Patent Description:
The applicant's own earlier <CIT> and <CIT> disclose, respectively, a three-way boiler service and maintenance valve, and a water heating system incorporating the same. The valve has first and second connectors, a separate flush entrance, and a ball valve member having a plurality of apertures and arranged for movement so as selectively to interconnect any two, or all three, of: the first and second connectors and the flush entrance. An access port for a filling loop is also provided, fluid communication with which is permitted when any two of the first and second connectors and the flush entrance are interconnected.

The present invention constitutes a further improvement and adaptation of such a valve. In particular, the present invention seeks to provide a further modified three-way ball valve in which fluid communication with an access port provided on the valve can be enabled in all open and closed positions of the valve.

According to the present invention there is provided a valve as defined in claim <NUM>, comprising:.

According to the present invention, the first, second and third connectors are arranged on the body so as to form a coplanar T-shaped configuration, with the fourth connector being located out of said plane. The first, second and third apertures are similarly arranged on the ball valve member so as to form a corresponding coplanar T-shaped configuration, with the conduit for the fourth connector being located at least partially out of said plane. The first, second and third apertures communicate with one another via an internal cavity provided in the ball valve member. The ball valve member is arranged for rotation of the first, second and third apertures in the shared plane of the first, second and third connectors, so as to align the apertures with the connectors in different combinations thereof, and thereby to define each of the range of positions of the ball valve member. Gasket seals are preferably provided internally of the first, second and third connectors, between said connectors and the ball valve member.

The presence of the fourth connector and the conduit enhance the functionality of the ball valve, thus effectively modifying it from a three-way to a four-way valve.

With reference to the applicant's earlier publications as hereinbefore identified, it should be understood that the flush entrance as described therein effectively corresponds to the third connector as described herein and the access port as described therein effectively corresponds to the fourth connector as described herein.

In an example not covered by the present invention, the conduit comprises a fourth aperture provided in the ball valve member, and arranged to communicate with the first, second and third apertures via the internal cavity of the ball valve member. The fourth aperture is located outside the shared plane of the first, second and third apertures. The fourth aperture can thus remain aligned with the fourth connector whichever of said range of positions the ball valve member is rotated into.

According to the present invention, the conduit comprises a channel formed in the outer surface of the ball valve member and in communication with one of said first, second or third apertures. Preferably, the channel extends to said one of said first, second or third apertures from an entry point on the outer surface of the ball valve member located outside the shared plane of the first, second and third apertures. More preferably, the channel extends to the third aperture from an entry point on the outer surface of the ball valve member located generally equidistant from said first, second and third apertures.

As will be appreciated, in this embodiment of the valve according to the present invention, fluid is permitted to flow over the outer surface of the ball valve member, in addition to the flow of fluid through the internal cavity. This arrangement also lends itself to use of the modified valve in applications where mixing of two fluids is required, for example for cooling, cleaning or water purification. It is further envisaged that the enhanced functionality of the valve may permit one modified valve to be utilised where two conventional valves would previously have been required, thus saving space.

The location of the entry point outside the shared plane of the first, second and third apertures enables said entry point to remain aligned with the fourth connector whichever of said range of positions the ball valve member is rotated into.

In order to facilitate fluid communication between the channel and each of the first, second or third connectors, the gasket seals provided internally of the connectors may preferably be provided with notches adapted for alignment with the channel in each of the range of positions of the ball valve member.

In configurations not covered by the present invention, it is envisaged that in further alternative embodiments, a plurality of channels may be formed in the outer surface of the ball valve member, extending from the entry point to any two, or all three, of said first, second and third apertures.

According to the present invention, the range of positions of the ball valve member preferably comprises:.

The fourth connector may communicate with each of the engaged connectors in each of the above positions, i.e.: the first and third connectors in the first open position; the second and third connectors in the second open position; the first, second and third connectors in the third open position; and the first and second connectors in the closed position.

The valve body may comprise a plurality of faces and is preferably cuboid, having six faces. The first and second connectors are preferably provided on first and second opposed faces. The third connector is preferably provided on a third face, orthogonal to said first and second faces, and having a fourth face opposed thereto. The fourth connector may either be provided on a fifth or sixth face arranged orthogonally to said first, second and third faces. Providing the fourth connector on the fifth or sixth face locates the fourth connector out of the plane of rotation, and thereby enables the conduit to permit fluid communication whichever position the ball valve member is in.

