A DEVICE FOR SAFETY CLOSING OR OPENING OF A FLOW

Abstract: A device for actuation of a valve member released automatically from a first position of readiness for safety shut-off or safety opening of a flow upon occurrence of a need thereof comprises an arrangement (29-37) adapted to cause a movement of a valve body of the valve member in the position of readiness into a second position of an opposite type, open or shut-off, upon occurrence of the need and a member (21) controlled by hand power and substantially rigidly connected to the valve body through a transmission means, so that the position of this member directly corresponds to a determined position of the valve body. The control member is adapted to bring the valve body from the second position obtained after said release through movement thereof by hand power into a first position for resetting the device to the position of readiness.

Description: A device for safety closing or opening of a flow FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a device according to the preamble of the appended claim 1 . Such a device is primarily used for safety shut-off and may then be used for shutting nearly any type of flows off, in which these flows may be formed by liquid as well as gaseous or powder - like material. The shut-off is then intended to take place as a protection measure when a particular need thereof occurs, such as any fault in the operation of any plant, leakage of any conduit downstream of the place for the shut-off, another leakage, a risk of a fire or the like. By the design of the control member movable by hand power and the direct correspondence of the position of this member to a determined position of the valve body and the requirement of an influence by hand power of this member for bringing the valve member back to the open position when desired after said need has disappeared, it is achieved that the valve member may not by mistake be brought to the open position of readiness, but a flow past the valve member may after the release only be allowed after someone has really on purpose moved the control member by hand power. A possible use of a device of this type is for shut-off of the supply of water to a building upon occurrence of a water leakage anywhere in the building, and by the arrangement of a device of this type there is no risk of bringing the device into a position, which is assumed to correspond to a closed valve member, but a return of the current later on after a power failure means that this position suddenly turns out to correspond to an open position of the valve member. A device of this type is already known through US 4 659 063. The transmission means is in this device formed by a rod, which is rigidly connected to the valve body of the valve member and a support surface, upon which an eccentrically shaped end of a control member pivoted at the rod and movable by hand power is arranged to move upon movement of the control member de- signed as a lever. By this construction of the transmission means there is a considerable risk of seizure of the control member, primarily by the risk of introducing dirt and the like between the surface of the eccentric piece and the support surface upon which this acts. This may after some time reduce the reliability of the device. This risk is particularly high since the intention is that a device of this type shall enter into function very seldom and be located in the position of readiness during periods of times in the orders of years for moving to the shut-off position with a high reliability upon occurrence of a need thereof. Furthermore, the power transmission between the control member and the valve body of the valve member may be improved. The device is also unnecessarily complicated. According to another aspect of the present invention this relates to a device according to the preamble of the appended claim 13. Also such a device is already known through US 4 659 063. A drawback of the device already known is that a simultaneous control of the control member movable by hand power and said member for holding the control member in the position of readi- ness is required for bringing the control member back into the position of readiness after the need has disappeared. This makes the reset of the device longwinded and unnecessarily complicated and by that also costly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a device according to the first aspect, which finds a remedy to the incon- veniences mention above of the device already known discussed above. This object is according to the invention obtained by the fact that said transmission means forms a substantially rigid connec- tion between the movable control member and the valve body. By such a construction of the transmission means a safer reset of the valve member once released is obtained, but also a safer release of the actuation of the valve member from the position of readiness for safety shut-off or safety opening of the flow is ob- tained without any risk of seizure between any movable bearing surfaces of the transmissions means. The construction according to the invention means also that the device gets more favourable from the cost point of view than the device already known. