Abstract:
In order to provide a shut-off valve including a valve housing, a valve seat which is held on the valve housing, and a valve element ( 40 ) which is movable in the valve housing relative to the valve seat and is movable by means of an adjusting unit, wherein the shut-off valve, as a result of its construction, has the smallest possible flow resistance in the open position of the valve element, it is proposed that the valve element should have a valve disc ( 74 ) which is provided, on its side facing the valve seat, with a sealing element ( 90 ) that abuts against the valve disc.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of international application No. PCT/EP2013/057838 filed on Apr. 15, 2013. 
         [0002]    This patent application claims the benefit of international application No. PCT/EP2013/057838 of Apr. 15, 2013 and German application number 10 2012 103 641.1 of Apr. 25, 2012, the teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a shut-off valve including a valve housing, a valve seat which is held on the valve housing, and a valve element which is movable in the valve housing relative to the valve seat and is movable by means of an adjusting unit. 
         [0004]    Shut-off valves of this kind are known from the prior art. 
         [0005]    These shut-off valves have the problem that the shut-off valve has an undesirable flow resistance in the open position of the valve element. 
         [0006]    The object of the invention is therefore to provide a shut-off valve which, as a result of its construction, has the smallest possible flow resistance in the open position of the valve element. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This object is achieved according to the invention in the case of a shut-off valve of the type described in the introduction in that the valve element has a valve disc which is provided, on its side facing the valve seat, with a sealing element that abuts against the valve disc. 
         [0008]    The advantage of this solution can be seen in the fact that it provides the possibility of forming the valve element in a manner favourable to flow and hence of obtaining a smaller flow resistance in the open position of the valve element. 
         [0009]    In this arrangement, the valve element could still be rotatably connected to the adjusting unit, for which purpose a rotary connection is usually provided. 
         [0010]    It is particularly favourable if the valve element is connected to the adjusting unit such that it cannot rotate in relation thereto. 
         [0011]    This solution has the great advantage that as a result the rotary guide for connecting the valve element and the adjusting unit is dispensed with and thus a construction of the shut-off valve which is more favourable to flow is possible. 
         [0012]    It is particularly favourable in this arrangement if the valve element has a hub body which is connected to the adjusting unit. 
         [0013]    A simple connection which is favourable to flow may be made between the valve element and the adjusting unit by way of a hub body of this kind. 
         [0014]    In particular, in this arrangement it is favourable if the hub body forms a central portion of the valve element which carries the valve disc and which, as a result of the type of construction, can be formed in a manner which is very favourable to flow. 
         [0015]    The adjusting unit could in principle be formed in any desired manner, for example as a linear drive. 
         [0016]    In particular, it is advantageously provided for the adjusting unit to include an actuating spindle which is arranged to be rotatable and axially adjustable in a receptacle in the valve housing. 
         [0017]    An adjusting spindle of this kind makes movement of the valve element implementable in a simple manner. 
         [0018]    One implementation provides for the valve element to be connected to the actuating spindle such that it cannot rotate in relation thereto, such that the connection between the valve element and the actuating spindle can be implemented in a simple manner that is favourable to flow. 
         [0019]    In this arrangement, it is particularly favourable if the hub body is connected to the actuating spindle, in particular being integrally formed thereon, such that a direct connection between the actuating spindle and the valve element is implementable in the form of the hub body. 
         [0020]    A further advantageous solution provides for the valve element to carry, on its side of the sealing element opposite to the valve disc, a holding disc which urges the sealing element in the direction of the valve disc. 
         [0021]    As a supplement to the valve disc, a holding disc of this kind has the advantage that it allows the valve element to be formed in a manner favourable to flow and the sealing element to be fixed reliably between the holding disc and the valve disc. 
         [0022]    Favourably, for this purpose it is provided for the holding disc to be urged in the direction of the valve disc by a holding body, as a result of which the holding disc is connectable to the valve disc in a simple manner. 
         [0023]    In this arrangement, the holding body could be connectable to the valve disc in a different way. 
         [0024]    A particularly favourable solution for this purpose provides for the holding body to be screwable into the hub body. 
         [0025]    A screw connection of this kind between the holding body and the hub body can be implemented in a particularly simple and reliable manner. 
         [0026]    In order to secure the connection between the hub body and the holding body against being released, it is preferably provided for a connection between the holding body and the hub body to be lockable by a locking element. 
