Pressure reducer

Abstract

A pressure reducer (10) having: a housing (11) defining a front pressure chamber (13) and a rear pressure chamber (14); a valve (12) positioned in the housing (11), wherein the valve (12) has a diaphragm (16) acting on a valve tappet (15), on which diaphragm acts on the one hand a spring force of a spring element (17) acting in the opening direction of the valve (12) and on the other hand a force acting in the closing direction of the valve (12) and depending on the pressure present in the rear pressure chamber (14), and wherein the valve (12) has a valve body (22) fixed to the valve tappet (15), which valve body acts together with a sealing element (24). The valve body (22) is contoured cylindrically or hollow-cylindrically or conically in the case of a sealing surface (23) acting in the constructional radial direction. The sealing surface (23) of the valve body (22) is interrupted via a flow channel (26) at at least one circumferential position such that depending on the pressure loss present in the rear pressure chamber (14), either the sealing element (24) bears against the sealing surface (23) and completely closes the flow area (25) between the sealing element (24) and the sealing surface (23) including the corresponding flow channel (26), or the sealing element (24) moves away from the sealing surface (23) and completely releases the flow area (25) including the corresponding flow channel (26), or the sealing element (24) bears against the sealing surface (23) and only partially releases the flow area (25) via the corresponding flow channel (26).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure reducer (Druckminderer) according to the preamble of claim 1. Background Art

[0002] Pressure reducers are preferably used in industrial plants and in the water supply systems of buildings or houses in order to provide a constant outlet pressure in the event of fluctuating inlet pressures. The installation of the pressure reducer is preferably carried out in the basement of the building or in a supply well, so that there is no risk of the pressure reducer freezing. However, the need to provide a constant fluid pressure or water pressure exists not only in industrial plants and water supply systems, but also in other application areas that must be supplied with a constant fluid pressure or water pressure. Pressure reducers installed outdoors fail during frost and are therefore emptied.

[0003] Pressure reducers are known from DE 195 39 239 C2. Thus, a pressure reducer known from this prior art includes a housing and a valve positioned in the housing, wherein the valve separates the front pressure chamber of the housing from the rear pressure chamber of the housing in its closed state and connects the front pressure chamber and the rear pressure chamber in its open state. The valve of the pressure reducer known from this prior art has a diaphragm acting on a valve tappet, on which a spring force of a spring element acting in the opening direction of the valve and, on the other hand, a force acting in the closing direction of the valve and depending on the pressure present in the rear pressure chamber act in the case of providing the pressure reducer function.

[0004] According to DE 195 39 239 C2, a valve body is fixed at the valve tappet, which valve body cooperates with a sealing element such that, in the closed state of the valve, the valve body and the sealing element are sealingly pressed against each other, and in the open state of the valve, the valve body moves away from the sealing element and releases the flow area between the valve body and the sealing element.

[0005] DE 10 2018 205 016 A1 discloses another pressure reducer.

[0006] DE 10 2016 122 661 A1 discloses a pressure reducing valve.

[0007] DE 10 2013 216 673 A1 discloses a storage chamber valve.

[0008] US 8 607 818 B2 discloses a pressure relief valve.

[0009] Especially in pressure reducers installed in buildings or houses, if there is a leak site downstream of the pressure reducer in the water supply system, significant losses may occur due to the leak. So far, it has been difficult to safely detect such a leak that may be constructed downstream of the pressure reducer.

[0010] A device for detecting leaks in a water supply installation is known from EP 3 239 682 A1. In this prior art, it is proposed to detect the movement of a tappet at the leak detection device by means of a sensor and to infer the presence of a leak based on the movement of the tappet.

[0011] In a pressure reducing valve, there is a problem that a small leak only causes a small movement of the valve tappet, which is difficult to detect or can only be detected at great expense. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a new pressure reducing valve in which the movement of the valve tappet due to a leak can be detected more easily or at less expense.

[0013] This object is achieved by a pressure reducing valve according to claim 1. According to the invention, the valve body fixed to the valve tappet is contoured cylindrically or hollow-cylindrically or conically in the case of a sealing surface acting in the construction radial direction.

