FLUID FLOW CONTROL VALVE

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve is particularly suitable for fitting between a radiator, of a wet central heating system, and a control valve normally fitted to such radiators. The valve has a body (1) in which a valve member (4, 4a) is rotatable between an open position in which apertures (5, 18, 19) are aligned with corresponding apertures (9, 22, 23) in a non-rotary body member (8, 8a) and a closed position in which the apertures (5, 18, 19) are blanked off. Elastomeric seals (3, 15, 16, 24) are provided between rotary (4, 4a) and non-rotary members (1, 8, 8a).

Description: Fluid Flow Control Valve The present invention is concerned with fluid flow control valves and particularly, but not exclusively, valves suitable for use with radiators of wet central heating systems. There are many known types of fluid flow control valve, in which a movable valve element in the form of a rotatable spherical member, cone or sliding gate is employed. Exemplary valves of this type are disclosed in, for example, U.K. Specifications 1050428, 2084295, 2074697, 2084295 and 2121144. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact, versatile and efficient fluid control valve. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid flow control valve comprising: a body formed with a cylindrical bore having an inlet port and an outlet port, a cylindrical valve member being a rotatable fit within said bore, the valve member having at least one aperture therethrough, at least one end of the or each aperture being eccentric, said one end being sealed against a face of the body or of a body member located with a close fit therein, said body or body member having at least one aperture therethrough, at least one end of the or each aperture in the body or body member being eccentric at said face and alignable, at one position of rotation of the valve member, with the aperture or one of the apertures in the valve member, and at another position of rotation the eccentric apertures of the valve member and of the body or of the body member being out of. alignment, .to inhibit passage of fluid through the valve. Preferably the or each aperture*. hrough the- valve member is parallel to the bore axis and does not embrace said axis and furthermore the or each aperture through the body or body member is parallel to the bore axis and does not embrace said axis. At said face, the apertures through the body or body member are of the same size and shape. Conveniently, there are a pair of said apertures in the valve member and in the body member, the pair fbeing located on a diameter through the axis and on opposite sides thereof. Each aperture, at least at said face, may be of quadrant shape with the apex towards the axis. Preferably an elastomeric seal is provided around the or each aperture at said face. Where the or each aperture is quadrant shaped, an elastomeric seal is provided between the valve member and the body or body member at said face, the elastomeric seal being in the form of a peripheral ring and four spokes radiating thereto from the axis. The seal may be partly sunk in grooves formed in the valve member, the body or 1 the body member. A part circumferential slot may be formed through the body, opposite a blind radial hole into the valve body, whereby a pin or rod may be inserted through the slot into the hole and moved along the slot to rotate the valve member about the axis. The valve according to the invention is particularly suitable for use as an auxiliary valve in a central heating radiator valve; in this case, the valve according to the invention is preferably such that the valve member can be rotated between a first position, in which liquid communication is permitted between the main valve and the radiator, and a second position in which such liquid communication is prevented. The use of such an auxiliary valve can permit the radiator to be removed without draining. Altematively, the valve according to the invention may be used for purposes such as oil or gas pipelines or the like. In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of valve according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of certain parts of the valve of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded view showing alternatives to the components illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 2. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a generally cylindrical valve body 1 is provided with an internal stepped surface 2 for locating an C-ring 3. Fitting snugly within the internal bore of the valve body 1 is a disc 4 provided with an eccentric throughbore 5 and a blind bore 6 in the rim thereof. Throughbore 5 is such that however it is rotated within valve body 1, it always permits fluid communication therethrough. Blind bore 6 is such that it can be reached through slot 7 in valve body 1, such that an appropriate tool such as a pin or rod (not shown) can be inserted through the slot 7 into the blind bore 6 to permit disc 4 to be rotated within the valve body. Also snugly fitting within valve body 1 is a cylindrical non-rotary body member in the form of a seal seating member 8 having an eccentric throughbore 9, which is arranged such that throughbore 9 and throughbore 5 are in juxtaposition when the valve is in the open position (in the orientation shown in Figure 1). The disc 4 can therefore be rotated to selectively either permit or prevent fluid communication via throughbore 5. The end surface of seal seating member 8 has a peripheral groove 10 which defines a generally circular land 11 around the end of throughbore 9, and a crescent-shaped land 12 spaced therefrom. The latter has an arcuate edge 13 generally -4- parallel to the edge of land 11, so as to define an arcuate groove 14. Located between seal seating member 8 and disc 4 is a sealing ring 15 comprising a first annulus 16 and, integral therewith, a second larger diameter annulus 17 which is such that annulus 16 is eccentrically located and arranged to seat around land 11, with the portion thereof which is not shared with annulus 17 seated in arcuate groove 14. The sealing ring 15 is such that leakage from throughbore S is substantially prevented, regardless of the position of disc 4. When disc 4 is in a position in which fluid communication via throughbore 5 is prevented, the latter throughbore is preferably in alignment with the crescent-shaped land 12. When disc 4 is in a position in which such fluid communication is permitted (as in the disposition illustrated in Figure 1) throughbores 5 and 9 are in coaxial alignment. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, disc 4a has a pair of quadrant shaped orifices 18,19 separated by a pair of flat lands 20,21; seal seating member 8a also has a pair of quadrant shaped orifices 22,23 arranged for alignment with orifices 18,19. Seated between disc 4a and seal: seating member δa is an annular elastomeric sealing ring 24 which.is subdivided into a series of four quadrants 25,26,27,28 by integral radial spokes 29. When disc 4a is rotated through 90"", fluid communication through the valve member 8a is substantially inhibited. The valve according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in installations where both sides of the valve are under fluid pressure, such, as wet central heating systems or other plumbing installations. The upper end of the valve body is formed with a part-spherical-seating 30, for jointing to the next component. The lower end of the valve body has a standard thread, on which a nut on the next lower component can be screwed.

