Patent Application
20180147433
This invention relates generally to a differential fluid control valve, and more specifically relates to a valve actuator for actuating a fluid control valve of a fire protection system.
An automatic sprinkler system is one of the most widely used devices for fire protection. These systems have sprinklers that are activated once the ambient temperature in an environment, such as a room or a building, exceeds a predetermined value. Once activated, the sprinklers distribute fire-extinguishing fluid, preferably water, in the room or building. A fire sprinkler system, depending on its specified configuration, is considered effective if it controls or suppresses a fire.
The sprinkler system can be provided with a water supply (e.g., a reservoir or a municipal water supply). Such supply may be separate from that used by a fire department. Regardless of the type of supply, the sprinkler system is provided with a main that enters the building to supply a riser. Connected at the riser are valves, meters, and, preferably, an alarm to sound when the system activates. Downstream of the riser, a usually horizontally disposed array of pipes extends throughout the fire compartment in the building. Other risers may feed distribution networks to systems in adjacent fire compartments. The sprinkler system can be provided in various configurations. In a wet-pipe system, used for example, in buildings having heated spaces for piping branch lines, all the system pipes contain a fire-fighting liquid, such as, water for immediate release through any sprinkler that is activated. In a dry-pipe system, used in for example, unheated areas, areas exposed to freezing, or areas where water leakage or unintended water discharge is normally undesirable or unacceptable such as, for example, a residential occupancy, the pipes, risers, and feed mains, branch lines and other distribution pipes of the fire protection system may contain a dry gas (air or nitrogen or mixtures thereof) under pressure when the system is in a stand-by or unactuated condition. A valve is used to separate the pipes that contain the water from the portions of the system that contain the dry gas. When heat from a fire activates a sprinkler, the gas escapes from the branch lines and the dry-pipe valve trips or actuates; water enters branch lines; and firefighting begins as the sprinkler distributes the water.
One type of fluid control valve used to separate the gas filled pipes and liquid filled pipes is a diaphragm-type or diaphragm style valve, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,234, entitled “Fluid Control Valve Systems and Methods,” or as shown in Tyco Fire Products published Data Sheet, TFP 1315 entitled, “Model DV-5 Deluge Valve, Diaphragm Style, 1.5 through 8 Inch (DN40 through DN 200) Deluge Systems—Dry Pilot Actuation.” (March 2004), Tyco Fire Products published Data Sheet, TFP 1310 entitled “Model DV-5 Deluge Valve, Diaphragm Style, 1.5 through 8 Inch (DN40 through DN 200) Deluge Systems—Wet Pilot Actuation.” (Mar. 2004), Tyco Fire Products published Data Sheet, TFP 1320 entitled “Model DV-5 Deluge Valve, Diaphragm Style, 1.5 through 8 Inch (DN40 through DN 200) Deluge Systems—Electric Pilot Actuation.” (March 2004), each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. To control the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet and the respective wet and dry portions of the system, the control valve uses an internal diaphragm member having a sealed position and an open position to control the flow of fluid through the valve so as to respectively prevent and permit the flow of fluid from the wet portion of the system to the dry portion of the system. The position of the diaphragm is controlled by fluid pressure acting on the internal diaphragm member. The fluid pressure is controlled by various components arranged to respond to system conditions.
Applicant's co-pending International Application No. PCT/US14/63925 (the '925 application,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an integrated fluid control valve and valve actuator assembly. The valve actuator of the '925 application provides for a valve actuator with a multi-trim configuration that is not found in the prior art. Specifically, the '925 application provides for a base four-port actuator configuration and optional five and six port configurations. The base four-port actuator has a compact configuration that includes ports for performing various functions such as, e.g., a first port to provide fluid communication with the control valve, a second port to interface with one of a number of different trim packages that can be used to automatically trip (or open) the fluid control valve, a third port to drain the actuator and a fourth port to provide pressurized fluid to both the valve actuator and the control valve. The optional five- and six-port actuator configurations include the base four-port configuration and a fifth port that can be connected to a manual release device for manually tripping the fluid control valve. An optional sixth port can be included to add a pressure gauge. The inventive valve actuator configuration of the '925 application allows for a compact control valve/valve actuator assembly because the various functions for operating a control valve can be incorporated into a single valve actuator that can be mounted directly on the control valve.
In the '925 application, however, the addition of the manual release device means that the compactness of the four-port design is compromised in order to add the optional fifth port for the manual release device. In addition, the second and third ports are disposed along the same radial position on the valve actuator housing, and thus must be disposed offset to each other along a lengthwise direction on the actuator housing with respect to a central axis of the actuator. This means that, even in the four-port configuration, the length of the valve actuator must take into account two ports arranged adjacent to each other in a lengthwise direction. Further, the valve actuator in the '925 application includes a biasing member that is disposed inside the actuator such that an end of the biasing member circumscribes the first and second valve seats, which in turn circumscribe the first port. Thus, the width of the valve actuator must be large enough to accommodate the diameter of the biasing member, the diameter of the first and second valve seat assembly and the diameter of the first port. Accordingly, while the actuator of the '925 provides for an inventive compact design, additional reduction in complexity and size are possible with respect to the number of ports, the port arrangements and the internal configuration of the valve actuator.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one skilled in the art, through comparison of such approaches with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.
