An electronic lock head for a lockable ball valve

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of electronic lock head of lockable ball valve, be provided in the upper cavity of the valve body of ball valve, the lower coaxial of electronic lock head is connected in turn by upper and lower valve stem, valve ball;The lower part of valve body includes the valve body one, valve body two of threaded connection, the both sides of valve ball are provided with one PTFE valve seat respectively, each PTFE valve seat is respectively embedded in valve body one, valve body two.The utility model structure is simple and reasonable, strong integrity, design special electronic lock head structure, when user stops warm, can lock after closing user water supply or backwater pipe valve when owing fee, and can prevent user to open valve privately;Upper cavity of valve body can place the electronic lock head, can also install hand wheel, not only can be realized the unlocking and unlocking of valve by electronic lock head, but also can install hand wheel and use as ordinary ball valve, realize one valve two uses, not only save equipment procurement cost, also save installation cost and time, installation is convenient and fast, good applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heating valve control technology, and more specifically, to an electronic lock head for a lockable ball valve. Background Technology

[0002] Individual heating management involves installing separate valves to control the flow of heat into each household, achieving "one valve per household." Controlling the opening and closing of these valves allows for precise management of each user's heating behavior. These valves can be manual or electric. Electric valves are easier to control, but require an electric actuator for each valve and related equipment to communicate with the management system, resulting in a larger investment in the entire heating control system. For economic reasons, heating companies often choose manual valves as the mandatory control valves for each household; these manual valves are typically mechanically locked shut-off valves.

[0003] Currently, mechanically locked valves generally use magnetic locking, which locks the valve position based on the principle that like poles attract and unlike poles repel. Further upgrades have involved a combination of magnetic locking and a special-shaped key. For users who have suspended heating or are in arrears, the heating company uses a special magnetic key to shut off the valve, stopping heating for that user. Without the key, the user cannot open the valve, thus controlling heating supply according to actual payment status.

[0004] However, the existing mechanical locking method combining magnetism and irregularly shaped keys has the following security risks and drawbacks:

[0005] 1. Magnetic locks are relatively easy to crack. Outsiders can detect the polarity of the magnetic points and match the lock cover structure to copy the key and illegally open the lock.

[0006] 2. Losing a key poses a risk of loss of control. Generally, the same type of shut-off valve is used in the same community. If the heating company's operator loses a key, it may expose the valves in the entire area to the risk of loss of control.

[0007] Currently, there are also electronic locking valves on the market that are authorized by electronic devices. However, the design and principle of existing electronic locking valves are simply to replace the opening and locking functions of mechanical keys with electronic keys. They do not completely eliminate the risks and problems that exist with mechanical locking valves. Utility Model Content

[0008] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to address the problems that easily occur in the current locking valve system by designing an electronic lock head for a lockable ball valve. When the user stops heating or is in arrears with payments, the valve on the user's water supply or return pipe can be closed and locked, preventing the user from opening the valve without authorization. The upper cavity of the lockable ball valve body can house the electronic lock head and also install a dedicated handwheel. It can not only unlock and open the valve through the electronic lock head, but also be used as a regular ball valve, achieving dual-purpose functionality. This saves on equipment procurement costs, installation costs and time, and is convenient and quick to install with wide applicability.

[0009] This utility model provides an electronic lock head for a lockable ball valve, comprising: a valve stem and a valve ball coaxially arranged below the electronic lock head, which are connected sequentially from top to bottom; the lower part of the valve body includes a first valve body and a second valve body connected by threads, and a PTFE valve seat is provided on both sides of the valve ball, with each PTFE valve seat embedded in the first valve body and the second valve body respectively.

[0010] Preferably, O-rings are respectively provided on the mating surfaces of the PTFE valve seat and the valve body one and the valve body two to achieve double-sided sealing between the valve ball and the valve body. The right side of the valve body two and the left side of the valve body one are tightly fitted, so that the PTFE valve seat and the valve ball are sealed and fitted, generating a uniform pre-tightening force and improving the sealing performance between the valve body and the valve ball.

[0011] Furthermore, the electronic lock cylinder includes: a lock cylinder housing, inside which a lock cylinder cover, a core circuit board, a motor bracket, and a contact plate are arranged sequentially from top to bottom; a motor is installed in the motor groove of the motor bracket; the core circuit board is threadedly connected to the motor bracket; the lock cylinder cover is threadedly connected to the lock cylinder housing; and the motor is fixedly connected to the core circuit board.

