Fluid handling – With cleaner – lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing... – Cleaning or steam sterilizing
Patent
1997-01-15
2000-02-15
Walton, George L.
Fluid handling
With cleaner, lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing...
Cleaning or steam sterilizing
251 3002, 251 3005, 251 44, B08B 904, F16K 3102, F16K 3142
Patent
active
060241144
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a drain valve. It relates particularly but not exclusively to a drain valve suitable for draining accumulated contaminants from the bottom of an air chamber in a compressed air system.
During the course of operation of compressed air systems such as air braking systems for large motor vehicles, contaminants such as oil and small solids typically accumulate at the bottom of one or more air reservoirs within the compressed air system. It is desirable that such contaminants be removed from the system as soon as possible, to reduce the likelihood of causing damage to the system.
Several different techniques are available for removing such contaminants. The simplest system involves providing a tap at the bottom of each air reservoir. At regular intervals, the compressed air system is deactivated, and the tap is opened, allowing contaminants to drain away. However, such a manual drain system does not allow for regular removal of contaminants and it relies upon a human operator to ensure that draining happens at regular intervals.
An automated method for draining contaminants involves providing an accumulation chamber at the bottom of the air reservoir, with an air supply tube leading to a governor valve on an air compressor system. When the air pressure in the air compressor system reaches a predetermined level, the governor valve sends a blast of air to activate a piston which briefly opens an outlet, allowing accumulated contaminants to drain from the accumulation chamber. This system is effective, but has the disadvantage that it relies upon a governor valve which is expensive and can be unreliable. In many compressed air systems, the compressor is only powerful enough to maintain a minimum level of air compression, with the result that the air pressure is never sufficient to activate the governor valve. Moreover, even in a compressed air system where the compressor is not under-capacity, the length of time taken to build up air pressure to a given level depends upon other loads on the system, with the result that activation of the governor valve may be irregular.
Another method involves the use of a solenoid valve linked to an electronic timer, such that the solenoid valve is opened at regular intervals, allowing contaminants to escape. However, solenoid valves typically operate only with small outlet openings, as a prohibitively large solenoid is required to activate a large closure for a large opening. As a result, solenoid valve openings rapidly become blocked with contaminants so that frequent maintennance is required.
An improved form of solenoid valve involves using the solenoid valve as a pilot valve which causes a larger valve to open. Such an arrangement typically comprises an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, separated by a large valve. The inlet chamber is normally at higher pressure than the outlet chamber, causing the large valve to be closed. A small pilot passageway leads between the inlet and outlet chambers, and the passageway is normally closed by a solenoid valve. When the passageway is opened, the pressures in the inlet and outlet chambers become equal, causing the large valve to open. While this arrangement allows most of the accumulated contaminants to escape through the large valve opening, a proportion of the contaminants must still pass through the small pilot passage and the solenoid valve opening, and these passages frequently become blocked so that the unit requires maintenance.
According to the present invention, there is provided a drain valve including: small solids; chamber can be expelled; position and a second position, and connected to the outlet seal; a secondary chamber; and accumulation chamber; the closure activation means opens the closure, causing positive air pressure to flow to the piston which moves from its first position to its second position and briefly causes the outlet seal to be opened allowing liquids and small solids from the accumulation chamber to be expelled; and upon de-activation by the closure activation means the closure
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Ragusa Guiseppe
Thomas Ken E.
General Pneumatics Pty. Ltd.
Walton George L.
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