Valves and Valve Cleaning Methods

Abstract

The present invention comprises a body 1, a closure member 2 movable laterally between at least two positions in a space 11 between walls 9, 10 of the body relative to a flow passage 3 provided through the body, the first position being a first position in which the flow passage 3 is closed and a second position being a second position in which the flow passage is open, and an actuator 4 for linearly moving the closure member 2 between the at least two positions, the body 1 further comprising edges 12, 34. The valve further comprises openings 35, 36 for passing a medium, located in a part of the valve body 1 on the side of the closure member 2 facing the actuator 4, and a cleaning device configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space 11 located between the walls 9, 10, 12, 34 of the space 11 and the closure member 2. The present invention also relates to a method.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve and a method for cleaning the valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Valves with plate-shaped closure members in particular often have problems with leak tightness. Pressure from the medium that can act in the flow path causes deflection of the closure member and weakening of the sealing in the closed position of the valve, which leads to fouling of parts of the particular medium transmitted along the flow path, for example the guide and / or sealing surfaces of the valve body. This can impede the movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions. Furthermore, dirt can cause hygiene and leak tightness problems in certain applications. In order to solve these problems, various seal and / or valve structures have been tried. However, these are usually complicated, which makes them expensive solutions in terms of cost. From patent document 1, a gate valve is known, which comprises means arranged on the edge of the valve body for spraying a medium between the walls of the valve body in order to keep the lower part of the space between the walls clean and thus improve the leak tightness of the valve. With this solution, the problem of fouling of the valve has been considerably improved. However, it has been observed that in some applications dirt / materials can get between the closure member of the valve and / or its actuating means and the wall of the body, which can impede the actuation of the valve. Such materials include hard materials such as plastics and glass, which can wear down the valve parts and cause them to malfunction.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a completely new solution for keeping valves clean, which avoids the problems of known solutions. Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve structure, which has good manufacturing durability and is also easy in terms of assembly. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a solution that is sufficiently good in terms of leak-proofness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2007 / 135237A1 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention is based on the idea that the valve body, at the end located towards the actuating device or actuator, comprises at least one opening through which a medium, such as air, is blown out. The air is blown out when the closure member of the valve moves through the space between the walls of the body. The medium moves through the space between the closure member and the body and keeps the clearance between the closure member and the body clean. According to an embodiment of the invention, the output of a medium-operated actuator can be connected to blow into the opening formed in the valve body.

[0006] The valve according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0007] The valve according to the embodiments of the present invention is further characterized by what is stated in claims 2-11.

[0008] The method according to the invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in claim 12.

[0009] The method according to the embodiments of the present invention is further characterized by what is stated in claims 13-31.

[0010] The solution according to the invention has a number of important advantages: by arranging the cleaning means in relation to the valve, accumulation of the conveyed material in the flow passage in the space between the wall of the body and the closure member or gate can be prevented, and at the same time malfunctions due to fouling can be prevented. By arranging the spray openings of the cleaning device in the part of the valve body located on the actuator side, an efficient cleaning effect is obtained. By arranging one or more spray openings of the cleaning device in the channel at the end of the valve body, for example in the part located opposite the actuator, an additional cleaning effect is provided. The clearance between the closure member and the valve body is kept clean. At the same time, malfunctions of the closure member can be efficiently reduced. Problems with leak tightness and hygiene of the valve are also efficiently reduced. By arranging the means for delivering the medium in synchronism with the movement of the closure member, cleaning of the closure member and clearance of the valve body can be improved. By arranging a control valve which controls both the actuation of the closure member of the valve and the spraying of the medium, an efficient and affordable solution for controlling the cleaning device of the valve is achieved. By arranging the pressure medium of the pressure-medium-operated actuator to act as the medium of the cleaning device, an efficient and affordable solution for a sprayable cleaning medium is provided. By arranging the medium passages, through which the medium is conducted to the actuator and from the actuator to the space of the valve body, to be controlled synchronously by a control valve, a reliable, efficient and affordable device for implementing the valve and the cleaning device therefor is achieved. By providing the valve with a second cleaning device, the cleaning of the space in the body can be further enhanced. By arranging the channel space required for cleaning at the edge of the valve body, a highly advantageous structure is realized from the functional and technical point of view. By using a profile constituting the support surface of the wall of the valve body as the edge, a structure that is also advantageous from the point of view of assembly of the valve can be provided.Arranging the cleaning device with a means for delivering the medium when the flow passage of the valve is open provides a timely and efficient cleaning operation. The cleaning device may comprise a device for delivering the cleaning medium independent of the control of the closure member, such as a control valve of an actuator therefor, thereby achieving a flexible solution for controlling the cleaning device. The medium may be delivered from the opening to the space in the body for a specific time interval, the duration or frequency of which may be varied depending on the application and the need. Conducting the cleaning medium from the space between the walls of the valve body to a partial vacuum pipe to which the flow passage of the valve is connected, such as a conveying pipe of a partial vacuum system, provides an efficient solution for removing the cleaning medium and possible impurities. Using a gas, e.g. compressed air, as the medium provides an efficient and affordable solution for the cleaning medium. If necessary, the medium may also comprise a liquid. The valve according to the invention is easy to manufacture. Using a plate-like structure of the valve body and the closure member allows for an easily modifiable structure for different applications.

