Anti-freezing ball valve
By using temperature monitoring and heating components in the antifreeze mechanism, the problem of ball valves freezing in low-temperature environments is solved, enabling normal use of ball valves and energy saving.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520278770.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-20
AI Technical Summary
Ball valves are prone to freezing in low-temperature environments, making them difficult to operate or unusable.
It employs an anti-freeze mechanism, including a heating component and a housing, monitors the ball valve temperature through a temperature sensor and controller, uses an electric heating grid to prevent freezing, and utilizes an air layer for thermal insulation.
It effectively prevents ball valves from freezing, ensures normal operation, saves energy, reduces heat loss, and achieves automated temperature control.
Smart Images
Figure CN223768156U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ball valve technology, and specifically to an antifreeze ball valve. Background Technology
[0002] Ball valves are a common type of valve, primarily used to control the flow of fluids in pipelines. A ball valve mainly consists of a valve body, ball, seat, stem, and handle. It is known for its rapid opening and closing, low flow resistance, and reliable sealing performance. However, in low-temperature environments, if water or other easily frozen media remain inside the ball valve, these liquids will freeze when the ambient temperature drops below freezing, making valve operation difficult or completely impossible. Therefore, to prevent water inside the ball valve from freezing due to low temperatures and affecting its normal use, an anti-freeze ball valve is urgently needed. Utility Model Content
[0003] The present invention aims to provide an antifreeze ball valve to solve the problem of the liquid inside the ball valve freezing into ice in low-temperature environments, which affects the use of the ball valve.
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution: an antifreeze ball valve, comprising a ball valve body and an antifreeze mechanism;
[0005] The antifreeze mechanism includes a heating component and two outer shells. When in use, the two outer shells are spliced together to form a complete shell and enclose the ball valve body inside the shell, with a gap between the inner wall of the shell and the ball valve body.
[0006] The heating assembly includes a controller, a power supply, a temperature sensor, and two sets of heating plates. The two sets of heating plates are respectively installed on the inner walls of the two outer shells, and both sets of heating plates are in contact with the ball valve body. The controller is fixedly installed on one of the outer shells and is electrically connected to the two sets of heating plates. The power supply is electrically connected to the controller. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the controller and is fixed on one of the outer shells, with its temperature detection end in contact with the ball valve body.
[0007] The working principle of this invention is as follows: When the ball valve is in a low-temperature environment, two outer shells are fitted onto the ball valve body to form a complete shell, which is then fixed with screws. Power is then supplied to the controller and two sets of heating plates. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the ball valve body in real time. When the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the ball valve body is close to the freezing point of water, it transmits a monitoring signal to the controller. The controller then synchronously controls the two sets of heating plates to operate and heat up. Since the two sets of heating plates are installed on the inner walls of the two outer shells and are in contact with the ball valve body, they directly heat the ball valve body during operation. When the temperature of the ball valve body exceeds the freezing point by 5-15°C, the temperature sensor transmits a cooling signal to the controller, which then stops the operation of the heating plates. Simultaneously, a gap is left between the complete shell and the ball valve body, utilizing air as a poor conductor of heat to achieve a heat insulation effect. This prevents external low temperatures from being transmitted to the ball valve body, thus lowering its temperature and achieving antifreeze protection. Secondly, it prevents heat loss from the shell, thus achieving a heat preservation effect.
[0008] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:
[0009] 1. This solution, through the cooperation of a temperature sensor and controller, can accurately sense the temperature of the ball valve body. When the temperature approaches the freezing point of water, the electric heating plate is automatically activated to ensure that the temperature of the ball valve body is always above the freezing point, effectively preventing the ball valve from being damaged by freezing and ensuring the normal operation of the ball valve in low-temperature environments.
[0010] 2. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the ball valve body in real time and feeds the data back to the controller. The controller automatically starts and stops the heating of the electric heating plate according to the set threshold, ensuring that heat is provided only when necessary and avoiding unnecessary energy waste.
[0011] 3. A gap is left between the outer shell and the ball valve body. Utilizing the property that air is a poor conductor of heat, this provides insulation. On the one hand, it prevents low external temperatures from entering the ball valve body; on the other hand, it reduces heat loss from the shell. Similar to the principle of a thermos, the air layer in the middle effectively isolates the internal and external temperatures, allowing the heated ball valve body to maintain a suitable temperature for a longer period, reducing the frequency of the heating element's activation and saving energy.
[0012] Furthermore, the outer surfaces of both outer shells are covered with an insulation layer. The purpose of this is to increase the thermal insulation effect and reduce the impact of low external temperatures on the ball valve body.
[0013] Furthermore, the controller is a microcontroller.
[0014] Furthermore, the power source is either AC power or a battery.