Systems and methods of a preferred integrated fluid control valve and valve actuator assembly are provided. The preferred assembly includes a valve actuator that utilizes a minimum number of ports that are needed to reliably actuate the fluid control valve. In some embodiments, the preferred control valve includes four ports with a first port to communicate with the fluid control valve, a second port, which is a pilot port or control port, to communicate with both an automatic control device and a manual release device, a third port to communicate with a drain, and a fourth port to supply the fluid to the control portion of the valve actuator and fluid control valve. By having the second port connected to both the automatic control and the manual release device, both the number of ports on the valve actuator and the complexity of the actuator can be reduced when compared to the actuator configurations in the '925 application and/or the prior art. The preferred assembly has a common supply port to supply fluid to the control valve and the actuator and a common discharge port connected to multiple devices that can place the fire system in an actuated state, which minimizes the number of required valves and/or valve actuator ports in a typical fire system. In addition, the preferred integrated fluid control valve and valve actuator includes an assembly that allows for a valve and trim assembly that is standardized for multiple system configurations. In particular, this integrated assembly allows for the same fluid control valve and valve actuator assembly to be used for systems that utilize wet pilot actuation, dry pilot actuation, electric actuation, pneumatic actuation, and pneumatic/electric actuation. In order to utilize the integrated fluid control valve and valve actuator for the various systems, various actuation components are added to the integrated assembly.
The preferred integrated fluid control valve and valve actuator provides for an assembly that includes a fluid control valve having an inlet and an outlet disposed along an axis for controlling the flow of liquid from a liquid supply piping system into a sprinkler piping system when transitioning the fire protection system from a stand-by state to an actuated (or tripped) state. The control valve includes a valve housing that includes a valve chamber for holding a pressurized fluid to prevent the flow of fluid through the control valve. The preferred assembly includes a valve actuator including an actuator housing proximate to, preferably coupled to and more preferably secured to the valve housing.
In a preferred embodiment of a valve actuator, the housing has an interior surface which defines an internal chamber with a central axis. The valve actuator further includes a first actuator seat disposed along the interior surface of the housing circumscribed about the central axis and a second actuator seat disposed along the interior surface and circumscribed about the first actuator seat. The valve actuator further preferably includes a seal member having a sealed position, in which the seal member is engaged with the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat, and an open position, in which the seal member is axially spaced from the first and second actuator seats. The preferred valve actuator further preferably includes a first port that is proximate the first actuator seat and in fluid communication with the internal chamber. In a preferred assembly, a flow axis of the first port is coaxial with the central axis of the internal chamber. As used herein, unless otherwise expressly provided, a “port” includes a spatial volume defined by a channel, conduit or other passageway that provides for fluid communication between two or more areas, chambers or regions about or within a device or assembly. “Fluid communication” or “communication” as used herein, unless otherwise expressly provided, the passage of a liquid or gas between two or more areas, chambers, or regions of a device or assembly.
The preferred assembly further includes a second port in communication with the internal chamber and having a flow axis that is transverse to the central axis of the internal chamber. The preferred assembly also includes a third port in communication with the internal chamber and having a flow axis that is transverse to the central axis and the flow axis of the second port. That is, in some embodiments, the flow axis of the third port is offset in a radial direction from the flow axis of the second port. In such embodiments, the length of the valve actuator can be reduced when compared to configurations in the '925 application. Because the second and third ports of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are offset in a radial direction with respect to each other, the centerlines of the second and third ports can be arranged closer to each other along the lengthwise direction on the actuator housing than if the second and third ports are arranged adjacent to each other at the same radial position on the actuator housing. While there can still be some offset of the centerlines of the second and third ports in the lengthwise direction, this offset is less than if the second and third ports are arranged next to each other along the same radial position. Accordingly, when compared to embodiments of the '925 application, exemplary embodiments of the valve actuator can have a shorter length and thus have a more compact valve configuration. The third port is preferably isolated from the first port and the second port when the sealing member is in the sealed position and in fluid communication with the first port and the second port when the sealing member is in the open position. A fourth port of the preferred actuator is in communication with the first port and in communication with the internal chamber. A flow axis of the fourth port is transverse to the central axis and to the flow axis of the third port. The fourth port is preferably isolated from the third port when the sealing member is in the sealed position, and in fluid communication with the third port when the sealing member is in the open position. Preferably, the flow axis of the second port is offset by approximately 90 degrees radially from the flow axis of third port. Preferably, the second port is offset by approximately 90 degrees from the third port and the third port is offset approximately 90 degrees from the fourth port.
The ports or portions thereof preferably define a direction of fluid communication or additionally or alternatively defines a direction or orientation in which the port or a portion thereof extends relative to line, point, axis, surface or other area of a device and/or assembly. To provide fluid communication, the preferred ports of the actuator and/or control valve assembly include, define and or integrate one or more connections. As used herein, “connection” is a portion and more preferably an end portion of a port, device or assembly to couple, secure, or join the port, device or assembly to another device, or assembly or ports, connections and/or chambers thereof. Preferred embodiments of a connection include known mechanical connections, such as for example threaded connections, quick-connect connections, fitted connections, soldered connections or welded connections. In a preferred embodiment of the assembly, the first port of the actuator preferably includes a first connection being disposed in a first direction toward the flow axis of the control valve, and the second and fourth connections are preferably disposed in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The third connection is preferably disposed in a third direction that is transverse to the first and second directions. The first connection preferably secures the actuator to the fluid control valve housing. In the preferred embodiment, the second connection is disposed at an opposed location on the housing from the fourth connection. Preferably, the third direction is offset in a radial direction from the second direction with respect to a central axis of the valve actuator. Preferably, the second direction is offset by approximately 90 degrees radially from the third direction.