Claims: Claims : 1. A fluid flow control valve including a body formed with a cylindrical bore having an inlet port and an outlet port, a cylindrical valve member being a rotatable fit within said bore, the valve member having at least one aperture therethrough, at least one end of the or each aperture being eccentric, said one end being sealed against a face of the body or of a body member located with a close fit therein, said body or body member having at least one aperture therethrough, at least one end of the or each aperture in the body or body member being eccentric at said face and alignable, at one position of rotation of the valve member, with the aperture or one of the apertures in the valve member, and at another position of rotation the eccentric apertures of the valve member and of the body or of the body member being out of alignment, to inhibit passage of fluid through the valve. 2. A fluid flow control valve according to claim 1, in which the or each aperture through the valve member is parallel to the bore axis and does not embrace said axis. 3. A fluid flow control valve according to claim 1 or 2, in which the or each aperture through the body or body member is parallel to the bore axis and does not embrace said axis. 4. A fluid flow control valve according to any preceding claim, in which, at said face, the apertures through the valve member and through the body or body member are of the same size and shape. 5. A fluid flow control valve according to any preceding claim, in which there are a pair of said apertures in the valve member and in the body member, the pair being located on a diameter through the axis and on opposite sides thereof. 6. A fluid flow control valve according : to any preceding cLaiπr, in which each aperture, at least at said face, is ■ of quadrant shape with the apex towards the axis. 7. A fluid flow control valve according to any preceding claim, in which an elastomeric seal is provided around the or each aperture at said face. 8. A fluid flow control valve according to claim 6% in which . an elastomeric seal is provided between the valve' member and the body or body member at said face, the elastomeric seal being in the form of a peripheral ring and four spokes radiating thereto from the axis. 9. A fluid flow control valve according to claim 7 or 8, in which the seal is partly sunk in grooves formed in the valve member, the body or the body member. 10. A fluid flow control valve according to any- preceding claim, in which a part circumferential slot is formed through the body, opposite a blind radial hole' into the valve body, whereby a pin or rod may be inserted through the slot into the hole and moved along the slot to rotate the valve member about the axis. 11. A fluid flow control valve according to any preceding claim, wherein said valve member is provided with sealing means on the face remote from said one end, such that said valve is sealed against leakage when both said inlet port and said outlet port are under hydraulic pressure.

Inventors: REES ALAN, REES, ALAN
Applicants: ROTAL ENGINEERING LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16K3
IPC codes: F16K3