[0012] Furthermore, a small hole is provided at the lower part of the lock head housing, and a probe is provided on the lower surface of the contact plate. The probe passes through the small hole and protrudes out from the small hole. An elongated hole is provided on the side of the lock head housing, and a lock cylinder is connected to the end of the motor. The lock cylinder can move in the elongated hole.

[0013] In one embodiment of this utility model, a contact plate is installed on the lowest side of the upper cavity of the lock head housing. Two probes on the contact plate pass through two small holes on the lower side of the lock head housing. A motor bracket is placed on the upper end of the contact plate, and the motor is clamped in the motor groove of the motor bracket. The lock cylinder is connected to the end of the motor and can move through the elongated hole. The core circuit board and the motor bracket are fixed together, and the lock head cover is installed on the lock head housing. When the electronic lock head is installed into the upper cavity of the valve body, the upper end of the valve stem will be inserted into the lower cavity of the lock head housing. After the electronic lock head is installed in place, the probes on the contact plate will contact the upper end face of the valve stem. The probes transmit the signal to the core circuit board through the pins on the contact plate, and the core circuit board transmits the signal that the electronic lock head is installed in place to the external device.

[0014] Furthermore, a protrusion is provided on the outer side of the lock housing, and a groove is provided on the inner side of the valve body to cooperate with the protrusion. The electronic lock head is inserted into the upper cavity of the valve body along the groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the lock head cover has a side protrusion on its side, and the lock head housing has a housing groove on its side that mates with the side protrusion. The lock head cover is installed onto the lock head housing along the housing groove.

[0016] Furthermore, the lock housing and lock cover are connected together by countersunk screws, and the core circuit board and the motor bracket are connected together by countersunk screws; the motor is welded to the core circuit board.

[0017] Furthermore, the upper end of the valve ball is provided with a slot, and the valve stem passes through the upper cavity of the valve body from top to bottom and is inserted into the slot; the lower end of the electronic lock head is provided with a flat groove, and the upper part of the valve stem is provided with a flat rod, which is inserted into the flat groove.

[0018] Specifically, the upper cavity of the valve body is specially designed to house the electronic lock head and enable locking. The electronic lock head can be removed from the upper part of the valve stem and taken out from the upper cavity of the valve body.

[0019] Furthermore, when the electronic lock of the lockable ball valve does not need to be locked, the electronic lock is replaced with a handwheel, which is detachably connected to the upper cavity of the valve body.

[0020] When the ball valve does not need to be locked, remove the electronic lock head, replace it with a dedicated handwheel, and place the dedicated handwheel in the upper cavity of the valve body. The lockable ball valve can then be transformed into an ordinary openable and closable manual ball valve, realizing the multi-purpose function of one valve body.

[0021] Furthermore, a plastic cover is provided on the upper part of the valve body, and a rubber gasket is provided between the plastic cover and the valve body. The plastic cover is threadedly connected to the valve body.

[0022] The rubber gasket ensures the plastic cap's airtightness and waterproof performance.

[0023] Furthermore, the valve stem is radially fitted with O-rings (preferably two) to prevent liquid from overflowing from the valve.

[0024] One embodiment of the lockable ball valve of this utility model includes, from left to right, a valve body two, an O-ring, a PTFE valve seat, an O-ring, and a valve ball; and from top to bottom, a plastic cover, a rubber gasket, an electronic lock head, a valve stem, and an O-ring seal.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0026] The electronic lock head structure of the lockable ball valve provided by this utility model is simple and reasonable, with strong overall integrity. Through the design of a dedicated electronic lock head structure, the valve of the user's water supply or return pipe can be locked after being closed when the user stops heating or is in arrears, and it can also prevent the user from opening the valve without authorization. The upper cavity of the lockable ball valve body can not only house the electronic lock head, but also install a handwheel. It can not only realize the opening and unlocking of the valve through the electronic lock head, but also install a handwheel to use it as a regular ball valve, realizing two uses in one valve. This saves equipment purchase costs, installation costs and time, and is convenient and quick to install with good applicability. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0028] In the attached diagram:

[0029] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a lockable ball valve according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 This is an isometric view of the electronic lock head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is an isometric view of the valve body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the electronic lock head according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a side view of the motor bracket according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0034] Figure 6 This is an isometric view of the lock head cover according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0035] Figure 7 This is an isometric view of the lock housing according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 8 This is another isometric view of the lock housing according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0037] The markings in the attached figure are as follows:

