Valve having first and second fluid ports

A device in a valve (1) includes a valve housing (2) with at least a first (3) and a second (4) fluid port. A closure element (5) including a sealing portion (15) and diaphragm (30) is arranged in the valve housing (2). The sealing portion (15) is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure element (5) and valve housing (2) form a flow passage (11) which communicates with the fluid ports when the sealing portion (15) leaves the closed position. A second sealing portion (14) is arranged in contact with a support portion (25) of the valve housing (2). An abutment element (16) is arranged in contact with the second sealing portion (14). The abutment element (16) transmits a force via the second sealing portion (14) toward the support portion (25) to provide a seal. The force is at least partly exerted by a spring element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device in a valve comprising a valve housing with at least a first and a second fluid port. A closure element is arranged in the valve housing, which closure element has a sealing portion and comprises a diaphragm. The sealing portion is movable along an axis of the closure element by said diaphragm between an open position and a closed position of at least one of the fluid ports of the valve housing. The closure element together with the valve housing forms a flow passage in the valve housing which communicates with said fluid ports when the sealing portion leaves said closed position. A second sealing portion of the closure element, which is an enclosing portion spaced from said axis, is arranged in contact with a support portion of the valve housing. An abutment means is arranged in contact along the periphery of said second sealing portion in such a manner that said second sealing portion is arranged between the support portion and the abutment means. The abutment means is arranged to transmit a force via said second sealing portion toward the support portion to provide a seal.

BACKGROUND ART

Valves of the above type are well known. Such valves are used in the first place in applications where high cleanness is required. Such applications can be various fluid engineering processes or process steps, for example for pharmaceutical and food technology purposes or other types of chemical purposes. Many fluid products are expensive and/or susceptible to contamination or dangerous in case of leakage, which means that leakage can result in an unhealthy environment for the user of a product or an environment. Tightness of a valve of the type stated above thus is crucial.

In valves of this type, a diaphragm element is operated between an open and a closed position. Fluid flowing in the valve housing can thus be easily and safely handled in an adjustable manner. The operation of the valve can take place in various ways, for example using manual or pneumatic control.

Furthermore, valves of this type should in their open position have good flow capacity without the valve being a substantial obstacle, thereby reducing the risk of the valve accumulating contaminants, such as dirt and deposits. The valve should also be absolutely tight. This condition may sometimes be difficult to achieve, for instance when using aggressive chemicals. In such cases, the sealing surfaces of the valve can be subjected to wear which results in, for instance, the material aging, becoming brittle and losing its elasticity, which may cause cracks and/or yielding and, later on, leakage.

There are thus many requirements that should be met by this type of valve, for instance good operability, good flow capacity, good tightness, sufficient cleanness.

In addition to these requirements, there are a number of ranges that should also be improved. These ranges of problems involve the following pointsthat the valve ensures good sealing in spite of great variations in pressure and temperature of the fluid,that the valve ensures good sealing in spite of any plastic deformation,that the valve has good repeatability of sealing pressure when mounting the closure element.

In sealing, an elastic packing is usually compressed by prestressing a bolt. However, problems may arise after a while when the elastic material ages or is plastically deformed, which may result in leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide a device in a valve, which satisfies one or more of the above-mentioned points.

A further object is to provide a device which has a tightness adapted to the purpose.

This is achieved by the device in a valve stated by way of introduction comprising a valve housing with at least a first and a second fluid port, a closure element being arranged in the valve housing, said closure element having a sealing portion and comprising a diaphragm, the sealing portion being movable along an axis of the closure element by said diaphragm between an open position and a closed position of at least one of the fluid ports of the valve housing, the closure element together with the valve housing forming a flow passage in the valve housing which communicates with said fluid ports when the sealing portion leaves said closed position, a second sealing portion of the closure element, which is an enclosing portion spaced from said axis, being arranged in contact with a support portion of the valve housing, an abutment means being arranged in contact along the periphery of said second sealing portion in such a manner that said second sealing portion is arranged between the support portion and the abutment means, the abutment means being arranged to transmit a force via said second sealing portion toward the support portion to provide a seal, wherein said force is, at least partly, a force exerted by a spring means arranged in the device.