The preferred assembly further provides an actuator housing that preferably includes an interior surface defining an internal chamber that controls the volume of pressurized fluid within a valve chamber of the control valve. The actuator further includes a housing having a first connection providing fluid communication between the valve chamber and the internal chamber. A second connection provides fluid communication with at least one control device. In some exemplary embodiments, the control device can be an automatic control device that senses a condition in the fluid system, a manual release device that is connected to a drain or any other type of device that can release fluid pressure from the internal chamber. Preferably, the second connection provides fluid communication to an automatic control device and a manual release device and preferably the automatic control device and the manual release device are connected to the second connection using a common connection, e.g., a T-connection. A third connection provides fluid communication with a drain. A fourth connection provides fluid communication with a fluid supply.
The preferred valve actuator further includes a first actuator seat disposed along the interior surface of the actuator housing and circumscribed about a central axis of the valve housing. The preferred valve actuator also includes a second actuator seat disposed along the interior surface of the housing and circumscribed about the first actuator seat. The preferred valve actuator further includes a seal or sealing member. The seal member defining a sealed position, in which the seal member is engaged with the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat, and defining an open position, in which the seal member is axially spaced from the first and second actuator seats. The preferred valve actuator includes at least one biasing member to bias the sealing member in the open position, and the at least one biasing member being disposed such that a radial distance from the central axis to an outermost portion of the at least one biasing member is less than or equal to a radial distance from the central axis to an inner portion of a seal boundary formed between the first actuator seat and the seal member when the seal member is in the sealed position.
In a preferred assembly, the first connection is preferably disposed in a first direction and the second and fourth connections are disposed in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The third connection is disposed in a third direction that is transverse to the first and second directions. When assembled, the first direction is preferably toward the longitudinal axis of the fluid control valve. The second connection is located at an opposed location on the housing from the fourth connection. In some embodiments, a fifth connection provides fluid communication with a pressure gauge. Preferably, the fifth connection is disposed in the third direction at an opposed location on the housing from the third connection. To reset the fluid control valve and valve actuator assembly to enter the stand-by state, a manual reset actuator is preferably aligned with the first connection. The preferred assembly further includes a housing that supports a drip funnel and ends of drain lines, and preferably disposed in the drip funnel are the ends of drain lines that are attached to the third connection, the automatic control device, and/or the manual release device.
The preferred assembly further includes a fluid control valve having an inlet and an outlet disposed along a valve axis for controlling the flow of a liquid from a liquid supply piping system into a sprinkler piping system when transitioning the fire protection system from a stand-by state to an actuated (or tripped) state. The control valve includes a valve housing that includes a valve chamber for holding a pressurized fluid to prevent the flow of fluid through the control valve. In some embodiments, a diaphragm forms a portion of the surface of the valve chamber. The control valve preferably includes a neutral chamber that is defined by the diaphragm. The assembly preferably includes an alarm system coupled to a connection that is in fluid communication with the neutral chamber. The preferred assembly includes a valve actuator including an actuator housing that is secured to the control valve housing.
In another embodiment, a method of operating a valve actuator is provided where the preferred valve actuator has a stand-by state defined by a sealing member being engaged with a first actuator seat and a second actuator seat formed along an internal surface of a housing of the valve actuator, and an actuated (or tripped) state defined by the sealing member being spaced from the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat. The method preferably includes establishing the stand-by state, which more particularly includes disposing the sealing member against the actuator seats. The preferred method establishing the stand-by state further includes providing fluid pressure from a common supply port to an actuator chamber on a first side of the sealing member and a port on the second side of the sealing member. The preferred method further preferably includes establishing the trip state, which particularly includes exposing the actuator chamber to an actuated automatic control device and/or an actuated manual control device via a common discharge port connected to the automatic control device and the manual release device, and placing the port on the second side of the sealing member in direct fluid communication with the actuator chamber. “Direct fluid communication” as used herein, unless otherwise expressly provided, means “fluid communication” without the liquid or gas passing through an intervening area, chamber, or region of a device or assembly. For example, while the port on the second side of the sealing member and the chamber of the valve actuator are in fluid communication even with the sealing member in the closed position via bores (discussed below) in the common supply port, the port on the second side of the sealing member and the actuator chamber will be in “direct fluid communication” when the sealing member is in the open position. The method establishing the trip state preferably further includes placing the actuator chamber in fluid communication with a drain.
The preferred method further includes providing the pressurized fluid from the common supply port to a chamber of a control valve. The method preferably further includes providing the pressurized fluid from the chamber of the control valve to the chamber of the valve actuator when the port on the second side of the sealing member is placed in direct fluid communication with the chamber of the valve actuator. The method establishing the trip state preferably further includes providing the pressurized fluid from the chamber of the valve actuator to the drain at a rate greater than the common supply port providing the pressurized fluid to the chamber of the valve actuator.
