Valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium and an installation provided with such a valve

A valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device that is suitable for closing at least the first aperture. The valve is provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of the holder element house. The closing device is capable of being supported by the holder element or forms an integrated part of the holder element, and the closing device is controllable by the medium. The holder element is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first aperture by means of the closing device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Dutch patent application number 1030757 filed on 23 Dec. 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a valve and more particularly to a shut-off valve of a type suitable for use in a vacuum line. The invention further relates to an installation including such a valve, in particular a milking installation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Valves are known in which a valve element is located in a flow passage. The valve can close by seating of the valve element on a valve seat within the passage. Opening of the valve may be achieved by movement of an engaging element to move the valve element away from the seat. Such a valve is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,125 which uses a hydraulic arrangement to engage the valve element. A further device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,618, which uses a magnet to hold the valve element in an open position. The valve element is released by the magnet in response to pressure increases or decreases outside a given range. The pressure range is adjusted by controlling the biasing force on a pair of plungers. In order to release the valve element from a closed position, a complicated arrangement of valves may be provided.

There is thus a need for a simpler and cheaper construction to realize such control.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these problems by providing a valve with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device for closing at least the first aperture, the valve being provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of a holder element house, the closing device being supported by the holder element or forming an integrated part of the holder element, wherein the holder element is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first aperture by movement of the closing device. The invention is based on the insight that the intended function is achievable in a mechanically operating valve. The medium actuates the holder element directly, without intervention of electric, hydraulic or pneumatic energization of all kinds of control valves. This leads in a simple manner to an unequivocal switching behaviour of the valve. The absence of electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or magnetic energization of control valves has a considerable cost-saving effect. In particular, resetting of the valve from the closed position to the normal open position takes place automatically by the medium, without actuation by an independently controlled actuator.

The invention also relates to a valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device that is suitable for closing at least the first aperture, the valve being provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of the holder element house, the holder element being capable of being brought into contact with the closing device, the holder element house chamber being in open connection with a part of the passage by means of a passage duct and the holder element being controllable by the medium, the holder element being capable of being brought, only by the medium, into contact with the closing device for releasing at least the first aperture.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the part of the passage is located at that side of the first aperture that is closable by the closing device. By means of pressure changes in the holder element house chamber the holder element can now be brought into another position in a simple manner.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, an intermediate element force is capable of being applied, by an intermediate element between a part of the holder element and a part of the holder element house, to a part of the holder element along a direction of movement of the holder element, and a counter element force is capable of being applied, by a counter element between a part of the holder element and a part of the holder element house, to a part of the holder element, which counter element force is in direction opposite to the intermediate element force, and the holder element is movable in the holder element house chamber when a valve threshold value is exceeded, which valve threshold value is that value of the intermediate element force that equals in magnitude the counter element force. A simple way of resulting displacement of the holder element is thus obtained.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, in which the holder element house chamber is in open connection with a part of the passage by means of a passage duct, the holder element divides the holder element house chamber into at least two separate holder element house sub-chambers, at least one holder element house sub-chamber being capable of being filled with the medium to be conveyed, which holder element house sub-chamber capable of being filled is connected with the part of the passage via the passage duct, the intermediate element being the pressure of the medium to be conveyed. The pressure of the medium to be conveyed through the valve now applies, as intermediate element between a part of the holder element and a part of the holder element house, an intermediate element force to a part of the holder element along a direction of movement of the holder element.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the counter element is adjustable for applying an adjustable counter element force. The valve threshold value of the valve can now be set variably.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the holder element extends through a wall of the passage and an end of the holder element is capable of being brought to that side of the first aperture that is closable by the closing device. It is now possible for the holder element house enclosing the holder element to be fastened to the outer side of the valve house of the valve, so that the holder element house is well accessible at all times.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the holder element has a tapering diameter and the diameter is substantially declining in the direction of the passage. In this manner it is achieved that the holder element and the closing device, in a completely open position of the valve, hinder as little as possible a free flow of the medium through the passage of the valve. The holder element should, of course, be prevented as much as possible from acting to some extent as a kind of closing device.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the holder element consists of a separate at least almost bar-shaped element with a separate at least almost disc-shaped element located at an end of the bar-shaped element, the bar-shaped element extending through the holder element house in the direction of the passage, and the counter element being provided between the disc-shaped element and a part of the holder element house. This appears to be a suitable embodiment for the holder element.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the centre line of the holder element is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the centre line of the passage. With a bar-shaped holder element, the contact surface with the closing device is now minimal, which promotes free passage of the medium.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the holder element house and/or the holder element are/is fastened at least almost for the greater part in the passage. In embodiments where the passage is sufficiently wide, the described configuration forms a good alternative.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention in which the valve comprises a valve house, the holder element house is detachably fastened to the valve house, which facilitates maintenance.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the closing device is substantially spherical. A spherical closing device in the passage is suitable for counteracting turbulence developing in the passage when a medium is being conveyed.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention in which the valve comprises a valve house, at least a first part of the valve house is connectable, by means of a clamped connection, with a line and/or with a second part of the valve house. In relation to, for example, a screwed connection, a clamped connection facilitates quick replacement of the valve house, which, in view of the low cost price of the product, is now within the bounds of possibility. Quick replacement of the product is beneficial to the hygiene of a system in which a valve according to the invention is included.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the passage has a second closable aperture, the closing device is provided between the first closable aperture and the second closable aperture and the closing device is suitable for individually closing the apertures. For the situations of a pressure difference over the valve equal to zero and unequal to zero (positive and negative) the closing device is now capable of being brought in the valve into the corresponding individual positions.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, there is provided, between the first aperture and the second aperture, at least one passage duct that is suitable for installation of a measuring device. Owing to the fact that, upon injection moulding (or die-casting) the valve, the installation of a measuring device was already taken into account, installation of, for example, a manometer can be performed quickly and in a simple manner.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, there is provided, between the first aperture and the second aperture, at least one passage duct that is suitable for installation of a cleaning device. An immediate, efficient cleaning of the interior of the valve is thus possible.

