Abstract:
A non-return valve ( 19 ) for a water supply system ( 1 ) or a pump ( 4 ) is integrated in a flow channel ( 14 ) of the water supply system ( 1 ). The non-return valve ( 19 ) includes a sealing body ( 21 ) which is mounted within the channel ( 14 ), blocks the channel ( 14 ) in a first position forming the closure position and releases the channel ( 14 ) in a second position forming the opened position. The sealing body ( 21 ) is movably arranged on a holder ( 31 ) which includes a closure body ( 15 ), with which the holder ( 31 ) is releasably fastened in a housing opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of European Application 15 189 914.3 filed Oct. 15, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a non-return valve for a water supply system or a pump and which is integrated into a flow channel of the water supply system or of the pump or of a valve housing and which comprises a sealing body which is movably mounted within the channel, blocks the channel in a first position forming the closure position and releases the channel in a second position forming the opened position. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Non-return valves are counted as belonging to the state of the art in numerous design variants, and they are applied where a flow is desired in only one direction, in order to hold fluid in a channel system or vessel, or for other purposes. 
         [0004]    With water supply systems or pumps, a non-return valve is typically provided on the delivery side of the pump, in order to ensure that the system pressure is held at the delivery side after switching off the pump and fluid does not flow back through the pump. One the other hand, with water supply systems which are operated with centrifugal pumps, but also with other centrifugal pumps if these are to operate in quasi self-priming, it is necessary on the one hand to design these accordingly and on the other had to provide a closable filling opening, in order to ensure that fluid is located in the pump on first starting operation. A closable filling opening is to be provided upstream of the non-return valve in the flow direction, since the non-return valve is to prevent a backflow into the pump. 
         [0005]    A known water supply system of this type is marketed by the applicant under the description Grundfos MQ. This design in practise has proven its worth, but however has the designs described above and the disadvantages which these entail. Thus, the non-return valve requires comparatively much effort for its installation and removal. Thereby, it is to be ensured that pressure no longer prevails at the delivery side, in order to avoid an uncontrolled pressure loss on removal of the non-return valve and the danger potential which this always entails. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Against this background, it is an object of the invention to improve a non-return valve for a water supply system or for a pump, to the extent that the accessibility and the handling on assembly and disassembly can be improved. Moreover, a water supply system equipped with such a non-return valve is to be improved in its construction and function. 
         [0007]    This object is achieved by a non-return valve with the features according to the invention. This object, inasmuch as it concerns a water supply system, is achieved by a water supply system according to the invention. 
         [0008]    The non-return valve according to the invention and for a water supply system, which however can also be applied for a pump, is integrated in the flow channel of the water supply system or of the pump or of a valve housing, if this is configured as a separate component. It comprises a sealing body which is movably mounted within the channel and which in a first position forming the closure position blocks the channel and in a second position forming the opened position releases the channel. According to the invention, the sealing body is movably arranged on a holder which comprises a closure body, with which the holder is releasably fastened in a housing opening. 
         [0009]    Closure bodies in the context of the present invention are to be understood as any component, with which the housing opening is closable and on which a holder for the sealing body is arranged. A closure body in the context of the present invention can for example be a plug-like body which is fixed in a housing opening or a cap-like body which engages over a collar integrally formed on the housing opening. 
         [0010]    The basic concept of the solution according to the invention is not to integrate the non-return valve in a channel sections as is usual, but to connect the non-return valve, the housing opening and the closure body to one another in a constructive and functional manner. Thereby, the solution according to the invention has the design advantage that the non-return valve, at least the part which is to be commonly exchanged in the case of wear, specifically the sealing body or the seal which is envisaged for this, can be controlled and exchanged by way of a simple removal of the closure body. 
         [0011]    Thereby, it is particularly advantageous if the closure body is arranged at the exit side of the non-return valve in the flow direction, since the pressure which usually prevails there can then be reduced in a targeted manner on opening the closure body, and moreover fluid can be filled via this housing opening after removing the sealing body together with the holder, as is necessary for example for producing a self-priming effect with pumps, but also with a water supply system. The otherwise usual filling opening which must otherwise lie upstream of the non-return valve in the flow direction can be done away with by way of this arrangement. Moreover, further advantages which are yet described further below result in the case of a suitable design. 
