Inter-surface expansion / contraction type valve

Abstract

To provide an inter-surface expansion / contraction type valve capable of stably fixing a movable flange to a stationary flange in a state before being connected to piping even in a small valve having a small nominal diameter.SOLUTION: An inter-surface expansion / contraction type valve includes: a movable flange 13 which expands and contracts between surfaces; a long bolt 30 which is fixed to the movable flange 13; and a cylindrical expansion / contraction nut 40 into which the long bolt 30 is screwed and is inserted into a stationary flange 11. A stationary ring 60 is threadedly advanced to an outer periphery on one end side of the expansion / contraction nut 40 so as to be capable of freely coming into contact with and separating from one side surface 11c of the stationary flange 11, an engagement abutment part 50 which abuts on the other side surface 11b of the stationary flange 11 is provided on the other end side of the expansion / contraction nut 40, and, in a case where the movable flange 13 is fixed, the stationary ring 60 is threadedly advanced on a side of the stationary flange 11 in a state where the engagement contact portion 50 abuts on the stationary flange 11 to abut on the stationary flange 11, and the stationary flange 11 is sandwiched between the engagement abutment part 50 and the stationary ring 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a face-to-face expansion valve, and in particular to a face-to-face expansion valve for butterfly valves or other valves that can be replaced with valves installed in existing piping and can be adjusted by expanding or contracting the face-to-face distance of the flanges at both ends, which serve as connecting parts, to match the distance between the piping. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, if a valve connected to an existing water pipe needs to be replaced due to damage or the end of its life, the existing valve is removed and a new valve is connected to the pipe via flanges on both ends. In this way, when removing an existing valve and connecting a new valve to piping located a distance away, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the flange faces on both ends of the replacement valve to match the distance between the piping after the existing valve is removed. For this reason, a face-to-face expansion valve has been proposed in which the face-to-face distance can be adjusted by expanding or contracting the flange portion relative to the valve body, without the need for a separate part such as an expansion pipe to adjust the distance between the faces of the flanges at both ends, and the valve can be connected to existing piping.

[0003] For example, the face-to-face expansion valve described in Patent Document 1 is a butterfly valve in which a cylindrical expansion nut screwed onto a long bolt fixed to the movable flange is inserted into the fixed flange, and the expansion nut is rotated to expand and contract the movable flange relative to the fixed flange.

[0004] The face-to-face expansion valve described in Patent Document 1 is configured so that an extension engagement portion and a contraction engagement portion maintain one of the engagements when the movable flange expands or contracts. In other words, the movable flange is held only by engagement with either the extension engagement portion or the contraction engagement portion. In addition, a gap is formed between the expansion nut and the fixed flange to enable the movable side flange to move in the extension direction relative to the fixed flange together with the expansion nut so that the tightening margin of the gasket placed between the flange of the connected pipe and the movable side flange is secured. For this reason, the face-to-face expansion valve described in Patent Document 1 has four fixing bolts, one end of which is temporarily attached to the insertion holes in the movable flange and the other end of which is screwed into the screw holes in the fixed flange, to prevent the movable flange from moving back and forth relative to the fixed flange before it is connected to the piping at the time of shipment, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-71178 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, for example, in small valves with a nominal diameter less than 250A, the outer diameters of the movable flange and fixed flange are small, making it difficult to secure space to install the above-mentioned fixing bolts on the flange parts. As a result, there is a risk that the movable flange will move relative to the fixed flange before being connected to the piping at the time of shipment, etc.

[0007] The present invention was developed to solve the problems of the related art, and its purpose is to provide a face-to-face expansion valve in which the movable flange can be stably fixed to the fixed flange before being connected to piping, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a face-to-face expansion type valve having a movable flange that is freely advanced and retreated on a fixed flange of a valve body and expands and contracts between the faces, a long bolt fixed to the movable flange, and a cylindrical expansion nut that is screwed onto the long bolt and inserted into the fixed flange, wherein a fixed ring is screwed onto the outer periphery of one end of the expansion nut so that it can be freely attached to and detached from one of both sides of the fixed flange, and an engaging abutment portion is provided on the other end of the expansion nut which abuts against the other side of the fixed flange, and when the movable flange is fixed at a predetermined face-to-face position, the fixed ring is abutted against the fixed flange by screwing the engaging abutment portion toward the fixed flange, and the fixed flange is clamped between the engaging abutment portion and the fixed ring.

