Patent Application
20250137596
The invention relates to a valve for pressurized fluid and to a tank or collection of tanks for pressurized fluid.
A valve for a pressurized fluid comprising a body incorporating a fluid circuit having an upstream end configured to be placed in communication with at least one tank for pressurized fluid and a downstream end configured to be placed in communication with a user of fluid, the circuit comprising a shut-off member mounted slidably in the body, the shut-off member allowing the circuit to be closed or opened, the valve comprising a shut-off member control member, the shut-off member being mounted in the body with the ability to slide between a position in which the circuit is closed when the control member is in a position of rest, and a position in which the circuit is open when the control member is in an active position, is already known from the prior art, for example from patent EP 3 692 285 B1.
One problem with valves of this type is the risk of deformation of the shut-off member when it is in the position in which the circuit is open while at the same time an undesirable event due to the pressurized fluid occurs upstream. Specifically, for example, when an explosive and exothermic decomposition occurs in the circuit upstream of the shut-off member while the shut-off member is in the position in which the circuit is open, the shut-off member may experience deformation, particularly buckling, which then prevents the valve from being closed for example by a user as a result of the fact that the shut-off member is no longer able to slide into the position in which the circuit is closed. Such a failure to close may then generate a risk of fire or of explosion, for example when the pressurized fluid is acetylene.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,517 A describes a valve for a pressurized fluid having a mechanism for closing the shut-off member if the valve should break. In the event of breakage, there is a risk that the body of the valve will become damaged.
An objective of the invention is to overcome all or some of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Thus, a notable objective of the invention is to allow the circuit to close automatically when an undesirable event due to the pressurized fluid occurs in the part of the circuit upstream of the shut-off member.
To this end, one subject of the invention is a valve for a pressurized fluid, comprising a body incorporating a fluid circuit having an upstream end configured to be placed in communication with at least one tank of pressurized fluid and a downstream end configured to be placed in communication with a user of fluid, the circuit comprising a shut-off member mounted with the ability to slide in the body, the shut-off member allowing the closing or opening of the circuit,
According to other optional features of the valve, considered alone or in combination:
Another subject of the invention is a tank or collection of tanks for pressurized fluid, comprising a valve as described hereinabove.
According to other optional features of the tank or collection of tanks, considered alone or in combination:
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Throughout the figures, the same references relate to the same elements.
In this detailed description, the following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not mean that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments can also be combined and/or interchanged to provide other embodiments.
The circuit 3 has an upstream end 4 configured to be placed in communication with at least one tank of pressurized fluid, and a downstream end 5 configured to be placed in communication with a user of fluid. The circuit 3 also comprises a shut-off member 6 mounted with the ability to slide in the body 2.
The valve 1 also comprises a valve control member 8 controlling the shut-off member 6. The shut-off member 6 allows the circuit 3 to be closed or opened. More specifically, the shut-off member 6 is mounted with the ability to slide in the body 2 between a position for closing the circuit 3 when the control member 8 is in the position of rest, as depicted in
The valve 1 further comprises a deformable member 9 interposed between the shut-off member 6 and the control member 8. The deformable member 9 is configured, when the control member 8 is in the active position, to press against the shut-off member 6 and cause it to slide into the position for opening the circuit 3, as depicted in
The control member 8 is a manual or automatic control member. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the control member 8 is a manual control member. The control member 8 comprises a pusher 10 sliding in the body 2, the deformable member 9 being interposed between the pusher 10 and the shut-off member 6. More specifically, when the control member 8 is in the active position, the pusher 10 presses against the body 2, as depicted in
As depicted in
In a variant which has not been depicted, the control member 8 is an automatic control member, preferably pneumatically operated.
In this embodiment, the deformable member 9 is formed based on plastics material. The deformable member 9 is a hollow insert, placed in a housing 12 of the pusher 10. The hollow insert is pot-shaped with its opening 14 facing toward the closed end of the housing 12 of the pusher 10 and its closed end 15, the opposite end from the opening 14, configured to press against the shut-off member 6 and cause it to slide into the position for opening the circuit 3 when the control member 8 is in the active position, as depicted in
The valve 1 is of the self-closing type. Thus, the shut-off member 6 is at least partially positioned upstream of a valve seat 16 of the body 2 such that the pressure of the fluid in the upstream end 4 contributes to keeping the shut-off member 6 in its closed position, in contact with the valve seat 16 via a seal 17.
