Valve gear having cleaning mechanism

Abstract

To provide a valve gear having a cleaning mechanism which can preventively clean a valve port of the valve gear.SOLUTION: In a steam trap 90, a float 7 moves up or down according to an amount of drainage in a valve chamber 10 to cause an orifice 51 to open or close repeatedly and discharge drainage 9 frequently. When the drainage 9 in the valve chamber 10 flows toward an outlet passage 18 through the orifice 51, a blade inclined surface 26 formed at each rotary vane 25 of a cleaning bar 2 receives an outflow pressure of the drainage 9 to retreat in an arrow 92 direction while rotating only 90 degrees. Then, when discharge of the drainage 9 ends, the cleaning bar 2 is biased by a coil spring 5 to move linearly in an arrow 91 direction without rotating and a peripheral edge of a tip inclined surface 21 of the cleaning bar 2 rubs a contact range which is one area of an inner periphery of the orifice 51 to perform cleaning repeatedly, thereby cleaning an entire periphery of an inner peripheral surface of the orifice 51 preventively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application relates to a technique for configuring a valve device having a mechanism for cleaning a valve port that discharges a fluid such as a drain. [Background technology]

[0002] Industrial plants are often equipped with piping systems that transport steam generated in boilers to destinations such as heat exchangers. This steam condenses as it releases heat, and some of it turns into drain (condensed water), which flows along with the steam in the piping. If too much of this drain accumulates in the piping, it will hinder the transport of steam, so it is necessary to properly discharge the drain from the piping system to the outside.

[0003] For this reason, valve devices such as steam traps are installed throughout the piping system. A branch pipe for installing a trap extends from the main pipe of the piping system that transports steam, and the steam trap is usually installed on this branch pipe.

[0004] Steam traps come in a variety of designs, but float-type steam traps have a floating float built into a valve chest that communicates with the inlet. A valve seat with a small-diameter valve orifice is provided at the bottom of the valve chest, and this valve orifice communicates with the steam trap's outlet. Under normal conditions, the float sits on the valve seat and blocks the valve orifice, but when condensate flows into the valve chest, the float rises as the condensate accumulates and leaves the valve seat, opening the valve orifice.

[0005] When the valve opening is completed, the condensate accumulated in the valve chamber is automatically discharged from the outlet to the condensate recovery pipe due to the force of the high pressure in the piping. After the condensate is discharged, the float descends under its own weight and sits on the valve seat, closing the valve opening again to prevent steam leakage.

[0006] Incidentally, foreign matter such as rust and scale (limescale) can enter the valve chamber of a steam trap along with the condensate that flows in. If such foreign matter adheres to and accumulates on the valve orifice, it can block the valve orifice, causing a clog, preventing the condensate from being properly discharged even when the float rises. In particular, the valve orifice is shaped like a small orifice due to its relationship to the outer surface that comes into contact with the float, making it susceptible to clogging with foreign matter. For this reason, steam traps are sometimes equipped with a cleaning mechanism to remove foreign matter that has adhered to and accumulated on the valve orifice.

[0007] Patent Document 1, listed below, discloses a float steam trap equipped with such a cleaning mechanism. This float steam trap has an operating member 16 that is axially movable disposed on the secondary side of tip portion 8a, which is the valve port, and a bimetal 17 attached to this operating member 16. Bimetal 17 is a helical temperature-responsive member that contracts in a high-temperature atmosphere to move operating member 16 backward, and expands in a low-temperature atmosphere to move operating member 16 forward.