By fluid is meant in the first place liquids, liquid solutions, dispersions, suspensions etc. In the second place, fluid relates to gases, gas-liquid mixtures or gases in combination with one of the above. By spring means is meant spring assemblies with “mechanical resilience” and not compression of, for example, a packing made of an elastic material such as rubber, or the resilience which is provided with only one prestressed bolt.

Preferably, said spring means is selected from the group consisting of torsion springs and springs with a bending action.

A great advantage of a device according to the invention thus is that a certain pressure or sealing is continuously maintained independently of movements of the parts included in the valve due to temperature changes or cold flow/plastic deformation.

Preferably, said second sealing portion of the closure element has a sealing region and the valve housing has a complementary seat portion for mutual sealing.

Furthermore the sealing portion of the closure element is suitably operably connected by an actuator, the device having a coupling device, which has a locking means adapted to be arranged to the valve housing and an actuating device adapted to be connected to the coupling device to operate the actuator.

Further the actuator is preferably elongated and arranged in such a manner that its longitudinal axis coincides with said axis of the closure element and further arranged in an actuating hole through a hole in the coupling device.

In one embodiment, the abutment means is adjustably arranged in the coupling device by a thread bushing.

The thread bushing is suitably externally threaded and connected to the hole in the coupling device.

In one embodiment, a compression spring is arranged in such a manner as to generate a compressive force parallel to said axis.

In an alternative embodiment, a spring washer is arranged in such a manner as to generate a compressive force parallel to said axis.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the actual abutment means is a compression spring.

When the device is positioned as intended in an assembled valve, the abutment means will preferably abut against the closure element. Above all due to temperature changes, the various components included in the device change in size, which means that sealing over a long period can be improved by said spring force.

In one embodiment, the coupling device can be connected to the valve housing by a locking means. The coupling device has a connectable actuating device. The actuating device is in turn connected to the actuator to operate the valve.

The actuator is preferably centrally arranged in an actuating hole through a hole in the coupling device. As a result, the closure element can be operated in an easy and reliable manner.

The actuator is suitably a centrally arranged spindle, which at one end is connectable to the actuating device and, at its other end, is connectable to the closure element. This results in the advantage that the closure element can be operated in an easy and reliable manner.

The abutment means is preferably centrally axially adjustably arranged relative to the coupling device for applying the abutment means and toward the closure element. Furthermore the abutment means is suitably adjustably arranged in the coupling device by a thread bushing. The thread bushing is advantageously externally threaded and connected to the hole in the coupling device. Thus the valve obtains a good adjustable and controllable capability between the abutment means and the closure element.

The closure element preferably is made of an at least partly flexible and rigid material. This means that the closure element obtains the desired sealing properties that are required in the application concerned.

By flexible material is in the first place meant a bendable and bulgeable material having a resistance adapted to function and application.

The closure element can be made of, for example, a resilient soft material. The closure element will thus have the sealing properties that are required in the application concerned.

The closure element is suitably curved radially inward adjacent a passage portion which together with the inside of the valve housing forms a cavity when the closure element is closed. Thus, the valve obtains good flow capacity when the closure element leaves the closed position.

The abutment means can be made of, for example, a soft material. In addition, the abutment means can be exchanged if required by the valve application.

An upper end of the closure element is preferably radially spaced from the inner wall of the valve housing in the mounted state. This results in the advantages that the upper end of the closure element, in this case, does not abut against the side walls of the valve housing, which in that case would cause a risk of resistance in mounting and operation.

The closure element is preferably adapted to be applied to a support portion, which at least partly extends peripherally in the valve housing. The closure element flexes, for example about a seat portion in operation. Consequently, the valve obtains both the intended sealing function and the required operating function for the valve to work as desired.

The closure element can, for example, maintain the open position when no actuating forces act on the closure element. The closure element can in this way be retained in the open position without being subjected to any great stress that could result in wear.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a valve1with a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The valve1comprises a valve housing2of prior art type, which has an internal, preferably cylindrical cavity. The valve housing has at least a first fluid port3and a second fluid port4. The first fluid port3is preferably arranged in a lower portion13of the valve housing and suitably forms an inlet port, seeFIG. 1. The second fluid port is preferably arranged in the side wall of the valve housing2and suitably forms an outlet port.

