Fluid handling – With indicator – register – recorder – alarm or inspection means – Position or extent of motion indicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-18
2001-07-31
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
Position or extent of motion indicator
C251S129120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267139
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a valve arrangement comprising a valve body with at least two connecting regions for connection to the matching pipelines and with a shut-off element for shutting off or opening the pipeline, the valve body having a lead-through region for guiding a spindle, which is arranged such that it can be connected effectively at a first end to the shut-off member and at the second end to an actuating device, and with at least one means for sensing the respective valve position being provided.
EP 0 872 676 A2 discloses a valve arrangement of the generic type with an electronic means for continuously sensing and controlling the valve position. The valve arrangement has a spindle between the valve body and the manual actuating wheel. The spindle is connected to the shut-off element by means of a pin. The spindle is connected at its upper end to a bushing, which surrounds the spindle over an extended region. In a middle region of the bushing, a gearwheel is connected to the bushing. The electronic means has a further gearwheel, which is in engagement with the gearwheel of the bushing. The arrangement has a relatively large spindle in relation to the pipeline diameter and comprises many individual parts, which have to be connected to one another in order to ensure reliable functioning.
In a range of valve arrangements for different diameters, all the parts which are connected directly or indirectly to the spindle have to be adapted in their dimensions to the dimensions and to the media throughput of the pipeline.
On the basis of this prior art, it is the object of the invention to specify a valve arrangement in which the valve position can be sensed with as few individual parts as possible, as directly as possible and without the risk of erroneous indications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This foregoing object is achieved by a valve arrangement comprising a valve body with at least two connecting regions for connection to the matching pipelines and with a shut-off element for shutting off or opening the pipeline, the valve body having a lead-through region for guiding a spindle, which is arranged such that it can be connected effectively at a first end to the shut-off member and at the second end to an actuating device, and with at least one means for sensing the respective valve position being provided, a receiving housing for receiving the means for sensing the respective valve position enclosing at least the lead-through region.
It is advantageous that the valve arrangement with the means for sensing the valve position forms a unit which is as compact and stable as possible. This is achieved by the receiving housing enclosing the valve body in the lead-through region of the spindle and having an essentially concavely shaped base and by being arranged in such a way that it can be positively connected to an outer wall region of the valve body.
It is also advantageous that the valve arrangement can optionally be used with manual actuation or with motorized actuation. This is achieved by the receiving housing having on the side opposite the base a flange for connection to further flanges.
It is also advantageous that the means for sensing the valve position takes up as little space as possible in the valve arrangement. This is achieved by arranging in the receiving housing a control plate with control cams for activating the means for sensing the respective valve position. This is also achieved by providing in the flange a recess for receiving the control plate, the said recess being in the form of an arc of a circle and coinciding with the outside diameter of the control plate.
It is also advantageous that, in the valve arrangement, the means for sensing the valve position is connected as directly as possible to the already existing components of the valve arrangement. This is achieved by the control plate having for coupling with the rotary movement of the spindle or the actuating device a coupling lug which interacts with a groove in the spindle or with a groove in the actuating device.
It is also advantageous that the valve arrangement has a long service life. This is achieved by concavely shaped switching lugs being arranged between the control cams of the circular control plate and the microswitches in such a way that the circular movement of the control cams is converted into a rectilinear switching path of the microswitches.
The placement of the receiving housing with the control plate and the means for sensing the valve position directly next to the region of the valve body in which the spindle is led out of the valve body makes it possible on the one hand to utilize the space between the valve body and the actuating element in a meaningful way and on the other hand to obtain a stable and compact arrangement.
The valve position is not detected from the actuating element or from the motorized actuation but is sensed without interposed parts in the region in which the movement of the spindle is most likely to coincide with the movement of the shut-off element. If there is a defect in the connection between the spindle and the actuating element or if the spindle is ruptured in the upper region, the actual valve position would not be sensed, but instead the position of the actuating element. The receiving housing can be added to existing valve arrangements without modifications.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3189700 (1965-06-01), Eidson
patent: 5305781 (1994-04-01), Raymond, Jr. et al.
patent: 5325888 (1994-07-01), Stary
patent: 6079442 (2000-06-01), Raymond, Jr. et al.
patent: 631532 (1982-08-01), None
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patent: 3900866 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 4308938 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 0872676 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 2714955 (1995-07-01), None
Miklo Jurgen
Schâpper Walter
Bachman & LaPointe P.C.
Georg Rohrleitungssysteme Ag
Lee Kevin
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