Automatic valve with cleaning mechanism

Abstract

To provide an automatic valve with a cleaning mechanism capable of removing foreign matter by surely turning a valve stem.SOLUTION: When drain at high temperature flows into a valve chamber 53, each bimetal 50 is expanded; a valve stem 10 is moved in a direction of an arrow 106, and a valve element 2 enters a valve port 62 so as to close a valve. The valve stem 10 is constituted by a valve stem body 11 and a valve stem end portion 12, and they are connected with each other at a connection portion 4. A body side tooth portion formed on the valve stem body 11 and an end side tooth portion formed on the valve stem end portion 12 are separated from each other by a return spring incorporated in the valve stem body 11 when the valve is opened, and an apex of the body side tooth portion and an apex of the end side tooth portion are dislocated circumferentially. Accordingly, when the valve is opened at which the valve stem 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow 106, the valve stem end portion 12 is turned by meshing of the body side tooth portion and the end side tooth portion, and foreign matter fixed to a valve seat upstream chamber 61 is scraped off and removed by a blade portion 10b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application relates to a cleaning technique for cleaning foreign matter adhering to the inside of an automatic valve such as a temperature control trap. [Background technology]

[0002] In industrial plants, piping systems are installed to transport high-temperature steam generated in boilers to their destinations, and drainage (condensate) is generated from the steam within these piping. A branch pipe for collecting the drainage is connected to the main pipe that transports the steam, and the drainage is often discharged as a waste product by a steam trap installed at the end of this branch pipe.

[0003] However, in order to retain this drain in the branch pipe and adjust the temperature of the branch pipe to a specified set temperature for use, a temperature control trap as an automatic valve is sometimes used instead of a steam trap. For example, when transporting highly viscous fluids such as heavy oil through a transport pipe, if the temperature drops, the heavy oil etc. will solidify, which is an inconvenience. For this reason, the branch pipe through which high-temperature steam and drain flow is placed along the transport pipe to function as a tracing heat transfer pipe, and by exchanging heat with the transport pipe for the heavy oil etc., the temperature of the heavy oil etc. is increased to prevent solidification.

[0004] For example, in the case of heavy oil, a temperature of about 40 degrees is sufficient for transportation, but since the temperature of steam is over 100 degrees, there is a risk that the temperature of the heavy oil will rise too high if steam is used as the heat source for the tracing heat transfer tube as is. For this reason, a temperature control trap is installed at the end of the tracing heat transfer tube to adjust the temperature of the tracing heat transfer tube to the appropriate set temperature.

[0005] The temperature control trap, which is provided at the end of the tracing heat transfer tube, has a valve chamber formed therein into which steam and condensate flow from the tracing heat transfer tube, and a discharge chamber formed below the valve chamber. The valve chamber and the discharge chamber are connected by a small-diameter valve port, and the steam and condensate flow through the valve port with the valve chamber side being the upstream side and the discharge chamber side being the downstream side.

[0006] A valve shaft with a valve element at its tip (lower end) is disposed within the valve chamber. The tip of the valve element faces the valve port, and a bimetal laminate, which is a temperature-sensing member, is attached to the valve shaft.

[0007] When high-temperature condensate flows into the valve chamber, the bimetal laminate expands in response to the high temperature, moving the valve stem in the axial direction and closing the valve orifice. When the temperature of the condensate subsequently drops due to heat exchange with the object to be heated, the bimetal laminate contracts in response to this temperature drop, and the valve stem moves as the return spring expands, causing the valve stem to open the valve orifice and discharge the low-temperature condensate into the discharge chamber. In this way, the valve orifice is repeatedly opened and closed based on the displacement of the valve stem, and the temperature of the tracing heat transfer tube is maintained at a constant reference temperature.

[0008] The rear end (upper end) of the valve stem protrudes outward from above the temperature control trap, and the valve stem can be moved axially by an operator from outside to adjust the position of the valve stem within the valve chamber. This allows the reference temperature within the tracing heat transfer tube to be freely set.

