METHOD OF INSERTION OR REMOVAL OF A VALVE PLUG

Abstract: The fluid valve arrangement for use in pipe work sys­ tems such as central heating systems, fire sprinklers, flowmeters, filters etc. comprises a valve body (1) which has a normally plugged aperture containing a removable plug (7). The valve body (1) is adapted to receive a hollow plug (6) which is inserted through the normally plugged aperture. To enable the hollow plug (6) to be inserted whilst the valve body is connected to a source of fluid pressure a gate valve (13) is used together with a domed housing (11) which contains the plug (6).

Description: "A Fluid Valve Arrangement" This invention relates to a fluid valve arrangement including means for operating the valve. It is common practice in all types and sizes of cutoff valves to provide a valve element which serves to cut-off the flow of fluid through the pipework in which the valve is mounted, and also to provide means for moving the valve element into and out of its operative position, this means including threaded spindles, packing and sealing members. In pipework systems, such as central heating systems and sprinklersystems for fire extinction the valves remain untouched sometimes for years with the result that the moving parts become corroded and inoperable, or at least difficult to operate. Furthermore, the provision of such valves is wasteful in materials and also in labour production costs. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a fluid valve arrangement which avoids the disadvantages of the known valves referred to above. According to the present invention, there is provided a valve arrangement which comprises a valve body adapted to receive a valve cut-off element via a normally plugged aperture, and means for allowing access through said normally plugged aperture to enable the valve cut-off element to be inserted or to be removed or replaced whilst the valve body is in communication with a source of fluid under pressure or vacuum. Preferably said means comprises a gate valve adapted to fit over said normally plugged aperture, the gate valve being so constructed thai the plug and the valve cut-off element may be removed and replaced through said gate valve, and an extraction housing adapted to receive a cut-off valve to fit onto said gate valve, and to provide for insertion of an extraction tool through a sealed aperture. The gate valve may be a sliding plate valve in which the gate valve aperture is large enough, when the gate valve is open, to allow for passage of said plug and/or said cut-off element. Alternatively the gate valve may be any other kind of valve such as a ball valve or plug valve. If the gate valve is a ball valve then the ball valve has a passageway through it which is large enough to allow passage of said plug and/or said cut-off element. The valve body may be adapted for use for example as a radiator valve or as a. drain valve in a. fire prevention sprinkler system, or a steam valve etc. The invention is illustrated by way -of example in the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a valve body according to the invention, Figure 2 is an elevation corresponding to Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of a blanking or cover plate for the valve body, Figures 4,5 and 6 are elevations respectively of a plug valve element, a plug valve element housing and an operating key, Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and a side elevation of a gate valve, Figure 9 is a side elevation showing one step in the operation of the valve arrangement, . Figure 10 is a side elevation showing a further step in the operation of the valve arrangement. Figure 11 is an elevation of another embodiment of a valve body according top the invention, Figure 12 is a section corresponding to Figure 11, figure 13 is an elevation of an operating key, Figure 14 is a section through a plug valve element housing, Figures 15 and 16 are sections through two different forms of plug valve element, Figures 17 and 18 are respectively a plan view and a section through a gate valve, Figures 19 and 20 are sections showing two of the steps in the operation of the valve arrangement, Figure 21 is a side elevation of a further T-shaped valve arrangement embodying the invention, Figure 22 is a section through a gate valve and a co-acting plug housing, Figure 23 is an elevation of a plug valve element, Figure 24 is an elevation showing a modified form of attachment of the gate valve housing to the plug valve housing, Figure 25 is an elevation of a further modification of the gate valve housing, Figures 26, 27 and 28 are'elevations of further plug valve elements, Figure 29 is a section through a ball valve which may be used in place of any of the gate valves previously. described, Figure 30 is a section through a valve housing for use with the ball valve shown in Fig 29, Figure 31 is an isometric view, with parts cut away, of a cross-slide housing forming a dual gate valve which may be used with any of the previous embodiments of the invention, and Figure 32 is an isometric sectional view of an alternative form of dome-shaped extraction housing embodying a hollow key which may also be used as a syphon tube. In Figures 1 to 10 of the drawings, there is shown a valve body 1 