[0011] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a valve according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a front view of one embodiment of a valve according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a valve according to the present invention as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a valve according to the present invention as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a valve according to the invention in a partial cross-section along line VV in FIG. 3 in a first operating position with the closure member in the lowered position, i.e. with the flow passage closed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a valve according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 in partial cross-section in a second operating position with the closure member in an upper position, ie the flow path is open. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a solution according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partial cross-sectional view and in a simplified schematic diagram. [Figure 7a] FIG. 7a shows further details of a control valve for the valve of the embodiment of FIG. 7 in a second operating position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a solution according to an embodiment of the invention as a partial cross-sectional view and a simplified schematic diagram, with the closure member in a first position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a solution according to an embodiment of the invention as a partial cross-sectional view and a simplified schematic diagram, with the closure member in the second position. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a solution according to an embodiment of the invention as a partial cross-sectional view and a simplified schematic diagram in an operating state in which the closure member is in a second position and suction is acting from the flow channel. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a solution according to an embodiment of the invention as a partial cross-sectional view and a simplified schematic diagram, in a state in which the closure member is moving from the second position to the first position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a valve according to the invention in a perspective view.

[0014] The figures show an embodiment of a valve according to the invention, in particular a gate valve, which comprises a body 1. Inside the body, a closure member 2 (shown in figures 5 to 7) is arranged, which is transversely movable within the body 1 between at least two positions, with respect to a flow passage 3 extending transversely within the body 1, a first position in which the flow passage 3 is closed and a second position in which the flow passage is open. The closure member may be formed from one piece or may comprise a gate section provided with a separate closure member. In the following, for simplicity, the term closure member is used. The valve may also comprise an actuator 4 for moving the closure member 2 between said at least two positions. According to an embodiment, the means for moving the closure member comprise an actuator 4 by which the closure member can be moved linearly between said two positions. According to an embodiment, the closure member 2 may be a plate-like part. According to an embodiment, as shown, the flow passage 3 may be provided through the valve body 1 via channel parts 15, 16 arranged in the valve body. The closure member 2 may be arranged to move by the actuator 4 between an upper position, in which the flow passage is open, and a lower position, in which the flow passage is closed. The closure member 2 may be arranged to move in a space 11 located between the walls 9, 10 of the body. The mutually facing surfaces of the walls 9, 10 may serve as guide surfaces for the closure member. Between the channel parts 15, 16 of the flow passage, i.e. in the walls of the flow passage, a gap may be arranged through which the closure member may move laterally relative to the channel and extend to a first position to close the flow passage. In the first position, the closure member 2 extends away from the flow passage, outside the flow opening of the flow passage, i.e. the edge of the flow passage 3. Thus, in relation to a typical normally circular flow opening in the cross section of the flow passage, the closure member 2 is larger than the diameter of the flow opening of the flow passage 3 at the intersection between the closure member 2 and the flow passage 3.

[0015] The closure member may be a plate-shaped part according to an embodiment. The side edges of the closure member may be formed in a straight line. The edge of the end of the closure member 2 facing away from the actuator, i.e. the actuator 4, may be curved so as to connect the opposite side edges of the closure member. Also, the edge located opposite to the curved edge and connecting the side edges of the end of the closure member located on the actuator side may be formed in a straight line or may consist of several straight lines. The closure member 2 may constitute a fastening part for the actuator actuation part. The actuator actuation part may be a piston rod 21, as in the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7. Naturally, other shapes of the closure member are also conceivable depending on the application.

[0016] The valve body 1 may be composed of a first wall 9 and a second wall 10, for example as in the embodiment of Figs. 1-7. The first wall 9 and the second wall 10 may be arranged at a distance from each other, so that a space 11 is formed between them. The space 11 is defined by the walls 9, 10 and the edges 12, 34. There may be a number of edges, for example the edge 12 and the top edge 34. According to an embodiment, the closure member 2 is movably arranged in the space 11. The closure member 2 may be moved in the space 11 by the actuator 4, similar to the embodiment of the figures. The space 11 arranged in the body 1 extends transversely to the distance from the flow path 3, for example towards the actuator 4. The closure member 2 may be moved in the space 11 between a first position in which it closes the flow path 3 and a second position in which the flow path 3 through the valve is open. The actuator 4 may be fixed to the body 1. In an embodiment, the actuator 4 may be arranged in the valve body 1, for example at an edge thereof. According to an embodiment, the actuator can be arranged on the valve body 1 at the opposite end from the flow passage 3, for example at the upper edge 34. According to an embodiment, the actuator 4 can be an actuator for generating a linear movement. According to an embodiment, the actuator can be a pressure-medium-operated cylinder-piston unit. The actuator 4 can consist of a cylinder having an elongated wall 27 inside which a cylinder space 29 can be formed. The wall 27 can be arranged between the ends 23, 24 of the cylinder. The cylinder space 29 can be equipped with a movable piston 22. The piston 22 can have a piston rod 21 which extends through an opening formed in the first end 23 of the cylinder and through an opening formed in the end 34 of the valve body into the space 11. The linear movement of the actuator 4 can be adjusted depending on the linear movement required for the closure member 2 of the valve. The piston rod 21 of the actuator 4 can be arranged on the closure member 2 by means of a fastening element 20 at its end located opposite to the piston 22. The piston rod 21 may function as a valve stem which is connected to the closure member 2 by a fastening part 20 .