[0008] If foreign matter adheres to tip 8a, which is the valve orifice, preventing the condensate from being discharged normally, the condensate remaining in valve chamber 4 and the condensate around operating member 16 will dissipate heat over time and become colder. This causes bimetal 17 to expand, moving operating member 16 forward and causing cylindrical tip 16a of operating member 16 to enter tip 8a, which is the valve orifice, and cleaning the tip 8a by removing any foreign matter adhering thereto. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-138984 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The float-type steam trap disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1 is configured to move the operating member 16 by expanding and contracting the bimetal 17, cleaning the tip 8a, which is the valve port. In this case, the cleaning operation to remove the foreign matter is performed after foreign matter actually adheres to the tip 8a, causing a blockage and preventing condensate from being discharged. For this reason, it takes some time for the accumulated condensate to dissipate heat and cool down after a blockage has occurred, causing the bimetal 17 to expand and contract. Therefore, with a configuration in which the cleaning operation is performed only after a blockage has actually occurred in the valve port, it is difficult to preventatively clean the valve port.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to the present invention is to provide a valve device that can preventatively clean the valve port of the valve device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The valve device having the cleaning mechanism according to the present application comprises: an inlet portion through which fluid flows in from the outside; a valve chamber communicating with the inlet portion and receiving the inflow of the fluid; an outflow portion that is in communication with the valve chamber and allows the fluid in the valve chamber to flow out; a valve port portion formed at a communication point between the valve chamber portion and the outflow portion; an opening / closing means for closing or opening the valve opening in response to the fluid flowing into the valve chamber; a cleaning means having a cleaning part and a pressure receiving part, which cleans the valve opening part with the cleaning part while moving between an entry position where the cleaning part enters the valve opening part and a retracted position where the cleaning part retracts from the valve opening part; a biasing means for biasing the cleaning means so as to move from the retracted position toward the approach position; A valve device having a cleaning mechanism comprising: The cleaning means moves from the advance position to the retracted position when the pressure-receiving portion receives the fluid pressure of the fluid flowing from the valve chamber toward the outflow portion, and moves from the retracted position to the advance position when the pressure-receiving portion no longer receives the fluid pressure. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the valve device with a cleaning mechanism according to the present application, the opening / closing means closes or opens the valve orifice in response to fluid flowing into the valve chamber, and this valve orifice is formed at the point where the valve chamber and the outflow port communicate with each other. The cleaning means cleans the valve orifice with the cleaning part, while the pressure-receiving part moves between an advanced position and a retracted position based on the fluid pressure of the fluid flowing from the valve chamber toward the outflow port.

[0014] Therefore, every time the opening / closing means opens the valve orifice and allows the fluid to flow out, the cleaning means cleans the valve orifice with the cleaning part, thereby making it possible to prevent the valve orifice from becoming clogged due to foreign matter adhering to the valve orifice. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steam trap 90 illustrating a first embodiment of a valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing details of the cleaning bar 2 shown in FIG. 1, where A is a perspective view seen from above, B is a perspective view seen from below, C is a side view, D is a plan view, and E is a bottom view. [Figure 3] 3A, 3B, and 3C are perspective views showing the state in which the cleaning bar 2 shown in FIG. 2 rotates, and each of A, B, and C shows a state in which the cleaning bar 2 rotates by 45 degrees. [Figure 4] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the valve seat 50 shown in FIG. 1, showing the state in which the cleaning bar 2 has entered. FIG. [Figure 5]2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the valve seat 50 shown in FIG. 1, showing an intermediate state in which the cleaning bar 2 moves. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the valve seat 50 shown in FIG. 1, showing the retracted state of the cleaning bar 2. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a schematic diagram of the orifice 51 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the valve chamber 10 side, with A, B, C, and D respectively showing the contact area between the tip of the cleaning bar 2 and the inner circumferential surface 51a of the orifice 51. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [Terminology used in the embodiments] The main terms used in the embodiments correspond to the following elements of the valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application.

[0017] Cleaning bar 2: Cleaning means Coil spring 5... biasing means Float 7: Opening and closing means Valve chamber 10...Valve chamber part Cleaning area around the periphery of the tip inclined surface 21 Rotor 25...Pressure receiving part Wing slope 26...Slope Contact area 31, 32, 33, 34...Cleaning area Orifice 51...valve opening Inflow port 97...Inflow section Outlet 99...Outlet part Center line L1...Center axis Position in approach state: Approach position Position in the evacuation state: Evacuation position Steam, drainage, fluid

[0018] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a float-type steam trap 90 is used as an example of the valve device.

[0019] (Explanation of the steam trap 90 configuration) Industrial plants are often equipped with piping systems that transport steam generated in boilers at high temperatures and pressures to their destinations. When this steam condenses, condensate is generated, and if too much condensate accumulates in the piping, it can impede the transport of steam. For this reason, steam traps are installed at various points in the piping system to appropriately discharge condensate from the piping system to the outside.

[0020] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steam trap 90 according to this embodiment. An upper body 11 is connected to a lower body 12 and fixed with bolts. The upper body 11 is fixed to the lower body 12 with a gasket sandwiched therebetween, thereby forming an airtight valve chest 10 therein.