         [0012]    It is particularly advantageous if the holder at one end comprises the closure body, preferably in the form of a closure plug, and at the other end comprises the sealing body. A compact component then results and this can be integrated into the housing in the manner of a cartridge, wherein in the case of a suitable design, the sealing body is simultaneously also brought into its designated position in the non-return valve, on insertion and fixation of the closure body in or on the housing opening. 
         [0013]    For this, it is partially advantageous if the closure body can be fastened in or on the housing opening by way of a bayonet connection or thread connection. Thereby, the thread design or bayonet design is advantageously a multi-staged configuration, so that in a first stage the non-return valve is opened and a bypass is formed between the closure body and the housing opening, in a second stage the non-return valve is closed which is to say is in the designated position and the bypass continues to exist, and only in a third stage does the closure body sealingly close the housing opening. 
         [0014]    An O-ring is advantageously applied as a seal between the housing opening and the closure plug, since this is inexpensive, can be easily assembled and is easily exchangeable. 
         [0015]    According to a further development of the invention, the closure body, in particular the closure plug comprises a handle or tool receiver, which is accessible from outside the housing. In the simplest form, a grip is provided for example as such a handle and this can be gripped with two fingers, so that the closure plug can be removed and installed without any tool. If in contrast the removal is only to be possible by specialists, then it is useful to design the closure body with a tool receiver, so that a removal is only possible with a corresponding tool. 
         [0016]    The housing opening is advantageously provided with a peripheral, outwardly projecting collar which surrounds the closure plug at the peripheral side outside the housing. Such a funnel-like (funnel-shaped) collar on the one hand has the advantage that given a removed closure plug, the fluid in particular water can be filled into the housing directly via this opening, without further aids such as funnels or filling aids having to be used. When opening the closure plug, and specifically on bringing it from the closed position into the position, in which a bypass is formed, but the closure plug is still fixedly and securely held within the opening, an outwardly projecting peripheral collar moreover permits a pressure compensation in the region between the closure plug and this collar, so that any exiting fluid exits through the collar in a manner directly peripherally of the closure plug and not transversely thereto. 
         [0017]    According to an advantageous further development of the invention, an overflow channel is provided in the closure body, preferably on the outer periphery of the closure plug, said overflow channel being released in the intermediate position, in which the closure body is still mechanically fastened in the housing opening, but the sealing of the closure body is no longer effective. Such an overflow channel as a bypass is particularly advantageous, since the pressure reduction here is possible in an even more targeted manner and a danger of injury can be avoided with a suitable handling, in particular if hot or aggressive fluid is present. 
         [0018]    It is particularly advantageous with regard to design and handling technology, if the housing opening is arranged aligned to the channel section receiving the sealing body. Specifically, on the one hand the sealing seat within the channel is then easily accessible from the outside, at least with an instrument which reaches up to the sealing seat. On the other hand the holder can be a straight-lined configuration and configured in a manner which is simple with regard to the design. 
         [0019]    The channel shape is basically freely selectable. However, it is particularly advantageous if the channel section receiving the sealing body has a circular cross section and is configured in a shouldered manner (with a shoulder portion), since the shouldered surface of the shoulder can then be used as an abutment for the sealing body and/or as a sealing surface. However, a radial surface of the shoulder preferably forms the sealing surface, since one can then work with an inexpensive and reliable O-ring as a seal. 
         [0020]    For this, according to a further development of the invention, the sealing body advantageously comprises a carrier body which has a peripheral groove, in which the actual sealing ring, preferably configured as an O-ring, is integrated. 
         [0021]    According to a further development of the invention, the carrier body is extended beyond the sealing seat and there, in combination with the channel forms a guide for the sealing body, in order on the one hand to be able to guide the carrier body in a precise manner but on the other hand to be able to design the guide means in a simple and inexpensive manner. The carrier body in this region thus advantageously comprises two, three or more rib-like formations, which slidingly bear on the channel wall and by way of this form a secure supporting and guidance. 
         [0022]    In contrast, it is advantageous on the holder side, if the sealing body is seated at the end of at least one guide rod which is axially movably arranged in a guide rod receiver of the holder. The guide rod in the simplest form is formed by a cylinder rod or several individual rods, and then the guide rod receiver can be formed by a ring or a suitable body with a circular recess and permitting an axial movement. 