The preferred assembly provides an actuator housing that preferably includes an interior surface defining an internal chamber that controls the volume of pressurized fluid within the valve chamber of the control valve. The actuator housing further includes a first connection providing fluid communication between the valve chamber and the internal chamber. A second connection provides fluid communication preferably with devices that can include an automatic control device such as, e.g., an electric actuation device, a pneumatic actuation device or a combination of an electric actuation and pneumatic actuation device and/or a manual release device. A third connection provides fluid communication with a drain, and a fourth connection provides fluid communication with a fluid supply. Preferably, the first connection is disposed in a first direction along a central axis of the actuator housing and the second and fourth connections are disposed in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The second connection is disposed at an opposed location on the housing from the fourth connection. The third connection is disposed in a third direction that is transverse to the first and second directions. Preferably, the third direction is offset in a radial direction from the second direction with respect to a central axis of the valve actuator. Preferably, the second direction is offset by approximately 90 degrees radially from the third direction.
One preferred embodiment of the invention provides a preferred actuator for actuation of a control valve. The preferred actuator includes a housing having an interior surface defining an internal chamber with a central axis. A first actuator seat is disposed along the interior surface of the housing preferably circumscribed about the central axis, and a second actuator seat is disposed along the interior surface preferably circumscribed about the first actuator seat. A seal member defines a preferred sealed position, in which the seal member is engaged with the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat. The seal member further defines an open position, in which the seal member is axially spaced from the first and second actuator seats. The preferred valve actuator further includes a first port proximate the first actuator seat in communication with the internal chamber, a second port in communication with the internal chamber, a third port in communication with the internal chamber, and a fourth port in communication with the first port and in communication with the internal chamber. For the preferred actuator, the third port is isolated from the first port and the second port when the sealing member is in the sealed position; and when the sealing member is in the open position, the third port is in fluid communication with the first port and the second port. The fourth port is isolated from the third port when the sealing member is in the sealed position; and when the sealing member is in the open position, the fourth port is in fluid communication with the third port. Preferably, a flow axis of the first port is coaxial with the central axis and a flow axis of the second port is transverse to the central axis. Preferably, a flow axis of the third port is transverse to the central axis and to the flow axis of the second port, and a flow axis of the fourth port is transverse to the central axis and to the flow axis of the third port. Preferably, the flow axis of the third port is offset in a radial direction from the flow axis of the second port. Preferably, the second port is offset by approximately 90 degrees from the third port and the third port is offset approximately 90 degrees from the fourth port.
The preferred valve actuator alone or in the system may include one or more of the following features additionally or in the alternative. For example, one embodiment has at least one biasing member that is disposed between an interior surface of the first port and the seal member to bias the seal member toward the open position with the at least one biasing member. The first port can include a land portion that is disposed in the first port. The at least one biasing member can be a spring that comprises at least one coil spring having a first end engaged with the land portion of the first port. The second end of the coil spring is preferably engaged with a portion of the seal member that faces the first actuator seat. In a preferred embodiment, each of the first and second actuator seats are preferably substantially circular, the first actuator seat having a first diameter and the second actuator seat having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter. By disposing the biasing member within the first port, the width of the valve actuator can be reduced when compared to the width of the actuator in the '925 application, which has a biasing member that circumscribes the actuator seat assembly. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the valve actuator can be more compact than related art and/or prior art valve actuators.
Preferably, the seal member is centered about the central axis in the open position and in the closed position. Moreover, the seal member is preferably supported in the open position within the actuator housing exclusively by a frictional engagement with the at least one biasing member such that the seal member is not supported by any other actuator structure. The seal member, when in a sealed position with the first and second actuator seats, preferably defines an annular void, which is even more preferably in communication with the third or drain port of the preferred actuator via an opening, e.g., an oblong opening. in a surface between the first and second actuator seats. The seal member preferably comprises a cylindrical member or assembly, having a distal side opposed to the first and second actuator seats and a proximal side opposite the distal side. The distal side of the seal member preferably includes a seal that engages the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat in the sealed position. Preferably, the first port is a valve chamber port, the second port is a pilot port and the third port defines a drain port. The actuator in another embodiment, preferably includes a plunger member to engage the sealing member to dispose the sealing surface against the first and second actuator seats.
In another embodiment, a method of operating an valve actuator is provided where the preferred valve actuator has a stand-by state defined by the sealing member being engaged with first actuator seat and a second actuator seat formed along an internal surface of a housing of the valve actuator and an actuated state (or tripped state) defined by the sealing member being spaced from the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat. The method preferably includes establishing the stand-by state, which more particularly includes locating the sealing member against the actuator seats. The method establishing the stand-by state preferably further includes providing fluid pressure from a common supply port to an actuator chamber on a first side of the sealing member and to a port on the second side of the sealing member. The preferred method further preferably includes establishing a trip state, which particularly includes exposing the actuator chamber to an actuated automatic control device and/or an actuated manual release device via a common discharge port connected to the automatic control device and the manual release device, and placing the common discharge port in fluid communication with the chamber. The method establishing the trip state preferably further includes placing the actuator chamber on the first side of the sealing member in fluid communication with a drain.
