Ball valve with filter and its cleaning system

Abstract

In a ball valve with a filter, the filter is cleaned efficiently and reliably. [Solution] This ball valve with filter comprises a valve body 4 housed in a valve casing 15 and a filter 17 positioned within a passage 16 of the valve body 4. The valve casing 15 comprises a first inlet 25 through which the processed fluid flows in, a first outlet 26 through which the processed fluid filtered by the filter 17 flows out, a second inlet 27 through which the cleaning fluid for the filter 17 flows in, a second outlet 28 through which the cleaning fluid after cleaning the filter flows out, a main flow path composed of the first inlet 25 and the first outlet 26, and a sub-flow path composed of the second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28. A nozzle 70 for spraying cleaning fluid toward the filter 17 is installed in the second inlet 27.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ball valve for opening and closing a piping line, and particularly to a ball valve with a filter that captures and separates foreign substances and dust in a process fluid such as liquid and gas (gas, air, steam, etc.) flowing through the piping line in the ball valve body, and a cleaning system for the ball valve with a filter.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of ball valve with a filter (hereinafter appropriately referred to as a "ball valve"), as the filtration time elapses, the filter becomes clogged and the filtration function deteriorates. Therefore, a periodic restoration measure for the filtration function of the filter is required. As this restoration measure, in a general ball valve, a method is adopted in which the filter is taken out from the valve body, washed manually, etc., and then the filter is reinstalled in the valve body again. However, in this method, it is inevitable that the operations of taking out, washing, and reinstalling the filter are time-consuming and require a great deal of time.

[0003] Therefore, a method for cleaning the filter while the filter is mounted in the valve body has been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ball valve including an internal pilot fluid cleaning passage 116·118 provided between an inlet port 22 for receiving a process fluid and above a ball valve chamber 28, a flow control plug valve 122 for controlling the inflow of the process fluid into the cleaning passage 116·118, a pilot fluid discharge port 88 provided below the ball valve chamber 28, and a pilot fluid cleaning discharge valve 90 provided at the pilot fluid discharge port 88.

[0004] According to the ball valve of this Patent Document 1, the ball valve element 26 is set to a closed position to close the flow of the processing fluid between the inlet port 22 and the outlet port 24, and the flow control plug valve 122 and the pilot fluid cleaning discharge valve 90 are set to an open position, so that the processing fluid enters the valve chamber 28 from the inlet port 22 through the internal pilot fluid cleaning passages 116 and 118, and the processing fluid then passes through a basket-type strainer (hereinafter referred to as "filter") 38 located inside the ball valve element 26 and is discharged from the pilot fluid cleaning discharge valve 90 via the pilot fluid discharge port 88. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-021469 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In the ball valve described in Patent Document 1, the processing fluid flowing through the piping line in which the ball valve is installed is used to clean the filter 38. Therefore, if the viscosity of the processing fluid is high, for example, the flow velocity of the cleaning fluid toward the filter 38 may not be sufficient during cleaning, making it difficult to effectively wash away foreign matter adhering to the filter 38. Furthermore, in the ball valve described in Patent Document 1, the supply amount, pressure, and flow velocity of the processing fluid toward the filter 38 depend on the performance of the pump installed in the piping line. Therefore, if the supply amount, etc., is insufficient, it becomes difficult to effectively clean the filter 38. The flow path of the cleaning fluid from the inlet port 28 through the internal pilot fluid cleaning passages 116 and 118 to the valve chamber 28 is meandering, which tends to result in large pressure losses and flow velocity losses. In this respect as well, it becomes difficult to effectively clean the filter 38. The processing fluid used for cleaning is then discarded and not used for its original purpose, which is another disadvantage as it results in the waste of processing fluid. Furthermore, if the processing fluid is a hazardous material such as a chemical, new safety measures will be required during the cleaning process, and there will also be the disadvantage of incurring additional costs for processing the waste liquid used to clean the filter 38. In addition, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which the flow control plug valve 122 and the ball valve element 26 are operated manually, and does not envision an automated cleaning system, making it difficult to improve maintainability and work efficiency.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the problems of conventional ball valves with filters as described above, and to provide a ball valve with a filter and a cleaning system for said ball valve with a filter that can appropriately adjust the supply amount and flow rate of the cleaning fluid, allowing for efficient and reliable cleaning of the filter, and that can eliminate waste disposal and cost problems caused by using a processing fluid as the cleaning fluid, and further enable the automation of the filter cleaning operation, thereby significantly reducing the labor required for cleaning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention comprises a valve body 15 and a valve body 15valve chamber 18 The present invention relates to a ball valve with a filter, comprising a ball-shaped valve body 4 housed inside and a filter 17 disposed within a passage 16 of the valve body 4. The valve body 15 comprises a first inlet 25 through which the processed fluid flows in, a first outlet 26 through which the processed fluid filtered by the filter 17 flows out, a second inlet 27 through which the cleaning fluid for the filter 17 flows in, a second outlet 28 through which the cleaning fluid after cleaning the filter flows out, a main flow path composed of the first inlet 25 and the first outlet 26, and a sub-flow path composed of the second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28. The second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28 are opened in the valve body 15 at positions opposite to each other. The open end of the second inlet 27 facing the valve chamber 18, and the open end of the second outlet 28 facing the valve chamber 18, are each formed in a circular shape. The valve body 4 is configured to be able to change its position between a capture position in which the main flow path and passage 16 are connected, allowing the main flow path to communicate and closing the sub-flow path, and a washing position in which the sub-flow path and passage 16 are connected, allowing the sub-flow path to communicate and closing the main flow path. The passage 16 of the valve body 4 has a circular cross-sectional shape and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter throughout its entire length. The filter 17 consists of a hollow cylindrical filter tube 48 and a cover that closes one of the openings of the filter tube 48. circular The filter cylinder 48 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a cylindrical end wall 49, and the other opening of the filter cylinder 48 is an inlet 50 that allows the introduction of the processed fluid. The filter cylinder 48 has an expanding diameter, with the outer diameter increasing from the cylindrical end wall 49 side to the inlet 50 side. truncated cone shape Tosa ret When the valve body 4 is in the trapping position, the inlet 50 faces the first inlet 25 side and the end wall 49 faces the first outlet 26 side, and filtration is performed on the processed fluid that flows into the filter 17 through the inlet 50. When the valve body 4 is in the washing position, the end wall 49 The outer surface and the entire outer surface of the frustoconical filter cylinder 48 The filter cylinder 48 is directed towards the second inlet 27, while the inlet 50 is directed towards the second outlet 28, so that the filtration residue captured inside the filter cylinder 48 is discharged from the second outlet 28 through the inlet 50 along with the washing fluid. The Two nozzles 70 are located inside the inlet 27, which spray cleaning fluid toward the filter cylinder 48 and end wall 49 of the filter 17. one Installed The central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 passes through the center C1 of the end wall 49. When the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A2 of the jet of cleaning fluid ejected from the nozzle 70 coincides with the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48, and when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 is configured to pass through the center of the circle of the open end of the second inlet 27 facing the valve chamber 18 and the center of the circle of the open end of the second outlet 28 facing the valve chamber 18.In this invention, the term "processing fluid" is a concept that includes not only liquids but also gases (gases, air, vapors, etc.). Similarly, the term "cleaning fluid" in this invention is a concept that includes not only liquids but also gases (gases, air, vapors, etc.).