having oppositely disposed threaded spigots 2 by which the body is connected to the pipes of a pipework system, such as a central heating system. Although threaded spigots are shown, it will be obvious that other forms of connection, such as.coacting bolted flanges, may be used. One face of the body 1 is formed as a flat flange 3 which is provided with a threaded opening 4 communicating with a transverse bore -5 to receive a valve cut-off element in the form of a hollow plug 6. The opening 4 is closed by a removable threaded plug 7, which is preferably of a transparent plastics material, and is normally covered by a blanking or cover plate 8 secured to the flange 3 by bolts (not shown). The apparatus described so far is part of the valve arrangement which is positioned in the pipework during normal operation thereof. Thus, a plurality of such valve bodies may be built into a pipewark system at selected positions. As shown in Figure 4, the hollow plug 6 is formed with a right-angled bore 9 and, at its upper end, has a screw-threaded portion 10. The arrangement further includes means for positioning the hollow plug 6 in the valve body 1 whilst the fluid in the pipework system is under pressure. Such means comprise a plug housing 11 as shown in Figure 5, an operating key 12 as shown in Figure 6 and a gate valve 13 as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The plug housing 11 comprises an inverted cup-shaped member having an internal threaded bore 14 corresponding in diameter to that of the threaded portion 10 of the hollow plug 6, the lower end thereof being provided with an annular flange 15. The other end of the housing has a central opening 16 in which is fitted an annular seal 17 through which the ke; 12 can be passed with sliding, but pressure-tight, fit. The gate valve 13 comprises a flat body 18 having a central slot 19 in which is received a valve member 20 which is movable in the slot by means of a screw-threaded operating spindle 21. The body 18 is formed with a transversely disposed screw-thread hole 22 which corresponds in diameter to that of the threaded bore 14 of the plug housing 11 and also of the threaded opening 4 in the valve body 1. In this respect, the threads of the bore 14, the hole 22 and the opening 4 are made to match one another in order to provide a continuous thread. In use, in order to position the hollow plug 6 in the valve body , the blanking or cover plate 8 is first removed and, using the same bolt holes, the gate valve 13 is bolted to the flange 3 as shown in Figure 9. With the valve member 20 in its open or inoperative posi tion, a key 23 is fitted into a coacting recess in the removable plug 7 and the latter is unscrewed from the body 1, through the hole 22, into the position marked "X" in Figure 9. The valve member 20 is then moved into a closed or operative position where it stops the flow of fluid through the gate valve. The plug 7 can then be completely removed. The hollow plug 6 is then screwed into the plug housing 11 and the latter is fixed, as by bolts passed through the flange 15. to the gate valve 13 as is shown in Figure 10. The key 19 is then inserted through the opening 16 to interengage with the bore 9 of the hollow plug 6. Bearing in mind the pressure-tight seal between the shank of the key 12 and the annular seal 17, the valve member 20 is moved into its open or inoperative position and, using the key 12, the hollow plug 6 is screwed downwards to the position marked "Y" in Figure 10 Where it is seated in the transverse bore 5. The key 12 is moved upwardly until its leading end is above the position of the valve member 20 and the valve member is again moved into its closed or operative position. The key 12 is then removed from the plug housing 11. In this position, the hollow plug 6 serves to prevent flow of fluid through the valve body 1 in the manner of a normal plug valve. In practice, in order to avoid draining off a complete pipework system for repair or maintenance, the present invention facilitates the draining off of a selected section of the system by inserting a hollow plug 6 in one or more vaivebodi-eaoflth-esystem. In this respect, it will be seen in Figure 10 that the bore 9 of the hollow plug 6 is open to the left and therefore the pipework to the left of the valve body 1 can be drained off under the control of the valve member 20. For this purpose the free end of the plug housing 11 may be provi ded to receive a draining hose or other draining means. In the latter respect, the screw threads are provided to ensure that the bore 9 is facing in the correct direction. If it is required to drain the pipework to the right of the valve body in Figure 10, a second hollow plug 6 is provided to be positioned accordingly. In view of the importance of providing a continuous thread through the plug housing 11, the gate valve 13 and the flange 3 of the valve body 1, suitable locating means, such as pegs and coacting holes will be provided between the valve body and the gate valve, and between the gate valve and the plug housing. In order to remove the hollow plug 6, the procedure described above will be carried out in reverse. Referring now to Figures 11 to 20 of the drawings, there is shown another embodiment of the invention in which the valve body 1 