ON/OFF DEVICE FOR FLUIDS

Abstract: The device comprises a plate 1 for sealing one end of a cylinder 2, having therein two slots 3 and 4, the former for the suction of gas into the said cylinder and the latter for the delivery of the gas there from, a cover 5 for sealing the said end, two blades 8 and 9 able to be deformed elastically by flexure and/or torsion, the seats of which are constituted by part of the inner side 1b and of the outer side 1a of the said plate 1, with the said parts correspondingly comprising the said slots 3 and 4, and to conclude, elements 10 for locking both of the said blades 8 and 9 to the said plate 1 in the region of the axis of this.

Description: On/off device for fluids The invention is intended for utilizer means requiring devices or systems able to cause the flow and delivery of fluids to be initiated and suspended, and/or regulated cyclically, both in one single direction (system having only one on/off device) and in two opposite directions (system having two on/off devices). In particular, therefore, it is intended for positive displacement air compressors that utilize blocking means (better known as valves) of the automatic type, with a flat seat, constituted, for example, by independent or interconnected concentric rings, or with a disk in which parallel slits form a grid, or else with Os- collating blades. On/off devices for fluids are known wherein, for the suction and delivery of the gas, use is made of disk valves arranged in a concentric and non-concentric fashion. Each of the said disks has therein slots through which the flow regulated or non-regulated by the other disk passes. With the said method, the delivery and suction flows are con- oentrio. One problem that arises with oertain known solutions is on account of the need for two separate valves to be provided, namely one for delivery and the other for suction. Another problem is in consequence of the necessity for provision to be made for springs that delimit the movement of the blades, as well as for complex and costly fixing and locking devices. The object of the invention is to make available an on/off device for fluids, particularly suitable for compressors, with which the aforementioned problems are overcome and that is simple to produce and easy to assemble. Another object of the invention is to make available an on/ off device for fluids which, in the case of two separate fluids, makes it possible to render independent the said suction and delivery flows with a consequent optimizatio1 of the ports through which the gas enters the cylinder of the compressor and issues there from. A further object of the invention is to make available an on/off device for fluids that utilizes two identical blade valves, namely one for delivery and the other for-suction. The foregoing objectsare achieved with the on/off device ac- cording to the invention, characterized by the fact of comprising: a plate for sealing one end of a cylinder of corresponding utilizer means, having therein at least two slots made in sides opposite with respect to an axial plane of the said plate, for the suction of gas into and the delivery of gas from the said cylinder; a cover for sealing the said end, defining, with the outer side of the said plate, two separate chambew overhead of the said suction slot and of the said delivery slot, respectively; a first blade able to be deformed elastically by flexure and/or torsion, the seat of which is constituted by a corresponding part of the inner side of the said plate, with the said part comprising the said suction slot; a second blade able to be deformed elastically by flexure and/or torsion, the seat of which is con- stituted by a corresponding part of the outer side of the said plate, with the said part comprising the said delivery slot; and elements for locking both of the said blades to the said plate in the region of the axis of this. Further characteristics of the device will become apparent from the description that follows, with reference to the ac companying tables of drawings, in which ¯ figure 1 shows, in an axial plane, a lateral sectional view of the said device connected to a positive displacement air compressor; Figure 2 shows, in a view from above, a section KIR of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows three further embodiments for the blade valves envisaged in the said device. With reference to the said figures, shown at 1 is a plate for sealing one end of a corresponding cylinder shown globally at 2 since of a knows type. In the plate 1 there are two pairs of slots, 3 and 4, respectively, made in sides op posite with respect to an axial plane of the said plate. In the case under examination, the said slots are identical and concentric with the axis of the plate. Locked to the plate 1 in a known non-illustrated fashion, in the region of the outer side 7a thereof, is a cover 5 50 shaped as'to define, jointly with the said side la, two separate chambers 6 and 7 overhead of the said pairs of slots 3 and 4, respectively. The said chambers are connected, in a known non illustrated fashion, to corresponding manifold also not illustrated, for the suction and delivery, respectively, of the air directed into and coming from the chamber 2. Shown at 8 and 9 are two identical blades, each of which constituted by a spherical sector 8a-9a and by a lobe 8b9b. Each lobe is situated on the opposite side to the corresponding sector, the radius thereof being considerably less than the radius of the sector. By means of elements 10 (rivets, for example), the blades 8 and 9 are locked, through the corresponding lobes 8b and 9b, to the plate 1 in the region of the axis of this. More precisely, the blade 8 is in close contact with the inner side ib of the plate 1 in such a way as to cover, with the corresponding sector 8a, the slots 3, while the blade 9 is in close contact with the outer side la of the said plate in such a way as to cover, with the correspond¯ ing sector 9a, the slots 4. The blades 8 and 9 define the suction valve and the deliv- ery valve, respectively, of the device according to the in- vention, the seats of these being constituted by the sides of the plate 1. The said valves are of automatic type since, in order that the main functions thereof be performed, no external elements are needed. When, in fact, the cylinder 2 is in the suction phase, the valve 8 is ÇubJeoted to a force that causes the deformation thereof (by flexure and/or torsion) towards the inside of the cylinder s open position Z1 whereby there is an inflow (flow S1) of air from the chamber 6 into the cylinder 2. At the time the cylinder 2 is in the compression phase, the valve 9 is subjected to a force that causes the deformation thereof (by flexure and/or torsion) towards the inside of the ohamber 7 t open position Ml whereby there is an outflow (shown at 52) of air from the cylinder 2 to the champ ber 7. It is stressed that with the device in question (plate 1, valves 8 and 9, and cover 5) it is possible to render the valves 8 and 9 independent (in other words, the flows S1 and S2 are not concentric but separate) and this is particularly interesting since it enables the suction ports (the slots 3) and the delivery ports (the slots 4) to be used optimally with all the notable advantages derived there from. Thanks to the way in which the valves 8 and 9 are arranged, it is possible to reduce considerably clearances defined by the volume of the slots 4. The way in which the valves 8 and 9 are designed makes possible the self limitation thereof as regards movement : in other words, it is not necessary to resort to springs for the purpose of delimiting the movement of the said valves which, in consequence of the arrangement of one with respect to the other, and of the particular shape of the plate 1, can be identical. The advantages of a solution of this nature will be obvious to experts in the field con termed. Another advantage the device in question offers is constituted by the simplicity and speed at which assembly can be effected, this advantage being on account of the particular conformation of the valves. In each of the valves 8 and 9 according to the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2 there are two slits 1 Ia and lib symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry of the valve itself and these meet at a point where a further slit 110 extends towards the inside of the valve, in the region of the said plane of symmetry. The said slits af- fect positively the deformation ability of the valve and permit the passage there through of part of the corresponding flow S1 or 82. In embodiment A in Figure 3, not only does the valve have therein the said slits ila-lib-lic but also, in the region of the sections common to the semicircular sector and to the corresponding lobe, two re¯çntrant portions 12 symmet- rical with respect to the plane of symmetry of the valve. The said re-entrant portions are also present in embodiment B in Figure 3. In this case the semicircular sector has therein a slit 13 extending from the outside towards the inside, in the region of the plane of symmetry of the valve. In embodiment C in Figure 3, provision is made for a slit 14, concentric with the semicircular sector of the valve and symmetrical with respect to the plane of asymmetry of this, and for two curved sections 15 that link the said sector to the corresponding lobe : the concavity of the said sections pointing towards the said lobe. The said embodiments A, B and C differ in dimensions since they relate to compressors of different powers. It is understood that the foregoing description has be given purely as an unlimited example (for example, one valve may be connected to the plate and the other valve to the end of the piston sliding in the cylinder; also the valves may be utilized as on/off devices for a fluid in one single direction, that is to say, a fluid affecting one or more groups of slots with the corresponding use of one or more valves) and thus eventual variants to the constructional details are understood to fall within the framework of the technical solution described above and claimed hereinafter.