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a member adapted to define the first and the second position, and this member is readjustable for enabling a change of the first position of readiness from an open into a shut-off state and conversely. By such a possibility to convert the device it will get a larger flexibility and the field of use thereof may be broadened, since it will be possible to use for causing either shut-off or opening upon release, i.e. this has not to be decided when manufacturing the device, but a conversion may take place at any time later. The position definition member may advantageously comprise an element rigidly connectable to the valve member in at least two different positions and releasable from the valve member for readjustment of the element by hand power from one the other position for the rigid connection thereof to the valve body, which constitutes a further preferred embodiment of the invention, by which the readjustability is realised in a simple and reliable way. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the transmission means comprises an elongated rod-like rigid member substantially rigidly connected to said valve member. By such a transmission means a direct dependence of the position of the member movable by hand power and the valve body is safely obtained. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the control member is adapted to act upon the valve body when moving between the second position and the position of readiness by rotating the rod-like member around an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the latter. By such a mutual arrangement of the control member and the transmission means, so that the control member is adapted to actuate the valve body by rotation of the transmission means, it will be very easy to ensure that on one hand the valve body upon release is very dis- tinctly, i.e. through a high force, brought to the shut-off position, and on the other with a high reliability a reset of the device into the position of readiness only takes place when this is really desired. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the control member is formed by an arm being movable by hand power between said second position and the first position of readiness by pivoting thereof. Such a construction of the device is simple and results also in a simplicity to control it. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the movement arrangement comprises members for applying a spring power upon the control member or a piece connected thereto in said position of readiness in a direction towards said second position, the device comprises members for holding the control member in the position of readiness with a pretensioned spring member, said reset being intended to take place against the spring power of the spring member for storing potential energy therein, and the arrangement comprises members for releasing the control member through moving said holding mem- ber into an inactive position. By arranging such a spring member a very distinct release of the device may take place, and there is neither any risk of by accident hitting the control member and by that resetting the device, since a considerable power is required therefor by the requirement of stretching the spring member for this sake. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the holding member is adapted to hold the control member by entering into engagement therewith or with a piece connected thereto and it may be influenced into an inactive holding position by being brought to leave this engagement, and the movement arrangement comprises means adapted to influence the holding member out of said engagement for releasing a safety shut-off or safety opening of the flow when said need occurs. By ar- ranging such actuating means a safe release of the device, i.e. a movement of the valve member into shut-off and open position, respectively, may take place upon occurrence of the need in question. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which constitutes a further development of the embodiment last mentioned, said means is an electrical motor. Electrical motor is intended to cover all types of electrical motors, such as those driven by battery as well as such driven by the electricity net- work, and "electrical motors" is to be given a very broad sense and comprises also different types of electrical and electromagnetic relays and the like. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention said spring member is a torsion spring, which makes it possible to ensure an application of a high power for a distinct release of the device upon need thereof as well as a high resistance at the reset of the valve member into the position of readiness and by that a minimising of the risk of unintentional such resetting, without any need of any large space for the spring for that sake. According to another embodiment of the invention, which constitutes a further development of the embodiment last mentioned, the torsion spring is arranged with the turns thereof around said rod-like member and with an end acting upon the movable control member or a piece connected thereto and one end against a piece of the device stationary located. Such an arrangement of a spring member is advantageous, not at least thanks to the low space demand thereof. A second object of the present invention is to provide a device according to the second aspect mentioned above, which to a large extent reduces the disadvantages discussed above of the device already known. This object is according to the invention obtained by providing a device according to the appended claim 13. By the construction of the actuating member in this way, it will be easier to obtain a reset of the device into the position of readiness, since only an actuation of the control member by hand power is required for this sake. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the actuating member is adapted to cause the release upon occurrence of said need and in connection thereto automatically return to the position it had in the position of readiness. A reset may easily and with a high reliability take place by this without any risk of unintentional transfer of the device into the second position. