A tee switch valve suitable for a central heating system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of three-way switching valves suitable for central heating system, including the main pipeline of valve body inside vertical arrangement, the main pipeline one end is equipped with actuator, another end is equipped with vertical port, main pipeline pipe wall side edge is equipped with the first horizontal interface and the second horizontal interface of intercommunication main pipeline, first horizontal interface and second horizontal interface are arranged, first valve port and second valve port are arranged in the inside of main pipeline between first horizontal interface and second horizontal interface, valve core assembly is equipped between first valve port and second valve port, valve core assembly connects valve rod, valve rod is controlled to actuator up-down movement.The utility model realizes the flow passage switching of two outlets of vertical direction and horizontal direction by a valve rod cooperation valve core assembly, and structure is simple and long in service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pipeline valve technology for centralized heating, and in particular to a three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems. Background Technology

[0002] In centralized heating systems, the three-way switching valve is a critical control component, and its performance directly affects the system's operating efficiency and reliability. Traditional switching valves have revealed several technical defects during long-term use: First, the sealing components are prone to wear during the reciprocating motion of the valve stem, leading to media leakage; second, the flow path switching between the horizontal and vertical ports is not precise enough, affecting media distribution efficiency; third, the connection structure between the actuator and the valve body is prone to loosening under thermal expansion and contraction conditions. Especially in high-temperature and high-pressure heating systems, the sealing performance and service life of existing valves often fail to meet requirements. Furthermore, the valve core assembly is prone to sealing failure during frequent switching, leading to media cross-flow. These problems are particularly prominent in centralized heating systems that require precise control of multi-channel media distribution. Therefore, existing technologies urgently need improvement to address these issues. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems, which has the advantages of improved sealing performance, enhanced flow channel switching accuracy, and improved actuator connection stability.

[0004] This application provides a three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems, comprising a vertically arranged main pipe within the valve body. An actuator is installed at one end of the main pipe, and a vertical direct port is provided at the other end. A first horizontal port and a second horizontal port, connected to the main pipe, are respectively located on the side of the main pipe wall. The first and second horizontal ports are positioned vertically. A first valve port and a second valve port are located vertically inside the main pipe between the first and second horizontal ports. A valve core assembly is located between the first and second valve ports, and the valve core assembly is connected to a valve stem. The valve stem is controlled to move up and down by the actuator. This invention achieves flow channel switching between two outlets, one vertical and one horizontal, through a single valve stem and a valve core assembly, resulting in a simple structure and long service life.

[0005] The valve stem is provided with a sealing assembly on its outer periphery. The sealing assembly includes an annular sealing seat fitted around the valve stem. The bottom of the annular sealing seat is provided with a first concave ring. The first concave ring cooperates with the first sealing ring to seal the inner wall of the main pipe. The bottom surface of the annular sealing seat is pressed against the first positioning piece installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top outer side of the annular sealing seat is provided with a V-shaped concave ring. The first ring wall on the outer side of the V-shaped concave ring is lower than the second ring wall on the inner side. The top surface of the first ring wall is fitted against the second positioning piece installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top of the second ring wall is provided with an inwardly extending flange to cooperate with the valve stem. The inner side of the annular sealing seat is provided with a second concave ring. The second concave ring cooperates with the second sealing ring to seal the third concave ring on the outer side of the spring positioning seat.

[0006] The spring positioning seat is axially provided with an auxiliary reset device for the valve stem. The auxiliary reset device includes a retaining spring, a retaining spring fixing plate, a spring, and a spring fixing plate that are sequentially sleeved on the valve stem. The spring fixing plate is in close contact with the spring positioning seat. The inner side of the spring positioning seat is provided with an inwardly protruding sealing ring. The upper and lower sides of the sealing ring are respectively provided with a third sealing ring and a fourth sealing ring.

