Patent Description:
Filtering assemblies installed along hydraulic system piping and comprising magnetic filters and mesh filters arranged to collect impurities present in the fluid affecting the system are known. The filtering is useful to prevent ferrous or mineral particles from damaging system components such as, for example, pumps or boilers.

Document <CIT> describes a ball valve having a valve body, which houses a ball shutter, and three threaded connections. In addition, there is provided a bushing, screwed inside a first port used as a fluid inlet, so as to be in contact with the ball valve plug. A second connection, aligned with the inlet one, is fixed to a container which houses permanent magnets for the purpose of filtering the fluid. A third connection, orthogonal to the inlet one, is such as to be connected to a fluid outlet pipe.

Document <CIT> describes a shut-off valve equipped with pressure compensation ducts.

Applicant has noted that filtering assemblies of the known art provided with flow shutoff valves are not, however, satisfactory with respect to the possibility of their connection to fluidic systems having different conditions of space available for installation of the filtering group or relative orientation of the fluid supply and outlet piping.

The technical problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a filtering group, of the type comprising a ball valve, that offers flexibility of installation and that is, can be installed in systems that present different conditions of available space and orientation of the piping to which the filtering group is to be connected.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filtering group as defined by claim <NUM> and particular embodiments thereof described by dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

The constructive and functional characteristics of the invention may be better understood from the detailed description that follows, in which reference is made to the attached drawing plates representing some preferred and nonlimiting embodiments thereof, wherein:.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the filtering group <NUM> includes a filter body <NUM> and a connection structure <NUM>, which is configured to be connected to a fluidic system (e.g., thermo-technical systems, such as heating, cooling systems). In particular, the filtering group <NUM> is intended to be used to protect pumps, boilers or other apparatus, in order to protect them from impurities that may be in the fluid circulating in the system.

With reference also to <FIG>, the filter body <NUM> (of a watertight type) defines an internal cavity <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) and is delimited by perimeter walls <NUM>. In greater detail, the filter body <NUM> (for example, of a substantially cylindrical type outline) includes, in correspondence to a first end <NUM> (<FIG>), a connection opening <NUM> having, for example, an external thread <NUM>, of screwing to the connection structure <NUM>. According to a particular embodiment, the first end <NUM> is a collar extending outside the volume defined by the perimeter walls <NUM> of the filter body <NUM>.

According to one example (<FIG> and <FIG>), the filter body <NUM> includes a case <NUM> (cylindrical in shape) which extends into the inner cavity <NUM> (for at least part of its length) and is such as to accommodate (advantageously, removably) a magnetic filter element <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is provided with an insertion opening <NUM> (<FIG>), which is present on a wall of the filter housing <NUM> opposite to the connection opening <NUM>, and is provided with a corresponding thread. According to the example, the housing <NUM> is closed, i.e., without any openings, to the inner cavity <NUM>.

According to the described embodiment, the magnetic filtering element <NUM> comprises a capsule <NUM> to be inserted into the case <NUM>, which houses at least one permanent magnet <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>). The magnetic filtering element <NUM> allows, by magnetic attraction, the filtering of metal or metal-containing particles present in the fluid circulating in the inner cavity <NUM>. The capsule <NUM> is provided, for example, with a threaded head <NUM> having a recess <NUM>, so that it can be screwed and unscrewed from the housing <NUM> for maintenance or replacement operations.

According to a particular embodiment, the filter body <NUM> is also provided with a mesh filter <NUM>, having a substantially cylindrical shape, which extends in the direction of the length of the filter body <NUM>, surrounding the magnetic filtering element <NUM>.

In addition to having a filtering effect due to its mesh, the mesh filter <NUM> defines a filter chamber <NUM>, which is internal to the mesh filter itself, and an annular chamber <NUM>, which is external to the mesh filter <NUM>. For example, the mesh filter <NUM> may have mesh apertures having widths and lengths of less than <NUM>, for example between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Advantageously, the walls <NUM> of the filter housing <NUM> may be, in whole or in part, transparent so as to allow the accumulation of filtered particles to be observed from the outside and to decide on the need for maintenance. In addition, the walls <NUM> of the filter body <NUM> may include manual gripping elements for screwing/unscrewing the filter body itself such as, for example, grooves, protrusions or a ring nut.

