Patent Description:
Such valve arrangements provide a valve that can automatically control room temperature by means of a thermostat or manually using a knob, when the valve arrangement is connected to a radiator in a heating system. In addition to this, the pre-setting arrangement allows a maximum flow to be set, typically when the valve arrangement is installed, in order to set flow limits e.g. depending on room size, etc. One problem associated with valve arrangements of this type is how to improve their precision and/or to reduce costs. Documents <CIT> and <CIT> disclose a valve arrangement with an inner and outer sleeve respectively comprising openings and an aperture.

One object of the present disclosure is therefor to provide a valve arrangement with improved precision or to provide a valve arrangement at a lower cost.

This object is achieved by means of a valve arrangement as defined in claim <NUM> or claim <NUM>.

More specifically, in a valve arrangement of the initially mentioned kind, the outer circumference of the inner pre-setting sleeve may have a greater dimension, at the portion comprising the notches, than a corresponding inner diameter of the outer pre-setting sleeve, such that a press fit is obtained between the outer and inner presetting sleeves at said notches.

This has been shown to reduce leaks where fluid escapes through notches not being aligned with the aperture and passes in between the inner and outer pre-setting sleeve to the aperture. The result of reducing those leaks is an improved precision of the pre-setting function. Alternatively, for a given allowed leak, manufacturing tolerances of the inner and/or the outer sleeve can be relaxed, which provides for lower manufacturing costs. Those effects can be combined.

An end of the inner pre-setting sleeve has a conical portion, the wider end of the conical portion being elastically deformed when inserted in the outer pre-setting sleeve. This provides a press fit at the wider end and seals the area around the openings to some extent.

Ribs may be provided at the outer face of the inner pre-setting sleeve between said openings. Due to the addition of the ribs, press fit is achieved between the ribs reducing leaks from one opening to another.

The openings may be notches provided in an edge of the inner pre-setting sleeve.

Further, a cut-out may be provided at an edge of the inner pre-setting sleeve, the cut-out reaching a distance at least half the oversized portion from said edge of the inner pre-setting sleeve. This allows the inner pre-setting sleeve to be deformed in a predictable manner. Further, the cut-out may provide for a maximum setting opening in the pre-setting arrangement.

The inner pre-setting sleeve may be configured to be urged, in the direction of the turning axis, against the valve seat. This seals the pre-setting arrangement also at the end of the inner pre-setting sleeve.

This effect may also be used per se in a valve arrangement of the initially mentioned kind where the inner pre-setting sleeve is configured to be urged, in the direction of the turning axis, against the valve seat or a surface connected thereto to provide a sealing effect.

The inner pre-setting sleeve may be urged against the valve seat by means of an elastic element, for instance, an O-ring, resting against an inner ledge in the interior of the outer pre-setting sleeve.

The contact interface between the inner pre-setting sleeve and the valve seat or other surface connected thereto may be lengthened by a surface structure to increase the sealing effect.

The present disclosure relates to valve arrangements, typically for heating systems. An example of a valve arrangement <NUM> according to the present disclosure is shown in <FIG>. This valve arrangement <NUM> is of an insert type, which is usually integrated with a radiator to control a fluid flow, typically water, therein. However, the present disclosure is also compatible with stand-alone thermostat arrangements, having an inlet and an outlet tube.

The shown valve arrangement <NUM> includes a control pin <NUM>, which is usually controlled by a thermostat mounted on the valve arrangement, or alternatively by a control knob or the like, that is manually controlled by a user.

A cross section through the valve arrangement of <FIG> is shown in <FIG>. As illustrated, the control pin <NUM> is connected to a valve member <NUM> via a spindle <NUM>. If the control pin <NUM> is pushed inwards, typically by a thermostat (not shown) sensing that the room is becoming too hot, the valve member <NUM> is moved towards a valve seat <NUM>, thereby reducing the flow of hot water through a radiator (not shown). When the thermostat recedes, the valve member is moved in the opposite direction by the force of a return spring <NUM>, as is well known per se, thereby increasing fluid flow.