In an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, the valve comprises holding means for keeping the holder element in a particular position. This facilitates cleaning of the passage of the valve and the closing device itself.

The invention further relates to an installation comprising a first line and a second line, a valve according to any one of the above described embodiments being installed between the two lines or forming an integral whole with them, which installation is provided with a pressure controlling device for controlling a pressure value of the medium and with a controller for controlling the pressure controlling device.

In a preferred embodiment of the installation according to the invention, the installation is an installation for automatically milking an animal. More particularly, the milking installation may comprise a vacuum conduit and a vacuum pump, a valve located between the vacuum conduit and the vacuum pump, the valve comprising: a passage in fluid communication with the vacuum conduit; a valve seat located within the passage; a valve element located within the passage and having a first position in which it engages the valve seat to close the passage and having a second position in which it disengages the valve seat to open the passage; a holder element mounted to engage the valve element and support it in its second position and being movable to allow the valve element to move to its first position; a pressure responsive member operatively mounted to cause the movement of the holder element; and a fluid connection between the pressure responsive member and the vacuum conduit such that the pressure responsive member is exposed to a pressure within the vacuum conduit.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following is a description of certain embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings. Referring toFIG. 1, a side view is shown of an installation for automatically milking an animal, in which a valve according to the invention is included. The installation consists of a box construction1provided with an entrance gate2and an exit gate3to enable an animal to enter and to leave, respectively, the animal area4of the installation. There is provided a feed trough5for supplying feed. A feed metering device6meters different sorts of feed in the feed trough5. The milking installation7with four teat cups8is fastened to a robot arm9. The robot arm9brings the milking installation7to under the animal. Connecting and disconnecting the teat cups8to and from, respectively, the teats of the animal takes place automatically. Milk drawn per udder quarter is discharged to a collecting vessel16by means of a milk line10,11,12,13connected to each teat cup8.

In the milking installation7there are provided flow sensors for measuring the flow of the milk drawn per udder quarter. The first milk drawn, the foremilk, is discharged to the sewer15by means of a discharge hose14. For this purpose, in each milk line10,11,12,13coming from the individual teat cups8there is provided a sewer valve to lead the milk selectively to a collecting vessel16or to the discharge hose14. Said valves can be controlled on the basis of the values from the flow sensors. The milk from a milking run that is not discharged to the sewer is collected in the collecting vessel16. Via a pump17and a three-way valve18, the milk from the collecting vessel16can be led selectively to a (non-shown) milk cooling tank or to a separation tank19.

