Heating / cooling system manifold

Abstract

A heating / cooling system manifold (1) is described. The manifold comprises a sleeve (2) having two openings, at least one arrangement of functional components within the sleeve (2), and a fixture for attaching the functional components to the sleeve (2). The fixture has a connection geometry (13). Such a manifold should have the greatest possible flow capacity. To this end, the connection geometry (13) is arranged on the outside of the sleeve (2), and the space between the fixtures is arranged within the sleeve (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a heating / cooling system manifold comprising a sleeve having two openings in a wall, at least one arrangement of functional components within the sleeve, and a fixture for mounting the functional component to the sleeve, the fixture having a connector geometry. Background Art

[0002] Such a manifold is known, for example, from EP 1 426 695 A1. In this reference, the fixture comprises two components in the form of tubular metal elements, which are inserted into opposing openings in a sleeve and connected to one another via a threaded connection located within the sleeve, wherein one tubular element comprises an external thread and the other tubular element comprises an internal thread. When the two tubular elements are connected to one another, the area available for flow through the sleeve is reduced, so that the fixture increases the flow resistance through the pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to have the greatest possible flow capacity in the cooling / heating system manifold.

[0004] This object is achieved by the heating / cooling system manifold as described in the introduction, since the connection geometry is arranged outside the sleeve and the spaces between the fixing devices are arranged inside the sleeve.

[0005] The fixtures do not touch each other within the sleeve. This leaves more space available for flow than with known manifolds. The larger the area available for flow, the lower the flow resistance and the greater the flow capacity.

[0006] In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises two openings in the circumferential wall.Although the components of the fixing device are inserted into the openings, the components of the fixing device are not in contact in the interior of the sleeve.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixtures are connected to each other on the outside of the sleeve via a threaded connection. For example, a pair of screws arranged tangentially to the tube can be used. This threaded connection allows for a highly reliable connection of the fixtures. Other methods of connecting the fixture components are possible, such as welding.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing device comprises a first component and a second component, which are mounted to the sleeve from opposite sides of the sleeve, wherein only one of the first and second components comprises a functional element that can be actuated from the outside of the tube. This makes the construction of the manifold very simple. There is an "active" component, which comprises the functional element, and a "passive" component, which is merely a counterpart to the functional element and cannot be actuated from the outside. When the sleeve has a circular cross-section, the opposite sides are arranged on either side of the longitudinal center axis of the sleeve, that is, the opposite sides are arranged diametrically.

[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the functional element is a valve element which is guided in a housing mounted to the first component. The valve element is movable within the housing, which in turn is fixed to the first component of the fixture.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second component comprises a valve seat, into which the valve element can move. When the valve is open, a certain space exists between the valve element and the valve seat. To close the valve, the valve element moves into the valve seat. In this case, it is advantageous if the valve element is provided with a sealing ring that seals against the inner side of the valve seat. In this way, the valve can be completely closed.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the spring presses against the second component, it acts on the valve element in the opening direction. The second component not only supports the valve seat but also serves as an end stop for the spring. This facilitates assembly of the manifold. These two components can be mounted on the sleeve. Thereafter, the valve element housing is secured to the first component of the fixture, and when the spring contacts the second component of the fixture, it automatically pretensions.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the valve element comprises a hollow rod, and the spring is guided within the hollow rod. This provides a simple method for achieving alignment between the valve element and the valve seat. Not only is the spring guided within the hollow rod, but it is also secured to the second component of the fixture in all directions transverse to the direction of action of the spring. Therefore, when the valve element approaches the second component, the spring aligns the valve element with the second component and, in turn, with the valve seat.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, a flow restrictor is disposed in the second component, wherein the flow restrictor includes a flow restricting element and a flow restricting spring acting on the flow restricting element in an opening direction. This flow restrictor is advantageous when return fluid from the system enters the manifold from one side of the second component of the fixture. When the flow from the system increases, this increased flow acts on the flow restricting element and compresses the flow restricting spring, causing the flow restricting element to move toward the flow restricting valve seat. The smaller the distance between the flow restricting element and the flow restricting valve seat, the greater the flow resistance to flow from the system into the manifold.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the flow limiting spring is pressed against the valve element. Therefore, no additional components are required to form the stopper of the flow limiting spring.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the openings comprises a non-circular shape, and the fixing device projects into the opening with a geometry adapted to the non-circular shape. This provides a simple way of securing the fixing device, or at least one component of the fixing device, in the correct position on the sleeve. The component of the fixing device can be mounted on the sleeve in only one angular position, thereby automatically achieving correct alignment with the second component of the fixing device.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection geometry forms an alignment device. This is another possibility for achieving correct alignment of the components of the fixture. When the components of the fixture are correctly aligned, alignment of the valve element relative to the valve seat is also achieved.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the connector is mounted to the fixture in a tiltable manner. Thus, the connector forms a flexible component for connecting the tubes to different components of the system using the manifold. This makes it easier to mount the tubes to the manifold.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting element may comprise a head in the fixing device, the head at least partially having a spherical form. The spherical form of the head of the connecting element allows the connecting element to move within a certain angle in the fixing device.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the head is provided with a sealing ring which seals to prevent leakage at any possible angular position of the connection.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector is held in the fixture by a retaining element that clamps beneath the head and is inserted into the fixture from the outside. Consequently, the connector cannot be removed from the fixture. The housing of the functional component located on the other side of the sleeve can be connected to the fixture in the same manner. In this case, the retaining element can be clamped into a recess in the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 Showing the manifold for the heating / cooling system,