         [0027]    A locking element of this kind may be formed in an extremely wide range of different ways. 
         [0028]    For example, one locking element of this kind is formed as a clamping pin which is seated in a bore that extends in both the holding body and the hub body. 
         [0029]    For example, this bore could be a transverse bore which extends for example transversely in relation to a spindle axis of the actuating spindle. 
         [0030]    A particularly favourable solution provides for the bore to be a bore that extends in both the holding body and the hub body, preferably parallel to the spindle axis of the actuating spindle. 
         [0031]    In order to provide a reliable seal between the valve disc and the sealing element, it is preferably provided for the valve disc to have on its side facing the sealing element an elevated region that is arranged to run peripherally and in closed manner or to circulate in closed manner and against which the sealing element abuts. 
         [0032]    This elevated region is for example formed such that when the sealing element is urged in the direction of the valve disc it digs into the sealing element and thus forms a line-like sealing line provided with a powerful sealing pressure, between the sealing element and the valve disc. 
         [0033]    In order furthermore to achieve optimum closure of the shut-off valve in the closed position, it is preferably provided for the sealing element to have a conically peripheral outer surface by means of which the sealing element is abuttable against the valve seat. 
         [0034]    A sealing element that is formed in this manner, with an outer surface that runs conically in relation to the spindle axis of the actuating spindle, enables a good sealing action to be achieved in the region of the valve seat, in a simple manner. 
         [0035]    In particular, the sealing action of the sealing element in interaction with the valve seat can be improved in that the valve seat has a rounded transitional surface against which the outer surface is abuttable. 
         [0036]    Preferably, in this arrangement the valve seat is formed such that it has an intake wall, which is in particular conical, and an outtake wall, which is in particular conical or cylindrical, and such that the transitional surface creates a transition from the intake wall to the outtake wall and hence provides the possibility of achieving a sufficiently powerful sealing pressure in the region of the valve seat between the outer surface and the transitional surface. 
         [0037]    Further features and advantages of the invention form the subject-matter of the description that follows and the illustrative drawing of an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a shut-off valve according to the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section through the shut-off valve illustrated in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  shows an enlarged illustration of the section in  FIG. 2  in the region of the valve element, and 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  shows an enlarged illustration of the section in  FIG. 3  in a region A in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    An exemplary embodiment of a shut-off valve  10  according to the invention, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , includes a valve housing  12  which has an intake  14  and an outtake  16 , wherein for example a centre axis  22  of the intake  14  is oriented transversely, preferably at a right angle, to a centre axis  24  of the outtake  16 . 
         [0043]    Further, on an opposite side to the outtake  16 , the valve housing includes a receptacle  26  for an adjusting unit that is designated  28  as a whole and whereof the operation will be explained in detail below. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the valve housing  12  an intake chamber  30  is formed adjoining the intake  14 , and receives a medium  32  that flows in through the intake  14  and is deflected in the valve housing  12  in the direction of an outtake chamber  34  adjoined by the outtake  16 . 
         [0045]    However, the inflowing medium  32  may be prevented from passing into the outtake chamber  34  by a valve element, designated  40  as a whole, which is movable by means of the adjusting unit  28  in relation to a valve seat  42  that is arranged in the valve housing  12  at the transition from the intake chamber  30  to the outtake chamber  34 , being movable from a closed position in which there is interaction with the valve seat  42  and which is shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2  to an open position which is indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , and vice versa. 
         [0046]    In this arrangement, in the open position the valve element  40  is approximately in the centre of the intake chamber  30 , such that the centre axis  22  intersects the valve element  40  in the open position. 
         [0047]    Further, the valve element  40  is preferably movable parallel to the centre axis  24  of the outtake  16 , in particular coaxially in relation to the centre axis  24 . 
         [0048]    Preferably, the valve seat  42  is also arranged coaxially in relation the centre axis  24  of the outtake  16 . 
         [0049]    The adjusting unit  28 , which enables movement of the valve element  40  parallel to the centre axis  24  of the outtake  16 , preferably—as illustrated in FIG.  2 —includes an actuating spindle  50  which is rotatable about a spindle axis  52  and is provided in the region of a threaded portion  54  with an external thread  56  which, for its part, engages in an internal thread  58  which is provided in a threaded bore  62  in the receptacle  26 , wherein the threaded bore  62  has a length in the direction of the spindle axis  52  that is sufficiently large for the threaded portion  54  to be held and guided in the threaded bore  62  both in the closed position and in the open position of the valve element  40 . 