[0038] 1. Valve body one; 101. Groove; 2. Valve body two; 3. Valve ball; 4. PTFE valve seat; 5. Valve stem; 6. Electronic lock head; 61. Lock head housing; 601. Protrusion; 6101. Housing groove one; 6102. Housing groove two; 6103. Long hole; 6104. Small hole; 6105. Lower end cavity; 62. Lock head cover; 6201. Side protrusion one; 6202. Side protrusion two; 63. Motor bracket; 6301. Motor groove; 64. Core circuit board; 65. Contact plate; 66. Motor; 67. Lock cylinder; 68. Countersunk screw; 7. Rubber gasket; 8. Plastic cover; 9. O-ring seal. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0040] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in this disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0041] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, and third may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."

[0042] Example

[0043] This utility model embodiment provides an electronic lock head 6 that can lock a ball valve, such as... Figure 1 The diagram shows: a cavity located in the upper part of the valve body of the ball valve, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the electronic lock cylinder 6 includes: a lock cylinder housing 61, and inside the lock cylinder housing 61, from top to bottom, a lock cylinder cover 62, a core circuit board 64, a motor bracket 63, and a contact plate 65 are arranged sequentially. The lock cylinder housing 61 and the lock cylinder cover 62 are connected together by countersunk screws 68, and the core circuit board 64 and the motor bracket 63 are connected together by countersunk screws 68. The motor 66 is welded to the core circuit board 64.

[0044] Motor recess 6301 of motor bracket 63 (e.g.) Figure 5 As shown, a motor 66 is installed inside, the core circuit board 64 is threadedly connected to the motor bracket 63, the lock head cover 62 is threadedly connected to the lock head housing 61, and the motor 66 is fixedly connected to the core circuit board 64. Figure 8 As shown, a small hole 6104 is provided at the lower part of the lock housing 61, and a probe is provided on the lower surface of the contact plate 65. The probe passes through the small hole 6104 and protrudes out of the small hole 6104. An elongated hole 6103 is provided on the side of the lock housing 61, and a lock cylinder 67 is connected to the end of the motor 66. The lock cylinder 67 can move in the elongated hole 6103.

[0045] In this embodiment, the contact plate 65 is installed on the lowermost side of the upper cavity of the lock housing 61. Two probes on the contact plate 65 pass through two small holes 6104 on the lower side of the lock housing 61. The motor bracket 63 is placed on the upper end of the contact plate 65. The motor 66 is clamped in the motor groove 6301 in the motor bracket 63. The lock cylinder 67 is connected to the end of the motor 66. The core circuit board 64 and the motor bracket 63 are fixed together. The lock cover 62 is installed on the lock housing 61. When the electronic lock head 6 is installed into the upper cavity of the valve body, the upper end of the valve stem 5 will be inserted into the lower cavity 6105 of the lock housing 61. After the electronic lock head 6 is installed in place, the probes on the contact plate 65 will contact the upper end face of the valve stem 5. The probes transmit the signal to the core circuit board 64 through the pins on the contact plate 65. The core circuit board 64 transmits the signal that the electronic lock head 6 is installed in place to the external device.

[0046] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, a protrusion 601 is provided on the outer side of the lock housing 61, and a groove 101 is provided on the inner side of the valve body to mate with the protrusion 601. The electronic lock head 6 is inserted into the upper cavity of the valve body along the groove 101. A side protrusion 601 is provided on the side of the lock head cover 62 (e.g., ...). Figure 6The diagram shows two side protrusions, 6201 and 6202. The side of the lock housing 61 is provided with a housing groove that mates with the side protrusions 6201 (e.g., ...). Figure 7 The lock cover 62 is installed on the lock housing 61 along the housing grooves (including housing groove one 6101 and housing groove two 6102).

[0047] Below the electronic lock head 6, a valve stem 5 and a valve ball 3 are coaxially connected from top to bottom; the lower part of the valve body includes a threaded valve body 1 and a valve body 2, and a PTFE valve seat 4 is provided on each side of the valve ball 3, with each PTFE valve seat 4 embedded in the valve body 1 and the valve body 2 respectively.

[0048] O-rings are respectively set on the mating surfaces of PTFE valve seat 4 and valve body 1 and valve body 2 to achieve double-sided sealing between valve ball 3 and valve body. The right side of valve body 2 and the left side of valve body 1 are tightly attached to each other, so that PTFE valve seat 4 and valve ball 3 are sealed and fitted together, generating uniform pre-tightening force and improving the sealing performance between valve body and valve ball 3.