         [0023]    The sealing body is advantageously impinged by a spring force in the closure direction, in order to reliably avoid a through-flow in the blocking direction of the valve, also in the pressure-less condition. One or more compression spring elements for example can be provided between the sealing body and the guide rod receiver for this. This is effected in a particularly simple and reliable manner by way of a helical spring which surrounds the guide rod and which is integrated between the sealing body on the one hand and the guide rod receiver on the other hand, preferably in a biased manner. 
         [0024]    It is advantageous with regard to design as well as handling technology, if the channel runs in a manner angled to the valve exit and is directly obliquely or transversely to a common longitudinal axis of the closure body and sealing body. Such an arrangement is not only particularly advantageous for integration into the water supply system, but also for a pump housing or valve housing. 
         [0025]    The non-return valve according to the invention is particularly advantageously applied in a water supply system with a single-stage or multi-stage electromotorically driven centrifugal pump which comprises an inlet connection which is conductively connected to the suction side of the pump, and an outlet connection which is conductively connected to the delivery side of the pump. Thereby, according to the invention, the non-return valve is integrated between the outlet connection and the delivery side of the pump, and this with regard to the arrangement is basically counted as belonging to the state of the art. Hereby however, when using the non-return valve according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous for several functions to be unified in this valve. Thus, for example on the one hand there exists the possibility of removing or disassembling the valve with few hand grips, and testing and overhauling it. Moreover, on the other hand there exists the possibility of filling fluid into the water supply system through the housing opening for the closure body, after removal of the sealing body, and thus a separate opening for this can be done away with. Finally, a prior pressure relief on the delivery side and also at the suction side is possible via the closure body, for example if a multi-step connection is applied between the closure body and the housing opening, as was described further above. 
         [0026]    Thereby, the arrangement is advantageously such that the housing opening for the closure body is arranged on an upper side of the housing of the water supply system, and the outlet connection of the water supply system is arranged at a side transverse thereto. This is particularly suited to the preferred channel arrangement of the valve and moreover permits a particularly advantageous design of the water supply system. 
         [0027]    Usefully, the outlet connection is arranged above the inlet connection and this is arranged above a drain connection which is closed by a releasable closure. This arrangement is particularly advantageous, since all hydraulic access openings are at one side of the water supply system, and only the housing opening for the closure body lies at the top, thus as a rule lies where the water supply system is easily accessible on operation. 
         [0028]    It is particularly advantageous with regard to design if the pump is arranged in a lying manner, which is to say with a horizontal rotation axis, in the water supply system. The suction chamber of the pump is thereby advantageously arranged such that the inlet connection and/or the drain opening run out into this. It is to be understood that the drain opening is arranged as deeply as possible, in order to be able to drain the water in a complete as possible manner, for example in winter for ensuring frost/freeze protection. 
         [0029]    Accordingly, after closure of the drain opening, water can be filled from above into the water supply system by way of removing the closure body and the sealing body which is connected thereto, to the extent that a self-priming, for recreating the operational situation occurs after the closure body and the sealing body have been inserted and the pump is switched on. 
         [0030]    The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of one embodiment example which is represented in the figures. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    In the drawings: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a greatly simplified schematic longitudinal sectional view through a water supply system with a non-return valve according to the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective longitudinal sectional representation showing the part of the water supply system which is on the non-return valve side; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective representation showing a holder a sealing body and closure plug; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a lateral view showing a holder according to  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective sectioned representation showing the flow course on opening the closure plug. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Referring to the drawings, the water supply system  1 , which is represented by way of  FIG. 1 , is arranged in a closed housing  2  which comprises a foot  3 , with which the water supply system  1  stands on the floor and is fastened there by screw as the case may be. 
         [0038]    The water supply system  1  comprises a multi-stage centrifugal pump  4  which is arranged in a lying manner, thus is operated with a horizontal rotation axis. The impellers  5  of the pump  4  are arranged on a shaft  6  which forms part of an electric motor  7  driving the centrifugal pump  4 . 