         [0050]    Further, the actuating spindle is provided, in the region of its end  64  that extends beyond the receptacle  26  and thus projects out of the latter, with a positively locking element  66 , for example a square shaft, which enables the actuating spindle  52  to be driven using a suitable drive element. 
         [0051]    Preferably, for covering the end  64  of the actuating spindle  50  there is also provided a covering cap  68  which is screwable onto the receptacle  26  in the valve housing  12  and at the same time is capable of receiving the end  64  of the actuating spindle  54  in any position of the valve element  40 . 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the valve element  40  is held on a hub body  72 , in particular a hub sleeve of the actuating spindle  50 , which is preferably integrally formed in one piece with the actuating spindle  50  and represents an end of the actuating spindle  50  that is located in the intake chamber  30 . 
         [0053]    In this arrangement, the valve element  40  is formed by a valve disc  74  which is provided with a central aperture  76 , which for its part is seated on a cylindrical guide surface of the hub sleeve  72  and is supported against a shoulder  82  of the hub sleeve  72 , this shoulder  82  extending radially beyond the cylindrical guide surface  78 , wherein there is provided, between the shoulder  82  and a support surface  84  of the valve disc that faces it, a seal  86  which results in a peripherally sealed closure between the hub sleeve  72  and the valve disc  74 . 
         [0054]    On its side facing the valve seat  42 , the valve disc  74  carries a sealing element  90  which extends from an outer peripheral side  92  of the valve disc  74 , which lies radially outward in relation to the spindle axis  52 , to a centring attachment  94  of the valve disc  74  and is formed for example as a washer which has a centring cutout  98  that abuts against the centring attachment  94 . 
         [0055]    In this arrangement, the sealing element  90  that is formed as a washer  96  is supported against the valve disc  74  by way of a supporting side  102  that faces the valve disc  74 . 
         [0056]    In this arrangement, the valve disc  74  is preferably provided—as illustrated in FIG.  4 —in the region close to its outer peripheral side  92  with an annular elevated region  106  that projects annularly beyond an abutment side  104  of the valve disc  74  and in particular runs peripherally and in closed manner around the spindle axis  52 , and against which the sealing element  90  is abuttable in such a way that the elevated region  106  can dig into the material of the sealing element  90  and results in a sealed closure between the valve disc  74  and the sealing element  90 , such that no medium can pass between the valve disc  74  and the sealing element  90  and be propagated in the direction of the centring attachment  94  and the centring cutout  98 . 
         [0057]    Rather, as a result of the annular elevated portion  106 , because of a sealing line which is formed, a sealed closure between the valve disc  74  and the sealing element  90  is ensured. 
         [0058]    For sealing in the region of the valve seat  42 , the sealing element  90  is provided with a radially outward outer surface  112  which runs conically in relation to the spindle axis  52 , wherein the cone angle of the outer surface  112  is in the range between 45° and 80°, preferably in the range between 50° and 70°. 
         [0059]    For the purpose of sealed closure with the valve seat  42 , this conical outer surface  112  is abuttable against a transitional surface  114  of the valve seat  42  which is rounded in cross section, wherein the transitional surface  114  is located between an intake wall  116 , which runs conically in relation to the spindle axis  52  and faces the intake chamber  30 , and an outtake wall  118  of the valve seat  42 , which runs approximately cylindrically in relation to the spindle axis  52 . In this arrangement, the cone angle of the intake wall  116  is larger than the cone angle of the outer surface  112  of the sealing element  90 , with the result that, close to the transition to its closed position, the sealing element  90  abuts by means of the outer surface  112  initially linearly against the transitional surface  114 , but because of the radius of the transitional surface  114  the latter digs at least partly into the outer surface  112  of the sealing element  90  in order to ensure a sealed closure between the transitional surface  114  and the sealing element  90 , in particular the outer surface  112  of the latter. 
         [0060]    Preferably, the radius of the elevated region  106  that runs peripherally and in closed manner around the spindle axis  52  is larger than a radius of the transitional surface  114 , with the result that in the region of the elevated region  106  optimum pressure may be produced between the latter and the sealing element  90 , in particular between an outer region  122  of the sealing element  90  or washer  96  that projects beyond the transitional surface  114 . 