Claims: Claims: 1. On/off device for fluids, characterized by the fact of comprising : a plate 1 for sealing one end of a cylinder 2 of corresponding utilizer means, having therein at least two slots 3 and 4 made in sides opposite with respect to an axial plane of the said plate 1, for the suction of gas into and the delivery of gas from the said cylinder, respectively; a cover 5 for sealing the said end, defining, with the outer side la of the said plate 1, two separate chambers 6 and 7 overhead of the said suction slot 3 and of the said delivery slot 4., respectively; a. first blade 8 able to be deformed elastically by flexure and/or torsion, the seat of which is constituted by a corresponding part of the inner side Ib of the said plate 1, with the said part comprising the said suction slot 3; a second blade 9 able to be deformed elastically by flexure and/or torsion, the seat of which is constituted by a corresponding part of the outer side 7a of the said plate 1, with the said part comprising the said delivery slot 4; and elements 10 for locking both of the said blade 8 and 9 to the said plate 1 in the region of the axis of this. 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that both of the said blades 8 and 9 are of spherical sector conformation shown at 8a and 9a, respectively, joining with a lobe 8b-9b, concentric with the said sectors and situated on the side opposite with respect thereto, in the region of which the said locking elements -10 operate, since the radius of the said lobe is less than the radius of the corresponding sector. 3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that the said spherical sectors 8a and 9a each define a semicircle. 4. Device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the said blades are identical one with the other. 5. Device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that in each sector there is at least one slit 14 concentrio with the said sector and symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry of this. 6. Device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that in each sector there is at least one slit 13 originating at the outside and extending towards the inside sym metrioally with respect to the plane of symmetry of the said sector. 7. Device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that in each sector there are two slits Ila and lib that are symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry of the said sector and join together in the region of a fur- ther slit 11c extending towards the inside of the said sec- tor in the region of the said plane of symmetry, 8. device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that each sector connects with the correspondine lobe along sections curved with the concavity turned towards the said lobe. 9. device according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that each sector has thereon, in the region of the corres- bonding lobe, two re-entrant portions that extend symmet- rically with respect to the plane of symmetry of the said sector.

Inventors: MELLONI, SERGIO
Applicants: GRILLINI, MARCO
Application year: 1985
Main classification: F16K15
IPC codes: F16K15, F04B39