[0009] The invention of claim 2 is a face-to-face expansion type valve in which the movable flange is advanced or retreated relative to the fixed flange by rotating the expansion nut relative to the long bolt, and the fixed flange is clamped by the fixed ring and the engaging abutment portion at a predetermined advancement / retraction position to fix the movable flange at a predetermined face-to-face position.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is a face-to-face expansion type valve in which the engaging abutment portion and the fixing ring are arranged on the expansion nut with a distance between their respective abutment fixed surfaces that abut against the fixed flange that ensures a tightening margin when fixing the movable flange to the connected piping.

[0011] The invention according to claim 4 is a face-to-face expansion type valve, which is a face-to-face expansion type butterfly valve. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the invention of claim 1, the valve has a movable flange that is freely advanced and retreated on a fixed flange of a valve body and expands and contracts between the faces, a long bolt fixed to the movable flange, and a cylindrical expansion nut screwed onto the long bolt and inserted into the fixed flange, a fixed ring is screwed onto the outer periphery of one end of the expansion nut so that it can be freely attached to and detached from one of both sides of the fixed flange, and an engaging abutment portion is provided on the other end of the expansion nut which abuts against the other side of the fixed flange, and when the movable flange is fixed at a predetermined face-to-face position, the fixed ring is screwed toward the fixed flange with the engaging abutment portion abutting against the fixed flange, and the fixed flange is clamped between the engaging abutment portion and the fixed ring. This makes it possible for the face-to-face adjustment mechanism, which is constituted by integrating the long bolt, the expansion nut, the engaging abutment portion, and the fixing ring, to have both the function of adjusting the face-to-face distance and the function of fixing the movable flange. For this reason, the movable flange can be stably fixed to the fixed flange by the face-to-face adjustment mechanism without the need to provide a separate fixing part on the movable flange and the fixed flange to fix the movable flange to the fixed flange other than the face-to-face adjustment mechanism.As a result, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter, the movable flange can be stably fixed to the fixed flange before being connected to the destination piping.

[0013] Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 1, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter, the face-to-face adjustment mechanism constituted by integrating a long bolt, an expandable nut, an engaging abutment portion, and a fixing ring has both the function of adjusting the face-to-face distance and the function of fixing the movable flange, so that the movable flange can be stably fixed to the fixed flange not only before it is connected to the destination piping, but also when it is attached to the destination piping and the face-to-face distance is adjusted.

[0014] According to the invention of claim 2, the expandable nut is rotated relative to the long bolt to move the movable flange back and forth relative to the fixed flange, and at a predetermined advance / retract position, the fixed flange is clamped by the fixed ring and the engaging abutment to fix the movable flange at a predetermined inter-face position.Therefore, the inter-face distance can be adjusted by rotating the expandable nut, and the fixed flange can be clamped by the fixed ring and the engaging abutment to fix the movable flange at the adjusted inter-face position.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 3, the engaging abutment portion and the fixing ring are arranged at a distance on the expandable nut so that the distance between the abutting and fixing surfaces that abut against the fixed flange ensures a tightening margin when fixing the movable flange to the connected piping. As a result, the movable flange can be fixed to the connected piping by applying an appropriate surface pressure that provides good sealing to the elastic sealing member arranged between the movable flange and the flange of the connected piping.

[0016] According to the invention of claim 4, since the face-to-face expansion valve is a face-to-face expansion butterfly valve, even in the case of a small butterfly valve with a small nominal diameter, the movable flange can be stably fixed to the fixed flange before being connected to the piping. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a face-to-face expansion valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the face-to-face expansion valve shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is an enlarged view of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism of the face-to-face expansion valve shown in FIG. 2 and its periphery, with a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the face-to-face expansion valve is connected to a pipe. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6A] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is to be connected. FIG. [Figure 6B] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is to be connected. FIG. [Figure 6C] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is to be connected. FIG. [Figure 6D] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is connected. FIG. [Figure 6E] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is to be connected. FIG. [Figure 6F] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is connected. FIG. [Figure 6G] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is to be connected. FIG. [Figure 6H] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is connected. FIG. [Figure 6I] 13 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for adjusting the face-to-face distance of a face-to-face expansion valve using a face-to-face adjustment mechanism and connecting the face-to-face adjustment valve to a piping to which it is connected. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of a face-to-face adjustment mechanism of a face-to-face expansion valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, a butterfly valve as a first embodiment of a face-to-face expansion valve according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the dimensional relationships and ratios of each element may differ from the reality. Furthermore, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a surface-to-surface expansion type valve 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the surface-to-surface expansion type valve 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery of a surface-to-surface adjustment mechanism 20 of the surface-to-surface expansion type valve 1 shown in Fig. 2, with a portion shown in cross section. Fig. 4 is a view showing a state in which the surface-to-surface expansion type valve 1 is connected to pipes P1 and P2. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the surface-to-surface adjustment mechanism 20. 3 shows a state in which both side surfaces 11b, 11c of the fixing flange 11 are in contact with the engagement contact portion 50 and the fixing ring 60. As shown in FIG.