[0023] Figure 2 Show the basis Figure 1 An enlarged view of a portion of the manifold,

[0024] Figure 3 Shown in cutaway perspective Figure 2The manifold,

[0025] Figure 4 A second embodiment of the fixing means and the functional component is shown, and

[0026] Figure 5 Shown in a cutaway perspective view at a slightly larger scale Figure 4 Example of . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 A manifold 1 for a heating / cooling system is shown. The manifold 1 comprises a sleeve 2 having openings 3, 4 in a circumferential wall of the sleeve 2 ( Figure 2 The manifold comprises at least one arrangement of functional components 5 and a fixing device for mounting the functional components 5 to the sleeve 2. The fixing device has a connection geometry 6 ( Figures 3 to 5 ).

[0028] Figure 1 The manifold 1 shown can have more than one arrangement of functional components 5. The arrangement of functional components 5 can have different forms. The arrangement of functional components 5 can form, for example, a valve arrangement, a simple connection arrangement, a preset arrangement or a flow meter.

[0029] However, reference will now be made to the valve ( Figures 2 to 5 ) is used as an example to describe the present invention.

[0030] The fixing device 5 comprises a first part 7 and a second part 8, which are connected to each other by screws 9 and 10. However, the screws 9 and 10 are arranged on the outside of the sleeve 2. Although the parts 7 and 8 of the fixing device 5 do not touch each other in the interior space 11 of the sleeve, a distance 12 is provided between the first part 7 and the second part 8.

[0031] Thus, the absence of connected components 7 , 8 leaves a considerable area within the sleeve 2 for flow through the tube 2 and therefore for flow through the manifold 1 .

[0032] Especially in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG, the first part 7 and the second part 8 are mounted to the sleeve 2 from opposite sides of the diameter of the sleeve. The screws 9, 10 are arranged substantially tangentially to the circumference of the sleeve 2.

[0033] The two parts 7, 8 comprise a connection geometry 13 which serves as an alignment means for aligning the two parts 7, 8 of the fixture 5 relative to each other. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the connection geometry 13 shows a triangular protrusion in the first component 7 and a triangular recess in the second component 8. However, other connection geometries are possible.

[0034] Only the first component 7 comprises a functional element in the form of a valve element 14. The valve element 14 is guided in a housing 15. The housing 15 is fixed to the first component 7 by means of a retaining element 16, which is, for example, U-shaped and is displaced into a groove 17 in the first component 7. The retaining element 7 simultaneously engages in a corresponding groove 18 in the housing 15.

[0035] The valve element 14 is connected to a rod 19, which serves to guide the valve element 14 in the housing 15. The rod 19 is hollow and comprises a hollow space 20 in which an opening spring 21 is guided.