The driving force for milking is an applied vacuum. To the collecting vessel16there is connected, for this purpose, a vacuum circuit20belonging to the milking installation7and comprising a pump24by means of which a vacuum can be applied in a vacuum reservoir25. In the vacuum circuit20there is further included a (non-shown) liquid separator for preventing liquid from getting into the pump24. There is included a non-return valve26between the pump24and the connecting point of the vacuum reservoir25to a vacuum line23to the collecting vessel16. The valve22according to the invention is located between a vacuum line21connected with the collecting vessel16and a vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24. In the commonly used systems there is provided, instead of the valve22according to the invention, a valve that is capable of being activated by a computer.

There is provided an animal identification device27for identification of an animal that reports at the installation. The animal identification device27co-operates with a transponder28that an animal wears around its neck. A controller29ensures the control of the different components and the data processing.

FIG. 2-Ishows in detail an embodiment of a valve22according to the invention. The valve22is provided with a passage30for conveying the medium air, the passage30comprising a first valve seat or closable aperture34and a second valve seat or closable aperture33. The passage30has a tapering diameter that is substantially declining in the normal direction of closable aperture34. Between the apertures33,34there is provided a valve element or closing device31that is suitable for individually closing said apertures33,34. Said closing device31is capable of being supported by a holder element32that is movably included in a holder element house chamber38of a holder element house35. In the illustrated embodiment, the passage30is arranged substantially vertically such that the closing device31is urged by gravity in the direction of closable aperture34.

The holder element32is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first closable aperture34by means of the closing device31. In the chosen embodiment, the holder element32consists of a rod or bar-shaped element36with a disc-shaped element37located at an end of the bar-shaped element36. The disc-shaped element37acts as a pressure responsive element as will be described in further detail below. The bar-shaped element36extends through the wall of the valve house46that is facing the disc-shaped element37(or through the wall of the holder element house35in another constructive embodiment) into the passage30and makes contact with the closing device31. The disc-shaped element37of holder element32slides in the holder element house chamber38which is capable of being filled with the medium air to be conveyed, by connection with a part of the passage30. The relevant part of the passage30is located at that side of the first closable aperture34that is closable by the closing device31. The other side of the disc-shaped element37is exposed to the atmospheric pressure of the ambient air.

The holder element32is provided with means for at least almost gas-tightly sealing the holder element32with said holder element house sub-chamber38in the holder element house35. The choice of material combinations that are favourable from the point of view of friction for the bar-shaped element36, the disc-shaped element37versus the holder element house35needs no further explanation. It is conceivable, for example, to design the disc-shaped element37in synthetic material and the holder element house35, comprising the holder element house chamber38, in metal or vice versa The centre line of the holder element32is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the centre line of the passage30, although it will be obvious that other angle magnitudes may be chosen as well. Apart from this, it is, of course, also possible for the holder element house35and/or the holder element32to be fastened almost for the greater part in the passage30.

Between disc-shaped element37and the holder element house chamber38, the pressure of the medium air to be conveyed applies force, as intermediate element, to the holder element32along the direction of movement of the holder element32. There is also provided a counter element40, in this case a pressure element, for applying a counter element force to a part of the holder element32, which counter element force is in direction opposite to the intermediate element force. The holder element32in the holder element house chamber38is movable when a valve threshold value is exceeded, which valve threshold value is that value of the intermediate element force that is in magnitude equal to the counter element force. The pressure element40(in this case a spring) presses the holder element32against a stop48at a pressure difference over the passage that is substantially equal to zero. The counter element40is adjustable for applying an adjustable counter element force. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the pressure in the holder element house chamber38will generally be below atmospheric pressure and the pressure element40will therefore be in tension to bias the holder element32away from the passage30. In the following, reference to intermediate element force is understood to refer to the net force on the holder element32due to the difference in pressure between the medium in the vacuum line21and ambient pressure.

The holder element32extends through a wall of the passage30and an end of the holder element is capable of being brought to that side of the first aperture34that is closable by the closing device31. The at least almost gas-tight holder element house chamber38in the holder element house35is connected, via a passage duct39, with the vacuum line21to the collecting vessel16, thus with a part of the passage30that is located outside the apertures33,34that are positioned at some distance from each other. By means of said passage duct39, connected with the holder element house chamber38, the holder element32is capable of being brought into contact with the closing device31by the medium to be conveyed through the valve22.