[0019] The face-to-face expansion valve 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention is used, for example, when replacing a butterfly valve connected to an existing water pipe due to damage or the end of its life, by providing a movable flange 13 that can move back and forth relative to one fixed flange 11 of the valve box 10 and expanding and contracting the face-to-face distance to newly connect the pipe from which the valve to be replaced has been removed.

[0020] The face-to-face expansion valve 1 of the first embodiment is a small butterfly valve in which it is difficult to provide space in the movable flange 13 and the fixed flange 11 for fixing the movable flange 13 to the fixed flange 11, for example, a nominal diameter smaller than 250A. The face-to-face expansion valve 1 is not limited to valves having a nominal diameter smaller than 250A, and may be applied to valves having other nominal diameters equal to or larger than 250A.

[0021] The face-to-face expansion valve 1 has fixed flanges 11, 12 on both ends, and has a valve box 10 inside which a valve element (not shown) that rotates with rotation of a stem (not shown) is arranged so as to be able to open and close a flow path, a movable flange 13 that is arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward relative to the fixed flange 11 at one end of the valve box 10, and a face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 that moves the movable flange 13 forward and backward relative to the fixed flange 11, and fixes the movable flange 13 to the fixed flange 11 at a predetermined face-to-face position at a predetermined advance / retract position.

[0022] <About valve box 10> The valve box 10 is approximately tubular in shape and has a flow path 10a formed therein, with a fixed flange 11 at one end (hereinafter referred to as the "one-end fixed flange") as the inlet side and a fixed flange 12 at the other end (hereinafter referred to as the "other-end fixed flange") as the outlet side, and a valve body connected to a stem is provided so as to be able to freely open and close the flow path 10a. The stem is connected to an operating shaft S exposed to the outside of the valve box 10, and the operating shaft S is adapted to be rotated using an operating handle or the like (not shown).

[0023] The movable flange 13 is provided so as to be movable forward and backward relative to the fixed flange 11 on one end side of the valve box 10 . In the first embodiment, the one-end fixed flange 11 has expansion nut insertion holes 11a at two locations on the same circumference, into which cylindrical portions 41 of expansion nuts 40 of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20, which will be described later, can be inserted. The two expansion nut insertion holes 11a are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the one-end fixed flange 11.

[0024] The other end side fixing flange 12 has a plurality of bolt insertion holes 12a formed at the same circumference for fastening and fixing to the connecting pipe P2 with bolts and nuts.

[0025] The movable flange 13 has a flange portion 14 and a cylindrical insertion portion 15 that is inserted into the valve body 10 from the inlet of the flow passage 10 a of the valve body 10 . The flange portion 14 has a plurality of bolt insertion holes 14a formed along the same circumference for fastening and fixing the flange portion 14 to the connected pipe P1 using bolts and nuts. In addition, the flange portion 14 is on a circumference concentric with the circumference in which the bolt insertion holes 14a are formed, and long bolt screw holes 14b, into which long bolts 30 described later of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 are screwed, are formed at two locations corresponding to the telescopic nut insertion holes 11a, with their centers aligned with the telescopic nut insertion holes 11a of the one-end fixed flange 11.

[0026] Further, an annular seal member 16 (see FIG. 2) made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached along the entire periphery of the inner circumferential surface of the flow passage 10a on the inlet side of the valve box 10. As a result, when the movable flange 13 moves back and forth relative to the one-end fixed flange 11, the cylindrical insertion portion 15 slides against this seal member 16, making it possible to maintain a sealed state inside the valve box 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the movable flange 13 and the other end side fixed flange 12 of this valve box 10 are respectively connected to the connecting pipes P1 and P2 to connect the pipes P1 and P2 from which the valve to be replaced has been removed.

[0027] <Regarding the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20> As shown in Figure 5, the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 comprises a long bolt 30 fixed to the movable flange 13, an expandable nut 40 having a tubular portion 41 that is screwed onto the long bolt 30 and inserted into the one-end fixed flange 11, an engaging abutment portion 50 provided on the tubular portion 41 and having a contact fixing surface 50a that abuts against one side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11, and a fixing ring 60 having a contact fixing surface 60a that abuts against the other side surface 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11 and screwed into the tubular portion 41 so as to be able to freely come into contact with and separate from the side surface 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11.