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the actuating member has a piece rotatable about an axis and ar- ranged eccentrically with respect to said axis, said piece being adapted to influence the position of the holding member by bearing against portions thereof, and the actuating member is adapted to rotate the eccentric piece substantially one turn for releasing the device upon an occurrence of said need and enabling a reset thereof without any further influence upon the actuating member. By such an arrangement of an eccentric piece for causing said release and rotating it one turn at the moment of release both a release from the position of readiness and a safe reset of the device into the position of readiness are easily obtained by controlling the movable member only by hand power. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device has means adapted to receive a signal ordering the safety shut-off or safety opening from a transmitter adapted to indicate that a need of such a measure has occurred, and the arrangement is adapted to respond to such a signal. This is an advantageous way to utilise the device, which accordingly en- ables a safety shut-off or safety opening upon failures, breakdowns or the like occurring in a place remotely located with respect to the valve member. Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the in- vention appear from the following description and the other dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of a preferred embodiment of the invention cited as an example. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a very schematic diagram illustrating a possible use of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig 2 illustrates a view from above of a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention in a position of readiness corresponding to an open valve member, Fig 3 is a view corresponding to fig 2 of the device in the released closed position, Fig 4 is a view of the device according to fig 2 and 3 in the position according to fig 3 in a side-elevation in the direction of the arrow A in fig 3, Fig 5 illustrates a view from above corresponding to fig 2 of a device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in a position of readiness, Fig 6 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to fig 5 in a position of readiness corresponding to an open valve member, and Fig 7 is a view corresponding to fig 6 of the device according to fig 6 in a position of readiness corresponding to a closed valve member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION It is very schematically and simplified illustrated in fig 1 how a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention may be used for safety shut-off of the water supply to a building, but it is once again pointed out that the invention not at all is restricted to this field, although this will hereinafter be discussed for illuminating the invention. The building has in the present case in a conventional way a cellar 1 , a first floor 2 and a sec- ond floor 3. Water to the building arrives trough a main water supply conduit 4. A hand valve 5 is arranged therein in the cellar for shut-off of the water supply to the building by hand power. The building has also a number of heating, water and sanitation units, such as a bath 6, a wash basin 7, a water closet 8, a sink 9, a washing machine 10 and a water heater 1 1 . Close to each of these water detecting units are arranged at suitable locations so that they will detect a water leakage of any of these units possibly occurring. They could for example detect that the water level in the bathroom reaches closely under the floor threshold or that it will in anyway arrive a small amount of water where it shall normally be completely dry. These detectors 12 have a sender adapted to send coded radio signal to a receiver 13 arranged in the cellar upon detection of a water leakage, and this receiver is adapted to check that the signal received has the correct code and when this is the case through a device 14, which forms the subject for the present invention, control a valve 15 to shut-off the water supply to the building. Thus, the invention is directed to exactly the construction of this device, and this will now be described with reference to fig 2-4. Accordingly, this device is intended to cause an actuation of a valve member released automatically from an open position of readiness for safety shut-off of a flow upon occurrence of need thereof. It appears from fig 4 that the valve member has a valve body 16, which is received in a valve seat in a water conduit 17 in such a way that a turning thereof about an axis being substantially perpendicular to the extension of the conduit means a transfer thereof between a position allowing a flow therethrough and preventing it, respectively. The valve body 16 is rigidly con- nected to an elongated rod-like rigid member 18, here mentioned valve spindle, which extends into an envelope 19, in which the main device is located. The spindle 18 is rotationally journalled in a bearing or control piece 20 about the centre axis thereof for regulating the valve member upon rotating thereof. A control arm 21 extending substantially perpendicularly from the valve spindle 18 is rigidly connected to the valve spindle at the end opposite to the valve body 16. The connection between the arm 21 and the spindle 18 is accordingly arranged at a determined position from the valve body. The valve spindle 18 has also a prolongation 22 around which a torsion spring 23 is arranged, and this torsion spring has an end 24 bearing against