The preferred method further includes providing a pressurized fluid to a chamber of a control valve. The method preferably further includes providing a pressurized fluid from the chamber of the control valve to the chamber of the valve actuator when the chamber of the control valve is placed in direct fluid communication with the chamber of the valve actuator. The method establishing the trip state preferably further includes providing the pressurized fluid to a drain at a rate greater than a rate that the common supply port provides pressurized fluid to the chamber on the valve actuator.
The preferred assembly provides an actuator housing that preferably includes an interior surface defining an internal chamber that controls the volume of pressurized fluid within the valve chamber of the control valve. The actuator housing further includes a first connection providing fluid communication between the valve chamber and the internal chamber. A second connection provides fluid communication preferably with an automatic control device that can include, e.g., an electric actuation device, a pneumatic actuation device or a combination of an electric actuation and pneumatic actuation device and/or a manual release device. The third connection provides fluid communication with a drain, and the fourth connection provides fluid communication with a fluid supply. Preferably, the first connection is disposed in a first direction along a central axis of the valve actuator and the second and fourth connections are disposed in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The third connection is disposed in a third direction that is transverse to the first and second directions. The second connection is disposed at an opposed location on the housing from the fourth connection.
The preferred system valve actuator further includes a first port proximate the first actuator seat and coupled to the chamber of the control valve to provide fluid communication between the chamber of the control valve and the internal chamber of the actuator. A second port is preferably coupled to an automatic control device that monitors the status of the fire protection system and/or a manual release device and preferably to both the automatic control device and the manual release device via a common connection, e.g., a T-connection, with a third port and fourth port in communication with the internal chamber. The third port is preferably isolated from the first port and the second port when a sealing member is in a sealed position. The third port is preferably in fluid communication with the first port and second port when the sealing member is in an open position. The fourth port is preferably isolated from the third port when the sealing member is in the sealed position. The fourth port is preferably in fluid communication with the third port when the sealing member is in the open position. The fourth port provides fluid to the chamber of the control valve and the internal chamber of the valve actuator to maintain the sealing member in the sealed position and to fill the chamber of the control valve with pressurized fluid. Preferably, a flow axis of the first port is coaxial with a central axis of the internal chamber and a flow axis of the second port is transverse to the central axis. Preferably, a flow axis of the third port is transverse to the central axis and to the flow axis of the second port, and a flow axis of the fourth port is transverse to the central axis and to the flow axis of the third port. Preferably, the flow axis of the third port is offset in a radial direction from the flow axis of the second port. Preferably, the second port is offset by approximately 90 degrees from the third port and the third port is offset approximately 90 degrees from the fourth port. A control device can be connected to the second port and can be an automatic control device such as a wet pilot actuator, a dry pilot actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and combinations thereof and/or a manual release device. The sealing member can be manually reset to the sealed position. The preferred system valve actuator further includes a fifth port in communication with the internal chamber and the fifth port is coupled to a pressure gauge. Preferably, the first port is a valve chamber port, the second port is a pilot port or control port and the third port defines a drain port and is coupled to a drain.
Another preferred embodiment provides for a fire protection system having a stand-by state and an actuated (or tripped) state. The system preferably includes a liquid supply piping system for supplying a liquid under a liquid pressure, a sprinkler piping system being filled with a gas under a gas pressure in the stand-by state, and a fluid control valve for controlling a flow of the liquid from the liquid supply piping system into the sprinkler piping system upon transition of the fire protection system from the stand-by state to the actuated state, the control valve including a chamber for holding a pressurized fluid to prevent the flow of the liquid through the control valve. The system further preferably includes a valve actuator including a housing having an interior surface defining an internal chamber with a central axis. A first actuator seat is preferably disposed along the interior surface of the housing circumscribed about the central axis; and a second actuator seat is preferably disposed and circumscribed about the first actuator seat. A sealing member preferably defines a sealed position within the actuator with the sealing member engaged with the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat. The sealing member further defines an open position axially spaced from the first and second actuator seats.
A preferred embodiment of a fluid control valve is provided that includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet disposed along a flow axis. The control valve housing defines a central valve axis perpendicular to and intersecting the flow axis to define a first plane. The flow axis defines a second plane perpendicular to the first plane with the flow axis defining the intersection of the first plane and the second plane. At least one port of the fluid control valve is disposed to one side of the second plane with the at least one port having a connection defining a central axis extending parallel to the second plane and perpendicular to the first plane. In one embodiment, the fluid control valve defines a valve chamber disposed to one side of the second plane opposite the side of the at least one port.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and, together with the description given above, serve to explain the features of the invention.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods in which a fluid control valve is operated by a valve actuator utilizing a minimum number of ports to reliably actuate the fluid control valve. In addition, the port configuration of the preferred valve actuator and the internal assembly of the preferred valve actuator provide for a more compact configuration in terms of length and width than related art actuators.