[0028] In this face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20, the expansion nut 40 is rotated relative to the long bolt 30 to move the movable flange 13 forward and backward relative to the one-end fixed flange 11, and the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped by the engagement abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 at a predetermined forward and backward position, thereby fixing the movable flange 13 to the one-end fixed flange 11 at a predetermined face-to-face position. In the first embodiment, the long bolts 30 of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 are provided so as to bridge two positions on each circumference of the movable flange 13 and the one-end fixed flange 11 that are symmetrical with respect to the center of the circle. That is, the face-to-face adjustment mechanisms 20 are provided at two positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the movable flange 13 and the one-end fixed flange 11, respectively. The number of face-to-face adjustment mechanisms 20 provided is not limited to two but may be more than two, and the number of mechanisms to be provided may be determined appropriately according to the nominal diameter of the face-to-face expansion valve 1.

[0029] <Regarding the long bolt 30 of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20> The long bolt 30 is made of, for example, stainless steel, and is fixed to the movable flange 13 by having one end screwed into the long-bolt screw hole 14b of the movable flange 13 and fastened with a nut N. The other end of the long bolt 30 is disposed so as to pass through the one-end fixing flange 11 via the expansion nut insertion hole 11 a of the one-end fixing flange 11 . This long bolt 30 functions as a movement guide for moving the movable flange 13 back and forth relative to the fixed flange 11 on one end side.

[0030] <Regarding the expansion nut 40 of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20> The expansion nut 40 is, for example, made of brass and has a generally cylindrical shape, and has a female thread portion formed on its inner circumferential surface to be screwed onto the long bolt 30 . As shown in FIG. 5, the expansion nut 40 has a tubular portion 41 that is inserted into the one-end fixed flange 11, and a rotation operating portion 42 on one end side (hereinafter referred to as the "rear end side") of the tubular portion 41, where an operating surface 42a is formed for rotating the tubular portion 41 relative to the long bolt 30.

[0031] The end of the tubular portion 41 opposite the rotation operating portion 42 (hereinafter referred to as the "front end side") becomes the tip end when screwed into the long bolt 30, and a specified section inward from the tip end forms a flange insertion portion 41a which has an outer diameter large enough to be inserted into the expandable nut insertion hole 11a of the one-end fixed flange 11 and which can rotate relative to the expandable nut insertion hole 11a. The tubular portion 41 also has an operation side screw-in portion 41b having an outer peripheral surface on the front end side which has an outer diameter larger than that of the flange insertion portion 41a and a male screw portion 41bb into which a female screw portion 60b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fixing ring 60 is screwed, and a tip side screw-in portion 41c having a male screw portion 41cc formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the flange insertion portion 41a and into which a female screw portion 50c formed on the inner peripheral surface of the engagement abutment portion 50 is screwed.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the rotation operation portion 42 has a hexagonal shape that is easy to rotate with a tool. The rotation operation portion 42 may have any other shape as long as it is easy to operate with a tool, for example, an octagonal shape or a shape having two parallel sides.

[0033] <Regarding the engagement contact portion 50 of the inter-face adjustment mechanism 20> The engaging abutment portion 50 is an annular member having a female thread portion 50c formed on its inner circumferential surface, and is disposed on the front end side of the cylindrical portion 41 by being screwed into the tip side threaded portion 41c of the cylindrical portion 41. The engaging abutment portion 50 is formed with a contact fixing surface 50a which comes into contact with one side surface 11b of the one-end fixing flange 11. Further, a pair of parallel operating surfaces 50b, 50b are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the engaging abutment portion 50, so that it can be easily rotated using a tool. The engaging abutment portion 50 may have any other shape as long as it is easy to rotate with a tool, for example, a hexagonal shape or an octagonal shape.

[0034] <Regarding the fixing ring 60 of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20> The fixing ring 60 is an annular member having a female thread portion 60b formed on its inner surface, and is screwed into the operation side threaded portion 41b of the tubular portion 41 and positioned at the end of the tubular portion 41 on the rotation operation portion 42 side. The fixing ring 60 is formed with a contact fixing surface 60a which comes into contact with the other side surface 11c which is the side surface on the reverse side of the side surface 11b with which the engaging contact portion 50 comes into contact. The contact fixing surface 60a is formed to have a flange portion 60c (see FIG. 5) and to be widened so as to easily secure a surface that comes into contact with the side surface 11c of the one-end fixing flange 11. Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the fixing ring 60 is knurled (shown only in FIG. 1) to facilitate manual rotation by an operator.

