LIQUID VALVE

Abstract: A valve, adapted to block and open, respectively, for liquid passage comprises a first part (10) adapted to be fixed to a supporting member and a second part (11) being slidably movable with respect to the first part (10). The first part (10) has a through channel (12) for the liquid passage, said channel being closed at one end (15) and having an opening (14) disposed at a distance from said end. The second part (11) is adpated to coaxially enclose the first part (10) and sealing means (17, 18, 34) are provided for forming of a sealing between the first and second parts (10, 11) in the area between the closed end (15) of the channel (12) and the opening (14).

Description: Liquid valve The present invention refers to a liquid valve and more specifically to a valve adapted to block and open, respec¬ tively, for liquid passage, said valve comprising a first part adapted to be fixed to a supporting member and a second part being slidably movable with respect to the first part. Liquid valves of the kind referred to are commonly used in all situations where there is a need for controlling the supply of liquid to a container, or the discharge thereof. In domestic appliances of all kinds liquid valves can be found of the kind where post-dripping after the valve has been closed is preven¬ ted. Such valve can be used e.g. in an electric coffee maker in which dripping from a brewing filter funnel is prevented when the funnel is moved from its position above the vessel in which the brewed coffee is collected. Another case where a drip-proof liquid valve can be used is in connection with a tumbler dryer in which a damp-condenser, associated with the tumbler dryer, is disposed in an access door to the treatment room of the machine. In this application a condensate collecting container is provided in the lower part of the machine body itself and the condensing water from the condenser is conducted to the container via a liquid valve of a construction such that post-dripping is prevented when the door is opened. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a valve of the kind referred to above having a design such that no liquid can escape after the valve has closed. The object is achieved by a valve incorporating the features indicated in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are to be found in the appending sub-claims. The invention will now be described more in detail in connection with an embodiment with reference to the accompa¬ nying drawing in which the single figure shows a cross section through a valve embodying the invention. In principle, the valve comprises two main parts, a first part 10 and a second part 11 coaxially enclosing the first part. The first part 10 has an interior channel 12 for the .passage of liquid from a conduit, not shown, which connects to a corresponding connecting portion 13, and to an opening 14. The first part 10 is closed at the end 15 where the opening 14 is positioned. Further, the first part is provided with an exterior surface 16 of a circular cross section. In the area between the end 15 and the opening 14 an annular groove 17 is cut in the exterior surface 16 in which an O-ring 18 is provid¬ ed. The first part 10 and the second part 11, coaxially surroun- ding the first part, defines together an annular space 19 in which a helical spring 20 is provided. The space 19 is limited by an annular flange 21 extending from the part 11 to the part 10 and bearing against the surface 16, and further, by an annular flange 22 extending from the part 10 to the part 11 and bearing against the cylindrical interior surface 23 thereof. The flanges 21 and 22 have the twofold purpose of constituting a stop for the helical spring 20 at the same time as they control the mutual movement between the parts 10 and 11. The part 10 has a greater extension than the part 11 in the direction of the channel 12 and in order to prevent liquid from passing the flange 22 and leaking out a bellows gasket 24, made of rubber or the like, is provided. At its ends the bellows gasket 24 is provided with sealing beads 25, 26 clamped in corresponding grooves 27, 28 provided in the first and second parts 10, 11, respectively. The second part 11 has an annular projecting flange 29 which can be operated by any suitable operating means for displacment of the part 11 on the part 10. Further, the part 11 has an additional annular projecting flange 30 provided to cooperate with projections 31, 32 provided on a corresponding flange 33 on the part 10. The flange 30 and the projections 31, 32 cooperate to limit the movement of the part 11 to the right in the figure, i.a. for avoiding damage to the bellows gasket 24. In the sealing area, at the end 15 of the part 10, the O- ring 18 cooperates with a conical surface 34 provided on the corresponding end of the part 11. The surface has got its conical shape in order that in the sealing state of the valve the O-ring be pressed against the bottom of the groove 17 by the helical spring 20 for amplification