         [0061]    In this arrangement, preferably the cone angle of the intake wall  116  is larger, preferably significantly larger, than the cone angle of the outer surface  112 , preferably lying in the range between 80° and 90°. 
         [0062]    For fixing the washer  96  of the sealing element  90  to the valve disc  74 , a holding disc  124  is provided on an opposite side of the sealing element  90  to the valve disc  74  and substantially covers the washer  96  of the sealing element  90  in the radial direction relative to the spindle axis  52  but extends at a spacing from the outer surface  112  of the sealing element  90 , this spacing ensuring that the holding disc  124  having an outer side  126  that is radially outward in relation to the spindle axis  52  cannot collide with the valve seat  42 . 
         [0063]    Preferably, the outer side  126  of the holding disc  124  is at a radial spacing from the spindle axis  52  which is smaller than the radius of the outtake wall  118 , and preferably the radius is at most 95% of the radius of the outtake wall  118 . 
         [0064]    Favourably, in this arrangement, by means of a pressure surface  132  the holding disc  124  abuts against substantially the entire face of an abutment surface  134  of the sealing element  90 , in particular the washer  96 , facing the pressure surface  132  and urges the sealing element  90 , in particular the washer  96 , in the direction of the abutment side  104  of the valve disc  74 . 
         [0065]    For fixing the holding disc  124  in relation to the valve disc  74 , and for clamping the sealing element  90  between the holding disc  124  and the valve disc  74 , there is provided a holding body  140  which is screwed by means of a threaded attachment  142  that is provided with an external thread  144  into an internal thread  146  of the hub sleeve  72 . 
         [0066]    Further, the holding body  140  includes a flange body  148  that is connected to the threaded attachment  142  and, in a radially outward region that runs around the threaded attachment  142 , urges the holding disc  124 , in order to use the latter for its part to urge the sealing element  90  in the direction of the valve disc  74 . 
         [0067]    Further, the holding body is fixable relative to the hub sleeve  72  in its position that fixes the sealing element  90  with positively engaging clamping between the holding disc  124  and the valve disc  74 , by a bore  152  that engages in the external thread  144  and the internal thread  146 , running in particular parallel to the spindle axis  52 , and into which a clamping pin  154  is insertable, this clamping pin  154 —once it is seated in the bore  152 —preventing the external thread  144  from turning relative to the internal thread  146  and thus preventing the threaded attachment  172  from turning relative to the hub sleeve  72 . 
         [0068]    Operation of the shut-off valve according to the invention is such that, as a result of the adjusting unit  28 , the entire valve element  40  can be moved relative to the valve seat  42 , wherein in its closed position the sealing element  90  abuts by means of its conical outer surface  112  against the transitional surface  114  and during this is pressed so powerfully against the transitional surface  114  that the latter deforms the outer surface  112  such that it abuts against the transitional surface  114 . 
         [0069]    This is done by rotating the actuating spindle  50 , wherein the valve disc  74  and the sealing element  90  and the holding disc  124  rotate with the actuating spindle  50  such that in the course of a rotary movement the outer surface  112  of the sealing element  90  comes into abutment against the transitional surface  114 . 
         [0070]    If the valve element  40  is to be moved from the closed position described above into the open position, then again a rotation of the actuating spindle  50  is performed but in the opposite direction, such that in the course of a rotary movement the sealing element  90  is released by means of the outer surface  112  from the transitional surface  114 . 
         [0071]    In this arrangement, in the event of the valve element  40  being in the closed position for a long time, the sealing element  90  may adhere to the transitional surface  114  by means of the outer surface  112  such that when the valve element  40  makes the transition from the closed position to the open position a rotary movement of the sealing element  90  is inhibited. 
         [0072]    In this case, despite the positive engagement with the valve disc  74  and the holding disc  124 , for a brief time the sealing element  90  cannot turn with the valve disc  74 , with the result that on the one hand it is possible to rotate the actuating spindle  50  to raise the valve element  40  away from the valve seat  42  and on the other the sealing element  90  may remain stationary for a brief time such that it cannot rotate in relation to the valve seat  42 , in particular in relation to the transitional surface  114 , until the valve disc  74 , together with the holding disc  124 , has moved somewhat away from the valve seat  42 , with the result that in this case too adhesion of the outer surface  112  to the transitional surface  114  may be released by the movement in the direction of the spindle axis  52  away from the valve seat  42 , and then the valve disc  74  may rotate with the actuating spindle  50  once again.