[0007] The actuator is provided with a connecting ring at the bottom, and the bottom of the connecting ring is provided with an outward first flange. The first flange is fastened to a second flange located at the end of the connecting nut. During the tightening process of the connecting nut threadedly connecting to the outer wall of the main pipe, the actuator presses and locks the top of the main pipe.

[0008] The valve core assembly includes a first sealing seat connected to the valve stem, a first sealing gasket connected to the upper side of the first sealing seat, the first sealing gasket cooperating with a guide ring to seal the first valve port, a second sealing gasket connected to the lower side of the first sealing seat, the second sealing gasket cooperating with a seal the second valve port, the second valve port being located at the top of the second sealing seat, and the outer wall of the second sealing seat being sealed to the vertical port through a fifth sealing ring.

[0009] As can be seen from the above, the three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems provided in this application effectively solves the problems of poor sealing, low flow channel switching accuracy, and easy loosening of traditional switching valves by setting up a double valve port structure distributed vertically and vertically and a controlled valve core assembly, combined with a multi-stage sealing and actuator press-fit locking design. It has the advantages of improving sealing performance, enhancing flow channel switching accuracy, and improving actuator connection stability. Attached Figure Description

[0010] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0011] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a three-way switching valve suitable for a centralized heating system according to the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems according to the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point A in the middle;

[0014] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the annular sealing seat in this utility model;

[0015] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the spring positioning seat in this utility model;

[0016] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the valve body in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following will refer to the appendix to this application. Figure 1-6 The technical solutions in this application are clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. The components of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely represents selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent drawings. Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0018] In existing technologies, switching valves are mainly used to control the flow direction of media, especially in one-inlet, two-outlet piping systems between horizontal and vertical flow channels. Long-term reciprocating motion can easily lead to decreased sealing performance and component wear. Traditional valves have complex structures, and their sealing components often use planar contact. During the flow of hot media, temperature changes can easily create gaps, increasing the risk of leakage. For example, in centralized heating systems, frequent switching of water flow direction can accelerate the aging of sealing materials due to friction between the valve core and seat, shortening the valve's service life.

[0019] To address the aforementioned issues, a simplified and reliably sealed switching valve needs to be designed. In existing technologies, the connection between the horizontal flow channel and the vertical flow channel typically employs a multi-stage sealing structure, which increases fluid resistance and assembly complexity. Analysis reveals that vertically arranging the main pipeline and installing upper and lower horizontal interfaces on its sidewalls reduces the number of bends in the media flow path and decreases the impact of turbulence on the sealing surface. Furthermore, using a single valve stem to control the opening and closing of the upper and lower valve ports avoids coordination issues among multiple actuators and simplifies the drive mechanism.

[0020] Therefore, this application proposes a three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems, including a vertically arranged main pipe 46 inside the valve body 9. An actuator 26 is installed at one end of the main pipe 46, and a vertical direct port 24 is provided at the other end. A first horizontal interface 25 and a second horizontal interface 27 connecting the main pipe 46 are respectively provided on the side wall of the main pipe 46. The first horizontal interface 25 and the second horizontal interface 27 are arranged vertically. A first valve port 38 and a second valve port 32 are arranged vertically inside the main pipe 46 between the first horizontal interface 25 and the second horizontal interface 27. A valve core assembly is provided between the first valve port 38 and the second valve port 32. The valve core assembly is connected to a valve stem 40, and the valve stem 40 is controlled to move up and down by the actuator 26.

[0021] The main pipe refers to the vertical channel running through the valve body, which can be made of stainless steel or copper alloy pipe. Its vertical layout optimizes the flow direction of the medium and reduces pressure loss. The actuator is the power element that drives the valve stem, installed at the top of the main pipe for easy control of the valve core position. The first and second horizontal interfaces are transverse connection ports on the side wall of the main pipe, which can be flanged or threaded, and their vertical distribution corresponds to the supply and return water pipes of the heating system, respectively. The first and second valve ports are annular sealing surfaces inside the main pipe, for example, machined into a stepped structure, used to cooperate with the valve core assembly to achieve flow channel switching. The valve core assembly is a linkage structure including a sealing gasket and a guide ring, for example, a combination of a rubber sealing gasket and a metal guide ring, which synchronously opens and closes the upper and lower valve ports via the valve stem.