[0010] of The nozzle 70 is a full-cone nozzle that forms an injection region 71 having a bottom diameter D2 that is larger than the inner diameter dimension D1 of the passage 16.

[0011] The tip of the nozzle 70 facing the valve body 4 is located outside the trajectory of the attitude displacement of the valve body 4.

[0012] A cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 is connected to the second inlet 27 to supply cleaning fluid, and a nozzle 70 is attached to the tip of the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6.

[0013] The cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter according to the present invention comprises a primary transfer pipe 2, a secondary transfer pipe 3, a ball valve 1 disposed between the two transfer pipes 2 and 3, an actuator 5 for displacing the valve body 4 of the ball valve 1, a cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 for supplying cleaning fluid for filter cleaning to the ball valve 1, a cleaning fluid discharge pipe 7 through which the cleaning fluid after filter cleaning is discharged, a cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 responsible for supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6, and a control device 9 for controlling at least the actuator 5 and the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8. The ball valve 1 comprises a valve body 15 and a valve body 15 valve chamber 18 A ball-shaped valve body 4 is housed inside, a filter 17 is fixed within the passage 16 of the valve body 4, and a cleaning fluid is sprayed towards the filter 17. oneThe valve body 15 includes a nozzle 70. The valve body 15 includes a first inlet 25 to which a primary transfer pipe 2 is connected and into which the processed fluid flows; a first outlet 26 to which a secondary transfer pipe 3 is connected and into which the processed fluid after filtration by the filter 17 flows; a second inlet 27 to which a cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 is connected and into which the cleaning fluid from the filter 17 flows; a second outlet 28 to which a cleaning fluid discharge pipe 7 is connected and into which the cleaning fluid flows; a main flow path consisting of the first inlet 25 and the first outlet 26; and a sub-flow path consisting of the second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28. The second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28 are opened at mutually opposing positions on the valve body 15, and the nozzle 70 is installed inside the second inlet 27. The open end of the second inlet 27 facing the valve chamber 18, and the open end of the second outlet 28 facing the valve chamber 18, are each formed in a circular shape. The valve body 4 is configured to be able to change its posture between a capture posture in which the main flow path and passage 16 are connected, the main flow path is in communication, and the sub-flow path is closed, and a washing posture in which the sub-flow path and passage 16 are connected, the sub-flow path is in communication, and the main flow path is closed. The passage 16 of the valve body 4 has a circular cross-sectional shape and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter throughout its entire length. The filter 17 consists of a hollow cylindrical filter tube 48 and a cover that closes one of the openings of the filter tube 48. circular The filter cylinder 48 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a cylindrical end wall 49, and the other opening of the filter cylinder 48 is an inlet 50 that allows the introduction of the processed fluid. The filter cylinder 48 is shaped like a frustoconical cone with an expanding outer diameter, increasing from the end wall 49 side towards the inlet 50 side. When the valve body 4 is in the trapping position, the inlet 50 is directed toward the first inlet 25 and the cylindrical end wall 49 is directed toward the first outlet 26. Then, filtration is performed on the processing fluid introduced into the filter 17 through the inlet 50. When the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the end wall 49 The outer surface and the entire outer surface of the frustoconical filter cylinder 48 The second inlet 27 side Towards It is configured in such a way. The central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 passes through the center C1 of the end wall 49. When the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A2 of the cleaning fluid jet ejected from the nozzle 70 coincides with the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48. Furthermore, when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 is configured to pass through the center of the circle of the open end of the second inlet 27 facing the valve chamber 18 and the center of the circle of the open end of the second outlet 28 facing the valve chamber 18.In normal mode, the control device 9 sets the valve body 4 to the trapping position via the actuator 5 and turns off the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, so that the processing fluid flows from the primary transfer pipe 2 to the secondary transfer pipe 3 through the ball valve 1. In cleaning mode, the control device 9 drives the actuator 5 to set the valve body 4 to the cleaning position and then turns on the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, so that cleaning fluid is supplied to the filter 17 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 and nozzle 70, and the filtration residue trapped inside the filter cylinder 48 is discharged together with the cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid discharge pipe 7 via the inlet 50 and second outlet 28, so that the filter 17 is cleaned.

[0014] The control device 9, according to a pre-set program, switches from normal mode to cleaning mode after a predetermined time has elapsed to clean the filter 17, and after the cleaning mode continues for a predetermined time, it returns from cleaning mode to normal mode to perform filtration of the processing fluid.

[0015] The control device 9 is equipped with a sensor that detects the turbidity or pressure of the processed fluid after filtration by the filter 17, which flows through the secondary transfer pipe 3. Based on the output of the sensor, the control device 9 determines whether or not the filter 17 needs to be cleaned. If it determines that the filter 17 needs to be cleaned, the control device 9 switches from normal mode to cleaning mode and cleans the filter 17. If the cleaning mode continues for a predetermined time, it switches from cleaning mode to normal mode and performs filtration of the processed fluid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] In the ball valve with filter according to the present invention, when the valve body 4 is in the capture position, the inlet 50 of the filter 17 faces the first inlet 25 side, and the cylindrical end wall 49 of the filter 17 faces the first outlet 26 side, and filtration is performed on the processing fluid that flows into the filter 17 through the inlet 50. When the valve body 4 is in the washing position, the cylindrical end wall 49 of the filter 17 faces the second inlet 27 side, and the inlet 50 of the filter 17 faces the second outlet 28 side, and the filtration residue captured inside the filter cylinder 48 is discharged from the second outlet 28 through the inlet 50 together with the washing fluid. Therefore, according to the present invention, by simply performing the operation of displacing the valve body 4 from the capture position to the washing position and supplying washing fluid into the valve body 15 from the nozzle 70 installed inside the second inlet 27, the filtration residue captured inside the filter cylinder 48 can be discharged and the filter 17 can be washed. Since the filter 17 can be cleaned without removing it from the valve body 15, the filter 17 can be cleaned more easily and quickly. The cleaning work can be carried out without disassembling the piping line of the processing fluid, which is composed of pipes connected to the first inlet 25 and the first outlet 26. When so-called "backwashing" is performed to clean the filter by backflowing the processing fluid, filtration residue flows into the piping line, and in order to remove the filtration residue that has flowed into the piping line, additional processing work such as reassembling the piping line is required, which is troublesome. However, according to the present invention, since a second inlet 27 and a second outlet 28 are provided exclusively for the cleaning fluid, no filtration residue flows into the piping line during the cleaning work, and no processing work such as reassembling the piping line is required. Since a second inlet 27 is provided exclusively for the cleaning fluid, it is possible to appropriately adjust the supply amount and flow rate of the cleaning fluid, and the filter 17 can be cleaned efficiently and reliably.

