Abstract:
Shut-off device for at least partially blocking a fluid in a fluid line, including a blocking device which has a substantially cylindrical basic body and includes a first end and a second end, wherein the blocking device can be positioned in the fluid line and, by rotation in a direction of rotation (A) about an axis of rotation (R), can be reversibly adjusted from a blocking position, in which no fluid can flow through the blocking device, into a throughflow position, in which fluid can flow through the blocking device. The blocking device includes a first through-opening and a second-through opening, wherein the cross section of the first through-opening is smaller than the cross section of the second through-opening.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a shutoff device for the at least partial blocking of a fluid in a fluid line. The shutoff device includes a blocking device having an essentially cylindrical base body that has a first end and a second end, the blocking device being positionable in the fluid line and adjustable by rotation in one direction of rotation around an axis of rotation reversibly from a blocking position in which no fluid is able to flow through the blocking device into a flow-through position in which fluid is able to flow through the blocking device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Work on particularly hard materials, such as for example (core) drilling in rock, always requires a certain amount of coolant to cool the tool and bind the released drilling mud and transport it away. Cooling systems for use on drilling units such as on core drilling units, for example, have long been known. Water is usually used as the coolant. 
         [0003]    Cooling systems of this type include essentially a supply of coolant that is normally in the form of a connection to a water line, a device (e.g. a pump) to transport the coolant to the tool and at least one coolant line for the feed of the coolant to the tool. The volume of the supply of coolant, the output of the device for the transport of the coolant and the quantity (volume) of coolant delivered to the tool is a function of, among other things, the material to be processed, the size and output of the machine tool and the desired working speed (advance of the tool in the material). In the determination and setting of these different operating parameters, the metering of the amount of coolant delivered to the tool is always a recurring problem for the user of the cooling system, since the quantity of coolant delivered must be neither too large nor too small. In particular, relatively small quantities of coolant may frequently be only unsatisfactorily delivered to a tool in cooling systems of the prior art. The cause lies primarily in the configuration of the shutoff device, which is usually in the form of a manually actuatable control valve positioned in the coolant line that regulates the quantity or the volume of coolant delivered to the tool. These shutoff devices, which are conventionally in the form of a control valve, do not allow sufficiently precise metering of small quantities of coolant, so that the control valve may either only be completely closed or opened far too wide. As a result, either no coolant at all or too much coolant flows to the tool. 
         [0004]    A shutoff device of this type in a fluid line is described, for example, in PCT application WO 2011/091798. WO 2011/091798 describes a drain valve with which the volume of a fluid flowing through the valve may be regulated. The drain valve has a valve housing including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Respective fluid lines are connected to both the input and to the output openings. In the valve housing is a plate-shaped control element that may be rotated by a manual element in the valve housing to regulate the volume of the fluid flowing through the drain valve. For this purpose, the plate-shaped control element is rotated in front of the input and output opening in such a way that the cross section of the flow-through opening at the input and output opening is reduced in size. As a result of the reduction of the cross section, the quantity of fluid that may pass through the drain valve is reduced. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    As described above, one disadvantage even with the shutoff valve illustrated in WO 2011/091798 is that it is unable to meter small quantities of coolant with sufficient precision. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shutoff device for the at least partial blocking of a fluid in a fluid line with which precise metering of even small quantities of coolant is possible. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides a shutoff device for the at least partial blocking of a fluid in a fluid line, including a blocking device having an essentially cylindrical base body, that has a first end and a second end, the blocking device is positionable in the fluid line and is adjustable by rotation in a direction (A) around an axis of rotation (R) reversibly from a blocking position in which no fluid is able flow through the blocking device into a flow-through position in which fluid is able to flow through the blocking device. 
         [0008]    According to the present invention it is provided that the blocking device includes a first flow-through opening and a second flow-through opening, where the cross-section of the first flow-through opening is smaller than the cross-section of the second flow-through opening. As a result of the smaller cross-section of the first flow-through opening, the ability to regulate the flow for smaller quantities of fluid through the blocking device is improved. 
         [0009]    To obtain a preferably continuous increase of the quantity of fluid that flows through the blocking device by a corresponding rotation of the blocking device it may be provided according to one advantageous embodiment that the first flow-through opening and the second flow-through opening are connected to each other by a passage opening along the lateral surface of the cylindrical base body. 
         [0010]    In one additional advantageous embodiment of the present invention it may be provided that the first flow-through opening has an essentially wedge-shaped cross-section. As a result of the wedge-shaped cross-section of the first flow-through opening, depending on the rotational position of the blocking device in the fluid line, the effective size of the first flow-through opening and thus the quantity of fluid that may flow through the blocking device and to the tool may be adjusted. 