[0021] A branch pipe 81 is provided in communication with a main pipe (not shown) of the piping, and an inlet 97 formed in the lower body 12 is connected to this branch pipe 81. Steam and drain flow into the valve chamber 10 from the inlet 97 in the direction of arrow 101. An outlet 99 is formed in the lower body 12 coaxially with the inlet 97, and an exhaust pipe 82 is connected to this outlet 99.

[0022] A mesh strainer 80 is provided at the top of the valve chest 10, and steam and drainage from the inlet 97 pass through this strainer 80 and flow into the valve chest 10. By passing through the strainer 80, foreign matter such as dirt and scale mixed in the steam and drainage is captured by the strainer 80.

[0023] A cylindrical mounting space is formed in the lower main body 12 obliquely below the valve chamber 10. The mounting space is connected to an outflow passage 18 formed in the lower main body 12. A substantially cylindrical valve seat 50 is disposed inside the mounting space. An orifice 51 is formed at the tip of the valve seat 50, and this orifice 51 communicates with a valve seat flow path 52 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape inside the valve seat 50. The rear end of the valve seat flow path 52 is open, and the valve seat flow path 52 communicates with the outflow passage 18.

[0024] The drain that has flowed into the valve chamber 10 flows in the direction of arrow 103 through the orifice 51, the valve seat flow path 52, and the outflow path 18, and is discharged from the outflow port 99 to the discharge pipe 82. The central axis of the orifice 51 and the valve seat flow path 52 is the center line L1.

[0025] An opening is formed in the lower body 12 behind the valve seat 50, and a valve seat cap 15 is screwed into this opening with a gasket sandwiched between them. A cap space 16, which is a recess, is formed in the tip surface of this valve seat cap 15. A stopper pin 4 is provided on the tip surface of the valve seat cap 15 as a locking means, and the tip of this stopper pin 4 protrudes a predetermined length from the tip surface of the valve seat cap 15. The centers of the valve seat cap 15 and the cap space 16 coincide with the center line L1.

[0026] A cleaning bar 2 is disposed in a valve seat flow path 52 formed within the valve seat 50, with the tip end of the cleaning bar 2 positioned toward the orifice 51 and the rear end positioned toward the cap space 16 formed in the valve seat cap 15. The central axis of the cleaning bar 2 is disposed so as to coincide with the center line L1. The cleaning bar 2 is free to move linearly in the directions of arrows 91 and 92 along the center line L1, and is also rotatable about the center line L1.

[0027] 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, the bar body 20 of the cleaning bar 2 has a generally cylindrical shape. The tip surface of the cleaning bar 2 is formed as a tip slope 21 that is positioned obliquely with respect to the center line L1. Four support plates 22 are provided below (toward the rear end of) this tip slope 21, radiating outward from the bar body 20. The four support plates 22 are arranged at equal intervals in a cross direction and are formed integrally with the bar body 20.

[0028] The diameter length of both ends of the support plates 22 that pass through the center line L1 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the valve seat flow path 52 of the valve seat 50. Therefore, by arranging four support plates 22 inside the valve seat flow path 52, the central axis of the cleaning bar 2 is always aligned with the center line L1. Note that the length of the valve seat flow path 52 in the direction of the center line L1 is ensured to be sufficiently longer than the length of the four support plates 22, so even if the cleaning bar 2 moves in the directions of the arrows 91 and 92, the support plates 22 always support the cleaning bar 2, positioning it coaxially with the center line L1 and preventing it from wobbling.

[0029] Further below (toward the rear end of) the four support plates 22, four rotors 25 are provided radially outward from the bar body 20. The four rotors 25 are equally spaced in a crosswise arrangement and are integrally formed with the bar body 20. The four rotors 25 extend outward longer than the four support plates 22, and the diameters of both ends of the rotors 25 passing through the center line L1 are sufficiently longer than the inner diameter of the valve seat flow path 52 of the valve seat 50 and are set to the same length as the outer diameter of the valve seat 50. The four rotors 25 are also formed along the same positions as the four support plates 22 in the direction of the center line L1 (see FIG. 2D).

[0030] Each of the four rotor blades 25 has a blade inclined surface 26 with the same inclination angle formed on one side of the same side. Each blade inclined surface 26 is inclined in a direction in which the thickness of the rotor blade 25 on the rear end side increases.