In the embodiment shown, the holder element house35is detachably fastened to the valve house46. At least a first part of the valve house46is connectable, by means of a clamped connection41,42, with a vacuum line21,23and/or with a second part of the valve house46. In the embodiment shown of the invention, the valve22is fastened, by means of clamped connections41,42, between the vacuum line21connected with the collecting vessel16and the vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24. By applying the clamped connections41,42the valve22can easily be replaced. In the clamped connections41,42there are provided hygiene membranes43,44for obviating bacteria The entire valve22can be designed in synthetic material in a simple manner. A cheap, light valve construction is thus obtained. The passage30has a third aperture47and, between the first aperture34and the third aperture47, there is provided at least one passage duct45that is suitable for the installation of a manometer. In this context, it is also possible to take the installation of other means on the passage duct45, such as, for example, a cleaning apparatus, into consideration. In this context, the passage duct45is preferably disposed between the first closable aperture34and the second closable aperture33. Cleaning of the closing device31and the space between the first closable aperture34and the second closable aperture33, in which the closing device is displaced, can now be carried out thoroughly in a simple manner. For this purpose, the valve22comprises (non-shown) holding means for keeping the holder element32in a particular position. In line with said possibilities the presence of several passage ducts45may now be taken into consideration.

In the situation shown inFIG. 2-I, there is a pressure difference over the passage30of the valve22that is substantially equal to zero; in the shown installation1this is in the situation that the vacuum pump24of the installation1is operating as pressure controlling device and the animal present in the installation is being milked. The vacuum pump is controlled by the controller29. The counter element force applied by the pressure element40to the holder element32is in magnitude at least equal to and in direction opposite to the intermediate element force applied by the pressure of the air as intermediate element to the holder element, via the passage duct39. The adjustable valve threshold value is not exceeded; the pressure element40(in this case a spring) presses the holder element32against the stop48. The passage30of the valve22is now open for conveying air. The closing device31is now supported by a holder element32, in a position between the first closable aperture34and the second closable aperture33in the passage30, in such a way that air can flow in a simple manner through the apertures33,34and along the closing device31. The substantially spherical closing device31contributes to achieve as much as possible an intended laminar flow in the passage30.

When a particular amount of milk has been collected in the collecting vessel16, milk is led from the collecting vessel16to a milk tank or separation tank19. Pump17as pressure controlling device of the installation I presses the milk from the collecting vessel16. Pump17is controlled by the controller29. For this situation,FIG. 2-IIshows in detail a valve22according to the invention. The pressure difference over the passage30is not equal to zero, the pressure in the vacuum line21connected with the milk collecting vessel16, and, owing to the presence of the passage duct39, also the pressure in the almost gas-tight holder element house chamber38in the holder element house35, is now higher than the pressure in the vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24. The constructive parameters are now chosen in such a way that the force effected by the pressure on the disc-shaped element37is greater than the spring force—working in opposite direction—of the spring40in the holder element house35; the valve threshold value is exceeded. Consequently, the holder element32will shift over a distance in the direction of the spring40. The closing device31now comes loose from the holder element32and subsequently closes the first closable aperture34and thus the vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24. In this manner the collecting vessel16can be emptied by means of compressed air without great leakage losses. After emptying the situation will again be such that the pressure is equal on either side of the closing device31. The closing device31will then be supported again by the holder element32and the valve is now in the open position, as shown inFIG. 2, picture I. In this context it is pointed out that the presence of the passage duct39is no essential necessity for realising the inventive idea An embodiment of a valve in which bringing the holder element32into contact with the closing device31is achieved by a resilient element or a similar functional element, is also within the scope of the inventive idea. In this context, it is possible that a proper choice of valve element parameters (such as, for example: mass, volume, kind of material, dimensions, relative positions, etc.) makes it possible for the closing device31to push the holder element32(or a closing device integrated with the holder element32) away and subsequently to close the first closable aperture34and thus the vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24.

FIG. 2-IIIshows in detail an embodiment of a valve22according to the invention for the situation in which there is a pressure difference over the passage30that is not equal to zero, the pressure in the vacuum line23connected with the vacuum pump24being higher than the pressure in the vacuum line21connected with the collecting vessel16. This situation occurs in the unlikely event of the pump24having failed. After the pump24has failed, the closing device31will come loose from the holder element32and will subsequently close the second closable aperture33and thus the vacuum line21connected with the collecting vessel16. In this manner the vacuum in the milking system is maintained and cowshed air, with all contaminations present therein, is prevented from getting into the milking system. Milk from the animal thus continues to be optimally protected. When the pump24, after having been repaired, is put into operation again, the situation will again be such that the pressure is equal on either side of the closing device31. The closing device31will then be supported again by the holder element32and the valve is now in its open position, as shown inFIG. 2, picture I.

Thus, the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms in addition to those described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.