The connection structure <NUM> includes a filter fitting <NUM> that defines a corresponding conduit <NUM> and is such that it is mechanically connected to the filter body <NUM>. In particular, the filter fitting <NUM> has a corresponding thread <NUM> (<FIG>) that allows tight screwing of the first end <NUM> of the filter body <NUM>, placing the conduit <NUM> in fluid communication with the filter chamber <NUM> included in the inner chamber <NUM> of the filter body <NUM>.

Further, the connection structure <NUM> includes a first input coupling <NUM> defining a first input conduit <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) and an output coupling <NUM> defining an output conduit <NUM>. According to the embodiment form of the figures, the first input coupling <NUM> and the output coupling <NUM> are oriented according to mutually perpendicular directions, and the first input coupling <NUM> is aligned with the filter fitting <NUM>, along the longitudinal axis of the filter body <NUM>.

The connection structure <NUM> further includes an inner chamber <NUM> that results in fluid connection with the conduit <NUM> of the filter fitting <NUM> and the first input conduit <NUM> of the first input coupling <NUM>.

The output conduit <NUM> of the output coupling <NUM> is separated from the chamber <NUM> by a partition or septum <NUM> and is, instead, in fluid connection with the annular chamber <NUM> by an output conduit <NUM>, formed by passages/spaces, present in the connection structure <NUM>.

The first input coupling <NUM> and the output coupling <NUM> are provided, on their relative ends opposite those connected to the inner chamber <NUM>, with relative threads <NUM> for screwing to piping of the external fluidic system.

Further, the connection structure <NUM> includes a second input coupling <NUM> defining a relative second input conduit <NUM> in fluid communication with the inner chamber <NUM> and provided, for example, with a corresponding thread <NUM> for screwing to an external fluid supply piping. The second input coupling <NUM> is oriented, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filter body <NUM>, differently from the first input coupling <NUM> and is, in particular, perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and aligned with the output coupling <NUM>.

The second input coupling <NUM> is alternatively usable with the first input coupling <NUM>. Having two alternatively usable input couplings <NUM> and <NUM> allows the user positioning the filtering group <NUM> in the appropriate operating position for various possible orientations of the fluidic system piping to which the filtering group itself is to be connected.

It should be noted that, preferably, the first input coupling <NUM>, the second input coupling <NUM>, the filter fitting <NUM> and the output coupling <NUM> are tubular type elements, attached to a support body <NUM> (forming part of the interconnection structure <NUM>), which internally defines the inner chamber <NUM>.

Advantageously, the interconnection structure <NUM> is fabricated (e.g., of metallic material, such as brass, or plastic) in one piece, so that there are no joints (such as, soldering or screw threads) that may cause fluid to leak to the outside. For example, the connection structure <NUM> is obtained by machining a single block of the selected material. In particular, the first input coupling <NUM>, the second input coupling <NUM>, the filter fitting <NUM>, and the output coupling <NUM> are in one piece with the support body <NUM>.

Notably, the filtering group <NUM> further includes a closure element or cap <NUM> (<FIG>) to be affixed (e.g., by screwing) to one of the input couplings <NUM> or <NUM> that is not connected to the fluid supply piping.

Note that the connection structure <NUM> is also configured to include a flow shutoff ball valve <NUM> that, in particular, is received in the inner chamber <NUM> of the connection structure <NUM>. Specifically, the ball valve <NUM> includes a locking sleeve <NUM>, a ball shutter <NUM>, a first seal <NUM>, and a second seal <NUM> (<FIG>).

For example, the locking sleeve <NUM> has an outline of a hollow cylinder with relative openings <NUM> at the bases. The clamping sleeve <NUM> has, on the relative outer wall, a stop edge <NUM> (e.g., annular) and a thread and, internally, ribs to allow it to be screwed together. The first gasket <NUM> and the second gasket <NUM> are, for example, gaskets made of molded plastic material (in particular, polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE).