[0017] According to one embodiment, the closure member 2 is a plate-like part. According to one embodiment, the closure member 2 can be manufactured from a plate, for example by punching or cutting, such as by laser cutting. Thereby, a solution that meets sufficiently precise dimensional tolerances can be achieved. Correspondingly, according to one embodiment, the walls 9, 10 of the body can be of plate material and can be cut to shape, for example by laser cutting.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve may further comprise means for cleaning at least a part of the space 11 located between the walls 9 , 10 of the valve body 1 .

[0019] Typically, the valve may include means for cleaning at least a part of the space 11 located between the walls 9, 10 of the valve body 1 by spraying with a medium.

[0020] According to Fig. 5, the medium can be led via the inlet opening 28 into the channel 13 in the edge part 12 and from there via the opening 14 into the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the body 1. According to an embodiment, the opening 14 can be arranged in the body 1 close to the flow path, i.e. the flow path 3, for example in that part of the space 11 through which the closure member 2 should extend in the closed position. According to an embodiment, in particular when the valve is arranged as a closure member of a partial vacuum pipe, such as a pipe of a partial vacuum conveying system, a negative pressure acts in the flow path 3, whereby via the inlet opening 28 air can have access to the channel 13 under normal pressure and can be further injected via the opening 14 into the space 11.

[0021] The body 1 may comprise an edge portion 12, 34 connecting the side walls 9, 10. According to one embodiment, the edge portion may be provided with a channel space 13. The edge portion 12, 34 may be provided with at least one opening 14, 35, 36, preferably seven openings, opening into the space 11 between the first wall portion 9 and the second wall portion 10, for directing the medium into the space. According to one embodiment of the invention, the body 1 may be formed by connecting the walls 9, 10 with the edge portion 12, 34, for example by fastening means 31, 32 or by welding. The channel portion 15 may be connected to the first wall portion 9 by fastening means or for example by welding. Correspondingly, the channel portion 16 is connected to the second wall portion 10 by fastening means or for example by welding. The walls 9, 10 may be formed with flow openings 3. Between the walls there is a space 11 for the closure member 2. A plate construction valve according to the present embodiment is much cheaper and easier to manufacture, especially in smaller production runs, compared to, for example, cast construction valve solutions.

[0022] In the embodiment according to the figure, the edge portion 12 may be formed from a profile having a channel portion and a support portion 17. The channel portion may consist of the channel 13. The support portion 17 is preferably thinner in the cross-sectional direction than the channel portion. The support portion 17 of the edge portion may form a support surface for the walls 9, 10 of the valve body.

[0023] The walls 9, 10 may be placed on the support 17 of the edge portion 12 by fastening means 31, 32. Thus, the support 17 is provided between the walls 9, 10. An opening 30 may be formed in the support 17 and the corresponding parts of the walls 9, 10, through which a threaded portion of a screw member 31 functioning as a fastening means may extend, and the walls 9, 10 may be fastened to the support 17 from the opposite side by a mating means such as a nut means 32. The thickness of the support 17 may be somewhat larger than the thickness of the closure member.

[0024] The channel portion may in the embodiment according to the figure be arranged outside the outer edge of the walls 9, 10. According to another embodiment, the channel portion may be arranged between the walls.

[0025] The valve according to the invention may comprise a cleaning arrangement in which openings 35, 36 for guiding a medium are arranged in the body 1, in a part of the body 1 located on the side of the actuator 4 of the closure member 2. In this arrangement, the openings may be configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space located between the walls 9, 10, 12, 34 of the space 11 and the closure member 2. The medium may move in the space between the closure member 2 and the body and remove impurities and debris from the space.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device may comprise means for delivering a medium into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body in a synchronized manner following the movement of the closure member 2 .

[0027] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device may comprise a control valve 42 for opening, closing or switching the medium passages 35', 36' to the space 11. The medium may be output by a pumping device, for example a compressor, from which a passage to the valve 1 may be arranged.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 is a pressure medium actuated cylinder-piston combination, which pressure medium is arranged to be led into the valve space 11 for cleaning the valve.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the actuator 4 may be arranged to be controlled by a control valve 42. According to one embodiment, the opening, closing or switching of the media passages 35', 36' in the cleaning device may also be controlled by the control valve.