         [0011]    In one additional advantageous embodiment of the present invention it may be provided that the wedge-shaped cross-section has at least a first surface with a first surface edge and a second surface edge as well as a second surface with a first surface edge, a second surface edge and a third surface edge, the first surface extending in parallel to the axis of rotation and the second surface extending at an angle to the axis of rotation in such a way that a first end of the second surface edge and a first end of the third surface edge meet essentially at a point at the second end of the cylindrical base body. Consequently, by a corresponding rotation of the blocking device in the fluid line, the effective size of the first flow-through opening and thus the quantity of fluid that may flow through the blocking device and to the tool may be continuously increased or reduced. 
         [0012]    According to one further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it may be provided that on the cylindrical base body of the blocking device, in direction (B), the first flow-through opening may be positioned in front of the second flow-through opening. This arrangement ensures that in the event of a corresponding rotation of the blocking device in the fluid line, fluid first flows through the first flow-through opening and only as the blocking device is rotated further through the second flow-through opening. Consequently, a correspondingly small quantity of fluid first flows through the blocking device to the tool. 
         [0013]    In one further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it may be provided that on the cylindrical base body of the blocking device in direction (B), the first surface of the first flow-through opening is positioned in front of the second surface of the first flow-through opening. This arrangement ensures that the enlargement of the cross-section of the first flow-through opening by a corresponding rotation of the blocking device is always accomplished by an increase with an increasingly smaller portion of the cross-section. 
         [0014]    According to one further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it may be provided that the blocking device may be oriented by rotation in the fluid line in such a way that a flow of fluid through the blocking device is possible only through the first flow- through opening, through the first flow-through opening and the second flow-through opening, or only through the second flow-through opening. This arrangement ensures either a continuous or a sudden increase in the flow volume of fluid through the blocking device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to advantageous exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a shutoff device according to the present invention containing a blocking device with a cylindrical base body; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the shutoff device in a fluid line; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the shutoff device including the blocking device having the cylindrical base body; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional view through the shutoff device along line A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the shutoff device on a cut fluid line; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the underside of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the shutoff device including the first passage opening and the second passage opening on the cut fluid line; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a detail of the underside of the shutoff device shown in  FIG. 7  including the first passage opening and the second passage opening on the cut fluid line; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  shows a side view in the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 0° position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows a side view opposite the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 0° position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  shows a side view in the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 25° position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows a side view opposite the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 25° position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  shows a side view in the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 45° position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  shows a side view opposite the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 45° position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  shows a side view in the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 55° position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  shows a side view opposite the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 55° position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  shows a side view in the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 90° position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  shows a side view opposite the flow direction of the shutoff device on the cut fluid line with the blocking device in a 90° position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]      FIGS. 1 through 4  show a shutoff device  1  for the at least partial blocking of a fluid (not shown) in a fluid line  2 . The fluid may be water or another fluid. It is also possible to use a gas. The shutoff device  1  may be a part of a cooling or flushing system (not shown), which may be used to cool a machine tool (not shown) with the fluid or to flush the tool of the machine tool (e.g. a core bit) and clean it of drilling mud. The machine tool may be a core drilling machine or a similar machine. 
         [0035]    The shutoff device  1  contains a control element  3  and a blocking device  10  with an essentially cylindrical base body  20 . 
         [0036]    Base body  20  has a first end  20   a  and a second end  20   b.  Blocking device  10  is positioned in a fluid line  2  in such a way that first end  20   a  of base body  20  projects out of fluid line  2  and second end  20   b  of base body  20  is rotatably situated in fluid line  2  (cf.  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
         [0037]    Control element  3  is designed in the form of a pivoting lever and is positioned at first end  20   a  of cylindrical base body  20 . The purpose of control element  3  in the form of a pivoting lever is to rotate or orient blocking device  10  in fluid line  2 . Blocking device  10  is positioned in a fluid line  2  so that, depending on the position of blocking device  10  in fluid line  2 , the flow of the fluid, i.e. of a liquid or a gas, may be blocked or unblocked. Consequently, the quantity of fluid that flows through blocking device  10  and to the machine tool may be regulated. The fluid is not shown in the figures. 
         [0038]    Cylindrical base body  20  of blocking device  10  includes a first flow-through opening  30  and a second flow-through opening  50  (cf.  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
         [0039]    Both first flow-through opening  30  and second flow-through opening  50  include a passage through cylindrical base body  20  of blocking device  10 , through which the fluid may flow. The cross section of first flow-through opening  30  is thereby smaller than the cross section of second flow-through opening  50 , as a result of which a small volume of fluid per unit of time may flow through first (smaller) flow-through opening  30 . 