a stationary piece 25 of the envelope 19 of the device and the second end against a pin 26 arranged on the arm 21 . More exactly, the torsion spring is so arranged that it will aiming at pivoting the arm 21 and by that the valve spindle 18 in fig 2 and 3 counter-clockwise while releasing potential energy, in which the device has a stop member 27 stationary arranged in the envelope, which defines an end position in which the arm will by pretension bear against the stop member for a safe remaining therein. Starting from the position shown in fig 3, which corresponds to a closed position of the valve member, the device may be brought to the open position of readiness shown in fig 2 only by moving the arm 21 by hand power, i.e. pivoting thereof clockwise as seen in fig 1 , while overcoming the spring force of the torsion spring 23, i.e. while stretching the torsion spring . The device has also holding members adapted to retain the arm 21 in the position of readiness illustrated in fig 1 , once this has been as- sumed, and this holding member is formed by a piece 29 pivoted with the respect to the envelope about an axis 28 and having a female engaging member 30 and an additional pin 31 arranged on the arm 21 and adapted to enter into engagement with the member 30 in the position of readiness, so that the piece 29 re- tains the arm 21 and prevents it from pivoting back into the position according to fig 3 as aimed at by the torsion spring 23. The device has for this sake a double-armed lever 33 pivotably arranged with respect to the envelope about another axis 32 for this sake, one arm of which is adapted to bear against a part 34 of a piece 29 and the other arm is adapted to bear against a piece 37 eccentrically arranged on the output axis 35 of an electrical motor 36. The eccentric piece 37 will through the bearing against the lever 33 determine the position thereof and by that the position of the piece 29. More exactly, the eccentric piece 37 is arranged to influence the lever 33 upon rotating the eccentric piece about the axis 35 from the position of readiness shown in fig 2, so that the piece 29 is pivoted in fig 2 and 3 counter-clockwise and the pin 31 leaves the engagement member 30 and the torsion spring then turns the arm 21 with full power to abutment against the stop member 27 and by that transfer the valve body 16 from the open to the closed position. The device has also a switch 38 associated with the piece 29, which upon pivoting of the piece 29 counter-clockwise from the position according to fig 2 will interrupt the energy supply to the motor 36 which then stops when the eccentric piece has been turned substantially one turn, so that this in the closed position shown in fig 3 has substantially the same position as in the position of readiness according to fig 2. The function of this device is as followed. The device is normally located in the position of readiness, in which the valve body 16 leaves the passage free for the flow of water through the valve member. Would any of the water leakage detectors 12 detect a water leakage, these are transmitting a radio signal to the re- ceiver 13, which may be arranged in the envelope 19, and this sends then an activating signal to the motor 36, which begins to turn the eccentric member 37, so that the piece 29 is pivoted in such a way that the arm 21 is released and the torsion spring pivots with full power the arm 21 to the position defined by the stop member 27 and by that the valve body 16 into the closed position. The torsion spring holds then safely the valve body 16 in this closed position until anyone decides that it would be wise to open the supply of water to the building again, in which the arm 21 is grasped by hand and pivoted by hand back towards the position of readiness while overcoming the power of the tor- sion spring, which is considerable, so that there is really no doubt about the intention to open the valve member when that takes place. The pin 31 will during the return of the arm 21 move along a surface 39 of the piece 29 and then go into engagement in the female engagement member 30 for keeping the arm 21 and by that the valve member 16 in the open position of readiness. A device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in fig 5-7, the basic function thereof is the same as in the device according to fig 2-4, so that hereinafter only the important differences this device has with respect to the former will be described. Parts having their correspondence in the device according to fig 2-4 are provided with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, most parts are made of ny- Ion, such as the envelope 19, of which only a bottom plate is shown here, the arm 21 , the prolongation 22 and the valve spindle 18 and so on. The arm 21 is in this embodiment at one end thereof 40 connected to a movable piece 41 of a traction magnet 42, which is adapted to receive electricity and by that pivot the arm 21 , so that this engagement with a part 43 rigidly connected to the valve spindle will be loosen and the valve spindle will by that through the torsion spring be pivoted to a second position. If the first position of readiness corresponds to an open valve, the second position will correspond to a valve shut-off and oth- erwise conversely. It is illustrated in Fig 6 how the device comprises a member in the form of plate 45 provided with a hole 44 with two sides arranged in parallel for defining the first and second position, since it will in a state of function of the device be rigidly with respect to rotation connected to a valve spindle 18 extending through the hole 44 and received in a recess adapted thereto in said prolongation 22. Thus, the influence of the torsion