[0009] Incidentally, foreign matter such as rust and scale (limescale) may flow into the valve chamber of a temperature control trap together with steam and condensate. If such foreign matter adheres and accumulates near the valve orifice, it will impede the flow rate of condensate, making it impossible to properly regulate the temperature of the tracing heat transfer tube. In particular, the valve orifice of a temperature control trap is designed with a small aperture to allow for fine adjustment of the flow rate of condensate, so the adhesion of foreign matter has a large impact.

[0010] A cleaning technique for removing foreign matter adhering to the vicinity of a valve orifice is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this technique, a valve orifice 8 is provided in a valve chamber 5 formed by valve casings 3 and 4, and a valve stem 12 is disposed within the valve chamber 5. A blade 15 and a valve body 13 are integrally provided on the tip of the valve stem 12.

[0011] As the valve stem 12 moves in the axial direction, the valve element 13 attached to the tip of the valve stem 12 opens and closes the valve orifice 8. The valve stem 12 moves in the axial direction in response to the deformation of a bimetal laminate 26 serving as a temperature-sensing member. The valve stem 12 is provided with a toothed member 30, and single-toothed members 33, 34 are arranged above and below the toothed member 30. When the valve stem 12 moves in the axial direction, the toothed member 30 and the single-toothed members 33, 34 mesh with each other, causing a blade 15 attached to the tip of the valve stem 12 to rotate, and the blade 15 removes foreign matter adhering near the valve orifice 8. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-245749 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] In the technology disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, if the circumferential positional relationship between the tooth member 30 provided on the valve shaft 12 and the teeth of the single-tooth members 33, 34 arranged above and below it completely matches, no rotational movement will occur even if the valve shaft 12 moves in the axial direction, and there is a risk that foreign matter adhering near the valve orifice 8 will not be able to be removed by the blade 15 provided at the tip of the valve shaft 12.

[0014] The automatic valve with a cleaning mechanism of the present application has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and has an object to provide an automatic valve with a cleaning mechanism that can remove foreign matter by reliably rotating the valve shaft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application is an automatic valve body having a valve chamber space into which a fluid flows and a discharge hole communicating with the valve chamber space and discharging the fluid to the outside; a valve shaft means that is disposed in the valve chamber space along a reference line and is capable of reciprocating movement in the direction of the reference line, the valve shaft means having a sliding portion that cleans the vicinity of the drain hole and a valve body portion that opens and closes the drain hole; an opening / closing operation means for reciprocating the valve shaft means; An automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism comprising: the valve shaft means is composed of an actuating portion having a sliding portion and a valve body portion, and a valve shaft main body portion, the actuation portion is connected to the valve shaft main body portion by a connecting shaft in a state in which the actuation portion can approach or move away from the valve shaft main body portion along a reference line direction and can rotate in a circumferential direction about the reference line, a guide inclined surface is formed on either the actuation portion or the valve shaft main body, the guide inclined surface being inclined obliquely from a tilt apex to a tilt end point with respect to a reference line, and an abutment portion is formed on the other of the actuation portion or the valve shaft main body, the abutment portion being capable of abutting against the guide inclined surface, when the valve is opened, the operating portion and the valve shaft main body are disposed such that a positional relationship between the contact portion and the inclination apex of the guide inclined surface in a reference line direction is shifted in the circumferential direction, When the valve is closed, the operating portion and the valve shaft main body approach each other, so that the abutment portion moves while being guided by the guide inclined surface while abutting against the guide inclined surface, and the operating portion rotates in the circumferential direction with respect to a reference line. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0016] In the automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application, the actuating part and the valve stem main body are arranged so that when the valve is open, the positional relationship between the contact part and the inclined apex of the guide slope shifts in the circumferential direction. When the valve is closed, the actuating part and the valve stem main body approach each other, so that the contact part moves while being guided by the guide slope while contacting the guide slope, and the actuating part rotates in the circumferential direction relative to the reference line. Therefore, foreign matter can be removed by reliably rotating the valve stem means. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control trap illustrating a first embodiment of an automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a connection portion 4 of the valve shaft 10 shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the valve shaft 10 shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The main terms used in the embodiments correspond to the following elements of the automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application: Valve body 2: Valve body section Valve stem 10... Valve stem means Blade 10b...sliding part Valve stem body 11: Valve stem body part Valve stem tip 12...actuator Valve casing 21 and casing cover 22: Automatic valve body Connection shaft 40...Connecting shaft Vertices 41a, 42a... Inclined vertices End points 41b, 42b.....inclined end points Either the main body side inclined surface portion 41c or the tip side inclined surface portion 42c: guide inclined surface The other of the body side inclined surface portion 41c or the tip side inclined surface portion 42c...abutment portion Return spring 49... biasing means Bimetal 50 and return spring 71: Opening and closing operation means Valve chamber 53 and valve seat upstream chamber 61...valve chamber space Valve port 62: Discharge hole Arrows 105, 106...reference line direction Arrow 108...Rotation direction Arrow 109: Opposite direction to rotation Center line L1...Reference line Drain...Fluid Temperature control trap...automatic valve