is T-shaped and has two spiqots 24 and 25 disposed at a right anqle to one another. In this embodiment, the valve cut-off elements are modified but the means for positioning the valve cut-off elements in the valve body are the same as that of the previous embodiment. Therefore, these means will not be described in relation to the present embodiment and the same reference numerals will be used therefore The valve cut-off element in this embodiment is in the form of a right angled plug member 26 as shown in Figure 15, or a straight-flow plug member 27 as shown in Figure 16. The plug member 26 has a right angled bore 28 with the lower end thereof being closed at 29. The other end of the member 26 is provided with a threaded portion 30 which coacts with the threaded bore of the plug housing 11 and with the key 12. As can be seen from Figure 20, when the plug member 26 is in position in the valve body 1, since the closed end 29 engages an annular seating 31 in the valve body, it stops flow through the spigot 25 but permits flow, for draining purposes, through the spigot 24 under the control of the valve member 20. The plug member 27 has a se through bore 32 and, at its upper end, is formed with a threaded portion 33 which coacts with the threaded bore of the plug housing 11. When the plug member is in position in the valve body 1, it will be appreciated that it permits flow through the spigot 25 and cuts off flow through the spigot 24. The embodiment of Figures 11 to 20 shows one variation in the procedure described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 10. In this respect, as can be seen in Figure 19, the plug housing 11 may first be positioned on the gate valve 13 without the plug member 26 or 27 and the remova'le plug 7 can be moved to the position marked "Z" within the plug housing 11. The plug housing 11 is then removed and, after removing the plug 7, is re-attached to the gate valve with the plug member 26 or 27 in position therein. In both of the embodiments hereinbefore described, where one wishes only to cut off fluid flow, a solid plug member may be provided for use instead of the plug members 6, 26 and 27. Furthermore, in a central heating system, such a solid plug member may- be used, at one end of each radiator in the system, as a regulatingorcontrol valve which can remai-n in the valve body. Furthermore, in the embodiment of Figures 11 to 20, the plug member 26 may be replaced by a solid plug member of a length corresponding to that of the closed end 29 of the member 26 so that flow through the spigot 25 will be stopped but flow through the spigot 24 can continue under the control of the valve member 20. In this case, it will be necessary to extend the length of the threaded portion 4, or to provide a threaded portion in the lower part of the valve body. In a further modification, which is applicable to both embodiments described, the internal threads 14 of the plug housings 11 may be dispensed with so that screwing of the plug members into the valve body can be effected using the thread 22 in the gate valve 13 and the threaded portion 4 only. In this respect, in order to effect final withdrawal of the plug member from the valve body, the leading end of the key 12 will be provided with a ball catch, or other suitable means such as a bayonet connection, to positively engage the plug member In this respect, where such a positive connection is provided, the thread 22 in the gate valve 13 may also be dispensed with. In a further modification, the plug housing may be connected to the gate valve by screw-threading instead of using bolts as hereinbefore descri-bed. In a still further modification, the plug member may be of square-or -rectangular cross-section. In this case the key 12 would be in the form of a screw-threaded spindle coacting with a threaded bore in the plug member so that turning of the key 12 will raise and lower the plug member. Thus, it will be understood that the present invent- ion proviides a valve arrangementiin which, during normal operation of a pipework system, the valve is devoid of any moving parts which could be subject to corrosion and consequent jamming in one position. The use of the invention also has the advantage that 'it reduces overall costs in that, whereas a pipework system may include say twenty valve bodies 1, only say two or three valve cut off elements need be provided with a corresponding number of cut-off element insertion means. It 'will of course be obvious that, where a system includes different sizes of pipe, the valve body and associated means will be adjusted for each pipe size. In Figure 21 is shown a valve body 101 of T-shaped formation having three spigots 102, 103 and 104, spigots 102 and 103 having standard pipe connections, i.e. compression, threaded or soldered connections, and spigot 104 being externally threaded at 105 and receiving a blanking-off member 106, preferably of rubber or similar material inside a brass cap, to provide a final seal. A main seal in the form of a threaded plug 107 is provided to be removably received in a threaded portion 108 in the spigot 104. With the plug 107 and the member 106 in position, the valve is in its normal position of use with no working parts within the valve body 101. When it is required to cut-off