[0031] A bar rear end 27, which is thicker than the bar main body 20, is integrally formed with the rear end of the bar main body 20 of the cleaning bar 2. As shown in Figure 1, a coil spring 5 is attached to cover the bar rear end 27, and this coil spring 5 is disposed between the cap space 16 of the valve seat cap 15 and the rear end faces of the four rotor blades 25, and constantly biases the cleaning bar 2 in the direction of arrow 91 toward the tip. Note that in the figure, the cleaning bar 2 and stopper pin 4 are shown as a side view rather than a cross section.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, a float 7 formed as a hollow sphere is floatably arranged in the valve chest 10. When the water level of condensate 9 accumulated in the valve chest 10 is at a lower level L11, the float 7 sits on the valve seat 50 due to its own weight, making contact and blocking the orifice 51. In contrast, when the amount of condensate 9 accumulated in the valve chest 10 increases and the water level reaches an upper level L12, the float 7 rises in the direction of arrow 102, disengages from the valve seat 50, and opens the orifice 51. The valve chest 10 side, with the orifice 51 as the base point, is the primary side, and the outflow path 18 side is the secondary side.

[0033] In this embodiment, an upper flow passage 68 that connects the valve chest 10 and the outflow passage 18 is formed in the upper body 11 of the steam trap 90. An upper valve seat 60 having an upper valve port 61 formed therein is fixed to the valve chest 10 side of this upper flow passage 68. A temperature responsive platen 67 is provided below the upper valve seat 60. The temperature responsive platen 67 is supported by a support member 64 fixed to the upper body 11, and is disposed adjacent to the upper valve port 61 of the upper valve seat 60.

[0034] 1, the temperature responsive panel 67 is shown as a side view rather than a cross section. This temperature responsive panel 67 is mainly used in the initial stage of steam transfer by discharging initial air present in the piping and valve chest 10 through the upper flow path 68 and the outflow path 18 to the discharge pipe 82 in the direction of arrow 104, thereby eliminating air binding (air obstruction).

[0035] The temperature responsive platen 67 has an expansion medium sealed inside, which contracts or expands in response to temperature. As a result, when the temperature is below a predetermined reference temperature, the temperature responsive platen 67 deforms into a contracted state, moving away from the upper valve seat 60 and opening the upper valve port 61. On the other hand, when the temperature exceeds the predetermined reference temperature, the temperature responsive platen 67 expands and seats on the upper valve seat 60, closing the upper valve port 61.

[0036] (Explanation of drain discharge operation of steam trap 90) Next, we will explain the drain discharge operation of the steam trap 90. Before the piping system starts operation, the steam trap 90 is in the initial state shown in Figure 1, with the float 7 seated on the valve seat 50 and closing the orifice 51. Furthermore, because the temperature inside the valve chest 10 is low, the temperature responsive platen 67 moves away from the upper valve seat 60, opening the upper valve port 61.

[0037] From this initial state, the piping system begins operation and the steam is pumped in. As the steam is pumped in, the initial air that filled the piping and valve chest 10 is discharged from the upper valve port 61 of the upper valve seat 60 through the upper flow path 68 and into the exhaust pipe 82 in the direction of the arrow 104 (FIG. 1).

[0038] Furthermore, as the piping system begins operation, the condensate remaining in the piping flows from the inlet 97 into the valve chest 10 in the direction of arrow 101 (FIG. 1). As the condensate 9 flows into the valve chest 10, the water level of the condensate 9 in the valve chest 10 reaches the upper level L12, causing the float 7 to rise and open the orifice 51 of the valve seat 50. As a result, the low-temperature condensate 9 that has flowed into the valve chest 10 passes through the orifice 51, the valve seat flow path 52, and the outlet path 18, driven by momentum based on the high pressure in the piping, and is then discharged from the outlet 99 into the discharge pipe 82 in the direction of arrow 103.

[0039] After the initial air and low-temperature condensate 9 have been discharged, high-temperature steam flows into the valve chest 10 from the inlet 97. The steam also condenses to produce high-temperature condensate, which, like the steam, flows into the valve chest 10 from the inlet 97. This causes the temperature-responsive platen 67 installed at the top of the valve chest 10 to expand and seat on the upper valve seat 60, closing the upper valve port 61. Thereafter, while the piping system is in operation, the valve chest 10 is maintained at a high temperature by the high-temperature steam and condensate, so the upper valve port 61 remains closed. For this reason, no steam leaks from the upper valve port 61 while the piping system is in operation and the steam trap 90 is operating.