         [0039]    The water supply system  1  at the side which is on the left in  FIG. 1 , close to its placement surface comprises a drain opening  8  which is closed off by a closure  9 . An inlet connection  10  is arranged above the drain opening  8 , and an outlet connection  11  is provided at a significant distance above the inlet connection  10 . The inlet connection  10  runs out within the housing  2  of the water supply system  1  into a suction chamber  12  of the centrifugal pump  4 . The fluid entering into the water supply system  1  via the inlet connection  10  gets into the suction chamber  12 , from where it runs through the impellers  5  with the guide vanes arranged peripherally thereon, said impellers and guide vanes in each case forming a pump stage, until it exits out of the last pump stage and runs out into an annular channel  13  surrounding the pump stages of the centrifugal pump  4 . 
         [0040]    This annular channel  13  is connected below the pumps to the drain opening  8  and runs out above the pump into a channel  14  which is configured in an open manner at the end side (to the top in  FIG. 1 ) and can be closed by a closure plug  15 . The outlet connection  11 , via which the fluid leaves the water supply system  1 , runs out below the closure plug  15  and transversely thereto, into this channel  14 . A connection  16 , on which a diaphragm tank  17  as a pressure accumulator and compensation vessel is attached, runs out into the channel  14  in a manner  180  offset to this departure of the fluid. An electronics housing  18  which is arranged above the electric motor  7  and forms the complete control and regulation electronics of the water supply system  1  connects to the rear side of this diaphragm tank  17 . 
         [0041]    A non-return valve  19  is integrated within the channel  14 , and the sealing seat  20  of this non-return valve is formed by a shoulder which arises due to the fact that the part of the channel  4  which is at the bottom in  FIG. 1 , in the region of the sealing seat  20 , running obliquely upwards is widened to the upper part of the channel  14  which is larger in diameter. In the shown embodiment example, the sealing seat is formed by a chamfer-like oblique surface. The counter-piece is formed by a sealing body  21  which comprises a carrier body  22  with a peripheral groove, in which a sealing ring  23  in the form of an O-ring creating the actual sealing to the valve seat  20  is arranged. 
         [0042]    The carrier body  22  in  FIG. 1  is extended to the bottom, thus where the tapered part of the channel  14  is located, by four limbs  24  which arranged in a cross-shaped manner in cross section and which are formed radially widened towards the free end and there form guide surfaces  25 , with which the carrier body  22  is axially movably guided within the channel  14 . The carrier body  22  to the other side, thus to the top in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , comprises three guiding and locking (detent) limbs  26 , with which the carrier body  22  is arranged and guided in an axially movable manner within a receiver  27  formed by a ring  27 . The guide and locking limbs  26  are designed in a rod-like manner and at their free ends comprise detent lugs  28 , so that the limbs  26  with the detent lugs  28  at the end spring in, on insertion into the receiver  27 , and expand and spring out after passing through the receiver  27 . The carrier body  22  is then axial movable but is otherwise held within the receiver  27  with a positive fit, which is to say positively. The radial outer sides of the guiding and locking limbs  26  together with the radial inner side of the receiver  27  form a guide for the carrier body  22 , given its axial movement. 
         [0043]    As is evident from the Figures, the carrier body  22  is integrated in the receiver  27  amid the integration of a helical spring  29  which is biased and impinges the carrier body  22  opposite the receiver  27  with force, so that in the non-installed condition, the detent lugs  28  bear on one side of the receiver  27  (this position is not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  for the purpose of better representation of the guiding and locking limbs  26  with the detent lugs  28 ). This spring  29  ensures that the non-return valve  19  also remains in the closed position which is represented in  FIG. 1  and in which the channel  14  is blocked, also in the condition without pressure. 
         [0044]    The receiver  27  is seated at an end of a holder  31  which is formed from three rods  30  and which at one side axially movably carries the sealing body  21  and at the other side fixedly and immovably carries the closure plug  15 . 
         [0045]    The closure plug  15  is configured essentially cylinder-shaped and comprises an outer thread  32 , with which it can be screwed in a corresponding inner thread at the end of the channel  14 . The rods  30  of the holder  31  are fastened on a face side of a transverse wall which is at the bottom in the Figures, and an upper transverse wall is moreover provided at the upper end of the thread. The closure plug  15  comprises a peripheral groove in the region of the upper transverse wall, in which groove an O-ring  33  is integrated, said O-ring ensuring a sealed closure when the plug  15  is completely screwed in. A collar  34 , to the side remote from the thread connects onto the groove for the O-ring  33 , and this collar is configured in a slightly widened manner and two limbs  35  are formed at the inner side, wherein these limbs are also connected to the upper transverse wall and serve as a handle, in order to screw the closure plug  15  in and out. At the housing side, a collar  36  is provided at the upper end of the channel  14 , parallel to the collar  34  of the closure plug  15 . 