[0017] In the present invention, a fluid different from the processing fluid can be adopted as the cleaning fluid. Therefore, for example, even when the processing fluid is a highly viscous liquid, the cleaning fluid can be air or a low-viscosity liquid, and by flowing this into the nozzle 70 at a predetermined speed and a predetermined amount, the filter 17 can be reliably and efficiently cleaned with sufficient flow velocity, flow rate, and pressure. Even when the processing fluid is a dangerous substance such as a chemical, by adopting a relatively safe fluid such as water or air as the cleaning fluid, the burden of waste treatment of the cleaning fluid during the cleaning operation can be suppressed. If a relatively safe fluid is adopted as the cleaning fluid, no new safety measures are required during the cleaning operation.

[0018] As in the present invention, when the second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28 are respectively opened at positions facing each other in the valve box 15, the flow path of the cleaning fluid in the valve box 15 from the second inlet 27 through the passage 16 of the valve body 4 to the second outlet 28 can be made linear. In addition, the filter cylinder 48 of the filter 17 has a diameter-expanded shape in which the outer diameter dimension increases from the side of the cylinder end wall 49 toward the side of the inlet 50, and when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning posture, the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 faces the second inlet 27 side. In this way, the cleaning fluid flowing in from the second inlet 27 can be directly applied to the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48. From the above, according to the present invention, since the momentum of the cleaning fluid is not impaired and can act on the filter cylinder 48 and the cylinder end wall 49 of the filter 17, the filter residue adhering to the filter 17 can be surely removed, and the removed filter residue can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the valve box 15, and the filter 17 can be efficiently and surely cleaned. For example, when the outer diameter dimension of the filter cylinder 48 is uniform over the entire length, a region where the cleaning fluid is difficult to hit, so-called a dead space, is formed on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48, and there is a possibility of uneven cleaning. However, in the present invention, by adopting a diameter-expanded shape as the shape of the filter cylinder 48, the cleaning fluid can easily hit the wide outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 uniformly, and the cleaning performance can be improved.

[0019] In addition, as in the present invention, when a nozzle 70 for injecting a cleaning fluid is installed in the second inlet 27 toward the filter cylinder 48 and the cylinder end wall 49 of the filter 17, the cleaning fluid is accelerated by the throttling action of the nozzle 70 and is injected at a higher flow rate. According to this, since the kinetic energy of the cleaning fluid when reaching the surface of the filter 17 such as the filter cylinder 48 can be increased, a stronger impact force can be applied to the filter residue adhering to the filter 17. From the above, even if it is a stubborn residue that is difficult to remove by simply supplying the cleaning fluid from the second inlet 27, according to the present invention, it is possible to more effectively peel the residue from the filter 17, and the cleaning of the filter 17 can be performed more reliably and efficiently.

[0020] Furthermore, by using the ball valve with filter of the present invention, by simply performing the operation of switching the posture of the valve body 4 and the operation of switching the supply / non-supply of the cleaning fluid, it is possible to execute the mode transition between the normal mode of filtering the processing fluid by the filter 17 and the cleaning mode of cleaning the filter 17. Therefore, by using the ball valve with filter of the present invention, for example, an electric actuator for switching the posture of the valve body 4 is adopted, a mechanism composed of an electric pump, a solenoid valve, etc. for switching the supply / non-supply of the cleaning fluid is adopted, and further, if these actuators 5 etc. are operated by a pre-programmed program, it is possible to cope with the automatic systematization of the filter cleaning operation and to realize a significant labor saving in the cleaning work.

[0021] The end wall 49 of the filter 17 is formed in a circular shape, and the filter cylinder 48 is formed in a frustoconical shape with an outer diameter that widens from the end wall 49 side toward the inlet 50 side. The central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 passes through the center C1 of the end wall 49, and when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A2 of the jet of cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70 coincides with the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48. This makes it possible to apply the cleaning fluid discharged from the nozzle 70 to the entire frustoconical filter cylinder 48 almost uniformly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the formation of areas on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 that are difficult to reach with the cleaning fluid, so-called dead spaces, thus preventing filtration residue from remaining in the filter 17 and enabling more reliable and efficient cleaning of the filter 17.

[0022] If the passage 16 of the valve body 4 has a circular cross-sectional shape and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter along its entire length, and the nozzle 70 is a full-cone nozzle that forms an injection area with a bottom diameter larger than the inner diameter of the passage 16, then it becomes possible not only to directly apply the cleaning fluid injected from the nozzle 70 to the filter cylinder 48 and the end wall 49, but also to apply the cleaning fluid reflected off the inner surface of the passage 16 to the filter cylinder 48. This also helps to prevent the formation of areas on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 that are difficult for the cleaning fluid to reach, so-called dead spaces, thus preventing filtration residue from remaining on the filter 17 and enabling more reliable and efficient cleaning of the filter 17.

[0023] If the tip of the nozzle 70 facing the valve body 4 is positioned outside the trajectory of the valve body 4's attitude displacement, it is possible to prevent the valve body 4 from interfering with the tip of the nozzle 70 when the valve body 4 is displaced. This suppresses damage and wear to both the valve body 4 and the nozzle 70, thus maintaining stable cleaning performance over a long period of time. Furthermore, since the tip of the nozzle 70 does not catch on the valve body 4, the attitude displacement of the valve body 4 can be performed smoothly, improving the reliability of the ball valve with filter.

[0024] A cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 is connected to the second inlet 27 to supply cleaning fluid, and a nozzle 70 is attached to the tip of this cleaning fluid supply pipe 6. By removing the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 from the second inlet 27, the nozzle 70 can be removed along with the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6. This makes it easy to remove the nozzle 70 from the second inlet 27, thus simplifying the cleaning and replacement of the nozzle 70. Because the nozzle 70 can be easily attached and detached, it becomes possible to select and attach nozzles 70 with different characteristics depending on the type of filtration residue and filter specifications, thereby increasing the versatility of the ball valve with filter.