         [0040]    First flow-through opening  30  has an essentially wedge-shaped cross section, as a result of which the first flow-through opening  30  along the bottom of cylindrical base body  20  has a first surface  32  and a second surface  36 . First surface  32  in turn has a first surface edge  33  and a second surface edge  34 . Moreover, second surface  36  has a first surface edge  37 , a second surface edge  38  and a third surface edge  39 . Second surface  36  therefore has an essentially triangular shape (cf.  FIGS. 5, 6 and 18 ). 
         [0041]    First surface edge  33  of first surface  32  is adjacent to first surface edge  37  of second surface  36 . Second surface edge  38  of second surface  36  runs along the lateral surface of cylindrical base body  20 . Third surface edge  39  of second surface  36  runs along second flow-through opening  50 . 
         [0042]    Second flow-through opening  50  has an essentially rectangular cross section including a first wall surface  52 , a second wall surface  54  and a third wall surface  56 . First wall surface  52  and second wall surface  54  are opposite one another. Third wall surface  56  is essentially arc-shaped and connects first wall surface  52  to second wall surface  54 . 
         [0043]    First flow-through opening  30  intersects second flow-through opening  50 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , center line C of first flow-through opening  30  intersects center line D of second flow-through opening  50  at an obtuse angle (α). 
         [0044]    As described above, shutoff device  1  is rotatably positioned in fluid line  2 . Blocking device  10  is rotatably mounted in fluid line  2 . Blocking device  10  is correspondingly oriented in fluid line  2  by rotating shutoff device  1  with the aid of pivoting lever  3  in direction A or B. Depending on the respective rotational position of blocking device  10 , either a larger or smaller cross section of first flow-through opening  30  is unblocked for the fluid to flow through blocking device  10 . Blocking device  10  may also be completely blocked so that no fluid is able to flow through blocking device  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , in a corresponding rotational position (55° position) of blocking device  10  it is also possible for the fluid to flow both through first flow-through opening  30  and through second flow-through opening  50 . 
         [0045]    According to one alternative embodiment of shutoff device  1  according to the present invention, it may be provided that first flow-through opening  30  is connected by a passage opening (not shown) to second flow-through opening  50 . Consequently, a more rapid increase of the flow volume per unit of time through the blocking device may be achieved, since the cross section of first flow-through opening  30  is more rapidly increased by a corresponding orientation of blocking device  10  in fluid line  2  than without the additional passage opening. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 9 through 18  illustrate different rotational positions of blocking device  10  in fluid line  2 . By rotating blocking device  10  in direction of rotation A and depending on the respective rotational position of blocking device  10 , more or less fluid per unit of time may flow through blocking device  10 , since the wedge-shaped cross section of first flow-through opening  30  is larger or smaller. Circle E indicates the contact surface of fluid line  2  on blocking device  10  (cf.  FIGS. 5, 6, 9 through 18 ). The following positions in degrees refer to the respective rotation of blocking device  10  in fluid line  2  in degrees (°) with reference to the starting position (0°), in which blocking device  10  is completely closed, i.e. no fluid is able to flow through blocking device  10 . To open blocking device  10  in fluid line  2 , blocking device  10  is rotated in direction B (cf.  FIGS. 5, 7, 8 ). 
         [0047]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , blocking device  10  is in a 0° position, so that first and second flow-through openings  30 ,  50  are closed and no fluid is able to flow through blocking device  10 .  FIG. 9  shows a view in flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 .  FIG. 10  shows a view opposite to flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , blocking device  10  is in a 25° position, so that first flow-through opening  30  is opened and a small amount of fluid is able to flow through blocking device  10 .  FIG. 11  shows a view in flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 .  FIG. 12  shows a view opposite to flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 . 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , blocking device  10  is in a 45° position in which first flow-through opening  30  is opened somewhat farther and slightly more fluid per unit of time is able to flow through blocking device  10 .  FIG. 13  shows a view in flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 .  FIG. 14  shows a view opposite to flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 . 
         [0050]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , blocking device  10  is in a 55° position in which first flow-through opening  30  is opened to the maximum position.  FIG. 15  shows a view in flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 .  FIG. 16  shows a view opposite to flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 . 
         [0051]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , blocking device  10  is in a 90° position, in which second flow-through opening  50  is opened to the maximum position and first flow-through opening  30  is in turn closed. In this 90° position, the maximum volume of fluid per unit of time flows through blocking device  10 .  FIG. 17  shows a view in flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 .  FIG. 18  shows a view opposite to flow direction Q of the fluid through fluid line  2 . 
         [0052]    On account of the special wedge-shaped cross-section and the particular orientation of first flow-through opening  30  in blocking device  10 , the amount of fluid that flows through blocking device  10  and is transported to the machine tool for cooling or flushing may be metered very precisely. In particular, small quantities of cooling fluid that are transported to the tool for cooling may be optimally set.