[0022] Specifically, when the actuator drives the valve stem downward, the first sealing gasket of the valve core assembly presses against the first valve port, blocking the flow of medium from the first horizontal interface to the vertical direct port. Simultaneously, the second sealing gasket disengages from the second valve port, allowing the medium to enter the vertical direct port through the second horizontal interface. Conversely, when the valve stem moves upward, the second sealing gasket presses against the second valve port, the first sealing gasket disengages from the first valve port, and the medium switches to flow out through the first horizontal interface. The guide ring limits the radial offset of the valve core assembly, ensuring aligned contact between the sealing gasket and the valve port. The integrated design of the main pipeline and valve body reduces connecting parts and lowers the risk of leakage.

[0023] Compared to existing technologies, traditional switching valves often employ a horizontal main pipeline with multiple lateral valve ports, resulting in a tortuous media flow path and increased susceptibility of the sealing surface to impact. This solution, through the layout of a vertical main pipeline and upper and lower horizontal interfaces, ensures that the media flows in a straight direction, reducing the erosion of the sealing surface by the flow velocity. Furthermore, the structure of a single valve stem controlling two valve ports simplifies the drive system and avoids sealing problems caused by synchronization errors of multiple actuators.

[0024] Through the above technical solutions, this application can effectively reduce the flow resistance of the medium and extend the service life of the sealing assembly. The distribution of the upper and lower horizontal interfaces optimizes the flow channel switching logic and reduces frictional losses during valve core movement. The linkage design between the valve stem and the valve core assembly improves the reliability of operation and ensures stable sealing performance under high temperature and high pressure conditions.

[0025] This application further proposes a sealing assembly on the outer periphery of the valve stem 40. The sealing assembly includes an annular sealing seat 57 fitted around the outer periphery of the valve stem 40. The bottom of the annular sealing seat 57 has a first concave ring 59. The first concave ring 59 cooperates with the first sealing ring 53 to seal and connect to the inner wall of the main pipe. The bottom surface of the annular sealing seat 57 is pressed against the first positioning piece 49 installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top outer side of the annular sealing seat has a V-shaped concave ring. The first annular wall 62 on the outer side of the V-shaped concave ring is lower than the second annular wall 61 on the inner side. The top surface of the first annular wall 62 is fitted and connected to the second positioning piece 43 installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top of the second annular wall 61 has an inwardly extending flange 48 that cooperates and connects to the valve stem 40. The inner side of the annular sealing seat has a second concave ring 60. The second concave ring 60 cooperates with the second sealing ring 52 to seal and connect to the third concave ring 64 on the outer side of the spring positioning seat 58.

[0026] Specifically, the annular sealing seat forms a static sealing interface on the inner wall of the main pipeline through the cooperation of the first concave ring and the first sealing ring, and the first positioning plate restricts the axial displacement of the sealing seat. The V-shaped concave ring structure allows the first ring wall to form a planar contact with the second positioning plate, and the second ring wall maintains a clearance fit with the valve stem through the flange. The second concave ring and the third concave ring of the spring positioning seat form an axial seal through the second sealing ring, maintaining the sealing performance when the valve stem moves.

[0027] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves stable contact of the sealing interface during valve stem movement, prevents heat medium from leaking along the valve stem axial direction, reduces the wear rate of the sealing ring caused by friction, and extends the service life of the valve under high temperature conditions.

[0028] This application further proposes an auxiliary reset device for a valve stem 40 axially mounted on a spring positioning seat. The auxiliary reset device includes a retaining spring 41, a retaining spring fixing plate 42, a spring 45, and a spring fixing plate 47 sequentially sleeved on the valve stem 40. The spring fixing plate 47 is fitted and connected to the spring positioning seat 58. The inner side of the spring positioning seat 58 is provided with an inwardly protruding sealing ring 63, and the upper and lower sides of the sealing ring 63 are respectively provided with a third sealing ring 51 and a fourth sealing ring 50.