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment of the base assembly 10, the fluid control valve 20 is a pressure operated valve 20 to open and close its internal port 22. More preferably, the fluid control valve 20 is a diaphragm pressure operated fluid control valve. In a preferred embodiment of the fluid control valve 20, the fluid control valve 20 includes a valve housing 21 that defines a valve chamber 24 housing an internally disposed valve diaphragm 26. The valve diaphragm preferably has a sealed position and an open position to control the flow of fluid through the internal port 22. The position of the valve diaphragm 26 is preferably controlled by fluid pressure acting on the internal diaphragm member 26. To prevent the flow of fluid through the control valve 20, the valve chamber 24 preferably holds a pressurized fluid to maintain the valve diaphragm 26 in the seated position. More specifically, when the valve chamber 24 is filled with fluid, the valve diaphragm 26 is sealed against an internal surface of the valve housing 21.
In one preferred aspect of the housing 21, the housing 21 defines a second central valve axis Y-Y that extends perpendicular to and preferably intersects the first flow axis A-A to define a first plane Pl. The flow axis A-A further preferably defines a second plane P2 perpendicular to the first plane P1 with the flow axis A-A defining the intersection of the first and second planes P1, P2. For preferred embodiments the fluid control valve 20, components and features of the valve 20 and/or assembly 10 and its components are directed, located, disposed and/or oriented relative to the first and second planes P1, P2. For example, a preferred embodiment of the fluid control valve 20 and its housing 21 includes one or more ports 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d located medially between or relative to the inlet 22a and outlet 22b for fluid communication with preferably internal port 22. The medial ports 28 further preferably include a connection 29a defining a central axis 29b. In one preferred aspect, the preferred medial port 28 is disposed on one side of the second plane P2 with the central axis 29b extending parallel to the second plane P2 and perpendicular to the first plane P1. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment of the fluid control valve, the valve chamber is disposed to a first side of the second plane P2 opposite the medial port 28 disposed to the second side of the second plane P2.
For the embodiment of fluid control valve 20 shown in
The preferred orientations of the medial ports and connections 28, 29 can present the preferred fluid control valve 20 and assembly 10 with a compact profile for mounting and installation. More specifically, the preferred orientation of the medial ports and connections 28, 29 can preferably orient and locate associated alarm system and drain piping to one side of and parallel to the second plane P2. For the preferred valve and actuator assemblies 10 described herein, this permits the drain and alarm piping to be mounted close and parallel to walls or other environmental structures, as compared to configurations where the medial ports and connections 28, 29 are parallel to pane the first plane P1. With the valve actuator 30 and its associated components preferably disposed on the opposite side of the second plane P2 from the alarm and drain piping, the installation renders the valve actuator 30 and its associated components accessible to a user or operator for set up or maintenance. Moreover, the preferred embodiment disclosed herein utilizing the control valve 20 configuration allows for orientation of the system alarm 70 and its respective components at a minimal distance located from the longitudinal axis A-A of the control valve 20. The preferred distance from the longitudinal axis of the valve A-A to the center line of the system alarm 70 is preferably less than five inches.
The preferred embodiments of the integrated assembly 10 provide a valve actuator 30 proximate to, preferably coupled to, and even more preferably secured, to the valve housing 21 of the fluid control valve 20, for example, as seen in
In a preferred embodiment of the valve actuator 30, the actuator housing 32 preferably includes or defines five ports 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e in communication with the internal chamber 34. However, a preferred embodiment can include only four ports 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d. In addition, each of the ports preferably includes a respective connection 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, 37e for coupling to the respective port and placing the internal chamber 34 in fluid communication with another area, region, chamber, or ports of the actuator or assembly 10. The connection can be embodied as threaded connection, a fitted connection, quick-connection, or any other mechanical connection for coupling the port. In one preferred aspect, the first preferred connection 37a allows port 36a to provides fluid communication between the valve chamber 24 of the fluid control valve 20 and the internal chamber 34 of the valve actuator 30. In another preferred aspect, the second connection 37b provides fluid communication through port 36b between the internal chamber 24 and the automatic control device or module 80, e.g. a device that preferably detects and/or indicates that a fire protection sprinkler system coupled to the assembly 10 has transitioned from a stand-by state to an actuated state and/or a manual release device 50, which is further preferably connected to a drain or port 39b, as seen for example in
The preferred valve actuator 30 includes at least one biasing member 45 to bias the sealing member 35 in the open position. The biasing member 45 is configured such that, when the sealing member 35 is in the closed or sealed position, the fluid pressure in the internal chamber 34 overcomes the bias force of the at least one biasing member 45 and the sealing member 35 is pressed against first and second actuator seats 33a, 33b. When there is no or little fluid pressure in the internal chamber 34, e.g., due to fluid in the internal chamber 34 flowing out of the second port 36b, the bias force of the at least one biasing member 45 forces the sealing member 35 to the open position. Preferably, the at least one biasing member 45 is disposed such that it is within a sealing boundary formed between the first actuator seat 33a and the seal member 35 when the seal member 35 is in the sealed position. That is, the at least one biasing member 45 is disposed such that a radial distance from the central axis C-C to an outermost portion of the at least one biasing member 45 is less than or equal to a radial distance from the central axis C-C to an inner portion of the seal boundary. By disposing the at least one biasing member 45 within the sealing boundary, the width of the preferred valve actuator 30 can be reduced when compared to the width of related art actuators in which the biasing member circumscribes the actuator seat assembly. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the preferred valve actuator 30 provide for a more compact configuration. In the preferred valve actuator 30, the first port 36a includes a first portion 36a1 and a second portion 36a2. The first portion 36a1 has a larger diameter than the second portion 36a2 of the first port 36a. Preferably, the transition from the first portion 36a1 to the second portion 36a2 is a step change that forms land portion 36a3. Preferably, the at least one biasing member 45 is disposed between the interior surface of the first port 36a and the sealing member 35 to bias the sealing member 35 toward the open position. Preferably, one end of the at least one biasing member 45 is engaged with an interior surface of the first port 36a and preferably disposed on the land portion 36a3 and the other end of the at least one biasing member 45 is disposed on the sealing member 35. The at least one biasing member 45 is, preferably, at least one spring member. The at least one spring member 45 is, preferably, at least one coil spring having a first end engaged with the land portion 36a3 of the first port 36a of the actuator 30. The second end of the coil spring is preferably engaged with a portion of the sealing member 35 that faces the first actuator seat 33a. In a preferred embodiment, each of the first and second actuator seats 33a, 33b are preferably substantially circular, the first actuator seat 33a having a first diameter and a second actuator seat 33b having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter.