of the sealing effekt. By means of the projections 31, 32 and suitable screws or the like the valve can be secured to a supporting member which, like in the previous example with the tumbler dryer, can be the access door (not shown) of the dryer. When the passage through the valve is to be established the flange 29 is operated by means of a suitable operating means, for instance an edge or the like provided adjacent to an opening of the condensate collecting container in the machine body of the tumbler dryer referred to above, such that the part 11 is dispaced to the right in the figure against the action of the helical spring 20. The part 11 is displaced so far to the right that the opening 14 is uncovered permitting liquid to pass the valve via the connecting portion 13, the channel 12 and the opening 14 to the condensate collecting container, not shown, in the tumbler dryer itself. Should the access door be opened after a treatment cycle in the tumbler dryer, or during such cycle, the flange 29 will no longer be acted upon which means that by the action of the spring 20 the part 11 will be moved to the left in the figure until the conical surface 34 reaches the O-ring 18 pressing said O-ring towards the bottom of the groove 17 and thereby bringing into operation the seal formed by the O-ring 18 and the conical surface 34. It should be understood that by placing the seal in the area between the opening 14 and the closed end 15 of the part 10 an optimum sealing effect will be achieved and that any water that possibly remains in the valve will effectively be prevented from leaking out when the access door is opended in the tumbler dryer given as an example. Accordingly, a valve of a design as described would be classified as, in the real sense, drop- proof.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A valve adapted to block and open, respectively, for liquid passage, said valve comprising a first part (10) adapted to be fixed to a supporting member and a second part (11) being slidably movable with respect to the first part (10), charac- terized in that the first part (10) has a through channel (12) for the liquid passage, said channel (12) being closed at one end (15) and having an opening (14) disposed at a distance from said end, the second part (11) being adapted to coaxially enclose the first part (10) and sealing means (17,18,34) being provided for forming of a sealing between the first and second parts (10,11) in tha area between the closaed end (15) of the channel (12) and the opening (14). 2. A valve according to claim 1, characterized in that spring means (20) are provided for biasing the second part (11) towards the closed end (15) of the first part (10), said sealing means comprising an O-ring (18) disposed in a groove (17) in the first part (10) adjacent to the closed end (15) of said first part, said O-ring cooperating with an annular edge (34) on the second part (11) for forming of the sealing. 3. A valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the annular edge (34) has a conical shape such that, under the influence of the spring means (20), the O-ring is pressed towards the bottom of the groove (17). 4. A valve according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that the first and second parts (10,11) are separa¬ ted by an annular space (19) limited by flange-shaped portions (21,22) which are directed towards the respective part (10,11), said annular space containing a helical spring (20), the flange-shaped portions (21,22) being arranged to control the displacement of the second part (11) on the first part (10) and to act as a stop for the helical spring (20). 5. A valve according to claim 4, characterized in that the first part (10) has a greater extension in the direction of the channel (12) than the second part (11), the second part (11), at its end opposite the sealing area, being sealed against the first part (10) by means of a bellows gasket (24) or the like. 6. A valve according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that the second part (11) is provided with a radially projecting flange (29) arranged to cooperate with an operating means for the displacement of the second part (11) on the first part (10) to a position where the opening (14) is uncovered. 7. A valve according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the second part (11), at its end opposite the sealing area, is provided with a stop flange (30) adapted, together with a corresponding stop flange (31,32,33) provided on the first part (10), to limit the movement of the second part (11) on the first part (10) in a direction away from the sealing area.

Inventors: ANDERSSON MATS TORBJOERN, WRANGBERTH JAN STELLAN, ANDERSSON, MATS, TORBJOERN, WRANGBERTH, JAN, STELLAN
Applicants: ANDERSSON MATS TORBJOERN, ELECTROLUX AB, WRANGBERTH JAN STELLAN, AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX, ANDERSSON, MATS, TORBJOERN, WRANGBERTH, JAN, STELLAN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16K3
IPC codes: F16K3, F16K23