[0030] Figures 7 and 7a show an embodiment of a control valve 42 arranged to control the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 of the valve and to control the delivery of cleaning medium into the space 11 of the valve body.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the cleaning device may comprise a first medium passage 35' from a first side of the piston 22 of the actuator 4 of the closure member to an opening 35 opening into the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the valve body 1. The embodiment may also comprise one second medium passage 36' from a second side of the piston 22 of the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 to an opening 36 opening into the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the valve body 1. According to an embodiment, the first passage 35' can be opened for conducting the medium into the space 11 between the walls of the body when the closure member 2 of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position. Correspondingly, according to an embodiment, the second medium passage 36' is opened when the closure member 2 is moved from the second position to the first position. The working medium of the actuator 4 can then be introduced into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body. According to an embodiment, the cleaning device may comprise a control valve 42 for opening and closing said passages.

[0032] In Fig. 7 and Fig. 7a, the cleaning device may include a pump device 40, for example a pressure source such as a compressor. From the pressure source 40 there is a passage 41 to a control valve 42. In the embodiment of the control valve 42 there may be several positions, depending on the means for opening and closing the connection from the pressure source. The pressure medium can then be led to different passages. In the situation of Fig. 7, the pressure medium is led to the valve in a first position of the valve and from there along a first passage 25' to an upper port 25 of the actuator, which is arranged at the second end 24 of the cylinder part of the cylinder-piston combination acting as an actuator. The second end 24 is in Fig. 7 the end of the actuator facing away from the closure member 2. From the upper port 25 the pressure medium can be led to a cylinder space 29 above the piston 22, i.e. to the side located away from the piston rod 21 and the closure member 2. Then, under the action of the pressure medium, the piston is displaced downward in the cylinder space, and the piston rod is displaced outward from the lower, first end 23 of the actuator, so that the closure member 2 arranged on the piston rod 21 at the end opposite to the piston 22 moves to a lower position, i.e. closes the flow passage 3. When the piston moves downward in the cylinder space 29, the pressure medium arranged in the part of the space located between the piston 22 and the lower first end 23 of the cylinder can be pushed out along the passage 26' through the second port 26 into the cylinder space 29. In this position, the control valve 42 directs the passage 26' into the passage 36', which in turn connects it through the opening 36 arranged in the valve body 1 to the part of the valve space 11 located between the upper edge 34 and the edge 12 of the closure member. The piston 22 of the actuator 4 thus forces the medium under pressure through the passages 26, 26', 36', 36 into the space 11. This effectively cleans the space 11 of impurities. It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the second passage 35' to the space 11 via the opening 35 may be closed at the position of the valve.

[0033] FIG. 7a shows a detail of an embodiment of the control valve 42 in the second position. In this position, the pressure medium is led to the valve 42 along the second position passage 41 of the valve and from there along the second passage 26' to the lower port 26 of the actuator, which is arranged at the first end 23 of the cylinder part of the cylinder-piston combination acting as an actuator. The first end 23 is the end of the actuator 4 located on the closure member side in FIG. 7. From the lower port 26, the pressure medium can be led to the cylinder space 29 below the piston 22, i.e. on the side of the piston rod 21 and the closure member 2. Then, under the effect of the pressure medium, the piston is displaced upwards from the position in FIG. 7 in the cylinder space and the piston rod is displaced inwards from the lower, first end 23 of the actuator, whereby the closure member arranged on the piston rod 21 at the opposite end to the piston is moved to the second, upper position, i.e. in the position opening the passage 3. When the piston moves upward in the cylinder space 29, the pressure medium arranged in the part of the space located between the piston 22 and the upper second end 24 of the cylinder can be pushed out of the second port 25 along the passage 25' in the cylinder space 29 at the same time. The control valve 42 in this position directs the passage 25' into the passage 35', which is further connected to the part of the valve space 11 located between the upper edge 34 and the edge 12 of the closure member through the opening 35 arranged in the valve body 1. Thus, the piston 22 of the actuator 4 forces the medium under pressure through the passages 25, 25', 35', 35 into the space 11. This allows the space 11 to be efficiently cleaned of impurities. In the embodiment of FIG. 7a, the second passage 36' to the space 11 through the opening 36 can be closed in the position of the valve. The illustrated example is one way to implement the spraying of the pressure medium in the cleaning device by the actuator. Moreover, in the cleaning device, the spraying of the medium can be synchronized with the movement of the closure member.

