Distributor valve having an integrated flow meter unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851229-B2
Application number	US-201314766683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2013
Priority date	Feb 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A distribution valve with an integrated flowmeter unit, which exhibits a main flow channel, through which a medium can flow in a main flow direction, and a secondary flow channel branching from the latter. The distribution valve includes a distribution valve housing containing a main pipe, a first conduit pipe connection, a second conduit pipe connection and at least one branch lying in between. The main flow channel in the main pipe runs from the first conduit pipe connection to the second conduit pipe connection. The branch empties into a first housing part, which includes an outlet. The outlet of the first housing part empties into a second housing part, which accommodates a flowmeter body and includes an outlet that forms a third conduit pipe connection. The secondary flow channel runs from the at least one branch of the main pipe to the outlet of the second housing part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A distribution valve with an integrated flowmeter unit, which includes a main flow channel through which a medium can flow in a main flow direction, and a secondary flow channel, which branches away from the main flow direction, said distribution valve comprising:
a distribution valve housing;
at least one valve body; and
a flowmeter body;
wherein the distribution valve housing comprises a main pipe with a first conduit pipe connection, a second conduit pipe connection and at least one branch lying between the first conduit pipe connection and the second conduit pipe connection,
wherein the main flow channel is defined by the main pipe and runs from the first conduit pipe connection to the second conduit pipe connection,
wherein the distribution valve housing further comprises a first housing part for accommodating the at least one valve body,
wherein the first housing part includes a wall with an opening, which forms an inlet for the medium to branch away from the main pipe at the branch,
wherein the branch empties into the first housing part and forms a fluid connection between the main pipe and the first housing part,
wherein the first housing part includes an outlet,
wherein the distribution valve housing further comprises a second housing part for accommodating the flowmeter body,
wherein the outlet of the first housing part empties into the second housing part and establishes a fluid connection between the first housing part and the second housing part,
wherein the second housing part includes an outlet that forms a third conduit pipe connection,
wherein the secondary flow channel runs from the branch of the main pipe to the outlet of the second housing part,
wherein
the branch of the main pipe is formed by an opening in the main pipe, and the opening of the main pipe is identical with the opening of the first housing part which forms the inlet, or
the branch of the main pipe is formed by an opening in the main pipe together with a line segment, wherein the line segment is provided between the opening of the first housing part forming the inlet and the opening in the main pipe as connection between the main pipe and the first housing part
wherein the at least one valve body is in the form of a regulating cock, which is mounted in the first housing part so as to be rotatable on a first rotational axis (x 1 ) between a closed position and open position, and
wherein the regulating cock includes a cock channel, which extends from a radial opening in the regulating cock to an axial opening in the regulating cock, wherein the axial opening in the regulating cock aligns with the outlet of the first housing part, wherein the radial opening in the regulating cock aligns with the inlet of the first housing part in the open position of the regulating cock, and wherein the regulating cock closes the inlet of the first housing part completely in the closed position of the regulating cock.

2. The distribution valve according to claim 1 , wherein the first housing part and the second housing part of the distribution valve housing are integrally formed together.

3. The distribution valve according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution valve housing and/or the valve body and/or the flowmeter body are formed of injection-molded plastic.

4. The distribution valve according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the first housing part comprises, at least in some regions, an interior cylindrical surface against which the regulating cock abuts and along which the regulating cock is guided.

5. The distribution valve according to claim 1 , wherein the radial opening in the regulating cock has an uneven and/or asymmetrical cross section.

6. The distribution valve according to claim 5 , wherein the cross section of the radial opening in the regulating cock extends over at least one fourth of a periphery of the regulating cock.

7. The distribution valve according to claim 1 , wherein the flowmeter body is mounted in the second housing part so as to be rotatable on a second rotational axis between an initial position and an end position.

8. The distribution valve according to claim 7 , wherein the flowmeter body includes a paddle that extends into the secondary flow channel.

9. The distribution valve according to claim 8 , wherein the second housing part is provided with a holding fixture for a cover.

10. The distribution valve according to claim 9 , wherein the cover and/or the second housing part are transparent at least in one or more areas, and wherein a scale is viewable through the one or more transparent areas.

11. The distribution valve according to claims 10 , wherein the flowmeter body includes a pointer, which is visible through the one or more transparent areas of the cover and/or second housing part relative to the scale.

12. The distribution valve according to claims 11 , wherein the paddle is connected with the pointer in non-rotatable manner.

13. The distribution valve according to claim 11 , wherein a rotationally symmetrical disk is arranged between the paddle and pointer.

14. The distribution valve according to claim 8 , further comprising a leg spring, which abuts at one end against the second housing part and at an other end against the paddle, and preloads the paddle opposite a medium flow direction through the second housing part.

15. The distribution valve according to claim 14 , wherein the preloading is sufficient to hold the paddle in the initial position when no medium is flowing in the medium flow direction through the second housing part.

16. The distribution valve according to claim 8 , wherein the second housing part exhibits a flowmeter flow channel that has a first straight section and an adjoining second curved section, wherein the paddle is arranged at a start of the second section in the initial position of the flowmeter body, and is configured to rotate on the second rotational axis in the second section in a direction of an end position when exposed to a flow of medium.

17. The distribution valve according to claim 16 , wherein a cross section of the flowmeter flow channel in the second section expands from the initial position in the direction of the end position.

18. The distribution valve according to claim 16 , wherein the flowmeter flow channel includes a stop for the paddle and/or pointer, which defines the initial position.

19. The distribution valve according to claim 16 , wherein the flowmeter flow channel is bordered by a disk of the flowmeter body toward a holding fixture of the cover.

20. The distribution valve according to claim 7 , wherein the first rotational axis runs perpendicular to the second rotational axis and/or the first rotational axis runs perpendicular to the main flow direction in the main pipe and/or the second rotational axis runs perpendicular to the main flow direction in the main pipe.

Assignees

• Viega Tech Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Gille Marcel
• Steinhanses Nadine
• Schmitt Detlev
• Pilmeier Reinhard
• Oischinger Matthias
• Rosenthal Jörg
• Buchner Peter
• Schneider Andreas

Classifications

• G01F1/00 Primary

  Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) · CPC title

• G01F1/28 Primary

  by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter · CPC title

• F16K5/0407 Primary

  with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means · CPC title

• F16K5/0414

  Plug channel at 90 degrees to the inlet · CPC title

• G01F1/053

  using rotating vanes with tangential and axial admission · CPC title