the flow of fluid through the spigot 102 and/or 103, and/or to drain the pipework in which the valve is mounted either from spigot 102 or from spigot 103, a gate valve 109 and a plug housing 110, as shown in Figure 22, are provided. The gate valve 109 comprises a flat bodv having a central slot 111 in whic-h is received a gate member 112 which is movable between an open or inoperative position and a closed or operative position by means of a screwthreaded operating spindle 113. The flat body is formed with a transversely disposed opening 114, and the lower part thereof is provided with a flanged projection 115 on which is received a union nut 116. The plug housing 110 comprises an inverted cup-shaped member 117 which at one end, has a screw-thread 118 to co-act with a screw-thread aperture 119 formed in the upper part of the flat body of the gate valve 109 coincident with the opening 114. The other end of the member 117 is formed with a central hole 120 through which is passed an operating key (not shown). The hole 120 is provided with an annular seal which slidably engages the key shaft in a watertight manner. Furthermore, plug valve elements 121, 122 and 123 shown respectively in Figures 26, 27 and 28 are provided. The- valve elements each comprise a body portion 124 and a threaded portion 125 which is adapted to engage a screw thread 126 formed in the spigot 103. The element 121 has a right angled bore 127 which is formed at 128 to co-act with the. operating key, the element 122 has a through bore 129 which is formed at 128 to co-act with the operating key, and element 123 is solid and is formed with a recess 130 to co-act with the operating key. In practice,. if it is desired to drain off part of a pipework system or an appliance such as a central heating radiator to which the spigot 102 may be attached, for repair, maintenance, replacement, pressure testing, or for any other purpose, the following procedure is adopted The blanking-off member 106 is removed, the gate valve 109is attached to the threaded part 105 of the bodylol by means of the union nut 116 and the plug housing 110 is screwed into the gate valve 109. In this position, with the gate member .112 open, the operating key, the end of which co-acts with a recess 131 in the plug7 is passed through the hole 120 to unscrew the plug 107 and to draw it into the.plug housing 110. The gate member 112 is then closed, the plug housing 110 is removed from the gate valve 109 and the plug 107 removed from the plug housing One of the plug valve elements 121, 122 or 123 is then positioned in the- plug housing 110 and the latter is again screwed into the gate valve 109. The operating key is passed through the hole 120 into engagement with valve element and the gate member 112 is opened. The.valve element is then pushed through the opening 114 of the gate valve and screwed into the spigot 103. The key is removed and the gate member 112 is then closed. Removal of the valve element is effected by revers ing the above procedure. The choice of valve element is dependent upon requir menus4 Thus, where it is required to drain off the pipework, or the appliance, through spigot 102, valve element 121 or 123 is used and, where it is required to drain off the pipework through spigot 103, valve element 122 is used. A drainage pipe or other fitting may be attached to the plug housing 110 or, with the plug housing removed, to the gate valve 109, and drainage effected under the control of the gate member 11-2. Figures 24 and 25 show alternative methods of connecting the gate valve 109 to the valve body 101. Thus, in Figure 24, the connection is made by way of a bayonet fitting 132 and, in Figure 25, the gate valve is screwed directly onto the threaded portion 105 of the valve body. In an alternative arrangement where it is required to have general control over flow of fluid through the valve, for example, where the spigot 102 is coupled to a central heating radiator, the plug valve element shown in Figure 23 may be used. This valve element comprises a body portion 133 and a screw-threaded portion 134 which co-acts with the screw thread 126 in the spigot 103, the body portion being formed with a right angled bore 135, and with a recess 136 which co-acts with the operating key. In this case, the valve element is of a non-corrosive material, for example a synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene, and can remain in the valve body 101 during normal usage of the valve. In this case also, the removable plug 107 may be dispensed with, and control of flow from zero to maximum effected by turning the valve element about its longitudinal axis. For this purpose1 the blanking-off member 106 is provided with a projection 137 shown in chain dot lines in Figure 21. The proje tion 137 is of a shape corresponding to that of the operating key and therefore co-acts with the recess 136. Therefore, in order to adjust the valve element the member 106 is removed, the projection is used to turn the valve element, and the final sealing member 106 is then replaced. Whilst this arrangement allows a radiator, or a section of pipework to be cut off, it does not allow drainage thereof. Therefore, in order to effect drainage the plug valve element of Figure 23 must be replaced by one of the