[0019] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of an automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present invention will be described using a temperature control trap as an example. The temperature control trap is provided at the end of a tracing heat transfer tube and has the function of maintaining the tracing heat transfer tube at a set temperature. The tracing heat transfer tube maintained at a constant set temperature is used as a tracing for preventing solidification of highly viscous fluids such as heavy oil, or as a tracing for preventing freezing of instrumentation equipment.

[0020] (Explanation of the temperature control trap configuration) 1 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control trap in this embodiment. An inlet 26 and an outlet 29 are provided in a valve casing 21, and a casing lid 22 is attached to the top by screw connection with a gasket 39 sandwiched therebetween. The inlet 26 is connected to the end of a tracing heat transfer tube (not shown), and the outlet 29 is connected to a discharge pipe (not shown). The internal space defined by the valve casing 21 and the casing lid 22 is formed as a valve chamber 53, and this valve chamber 53 communicates with the inlet 26 via an inlet passage 27.

[0021] A valve seat 60 is attached and fixed by screw connection to the bottom chamber 54 located at the bottom inside the valve casing 21. The valve seat 60 has a valve seat upstream chamber 61 formed on the upstream side and a valve seat downstream chamber 63 formed on the downstream side, with a valve orifice 62 as the boundary. The diameter of the valve orifice 62 formed as an opening is configured to be smaller than the diameters of the valve seat upstream chamber 61 and the valve seat downstream chamber 63. The valve chamber 53 communicates with the outflow port 29 via the valve seat upstream chamber 61, the valve orifice 62, the valve seat downstream chamber 63, the bottom chamber 54, and the outflow path 28.

[0022] A cylindrical screen 70 is provided inside the valve chamber 53. Steam and drainage flowing in from the inlet 26 pass through the inlet passage 27, permeate the screen 70, and flow into the valve chamber 53 in the direction of the arrow 101. As the steam and drainage pass through the screen 70, foreign matter mixed in the steam and drainage is captured by the screen 70.

[0023] A valve stem 10 is disposed within the valve chamber 53. In Fig. 1, the valve stem 10 is shown as a side view rather than a cross section. The axis of the valve stem 10 coincides with a center line L1, and the valve stem 10 is held so as to be able to move back and forth along this center line L1 in the directions of arrows 105 and 106. In this embodiment, the valve stem 10 is made up of a valve stem body 11 and a valve stem tip portion 12, and the valve stem body 11 and the valve stem tip portion 12 are connected by a connection portion 4.

[0024] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the connection part 4, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof. A plurality of body-side teeth 41 are continuously formed at the lower end (tip in the direction of the arrow 106) of the valve shaft body 11, and a plurality of tip-side teeth 42 are continuously formed at the upper end (tip in the direction of the arrow 105) of the valve shaft tip part 12. The body-side teeth 41 and the tip-side teeth 42 both have a shape of a substantially right-angled triangle, and are shaped to mesh with each other. The body-side teeth 41 has a body-side inclined part 41c formed linearly between the apex 41a and the end point 41b, and the tip-side teeth 42 has a tip-side inclined part 42c formed linearly between the apex 41a and the end point 42b.

[0025] 3, a connecting shaft 40 is integrally formed at the upper end of the stem tip portion 12. A stem internal space 46 is formed at the lower end (the tip in the direction of arrow 106) of the stem body 11, and this stem internal space 46 opens toward the bottom. The diameter of the opening is configured to be smaller than the inner diameter of the stem internal space 46.