[0029] The retaining ring is a ring-shaped component used to limit the axial displacement of the valve stem. It can be made of stamped metal, and its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the valve stem for fixed positioning. The spring positioning seat is a support structure used to fix the spring position. It can be made of metal or engineering plastic and has a groove on its outer side to mate with the sealing ring for sealing. The sealing ring is a raised structure located inside the spring positioning seat. It can be an annular boss integrally formed with the positioning seat, and its upper and lower sealing rings prevent media leakage along the gap between the valve stem and the positioning seat.

[0030] Specifically, the retaining spring and the retaining spring fixing plate form an axial limit by sleeved with the valve stem. After the spring fixing plate is in contact with the spring positioning seat, the compression force of the spring can push the valve stem to return to its original position. The sealing ring, the third sealing ring, and the fourth sealing ring form a double sealing structure. When the valve stem moves up and down, the sealing ring can dynamically compensate for the sealing gap with the displacement of the valve stem, preventing the medium from leaking out from between the valve stem and the positioning seat.

[0031] Compared with existing technologies, the reset devices of existing switching valves usually rely on a single spring structure, which is prone to elastic decay and reset failure after long-term use. In contrast, this solution uses a combination of snap ring and spring fixing plate to limit the spring compression stroke and prevent skewing. At the same time, in existing technologies, only a single layer of seal is set between the valve stem and the positioning seat, while this solution adopts a double sealing ring structure, which can adapt to the dynamic deformation of the valve stem during movement and reduce the risk of leakage.

[0032] Through the above technical solutions, this application can improve the stability of valve stem reset, reduce the jamming problem caused by spring fatigue, and effectively prevent media leakage through the dual dynamic sealing design, thus extending the service life of the valve under high temperature and high pressure conditions.

[0033] This application further proposes that the actuator has a connecting ring 56 at the bottom, and the connecting ring 56 has an outward first flange 54 at the bottom. The first flange 54 is fastened to a second flange 55 located at the end of the connecting nut 44. During the tightening process of the connecting nut 44 threadedly connecting to the outer wall of the main pipe 46, the actuator presses and locks the top of the main pipe 46.

[0034] The first flange refers to the annular flange extending outward from the bottom of the connecting ring, which can be achieved through stamping or injection molding. Its engagement with the second flange forms a mechanical interlocking structure. The second flange refers to the annular flange extending inward or outward from the end of the connecting nut, which can be achieved through turning or casting. It restricts axial displacement when engaged with the first flange. The connecting nut is a threaded fastener, typically made of brass or stainless steel, which transmits axial clamping force by screwing into the outer wall of the main pipe.

[0035] Specifically, the actuator is mechanically connected to the connecting nut via a connecting ring at its bottom. When the connecting nut is screwed into the threaded section of the main pipe, its second flange at its end engages with the first flange of the connecting ring. Simultaneously, the tightening action of the nut pushes the actuator downward, causing the bottom surface of the actuator to press against the top surface of the main pipe. During this process, the engagement structure of the first and second flanges prevents the connecting nut from accidentally loosening, while the axial clamping force generated by the threaded connection ensures the sealing and structural stability of the actuator and the main pipe.

[0036] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of medium leakage caused by easy loosening of the connection structure between the actuator and the main pipeline. Through the synergistic effect of flange fastening and thread tightening, the installation difficulty is reduced while the connection reliability is improved, which is especially suitable for centralized heating system scenarios that require frequent maintenance.

[0037] This application further proposes a valve core assembly including a first sealing seat 37 connected to a valve stem 40, a first sealing gasket 31 connected to the upper side of the first sealing seat 37, the first sealing gasket 31 cooperating with a guide ring 30 to seal the first valve port 38, a second sealing gasket 36 connected to the lower side of the first sealing seat 37, the second sealing gasket 36 cooperating with a seal the second valve port 32, the second valve port 32 being located at the top of the second sealing seat 33, and the outer wall of the second sealing seat 33 being sealed to the vertical port 24 through a fifth sealing ring 35.