valve elements of Figures 26 to 28. This is effected in the manner hereinbefore described. It will be obvious that the above arrangement, and theifor.mof the connections, may also be applied to an in-line plug valve as shown in Figures 1 to 10. In a further embodiment of the invention, the removable valve -element may be provided in the form of a filter, for example by forming a part of the body portibn thereof of wire or other mesh, or by forming the body portion to receive a wire'or other mesh insert. Such a valve element may be used in for example a fuel line and provides the advantage that the filter can be removed for maintenance or replacement whilst the system is under pressure. The gate valve 13 shown in the previous Figures such as Figures 7, 8 to 10, 17, 18, 19 and 20 and 109 shown in Figure 22 may be replaced by any other type of valve such as a plug valve, ball valve modified to enable the appropriate parts such as the plug 6, the plug 7 or 107 etc. to be Withdrawn thr-ough it. One example of an alternative valve is the ball valve illustrated in Figure 29. As in Figure 22, the ball valve 136 is adapted to be attached to the threaded flange 137 of a radiator valve 138 by a union 139. The ball valve 136 comprises a valve casing 140 and a ball valve member 141 in sealing contact with a valve liner 142. Ball -yalve member 141 is operable by a handle 143 and has a central passageway 144 of the same diameter as the bore of the radiator valve 138. The upper end of valve casing 140 is threaded at 145 to receive a threaded flange 146 of a dome-shaped housing 147. In use the ball valve housing is screwed on to the flange 137 of the radiator valve. The dome or housing 147 is then screwed into the upper end of the ball valve casing 140. With the ball valve 141 in the closed position an operating key (as described previously) may be inserted through a seal 148 in a bore 149 in the top of the housing 147. The valve 14?- may then be turned to the position shown in the drawing and the operating key may then be passed through the passageway 144 so as to insert or remove a sealing plug, or a plug valve in the radiator valve, as required, and remove or replace it as described with reference to the other embodiments of the invention. Instead of the ball valve a plug valve could be used with a similar passagewav through it for the key to pass through. In Figure 31 is shown an alternative form of dual gate valve 150 which consists of two plates machined in such a manner as to form a cross-slide 151 in a crossslide housing 152 similar to that existing on normal production turning lathes. On the top of cross slide 151 are mounted two domes or housings 1529,153 through which it is possible to pass items of equipment to carry out various operations. The dual gate valve 150 is attached to the radiator valve 154 by means of a union 155, which is situated on the underside of cross slide housing 152 after the blanking cap of the valve 154 has been removed When the cross slide housing 152 has been secured to the top of the valve 154, fixing bolts 156 are slackened oFf to allow the cross-slide 151 to slide freely within the cross slide housing 152. One of the domes 152, 153 situated on the movable section Figure 4 is moved to a position directly in line with the valve body Figure 1. A key 157 is then passed through the sealable hole 158 in the top of the dome and the end of the key 157 is fitted into square aperture 160 in plug valve 159. The plug valve 159 is then withdrawn from the valve body into the dome housing. By pressing firmly on the cross slide 151 and sliding to one side this moves the dome with the plug valve inside away from the position directly over the valve and moves the other dome into its position directly over the top of the valve body. Prior to the second dome being moved into this position other items of equipment such as the hollow syphon key 161 (Figure 32) which has a square end 162 similar to tommy bar 157 can be fitted into the dome. The hollow syphon key 161 acts as a drain off point as the water flows through it to save further connections such as hoses. It is also possible to insert a small plug 162 (Figure 31) which can be fitted using a key or tommy bar. The plug is fitted on to one end of the tommy bar whilst in the dome- housing and slid directly in line with the valve body. The plug is now inserted into the' valve body using the tommy bar. The plug is screwed down into a thread 163 making sure the plug clears the outlet 164 but seal the outlet 165 preventing the flow of water from this direction. The tommy bar key is removed and the fluid can be drained off from any pipework beyond outlet 165 or if necessary from a radiator. By using the cross slide it enables the operative to carry out any of the operations previously described. Other applications of the valves described above are, for example, to flowmeters and other types of instrumentation, filters, pumps, hydraulic motors. The invention may be applied to such valves whether the valves are made in one part, two parts or more. For example the invention may be applied to sprinkler valves or fittings made in two or more parts. The internal threads in the base of the plug housing and in the gate valve are not essential and may in some cases be omitted.