spring 23 upon prolongation 22 will through the plate 45 cause pivoting of the valve spindle. By loosening a screw 47 interlocking the prolongation 22 and the valve spindle 18 the plate 45 may be loosened from the valve spindle 18, as illustrated in Fig 6 and 7, and when desired be turned 90° and then be put on the valve spindle 18, so that such a readjustment or conversion results in a change of the first position of readiness from an opened to a closed state of the valve or conversely. Thus, the position of the plate 45 illustrated in Fig 6 corresponds to a first position of readiness in the form of an open valve, while the position of the plate according to Fig 7 corresponds to a first position of readiness in the form of a closed valve. Furthermore, it is illustrated in Fig 6 by means of dashing 48 how a card for the control electronic of the device is arranged on pins 49, also made of nylon. The device shown in Fig 5-7 may be manufactured to a low cost in this context thanks to the simplicity thereof. The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the pre- ferred embodiment described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof would be apparent for a man with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the claims. It would for example be well possible to design the holding member in another way. The control member could have another appearance and move in any other plane than illustrated above, in which the valve body also could look differently and have a different direction of movement and so on. It would also be possible that the device is co-ordinated with a valve normally to be in a closed position and cause a safety opening of a flow therethrough upon occurrence of a fault. Accordingly, the device according to the invention is of the type having one or more detectors able to detect anything, such as vibrations, fire or the like, and then send information to a receiver causing the release for opening or closing the valve depending upon the type of position of readiness. Thus, the de- tector is remote with respect to the adjustment means and will not expose it to any direct influence. Accordingly, the device may function together with any types of sensors, which for example detects water, gas, oil, sound, light, chock, turn, position, and then through a transmitter transfer this information to that part of the device that causes the release or triggering.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1 . A device for actuation of a valve member released automatically from a first position of readiness for safety shut-off or safety opening of a flow upon occurrence of a need thereof, which comprises an arrangement (23-37) adapted to cause a movement of a valve body of the valve member from said position of readiness into a second position of the opposite type, open or closed, to the first one upon a occur- rence of said need and a member (21 ) controlled by hand power and connected to the valve body (16) though a transmission means (18) in such way that the position of this member directly corresponds to a given position of the valve body, in which the control member is through move- ment thereof by hand power through the transmission means adapted to bring the valve body from said second position obtained after said release into a first position for resetting the device into said position of readiness when said need has disappeared, characterized in that said transmission means (18) forms a substantially rigid connection between the movable control member (21 ) and the valve body (16). 2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that in comprises a member (44-46) adapted to define the first and second position, and that this member is readjustable for enabling a change of the first position of readiness from an open to a closed state and conversely. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the position defining member comprises an element (45) rigidly connectable to the valve body in at least two different positions and loosenable from the valve body (16) for readjustment of the element by hand power from one to the other position for the rigid connection thereof to the valve body. 4. A device according to any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the transmission means comprises an elongated rodlike rigid member (18) substantially rigidly connected to said valve member (16). 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control member (21 ) is adapted to act upon the valve body (16) when moving between the second position and the position of readiness by rotating the rod-like member (18) around an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the latter. 6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the arrangement is adapted to bring the valve body (16) between open and closed position by rotating the valve body in an element (17) delimiting the path of the flow. 7. A device according to any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the control member is formed by an arm (21 ) movable by hand power between said second position and said first position of readiness by pivoting thereof. 8. A device according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that the arm (21 ) extends substantially perpendicularly to and from the elongated rod-like member (18) of the transmission means. 9. A device according to any of claims 1 -8, characterized in that the movement arrangement comprises members (23) for applying a spring power upon the control member (21 ) or a piece connected thereto in said position of readiness in a direction towards said second position, that the device comprises members (30, 31 , 33) for holding the control member in the position of readiness with a pretensioned spring member, said reset being intended to take place against the spring power of the spring member for storing potential en- ergy therein, and that the arrangement comprises members (36) for releasing the control member through moving said holding member into an inactive position. 