The present valve arrangement <NUM> also includes a pre-setting arrangement, comprising an outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> and an inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. The inner <NUM> and outer <NUM> sleeves are generally of cylindric shapes, the inner sleeve <NUM> being located inside the outer sleeve <NUM>, concentric therewith along a center axis. The purpose of the pre-setting arrangement <NUM>, <NUM> is to allow a set maximum flow. This is typically done when installing a radiator with a valve arrangement and is done by a technician.

The outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM>, as is best seen in <FIG>. As mentioned, the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> is fitted inside the outer presetting sleeve <NUM>, co-axially therewith. It is further adapted to be rotatable therein, and comprises a number of openings, typically in the form of notches <NUM> at an edge portion <NUM> thereof, as is best seen in <FIG> showing a perspective view of an inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. Typically, the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> may be made in a plastic material such as Polyoxymethylene (POM) or a similar plastic material. The outer pre-setting sleeve may for instance be made in brass or a similar alloy.

The inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> can be rotated in relation to the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>, typically by using a tool (not shown) which is connected to a tool interface <NUM> at an end of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>, which interface is accessible from the exterior of the valve arrangement <NUM>.

Turning the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> inside the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> exposes different openings or notches <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> in register with the aperture <NUM> of the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>, in order to provide different maximum valve arrangement flows for a given pressure difference over the valve.

The size of the exposed openings or notches <NUM> in the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> as well as the number of such notches <NUM> determines the maximum valve arrangement flow. As illustrated in <FIG>, one edge <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> may comprise a number of notches <NUM> along its circumference, increasing in size there along. In the example shown in <FIG> for instance, three notches <NUM> are visible in the outer pre-setting sleeve aperture <NUM>.

An example of a fluid flow <NUM> path is illustrated in the cross section of <FIG>. The fluid enters a channel <NUM>, being part of a valve seat unit <NUM>, and passes between the valve member <NUM> and the valve seat <NUM>, as the valve member <NUM> is in an open position in relation to the valve seat <NUM>. Thereafter, the fluid flow <NUM> passes through one or more notches <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> being in register with the aperture <NUM> of the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. In the illustrated case, as the valve member <NUM> is in its most open position, the pre-setting arrangement <NUM>, <NUM> is what limits the fluid flow.

The present disclosure is concerned with reducing leaks in such a pre-setting arrangement for a given level of manufacturing tolerances. A reduced leaking can be achieved by providing the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> in the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> in a manner providing a press fit, i.e. making the outer dimensions of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> slightly greater than the inner dimensions of the outer presetting sleeve <NUM>. Thereby, the thin passage between the inner and outer pre-setting sleeves <NUM>, <NUM> may be minimized, such that water leaks therethrough to a much lesser extent. This will be described with two different examples in <FIG>.

Reduced leaking may also be achieved in accordance with the present disclosure by urging an edge <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> towards the valve seat or a surface connected therewith. This will be disclosed with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>.

Each of those measures to reduce leaking can be used independently of the other although they may well be combined as disclosed in <FIG> to provide a compound effect. Generally, the achieved effect is improved pre-setting precision, and/or lower tolerance requirements in production of the pre-setting arrangement.

<FIG> shows a front view of an inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> according to a first example of the present disclosure. In this example, the inner end of the inner presetting sleeve <NUM>, i.e. the end opposite to the tool interface <NUM> is made slightly conical, such that it tapers in the direction away from the edge <NUM> where the notches <NUM> are located. At this edge <NUM> the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. When inserted in the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>, this portion <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> becomes compressed, thereby closing any gap therebetween such that leakage through notches <NUM> not in register with the outer pre-setting sleeve aperture <NUM> can be reduced. As shown in <FIG>, this portion of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> may be provided with a cut-out <NUM> that allows the oversized portion to become elastically deformed in a predictable manner when inserted in the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. This cut-out <NUM>, which is optional, may be narrower, shaped like a thin slit, although the cut-out <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> also serves the purpose as a wide notch not limiting the flow if in register with the outer pre-setting sleeve's <NUM> aperture <NUM>.