[0025] The cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter according to the present invention comprises a primary transfer pipe 2, a secondary transfer pipe 3, a ball valve 1 positioned between the two transfer pipes 2 and 3, an actuator 5 for displacing the valve body 4 of the ball valve 1, a cleaning fluid supply pipe 6 for supplying cleaning fluid for filter cleaning to the ball valve 1, a cleaning fluid discharge pipe 7 through which the cleaning fluid is discharged after filter cleaning, a cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 responsible for supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid supply pipe 6, and a control device 9 for controlling the actuator 5 and the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8. With this configuration, the control device 9 can automatically control the positional displacement operation of the valve body 4 via the actuator 5 and the supply operation of cleaning fluid via the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, thereby automating a series of operations such as switching from normal mode to cleaning mode, and returning from cleaning mode to normal mode after the cleaning mode is completed. Automating the cleaning operation in this way eliminates the need for manual operation by the operator, saving labor, and improving the efficiency and reliability of the cleaning operation. Since the cleaning operation can always be reliably performed under consistent conditions, the filtration performance of the filter 17 can be stabilized. Because a dedicated supply mechanism for the cleaning fluid (cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8) is provided, it is possible to appropriately adjust the supply amount and flow rate of the cleaning fluid, enabling efficient and reliable cleaning of the filter 17. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a fluid different from the processing fluid can be used as the cleaning fluid. For example, even if the processing fluid is a highly viscous liquid, by using air or a low-viscosity liquid as the cleaning fluid and introducing a predetermined amount of it from the nozzle 70 at a predetermined speed, the filter 17 can be reliably and efficiently cleaned with sufficient flow rate, flow rate, and pressure. Since it is not necessary to use the processing fluid as the cleaning fluid, even if the processing fluid is a hazardous substance such as a chemical, by using a relatively safe fluid such as water or air as the cleaning fluid, the burden of disposing of the cleaning fluid during the cleaning operation can be reduced. If a relatively safe fluid is used as the cleaning fluid, no new safety measures are required during the cleaning operation.

[0026] The control device 9 can be configured to automatically switch from normal mode to cleaning mode after a predetermined time has elapsed, according to a pre-set program, to clean the filter 17, and to automatically return to normal mode after the cleaning mode has continued for a predetermined time. Thus, according to the present invention, the cleaning of the filter 17 can be performed periodically and automatically, eliminating the need for monitoring or operation by an operator and thus reducing the labor required for cleaning. Furthermore, by appropriately setting the timing and duration of cleaning through a program, the amount of filtration residue adhering to and captured on the filter 17 can be suppressed, preventing clogging of the filter 17 and thus maintaining the filtration performance of the filter 17 stably.

[0027] The system is equipped with a sensor that detects the turbidity or pressure of the filtered fluid flowing through the secondary transfer pipe 3. The control device 9 is configured to determine whether or not to clean the filter 17 based on the output of this sensor. This allows for real-time detection of signs of clogging or performance degradation of the filter 17, enabling cleaning only when necessary. This reduces unnecessary cleaning, thereby lowering the consumption of cleaning fluid and energy. Furthermore, it prevents the deterioration of filtration performance caused by prolonged filtration operation (normal operation) when cleaning is required, contributing to improved system reliability. In addition, feedback control based on sensor output allows for flexible and optimal timing of cleaning according to operating conditions and fluid state, contributing to a longer lifespan for the piping line including the system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of a ball valve with a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the ball valve body in the cleaning position. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of a ball valve with a filter, showing the ball valve body in the trapping position. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing a cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter. [Figure 4] This is a front view of a ball valve with a filter. [Figure 5] This is an exploded view of a ball valve with a filter. [Figure 6] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a ball valve with a filter, showing the ball valve body in the cleaning position. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal front view showing the structure of the valve body, with the ball valve body in the flushing position. [Figure 8] This is a longitudinal front view of a ball valve with a filter, showing the ball valve body in the cleaning position. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the nozzle. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the positional relationship between the nozzle and the filter when the ball valve body is in the cleaning position. [Figure 12] This is a diagram illustrating the nozzle's spray area. [Figure 13] This is a front view showing a modified version of the filter. [Figure 14] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a ball valve with a filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the ball valve in the cleaning position. [Figure 15] This is a block diagram showing a cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] (First Embodiment) Figures 1 to 12 show a first embodiment of a ball valve with a filter and a cleaning system for the ball valve according to the present invention. In this embodiment, front, back, left, right, and up and down refer to the intersecting arrows shown in Figures 1 and 2, etc., and the front, back, left, right, and up and down notations in the vicinity of the intersecting arrows.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the cleaning system for the ball valve with filter of this embodiment includes a primary transfer pipe 2 located upstream (primary side) of the ball valve with filter (hereinafter simply referred to as "ball valve") 1, a secondary transfer pipe 3 located downstream (secondary side) of the ball valve 1, an actuator 5 that displaces the valve body 4 of the ball valve 1, an inlet pipe (cleaning fluid supply pipe) 6 that supplies cleaning fluid for filter cleaning to the ball valve 1, a drain pipe (cleaning fluid discharge pipe) 7 through which the cleaning fluid after filter cleaning is discharged, a cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 that is responsible for supplying cleaning fluid to the inlet pipe 6, a control device 9 that controls the actuator 5 and the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, and a tank 10 that supplies cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8. The cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 consists of a pump 11 that draws up cleaning fluid from the tank 10 and a valve 12 that opens and closes the inlet pipe 6.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ball valve 1 is positioned between the primary transfer pipe 2 and the secondary transfer pipe 3, and filters the processed fluid flowing through the piping line composed of these transfer pipes 2 and 3 to remove solid foreign matter and debris that constitute the filter residue. The ball valve 1 comprises a valve body 15, a ball-shaped valve element 4 positioned within the valve body 15, and a filter 17 fixed within a passage 16 formed inside the valve element 4. The passage 16 has a circular cross-section and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter (D1: see Figure 7) throughout its entire length.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, the valve body 15 consists of a valve body 20 having a valve chamber 18 in which the valve element 4 is housed, and a total of three piping fittings, sockets 21, 22, and 23, attached to the left, right, and bottom of the valve body 20. The valve body 20 is a metal molded product having a total of four openings: a first opening 24a on the left, a second opening 24b on the right, a third opening 24c above, and a fourth opening 24d below, with the valve chamber 18 formed in its center. Female threads 29 for attaching the sockets 21, 22, and 23 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of each of the first, second, and fourth openings 24 (24a, 24b, and 24d).

[0033] The primary socket 21, which is fitted into the first opening 24a, is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with a flow path 30 in its center, and a hexagonal nut-shaped operating surface 31 is formed on its left outer circumferential surface. In this embodiment, the right end of the hollow cylinder having the flow path 30, facing the valve chamber 18, is the first inlet 25 into which the processed fluid flows in the valve body 15. A male thread 32 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the right cylindrical portion of the primary socket 21 that is fitted into the first opening 24a, and the primary socket 21 is detachably attached to the valve body 20 by screwing this male thread 32 into a female thread 29 formed in the first opening 24a. Furthermore, a female thread 33 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the left cylindrical portion of the primary socket 21, and the primary transfer pipe 2 is connected to the ball valve 1 by screwing a male thread 34 (see Figure 2) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the primary transfer pipe 2 into this female thread 33. Reference numeral 35 indicates a flange for restricting the screw-in limit of the primary socket 21 relative to the opening 24.