[0014] According to the invention, the sealing surface of the valve body fixed to the valve tappet is interrupted via at least one flow channel at at least one circumferential position such that, depending on the pressure loss present in the rear pressure chamber, either the sealing element bears against the sealing surface or presses against the sealing surface in the radial direction and completely closes the flow region between the sealing element and the sealing surface including the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel, or the sealing element moves away from the sealing surface and completely releases the flow region including the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel, or the sealing element bears against the sealing surface or presses against the sealing surface in the radial direction and only partially releases the flow region via the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel.

[0015] The present invention has the advantage that if a leak causes a relatively small pressure change in the rear pressure chamber, then, compared to the case of a pressure reducing valve known from the prior art, the valve tappet of the valve of the pressure reducing valve moves over a greater range, so that the movement of the valve tappet due to a leak can be detected more easily or at less expense.

[0016] If there is no pressure loss in the rear pressure chamber or if there is a pressure loss less than a lower limit value, then the sealing element bears against the sealing surface and completely closes the flow region between the sealing element and the sealing surface including the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel.

[0017] If there is a pressure loss greater than an upper limit value in the rear pressure chamber, then the sealing element moves away from the sealing surface and completely releases the flow region between the sealing element and the sealing surface including the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel.

[0018] If there is a pressure loss in the rear pressure chamber that is greater than the lower limit value and less than the upper limit value, then the sealing element bears against the sealing surface and releases the flow area between the sealing element and the sealing surface only via the corresponding flow channel section.

[0019] According to an advantageous refinement of the invention, the sealing element presses radially internally against the radially internal sealing surface of the valve body. This embodiment is particularly preferred in order to implement the invention in a structurally simple manner.

[0020] According to an advantageous refinement of the invention, the corresponding flow channel or at least one flow channel of the sealing surface is interrupted at the corresponding circumferential position and extends in the radial direction. This is also used for a simple structural implementation of the invention. Description of the Drawings

[0021] The preferred refinements of the invention result from the dependent claims and the following description. The embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawings, without being limited to the said embodiments. Among them:

[0022] Figure 1 A cross-section through a pressure reducer according to the invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 Details Z in the first state are shown Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 3 Details Z in the second state are shown Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 4 Details Z in the third state are shown Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 5 A diagram for illustrating the invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 6 A possible first cross-sectional profile design of the flow channel of the pressure reducer is shown;

[0028] Figure 7 A possible second cross-sectional profile design of the flow channel of the pressure reducer is shown;

[0029] Figure 8 A possible third cross-sectional profile design of the flow channel of the pressure reducer is shown; and

[0030] Figure 9 A possible fourth cross-sectional profile design of the flow channel of the pressure reducer is shown. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0031] Figure 1Shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a pressure reducer 10 according to the invention. The pressure reducer 10 has a housing 11, in which a valve 12 is positioned. The valve 12 separates the front pressure chamber 13 of the housing 11 from the rear pressure chamber 14 of the housing 11 in the closed state, and the front pressure chamber 13 and the rear pressure chamber 14 are connected in the open state of the valve 12.

[0032] The valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 has a valve tappet 15, on which a diaphragm 16 acts. A spring force acts on the diaphragm 16, which is provided by a spring element 17, and the spring element 17 is arranged Figure 1 between two spring seats 18, 19. The first spring seat 18 faces the diaphragm 16. The second spring seat 19 faces away from the diaphragm 16. The first spring seat 18 and the diaphragm 16 are fixed to each other.

[0033] In addition to the spring force of the spring element 17 acting in the opening direction of the valve 12, a force acting in the closing direction of the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 also acts on the diaphragm 16, and this force depends on the pressure present in the pressure chamber 20 delimited by the diaphragm 16.

[0034] The pressure present in the pressure chamber 20 or the force depending on this pressure and acting in the closing direction of the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 depends on the pressure present in the rear pressure chamber 14. The pressure chamber 20 and the rear pressure chamber 14 are connected via a pressure line 21.

[0035] Not only the diaphragm 16 but also a valve body 22 acts on the valve tappet 15. The valve body 22 has a sealing surface 23 that cooperates with a sealing element 24.