[0034] The valve may further comprise second means 14, 28 for conducting the medium at least in the lower part of the space 11 located between the walls 9, 10 of the body, whereby the edge part 12 of the valve comprises a channel 13 from which there is at least one opening 14, preferably several openings, which open into the space 11 between the walls of the body, preferably into the part of the space 11 located opposite to the actuator 4, a negative pressure acting on the space 11 to conduct the medium into the space 11, and in this channel 13 there is at least one inlet opening 28 opening into the ambient pressure. In the second arrangement, air is conducted from standard atmosphere through the inlet opening 28 into the channel 13 and further through the opening 14 into the space 11. When the valve is arranged in its flow path 3 in a partial vacuum pipe and the valve is opened, the air can move due to the pressure difference through the opening 14 and further through the flow path 3 into a conveying pipe to which the valve 1 may be connected.

[0035] 8 to 11 show a further embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, a passage 28' may be arranged from the first side of the piston 22 of the closure member actuator 4 through the inlet opening 28 to the channel 13 of the edge part 12. The medium may then be conducted to the channel 13 of the edge part 12 and from there through the opening 14 to the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the body 1. When the piston moves downwards in the cylinder space 29, it may simultaneously push the pressure medium arranged in the part of the space between the piston 22 and the lower first end 23 of the cylinder in the cylinder space 29 along the passage 26' out of the second port 26. In this position, the control valve 42 has connected the passage 26' to the passage 28' and further to the channel 13 and from there through the opening 14 to the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the body 1. The piston 22 of the actuator 4 thus forces the medium under pressure through the passages 26, 26', 28', 13 and the opening 14 into the space 11. This allows efficient cleaning of impurities in the space 11, for example at its lower part. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, in the position of the valve, one or more passages 35', 36' to the space 11 via the opening 35 and / or the opening 36 may be closed. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8-11, at least one opening 35, 36 is formed in the upper part of the valve body, and this opening or the passage 35', 36' leading to this opening may be provided with a check valve 351, 361. According to one embodiment, the check valve may allow flow along the passage towards the valve space 11 but close the passage in the opposite direction from the valve space.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the channel 13 may comprise a first inlet opening 28 to which a medium passage 28' may be connected and a second inlet opening 28 which may be open to ambient pressure. According to an embodiment, in communication with the second inlet opening 28 of the channel 13, a check valve 282 may be arranged. The check valve 282 may according to an embodiment allow flow from the outside of the valve body into the channel 13 but prevent flow from the channel 13 in the opposite direction. According to an embodiment, in communication with the second inlet opening, a silencer 283 may be arranged.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the device may also include one second medium passage 36' from the second side of the piston 22 of the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 to one or more openings 35, 36 opening into the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the valve body 1. According to an embodiment, the first passage 35' may be connected to the second medium passage 36', whereby the second passage is branched into two passages. The first and second medium passages 35', 36' may thereby be opened for conducting medium from the openings 35, 36 to the space 11 between the walls of the body when the closure member 2 of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position. Thereby, the working medium of the actuator 4 may be conducted to the space 11 between the walls of the valve body. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. According to an embodiment, the connection via the passage 28' to the channel 13 may thereby be closed. According to one embodiment, the cleaning device may comprise a control valve 42 for opening and closing said passages and for connecting a source of pressure medium, such as a compressor, to act on the different inlets of the actuator 4 via the medium passages 25' or 26'.

[0038] According to an embodiment, as in Fig. 10, while suction acts on the channel 3, air may be conducted from the channel 13 via the opening 14 from the higher ambient pressure via the opening 28. Thus, air may flow by suction from the surroundings through the silencer 283 and the non-return valve 282 further to the opening 28 and the channel. From the channel 13 through the opening 14 into the space 11 and further into the channel 3. Thereby, through the inlet opening 28, air can access the channel 13 under standard pressure, which is further sprayed into the space 11 through the opening 14. The valve 42 may close the channel 28'.

[0039] According to one embodiment, when the closure member 2 is moved from the second position to the first position, as in FIG. 11, the connection from a pressure medium source, such as a compressor 40, is opened from the passage 41 to the passage 25'. This allows the pressure medium to be led from the port 25 at the top of the cylinder to the cylinder space 29 above the piston 22, i.e. to the side located away from the piston rod 21 and the closure member 2. Then, under the action of the pressure medium, the piston is displaced downward in the figure in the cylinder space, and the piston rod is displaced outward from the lower, first end 23 of the actuator, so that the closure member 2 arranged on the piston rod 21 at the opposite end to the piston 22 moves to a lower position, i.e. the flow passage 3 is closed. When the piston moves downward in the cylinder space 29, the pressure medium arranged in the part of the space located between the piston 22 and the lower first end 23 of the cylinder can be forced to be pushed out from the second port 26 along the passage 26'. Then, by means of the control valve 42, the passage 26' can be connected to the passage 28' and further to the channel 13, from there through the opening 14 leading to the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the body 1. The piston 22 of the actuator 4 can then force the medium under pressure through the passages 26, 26', 28', 13 and the opening 14 into the space 11. This effectively cleans the space 11, for example from its lower part, of impurities. Then, the sealing surfaces between the closure member and the body are cleaned and the leaktightness of the valve is well maintained. According to an embodiment, the opposite end of the channel 13 can be provided with a non-return valve 282, which can prevent the medium led under pressure from leaving the channel 13 from its opposite end.