[0026] The connecting shaft 40 is inserted into the valve shaft internal space 46 from the opening at the bottom. A locking portion 45 is fixed to the upper end (the tip in the direction of arrow 105) of the connecting shaft 40. The locking portion 45 has a size substantially equal to the inner diameter of the valve shaft internal space 46, so that the locking portion 45 comes into contact with the opening at the bottom of the valve shaft internal space 46, preventing the connecting shaft 40 from coming out of the valve shaft internal space 46.

[0027] A return spring 49 is built into the stem internal space 46, with one end 49a of the return spring 49 fixed to the ceiling surface of the stem internal space 46 and the other end 49b fixed to the upper surface of the locking portion 45. The return spring 49 constantly urges the stem tip portion 12 against the stem body 11 in the direction of arrow 106, and when the valve is open, the stem body 11 and the stem tip portion 12 are separated from each other as shown in Figure 2, with a gap being generated between the body side teeth portion 41 and the tip side teeth portion 42. The return spring 49 is, for example, a compressible torsion coil spring.

[0028] 2, when the valve is open, the apex 41a of the body-side teeth portion 41 and the apex 42a of the tip-side teeth portion 42 are in a positional relationship in which they are shifted by length a1 (FIG. 2) in the circumferential direction about the center line L1. As described above, one end 49a and the other end 49b of the return spring 49 are fixed to the ceiling surface of the valve stem internal space 46 and the upper surface of the locking portion 45, respectively, so that the positional relationship in which the body-side teeth portion 41 and the tip-side teeth portion 42 are shifted by length a1 (FIG. 2) in the circumferential direction is maintained in a free state by the unwinding force of the spring.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, a blade portion 10b having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape and having a corner configured as a blade is integrally formed at the lower end (the tip in the direction of the arrow 106) of the valve stem tip portion 12. Furthermore, a valve body 2 having a conical shape is integrally formed at the lower end (the tip in the direction of the arrow 106) of the blade portion 10b. The blade portion 10b and the valve body 2 are located in the valve seat upstream chamber 61.

[0030] An adjustment rod 35 is disposed on the upper part of the valve stem 10. This adjustment rod 35 is screwed to the casing lid 22 via an O-ring 36, and can be screwed in by fitting a tool such as a screwdriver into an operation groove 35c formed on the upper part. The adjustment position of the adjustment rod 35 relative to the casing lid 22 is fixed by a lock nut 89. An adjustment space 35b is formed in the adjustment rod 35 along the axial direction, and the rear end of the valve stem 10 is inserted and positioned in this adjustment space 35b. The upper part of the adjustment rod 35 protruding from the casing lid 22 is covered with a protective cap 37.

[0031] A connecting rod 10a is fixed to the upper part of the valve shaft 10. On the other hand, a slide groove 35a formed in a slit shape is provided in the lower part of the adjustment rod 35, and the connecting rod 10a of the valve shaft 10 is inserted into this slide groove 35a. That is, the valve shaft 10 rotates integrally with the adjustment rod 35 as it is screwed in, but the valve shaft 10 can also independently advance and retreat in the directions of arrows 105 and 106 along the slide groove 35a.

[0032] The axes of the adjusting rod 35 and the valve seat 60 are arranged coaxially so as to coincide with the center line L1, similar to the valve stem 10, and the valve body 2 of the valve stem 10 is arranged toward the valve port 62. A spring retainer 10c is fixed to the valve stem body 11 of the valve stem 10. The valve stem body 11 of the valve stem 10 passes through a central hole of a container-shaped intermediate member 75, which abuts against the lower side of the spring retainer 10c. The outer side of the intermediate member 75 is curved, and a return spring 71 is attached between the intermediate member 75 and the bottom of the valve chamber 53 on the inner side of the curve. That is, the valve stem 10 is constantly urged in the direction of the arrow 105 by the return spring 71 via the intermediate member 75 and the spring retainer 10c.