[0034] The configuration of the secondary socket 22 fitted into the second opening 24b and the drain socket 23 fitted into the third opening 24c is substantially the same as the configuration of the primary socket 21 described above, so the same reference numerals are used for the same components and their descriptions are omitted. In this embodiment, the left end of the hollow cylinder of the secondary socket 22 having a flow path 30, facing the valve chamber 18, is the first outlet 26 in the valve body 15 through which the processed fluid filtered by the filter 17 flows out. The upper end of the hollow cylinder of the drain socket 23 having a flow path 30, facing the valve chamber 18, is the second outlet 28 in the valve body 15 through which the cleaning fluid after filter cleaning flows out. In Figure 2, reference numeral 36 indicates a male screw formed on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the secondary transfer pipe 3, and in Figure 1, reference numeral 37 indicates a male screw formed on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the drain pipe 7.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, a female thread 39 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the third opening 24c formed above the valve body 20. As shown in Figure 1, the inlet pipe 6 is connected to the valve body 20 by screwing a male thread 40 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the inlet pipe 6 into this female thread 39. In this embodiment, the lower end of the third opening 24c facing the valve chamber 18 is the second inlet 27 in the valve body 15, through which the cleaning fluid of the filter 17 flows. The cross-sectional opening diameter of the second inlet 27 is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional opening diameter of the passage 16. Furthermore, the cross-sectional opening diameter of the second inlet 27 is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional opening diameters of the first inlet 25, the first outlet 26, and the second outlet 28. The cross-sectional opening diameters of the first inlet 25, the first outlet 26, and the second outlet 28 are set to the same dimensions.

[0036] Inside the valve body 15, a main flow path running horizontally is formed, consisting of a first inlet 25 and a first outlet 26, and a sub-flow path running vertically is formed, consisting of a second inlet 27 and a second outlet 28. A ring-shaped ball seat 41 is placed at each end of the valve chamber 18 facing each flow path opening (first inlet 25, first outlet 26, second inlet 27, second outlet 28).

[0037] In Figure 4, reference numeral 60 denotes a joint located at the end of each pipe (primary transfer pipe 2, secondary transfer pipe 3, inlet pipe 6, drain pipe 7), reference numeral 61 denotes a hexagonal nut-shaped operating surface formed on the outer surface of the joint 60, and reference numeral 62 denotes a retaining ring attached to the end of each pipe.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, an actuator 5 is mounted in front of the valve body 15. The actuator 5 is equipped with an operating shaft 43 that extends toward the rear, and the tip of this operating shaft 43 is inserted into an engagement recess 44 formed in a recess shape in front of the valve body 4. Thus, when the actuator 5 rotates the operating shaft 43, the driving force is transmitted to the valve body 4, and the valve body 4 is displaced in position within the valve chamber 18.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the filter 17 consists of a tapered cylindrical filter body 45 made of stainless steel mesh and a ring-shaped threaded tube 46 fixed to one end of the filter body 45. An operating bar 47 for the operator to grasp with their fingers is mounted on the threaded tube 46. The filter body 45 comprises a hollow cylindrical filter tube 48 and a cylindrical end wall 49 that closes one opening of the filter tube 48, with the other opening serving as an inlet 50 that allows the introduction of the processed fluid. The filter tube 48 has a tapered cylindrical shape (frustoconical) in which the outer diameter gradually increases (expands) from the cylindrical end wall 49 side to the inlet 50 side. As shown in Figure 11, the central axis (A3) of the frustoconical filter tube 48 passes through the center (C1) of the circular cylindrical end wall 49. Thus, the filter body 45 is formed in a bottomed hollow frustoconical shape with an opening that serves as the inlet 50.

[0040] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the fixing structure for securing the filter 17 within the valve body 4 consists of a screw element comprising an external thread 51 provided on the screw cylinder 46 and an internal thread 52 provided on the inner surface of the passage 16 of the valve body 4 into which the external thread 51 is screwed, and an engagement element comprising an engagement groove 54 engraved on the internal thread 52 and a ring 53 that engages with the engagement groove 54 and receives the screw cylinder 46. The filter 17 is fixed within the passage 16 of the valve body 4 by these screw element and engagement element. In this way, since the filter 17 is fixed by the screw element of the external thread 51 and internal thread 52 of the screw cylinder 46, as well as the engagement element of the ring 53 and engagement groove 54, the filter 17 can be reliably fixed within the passage 16 of the valve body 4. Therefore, even if large pressures or vibrations caused by the fluid act on the filter 17, it is possible to prevent the screw element from unintentionally loosening and the filter 17 from falling out of the valve body 4. Furthermore, by pinching the operating bar 47 with your fingers, you can perform screwing and unscrew operations between the external screw 51 and the internal screw 52, ​​making it possible to attach and detach the filter 17 to the valve body 4 more quickly and easily.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the valve body 4 is configured to be displaceable by the actuator 5 between a capture position in which the passage 16 is oriented in the left-right direction, the main flow path in the left-right direction is connected to the passage 16, the main flow path is in communication with the passage, and the sub-flow path in the up-down direction is closed, and a washing position in which the passage 16 is oriented in the up-down direction, the sub-flow path is connected to the passage 16, the sub-flow path is in communication with the passage, and the main flow path is closed, as shown in Figures 1 and 6.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 and 9, a nozzle 70 is installed at the second inlet 27 to spray cleaning fluid toward the filter cylinder 48 and end wall 49 of the filter 17 when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position. The nozzle 70 is a full-cone nozzle that forms a conical spray area 71 (see Figure 12), and comprises a cylindrical nozzle body 72 and a spray part 73 that protrudes from the tip (downward) of the nozzle body 72 (see Figures 8 and 9). A male thread 74 is formed on the outer circumference of the nozzle body 72, and the nozzle 70 is attached to the inlet pipe 6 by screwing this into a female thread 75 formed at the tip of the inlet pipe 6. Thus, the tip of the inlet pipe 6 is connected to the second inlet 27 of the valve body 20, and the nozzle 70 is attached to the tip of the inlet pipe 6, thereby installing the nozzle 70 inside the second inlet 27.

[0043] The injection section 73 is formed in the shape of a hexagonal bolt head in plan view, with a central discharge port 76 formed in its center and six oblique discharge ports 77 formed around it. The oblique discharge ports 77 are positioned at equal intervals around the axis A1 of the nozzle 70 and spray the cleaning fluid diagonally outward and downward. Together with the central discharge port 76 and the oblique discharge ports 77, the nozzle 70 forms a frustoconical injection region 71.