[0040] When the water level in the drain 9 drops to the lower level L11 due to drain discharge, the float 7 seats on the valve seat 50 and blocks the orifice 51, closing the steam trap 90. This prevents steam from leaking from the orifice 51.

[0041] Thereafter, condensate flows again into the valve chest 10 from the inlet 97 together with high-temperature steam, and when the water level of the condensate 9 in the valve chest 10 reaches the upper level L12, the float 7 rises to the surface and opens the orifice 51, again discharging the condensate in the direction of the arrow 103. In this way, the float 7 frequently rises and falls according to the amount of condensate in the valve chest 10, causing the orifice 51 to repeatedly open and close, appropriately discharging the condensate 9. Regardless of whether the orifice 51 is open or closed, the orifice 51 is always submerged in the condensate 9, so no steam leaks from the orifice 51.

[0042] (Explanation of cleaning operation of steam trap 90) Next, we will explain the cleaning operation of the steam trap 90. As described above, the steam trap 90 is provided with the strainer 80, which captures foreign matter such as dirt and scale mixed in the steam and drain, but small foreign matter passes through the strainer 80 and enters the valve chest 10. Over time, such small foreign matter adheres to and accumulates on the inner circumferential surface of the small-diameter orifice 51, causing the orifice 51 to become clogged.

[0043] For this reason, in this embodiment, the cleaning bar 2 moves back and forth between an advanced state and a retracted state each time the steam trap 90 discharges the drain 9, thereby preventatively cleaning the orifice 51. Figure 4 shows the advanced state of the cleaning bar 2, Figure 6 shows the retracted state of the cleaning bar 2, and Figure 5 shows an intermediate state. Also, Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C each show states in which the cleaning bar 2 rotates in 45-degree increments.

[0044] 4, when the float 7 is seated on the valve seat 50 and blocking the orifice 51, the cleaning bar 2 is biased by the coil spring 5 to move in the direction of the arrow 91 and stops at the limit position. The state in which the upper ends of the four rotary blades 25 of the cleaning bar 2 abut against the rear end of the valve seat 50 is the limit position in the direction of the arrow 91, and is the intruded state of the cleaning bar 2 (position in the intruded state = intruded position).

[0045] In this inserted state, the tip portion of the cleaning bar 2, on which the tip slope 21 is formed, is inserted into the orifice 51. As described above, the tip slope 21 of the cleaning bar 2 is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the center line L1, and only the tip portion is located inside the orifice 51. Therefore, the outer periphery of the tip portion of the cleaning bar 2 does not contact the entire inner circumferential surface of the orifice 51, but only a limited area.

[0046] 7 is a schematic diagram of the orifice 51 as viewed from the valve chamber 10 side, showing the contact area between the tip of the cleaning bar 2 and the inner circumferential surface 51a of the orifice 51. In the advanced state shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the cleaning bar 2 contacts the inner circumferential surface 51a of the orifice 51 in the region of contact area 31 in FIG. 7A. In this embodiment, the contact area is the contact area 31 that extends slightly more than 90 degrees in the inner circumferential direction from the center line L1.

[0047] From this entering state, condensate 9 flows into the valve chamber 10, and when the water level in the condensate 9 rises from the lower level L11 to the upper level L12 (see Figure 1), the float 7 rises to the surface and opens the orifice 51. As a result, the condensate 9 in the valve chamber 10 is subjected to the force of the high pressure in the piping, and flows out from the orifice 51 through the valve seat flow path 52 in one go in the direction of the arrow 103.

[0048] The cleaning bar 2 receives the pressure of the outflowing condensate 9 and moves in the direction of arrow 92 while compressing the coil spring 5. At this time, the condensate 9 that flows out from the gap between the orifice 51 and the tip inclined surface 21 of the cleaning bar 2 passes between the four support plates 22 and collides with the blade inclined surfaces 26 of the four rotating blades 25 provided below, and applies fluid pressure to the blade inclined surfaces 26. As a result, the cleaning bar 2 moves in the direction of arrow 92 while rotating around the center line L1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 7) in accordance with the inclination of the blade inclined surfaces 26.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an intermediate state in which cleaning bar 2 has rotated 45 degrees about center line L1 while moving in the direction of arrow 92, and cleaning bar 2 has rotated from the state shown in FIG. 3A to the state shown in FIG. 3B.