Claims: Claims: 1. A fluid valve arrangement comprising a valve body (1) adapted to receive a valve cut-off element (6) via a normally plugged aperture characterised by means (13) for allowing access through said normally plugged aperture (4) to enable the valve cut-off element (6) to be inserted or to be removed or replaced whilst the valve body (1) is in communication with a source of fluid under pressure or vacuum. 2. A fluid valve arrangement according to claim 1 and characterised by this, that said means (13) comprises a gate valve adapted to fit over said normally plugged aperture, the gate valve being so constructed that the plug and the valve cut-of F element may be removed and replaced through said gate valve, and an extraction housing (11) adapted to receive a cut-off valve, adapted to fit onto said gate valve, and to provide for insertion of an extraction tool (12) through a sealed aperture (16). 3. A fluid valve arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by this, that the gate valve (13) is a sliding plate valve (18, 19, 20) and the gate valve aperture (22) is large enough, when the gate valve is open, to allow for passage of said plug (7) and/or said cut-off element (6). 4. A fluid valve arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by thins, that the gate valve (13) is a ball valve (141) and the ball valve has a passageway (144) through it which is large enough to allow passage of said plug (7) and/or said cut-off element (6). 5. A fluid valve arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4 and characterised by this, that the valve body is adapted for use as a radiator valve. 6. A fluid valve arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4 and characterised by this, that the valve body is adapted for use as a drain or test valve for a sprinkler system. 7. A valve arrangement according to claim 1 and characterised by this, that the valve cut-off element (27) has a straight through passage (32). 8. A valve arrangement according to any of claims I to 6 and characterised by this, that the valve- cut-off element (26) has an L-shaped passage (28). 9. A valve arrangement according to claim 8 and characterised by this, that said valve body (26) has a through passage (28) which is L-shaped with an aperture at each end and one end (291 of the cut-off element is, closed or solid so as to block off one of said apertures in the valve body. 10. A valve arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised by- this., that the plug (107, Fig.21) in-said normally plugged aperture (108) is enclosed within a cover (106) which acts as a final seal, the cover being reversible to form a key (137) for removel of said plug (107) and/or for operation of the valve cut-off element. 11. A valve arrangement according to claim 1 and -characterised by this, that the gate valve is a sliding plate type of gate valve which comprises a cross-slide housing (152, Fig.31) and a cross-slide (151) which carries two extraction housings or domes (152A, 153) either of which may be positioned over said normally plugged aperture. 12. A valve arrangement characterised by being ion the form of a kit of parts comprising: a) a valve body. (1) having a normally plugged aperture (4) adapted to receive, b) a cut-off element (6) c) a gate valve-(13) comprising a housing adapted to fit over said aperture; and d) -a dome-like extraction housing (11) having at one end an aperture (16) adapted to receive an extraction tool (12) and having at its other end an aperture adapted to mate with a corres ponding aperture in said gate valve housing.

Inventors: EVANS, GERALD JOHN
Applicants: E.V.S. (VALVES) LIMITED
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F16K5
IPC codes: F16K43