[0044] As shown in Figure 11, when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A2 of the cleaning fluid jet ejected from the nozzle 70 coincides with the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48. In this embodiment, the axis A1 of the nozzle 70 and the central axis A2 of the cleaning fluid jet coincide. Also, as shown in Figures 12 and 8, the bottom diameter D2 of the injection area 71 of the nozzle 70 is set to be larger than the inner diameter D1 of the passage 16. More specifically, at least the bottom diameter D2 of the injection area 71 at the lower end of the passage 16 when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position is set to be larger than the inner diameter D1 of the passage 16, and in this embodiment, the bottom diameter D2 of the injection area 71 at the upper end of the passage 16 when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position is set to be larger than the inner diameter D1 of the passage 16. Therefore, of the cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70, the cleaning fluid sprayed near the axis of the nozzle 70, more specifically, inward from the inner diameter of the passage 16 in a plan view, reaches the opposing cylinder end wall 49 and filter cylinder 48, removing and cleaning any filtration residue adhering to their inner surfaces. In addition, the cleaning fluid sprayed outward from the inner diameter of the passage 16 in a plan view is reflected off the inner surface of the passage 16 and then reaches the surface of the filter cylinder 48, removing and cleaning any filtration residue adhering to its inner surface.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, when the valve body 4 is in the capture position, the filter 17 has its inlet 50 facing the first inlet 25 on the left and its end wall 49 facing the first outlet 26 on the right, thereby filtering the processing fluid that flows into the filter 17 through the inlet 50. On the other hand, when the valve body 4 is in the washing position, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, the filter 17 has its end wall 49 facing the second inlet 27 above and its inlet 50 facing the second outlet 28 below, thereby cleaning the filter 17.

[0046] In the system according to this embodiment, there is a normal mode in which the valve body 4 is in its normal position and the processed fluid is transferred from the primary transfer pipe 2 to the secondary transfer pipe 3, and a cleaning mode in which the valve body 4 is in a cleaning position and the filter 17 is cleaned. The transition between these normal and cleaning modes, and the return from the cleaning mode to the normal mode, are performed according to a program pre-stored in the memory area of ​​the control device 9. The program specifies the execution time for the normal mode and the cleaning mode, and when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the normal mode, the control device 9 transitions from the normal mode to the cleaning mode. Specifically, when in normal mode, the control device 9 drives a pump (not shown) that supplies the processed fluid to the primary transfer pipe 2, and opens a valve (not shown) that controls the opening and closing of the flow path of the primary transfer pipe 2, thereby transferring the processed fluid from the primary transfer pipe 2 to the secondary transfer pipe 3 via the ball valve 1. At this time, the pump 11 that constitutes the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 is stopped, and the valve 12 is in the closed position that closes the inlet pipe 6.

[0047] When a predetermined time has elapsed from this state and the system has transitioned to cleaning mode, the control device 9 drives the actuator 5 to displace the valve body 4, which is in the capture position, to the cleaning position. Next, the control device 9 drives the pump 11, which constitutes the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, to draw up cleaning fluid from the tank 10 and open the valve 12. As a result, the cleaning fluid supplied from the tank 10 is supplied to the ball valve 1 via the inlet pipe 6 and sprayed from the nozzle 70. As described above, when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the filter 17 has its cylindrical end wall 49 facing the upper second inlet 27 and its inlet 50 facing the lower second outlet 28 (see Figures 1 and 6). As a result, filtration residue adhering to the inner surface of the filter cylinder 48 and filtration residue trapped inside the filter cylinder 48 are discharged into the drain pipe 7 via the inlet 50 and the second outlet 28, together with the cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70, thereby cleaning the filter 17. This cleaning mode is performed with the pump (not shown) that supplies the processing fluid to the primary transfer pipe 2 stopped.

[0048] When the cleaning mode is performed for a predetermined time, the control device 9 stops the pump 11 and closes the valve 12, thereby stopping the supply of cleaning fluid to the ball valve 1 via the inlet pipe 6. It then drives the actuator 5 to displace the valve body 4, which is in the cleaning position, back to the normal position. As a result, the system returns from cleaning mode to normal mode, and the filter 17 performs filtration of the processing fluid.

[0049] In the ball valve 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the filter 17 attached to the valve body 4 can be accessed by displacing the valve body 4 into a cleaning position and separating the drain socket 23 from the valve body 20. Since the filter 17 can be accessed simply by separating the drain socket 23, when the filter 17 (filter tube 48) deteriorates, the filter 17 can be separated from the valve body 4 and replaced with a new one by manipulating the fixing structure (screw element and engaging element) without disassembling the piping lines such as the primary transfer pipe 2 and secondary transfer pipe 3. After replacing the filter 17, the drain socket 23 can be attached to the valve body 20 to perform filtration of the processed fluid with the new filter 17.

[0050] As described above, in the ball valve 1 according to this embodiment, the filter 17 can be cleaned by simply performing an operation to displace the valve body 4 from the capture position to the cleaning position and supplying cleaning fluid into the valve body 15 from the nozzle 70 installed in the second inlet 27, thereby discharging the filtration residue trapped inside the filter cylinder 48. Since the filter 17 can be cleaned without removing it from the valve body 15, the filter 17 can be cleaned more easily and quickly. It is also advantageous that the cleaning work can be carried out without disassembling the piping line of the processing fluid formed by the primary transfer pipe 2 and secondary transfer pipe 3 connected to the first inlet 25 and the first outlet 26. When cleaning the filter by backflowing the processing fluid, so-called "backwashing," filtration residue flows into the piping line. Removing this residue from the piping line requires additional processing work, such as rearranging the piping line, which is cumbersome. However, the ball valve 1 of this embodiment is superior because it is equipped with a second inlet 27 and a second outlet 28 dedicated to the cleaning fluid. As a result, filtration residue does not flow into the piping line during the cleaning process, eliminating the need for processing work such as rearranging the piping line. The provision of a second inlet 27 dedicated to the cleaning fluid allows for appropriate adjustment of the supply amount and flow rate of the cleaning fluid, enabling efficient and reliable cleaning of the filter 17.

[0051] Furthermore, in the ball valve 1 of this embodiment, the second inlet 27 and the second outlet 28 are provided at mutually opposing positions on the valve body 15, so that the flow path of the cleaning fluid within the valve body 15 from the second inlet 27 through the passage 16 of the valve body 4 to the second outlet 28 can be made linear. In addition, the filter cylinder 48 of the filter 17 has an expanding diameter shape, with the outer diameter increasing from the end wall 49 side to the inlet 50 side, and is configured so that when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 faces the second inlet 27 side, so that the cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70 installed in the second inlet 27 can be directly applied to the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48. As described above, according to this embodiment, the cleaning fluid can be applied to the filter cylinder 48 and the end wall 49 of the filter 17 without its force being impaired, so that the filtration residue adhering to the filter 17 can be reliably removed and the removed filtration residue can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the valve body 15, thereby cleaning the filter 17 efficiently and reliably. For example, if the outer diameter of the filter cylinder 48 is uniform along its entire length, areas where the cleaning fluid does not easily reach, so-called dead spaces, are formed on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48, which may cause uneven cleaning. However, in this invention, by adopting an enlarged diameter shape for the filter cylinder 48, the cleaning fluid can more easily and uniformly reach a wide area of ​​the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48, thereby improving cleaning performance.