[0040] The closure member 2, which has been returned from the embodiment of Figure 11 to the first position according to the embodiment of Figure 8, closes the flow path 3 of the valve. In the embodiments of Figures 8 to 11, check valves 284, 351, 361 may be arranged in communication with the passages 28', 35', 36'.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises means for delivering a medium into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body when the flow passage 3 of the valve is open.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the cleaning device constitutes an independent control from the control valve 42 of the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 .

[0043] The described devices effectively support each other, the valve space 11 is effectively kept clean by the device and the valves can be kept in an operable state.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the invention may also relate to a method for cleaning a valve, comprising a body 1, a closure member 2 movable in a space 11 between walls 9, 10 of the body transversely to a flow passage 3 provided through the body between at least two positions, namely a first position in which the flow passage 3 is closed and a second position in which the flow passage is open, and an actuator 4 for linearly moving the closure member 2 between said at least two positions, the body 1 being provided with edges 12, 34. According to an embodiment, in this method, a cleaning medium is fed through openings 35, 36 arranged in the valve body 1 to a part of the body 1 located on the actuator 4 side of the closure member 2, and the cleaning medium is sprayed on the part located between the walls 9, 10, 12, 34 of the space 11 and the closure member 2.

[0045] According to one embodiment, in the method the medium is pumped synchronously into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body according to the movement of the closure member 2 .

[0046] According to one embodiment, in this method the medium passage to the space 11 is opened, closed or switched by a control valve 42 .

[0047] According to one embodiment, in this method the actuator 4 of the closure member 2 is a pressure medium actuating cylinder-piston combination, which pressure medium is led into the valve space 11 for cleaning it.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the medium is fed via a medium passage into the space 11 between the walls of the body when the closure member of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position and when the closure member is moved from the second position to the first position.

[0049] According to one embodiment, in the method, medium is delivered to the space 11 between the walls 9, 10 of the valve body 1 via a first medium passage 35' and via one second medium passage 36', the medium being delivered to the space 11 between the walls of the body via the first passage 35' when the closure member 2 of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position and via the second medium passage 36' when the closure member is moved from the second position to the first position.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the actuating medium of the actuator 4 of the closing member 2 is used as medium.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the working medium of the actuator 4 is conducted from the actuator via a first medium passage 35' or via a second medium passage 36' into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the medium is conducted into the space between the walls of the valve body 1 along medium passages 35', 36' whose openings 35, 36 into the space 11 between the walls of the valve body are arranged in that part of the valve body 1 that is located on the actuator 4 side of the closure member 2.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the medium is a gas, for example compressed air.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the medium may include a liquid.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the medium is fed through openings 35, 36 formed in a wall 34 of the part of the body located on the actuator side into the space 11 between the wall and the closure member.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the medium is delivered by spraying.

[0057] According to one embodiment, said medium etc. is delivered through an opening 14 or openings formed in an edge 12 of the valve body 1, which openings into the space 11 between the walls of the body in order to direct the medium into the space by pressure. According to one embodiment, the edge 12 of the valve comprises a channel 13 from which there is at least one opening 14, preferably several openings, opening into the space 11 between the walls of the body, preferably into a part of the space 11 located opposite to the actuator 4, said channel 13 having at least one inlet opening 28, through which the medium is directed along a path 28'.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the medium is directed into the space 11 between the walls of the body via the passage 28', the channel 13 and the opening 14 in the channel when the closure member 2 of the valve moves from the second position to the first position or when the closure member 2 of the valve moves from the first position to the second position.

[0059] According to one embodiment, said medium etc. is further fed through an opening 14 or openings formed in the edge portion 12 of the valve body 1, which openings into the space 11 between the walls of the body in order to draw off the medium in the space by negative pressure, which negative pressure acts on the space 11, so that the edge portion 12 of the valve comprises a channel 13 from which there is at least one opening 14, preferably several openings, opening into the space 11 between the walls of the body, preferably into a part of the space 11 located opposite to the actuator 4, and in which channel 13 there is at least one inlet opening 28 opening to ambient pressure.

[0060] According to one embodiment, in the method the cleaning medium is led from the space 11 between the walls of the valve body to a partial vacuum pipe, such as a conveying pipe of a partial vacuum system, to which pipe the flow passage 3 of the valve is connected.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the actuation provided by the control valve 42 can also be arranged by other means, for example by several valves. According to an embodiment, for example, the blowing of the medium in the cleaning device can be provided by a control valve independent of the control of the actuator 4 of the closing member 2. According to an embodiment, the blowing of the medium can be regulated by time. According to an embodiment, the medium is delivered when the flow passage of the valve is open or partially open, for example when the closing member moves from the first position to the second position or when it is in the second position. According to an embodiment, the medium is delivered when the flow passage of the valve is open or partially open for a certain time, for example 1-10 seconds, preferably 2-8 seconds, most preferably 3-6 seconds. The control valve illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 7a is a 5 / 2-way valve, which according to an embodiment may be a pilot-operated spring-loaded valve. The control of the valve and the control valve can be implemented in various ways depending on the application. In a 5 / 2-way valve, the first number 5 indicates the number of ports and the second number 2 indicates the number of valve positions.