A preferably movable closure element5is adapted to be arranged in the cavity of the valve housing2. The closure element is preferably rotationally symmetrical with an upper end, a sealing portion14, adapted to an upper portion12of the valve housing2. The closure element5has another sealing portion15, in this embodiment a lower end, which is adapted to a lower portion13of the valve housing2to be mutually sealable adjacent the first fluid port3in use. With reference toFIG. 2, the central portion of the closure element5between said ends has a preferably waist-like shape which is adapted to a passage portion11adjacent the second fluid port4.

With reference toFIG. 3, the closure element5has a second sealing portion14, in this embodiment an upper end, suitably a hole27which extends in the axial direction, downward, into the closure element5. The hole27in the closure element is, for instance, internally threaded, which is intended for a connectable actuator6. The closure element also has at its upper end a sealing region29which extends circumferentially with an edge inward toward the valve housing2. The closure element5also has a flexible portion30which is radially inside said sealing region29.

Referring once more toFIG. 2, the valve housing2has in its upper portion12a connection opening17. The upper portion12of the valve housing2is adapted to be connected to a coupling device7. The coupling device7is preferably connectable to the valve housing2by a locking means8. The locking means8is suitably provided with an internal thread, which is adapted to a complementary external thread of the valve housing2for mutual locking.

With reference toFIG. 3, the coupling device7also suitably has a centrally arranged hole19which is provided with an internal thread. The hole19is adapted to receive a thread bushing20provided with an external thread. The upper end of the thread bushing20is preferably connectable to the hole, (seeFIG. 2).

The lower end of the thread bushing20is suitably provided with an abutment means16which is fastened to be rotatable on the thread bushing. The abutment means16, which is to be seen inFIG. 2, is arranged inward toward the valve housing. The thread bushing20has preferably at its lower free end a locking washer21for retaining the abutment means in the intended position.

With reference toFIG. 3, the thread bushing20has a hexagonal actuating hole18intended for an Allen key. The thread bushing20with the rotatably connected abutment means16thus is axially adjustable relative to the coupling device7in its threaded hole19.

Referring once more toFIG. 3, it is to be seen that the elongated actuator6in its lower end preferably is provided with an external thread to be connected to the hole27of the closure element5. Furthermore the actuator6is in its upper end suitably provided with an internal thread to be connected to and receive an actuating device10with an externally threaded pin23. The actuator6is to be inserted through the hexagonal actuating hole18in the thread bushing20for the intended connection of the actuator at both ends. The upper end of the actuator can also be provided with a diametrical groove22which is used to allow a complementary tool (not shown) to adjust the connection of the actuator6to the closure element5.

The actuating device10is preferably connectable to the coupling device7by an annular fastening means24. The fastening means24is suitably provided with an internal thread which is adapted to a complementary external thread of the coupling device7for interconnection.

The actuating device can be actuated by manual or pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical control or alternatively a combination thereof.

The valve housing2, the coupling device7, the abutment means16and the actuator6are preferably made of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium, but may, of course, be made of other materials or combinations of materials that meet the requirements and wishes according to the intentions of the invention. The thread bushing20is suitably made of metal, such as bronze, in order to ensure easy operation of the same and, for instance, allow low friction.

The closure element5according to the first embodiment is preferably made of a flexible polymer, such as Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The closure element5may, of course, be made of other materials that meat the requirements and wishes of the invention, such as rubber or a combination of PTFE and rubber.

The requirements and wishes as to materials that can be placed on the invention may, for example, be chemical resistance, temperature and pressure resistance. These materials and material needs may, of course, be varied in view of the application concerned.

Components such as the interior of the valve housing2, the fluid ports3,4, the closure element5, the actuator6, the coupling device7, the abutment means16and the connection opening17are substantially circular in cross-section, but may of course have a different shape as long as the objects and requirements of the invention are met. Other conceivable shapes can be oval, square or some kind of regular or irregular polygonal shape.

The mounting of the valve1and the other components will now be described in the following with reference toFIGS. 3,4aand4b.

As mentioned above, the valve housing2has a connection opening17in the upper portion12of the valve housing, seeFIG. 3. In its upper inside, the valve housing2preferably has a support portion25and a seat portion31. The closure element5is insertable through the connection opening17, an outer radial portion at the upper end of the closure element abutting against the support portion25.