[0015] Furthermore, solar panels are fixedly mounted on the upper surfaces of both outer casings, and the solar panels are electrically connected to the battery. The purpose is to supplement the battery's power supply via the solar panels when the battery is used as a power source. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the front view of an antifreeze ball valve according to this utility model;
[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A structural diagram showing the assembly of the inner and outer shells;
[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the outer shell in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:
[0020] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: 1. Rotary handle; 2. Valve stem; 3. Housing; 4. Valve body; 5. Valve seat; 6. Valve ball; 7. Through hole; 8. Pipe hole; 9. Solar panel; 10. Heating grid; 11. Temperature sensor.
[0021] The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1 Appendix Figure 2 and attached Figure 3 As shown:
[0022] An antifreeze ball valve includes a ball valve body and an antifreeze mechanism. The ball valve body includes a valve body 4, a valve ball 6 is rotatably connected inside the valve body 4, a valve stem 2 is fixedly connected to the top of the valve ball 6, the top of the valve stem 2 passes vertically upward through the valve body 4 and is located outside the valve body 4 and is fixedly connected to a rotating handle 1, and two valve seats 5 are installed on the valve body 4, the two valve seats 5 being located on the left and right sides of the valve ball 6.
[0023] The antifreeze mechanism includes a heating component and two “【”-shaped outer shells 3. When in use, the two outer shells 3 are spliced together to form a complete shell and enclose the ball valve body inside the shell. A gap is left between the inner wall of the shell and the ball valve body. The top of the shell is provided with a through hole 7 for the valve stem 2 to pass through, and pipe holes 8 for pipes to pass through are provided at opposite ends of the shell.
[0024] The heating assembly includes a controller (microcontroller), a power supply (mains power or battery), a temperature sensor 11, and two sets of heating plates 10. The two sets of heating plates 10 are respectively installed on the inner walls of the two outer shells 3, and both sets of heating plates 10 are in contact with the ball valve body. The controller is fixedly installed on one of the outer shells 3 and is electrically connected to the two sets of heating plates 10. The power supply is electrically connected to the controller. The temperature sensor 11 is electrically connected to the controller and is fixed on one of the outer shells 3. The temperature detection end of the temperature sensor 11 is in contact with the ball valve body.
[0025] When a storage battery is used as the power source, a solar panel 9 is fixedly installed on the top of the casing, and the solar panel 9 is electrically connected to the storage battery.
[0026] The specific implementation process is as follows:
[0027] When the ball valve is in a low-temperature environment, two outer shells 3 are fitted together and wrapped around the ball valve body to form a complete housing, and the two outer shells 3 are fixed with screws. At this time, the power supply is turned on, and the power supply provides power to the controller and the two sets of electric heating plates 10. The temperature sensor 11 monitors the temperature of the ball valve body in real time. When the temperature sensor 11 detects that the temperature of the ball valve body is close to the freezing point of water, the temperature sensor 11 transmits the monitoring signal to the controller. At this time, the controller synchronously controls the two sets of electric heating plates 10 to operate and heat up. Since the two sets of electric heating plates 10 are installed on the inner wall of the two outer shells 3 and the electric heating plates 10 are in contact with the ball valve body, the electric heating plates 10 directly heat the ball valve body when they are running. When the temperature of the ball valve body is 5-15°C higher than the freezing point, the temperature sensor 11 transmits the temperature reduction signal to the controller, and the controller stops the operation of the electric heating plates 10. At the same time, a gap is left between the complete housing and the ball valve body. Utilizing air as a poor conductor of heat, this achieves a thermal insulation effect. Firstly, it prevents external low temperatures from being transferred to the ball valve body, lowering its temperature and thus preventing freezing. Secondly, it avoids heat loss from the housing, achieving a heat preservation effect.
Claims
1. A freeze-proof ball valve, characterized by: The application relates to a ball valve body and an anti-freezing mechanism. The anti-freezing mechanism comprises a heating assembly and two shells which are combined into a complete shell and wrap the ball valve body in the shell when used, and a space is left between the inner wall of the shell and the ball valve body. The heating assembly comprises a controller, a power supply, a temperature sensor and two groups of electric heating net plates, the two groups of electric heating net plates are respectively installed on the inner walls of the two shells and are in contact with the ball valve body; the controller is fixedly installed on one of the shells and is in electric signal connection with the two groups of electric heating net plates; the power supply is in electric signal connection with the controller; the temperature sensor is in electric signal connection with the controller and is fixed on one of the shells and in contact with the ball valve body.
2. A freeze-proof ball valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surfaces of the two shells are covered with heat preservation layers.
3. A freeze-proof ball valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller is a single-chip microcomputer.
4. A freeze-proof ball valve according to claim 3, characterized in that: The power supply adopts commercial power or a storage battery.
5. A freeze-proof ball valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: Solar cell panels are fixedly installed on the upper surfaces of the two shells and are in electric signal connection with the storage battery.