[0062] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, features that may be presented in this specification in combination with other features may, where appropriate, also be applied separately.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a body (1), a closure member (2) laterally movable in a space (11) between walls (9, 10) of the body with respect to a flow passage (3) provided through the body between at least two positions, the first position in which the flow passage (3) is closed and a second position in which the flow passage is open, and an actuator (4) for linearly moving the closure member (2) between the at least two positions, the body (1) further comprising an edge portion (12, 34) connecting the side walls (9, 10), the valve having openings (35, 36) for conducting a medium arranged in a part of the valve body (1) located on the actuator (4) side of the closure member (2), a cleaning device configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space located between the walls (9, 10, 12, 34) of the space (11) and the closure member (2), and the valve has a channel (13) arranged in the edge portion (12) of the valve. a medium passage (28') between the walls of the body and from whose channel there is at least one opening (14) opening into a part of the space (11) located on the opposite side to the actuator (4) for conducting a medium into said space via the at least one opening (14), the medium passage (28') being open for conducting a medium into the space (11) between the walls of the body when the closure member (2) of the valve is moved from the second position to the first position, and correspondingly a first and / or a second medium passage (35', 36') being open for conducting a medium via the openings (35, 36) into a part of the space (11) of the body (1) located on the actuator (4) side of the closure member (2) when the closure member (2) is moved from the first position to the second position, the medium being an actuating medium of the actuator, and the cleaning device comprising a control valve (42) for opening and closing the passages.

2. A valve comprising: a main body (1); a closure member (2) movable laterally between at least two positions, a first position in which the flow path (3) is closed and a second position in which the flow path is open, relative to a flow path provided through the main body in a space (11) between walls (9, 10) of the main body; and an actuator (4) for linearly moving the closure member (2) between the at least two positions, the first position being a first position in which the flow path (3) is closed and a second position in which the flow path is open, the main body (1) further comprising edge portions (12, 34) connecting side walls (9, 10), the valve comprising an opening (35, 36) for conducting a medium, the opening (35, 36) being disposed in a part of the main body located on the actuator (4) side of the closure member (2) in the valve body (1); and a cleaning device configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space located between walls (9, 10, 12, 34) of the space (11) and the closure member (2), the cleaning device further comprising an actuator (4) for moving the closure member (2) linearly between the at least two positions. a first medium passage (35') from a first side of the piston (22) of the actuator (4) of the closure member (2) to an opening (35) opening into the space (11) between the walls (9, 10) of the valve body (1) and one second medium passage (36') from a second side of the piston (22) of the actuator (4) of the closure member (2) to an opening (36) opening into the space (11) between the walls (9, 10) of the valve body (1), said first medium passage (35') being connected to the closure member (2) of the valve. is open for conducting medium into the space (11) between the walls of the body when the closure member is moved from the first position to the second position, and correspondingly the second medium passage (36') is open for conducting working medium of the actuator into the space (11) between the walls of the valve body when the closure member is moved from the second position to the first position, and the cleaning device comprises a control valve (42) for opening and closing said passages.

3. 3. A valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to pump a medium into the space (11) between the walls of the valve body in a synchronized manner depending on the movement of the closure member (2).

4. 4. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuator (4) of the closure member (2) is a pressure medium operating cylinder-piston combination, which is arranged to introduce pressure medium into the space (11) of the valve to clean said space (11).

5. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator (4) is arranged to be controlled by the control valve (42) which also controls the opening, closing or switching of the medium passage (28', 35', 36') of the cleaning device.

6. 6. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising second means (14, 28) for directing a medium into at least a lower part of the space (11) located between the walls (9, 10) of the body, whereby an edge (12) of the valve comprises a channel (13) from which there is at least one opening (14) opening into a part of the space (11) located opposite the actuator (4) for directing a medium into the space by means of a negative pressure acting on the space (11) and wherein the channel (13) has at least one inlet opening (28) opening into the ambient pressure.

7. 7. A valve according to claim 6, characterized in that a check valve (282) is arranged in communication with at least one inlet opening (28) of the channel (13).

8. 8. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises means for forcing a medium into the space (11) between the walls of the valve body when the flow passage (3) of the valve is open.

9. A valve according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cleaning device further comprises an actuator for the closure member, the actuator being independent of a control valve.

