Preassembled device for thermostat valves

Abstract

A preassembled device (10) for thermostat valves has a body (11) on which an outlet (12) and an opening (14) that are substantially opposite are obtained; inside the body (11), a liner element (13) is arranged in a fixed manner, having a through hole (18) at the opening (14) and which is substantially centred thereupon, that defines a sliding chamber (15), inside which a plug (16) is slidable and retained; on the plug (16) a spring (17) urges, which is in turn housed and retained inside the sliding chamber (15). This device (10) makes thermostat valves compact, automatically assemblable and easy to maintain and replace.

Description

PREASSEMBLED DEVICE FOR THERMOSTAT VALVESBackground of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a preassembled device for thermostat valves, which are particularly but not exclusively suitable for being arranged inside an antifreeze unit installed along a circuit of a heating plant in which an operating fluid circulates.Prior art

[0002] Thermostat valves that are suitable for being arranged inside an antifreeze unit installed along a circuit of a heating plant in which an operating fluid circulates are known.

[0003] The aforesaid thermostat valves, in particular, have a body on which an inlet and an outlet are obtained, respectively for the entry and the discharge of the fluid.

[0004] In detail, opening and closing of the outlet, and thus discharging or not discharging of the fluid, are controlled by a mechanism, arranged inside the body of the thermostat valve, that controls opening and closing of the aforesaid outlet depending on the temperature of the operating fluid and, in particular, depending on whether the temperature of the fluid is higher or lower than a preset limit temperature.

[0005] Typically, the mechanism, whose operation is well known to the expert of the field, features a thermostat element, on which an over-stroke spring urges, which dilates and contracts depending on whether the temperature of the fluid is higher or lower than the limit temperature, and which accordingly acts on a plug on which an opening spring urges.

[0006] In order to operate correctly, thermostat valves have to be installed respecting certain restrictions: for example, not only have they to be installed in a prevalently vertical position, i.e. with the outlet facing downwards, so that the discharged fluid can flow down correctly, but also at a high enough height from the ground so as to prevent the formation of the possible column of iced fluid in the zone underneath the valve preventing the fluid from being discharged.

[0007] The aforesaid restrictions, in particular, frequently make installing a thermostat valve complicated because the typical dimensions of a thermostat valve are often not compatible with the geometry of the piping of a circuit. In these cases, it is thus necessary to proceed to modify the circuit because any other “solution” adopted (for example positioning the thermostat valve in a prevalently horizontal manner) could cause malfunctioning of the thermostat valve and, consequently, the formation of ice inside the circuit.

[0008] In addition, the assembling of prior art thermostat valves is often inefficient.

[0009] This is due to the fact that the mechanism contained in the thermostat valve has to be assembled and positioned manually inside the body of the valve component by component, and owing to the number and configuration of the components this assembly can be performed only manually.

[0010] Also the maintenance of prior-art thermostat valves is inefficient.

[0011] In particular, in the eventuality that even only one component of the mechanism arranged inside the valve body needs to be changed, it will be necessary to replace all the valve body and the mechanism contained therein.

[0012] This is due to the fact that thermostat valves, and more in particular opening and closing of the outlet, i.e. discharging or not discharging of the fluid, are calibrated taking into account all the constructional tolerances of the elements that make up the aforesaid mechanism and thus it is not possible to ensure correct operation of the thermostat valve if one of the elements is replaced.Objects of the invention

[0013] One object of the present invention is to provide a device that is able to make thermostat valves more compact.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to offer a device that enables thermostat valves to be assembled automatically.

[0015] Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide a device that makes it easier to maintain and replace thermostat valves.Brief description of the invention

[0016] The aforesaid listed objects are achieved by an antifreeze valve according to claim 1.Brief description of the drawingsThe invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example in which: Fig. l is a frontal view of a preassembled device according to the invention;Fig.2 is a longitudinal section of the device of Fig.1;Fig.3 is a longitudinal section, on a reduced scale, of a thermostat valve, illustrated in dotted lines, equipped with the preassembled device of Fig.1;Fig.4 is an exploded perspective view on a reduced scale of the device of Fig.1;Fig.5 is an axial section of an exploded view on a reduced scale of the device of Fig.1.Detailed description of the invention

[0017] With reference to the attached figures, a preassembled device is illustrated, which is indicated generally by 10, for thermostat valves intended to be arranged inside an antifreeze unit that is installed along a circuit of a heating plant in which an operating fluid circulates.

[0018] As shown in Figg.l and 2, the device 10 has substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis X. In particular, when using the device 10, the longitudinal axis X is directed prevalently vertically according to the force of gravity.

[0019] The device 10 has a body 11 on which an outlet 12 and an opening 14 are obtained. The outlet 12 and the opening 14 are substantially opposite and substantially centred with respect to the longitudinal axis X. In detail, the opening 14 is, when using the device 10, arranged above the outlet 12.