[0036] The sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22 fixed to the valve tappet 15 cooperates with the sealing element 24 such that in the closed state of the valve 12, the sealing element 24 seals against the sealing surface 23 and presses against the sealing surface 23 in the radial direction.

[0037] In the open state of the valve 12, the sealing element 24 moves away from the sealing surface 23 and does not rest on this sealing surface, and a flow area 25 between the sealing element 24 and the sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22 is released in the open state of the valve 12.

[0038] In the sense of the present invention, the valve body 22 fixed to the valve tappet 15 is contoured cylindrically or hollow-cylindrically or conically in the case of a sealing surface 23 acting in the construction radial direction.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the valve body 22 is contoured hollow-cylindrically.

[0040] The sealing surface 23 of the valve body that acts in the radial direction is radially inside the internal structure at the valve body 22, such that when the valve 12 is closed, the sealing element 24 presses radially against the radially inner sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22.

[0041] The sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22 fixed at the valve tappet 15 is interrupted via the flow channel 26 at at least one circumferential position of the valve body 22, such that depending on the pressure loss present in the rear pressure chamber 14, either the sealing element 24 abuts against the sealing surface 23 and presses against the sealing surface 23 in the radial direction and completely closes the flow area 25 between the sealing element 24 and the sealing surface 23 including the corresponding flow channel 26, or the sealing element 24 moves away from the sealing surface 23 and completely releases the flow area 25 including the corresponding flow channel 26, or the sealing element 24 abuts against the sealing surface and presses against the sealing surface 23 in the radial direction and only partially releases the flow area 25 via the corresponding flow channel 26.

[0042] If there is no pressure loss or there is a pressure loss less than the lower limit value in the rear pressure chamber 14, then the sealing element 24 abuts completely against the sealing surface 23 and completely closes the flow area 25 between the sealing element 24 and the sealing surface 23 including the corresponding flow channel 26. This is shown in Figure 2 FIG.

[0043] While if, as shown in Figure 4 when there is a pressure loss greater than the upper limit value in the rear pressure chamber 14, then the sealing element 24 moves away from or is removed from the sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22 and completely releases the flow area 25 between the sealing element 24 and the sealing surface 23 including the corresponding flow channel 26.

[0044] If there is a pressure loss greater than the lower limit value and less than the upper limit value in the rear pressure chamber 14, then the sealing element 24 abuts against the sealing surface 23 but partially releases the flow area between the sealing element 24 and the sealing surface 23, that is, only via the corresponding flow channel 26 that interrupts the sealing surface 23 at at least one circumferential position. This is shown in Figure 3 FIG.

[0045] If there is no pressure loss in the rear pressure chamber 14, that is, if there is neither a conventional fluid consumption or water consumption nor a fluid leakage or water leakage downstream of the rear pressure chamber 14, then the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 assumes the Figure 2 state.

[0046] If there is a conventional fluid consumption or water consumption, then the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 assumes the Figure 4 state, and through the relative movement of the valve body 22 fixed at the valve tappet 15 relative to the sealing element 24, the sealing element 24 moves away from the sealing surface 23 and thus completely releases the flow area 25.

[0047] If there is no normal fluid consumption or water consumption downstream of the downstream pressure chamber 14, but only fluid or water leakage or very little discharge, then the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 according to the invention assumes Figure 3 a state. In this case, the sealing element 24 still abuts against the sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22, but due to the relative movement between the valve body 22 and the sealing element 24, the sealing element 24 releases at least one flow channel 26, which interrupts the sealing surface 23 at the corresponding circumferential position. Therefore, if leakage should occur, the flow can take place via the flow channel 26, whereby, compared with the pressure reducers known from the prior art, a relatively large movement of the valve tappet 15 is caused, which can be detected and detected by means of a sensor (not shown) assigned to the valve tappet 15.

[0048] It should be noted that, in the case of leakage, in contrast to normal fluid consumption or water consumption, the fluid discharge or water discharge caused by the leakage takes place unintentionally continuously, since the fluid or water continuously escapes via the leakage site. The valve body 22 of the pressure reducer 10 is adjusted to the corresponding position according to the leakage, which compensates for the pressure loss caused by the leakage in the downstream pressure chamber 14 and causes a defined movement or defined stroke of the valve tappet 15, which can be detected and detected by means of a sensor (not shown) assigned to the valve tappet 15.