[0035] The engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 of such an inter-face adjustment mechanism 20 are arranged at a distance in the cylindrical portion 41 so that the distance between the opposing abutment fixed surfaces 50a, 60a across the one-end fixed flange 11 ensures a tightening margin for the gasket M when the movable flange 13 is fixed to the connected piping P1 with the gasket M interposed therebetween. More specifically, the spacing between the respective abutment fixing surfaces 50a, 60a of the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 is set so that, with the one-end side fixed flange 11 positioned between the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60, the fixing ring 60 can move freely toward and away from the side surface 11c of the one-end side fixed flange 11 along the tubular portion 41. The distance between the respective contact fixing surfaces 50a, 60a of the engagement contact portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 is set to be larger than the width of the one-end side fixing flange 11 and to ensure the tightening margin of the gasket M.

[0036] <Assembling procedure for the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20> First, the worker passes the tip of the long bolt 30, one end of which is fixed to the long bolt screw hole 14b of the movable flange 13, through the engaging abutment portion 50 and then through the expansion nut insertion hole 11a of the one-end fixed flange 11. Next, the worker screws the telescopic nut 40, with the fixing ring 60 screwed into the operating side screw-in portion 41b, into the tip of the long bolt 30 that has passed through the telescopic nut insertion hole 11a of the one-end fixed flange 11, while inserting the flange insertion portion 41a into the telescopic nut insertion hole 11a of the one-end fixed flange 11. Finally, the worker screws the engaging abutment portion 50 into the tip side screw portion 41c of the expansion nut 40 to complete the assembly work of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20. In order to prevent the movable flange 13 from moving back and forth relative to the one-end fixed flange 11 during shipment, the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped by the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 to fix the movable flange 13 at a predetermined inter-face position. In this embodiment 1, washers (not shown) are placed between the one-end fixed flange 11 and the engaging abutment portion 50, and between the one-end fixed flange 11 and the fixing ring 60, respectively, to protect the surface of each component and reduce frictional resistance, but it is also possible to clamp the one-end fixed flange 11 by directly abutting the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 against both side surfaces 11b, 11c of the one-end fixed flange, respectively, without using washers. That is, in this embodiment, "contacting" the engaging contact portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 with both side surfaces 11b, 11c of the one-end fixing flange includes contacting with washers interposed therebetween.

[0037] <Procedure for connecting face-to-face expansion valve 1 to destination pipes P1 and P2> Here, with reference to Figs. 6A to 6I, a procedure for connecting the face-to-face expansion valve 1 to the connection destination pipes P1 and P2 from which the butterfly valve to be replaced has been removed will be described. 6A to 6I are diagrams for explaining a procedure for adjusting the surface-to-surface expansion valve 1 by the surface-to-surface adjustment mechanism 20 and connecting the surface-to-surface expansion valve 1 to the connection pipes P1 and P2. 6A to 6I are simplified diagrams in which hatching and the like of cross-sectional portions are omitted. When the face-to-face expansion valve 1 is shipped from the manufacturing factory, the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped by the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60, and the movable flange 13 is fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 at a predetermined face-to-face position. That is, when the face-to-face expansion valve 1 is shipped, the movable flange 13 is locked so as not to move back and forth relative to the one-end fixed flange 11 (see FIG. 6A). Then, the worker rotates the fixing ring 60 counterclockwise to release the lock on the movable flange 13 (see FIG. 6B). When the operator rotates the fixing ring 60 counterclockwise, the fixing ring 60 moves to the right in the figure along the cylindrical portion 41 of the expansion nut 40 so as to move away from the one-end fixed flange 11 .

[0038] Next, the worker rotates the rotation operating part 42 of the expansion nut 40 clockwise to reduce the face-to-face distance so that the face-to-face expansion valve 1 can be disposed between the connected pipes P1 and P2 (see FIG. 6C). When the rotation operating part 42 is rotated clockwise, the expansion nut 40 rotates freely relative to the one-end fixed flange 11 while moving leftward in the figure along the long bolt 30, and the abutment fixing surface 60a of the fixing ring 60 abuts against the side surface 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11. Furthermore, since the fixing ring 60 and the rotation operating part 42 operated by the worker are located at the end on the same side of the expansion nut 40 and can be operated, a series of operations of the inter-face adjustment mechanism 20 using the fixing ring 60 and the rotation operating part 42 can be easily performed.