Preferably, the sealing member 35 is centered about the central axis C-C in the open position and in the closed position. Moreover, in some embodiments, the sealing member 35 is preferably supported in the open position within the housing exclusively by a frictional engagement with the at least one biasing member 45 such that sealing member 35 is not supported by any other valve structure. That is, the bias force of the at least one biasing member 45 presses the sealing member 35 against the housing 32 and the frictional force between the at least one spring member 45 and the sealing member 35 keeps the sealing member 35 in place. The sealing member 35, when in a sealed position with the first and second actuator seats 33a, 33b, preferably defines an annular channel 33c. Preferably, the channel 33c includes an opening 33d in a surface of the channel 33c that is opposite the sealing member 35. The opening 33d is preferably in communication with the third port 36c of the preferred actuator 30, which is preferably connected to drain line 39a. The shape of the opening is preferably oblong. However, the opening can include other shapes such as circular, square, elliptical or any other desired shape. In addition, the configuration is not limited to one opening and the channel 33c can include more than one opening 33d in communication with port 36c. Preferably, the opening 33d is ⅝ inch in length, however, other lengths can be used depending on factors such as the diameter of port 36c. The sealing member 35 preferably comprises a cylindrical member or assembly, having a first distal side opposed to the first and second actuator seats 33a, 33b and a second proximal side opposite the distal side. The distal side of the seal member 35 preferably includes a seal that engages the first actuator seat and the second actuator seat in the sealed position.
As seen in
The ports 36a-e and/or their respective connections 37a-e are preferably oriented, directed and/or located in a preferred configuration relative to one or more reference axes, planes, surfaces and/or components of the assembly 10 to provide the arrangement of the integrated assembly. For example, referring to
In the preferred embodiments, the fourth connection 37d and the third connection 37c are disposed transverse to each other on the actuator housing 32 and are located parallel to the second plane P2 and preferably perpendicular to the first plane P1, and the third connection 37c is disposed between the second connection 37b and the fourth connection 37d. The second and fourth connections 37b and 37d are preferably disposed opposite each other on the actuator housing 32 so that they are disposed alternating on the actuator housing 32 with the third and fifth connections 37c, 37e, which are disposed opposite each other on the actuator housing 32.
The operation of the valve actuator 30 provides a stand-by state defined by the sealing member 35 engaged with first actuator seat 33a and the second actuator seat 33b and an actuated (or tripped) state defined by the sealing member 35 spaced from the first actuator seat 33a and the second actuator seat 33b. The method preferably includes establishing the stand-by state, which more particularly includes locating the sealing member 35 against the actuator seats 33a, 33b. The preferred method further includes providing fluid pressure from a common supply port, preferably the fourth port 36d, to a chamber, preferably the internal chamber 34, on a first side of the sealing member 35 and a port, preferably the first port 36a, on the second side of the sealing member. The preferred method further, preferably, includes establishing a trip state of the valve actuator 30, which particularly includes exposing the internal chamber 34 to an actuated automatic control device 80 and/or an actuated manual control device 50 via a common discharge port attached to the automatic control device 80 and the manual release device 50, preferably, via second port 36b. The method preferably further includes placing the first port 36a in fluid communication with the chamber 34, placing the internal chamber 34 in fluid communication with a drain via the third port 36c and releasing the sealing member 35 from the sealed position. In one preferred aspect of operating the valve actuator 30, pressurized fluid is provided from the internal chamber 34 to a drain line 39a at a rate greater than the rate of pressurized fluid provided to the internal chamber from the common supply port 36d. That is, the port 36c can drain pressurized fluid from chamber 34 faster than port 36d can supply the pressurized fluid.
