This invention relates to valves of the type commonly fitted in liquid supply systems. More particularly the invention is directed to a combined anti-vacuum/gas-release valve.
Gas valves are designed to be installed in liquid flow systems such as, for example, water main distribution lines or sewage collection systems, or liquid tanks, and are intended to discharge air (typically in water supply systems) or other gasses (e.g. in sewage systems), thus avoiding the formation and accumulation of gas pockets and bubbles which interfere with the liquid flow and which can also damage accessories and components fitted to the liquid system, and are designed to allow ambient atmospheric air into the system so to avoid the risk of contamination and possible pipeline and tanks collapse under internal sub-atmospheric pressure, when the system is drained from fluid.
A requirement for such gas valves is their ability to discharge effectively both large and small quantities of gas from a liquid system whilst, at the same time, being or becoming sealed against liquid discharge from the system. Conventional air purge valves are formed with a gas discharge outlet through which the gasses are discharged but which become sealed against liquid discharge by a float located in a valve housing and which becomes pressed against the outlet so as to seal it with a rising level of liquid in the valve housing.
Yet another requirement of a gas valve of the concerned type is to facilitate ambient gas ingress into the liquid system. This may be required for example, upon rapid discharge of the liquid system (e.g. at the event of deliberate draining or burst of a pie line, etc.). Thus, such valves should be suited for admitting ingress of ambient air at atmospheric pressure into the system at the occurrence of negative pressure (vacuum) within the liquid system. However, upon pressure re-built within the system, i.e. upon refilling, the inlet valve should reseal to prevent liquid egress from the system
The hereinafter disclosed subject matter is concerned with a valve comprising a housing fitted with a valve coupling port being in flow communication with a gas inlet valve component and an independent gas discharge valve component; said gas inlet valve component comprising a normally closed valve inlet port and an outlet barrier configured for spontaneous opening to thereby facilitate only ingress of ambient gas into the housing upon pressure drop at the valve coupling port; said gas discharge valve component comprising a valve discharge port and a displaceable float member to thereby facilitate spontaneous egress of substantially only gas from the housing and remain closed upon presence of liquid within the housing.
The present disclosure is further concerned with a liquid system fitted with a valve of the aforementioned type.
The valve according to the disclosed subject matter is configured for mounting on a liquid supply pipe such as, for example, a water supply mains, a sewage line (or other device e.g. liquid tank, etc.), etc., the arrangement being such that at the normal course of operation, i.e. at the existence of liquid at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure in the system, the valve attached thereto remains at a substantially closed/sealed position, namely on the one hand prevents ingress of ambient air into the pipe and on the other hand prevents egress of liquid from the pipe. However, at the instance of a gas pocket arriving at the valve it will be substantially discharged and the valve will spontaneously seal again upon discharging the gas and arrival of liquid into the valve housing, to prevent liquid egress therethrough. On the other hand, at the event of pressure drop within the system (vacuum) and consequentially in the valve's housing, the valve will facilitate ambient air ingress, to thereby prevent collapse of the pipe system and/or components articulated thereto. However, upon pressure buildup within the housing, the valve will spontaneously displace into its sealed position to prevent liquid egress therethrough.
Any one or more of the following features and designs may be incorporated in a valve according t the disclosed subject matter:
In order to understand the disclosed subject matter and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is first directed to
The valve 10 is suited for mounting on a liquid supply line (not shown) such as a water mains supply and the like, or in any other liquid supply component such as, for example, liquid reservoirs and the like.
The valve 10 comprises a housing 12 fitted for securing to a flanged portion of the liquid system (not shown) by means of bolts 14, in a fluid-type manner.
The housing 12 is fitted with a valve coupling port 20 extending over an appropriate aperture of the liquid supply system.
The valve 10 comprises a gas inlet valve component generally designated 24, and an independent gas discharge valve component generally designated 26. The gas inlet valve component 24 is in direct flow communication with the valve coupling port 20 whilst the gas discharge valve component 26 is in flow communication with the valve coupling port 20 via a conduit portion 30.