[0039] Then, from the state in which the contact fixing surface 60a of the fixing ring 60 is in contact with the side surface 11c of the one-end side fixing flange 11, the operator further rotates the rotation operation part 42 clockwise (see FIG. 6D). When the operator rotates the rotation operating part 42 further clockwise while the fixed ring 60 is in contact with the one-end fixed flange 11, the expansion nut 40 is prevented from moving to the left in the figure by the one-end fixed flange 11, and therefore the movable flange 13 integrated with the long bolt 30 moves to the right in the figure as if pulled back toward the one-end fixed flange 11. As a result, the movable flange 13 recedes toward the one end side fixed flange 11 and the face-to-face expansion valve 1 is brought into a contracted state, that is, the face-to-face distance between the movable flange 13 and the other end side fixed flange 12 is contracted. The worker rotates the rotation operating unit 42 clockwise until the face-to-face expansion valve 1 can be placed between the connected pipes P1, P2, then places the face-to-face expansion valve 1 between the connected pipes P1, P2 so that the movable flange 13 and the other-end fixed flange 12 face the connected pipes P1, P2, and fixes the other-end fixed flange 12 to one of the pipes P2. The other end fixed flange 12 is secured to the destination pipe P2 by fastening it with bolts and nuts (not shown) with a gasket M disposed between the flange F2 of the destination pipe P2 (see FIG. 4).

[0040] Next, the worker rotates the rotation operating part 42 of the expansion nut 40 counterclockwise (see Figure 6E) in the reverse direction to move the movable flange 13 of the face-to-face expansion valve 1 toward the destination pipe P1 so that the movable flange 13 can be connected to the flange F1 of the destination pipe P1. When the rotation operating part 42 is rotated counterclockwise, the expandable nut 40 rotates freely relative to the one-end fixed flange 11 while moving to the right in the figure along the long bolt 30, and the abutment fixing surface 50a of the engagement abutment part 50 abuts against the side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11. In this state, a gap 70 is formed between the one-end fixing flange 11 and the fixing ring 60. At least a part of this gap 70 is utilized as a tightening margin for a gasket M, which will be described later. For this reason, the gap 70 is adjusted to be at least larger than the interference of the gasket M.

[0041] Then, from the state in which the contact fixing surface 50a of the engagement contact portion 50 is in contact with the side surface 11b of the one-end side fixing flange 11, the operator further rotates the rotation operation portion 42 counterclockwise (see FIG. 6F). As a result, since the expansion nut 40 is prevented from moving to the right in the figure by the one-end fixed flange 11, the movable flange 13 integral with the long bolt 30 moves to the left in the figure as if it is being pulled out from the one-end fixed flange 11. As a result, the movable flange 13 moves in a direction away from the one-end fixed flange 11, and the face-to-face expansion valve 1 enters an expanded state. Here, the worker places gasket M between the connecting pipe P1 and the movable flange 13, and rotates the rotation operating part 42 counterclockwise so that the gasket M is clamped between the flange F1 of the connecting pipe P1 and the movable flange 13, moving the movable flange 13 to the left in the figure relative to the one-end fixed flange 11.

[0042] Next, the worker fixes the movable flange 13 to the flange F1 of the destination pipe P1 (see FIG. 6G). Here, the movable flange 13 is fixed to the flange F1 of the pipe P1 by tightening it using bolts B and nuts N passed through the multiple bolt insertion holes 14a, with a gasket M placed between the movable flange 13 and the flange F1 of the pipe P1 (see Figure 4). When the movable flange 13 is fixed to the pipe P1 using the bolt B and nut N, the gasket M is elastically compressed as the bolt B and nut N are fastened, and the movable flange 13 is pulled toward the flange F1 to the left in the figure. At least a portion of the gap 70 shown in Figure 6F is utilized as a tightening margin, and the movable flange 13, the long bolt 30 and the expandable nut 40 slide together to the left in the figure. Therefore, the movable flange 13 is fixed to the flange F1 of the pipe P1 to which it is connected in a state in which the gasket M is compressed with an appropriate load that allows the gasket M to exhibit a sealing effect. In this manner, when the movable flange 13, the long bolt 30 and the expansion nut 40 move together to the left in the figure toward the flange F1 of the pipe P1, a gap G is created between the engagement abutment portion 50 and the one-end fixed flange 11.

[0043] Therefore, the worker rotates the rotation operation portion 42 of the expansion nut 40 counterclockwise to bring the contact fixing surface 50a of the engagement contact portion 50 into contact with the side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11 (see FIG. 6H). Here, when the worker rotates the rotation operating portion 42 of the expansion nut 40 counterclockwise, the expansion nut 40 moves to the right in the figure along the long bolt 30, and the abutment fixing surface 50a of the engagement abutment portion 50 abuts against the side surface 11b of the one-end side fixing flange 11.

[0044] Finally, the worker rotates the fixing ring 60 clockwise so that the contact fixing surface 60a of the fixing ring 60 abuts against the side surface 11c of the one-end fixing flange 11 (see FIG. 6I). Here, when the operator rotates the fixing ring 60 clockwise, the fixing ring 60 moves leftward in the figure along the cylindrical portion 41, and the abutment fixing surface 60a of the fixing ring 60 comes into contact with the side surface 11c of the one-end fixing flange 11. In this way, both side surfaces 11b, 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11 are clamped by the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60, and the movable flange 13 fixed to the connected piping P1 is further fixed by the one-end fixed flange 11, thereby enabling a specified surface-to-surface distance to be maintained more stably.