In
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The embodiment of
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The preferred valve actuator 30 preferably provides for automatic and manual actuation of a control valve 20, e.g., via port 36b, and for resetting the control valve 20 to a stand-by state. Moreover, preferred operation of the valve actuator 30 sets, operates and controls the control valve 20 for placing a fire protection system in an unactuated ready-state and operating the fire protection system to address a fire. With reference to
Again, the preferred valve actuator 30 preferably provides for automatic and manual actuation of a control valve 20, e.g., via port 36b, and for resetting the control valve 20 to a stand-by state. More specifically, with reference to
To reset the preferred control valve and valve actuator assembly 10a, water from the liquid supply piping system 100a is delivered to the first port 36a and the internal chamber 34 of the preferred actuator 30 and to the valve chamber 24 of the fluid control valve 20 via the common or fourth port 36d. To reset the valve diaphragm 26 of the preferred fluid control valve 20 in its sealed position, the preferred manual reset 38 is preferably depressed or operated to seat the seal member 35 in its sealed position against the first and second actuator seats 33a, 33b. The increase in the fluid pressure in the valve chamber 24 acts on the valve diaphragm 26 to its sealed position thereby closing the fluid port 22 and the fluid communication between the fluid system piping 100a and the sprinkler system piping 100b to permit the compressed air to come up to its stand-by pressure in the sprinkler piping system 100b. The preferred main water control valve 102 is opened to deliver water the inlet 22a of the fluid control valve and the main drain valve is closed and the liquid piping system 100a is brought up to its stand-by pressure to place the system 100 and the preferred control valve and valve actuator assembly 10a in ready or stand-by-state.
With the preferred system in its ready-state, the system is ready to address a fire. For the preferred double-interlock system, the preferred heat or smoke detectors 106 are coupled to a releasing panel 108, which is coupled to the preferred electronic solenoid valve 88. In the presence of a sufficient level or heat or smoke, the normally open solenoid valve 88 opens. In addition, in the presence of a sufficient level of heat, one or more of the sprinklers 104 actuates to release compressed gas pressure from the sprinkler piping system 100b. The reduction in compressed gas pressure in the piping system 100b preferably trips or opens the dry pilot actuator 82. When both the solenoid valve 88 and dry pilot actuator 82 have actuated, the fluid pressure is released from the seal member 35 in the valve actuator 30 permitting it to move, trip or operate from its sealed position to its open position thereby placing the valve chamber 24 in fluid communication with the internal valve chamber 34 via port 36a. The fluid in the internal chamber 34 is permitted to drain out of the preferred trim module 80a at a greater rate than is supplied to the internal chamber 34 via the common supply port 36d. Accordingly, the seal member 35 of the actuator 30 moves to its open position and the fluid pressure in the valve chamber 24 is reduced as fluid is discharged from the valve chamber 24 and out a drain of the preferred trim module 80a and the drain line 39a from third port 36c of the actuator 30. With the reduced fluid pressure in the valve chamber 24, the valve diaphragm 26 moves from its sealed position to its open position to open the internal flow port 22 and place the liquid supply piping system 100a in fluid communication with the sprinkler piping system 100b. Water is permitted to fill the sprinkler piping system 100b and discharge from the actuated sprinklers 104 to address a fire. Water flowing through the open internal port 22 of the fluid control valve 20 preferably also discharges out of the medial port 28a and the neutral chamber 27 to sound the alarm system coupled thereto.
Control and operation of the preferred control valve and actuator assembly 10 can be alternatively configured by changing the automatic control device coupled to the second port 36b of the valve actuator 30. In particular trim components can be reduced by coupling any one of the pneumatic or electric trim assembly 80b, 80c previously described. The pneumatic or electric trim assemblies 80b, 80c provide for a single interlock to operate or trip the valve actuator 30 and open the fluid control valve 20 in a manner as described. For the pneumatic trim module 80b, the dry pilot actuator detects low pressure in the pressurized sprinkler piping, indicative of a sprinkler 104 actuation, and in response operates to operate the valve actuator 30. The electric trim module 80c, upon receipt of a detection signal from the heat/smoke detectors 106 preferably via the releasing panel 108, opens from its normally closed position to operate the valve actuator 30.
The system 100 can be further altered by altering the sprinkler piping system to be either a sprinkler piping system in which the sprinklers 104 are always open. For such a system, the automatic control device coupled to the second port 36b of the valve actuator 30 can be any one of a wet pilot or dry pilot sprinkler system. In such system, the actuation of the pilot sprinklers relieves fluid pressure on the seal member 35 of the valve actuator permitting it to trip and operate in a manner as previously described. In the case of the wet pilot system, the pilot system is preferably directly coupled to a port of the T-connection 41 connected to the second port 36b of the valve actuator 30. For a dry pilot actuator sprinkler system, the system is preferably coupled to a port of the T-connection 41 connected to the second port 36b of the valve actuator 30 by the pneumatic trim module 80b. In another alternate embodiment in which the sprinklers 104 of the sprinkler piping system are always open, operation of the fluid control valve and valve actuator assembly 10c can be interlocked by preferably coupling the electronic trim module 80c to the second port 36b of the valve actuator 30, with an interconnection to appropriate fire heat/smoke detectors 106, to control the automatic operation of the valve actuator 30 in a manner as previously described. In the above embodiments, a manual release device can be connected to the port 36b to manually operate the fire suppression system. Preferably, the manual device is attached to port 36b in parallel with the automatic control devices discussed above, preferably via a T-connection 41, such that actuating either the manual release device or the automatic control device will actuate the fire suppression system.
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.
The present application is an international application claiming the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/157,867 filed on May 6, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2016/031012 | 5/5/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62157867 | May 2015 | US |