10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the holding member is adapted to hold the control member by entering into engagement therewith or with a piece connected thereto and it may be influenced into an inactive holding position by being brought to leave this engagement. 1 1 . A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the movement arrangement (36) comprises means (29, 33) adapted to influence the holding member out of said engagement for releasing a safety shut-off or safety opening of the flow when said need occurs. 12. A device according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that said means (36) is an electrical motor. 13. A device according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that said spring member (23) is a torsion spring. 14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the torsion spring (23) is arranged with the turns thereof around said rod-like member (18) and with one end acting upon the movable control member (21 ) or a piece connected thereto and one end against a piece (25) of the device stationary located. 15. A device for actuation of a valve member released automatically from a first position of readiness for safety shut-off or safety opening of a flow upon occurrence of a need thereof, which comprises an arrangement (23-37) adapted to cause a movement of a valve body of the valve member from said position of readiness into a second position of the opposite type, open or closed, to the first one upon occur- rence of said need and a member (21 ) controlled by hand power and connected to the valve body (16) though a transmission means (18) in such a way that the position of this member directly corresponds to a given position of the valve body, in which the control member is through movement thereof by hand power through the transmission means adapted to bring the valve body from said second position obtained after said release into a first position for resetting the device into said position of readiness when said need has disappeared, said device further comprising members (30, 31 , 33) for holding the control member or a piece connected thereto in said position of readiness and the arrangement comprises members (37) adapted to act upon the holding member for bringing it into an inactive po- sition for causing said release when a need thereof occurs, characterized in that the actuating member (37) is designed to automatically, after causing said release, return to a position allowing the holding member to automatically assume an active holding position upon resetting the device through moving the control member from the second position to the position of readiness. 16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the actuating member (37) is adapted to cause said release upon occurrence of said need and in connection thereto automatically return to the position it had in the position of readiness. 17. A device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the actuating member (37) is adapted to cause a movement of a piece bearing against portions of the holding member starting from the position of readiness of the device upon occurrence of said need for release of the device and at the same time back to the same position as said piece had be- fore the release. 18. A device according any of claims 15-17, characterized in that the actuating member has a piece (37) rotatable about an axis and arranged eccentrically with respect to said axis, said piece being adapted to influence the position of the holding member by bearing against portions thereof, and that the actuating member is adapted to rotate the eccentric piece substantially one turn for releasing the device upon occurrence of said need and enabling a reset thereof without any further influence upon the actuating member. 19. A device according to any of claims 1 -14 or 15-18, characterized in that it has means (13) adapted to receive a signal ordering the safety shut-off or safety opening from a transmitter adapted to indicate that a need of such a measure has occurred, and that the arrangement (36) is adapted to respond to such a signal. 20. A device according to claim 19, characterized in that the device is adapted to cause safety shut-off of the supply of water to a building and that the receiving means (13) is arranged to receive signals indicating a water leakage in the building from transmitters (12) associated with water leakage detectors arranged in the building. 21 . A device according any claim 19 or 20, characterized in that said receiving means (13) is adapted to receive coded radio signals. 22. A device according to any of the claims 1 -14 or 15-19, characterized in that said valve member is adapted to shut- off or open the flow through a conduit for feeding a medium in an industrial process. 23. A device according to any of the claims 1 -14 or 15-19, characterized in that the valve member is adapted to shut off or open a flow of fuel, such as oil, fed through a conduit. 4. A device according to any of the claims 1 -14 or 15-23, characterized in that it is deigned for actuation of the valve member released automatically from an open position of readiness for safety shut-off of the flow.

Inventors: LOID BENGT, LOID, BENGT
Applicants: LOID BENGT, MENTON SA, LOID, BENGT, MENTON S.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F16K17
IPC codes: F16K17, F17D5