In addition, the connection structure <NUM> includes an actuating device <NUM> including a stem or rod <NUM> that, at one end, is interlockingly coupled to the ball shutter <NUM> while at another end is connected to an actuating knob <NUM> (e.g., lever, as in the figures, or butterfly) or an actuating motor that allows the ball shutter <NUM> to rotate. For example, the knob <NUM> is attached to the stem <NUM> by a nut <NUM> and a screw <NUM>. The connection structure <NUM> has an insertion hole <NUM> for the stem <NUM>, whose rotation about its axis is limited by a stop guide <NUM>.

The ball shutter <NUM> is internally hollow and has a first hole <NUM> (<FIG>), a second hole <NUM>, and a third hole <NUM>; these holes connect the exterior with the interior of the ball shutter <NUM>. For example, the first hole <NUM> and the third hole <NUM> are arranged along one and the same axis; the second hole <NUM> is arranged along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the first hole <NUM> and the third hole <NUM>. With respect to assembly, the stem <NUM> is introduced into the connection structure <NUM> through the opening of the filter fitting <NUM> in and out of the insertion hole <NUM>. Further, the valve <NUM> is assembled by introducing its components into the connection structure <NUM> through the opening of the filter fitting <NUM>. According to one example, the first seal <NUM> is placed in a relative seat of the inner chamber <NUM> and then the ball poppet <NUM> is inserted into the same chamber <NUM>, in contact with the first seal <NUM> and so that it mechanically mates with the stem <NUM>.

Note that the filter fitting <NUM> is sized so that the conduit <NUM>, which is open to the inner chamber <NUM>, allows for the (e.g., manual) insertion of the ball shutter <NUM> and locking sleeve <NUM> through an opening in the filter fitting itself.

The second gasket <NUM> is then introduced into a respective seat of the inner chamber <NUM> so that it is in contact with the ball shutter <NUM>, and then the locking sleeve <NUM> is placed over the ball shutter <NUM> by screwing it internally into the conduit <NUM> defined by the filter fitting <NUM>. The openings <NUM> of the locking sleeve <NUM> are aligned with the conduit <NUM>.

Then, the first end <NUM> of the filter body <NUM> is inserted, by screwing, into the filter fitting <NUM> so that the conduit <NUM> faces the filter chamber <NUM>. For example, in screwing in, the mesh filter <NUM> is brought into contact with the annular edge <NUM> of the locking sleeve <NUM>.

With respect to operation, it should be noted that the filtering group <NUM> may be operated in accordance with a first mode of operation, by screwing the cap <NUM> to the second input coupling <NUM>, or in accordance with a second mode of operation, by screwing the cap <NUM> to the first input connection <NUM>.

The first mode of operation (cap <NUM> screwed onto second input coupling <NUM>) is shown in <FIG>. In this first mode of operation, the first input coupling <NUM> is connected to the supply piping and the output coupling <NUM> is connected to a plant outlet piping.

In greater detail, <FIG> relates to an opening configuration in which the position of the plug <NUM> allows fluid entering from the first input conduit <NUM> to flow into the plug itself through the first bore <NUM> and then exit through the third bore <NUM>, thereby entering the conduit <NUM> and the filter chamber <NUM>. A solid portion <NUM> of the plug <NUM> is facing the septum <NUM>.

In the filter chamber <NUM>, the fluid is subjected to the action of the magnetic filtering element <NUM>, which retains ferrous impurities, and also, by invading the annular chamber <NUM> through a crossing of the mesh filter <NUM>, undergoes further filtering. Thus, the fluid, from the annular chamber <NUM>, enters the output conduit <NUM> of the output coupling <NUM>, crossing the output conduit <NUM>, thereby entering the outlet piping of the fluidic system.

Still with reference to the first mode of operation (use of the first input coupling <NUM>), it is possible to switch the valve <NUM> to a closed position (<FIG>) by rotating the knob <NUM> (for example, <NUM>° counterclockwise) so that the third hole <NUM> of the ball shutter <NUM> faces the second input conduit <NUM> (on which the plug <NUM> is present) and the solid portion <NUM> is aligned with the conduit <NUM>, plugging it, preventing fluid from entering the filter body <NUM> and the output conduit <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, consider the second mode of operation (cap <NUM> screwed to first input coupling <NUM>), wherein the second input coupling <NUM> is connected to the supply piping, and the output coupling <NUM> is connected to the system outlet piping. In a closure configuration (<FIG>), the ball shutter <NUM> is oriented such that a full portion <NUM> of the ball shutter faces the conduit <NUM>, in a manner identical to that described for the first mode of operation.

