Patent AU-2015202174-A1 (AU)
Title: Blockage resistant pressure reducing valve for debris laden liquids.
Inventor: SMITH KEVIN JOHN
IPC: F16K47/04
Filed: 2015-04-29
Abstract: Abstract In a liquid reticulation pipeline system, where a change of pressure is required within the system, a pressure reducing valve may be employed. The purpose of this valve is to lower the pressure of the liquid passing through it, to a pre-set value. Typically the valve mechanism will incorporate small galleries and associated internal valves. These galleries and associated components are intolerant of debris passing through them and the valve will fail to operate correctly. One example of a debris laden liquid, is farm effluent, when pumped from storage, to a travelling irrigator (this example shall be used in the text and illustrations to follow). So far, industrial pressure reducing valves have been employed for this purpose. These require a separate filter to be placed before the valve to separate the debris from the liquid. These filters require frequent cleaning and add weight to the combined assembly which tends to be heavy by nature. The "blockage resistant liquid pressure reducing valve for debris laden liquids", described from here on as "BRV", is tolerant of debris contaminated liquids and is able to regulate pressure and not clog, while subject to this environment. The basic principle of operation is this; upon becoming restricted with debris the BRV's pressure regulating mechanism opens till the debris is freed, to be expelled from the valve, with little disruption to pressure control. The BRV is also compact and light, making it portable by hand. The BRV consists of several principle working components. These components are shown in the non limiting embodiment, Illustration 1 : An inlet gallery (A), where liquid enters to be potentially flow restricted at the curved valve face (B), which the partially rotating rotor (C), mates with. The outer surface of Rotor (C), seats against, or is placed with a minimal gap, against curved face (B), and as it oscillates it closes the opening of mating orifice face (B), by way of shapes, a hole, or edges cut in the outer curved surface of rotor (C) . Rotor (C), is connected by link (D), to diaphragm (E). Preload pressure is applied to diaphragm (E), by pressurised air, or a gas, contained in chamber (F) to create an "air spring". The gas or air pressure may be altered or recuperated by a pump within the valve assembly, which operates due to valve component movement as the valve regulates fluid pressure, or an aerosol container attached to the valve assembly, or by an external pressure source. This gas/air pressure value sets the BRV downstream liquid pressure, when the valve is operating. The capacity of cavity (F), may be made bigger or enhanced by the attachment of one or more remote receivers. Outlet port (G), conveys the regulated liquid out of the valve body, to downstream. The action of the BRV's regulating mechanism, ie components (C), (D),(E), may be slowed down or speed stabilised by the use of a connected device, incorporated into the BRV, utilising a viscous fluid placed between components moving at a dissimilar speeds, to create resistance, or by the viscous fluid being forced through an orifice, to create resistance. Illustration 1 Al Page 4 of 4