[0049] Figure 5 A diagram for further illustrating the invention is shown. In Figure 4 it, the opening movement or opening stroke X of the valve tappet 15 is shown on the horizontal axis, and the fluid discharge or water discharge from the downstream pressure chamber 14 is shown on the vertical axis Y.

[0050] If neither normal fluid consumption or water consumption nor fluid leakage or water leakage exists downstream of the downstream pressure chamber 14, i.e. if the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 assumes Figure 2 a state, then there is state I in the Figure 5 diagram.

[0051] If there is no normal fluid consumption or water consumption but only leakage, and if the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 according to the invention assumes Figure 3 a state, then the opening movement or opening stroke X of the valve tappet 15 follows the Figure 5 curve section 27. A relatively small fluid discharge or water discharge then causes a relatively large opening movement X of the valve tappet 15. This results from the slope of the curve section 27. This opening movement can be detected and detected by means of a sensor (not shown) assigned to the valve tappet 15.

[0052] If there is normal fluid consumption or water consumption, i.e. if the valve 12 of the pressure reducer 10 assumesFigure 4 In the state where..., the opening movement or opening stroke X of the valve tappet 15 follows Figure 5 the curve section 28. A relatively large fluid discharge or water discharge then causes a relatively small opening movement X of the valve tappet 15. This is derived from the slope of the curve section 28.

[0053] In Figure 5 state II where the curve section 27 transitions into the curve section 28, the sealing element 24 begins to move away from the sealing surface 23 and begins to completely release the flow area 25.

[0054] At least one flow channel 26 (which interrupts the sealing surface 23 of the valve body 22 fixed to the valve tappet 15 at at least one circumferential position) can have an arbitrary cross-section, Figures 6 to 9 which shows a possible cross-section for at least one flow channel 26.

[0055] In Figure 6 and Figure 7 for at least one flow channel 26, the cross-section is respectively contoured rectangularly. When observing along the opening movement X of the valve tappet 15 and thus the valve body 22, the width B of the corresponding flow channel 26 is constant over its length L, thereby generating Figure 5 the linear curve section 27 shown in. Here, when observing the opening movement of the valve tappet 15, the greater the length L of the cross-section of at least one flow channel 26 compared to its width B, the flatter the slope of the curve section 27.

[0056] In Figure 8 and Figure 9 a cross-section for at least one flow channel 26 is shown, in which when observing along the opening movement X of the valve tappet 15, the width B of the corresponding flow channel 26 increases over its length L. The curve section 27 will then have a parabolic course.

[0057] In order to optimize the pressure loss via the valve body 22 when reaching Figure 5 state II, it is advantageous that the cross-section of at least one flow channel 26 is contoured such that when observing along the opening movement X of the valve tappet 15, the width B of the corresponding flow channel 26 increases. Thus, the cross-section contour design of at least one flow channel 26 according to Figure 8 and Figure 9 is preferred.

[0058] As can be seen from Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 the corresponding flow channels 26 that interrupt the sealing surface 23 at the corresponding circumferential positions extend in the radial direction and are preferably arranged inclined relative to the axial direction.

[0059] Different from the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element 24 can also bear against a radially outer sealing surface of the valve body 22. In this case, the sealing element 24 does not cooperate with the radially inner sealing surface 23, but rather with a radially outer sealing surface of the valve body 22 that is contoured cylindrically or hollow-cylindrically or conically.

[0060] The present invention enables a safe and simple detection of leaks configured downstream of the pressure reducer 10. Even a relatively small leak (which causes a relatively low pressure loss in the after-pressure chamber 14 of the pressure reducer 10) causes the valve tappet 15 to move by an order of magnitude that can be safely and reliably detected.

[0061] List of reference numerals

[0062] 10 Pressure reducer

[0063] 11 Housing

[0064] 12 Valve

[0065] 13 Front-pressure chamber

[0066] 14 After-pressure chamber

[0067] 15 Valve tappet

[0068] 16 Diaphragm

[0069] 17 Spring element

[0070] 18 Spring seat

[0071] 19 Spring seat

[0072] 20 Pressure chamber

[0073] 21 Pressure pipeline

[0074] 22 Valve body

[0075] 23 Sealing surface

[0076] 24 Sealing element

[0077] 25 Flow area

[0078] 26 Flow channel

[0079] 27 Curve section

[0080] 28 Curve section.