The seal 17 is borne by the shut-off member 6 or by the valve seat 16 of the body 2. In the embodiment depicted in
The shut-off member 6 comprises a stem 18 slidably mounted in the body 2 and ahead 19 of a shape that complements that of the valve seat 16 of the body 2. The stem 18 is made of metal, preferably of stainless steel or of brass. The head 19 is positioned upstream of the valve seat 16, the stem 18 being mounted downstream of the head 19. In the embodiment depicted in
In this embodiment, the predetermined threshold at which the force applied by the shut-off member 6 to the deformable member 9 causes irreversible deformation of the deformable member 9 is below the minimum buckling force for the stem 18. More specifically, the minimum buckling force for the stem 18 is that for the stem 18 as mounted in the valve 1 when the shut-off member 6 is in the position for opening the circuit 3. Thus, the deformable member 9 has to undergo irreversible deformation before the stem 18 experiences buckling.
The valve 1 comprises a first return member 21 for returning the shut-off member 6 to the closed position. More specifically in this embodiment, the first return member 21 is a first spring positioned between the body 2 and the shut-off member 6. The first spring is for example made of stainless steel. As depicted in
Moreover, because the force applied by the first spring to the shut-off member 6 is added to that exerted by the pressurized fluid on the shut-off member 6, the predetermined threshold can be set simply by adjusting the stiffness of the first spring. Thus, if the desire is to lower the predetermined threshold that leads to irreversible deformation of the deformable member 9, the stiffness of the first spring is increased. Conversely, if the desire is to raise the predetermined threshold that leads to irreversible deformation of the deformable member 9, the stiffness of the first spring is decreased.
The valve 1 also comprises a second return member 22 for returning the pusher 10 to the position of rest of the control member 8. The second return member 22 is, for example, a second spring positioned between the body 2 and the pusher 10. The second spring is for example made of stainless steel. The second spring is guided in the housing 12 of the pusher 10. Thus, when the valve 1 moves from the open position-depicted in
The valve 1 also comprises a radial seal 23 which is positioned between the stem 18 and the body 2. The seal 23 is for example formed from an elastomer material and makes it possible to maintain the sealing against the pressurized fluid present in the circuit 3, even when the stem 18 is sliding in the body 2.
In variants which have not been depicted, the valve upstream end 4 may be connected to piping connected to a tank such as a pressurized gas cylinder or to several tanks such as pressurized gas cylinders, for example a bundle of pressurized gas cylinders.
The operation of the valve 1 is described hereinafter.
When the control member 8 is in a position of rest, the shut-off member 6 is also in a position for closing the circuit 3, and the circuit 3 is closed, as depicted in
When the pressurized fluid needs to be distributed from the upstream end 4 to the downstream end 5, the control member 8 is switched over from the position of rest to an active position. The pusher 10 then presses against the shut-off member 6, more specifically against the stem 18, via the deformable member 9. The shut-off member 6 then slides in the body 2. More specifically, the stem 18 slides in the body 2 until the pusher 10 is pressing against the body 2. The head 19 is driven in the upstream direction and thus allows pressurized fluid the freedom to pass in the circuit 3. The shut-off member 6 is thus in the position for opening the circuit 3, as depicted in
In normal operation, when the passage of pressurized fluid in the circuit 3 is to be cut off, the control member 8 is switched over from the active position to the position of rest. The second return member 22 then returns the pusher 10 and the deformable member 9 to the position of rest. Because the pusher 10 is no longer pressing against the shut-off member 6 and more specifically against the stem 18, by means of the deformable member 9, the pressurized fluid and the first return member 21 then act on the shut-off member 6 which slides into the position for closing the circuit 3, as depicted in
When the valve 1 is open, as depicted in
The invention is not restricted to the embodiments set out hereinabove; other possible combinations are defined by the claims.
Other embodiments will become clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. It is notably possible for the deformable member 9 to be made up of one or more other materials and/or to be of a different shape, provided that the deformable member 9 has adequate mechanical characteristics to allow it to press against the shut-off member 6, notably in terms of mechanical integrity, resistance to abrasion and to wear, throughout the lifetime of the valve 1, while being configured to deform in order thus to allow the shut-off member 6 to slide into the position for closing the circuit 3 when subjected to a determined force.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.
The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
“Comprising” in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing i.e. anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of “comprising.” “Comprising” is defined herein as necessarily encompassing the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”; “comprising” may therefore be replaced by “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” and remain within the expressly defined scope of “comprising”.
“Providing” in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.
Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur. Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.
All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2201003 | Feb 2022 | FR | national |
This application is a § 371 of International PCT Application PCT/EP2023/051635, filed Jan. 24, 2023, which claims § 119 (a) foreign priority to French patent application FR 2201003, filed Feb. 4, 2022.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/051635 | 1/24/2023 | WO |