[0020] The body 11 is threaded externally to be tightened in an appropriate seat of the thermostat valve and of the antifreeze unit and has an annular seal 24 suitable for ensuring a hermetic seal tightening. In a further embodiment that is not shown, the device 10 is coupled with the appropriate seat of the thermostat valve by a clip attachment.

[0021] The body 11 is made of a suitable material, for example brass.

[0022] With reference to Figs.2 and 3, inside the body I l a liner element 13, that is locked in position in the body 11 by a partially or totally folded annular end part 25 of the body 11, is arranged.

[0023] The liner element 13 has a through hole 18 at the opening 14 and, in detail, the through hole 18 is substantially centred thereupon. Still more in detail, the through hole 18 is obtained in an annular calibrating protrusion 26.

[0024] The liner element 13 is made of a suitable material, for example brass or plastics.

[0025] The liner element 13 defines a sliding chamber 15. In detail, the sliding chamber15 has a substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

[0026] A plug 16 is retained inside the sliding chamber 15 and is slidable along theaforesaid longitudinal axis X. The plug 16 is made of a suitable material, for example brass and rubber.

[0027] The plug 16 is coupled with a spring 17 which is, in turn, housed inside the aforesaid sliding chamber 15.

[0028] The spring 17 is arranged along said longitudinal axis X; in particular, the spring thus exerts on the plug 16 a force parallel to the aforesaid longitudinal axis X.

[0029] The body 11 has an annular abutment protrusion 19 in which the aforesaid outlet 12 is obtained.

[0030] The annular abutment protrusion 19 extends, in a manner substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X, inside the sliding chamber 15.

[0031] In particular, the annular abutment protrusion 19 is substantially opposite and coaxial with the annular calibrating protrusion 26.

[0032] At the same time, the liner element 13 has an abutment end wall 20, which retains the plug 16 and in which the through hole 18 is obtained.

[0033] The plug 16, as shown in Figs.2-5, further has an annular abutting protrusion 21.

[0034] In this manner, the plug 16 is movable between a drainage position, in which the annular abutting protrusion 21 of the plug 16 is in contact with the abutment end wall 20 of the liner element 13 and the outlet 12 is open, and a closing position, shown in Figs.2 and 3, in which the plug 16 is in contact with the abutment protrusion 19 and said outlet 12 is closed.

[0035] The plug 16, in particular, has, at the end at the outlet 12, a seal 22 of upturned T shape, suitable for ensuring a hermetic seal closure of the outlet 12 in the aforesaid closing position.

[0036] In another embodiment that is not shown, the seal 22 has a disc shape.

[0037] The spring 17 is arranged compressed inside the sliding chamber 15; in particular, the spring 17 is positioned so as to urge the plug 16 to the aforesaid drainage position.

[0038] The plug 16 has a blind hole 23 at the through hole 18 and is substantially centred thereupon.

[0039] In particular, with reference to Fig.2, the annular calibrating protrusion 26 defines a first calibrating plane Pl.

[0040] Further, the bottom of the blind hole 23, in detail, defines a second calibratingplane P2.

[0041] Lastly, the annular abutment protrusion 19 defines a third calibrating plane P3.

[0042] The operation of the device 10 will be disclosed below. In particular, the operation of a thermostat valve equipped with the aforesaid device 10 as shown in Fig.3 will be disclosed.

[0043] As anticipated, the longitudinal axis X, when using the device 10 and thus, in this case, the thermostat valve, is mainly directed vertically according to the force of gravity; terms like “upper”, “lower” will accordingly be used below in reference to the vertical direction.

[0044] The thermostat valve of Fig.3, in particular, has a valve body on which an inlet is obtained at the top and an equipment seat is obtained at the bottom, the device 10 is inserted inside the equipment seat so as to equip the device 10 to the valve.

[0045] Considering that the device 10 has the body 11 threaded, also the equipment seat is accordingly threaded in order to permit a screw connection between the body 11 and the equipment seat of the valve.

[0046] The valve inlet on the other hand enables the operating fluid circulating in the circuit of the heating plant along which the valve is installed to enter the valve body.

[0047] Inside the valve body, in fact, a thermostat element that is configured to dilate or contract along the longitudinal axis X depending on whether the temperature of the fluid inside the valve body is above or below a preset limit temperature is located.

[0048] In detail, the thermostat valve drains the operating fluid if the temperature of the operating fluid is less than the aforesaid preset limit temperature.

[0049] In other words, for operating fluid temperatures below the limit temperature, the thermostat element contracts, thus enabling the spring 17 to arrange the plug 16 in the drainage position, in which the outlet 12 is open, thus enabling the operating fluid to be drained.