[0052] In the ball valve 1 of this embodiment, a fluid different from the processing fluid can be used as the cleaning fluid. For example, even if the processing fluid is a highly viscous liquid, by using air or a low-viscosity liquid as the cleaning fluid and introducing a predetermined amount at a predetermined speed through a nozzle 70 installed in the second inlet 27, the filter 17 can be reliably and efficiently cleaned with sufficient flow velocity, flow rate, and pressure. Even if the processing fluid is a hazardous substance such as a chemical, by using a relatively safe fluid such as water or air as the cleaning fluid, the burden of disposing of the cleaning fluid during the cleaning operation can be reduced. If a relatively safe fluid is used as the cleaning fluid, no new safety measures will be required during the cleaning operation.

[0053] In this embodiment, since the nozzle 70 is installed in the second inlet 27, the cleaning fluid is accelerated by the throttling action of the nozzle 70 and is ejected at a higher flow velocity. As a result, the kinetic energy of the cleaning fluid when it reaches the surface of the filter 17, such as the filter cylinder 48, can be increased, and a stronger impact force can be applied to the filtration residue adhering to the filter 17. Therefore, even if the residue is a solid that is difficult to remove by simply supplying cleaning fluid from the second inlet 27, this embodiment makes it possible to more effectively detach the residue from the filter 17, and to clean the filter 17 more reliably and efficiently.

[0054] In this embodiment, the end wall 49 constituting the filter 17 is formed in a circular shape, and the filter cylinder 48 is formed in a frustoconical shape, with its outer diameter increasing from the end wall 49 side toward the inlet 50 side. Furthermore, the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48 is configured to pass through the center C1 of the end wall 49, so that when the valve body 4 is in the cleaning position, the central axis A1 of the jet of cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70 coincides with the central axis A3 of the filter cylinder 48. As a result, the cleaning fluid discharged from the nozzle 70 can be applied almost uniformly to the entire frustoconical filter cylinder 48, thus preventing the formation of areas on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 that are difficult to reach with the cleaning fluid, so-called dead spaces. Therefore, it is possible to prevent filtration residue from remaining in the filter 17 and to clean the filter 17 more reliably and efficiently.

[0055] The valve body 4's passage 16 has a circular cross-section and a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter throughout its entire length. The nozzle 70 is a full-cone nozzle that forms a conical spray area with a base diameter larger than the inner diameter of the passage 16. This allows the cleaning fluid sprayed from the nozzle 70 to not only directly hit the filter cylinder 48 and the end wall 49, but also to hit the filter cylinder 48 with the cleaning fluid reflected off the inner surface of the passage 16. This also helps to prevent the formation of areas on the outer surface of the filter cylinder 48 that are difficult for the cleaning fluid to reach, so-called dead spaces. This prevents filtration residue from remaining on the filter 17, allowing the filter 17 to be cleaned more reliably and efficiently.

[0056] By positioning the tip of the nozzle 70 facing the valve body 4 outside the trajectory of the valve body 4's attitude displacement, it is possible to prevent the valve body 4 from interfering with the tip of the nozzle 70 when the valve body 4 is displaced. This suppresses damage and wear to both the valve body 4 and the nozzle 70, thus maintaining stable cleaning performance over a long period. Furthermore, since the tip of the nozzle 70 does not catch on the valve body 4, the attitude displacement of the valve body 4 can be performed smoothly, improving the reliability of the ball valve.

[0057] An inlet pipe 6 for supplying cleaning fluid is connected to the second inlet 27, and a nozzle 70 is attached to the tip of this inlet pipe 6. Therefore, by removing the inlet pipe 6 from the second inlet 27, the nozzle 70 can be removed from the second inlet 27 along with the inlet pipe 6. This makes it easy to remove the nozzle 70 from the second inlet 27, thus simplifying the cleaning and replacement of the nozzle 70. Because the nozzle 70 is easy to attach and detach, it is possible to select and attach nozzles 70 with different characteristics depending on the type of filtration residue and filter specifications, thereby increasing the versatility of the ball valve with filter.

[0058] The filter 17 includes a filter body 45 equipped with a filter cylinder 48, and a threaded cylinder 46 fixed to the end of the filter body 45 on the inlet 50 side. The threaded cylinder 46 is fixed by a screw element and an engaging element provided inside the valve body 4. As a result, the filter 17 can be fixed to the valve body 4 by a two-stage fixing structure consisting of a screw element and an engaging element. This ensures that the filter 17 is held securely and stably in relation to the valve body 4, thus reliably preventing the fixing structure from loosening due to vibration or fluid pressure, and in the worst case, preventing the filter 17 from falling off.

[0059] An operating bar 47 is provided on the threaded cylinder 46 to assist in screwing in and releasing the internal thread 52 provided on the inner surface of the passage 16 of the valve body 4. Therefore, when attaching or removing the filter 17 from the valve body 4, the filter 17 can be rotated reliably and easily by gripping the operating bar 47 while operating it. This significantly reduces the workload required for screwing in and releasing. Furthermore, even in work environments where the use of wet hands or tools is restricted, the operating bar 47 ensures reliable operation, thereby improving the efficiency of attaching and removing the filter 17.

[0060] According to the cleaning system for the filter-equipped ball valve of this embodiment, the control device 9 can automatically control the positional displacement operation of the valve body 4 via the actuator 5 and the supply operation of cleaning fluid via the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8. This enables the automation of a series of operations, including switching from normal mode to cleaning mode and returning from cleaning mode to normal mode after the cleaning mode is completed. Automating the cleaning operation in this way eliminates the need for manual operation by the operator, saving labor and improving the efficiency and reliability of the cleaning operation. Since the cleaning operation can always be reliably performed under consistent conditions, the filtration performance of the filter 17 can be stabilized.