With reference once more toFIG. 3, the closure element has preferably at its upper end an edge portion26where the closure element5has an indentation with a peripheral edge. It is to be noted that the upper end, the sealing portion14, of the closure element5in its mounted state preferably is arranged, suitably in a floating manner, at a small radial distance from the inner wall of the valve housing2.

The abutment means16is connected to the lower end of the thread bushing20suitably by means of the locking washer21. The upper end of the thread bushing is screwed from below into the internally threaded hole19of the coupling device7. Thus the abutment means16is adjustably connected to the coupling device7on the underside thereof by the thread bushing20. During mounting, the abutment means is in its upper position so as to abut against the underside of the coupling device, which is seen inFIG. 4a.

As shown inFIG. 3, the coupling device7, with the integrated components stated above, is connected to the upper portion12of the valve housing2by the locking means8.

The locking means8is preferably an annular nut means. An appropriate tool (not shown) thus suitably performs the connection so that the locking means8and the upper valve housing portion12abut against each other in a reliable manner.

With reference toFIGS. 4aand4b, it is to be seen that the thread bushing20can be adjusted with the hexagonal actuating hole18by means of an Allen key so that the abutment means is adjusted to abut with a press-fit against the closure element5.

The Allen key can advantageously be what is referred to as a torque wrench, which ensures that a similar adjusted torque is applied in each press-fit operation which, for example, takes place in connection with maintenance.

With reference toFIG. 3, the actuator6is inserted into the actuating hole18and screwed into the closure element5by means of an appropriate tool (not shown) which engages in the diametrical groove22of the actuator6.

After that, the actuating device is arranged over the coupling device and rotated so that the pin23is threaded into the upper portion of the actuator6. The fastening means24of the actuating device10is then attached by screwing and tightened with an appropriate tool (not shown).

In addition to this description of mounting, the respective fluid ports are of course connected to fluid lines, but since this takes place according to prior art technique and is not a direct part of the invention, this operation is left out of the description.

The function of the valve1and the other components will now be described in the following with reference toFIGS. 4a,4band5a,5brespectively. When a mounted device in the valve2according to the present invention is arranged in the intended position, for instance, adjacent a fluid tank for directing the fluid flow, for example the first fluid port3of the valve is connected to the lower portion of the fluid tank as an inlet of the valve. The second fluid port4of the valve is connected to a fluid line as an outlet of the valve.

When a user intends to open the valve2provided with a manual actuating device10, he turns a handle28, seeFIGS. 5a,5b. With the handle, the pin23is moved in the axial direction from the tank connection of the valve (below referred to as off direction). The pin23actuates the actuator6through the actuating hole18in the same off direction.

Due to the movement of the actuator6, the closure element5moves in the same off direction, seeFIG. 5a. The end, the sealing portion15, of the closure element thus leaves the abutment surfaces of the first fluid port. Any fluid in the tank may thus, for instance due to gravity, flow through the valve. The end, the sealing portion15, of the closure element, and its waist portions together with the inner walls of the valve housing2between the first3and the second fluid port4form the flow passage11. The fluid can now flow from the first fluid port3through the flow passage11to the fluid port4.

Correspondingly, but in the opposite direction, the closing process of the valve takes place when the handle of the actuating device is turned to the closing position, whereby the first fluid port3is again closed, seeFIG. 5b. It is to be noted that in the first embodiment the preferably rigid closure element5suitably flexes about the seat portion31when operating the positions of the valve.

In operation, the coupling device7ensures that the sealing region29, together with the seat portion31of the valve housing, under the action of the abutment means16has the required sealing function. In order to demonstrate leakage in this seal, an indication passage32is arranged in the coupling device7, seeFIG. 3.

With reference toFIGS. 4a,4band the above description of mounting, the following occurs when the thread bushing20is, for example, adjusted by an Allen key in the hexagonal actuating hole18. This can preferably occur without the actuator being mounted.