10. A method for cleaning a valve, the valve comprising a body (1), a closure member (2) movable laterally in a space (11) between walls (9, 10) of the body with respect to a flow passage (3) provided through the body between at least two positions, the first position in which the flow passage (3) is closed and a second position in which the flow passage is open, and an actuator (4) for linearly moving the closure member (2) between the at least two positions, the body (1) having edges (12, 34) and a front The valve comprises a cleaning device in which openings (35, 36) for passing a cleaning medium are arranged in a part of the valve body (1) located on the actuator (4) side of the closure member (2), and the method includes feeding the cleaning medium through the openings (35, 36) and spraying the cleaning medium into a part of the space located between the wall (9, 10, 12, 34) of the space (11) and the closure member (2), and the valve is provided with an edge (12) of the valve. a medium passage (28') for a channel (13) arranged therein, from which channel there is at least one opening (14) opening into a part of the space (11) located on the opposite side to the actuator (4) for conducting a medium into said space via the at least one opening (14), said medium passage (28') being open for conducting a medium into said space (11) between the walls of the body when the closing member (2) of the valve is moved from the second position to the first position, and correspondingly a first and / or second medium passage (35', 36') being open for conducting a medium via the openings (35, 36) into a part of the space (11) of the body (1) located on the actuator (4) side of the closing member (2) when the closing member (2) is moved from the first position to the second position, said medium being an actuating medium of the actuator, and said cleaning device comprising a control valve (42) for opening and closing said passages.

11. A method for cleaning a valve, comprising: a body (1); a closure member (2) movable laterally in a space (11) between walls (9, 10) of the body with respect to a flow passage (3) provided through the body between at least two positions, the first position in which the flow passage (3) is closed and a second position in which the flow passage is open; and an actuator (4) for linearly moving the closure member (2) between the at least two positions, the body (1) having edges (12, 34), the method comprising: feeding a cleaning medium through openings (35, 36) arranged in a part of the body that is located on the actuator (4) side of the closure member (2) in the valve body (1); the cleaning medium being moved through the walls (9, 10, 12, 34) of the space (11); 4) and the closing member (2), characterized in that the cleaning medium is fed into the space (11) between the walls (9, 10) of the valve body (1) via a first medium passage (35') and the cleaning medium is fed into the space (11) between the walls (9, 10) of the valve body (1) via one second medium passage (36'), when the closing member (2) of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position the cleaning medium is fed into the space (11) between the walls of the body via the first medium passage (35') and when the closing member is moved from the second position to the first position the cleaning medium is fed via the second medium passage (36').

12. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the medium is pumped into the space (11) between the walls of the valve body in a synchronized manner depending on the movement of the closure member (2).

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the actuator (4) of the closure member (2) is a pressure medium actuated cylinder-piston combination, which pressure medium is introduced as the cleaning medium into the space (11) of the valve to clean it.

14. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the actuating medium of the actuator of the closing member is used as the cleaning medium.

15. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the working medium of the actuator (4) is led from the actuator via a first medium passage (35') or via a second medium passage (36') into the space (11) between the walls of the valve body.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the cleaning medium is a gas, for example compressed air.

17. The method of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the cleaning medium comprises a liquid.

18. 18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the cleaning medium is fed into the space (11) between the walls of the body and into the space between the walls and the closing member through openings (35, 36) formed in an edge (34) of the part of the body located on the actuator side.

19. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the cleaning medium is applied by blowing.

20. 20. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 19, characterized in that the cleaning medium is delivered through an opening (14) or openings formed in an edge (12) of the valve body (1), which openings open into the space (11) between the walls of the body in order to direct the cleaning medium into the space by pressure, whereby the edge (12) of the valve comprises a channel (13) from which there is at least one opening (14) opening into a part of the space (11) located opposite the actuator (4), and in which channel (13) there is at least one inlet opening (28) through which the cleaning medium is directed along a path (28').

21. 21. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 20, characterized in that the cleaning medium is further delivered through an opening (14) or openings formed in an edge (12) of the valve body (1), which openings open towards the space (11) between the walls of the body in order to direct the cleaning medium into said space by negative pressure, which negative pressure acts on said space (11), whereby the edge (12) of the valve comprises a channel (13) from which there is at least one opening (14) opening into a part of the space (11) located opposite the actuator (4), and in which channel (13) there is at least one inlet opening (28) opening to ambient pressure and through which the cleaning medium is introduced.

22. 22. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 21, characterized in that the cleaning medium is led from the space (11) between the walls of the valve body into a pipe under negative pressure, to which pipe the flow passage (3) of the valve is connected.

23. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 22, characterized in that the cleaning medium is further delivered independently of the control of an actuator (4) of the closure member (2).

24. 24. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, when the flow passage of the valve is at least partially open, the cleaning medium is fed from an opening opening into the space (11) between the walls of the body to a part of the space (11) located on the opposite side to the actuator (4) and / or from an opening opening into the space (11) between the walls of the body to a part of the space (11) located on the actuator (4) side.

25. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 24, characterized in that the cleaning medium is delivered from the opening for a specific time, such as 1 to 10 seconds.

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