[0045] <Effects of the First Embodiment> As described above, in the face-to-face expansion type valve 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the fixing ring 60 is screwed onto the outer periphery of one end side of the expansion nut 40 so as to be able to freely come into contact with and separate from one of the side surfaces 11c of both side surfaces 11b, 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11, and an engaging abutment portion 50 which abuts against the other side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11 is provided on the other end side of the expansion nut 40, and when the movable flange 13 is fixed at a predetermined face-to-face position, the fixing ring 60 is screwed toward the one-end fixed flange 11 with the engaging abutment portion 50 abutting against the one-end fixed flange 11, and the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped between the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60. This makes it possible for the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20, which is formed by integrating the long bolt 30, the expandable nut 40, the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60, to have both the function of adjusting the face-to-face distance and the function of fixing the movable flange 13. For this reason, the movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 by the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 without the need to provide a separate fixing part for fixing the movable flange 13 to the one-end fixed flange 11 on the movable flange 13 and the one-end fixed flange 11 other than the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20. As a result, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter, the movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the fixed flange 11 before it is connected to the piping.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the face-to-face expansion valve 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter, the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 20 has both the function of adjusting the face-to-face distance and the function of fixing the movable flange 13, so that the movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 not only in the state before being connected to the connected pipes P1, P2, but also in the state after being installed between the connected pipes P1, P2 and the face-to-face distance adjusted.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the face-to-face expansion valve 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, the expansion nut 40 is rotated relative to the long bolt 30 to move the movable flange 13 forward and backward relative to the one-end fixed flange 11, and at a predetermined advance / retract position, the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped by the fixed ring 60 and the engaging abutment portion 50 to fix the movable flange 13 at a predetermined face-to-face position, so that while the face-to-face distance is adjusted by rotating the expansion nut 40, the one-end fixed flange 11 is clamped by the fixed ring 60 and the engaging abutment portion 50 to fix the movable flange 13 at the adjusted face-to-face position.

[0048] Furthermore, according to the face-to-face expansion valve 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention, the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 60 are arranged at a distance on the expansion nut 40 so that the distance between their respective abutment fixed surfaces 50a, 60a that abut against the one-end fixed flange 11 ensures a tightening margin when fixing the movable flange 13 to the connected pipe P1. As a result, the movable flange 13 can be fixed to the connected pipe P1 by applying an appropriate surface pressure that provides good sealing to the gasket M arranged between the movable flange 13 and the flange F1 of the connected pipe P1.

[0049] Furthermore, according to the face-to-face expansion type valve 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention, since the face-to-face expansion type valve 1 is a face-to-face expansion type butterfly valve, even in the case of a small butterfly valve with a small nominal diameter, the movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 before being connected to the piping.

[0050] <Embodiment 2> Next, a face-to-face expansion valve according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 120 of the face-to-face expansion valve 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that Fig. 7 is a simplified diagram in which hatching and the like of the cross-sectional portion are omitted. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. The face-to-face expansion valve 2 of this embodiment 2 differs from the face-to-face expansion valve 1 of embodiment 1 in that a C-ring is placed as the fixed ring 160 between the one-end fixed flange 11 and the fixed ring 60, and this fixed ring 160 is abutted against the side surface 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11. In the second embodiment, the fixing ring 60 is fixed to the end of the expansion nut 40. In other words, the fixing ring 60 may be provided integrally with the expansion nut 40, rather than being provided separately from it.

[0051] The fixing ring 160 has a contact fixing surface 160 a that comes into contact with the side surface 11 c of the one-end fixing flange 11 . This fixing ring 160 is removably arranged so as to fill the gap between the one-end fixed flange 11 and the fixing ring 60 with the contact fixing surface 50a of the engaging contact portion 50 abutting against one side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11. In the second embodiment, the fixing ring 60 is provided with an annular protrusion 61 that is fitted into the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing ring 60 in order to position and dispose the fixing ring 160. In addition, in this embodiment 2, a C-ring is used as the fixing ring 160, but other members may be used as long as they can be arranged to fill the gap between the one-end side fixing flange 11 and the fixing ring 60 and be freely attached and detached.