Claims

1. A pressure reducer (10), comprising: A housing (11) defining a front pressure chamber (13) and a rear pressure chamber (14); A valve (12) positioned in the housing (11); Wherein, The valve (12) separates the front pressure chamber (13) of the housing (11) from the rear pressure chamber (14) of the housing (11) in the closed state and connects the front pressure chamber (13) and the rear pressure chamber (14) in the open state; Wherein, the valve (12) has a diaphragm (16) acting on a valve tappet (15), and in the case of providing the pressure reducer function, on the diaphragm acts on the one hand a spring force of a spring element (17) acting in the opening direction of the valve (12) and on the other hand a force acting in the closing direction of the valve (12) and depending on the pressure present in the rear pressure chamber (14); Wherein, the valve (12) has a valve body (22) fixed at the valve tappet (15), and the valve body cooperates with a sealing element (24); It is characterized in that The valve body (22) fixed at the valve tappet (15) is contoured cylindrically or conically in the case of a sealing surface (23) acting in the radial direction of the structure; The sealing surface (23) of the valve body (22) fixed at the valve tappet (15) is interrupted via at least one flow channel (26) at at least one circumferential position, such that depending on the pressure loss present in the rear pressure chamber (14); Either the sealing element (24) abuts against the sealing surface (23) and completely closes the flow region (25) between the sealing element (24) and the sealing surface (23) including the corresponding flow channel (26); Or the sealing element (24) moves away from the sealing surface (23) and completely releases the flow region (25) including the corresponding flow channel (26); Or the sealing element (24) abuts against the sealing surface (23) and only partially releases the flow region (25) via the corresponding flow channel (26).

2. The pressure reducer according to claim 1, It is characterized in that If there is no pressure loss or there is a pressure loss less than a lower limit value in the rear pressure chamber (14), then the sealing element (24) abuts against the sealing surface (23) and completely closes the flow region (25) between the sealing element (24) and the sealing surface (23) including the corresponding flow channel (26); If there is a pressure loss greater than an upper limit value in the rear pressure chamber (14), then the sealing element (24) moves away from the sealing surface (23) and completely releases the flow region (25) between the sealing element (24) and the sealing surface (23) including the corresponding flow channel (26); If there is a pressure loss in the said rear pressure chamber (14) that is greater than the lower limit value and less than the upper limit value, then the said sealing element (24) abuts against the said sealing surface (23) and only partially releases the said flow region (25) between the said sealing element (24) and the said sealing surface (23) via the said corresponding flow channels (26).

3. The pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the said sealing element (24) presses internally against the internally located sealing surface (23) of the valve body (22) in the radial direction.

4. The pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the said sealing element (24) presses externally against the externally located sealing surface of the valve body (22) in the radial direction.

5. The pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the said at least one flow channel (26) that interrupts the said sealing surface (23) at the said at least one circumferential position extends in the radial direction.

6. The pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, if there is no pressure loss in the said rear pressure chamber (14), then the said sealing element (24) abuts against the said sealing surface (23) and completely closes the said flow region (25) between the said sealing element (24) and the said sealing surface (23) including the said corresponding flow channels (26), if there is a pressure loss in the said rear pressure chamber (14) on the order of the magnitude of normal fluid consumption, then the said sealing element (24) moves away from the said sealing surface (23) and completely releases the said flow region (25) between the said sealing element (24) and the said sealing surface (23) including the said corresponding flow channels (26), if there is a pressure loss in the said rear pressure chamber (14) on the order of the magnitude of leakage, then the said sealing element (24) abuts against the said sealing surface (23) and only partially releases the said flow region (25) between the said sealing element (24) and the said sealing surface (23) via the said corresponding flow channels (26).

7. The pressure reducer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, a sensor is assigned to the said valve tappet (15), and the sensor detects the movement of the said valve tappet (15).

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