[0050] Otherwise, for operating fluid temperatures above or the same as the limit temperature, the dilation of the thermostat element is such as to exert an action on the plug 16 that is able to overcome that of the spring 17 and, in particular, position the plug 16 in the closing position.

[0051] In particular, as shown in Fig.3, the thermostat element has a piston below that protrudes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X inside the device 10 through theopening 14 and the through hole 18 and engages inside the blind hole 23, coupling the thermostat element and the plug 16 and thus permitting the opening-closing mechanism of the outlet 12 disclosed above.

[0052] It should be further noted that in Fig. 3, inside the valve body, a further spring is present, coupled with the thermostat element at an upper part of the thermostat element. This spring is, in particular, an over-stroke spring that permits and controls the expansion of the thermostat element for temperatures above the preset limit temperature.

[0053] Further, the over-stroke spring ensures contact of the thermostat element with the annular calibrating protrusion 26 to enable the thermostat valve to be calibrated.

[0054] The over-stroke spring must not intervene for operating fluid temperatures below or equal to the preset limit temperature and for this reason it is stiffer than the spring 17.

[0055] From what has been disclosed above, the preassembled device 10 achieves all the preset objectives, overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0056] The device described above and illustrated is compact, and this enables a thermostat valve to be obtained of considerably reduced dimensions with respect to those commercially available today and thus the installation flexibility of a thermostat valve to be increased.

[0057] Further, the aforesaid device is structured so as to enable a thermostat valve to be assembled automatically. This, in particular, enables the assembly times of a thermostat valve to be reduced.

[0058] Lastly, unlike what happens today, the aforesaid device enables more focused maintenance tasks to be performed.

[0059] In fact, in prior-art antifreeze valves, as previously mentioned, opening and closing of the outlet, i.e. discharging or not discharging of the fluid, are calibrated taking into account all the constructional tolerances of the elements that make up the aforesaid mechanism and it is thus not possible to ensure the correct operation of the antifreeze valve if one of these is replaced.

[0060] Nevertheless, this drawback is overcome owing to the preassembled device 10: in fact, in this case, correct calibration of the fluid discharge mechanism depends only on the corresponding distances between the first calibrating plane Pl, the second calibrating plane P2 and the third calibrating plane P3, which are easily repeatable in series.

[0061] Therefore, considering the case in which it is necessary to replace the over-strokespring of a thermostat valve, it will be sufficient to provisionally remove the device 10 and it will be possible to replace the over-stroke spring selectively.

[0062] Otherwise, in the eventuality that an element contained inside the device 10 is damaged, it will be sufficient to replace the device 10 with another one.

[0063] Configuration variants on the components are possible with respect to what has been described above and illustrated in the attached drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Preassembled device (10) for thermostat valves having a substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising a body (11) on which an outlet (12) and an opening (14) that are substantially opposite and substantially centred on said longitudinal axis (X) are obtained, wherein, inside said body (11), a liner element (13) is arranged in a fixed manner having a through hole (18) at said opening (14) which is substantially centred thereupon, said liner element (13) defining a sliding chamber (15) having a substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to said longitudinal axis (X) and inside which a plug (16) is slidable along said longitudinal axis (X), and is retained, said plug (16) being coupled with a spring (17), which is in turn housed inside said sliding chamber (15), which is arranged along said longitudinal axis (X).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said liner element (13) is locked in position in said body (11) by a partially or totally folded annular end part (25) of said body (11).

3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said plug (16) has a blind hole (23) at said through hole (18) which is substantially centred thereupon, and wherein said liner element (13) comprises an annular calibrating protrusion (26) in which said through hole (18) is obtained, respectively so as to couple said plug (16) with a thermostat element of a thermostat valve and calibrate said thermostat valve.

4. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (11) has an annular abutment protrusion (19) in which said outlet (12) is obtained and which extends substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (X) inside said sliding chamber (15), and wherein said liner element (13) has an abutment end wall (20) in which said through hole (18) is obtained.

5. Device (10) according to claim 4, wherein said plug (16) comprises an annular abutting protrusion (21), said plug (16) being moreover movable between a drainage position, in which said annular abutting protrusion (21) is in contact with said abutment end wall (20) and said outlet (12) is open, and a closing position, in whichsaid plug (16) is in contact with said annular abutment protrusion (19) and said outlet (12) is closed.

6. Device (10) according to claim 5, wherein said plug (16) comprises a seal (22) suitable for ensuring a hermetic seal closure of said outlet (12) in said closing position.

7. Device (10) according to claim 6, wherein said seal (22) is arranged at said outlet (12), said seal (22) having a shape chosen between an upturned T shape and a disc shape.

8. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (11) is threaded and is provided with an annular seal (24) suitable for ensuring a hermetic seal tightening.

9. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (11) is made of brass.

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