[0050] The cleaning bar 2 then continues to rotate and move under the fluid pressure of the drain 9, eventually reaching the limit position (retracted position) in the direction of arrow 92 and stopping there. The state in which the lower ends of the four rotary blades 25 of the cleaning bar 2 abut against the valve seat cap 15 is the limit position in the direction of arrow 92, and is the retracted state of the cleaning bar 2 (position in the retracted state).

[0051] As the cleaning bar 2 moves from the intermediate state shown in Figure 5 to the retracted state shown in Figure 6, the stopper pin 4 comes into contact with one of the four rotating blades 25 of the cleaning bar 2, stopping the rotation of the cleaning bar 2. As a result, the cleaning bar 2 is prevented from rotating 90 degrees, and in that state moves in the direction of arrow 92 to reach the retracted state. In other words, the rotation of the cleaning bar 2 is reliably stopped at the 90-degree rotation position shown in Figure 3C from the state shown in Figures 3A and 3B. The stopper pin 4 provided on the valve seat cap 15 is set at a position and with a protruding length that will stop the cleaning bar 2 after rotating it 90 degrees.

[0052] 6, the drain 9 in the valve chamber 10 is discharged, causing the water level to return from the upper level L12 to the lower level L11, and the float 7 moves down by its own weight and closes the orifice 51. This prevents the drain 9 from flowing out from the orifice 51, releases the outflow pressure of the drain 9 on the cleaning bar 2, and the cleaning bar 2 moves in the direction of the arrow 91 under the bias of the coil spring 5. At this time, the cleaning bar 2 does not rotate, but moves only linearly in the direction of the arrow 91.

[0053] This linear movement of cleaning bar 2 in the direction of arrow 91 causes the tip of cleaning bar 2 to enter orifice 51, and the periphery of tip inclined surface 21 of cleaning bar 2 rubs against the contact area on the inner periphery of orifice 51, thereby performing cleaning. When cleaning bar 2 retreats in the direction of arrow 92 immediately before this cleaning operation, it has rotated 90 degrees, so the cleaning area changes from contact area 31 in Figure 7A to contact area 32 in Figure 7B.

[0054] After that, when float 7 rises again and opens orifice 51, causing drain 9 to flow out, cleaning bar 2 rotates another 90 degrees and retreats in the direction of arrow 92 to the retreat position. After that, as drain 9 stops flowing out, cleaning bar 2 moves to the advance position in the direction of arrow 91, and the tip of cleaning bar 2 cleans a portion of the inner circumferential surface 51a of orifice 51. The area to be cleaned changes with this one reciprocating retreat and advance movement, and contact area 33 in FIG. 7C and contact area 34 in FIG. 7D are cleaned.

[0055] That is, by repeating this one reciprocating motion four times, the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface 51a of the orifice 51 is cleaned, and cleaning by reciprocating motion is repeated thereafter, so that the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the orifice 51 is cleaned many times. As described above, in this embodiment, the contact ranges 31, 32, 33, and 34 where the tip portion of the cleaning bar 2 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface 51a of the orifice 51 are set to slightly exceed 90 degrees in the inner circumferential direction around the center line L1. That is, because the contact ranges 31, 32, 33, and 34 are set to fully cover the 90-degree range in which the cleaning bar 2 rotates, cleaning can be performed seamlessly in the inner circumferential direction.

[0056] As described above, when the drain 9 in the valve chamber 10 flows toward the outflow passage 18 through the orifice 51, the inclined blade surface 26 formed on the rotating blade 25 of the cleaning bar 2 receives the outflow pressure of the drain 9 and rotates by 90 degrees while retreating in the direction of arrow 92. Then, when the discharge of the drain 9 is completed, the cleaning bar 2 receives the force of the coil spring 5 and moves linearly in the direction of arrow 91, and the peripheral edge of the inclined tip surface 21 of the cleaning bar 2 scrapes the contact area on the inner periphery of the orifice 51 to perform cleaning.

[0057] Therefore, every time the float 7 opens the orifice 51 and causes the drain 9 to flow out, the cleaning bar 2 cleans the orifice 51, and the orifice 51 can be cleaned preventatively before foreign matter or the like adheres to the orifice 51 and causes clogging.

