 is made of a material having a low specific gravity, it easily descends as the water level decreases,
The small air holes 8 are opened.

The float structure of another embodiment will be described below.
3 (a) and 3 (b), the float 16 is formed in a columnar shape, and the upper portion is a hollow portion 17 sufficient to secure buoyancy, and the lower portion is a cylindrical portion 18a forming a hollow portion 18. The guide cylinder 6 is arranged inside the guide cylinder 6 shown in FIG. It is more preferable that the guide cylinder has a cylindrical shape that follows the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the float 16.

According to the above structure, the float 16 has buoyancy secured by the upper hollow portion 17 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shape is guided by the guide body.
In the state where 7 is located at the upper part and the cylindrical part 18a is located at the lower part, the cylindrical part 18a
It moves up and down while letting water into and out of the cavity 18 from the lower end opening.

That is, when the pipe is filled with water, the float 16 is in a state of high buoyancy in which a large amount of air is also filled in the lower cavity 18, so that the water level in the valve box 3 rises easily. And the large air holes 4 and the small air holes 8 are closed. After the pipe is filled with water, water enters the cavity 18 through the opening in accordance with the pressure in the valve box 3 and reduces the buoyancy of the float 16, so that the water level in the valve box 3 drops. Along with this, the float 16 easily descends to open the small air hole 8.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the float 19
Is formed in a cylindrical shape like the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. However, the float 19 of this embodiment
In the above, although the lower portion is the cylindrical portion 20a forming the hollow portion 20 as in the above-described embodiment, the upper portion is a solid portion formed of a material having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy, for example, foam. 21 is arranged inside the guide cylinder 6 shown in FIG. 1, for example, with the direction shown in the drawing as the vertical direction. With the configuration of this embodiment, the same operation as that of the float of the above embodiment can be obtained.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the float 22
Has a spherical hollow portion 23 which is sufficient to secure buoyancy in the upper portion, and a cylindrical portion 24a having a hollow portion 24 is arranged so as to cover the lower portion of the hollow portion 23, and the direction shown in the drawing is the vertical direction. For example, it is arranged inside the guide cylinder 6 shown in FIG. With the configuration of this embodiment, the same operation as the float of the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3 can be obtained. In the float 22 of this embodiment, the hollow portion 23 may be replaced by a solid portion 25 having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the float of the air valve has a structure in which an opening is formed in the lower end surface and a cavity communicating with the opening is provided inside, so that The pressure inside and outside can be made equal, and the problem of the strength of the float caused by the water pressure can be solved. Such a float, when the pipe is filled with water, is filled with a large amount of air in the cavity and easily floats to block the air hole.
After the pipe is filled with water, water enters the cavity according to the pressure in the valve box and easily descends to open the air holes, which helps to solve the problem of strength.
Even a small piece of low specific gravity material is sufficient to function as a float.

A float having a spherical outer shell and having a weight arranged at the bottom can be suitably arranged in a conventional air valve with the opening located at the lower end. The air holes can be opened and closed.

Further, in the float having a cylindrical shape, the upper part of which is a hollow part and the lower part of which is a cylindrical part, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shape is guided by a guide body so that the hollow part and the cylindrical part are maintained above and below each other. In the state, the air holes can be opened and closed in the same manner as described above.

In addition, the float, which is formed in a cylindrical shape, has an upper portion of a solid portion having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy and a lower portion of which is a cylindrical portion, has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface guided by a guide body. In the state where the solid portion and the cylindrical portion are maintained above and below each other, the air holes can be opened and closed in the same manner as above.

Further, the float constituted by a spherical hollow portion sufficient to secure buoyancy and a cylindrical portion covering the lower part of the hollow portion has a spherical hollow portion and a cylindrical portion guided by the guide portion. In the state in which
The air holes can be opened and closed in the same manner as described above.

Further, the float constituted by a spherical solid portion having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy and a cylindrical portion covering the lower portion of the solid portion has a spherical shape with the cylindrical portion guided by the guide body. In the state where the solid portion and the cylindrical portion are maintained above and below each other, the air holes can be opened and closed in the same manner as above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of an air valve to which a float according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the float shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a float structure of another embodiment of the present invention and a partially broken perspective view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a partially crushed perspective view showing a float structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are a perspective view and a partially fragmented perspective view showing a float structure of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional air valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air valve 2 Piping 3 Valve box 4 Large diameter air hole 8 Small air hole 9 Floating valve element 11 Float 12 Outer shell 13 Cavity 14 Opening 15 Weight 16 Float 17 Hollow part 18 Cavity 18a Cylindrical part 19 Float 20 Cavity 20a Cylindrical part 21 Solid part 22 Float 23 Spherical hollow part 24 Cavity part 24a Cylindrical part 25 Spherical solid part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An air valve having an air hole formed at an upper end thereof, and a float for opening and closing the air hole, which is vertically movable along a guide body, is provided in a valve box communicating with a pipe at a lower portion. A float structure for an air valve, characterized in that the float structure has an opening at a lower end surface thereof, and a cavity portion communicating with the opening is provided therein. 2. The float structure for an air valve according to claim 1, wherein the float structure is formed by a spherical outer shell and has a weight at the bottom. 3. The float of an air valve according to claim 1, wherein the float is formed in a cylindrical shape, the upper part of which is a hollow part sufficient to secure buoyancy, and the lower part is a cylindrical part which forms a hollow part. Construction. 4. The cylindrical member having a cylindrical shape, an upper portion of which is a solid portion having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy, and a lower portion of which is a cylindrical portion which forms a hollow portion. Float structure of air valve. 5. The air valve according to claim 1, comprising a spherical hollow portion sufficient to secure buoyancy and a cylindrical portion that covers a lower portion of the hollow portion to form a hollow portion. Float structure. 6. A spherical solid portion having a low specific gravity sufficient to secure buoyancy, and a cylindrical portion which covers a lower portion of the solid portion to form a hollow portion. The float structure of the described air valve.