[0033] A bimetal 50 for moving the valve stem 10 in the direction of the arrow 106 is attached to the valve stem body 11 of the valve stem 10. In this embodiment, five bimetals 50 are stacked to form a laminate. The upper surface of the uppermost bimetal 50 abuts against the lower end surface 35d of the adjustment rod 35, and the lower surface of the lowermost bimetal 50 abuts against the intermediate member 75 with a flat washer 73 sandwiched therebetween. Each bimetal 50 is a temperature-sensitive member that deforms in response to the ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature becomes higher than a predetermined reference temperature, it expands along the axial direction of the valve stem 10, and when the ambient temperature becomes equal to or lower than the reference temperature, it contracts along the axial direction. FIG. 1 shows a state in which each bimetal 50 expands and the valve stem 10 moves to the limit position in the direction of the arrow 106.

[0034] A valve body biasing spring 72 attached to the valve stem 10 is disposed inside the intermediate member 75. The upper part of this valve body biasing spring 72 abuts against a flat washer 73, and the lower part abuts against the upper side of the spring receiver 10c via a washer 85.

[0035] (Explanation of the basic operation of a temperature control trap) Next, the basic operation of this temperature control trap will be described. In the initial stage, the valve chamber 53 is filled with air, and each bimetal 50 is contracted. The spring retainer 10c of the valve shaft 10 is biased by the return spring 71, and is in a state in which it has moved in the direction of the arrow 105 (not shown). At this time, the valve body 2 also retracts from the valve port 62 in the direction of the arrow 105, and the valve port 62 is opened.

[0036] When the piping system starts to transfer steam, condensate flows in from inlet 26 in the direction of arrow 101 through the traced heat transfer tube. The condensate in the initial stage is low temperature, and this condensate pushes air out of valve port 62 and is exhausted to outlet 29 in the direction of arrow 102. Subsequently, the low-temperature condensate also follows the same path and is discharged from outlet 29.

[0037] After this, high-temperature condensate heated by the high-temperature steam flows into the valve chamber 53. As the temperature of the condensate in the valve chamber 53 rises, each bimetal 50 gradually expands. The expanding laminate of bimetal 50 presses the spring receiver 10c of the valve stem 10 in the direction of arrow 106 via the flat washer 73, the valve body biasing spring 72, and the washer 85. At this time, the relatively strong valve body biasing spring 72 does not contract, so the expansion of the laminate of bimetal 50 is transmitted directly to the valve stem 10, and the valve body 2 enters the valve port 62 and closes the valve port 62. At this time, the return spring 71 is pressed by the expansion of the bimetal laminate 50 and is compressed.

[0038] Closing the valve port 62 stops drainage of the drain, and drain at the set reference temperature remains in the valve chamber 53 and the tracing heat transfer tube. As a result, the tracing heat transfer tube heats the heating object, such as a heavy oil transport pipe. After that, the temperature of the drain in the tracing heat transfer tube gradually decreases due to heat exchange with the heating object, and the temperature of the drain in the valve chamber 53 also falls below the reference temperature.

[0039] Each bimetal 50 starts to contract in response to this drop in drain temperature. The contraction of each bimetal 50 causes the return spring 71 to expand and return, pushing up the spring retainer 10c of the valve stem 10 via the intermediate member 75, causing the valve stem 10 to move in the direction of the arrow 105, and the valve body 2 opens the valve port 62. As a result, the drain that has fallen below the reference temperature is discharged through the valve port 62 to the outlet 29. After this, the high-temperature drain flows into the valve chamber 53, and the expansion of each bimetal 50 closes the valve port 62 again, causing the drain at the reference temperature to accumulate.

[0040] As described above, each bimetal 50 expands and contracts in response to the temperature of the drain in the valve chamber 53, causing the valve element 2 of the valve stem 10 to rise and fall, and the valve port 62 to repeatedly open and close, so that the drain in the valve chamber 53 and the tracing heat transfer tube is maintained at a set reference temperature.

[0041] In addition, each bimetal 50 expands, and the drain temperature continues to rise even after the valve body 2 completely closes the valve port 62, and in response to this, each bimetal 50 may expand further. In this case, in order to avoid excessive strain on the bimetal 50, the valve body biasing spring 72 contracts, allowing the valve shaft 10 to move in the direction of arrow 105, absorbing the expansion of the bimetal 50.

[0042] The reference temperature of the drain in the valve chamber 53 and the tracing heat transfer tube can be freely adjusted and set. To adjust the reference temperature, remove the protective cap 37 on the upper side of the casing lid 22, loosen the lock nut 89, and then insert a tool such as a screwdriver into the operating groove 35c to screw it in and move the adjustment rod 35 in the axial direction.