[0058] Furthermore, during cleaning, the outer periphery of the tip of cleaning bar 2 does not contact the entire inner circumferential surface of orifice 51, but only contacts limited contact areas 31, 32, 33, and 34, allowing for concentrated cleaning of each area. In other words, if the end face were a circular end face positioned perpendicular to center line L1, when the tip of cleaning bar 2 enters orifice 51, the contact pressure on inner circumferential surface 51a would be dispersed, preventing reliable cleaning. In contrast, in this embodiment, contact is only made in limited contact areas 31, 32, 33, and 34, allowing for concentrated contact pressure, resulting in more reliable cleaning.

[0059] [Other embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, examples are given for the fluid, inlet section, valve chamber section, outlet section, valve port section, opening / closing means, cleaning section, pressure-receiving section, entry position, retraction position, biasing means, central axis, cleaning area, and inclined surface, but these are merely examples, and different configurations can be adopted for each.

[0060] For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the valve device having the cleaning mechanism according to the present application was applied to a steam trap, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other valve devices as long as the valve device opens and closes in response to the inflow of fluid.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the hollow, spherical float 7 is exemplified as the opening and closing means, but other shapes and structures may be employed as long as they operate in accordance with the inflow rate of fluid (e.g., drain) flowing into the valve chamber (e.g., valve chamber 10) and close or open the valve opening (e.g., orifice 51).

[0062] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning bar 2 has the rotating blade 25 on which the blade inclined surface 26 is formed as the cleaning means, but the present invention is not limited to this and different shapes and structures may be adopted. For example, instead of the blade inclined surface 26, a propeller-shaped member made of a thin plate may be used as the pressure-receiving portion to rotate the cleaning bar 2.

[0063] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a cleaning bar 2 having four rotor blades 25, three or fewer or five or more rotor blades 25 may also be provided. For example, a configuration may be used in which six rotor blades are evenly spaced at 60-degree intervals in the rotational direction, and the cleaning bar rotates 60 degrees with one reciprocal movement. In this case, the tip of the cleaning bar is configured to contact the inner circumferential surface of the orifice over a 60-degree range, and six reciprocal movements are configured to clean the entire inner circumferential surface of the orifice. Note that if the inclination of the tip of the cleaning bar is set to be gentle, the contact area with the inner circumferential surface of the orifice will be wide, and conversely, if the inclination is set to be steep, the contact area with the inner circumferential surface of the orifice will be narrow.

[0064] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 2: Cleaning bar 5: Coil spring 7: Float 10: Valve chamber 21: Tip inclined surface 25: Rotor 26: Blade inclined surface 31, 32, 33, 34: Contact area 51: Orifice 97: Inlet 99: Outlet L1: Center line

Claims

1. an inlet portion through which fluid flows in from the outside; a valve chamber communicating with the inlet portion and receiving the inflow of the fluid; an outflow portion that is in communication with the valve chamber and allows the fluid in the valve chamber to flow out; a valve port formed at a communication point between the valve chamber and the outflow portion; an opening / closing means for closing or opening the valve opening in response to the fluid flowing into the valve chamber; a cleaning means having a cleaning part and a pressure receiving part, which cleans the valve opening part with the cleaning part while moving between an entry position where the cleaning part enters the valve opening part and a retracted position where the cleaning part retracts from the valve opening part; a biasing means for biasing the cleaning means so as to move from the retracted position toward the approach position; A valve device having a cleaning mechanism comprising: The cleaning means moves from the advance position to the retracted position when the pressure-receiving portion receives the fluid pressure of the fluid flowing from the valve chamber toward the outflow portion, and moves from the retracted position to the advance position when the pressure-receiving portion no longer receives the fluid pressure. A valve device having a cleaning mechanism characterized in that:

2. 2. The valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, the cleaning means moves along a central axis of the valve opening between the advanced position and the retracted position; When the pressure-receiving portion receives the fluid pressure, the cleaning means moves along the central axis while rotating around the central axis, When the pressure-receiving portion is no longer receiving the fluid pressure, the cleaning means moves along the central axis without rotating to clean the inner circumferential surface of the valve opening portion. A valve device having a cleaning mechanism characterized in that:

3. 3. The valve device having a cleaning mechanism according to claim 2, The pressure-receiving portion of the cleaning means has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the direction of the flow of the fluid, and when the inclined surface receives the fluid pressure of the fluid, it moves toward the retracted position while rotating around the central axis. A valve device having a cleaning mechanism characterized in that:

Images