When the abutment means16is moved toward the closure element5, a preferably uniformly distributed force is peripherally applied between the above components for mutual sealing. This force is suitably transmitted centrally by the thread bushing20as force-transmitting means. This single adjusting means results in adjustment being achieved in a simple and uniform manner. In the valve housing2, the support portion25and the seat portion31act as an abutment for the closure element so that the abutment means16obtains the desired function. In the opposite direction, the coupling device7together with the thread bushing20acts as an abutment for the press-fit force exerted by the abutment means16.

The abutment means16preferably exerts a pressure, at a suitable radial distance from its centre, on the closure element5adjacent the edge portion26. This distance is adjusted so that the closure element5can flex adjacent the flexible portion30for actuating the valve1. In other words, the closure element has adjacent said portion30at the end, the sealing portion14, some freedom of movement so that the closure element can move in the intended vertical direction.

The abutment means16preferably abuts on both sides of the edge portion26of the closure element5to ensure adequate abutment. This press-fit abutment force results in the desired sealing function between the sealing region29and the seat portion31. The invention according to the second embodiment will now be described. The closure element5has a shape which is preferably adapted to the abutment means16. The closure element5according to the second embodiment is suitably made of a resilient soft material, such as silicone, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), fluorinated rubber (FPM; viton).

The closure element5can, of course, be made of another material which has the properties that are required according to the intentions of the invention.

The above closure element5can have, for example, a metal core which is directly or indirectly connectable to the actuating device10. The closure element5preferably has good sealing properties independently of pressure and temperature changes, the abutment means16being pressed directly against the closure element5, whereby sealing occurs between the sealing region29and the seat portion31.

InFIGS. 1-5, the abutment means16is a resilient washer. The subsequent figures illustrate alternative spring means in the different embodiment of the valve.

FIGS. 6a-6cillustrate an alternative embodiment of the device according to the present invention. The abutment means16is pressed against the closure element5by a compression spring35, which ensures that a pressure is exerted by the abutment means16on the closure element5in changes of the size of the parts included in the device.FIG. 6ashows the valve in the closed position, andFIGS. 6band6cin the open position. InFIG. 6c, the spring35is slightly more tensioned than inFIG. 6b. The compression of the spring35is in this embodiment performed by an adjusting screw9, a worm gear33, a nut34and the thread bushing20. An advantage of this embodiment is that the spring35can be tensioned without necessitating dismounting of any part of the valve.

InFIGS. 7aand7b, which illustrate a further embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the abutment means comprises a spring washer36which just like the compression spring35inFIGS. 6a-6censures that a pressure is exerted by the abutment means16on the closure element5in changes of the size of the parts included in the device.FIG. 7ashows the device in one position with a large expansion gap, andFIG. 7bin another position with a small expansion gap.

Yet another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown inFIGS. 8a(open valve) and8b(closed valve). In this embodiment, the abutment means is a compression spring35, which is to be tensioned by the thread bushing20. In this embodiment, the “cone” is shown as a separate part which is arranged by means of a bolt with the diaphragm part of the closure element5.

Another embodiment of the device according to the present invention is shown isFIG. 9, where the closure element5largely consists of a diaphragm which is pressed down against a ridge37belonging to the valve housing2in order to close the valve. The diaphragm5is sealed against the valve housing2by a number of bolts38holding an abutment means16against the peripheral portions of the diaphragm. In addition, a spring35is arranged adjacent each bolt to maintain a minimum sealing force independently of the movements of the components due to temperature.FIG. 10shows the same valve as inFIG. 9but with an alternative spring action involving an abutment means which at the same time is a compression spring35. The compression spring35is pressed down against the diaphragm35by an adjustable means (not shown) close to the centre of the compression spring35.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments of the present invention can be modified and varied by as person skilled in the art, without departing from the inventive concept defined in the claims. For instance, the valve and its components according to the present invention with the various fastening means, locking means, thread bushings can, of course, be provided in various ways such as detachable joints (for instance screw, spline, key, clamp, press and shrink joints) or alternative other elastic joints or power joints, but also in some applications, permanent joints (weld, glue and rivet joints). It goes without saying that it is also possible to combine the various spring alternatives. For example, the valve with its components may consist of several parts both as separate or composite components, such as several fluid ports, valve housings, closure elements, abutment means, coupling devices, thread bushings. The above-mentioned components can also be integrated when convenient and when allowed by the application.

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