Turning the knob <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>° clockwise) achieves an opening position depicted in <FIG>) wherein the second bore <NUM> of the ball shutter <NUM> is facing the second input conduit <NUM> (of the second input coupling <NUM>) and the first bore <NUM> is aligned with the conduit <NUM>. The solid portion <NUM> of the ball shutter <NUM> is facing the septum <NUM>.

In such an opening configuration, fluid from the supply piping entering the second input conduit <NUM> flows into the second bore <NUM> of the ball shutter <NUM> and exits the third bore <NUM>, reaching the conduit <NUM> of the filter fitting <NUM>.

The fluid, similarly to that described with reference to the first mode, from the filter chamber <NUM>, where both the magnetic filter element <NUM> and the mesh filter <NUM> act, invades the annular chamber <NUM>, the discharge conduit <NUM> and exits the output conduit <NUM>.

Note that the position of the ball shutter <NUM> assumed in the opening configuration (<FIG>) of the first operating mode coincides with the opening configuration (<FIG>) of the second operating mode.

Similarly, the position of the ball shutter <NUM> assumed in the closed configuration (<FIG>) of the first mode of operation coincides with the closed configuration (<FIG>) of the second mode of operation.

Both in the case of using the first input coupling <NUM> and, alternatively, in the case of using the second input coupling <NUM>, in the closed position it is possible to remove the filter body <NUM> from the connection structure <NUM> to perform cleaning operations of the internal cavity <NUM> or to remove the mesh filter <NUM> and/or the magnetic filter element <NUM>, for the purpose of replacement or cleaning.

According to a particular embodiment, that inlet couplings (<NUM> or <NUM>) that is not connected to the supply conduit may be used to introduce a chemical (such as an additive or descaler) into the system. This can be achieved by a suitably shaped container inserted, in place of the cap <NUM>, the that input fitting that is free so that it releases the chemical of interest into the fluid flowing through the connection structure <NUM>.

It should be noted that the filtering group <NUM>, provided with the connection structure <NUM> as described, is extremely advantageous in that it can be properly mounted in fluidic systems with input and outlet piping having different possible orientations. In fact, depending on the type of system and the available spaces, the operator may decide to use the first input connection <NUM> or the second input coupling <NUM> as the input of the filtering group <NUM>, also ensuring the functionality of the filter.

The presence of the ball valve <NUM> integrated in the connection structure <NUM> allows to intercept the flow of fluid allowing, inter alia, the maintenance and cleaning operations of the filter.

Moreover, the connection structure <NUM>, made in one piece, allows to avoid fluid losses towards the outside, since it does not have joints among its components, while allowing the introduction of the ball valve <NUM>, having the plug <NUM> blocked by the sleeve <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Filtering group (<NUM>) comprising:
a connection structure (<NUM>) having a first input coupling (<NUM>) to be placed in communication with a supply conduit of an external fluidic system and an output coupling (<NUM>) to be placed in communication with an output conduit of the system, the first input coupling (<NUM>) being oriented with respect to the output coupling (<NUM>) according to a first orientation;
a filter body (<NUM>), connected to the connection structure (<NUM>) and in fluid communication with the output coupling (<NUM>), configured to retain particles present in the fluid flowing through the filter body (<NUM>),
a ball valve (<NUM>) housed in the connection structure (<NUM>) and such as to assume a first position in which the first input coupling (<NUM>) is placed in fluid communication with the filter body (<NUM>) and a second position in which fluid communication between the first input coupling (<NUM>) and the filter body (<NUM>) is interdicted,
characterised by the fact that:
the connection structure (<NUM>) further comprises a second input coupling (<NUM>) to be placed in communication with the supply conduit as an alternative to the first input coupling (<NUM>) and oriented, with respect to the output coupling (<NUM>), in accordance with a second orientation, different from the first orientation;
the ball valve (<NUM>) is configured so that in the first position the second input coupling (<NUM>) is placed in fluid communication with the filter body (<NUM>) and in the second position the fluid communication between the second input coupling (<NUM>) and the filter body (<NUM>) is interdicted.