[0052] <Effects of the second embodiment> As described above, in the face-to-face expansion type valve 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the fixed ring 160 has an abutment fixed surface 160a that abuts against the other side surface 11c of the one-end fixed flange 11 and is arranged so as to be able to move toward and away from the side surface 11c, and the engagement abutment portion 50 that abuts against the side surface 11b of the one-end fixed flange 11 is provided on the front end side of the expansion nut 40. When fixing the movable flange 13, the fixed ring 160 is attached between the one-end fixed flange 11 and the fixed ring 60 with the engagement abutment portion 50 abutting against the one-end fixed flange 11, thereby abutting the fixed ring 160 against the one-end fixed flange 11 and clamping the one-end fixed flange 11 between the engagement abutment portion 50 and the fixed ring 160. As a result, the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 120 adjusts the face-to-face distance to a distance that enables connection between the connected pipes P1 and P2, and in the adjusted face-to-face state, the movable flange 13 is fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 via the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixing ring 160. For this reason, it is possible for the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 120, which is formed by integrating the long bolt 30, the expandable nut 40, the engaging abutment portion 50 and the fixed ring 160, to have both the function of adjusting the face-to-face distance and the function of fixing the movable flange 13.The movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 by the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 120 without having to provide a separate fixing part for fixing the movable flange 13 to the one-end fixed flange 11 on the movable flange 13 and the one-end fixed flange 11 other than the face-to-face adjustment mechanism 120.As a result, even in the case of a small valve with a small nominal diameter, the movable flange 13 can be stably fixed to the one-end fixed flange 11 before it is connected to the piping.

[0053] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0054] In the above embodiment, for example, in FIG. 2, an example is shown in which a fixing ring 60 is provided on the right end of the expansion nut 40 and an engaging abutment portion 50 is provided on the left end, but this is not limited to this, and it is also possible to provide an engaging abutment portion 50 on the right end of the expansion nut 40 and a fixing ring 60 on the left end.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the engaging abutment portion 50 is screwed into the tubular portion 41 of the expansion nut 40 and is freely movable along the tubular portion 41, but the engaging abutment portion 50 may be fixed at a predetermined position on the tubular portion 41.

[0056] In addition, in the above embodiment, butterfly valves are exemplified as the face-to-face expansion valves 1 and 2, but the present invention can be widely applied to other valves. For example, the valve can be used as a gate valve, a pressure reducing valve, a check valve, or various other valves. In any case, the valve of the present invention can be connected not only to a horizontal pipe but also to a vertical pipe.

[0057] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The above-described embodiments may be omitted, substituted, or modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1, 2 face expansion valve 10 Valve box 10a Flow path 11, 12 Fixed flange 11a Telescopic nut insertion hole 11b, 11c side 12a Bolt insertion hole 13 Movable flange 14 Flange part 14a Bolt insertion hole 14b Long bolt threaded hole 15 Cylindrical insertion part 16 Sealing material 20, 120 surface adjustment mechanism 30 Long Bolt 40 Expansion Nut 41 Cylindrical part 41a Flange insertion part 41b Operation side screw-in part 41bb male thread part 41c Tip side screw-in part 42 Rotation control unit 42a Control surface 50 Engagement abutment part 50a Contact fixed surface 50b Operation surface 60, 160 Fixing ring 60a, 160a Contact fixed surface 60b Female thread 60c Tsubabe 61 Circular protrusion 70 Gap S Operation shaft P1, P2 piping F1, F2 flanges N Nut M gasket

Claims

1. A face-to-face expansion valve having a movable flange that is freely movable between the fixed flange of a valve body and expands and contracts between the faces, a long bolt fixed to the movable flange, and a cylindrical expansion nut that is screwed onto the long bolt and inserted into the fixed flange, A fixing ring is screwed onto the outer periphery of one end of the expansion nut so as to be freely attached to and detached from one of both side surfaces of the fixing flange, An engaging abutment portion is provided on the other end side of the expansion nut to abut against the other side surface of the fixed flange, When the movable flange is fixed at a predetermined inter-face position, the engaging abutment portion is abutted against the fixed flange by screwing the fixed ring toward the fixed flange, thereby abutting the fixed flange, and the fixed flange is clamped between the engaging abutment portion and the fixed ring.

2. 2. The face-to-face expansion valve as described in claim 1, wherein the expansion nut is rotated relative to the long bolt to move the movable flange forward and backward relative to the fixed flange, and the fixed flange is clamped by the fixed ring and the engaging abutment portion at a predetermined forward and backward position to fix the movable flange at a predetermined face-to-face position.

3. 3. A face-to-face expansion valve as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement abutment portion and the fixing ring are arranged on the expansion nut with a distance between their respective abutting fixed surfaces that abut against the fixed flange such that a tightening margin can be secured when the movable flange is fixed to a piping to which it is connected.

4. 2. The face-to-face expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein the face-to-face expansion valve is a face-to-face expansion butterfly valve.

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