[0043] When the adjusting rod 35 is tightened toward the inside of the valve chamber 53, the end face 35d of the adjusting rod 35 presses against the laminated body of the bimetal 50, and the position of the valve stem 10 itself moves downward in the direction of the arrow 106, so that the reference temperature can be set lower. Conversely, when the adjusting rod 35 is loosened, the bias of the return spring 71 causes the position of the valve stem 10 itself to move upward in the direction of the arrow 105, so that the reference temperature can be set higher.

[0044] (Cleaning operation explanation) A screen 70 is provided in the valve chest 53 to capture foreign matter mixed in the steam and drain, but fine rust, scale, and other foreign matter penetrate through the screen 70 and adhere to and accumulate in the vicinity of the valve port 62. In particular, they often accumulate at the bottom of the valve seat upstream chamber 61, forming lumps and becoming fixed. In this embodiment, the valve closing operation caused by the movement of the valve stem 10 in the direction of the arrow 106 is utilized to automatically scrape off and remove this foreign matter.

[0045] As described above, high-temperature drainage flows into the valve chamber 53 in the direction of arrow 101 and expands each bimetal 50, causing the valve stem 10 to move in the direction of arrow 106 and the valve element 2 to enter the valve port 62 and close the valve. Immediately after the valve element 2 closes the valve, the tip of the blade portion 10b of the valve stem 10 is in contact with the bottom of the valve seat upstream chamber 61, and at this point in time, the body side teeth portion 41 of the valve stem body 11 and the tip side teeth portion 42 of the valve stem tip portion 12 are separated from each other with a gap formed therebetween, as shown in FIG.

[0046] From this state, each bimetal 50 continues to expand, and the valve stem main body 11 moves in the direction of the arrow 106. At this time, the valve stem tip portion 12 does not move because the tip of the blade portion 10b abuts against the bottom of the valve seat upstream chamber 61, so the return spring 49 (Fig. 3) built into the valve stem internal space 46 is compressed in the direction of the center line L1, and the gap between the body side teeth portion 41 and the tip side teeth portion 42 gradually becomes smaller, until the body side teeth portion 41 and the tip side teeth portion 42 completely mesh with each other. Figure 1 shows this cleaning state.

[0047] In the process of going from the open valve state shown in Fig. 2 to the cleaning state in which the body-side teeth portion 41 and the tip-side teeth portion 42 are completely meshed as shown in Fig. 1, the valve shaft tip portion 12 rotates in the circumferential direction by a length a2 in the direction of arrow 108 (Fig. 2). That is, as described above, when the valve is open, the apex 1a of the body-side teeth portion 41 and the apex 42a of the tip-side teeth portion 42 are in a positional relationship in which they are shifted by a length a1 in the circumferential direction about the center line L1, and therefore, as the body-side teeth portion 41 and the tip-side teeth portion 42 approach each other, the apex 41a of the body-side teeth portion 41 and the apex 42a of the tip-side teeth portion 42 are guided while abutting against the tip-side inclined portion 42c and the body-side inclined portion 41c, respectively, and move toward the end points 42b and 41b.

[0048] As a result, the stem tip 12 rotates circumferentially around center line L1 by length a2 in the direction of arrow 108 (Fig. 2). With the tip of blade portion 10b pressed firmly against the bottom of valve seat upstream chamber 61, the stem tip 12 rotates circumferentially, scraping off and removing the lump of foreign matter adhering to the bottom of valve seat upstream chamber 61. At the same time, foreign matter adhering to the side wall of valve seat upstream chamber 61 is also scraped off and removed by the side of blade portion 10b. The removed foreign matter is discharged to the outside from outlet 29 together with drain when valve port 62 opens.

[0049] Thereafter, the bimetals 50 contract due to a drop in the temperature of the drain in the valve chamber 53, the valve stem 10 moves in the direction of the arrow 105 due to the return spring 71, and the valve element 2 opens the valve port 62. At this time, the valve stem body 11 and the valve stem tip 12 of the valve stem 10 are separated by the bias of the return spring 49, but as described above, since one end 49a and the other end 49b of the return spring 49 are fixed to the ceiling surface of the valve stem internal space 46 and the upper surface of the locking part 45, respectively, the valve stem tip 12 rotates in the direction of the arrow 109 (FIG. 2) around the center line L1 relative to the valve stem body 11 (i.e., rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow 108), and the connection part 4 returns from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG. 2.