[0049] The upper end of the valve ball 3 has a slot, and the valve stem 5 passes through the upper cavity of the valve body from top to bottom and is inserted into the slot. The lower end of the electronic lock head 6 has a flat groove, and the upper part of the valve stem 5 has a flat rod, which is inserted into the flat groove. The upper cavity of the valve body is specifically designed to house the electronic lock head 6 and enable locking. The electronic lock head 6 can be removed from the upper part of the valve stem 5 and taken out of the upper cavity of the valve body.

[0050] A plastic cap 8 is installed on the upper part of the valve body, and a rubber gasket 7 is placed between the plastic cap 8 and the valve body. The plastic cap 8 is threadedly connected to the valve body. The rubber gasket 7 ensures the sealing and waterproof performance of the plastic cap 8. Two O-rings 9 are radially installed on the valve stem 5 to prevent liquid from overflowing from the valve.

[0051] The lockable ball valve in this embodiment includes, from left to right, a valve body 2, an O-ring, a PTFE valve seat 4, an O-ring, a valve ball 3, and a valve body 1; from top to bottom, it includes a plastic cover 8, a rubber gasket, an electronic lock head 6, a valve stem 5, and an O-ring 9.

[0052] When the lockable ball valve does not need to be locked, the electronic lock head 6 is replaced with a handwheel, which is detachably connected to the upper cavity of the valve body. When the ball valve does not need to be locked, the electronic lock head 6 is removed and a dedicated handwheel is installed. The dedicated handwheel is placed in the upper cavity of the valve body, and the lockable ball valve can then be transformed into a regular openable and closeable manual ball valve, realizing a multi-purpose function with one valve body.

[0053] This embodiment features a specially designed electronic lock structure that can lock the user's water supply or return pipe valves after they are closed when the user stops heating or is in arrears with payments, preventing the user from opening the valves without authorization. The upper cavity of the lockable ball valve body can house both the electronic lock and a handwheel. This allows for both locking and unlocking of the valve via the electronic lock and use as a regular ball valve with the handwheel, achieving dual functionality. This saves on equipment procurement costs, installation costs, and time. The valve is easy and quick to install, with a simple and reasonable structure, strong overall integrity, and good applicability.

[0054] The technical solution of this utility model has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the protection scope of this utility model is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of this utility model, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0055] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Various modifications and variations can be made to this utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An electronic lock head for a lockable ball valve, characterized in that, The upper cavity of the ball valve body is provided, and below the electronic lock head, a valve stem and a valve ball are coaxially connected from top to bottom; the lower part of the valve body includes a first valve body and a second valve body connected by threads, and a PTFE valve seat is provided on each side of the valve ball, with each PTFE valve seat being embedded in the first valve body and the second valve body respectively; The electronic lock cylinder includes: a lock cylinder housing, inside which a lock cylinder cover, a core circuit board, a motor bracket, and a contact plate are arranged sequentially from top to bottom; a motor is installed in the motor groove of the motor bracket; the core circuit board is threadedly connected to the motor bracket; the lock cylinder cover is threadedly connected to the lock cylinder housing; and the motor is fixedly connected to the core circuit board. The lower part of the lock housing is provided with a small hole, and the lower surface of the contact plate is provided with a probe that passes through the small hole and protrudes out of the small hole; the side of the lock housing is provided with an elongated hole, and the end of the motor is connected to a lock cylinder that can move in the elongated hole.

2. The electronic lock head of the lockable ball valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the lock housing is provided with a protrusion, and the inner side of the valve body is provided with a groove that matches the protrusion. The electronic lock head is inserted into the upper cavity of the valve body along the groove.

3. The electronic lock head of the lockable ball valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock cover has a side protrusion on its side, and the lock housing has a housing groove on its side that mates with the side protrusion. The lock cover is installed onto the lock housing along the housing groove.

4. The electronic lock head of the lockable ball valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock housing and lock cover are connected together by countersunk screws, and the core circuit board and the motor bracket are connected together by countersunk screws; the motor is welded to the core circuit board.

5. The electronic lock head of the lockable ball valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the electronic lock of the lockable ball valve does not need to be locked, the electronic lock is replaced by a handwheel, which is detachably connected to the upper cavity of the valve body.

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