[0038] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of leakage caused by easy wear of the sealing parts of the switching valve under frequent opening and closing conditions. Through the combination design of the guide structure and the double sealing gasket, the friction loss of the sealing surface is reduced while maintaining the flow channel switching function. It is especially suitable for working environments with periodic temperature changes and pressure fluctuations in centralized heating systems.

[0039] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems, comprising a vertically arranged main pipe (46) within a valve body (9), characterized in that: The main pipe (46) is equipped with an actuator (26) at one end and a vertical port (24) at the other end. The main pipe (46) has a first horizontal interface (25) and a second horizontal interface (27) on the side wall, which are connected to the main pipe (46). The first horizontal interface (25) and the second horizontal interface (27) are arranged vertically. The main pipe (46) between the first horizontal interface (25) and the second horizontal interface (27) has a first valve port (38) and a second valve port (32) arranged vertically. A valve core assembly is provided between the first valve port (38) and the second valve port (32). The valve core assembly is connected to the valve stem (40). The valve stem (40) is controlled by the actuator (26) to move up and down.

2. A three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve stem (40) is provided with a sealing assembly on its outer periphery. The sealing assembly includes an annular sealing seat (57) fitted around the valve stem (40). The bottom of the annular sealing seat (57) is provided with a first concave ring (59). The first concave ring (59) cooperates with the first sealing ring (53) to seal the inner wall of the main pipe. The bottom surface of the annular sealing seat (57) is pressed against the first positioning piece (49) installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top outer side of the annular sealing seat is provided with a V-shaped concave ring. The first ring wall (62) on the outer side of the V-shaped concave ring is lower than the second ring wall (61) on the inner side. The top surface of the first ring wall (62) is fitted against the second positioning piece (43) installed on the inner wall of the main pipe. The top of the second ring wall (61) is provided with an inwardly extending flange (48) to cooperate with the valve stem (40). The inner side of the annular sealing seat is provided with a second concave ring (60). The second concave ring (60) cooperates with the second sealing ring (52) to seal the third concave ring (64) on the outer side of the spring positioning seat (58).

3. A three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems according to claim 2, characterized in that: The spring positioning seat is axially provided with an auxiliary reset device for the valve stem (40). The auxiliary reset device includes a retaining spring (41), a retaining spring fixing plate (42), a spring (45), and a spring fixing plate (47) that are sequentially sleeved on the valve stem (40). The spring fixing plate (47) is in close contact with the spring positioning seat (58). The inner side of the spring positioning seat (58) is provided with an inwardly protruding sealing ring (63). The upper and lower sides of the sealing ring (63) are respectively provided with a third sealing ring (51) and a fourth sealing ring (50).

4. A three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems according to claim 1, characterized in that: The actuator is provided with a connecting ring (56) at the bottom. The connecting ring (56) is provided with an outward first flange (54) at the bottom. The first flange (54) is fastened to the second flange (55) located at the end of the connecting nut (44). The connecting nut (44) is threaded to the outer wall of the main pipe (46) and tightened during the process. The actuator presses and locks the top of the main pipe (46).

5. A three-way switching valve suitable for centralized heating systems according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve core assembly includes a first sealing seat (37) connected to the valve stem (40), a first sealing gasket (31) connected to the upper side of the first sealing seat (37), the first sealing gasket (31) cooperates with the guide ring (30) to seal the first valve port (38), a second sealing gasket (36) connected to the lower side of the first sealing seat (37), the second sealing gasket (36) cooperates with the seal the second valve port (32), the second valve port (32) is located at the top of the second sealing seat (33), and the outer wall of the second sealing seat (33) is sealed to the vertical direct port (24) through the fifth sealing ring (35).

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