The gas inlet valve component 24 comprises a housing structure 32 (seen also in
The diaphragm 42, at its closed position (as illustrated in
Reverting now to the gas discharge valve component 26 it comprises a cylindrical housing component 60 formed with a discharge outlet port 62 and an inlet port 64 being in flow communication via port 30 to the valve coupling port 20. Axially displaceable within the housing 60 there is a float member 66 displaceable between an inlet position (
It should be noted that the fine edges 56 of the deformable sealing diaphragm 42 are designed for sealing engagement with the annular side wall 58, the arrangement being such that negative pressure at the valve coupling port 20 (creation of vacuum within the liquid supply line) will result in deformation of the diaphragm 42 into its open position (
It is further noted that the gas inlet valve component 24 is configured with a protective cap 70 to prevent ingress of dirt and insects into the system (in virtue of vacuum at the position of
In the present example, the gas inlet valve component 24 and the gas discharge valve component 26 are integrated by screw coupling to one another at the tubular component 46. However, according to a different example (not shown), the gas inlet valve component 24 and the gas discharge valve component 26 may be integrally manufactured as a unitary housing.
It is appreciated that the valve inlet port 38 remains at its normally closed position (
The valve 10 illustrated in
Rest Mode
This position, as illustrated in
Gas Discharge Position
This position, as represented in
Discharge Port Sealed
This position, as represented in
Gas Inlet Position
This position, as represented in
Further attention is now directed to
The valve 100 is of the type fitted on a sewage mains line and is composed of three principle components, namely a gas inlet valve component generally designated 124 integrated with an independent gas discharge valve component generally designated 126, wherein the gas inlet valve component 124 is mounted on a extension housing unit 125 fitted with a flanged portion 127 for coupling to the sewage mains (not shown).
In fact, the gas inlet valve component 124 is identical with the corresponding gas inlet valve component 24 of the example of
The valve 100 operates in the same manner as discussed in connection with the previous example, with the difference residing in the position of the sewage float 135 wherein at the gas discharge position (
However, upon entry of liquid into the housing 125 (
Turning now to
In the example of
In
In
However, in
Turning now to the example illustrated in
In
Those skilled in the art to which this disclosed subject matter pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter. Mutatis Mutandis.
For example, the gas discharge valve component may be any selected type of gas discharge valve, e.g. an automatic gas discharge valve segment urge valve.
This is a National Phase Application filed under 35 U.S.C. §371 as a national stage of PCT/IL2010/000929, filed on Nov. 10, 2010, an application claiming the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/260,467, filed on Nov. 12, 2009, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL2010/000929 | 11/10/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/3/2012 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2011/058551 | 5/19/2011 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3770001 | Davis | Nov 1973 | A |
4243066 | Lambie | Jan 1981 | A |
4556084 | Frawley | Dec 1985 | A |
5402818 | Kasugai et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5511577 | Richards et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
6105608 | Katzman | Aug 2000 | A |
6158456 | Enge | Dec 2000 | A |
7866334 | McIntire | Jan 2011 | B2 |
20030079775 | Ehrman et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
20080276994 | Goetzinger et al. | Nov 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2 306 179 | Apr 1997 | GB |
2008028887 | Mar 2008 | WO |
2008087230 | Jul 2008 | WO |
2008101295 | Aug 2008 | WO |
Entry |
---|
The International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/IL2010/000929, 3 pages, mailed Mar. 16, 2011. |
“Air Valves Providing System Efficiency and Protection”, Bulletin 1500, by Val-Matic, 28 pages; (c) 2008; available online at: http://www.valmatic.com/brochures/Air—1500.pdf. |
“Combination Anti-Freeze Air Valve for Raw Water. 400mm”, designated “D-133 PN 10”, edition “ED133-07” from 2007, by A.R.I. Flow Control Accessories, 3 pages. |
“Combination Vacuum Relief & Air Release Valve”, pp. 59 and 60; Combination Air Valves, by GA Industries Inc.; 24 total pages; available online from Mar. 27, 2009 at http://www.web.archive.org/web/2009040817062/http://www.gainindustries.com/Products1/DataSheets/993DS.pdf (p. 60) and http://www.web.archive.org/web/2009040817062/http://www.gainindustries.com/Productsl/DataSheets/992DS.pdf (p. 59). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20120216879 A1 | Aug 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61260467 | Nov 2009 | US |