[0036] Second component 8 includes a tubular projection 22 extending into interior 11 of space 2. Tubular projection 22 forms a valve seat 23 at its end facing valve element 14. Valve element 14 is provided with a sealing ring 24 around its circumference. Valve element 14 can be displaced not only toward second component 8 but also into tubular projection 22. In this position, when valve element 14 is inserted into second component 8 of the fixture, the valve is closed because sealing ring 24 seals against tubular projection 22.

[0037] When the valve is open, the distance between the valve element 14 and the valve seat 23 determines the flow resistance for a flow from the interior 11 of the tube 2 through the second component 8 to the outside.

[0038] The second part 8 also includes a pin-shaped protrusion 25 at its center. One end of the spring 21 is mounted to the pin 25 so that the spring 21 is centered relative to the second part 8 of the fixture. When the spring 21 is centered and aligned, the valve element 14 is also aligned relative to the valve seat 23.

[0039] Connected to the second part 8 of the fixture is a connector 26. The connector 26 comprises a head 27 which is at least partially spherical and is provided with a sealing ring 28. The connector 26 can thus be tilted within certain limits in the second part 8, thereby facilitating the installation of the pipes with which the manifold 1 is connected to the heating or cooling system.

[0040] The connecting piece 26 is fixed to the second component 8 via a fixing element 29 which is inserted into the second component 8 from one side (parallel to the tangent of the sleeve 2 ) and clamps behind the head 27 so that it cannot be withdrawn from the second component 8 .

[0041] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Show the basis Figure 2 and Figure 3The valve of the embodiment shown (however, without a sleeve) additionally has a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor comprises a flow restrictor element 30 and a flow restrictor spring 31. The flow restrictor spring 31 presses against the radius of the valve element 14, which is, however, larger than the radius of the spring 21.

[0042] The flow restricting element 30 cooperates with the flow restricting valve seat 32 and includes a plurality of radially extending protrusions 33. When the flow through the connecting portion 26 (in other words, the backflow) increases, the flow restricting element 30 overcomes the force of the flow restricting spring 31 and shifts toward the flow restricting valve seat 32, thereby reducing the available flow area and increasing the flow resistance. As a result, the flow into the manifold 1 can be restricted.

Claims

1. A heating / cooling system manifold comprising: a sleeve having two openings in a wall; at least one arrangement of functional components within said sleeve; as well as a fixing device for mounting the functional component to the sleeve, the fixing device having a connection geometry, Characterized in that the connection geometry is arranged outside the sleeve and the space between the fixing devices is arranged inside the sleeve.

2. The manifold according to claim 1, characterized in that The fixing devices are connected to each other on the outside of the sleeve via threaded connections.

3. The manifold according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The fixing device comprises a first part and a second part which are mounted to the sleeve from opposite sides of the sleeve, wherein only one of the first and second parts comprises a functional element which can be actuated from outside the sleeve.

4. The manifold according to claim 3, characterized in that The functional element is a valve element which is guided in a housing which is mounted on the first component.

5. The manifold according to claim 4, characterized in that The second component comprises a valve seat, wherein the valve element is movable into the valve seat.

6. The manifold according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that A spring acts on the valve element in an opening direction, wherein the spring presses against the second component.

7. The manifold according to claim 6, characterized in that The valve element comprises a hollow stem, and the spring is guided in the hollow stem.

8. The manifold according to claim 4, wherein: The flow limiter is arranged in the second component, wherein the flow limiter includes a flow limiting element and a flow limiting spring acting on the flow limiting element in an opening direction.

9. The manifold according to claim 8, characterized in that The flow limiting spring presses against the valve element.

10. The manifold according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 9, characterized in that At least one of the openings comprises a non-circular shape, and the securing device projects into the opening with a geometry adapted to the non-circular shape.

11. The manifold according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 9, characterized in that The connection geometry forms an alignment means.

12. The manifold according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 9, characterized in that The connecting member is mounted to the fixing device in a tiltable manner.

13. The manifold according to claim 12, wherein: The connecting element comprises, within the fixing device, a head which at least partially has a spherical form.

14. The manifold according to claim 13, wherein The head is provided with a sealing ring.

15. The manifold according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The connecting piece is held in the fixing device by a holding element which clamps under the head and is inserted into the fixing device from the outside.

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