The first and second connectors may be adapted for connection to elements of a water heating system, such as a flow or return pipe connected to a boiler. The third connector may be sealed by a cap, when not required. As will be appreciated from the foregoing, when the ball valve member is in the first or second open positions, fluid communication between the first connector and the second connector is prevented. When the modified valve is installed in a system, sealing the third connector when the ball valve member is in the first or second open positions thus effectively isolates the part of the system connected to the first connector from the part of the system connected to the second connector. This is desirable when wishing to service different elements of the system, as described in the applicant's earlier publications as hereinbefore identified. A pair of modified valves may be installed, one member of said pair being installed in the flow pipe of the system, and the other member of the pair being installed in the return pipe. In other types of fluid circulation system, it may be desirable to install one member of the pair in a hot water feed pipe, and the other member of the pair in a cold water feed pipe. In such applications, the modified valve is particularly beneficial for use in descaling processes.

Movement of the ball valve member from one position to another may be effected by a manually or electrically operated actuator.

In a further development of the present invention, the actuator may be incorporated into one of the connectors, and preferably is incorporated into the third connector. The actuator may thus preferably be formed as a rotatable pipe section connected to said connector and adapted to effect rotation of the ball valve member within the valve body. Rotation of the ball valve member may preferably be effected by the rotatable pipe section engaging with one of the apertures or the conduit of the ball valve member. More preferably, the rotatable pipe section engages with a slot formed at the entry point of the channel constituting the conduit, in embodiments which comprise this feature. The actuator may additionally comprise a rotatable collar provided on said connector and adapted to effect rotation of the rotatable pipe section, and thereby the ball valve member within the valve body.

In such embodiments featuring the incorporation of the actuator into the third connector, and engagement of the rotatable pipe section with the conduit, re-alignment of the ball valve member within the valve body is required, such that the conduit remains aligned with third connector during rotation of the ball valve member.

Incorporating the actuator within one of the connectors frees up an additional face of the valve body, which would otherwise house the actuator. This free space may then be utilised to house a control unit for monitoring and displaying real time data associated with the performance of the fluid circulation system, for example, the flow rate, temperature or pressure of fluid within the system. In applications where the modified valve is utilised for the mixing of two fluids, the control unit may be adapted to measure the flow rate, temperature or pressure of both fluids.

The control unit may be further adapted to transmit the generated real time data wirelessly, for example via WiFi, Bluetooth or cellular signal to a remote receiver. The remote receiver may be a remote computer or cloud server for storage of the data, or may be a remote computer or portable device for real time monitoring of the data, for example by a heating professional where the fluid circulation system is a water heating system. In such applications, the control unit may be further adapted to transmit an alert to the remote receiver when the data generated falls outside pre-set parameters.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, though only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Referring first to <FIG>, there is shown a modified valve, generally indicated <NUM>, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The valve <NUM> comprises a generally cuboid body <NUM> having first <NUM> and second <NUM> opposed faces, a third face <NUM> orthogonal to said first <NUM> and second <NUM> faces, a fourth face <NUM> opposed to said third face <NUM>, and fifth <NUM> and sixth <NUM> opposed faces, orthogonal to said first <NUM>, second <NUM>, third <NUM> and fourth <NUM> faces.

The first face <NUM> is provided with a first connector <NUM>, and the second face <NUM> is provided with a second connector <NUM>. Each said connector <NUM>, <NUM> is adapted for connection to a respective element of a fluid circulation system, such as a flow or return pipe of a water heating system. The third face <NUM> is provided with a third connector <NUM> which is similarly adapted for connection to an element of a fluid circulation system, and is additionally provided with a sealing cap <NUM> to close the connector <NUM> when not in use. The third connector <NUM> may be utilised as a flush entrance when the valve <NUM> is installed in a water heating system. A fourth connector <NUM> is provided on the fifth face <NUM> of the body <NUM>, and is similarly provided with a sealing cap <NUM> to close the fourth connector <NUM> when not in use. The fourth connector <NUM> may be utilised as an access port for a filling loop when the valve <NUM> is installed in a water heating system.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a first construction not covered by the present invention of ball valve member <NUM> for use in the valve <NUM> of <FIG>, the ball valve member <NUM> being mounted for rotation internally within the valve body <NUM>. The ball valve member <NUM> comprises first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures, arranged in a coplanar, generally T-shaped configuration, and in fluid communication with one another via an internal cavity <NUM> formed in the ball valve member <NUM>. A fourth aperture <NUM>, also in fluid communication with the internal cavity <NUM>, is located outside the shared plane of the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures.