         [0046]    The outer thread  32  is interrupted by perpendicular incisions  37 , which forms a bypass, thus an overflow channel, between the pressure space of the outlet connection  11  and the surroundings. 
         [0047]    The closure plug  15  on operation is screwed in the corresponding thread receiver at the upper end of the channel  14  of the housing  2 , in a sealed and fixed manner and the O-ring  33  forms a sealed closure. The sealing body  21  is inserted into the channel  14  via the holder  31 , wherein the sealing body  21  with its sealing ring  23  bears on the sealing seat  20  and is held in this position by way of the force of the helical compression spring  29 . The non-return valve  19  is formed by way of this, and this blocks the backflow from the outlet connection  11  to the inlet connection  10 . Only on reaching a certain pressure which lies above the pressure in the diagram tank  17  or in the outlet connection  11 , does the non-return valve  19  open against spring force and release the hydraulic connection between the annular channel  13  and the outlet connection  11 . 
         [0048]    The non-return valve  19  prevents a pressure compensation if the inlet connection  10  is absent of pressure, but the delivery pressure is still present at the outlet connection  11 , which is normal in the case of a switched-off pump. If the closure plug  15  is then rotated out, then this firstly gets into a position, in which the sealing ring  33  comes out of bearing contact on the housing opening, so that a bypass connecting the pressure space within the water supply system to the outer environment is formed via the incisions  37  in the outer thread  32 . This position is represented in  FIG. 5  and there it is also represented as to how this pressure escapes, be it by way of a fluid flow (arrows) or by way of releasing gas (gas bubbles), without there existing any danger to the operating person. A directed jet exit is prevented from being formed by way of the collars  34  and  36  which engaged tightly into one another, but rather gas escapes freely upwards and fluid through the gap formed between the collars  34  and  36 . 
         [0049]    If the closure plug  15  is then rotated further out, the sealing body  21  also lifts from the sealing seat  20 , so that a hydraulic pressure compensation is formed between the inlet connection  10  and the outlet connection  11 . 
         [0050]    The function of the non-return valve  19  can be examined on the sealing body side after removal of the closure plug  15 , and the sealing ring  23  can be exchanged as the case may be. The sealing seat  20  can also be cleaned or treated by way of introducing a suitable tool. The water which is necessary for producing a self priming effect can then be filled into the water supply system  1 , since the sealing body  21  is also removed with the removal of the plug  15  via the holder  31 . The filling of the water can be effected through the opening on the upper side of the housing  2  which is otherwise closed by the closure plug  15 , due to the fact that the sealing body  21  is removed and thus the function of the non-return valve  19  has been made inoperative. It is therefore not necessary to provide a separate filling opening upstream of the non-return valve  19 , which would be necessary if the non-return valve  19  were to function. 
         [0051]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 
       APPENDIX 
     List of Reference Numbers 
       [0000]    
       
           1 —water supply system 
           2 —housing 
           3 —foot of housing 
           4 —centrifugal pump 
           5 —impellers 
           6 —shaft 
           7 —electric motor 
           8 —drain opening 
           9 —closure for  8   
           10 —inlet connection 
           11 —outlet connection 
           12 —suction chamber of the pump 
           13 —annular channel 
           14 —channel 
           15 —closure plug 
           16 —connection for the diaphragm tank 
           17 —diaphragm tank 
           18 —electronics housing 
           19 —non-return valve 
           20 —sealing seat 
           21 —sealing body 
           22 —carrier body 
           23 —sealing ring 
           24 —limb 
           25 —guide surfaces of  24   
           26 —guiding and locking limb 
           27 —receiver 
           28 —detent lugs on  26   
           29 —helical compression spring 
           30 —rods 
           31 —holder 
           32 —outer thread of  15   
           33 —O-ring of  15   
           34 —collar of  15   
           35 —limb 
           36 —collar on  2   
           37 —incisions for bypass/overflow channel