[0050] As described above, every time the valve stem 10 moves in the direction of the arrow 106 to perform the valve closing operation, the cleaning operation is automatically performed by rotating the blade portion 10b. Therefore, the foreign matter adhering to the valve seat upstream chamber 61 can be reliably scraped off and removed.

[0051] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which an automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application was applied to a temperature controlled trap, but an automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to the present application can be applied to automatic valves of other configurations as long as the automatic valve has a valve body portion that opens and closes a discharge hole by movement of the valve shaft means.

[0052] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the body side tooth portion 41 and the tip side tooth portion 42 have a similar approximately right-angled triangular shape, but only one of the body side tooth portion 41 or the tip side tooth portion 42 may be formed to have an approximately right-angled triangular shape, and the other may be configured as a protrusion shape (abutment portion) that abuts against one of the inclined portions (guide inclined surface).

[0053] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the main body side teeth 41 and the tip side teeth 42 are arranged continuously, but they may be arranged intermittently. Also, for example, the number of the main body side teeth 41 and the tip side teeth 42 may be reduced to set the inclined surface (guide inclined surface) long. By setting the inclined surface (guide inclined surface) long, it is possible to ensure a large rotation length in the circumferential direction of the valve shaft tip (operating portion).

[0054] In addition, in the above embodiment, the blade portion 10b is exemplified as the sliding portion, but other shapes and configurations may be adopted as long as they are capable of cleaning the vicinity of the valve orifice 62 (discharge hole). [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 2: Valve body 10: Valve stem 10b: Blade portion 11: Valve stem body 12: Valve stem tip 21: Valve casing 22: Casing cover 40: Connection shaft 41a, 42a: Apex 41b, 42b: End point 41c: Main body side inclined portion 42c: Tip side inclined portion 49: Return spring 50: Bimetal 53: Valve chamber 61: Valve seat upstream chamber 62: Valve port 71: Return spring 105, 106, 108, 109: Arrows L1: Center line

Claims

1. an automatic valve body having a valve chamber space into which a fluid flows and a discharge hole communicating with the valve chamber space and discharging the fluid to the outside; a valve shaft means that is disposed in the valve chamber space along a reference line and is capable of reciprocating movement in the direction of the reference line, the valve shaft means having a sliding portion that cleans the vicinity of the drain hole and a valve body portion that opens and closes the drain hole; an opening / closing operation means for reciprocating the valve shaft means; An automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism comprising: The valve shaft means includes an actuating portion having a sliding portion and a valve body portion, and a valve shaft main body portion, the actuation portion is connected to the valve shaft main body portion by a connecting shaft in a state in which the actuation portion can approach or move away from the valve shaft main body portion along a reference line direction and can rotate in a circumferential direction about the reference line, a biasing means is disposed between the actuating portion and the valve stem main body, the biasing means having one end fixed to the valve stem main body and the other end fixed to the actuating portion, the biasing means biasing the actuating portion in a direction opposite to a rotation direction in which the actuating portion rotates circumferentially about a reference line, a guide inclined surface is formed on either the actuation portion or the valve stem main body, the guide inclined surface being inclined obliquely from a tilt apex to a tilt end point with respect to a reference line, and an abutment portion is formed on the other of the actuation portion or the valve stem main body, the abutment portion being capable of abutting against the guide inclined surface, the actuation portion and the valve shaft main body are disposed such that, when the valve is opened, a positional relationship between the contact portion and the inclination apex of the guide inclined surface in a reference line direction is shifted in the circumferential direction, When the valve is closed, the operating portion and the valve shaft main body approach each other, so that the abutment portion moves while being guided by the guide inclined surface while abutting against the guide inclined surface, and the operating portion rotates in the circumferential direction with respect to a reference line. An automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism.

2. 2. The automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, The biasing means is a coil spring. An automatic valve having a cleaning mechanism.

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