The enlarged portion of <FIG> shows example of diameters used in the conical part of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>, where the upper diameter Du is <NUM>,<NUM> and the lower diameter DI is <NUM>,<NUM>, this tapering appearing at a height of <NUM>,<NUM>. Note that the conicity of <FIG> is somewhat exaggerated for illustrational purposes. A press fit at the lower <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve can be obtained in this way. Also illustrated schematically in <FIG> is openings <NUM>, which could be arranged higher up on the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> as an alternative or a complement to the notches <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a front view of an inner pre-setting sleeve according to a second example of the present disclosure. In this case, the generally cylindrical outer dimensions of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>' may correspond to the inner dimensions of the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. In addition to this however, ribs <NUM> are provided at the outer face of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>' between said openings. Those ribs <NUM> contribute to the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>' outer circumference having a greater radial dimension, with respect to the turning axis of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>', at the portion comprising the notches <NUM> or openings. As the ribs are located in between the notches, leaking between the notches is minimized or reduced. In this case, as illustrated in <FIG>, the portion <NUM> comprising the notches <NUM> or openings is not conical as illustrated, although the embodiments of <FIG> could be combined.

The present disclosure also relates to reducing leaks in the pre-setting arrangement <NUM>, <NUM> by sealing off the edge <NUM> at the end of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. This reduced leaking between this edge and the valve seat <NUM> and into the space between the inner and outer pre-setting sleeves as indicated in the enlarged portion A of <FIG> shown in <FIG>.

This is done by arranging that the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> is urged, in the direction of its turning axis, against the valve seat <NUM> or a surface connected to the valve seat. This can be done by means of an elastic element which is compressed and urges the inner pre-setting sleeve in the desired direction. Alternatively, the inner-pre-setting sleeve <NUM> itself or the valve seat may be elastic and compressed carry out the corresponding function.

As shown in the enlarged portion B of <FIG> shown in <FIG>, the elastic element may be devised as an O-ring <NUM>, which rests against an inner ledge <NUM> in the interior of the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> and is compressed by an opposing ledge <NUM> of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM>. Other means for urging the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> in this direction may be considered, such as a spring or the like.

This sealing effect may be enhanced by lengthening the contact interface between the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> and the valve seat <NUM> or other surface, by a surface structure. This may be devised as a groove and tongue structure as schematically illustrated in the cross section of <FIG>, but also an inclined surface as shown in <FIG> or a step as shown in <FIG> would lengthen the contact surface between the edge of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> and the seat <NUM> or other surface. As another option shown in <FIG>, the edge of the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> may be provided with a softer elastic material functioning as a sealing lip <NUM>.

The sealing function provided by urging the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> and by having the inner pre-setting sleeve <NUM> oversized in relation to the outer pre-setting sleeve <NUM> may be combined.

Claim 1:
A valve arrangement (<NUM>) comprising a valve member (<NUM>), configured to move axially towards and away from a valve seat (<NUM>) to control a fluid flow between an input and an output, the valve arrangement (<NUM>) further including a pre-setting arrangement comprising:
- an outer pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) comprising an aperture (<NUM>);
- an inner pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>), fitted inside the outer presetting sleeve (<NUM>), co-axially therewith, and being adapted to be rotatable about an axis therein, the inner pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) comprising a number of openings (<NUM>);
- wherein a turning of the inner pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) in relation to the outer pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) exposes different sets among said openings (<NUM>) at said aperture, thereby devising different maximum valve arrangement flows for a given valve pressure difference, wherein the outer circumference of the inner pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) having a greater radial dimension, with respect to said axis, at the portion comprising said openings (<NUM>), than a corresponding inner diameter of the outer pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) such that a press fit is obtained between the outer and inner pre-setting sleeves at said openings (<NUM>), wherein an end of the inner pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>) has a conical portion (<NUM>), the wider end of the conical portion being elastically deformed when inserted in the outer pre-setting sleeve (<NUM>).