The ball valve member <NUM> is mounted within the valve body <NUM> for rotation in the shared plane of the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures. The fourth aperture <NUM> remains in alignment with the fourth connector <NUM> whilst the ball valve member <NUM> is rotated so as interchangeably to align the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures with the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> connectors. This permits fluid communication between any two, or all three, of said first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> connectors, depending on the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>. Fluid communication with the fourth connector <NUM> is always permitted, regardless of the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a construction of ball valve member <NUM> according to the present invention, for use in the valve <NUM> of <FIG>, the ball valve member <NUM> being mounted for rotation internally within the valve body <NUM>. The ball valve member <NUM> again comprises first <NUM> and second <NUM> apertures, and a modified third aperture <NUM>, arranged in a coplanar, generally T-shaped configuration, and in fluid communication with one another via an internal cavity <NUM> formed in the ball valve member <NUM>. The third aperture <NUM> is modified by part of the periphery thereof being stepped in to form a lip <NUM>. The fourth aperture <NUM> present in the ball valve member <NUM> of <FIG> is now replaced by a channel <NUM> formed in the surface of the ball valve member <NUM>, and extending from an entry point <NUM>, located outside the shared plane of the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures, to the lip <NUM> forming part of the periphery of the modified third aperture <NUM>. Fluid communication between the entry point <NUM> and the internal cavity <NUM> is only permitted via the channel <NUM> and the modified third aperture <NUM>.

The ball valve member <NUM> is mounted within the valve body <NUM> for rotation in the shared plane of the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures. The entry point <NUM> remains in alignment with the fourth connector <NUM> whilst the ball valve member <NUM> is rotated so as interchangeably to align the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures with the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> connectors. This permits fluid communication between any two, or all three, of said first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> connectors, depending on the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>. Fluid communication with the fourth connector <NUM> is always permitted, regardless of the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown an exploded view of a modified valve, generally indicated <NUM>, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The principal components of the valve <NUM> are unchanged from the embodiments described above with reference to <FIG>, and are referenced with like reference numerals. The valve <NUM> of this embodiment is further modified in that an actuator <NUM>, for effecting rotation of the ball valve member <NUM> within the valve body <NUM>, is incorporated into the third connector <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> comprises a rotatable pipe section <NUM> forming the third connector <NUM>, and adapted to engage with the ball valve member <NUM>, as can best be seen in <FIG>. The rotatable pipe section <NUM> is shaped so as to engage with the channel <NUM> of the ball valve member <NUM>, and comprises a cut-out section <NUM> to facilitate fluid communication between the rotatable pipe section <NUM> and the channel <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, and as can also be seen in <FIG>, the pipe section <NUM> engages with a rotatable collar <NUM> mounted on the valve body <NUM> to facilitate operation. The valve body <NUM> is also provided with markings <NUM> to assist with correctly aligning the valve <NUM> during operation.

The alignment of the ball valve member <NUM> within the valve body <NUM> is adjusted for this embodiment of valve <NUM> compared to the valve <NUM> of <FIG>. The ball valve member <NUM> is still mounted within the valve body <NUM> for rotation in the shared plane of the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures, however that rotation now interchangeably aligns the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and third <NUM> apertures with the first <NUM>, second <NUM> and fourth <NUM> connectors. The entry point <NUM> now remains in alignment with the third connector <NUM> whilst the ball valve member <NUM> is rotated. This permits fluid communication between any two, or all three, of said first <NUM>, second <NUM> and fourth <NUM> connectors, depending on the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>. Fluid communication with the third connector <NUM> is always permitted regardless of the rotational position of the ball valve member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A valve (<NUM>) comprising:
- a body (<NUM>) having first and second and third connectors, forming a coplanar, T-shaped configuration, at least said first and second connectors being adapted for connection to a respective element of a fluid circulation system; and
- a ball valve member (<NUM>) enclosed internally within the body and having first second and third apertures (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) forming a corresponding coplanar, T-shaped configuration said ball valve member being arranged for selective rotation of the first, second and third apertures in the shared plane of the first, second and third connectors between a range of positions comprising:
- a first open position allowing fluid communication between the first connector and the third connector, but not the second connector;
- a second open position, allowing fluid communication between the second connector and the third connector, but not the first connector;
- a third open position, allowing fluid communication between all of the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector; and
- a closed position, allowing fluid communication between the first connector and the second connector, but not the third connector;
and the valve (<NUM> being characterised in that:
- the body further comprises a fourth connector (<NUM>); and
- the ball valve member further comprises a conduit (<NUM>) comprising a channel (<NUM>) formed in the outer surface of the ball valve member and extending to one of said first second or third apertures from an entry point on the surface of the ball valve member located outside the shared plane of the first, second and third apertures, to permit fluid communication between said fourth connector and at least two of said first, second and third connectors in each of said range of positions of the ball valve member.