[0061] The control device 9 is configured to automatically switch from normal mode to cleaning mode after a predetermined time has elapsed, according to a pre-set program, and to clean the filter 17. It is also configured to automatically return to normal mode after the cleaning mode has continued for a predetermined time. This makes it possible to clean the filter 17 regularly and automatically, eliminating the need for monitoring or operation by an operator and saving labor in the cleaning process. Furthermore, by appropriately setting the timing and duration of cleaning through the program, the amount of filtration residue adhering to and captured by the filter 17 can be suppressed, preventing clogging of the filter 17 and thus maintaining the filtration performance of the filter 17 stably.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the system automatically switched from normal mode to cleaning mode after a predetermined time had elapsed to clean the filter 17. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the system can be configured to include a sensor that detects the turbidity or pressure of the filtered fluid flowing through the secondary transfer pipe 3, and a control device 9 that determines whether or not to clean the filter based on the output of this sensor. This allows for real-time detection of signs of filter clogging or performance deterioration, making it possible to perform cleaning only when necessary, thereby suppressing unnecessary cleaning and reducing the consumption of cleaning fluid and energy. Furthermore, it prevents a decrease in filtration performance caused by continuing filtration operation (normal operation) for a long time when cleaning is necessary, thus contributing to improved system reliability. In addition, feedback control based on sensor output allows for flexible and optimal timing of cleaning according to the operating conditions and fluid state, thus contributing to the extended lifespan of the piping line including the system.

[0063] The shape of the filter 17 is not limited to that shown in the first embodiment described above; for example, the filter cylinder 48 may have the shape shown in Figure 13.

[0064] (Second Embodiment) Figure 14 shows a second embodiment of the ball valve with filter according to the present invention, and Figure 15 shows a second embodiment of the cleaning system for the ball valve. This second embodiment differs significantly from the first embodiment in that the displacement operation of the valve body 4 of the ball valve 1 between the capture position and the cleaning position is performed manually, rather than automatically via a control device and actuator. Another significant difference from the first embodiment is that the on / off operation of the pump 11, which is responsible for pumping the cleaning fluid from the tank 10, and the opening / closing operation of the valve 12, which is responsible for opening and closing the inlet pipe 6, are performed manually, rather than automatically by a control device. In Figures 14 and 15, reference numeral 80 indicates a handle for manually displacing the valve body 4 of the ball valve 1. In Figure 15, reference numeral 81 indicates a switch for turning the pump 11 on and off, and reference numeral 82 indicates a handle for opening and closing the valve 12. Other reference numerals are the same as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0065] In the system according to this embodiment, mode switching between normal mode and cleaning mode is performed manually by an operator. Specifically, when in normal mode, the operator drives a pump (not shown) that supplies the processing fluid to the primary transfer pipe 2, and opens a valve (not shown) that controls the opening and closing of the flow path of the primary transfer pipe 2, thereby transferring the processing fluid from the primary transfer pipe 2 to the secondary transfer pipe 3 via the ball valve 1. At this time, the pump 11 that constitutes the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 is stopped, and the valve 12 is in the closed position, closing the inlet pipe 6. That is, the operator stops the pump 11 by operating the switch 81 to the off position, and closes the valve 12 by operating the handle 82 to the closed position.

[0066] From the normal mode described above, if the operator determines that the filter 17 needs to be cleaned, the operator stops the pump (not shown) that supplies the processing fluid to the primary transfer pipe 2 and closes the valve (not shown) that controls the opening and closing of the flow path of the primary transfer pipe 2. Next, the operator operates the handle 80 to displace the valve body 4, which is in the capture position, to the cleaning position, and then operates the switch 81 to the ON position to drive the pump 11 that constitutes the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8, drawing up cleaning fluid from the tank 10, and operates the handle 82 to the open position to open the valve 12. As a result, the cleaning fluid supplied from the tank 10 is supplied to the ball valve 1 via the inlet pipe 6 and nozzle 70, allowing the filter 17 to be cleaned.

[0067] After the cleaning process has been completed for a predetermined time, the operator turns switch 81 to the off position to stop the pump 11 and turns handle 82 to the closed position to close valve 12, thereby stopping the supply of cleaning fluid to ball valve 1 via inlet pipe 6. Next, the operator turns handle 80 to displace valve body 4, which is in the cleaning position, back to the normal position. This returns the system from cleaning mode to normal mode, and filter 17 performs filtration of the processed fluid.

[0068] In the above embodiment, a fluid (liquid) stored in the tank 10 was used as the cleaning fluid, but the present invention is not limited to this, and air or steam may also be used as the cleaning fluid. When air is used as the cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 will consist of an air tank, a compressor, etc. When steam is used as the cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid supply mechanism 8 will include a boiler as a steam source. The cleaning fluid may include disinfectants, solvents, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1 Ball valve 2 Primary transfer pipe 3 Secondary transfer pipe 4. Valve body (ball valve body) 5 Actuators 6. Cleaning fluid supply pipe (inlet pipe) 7. Cleaning fluid discharge pipe (drain pipe) 8. Cleaning fluid supply mechanism 9 Control device 15 Valve box 16 aisles 17 filters 25 1st inlet 26 1st outlet 27 2nd inlet 28 2nd outlet 48 Filter cylinder 49 Cylinder end wall 50 Inlet 70 nozzles 71 Injection area A2 The central axis of the jet of cleaning fluid ejected from the nozzle. A3 Filtration tube central axis C1 Center of the end wall of the cylinder

Claims

1. A ball valve with a filter comprises a valve body (15), a ball-shaped valve element (4) housed in a valve chamber (18) of the valve body (15), and a filter (17) disposed within a passage (16) of the valve element (4), The valve body (15) includes a first inlet (25) into which the processed fluid flows, a first outlet (26) from which the processed fluid after filtration by the filter (17) flows out, a second inlet (27) into which the cleaning fluid for the filter (17) flows in, a second outlet (28) from which the cleaning fluid after cleaning the filter flows out, a main flow path consisting of the first inlet (25) and the first outlet (26), and a sub-flow path consisting of the second inlet (27) and the second outlet (28), the second inlet (27) and the second outlet (28) being opened at mutually opposing positions on the valve body (15). The open end of the second inlet (27) facing the valve chamber (18), and the open end of the second outlet (28) facing the valve chamber (18), are each formed in a circular shape. The valve body (4) is configured to be able to change its position between a capture position in which the main flow path and the passage (16) are connected, allowing the main flow path to communicate and closing the sub-flow path, and a washing position in which the sub-flow path and the passage (16) are connected, allowing the sub-flow path to communicate and closing the main flow path. The passage (16) of the valve body (4) has a circular cross-sectional shape and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter throughout its entire length. The filter (17) is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, comprising a hollow cylindrical filter tube (48) and a circular end wall (49) that closes one opening of the filter tube (48), with the other opening of the filter tube (48) serving as an inlet (50) that allows the introduction of the processing fluid. The filter tube (48) is shaped like a frustoconical cone with an expanding outer diameter, increasing from the end wall (49) side towards the inlet (50) side. When the valve body (4) is in the trapping position, the inlet (50) is directed toward the first inlet (25) and the cylindrical end wall (49) is directed toward the first outlet (26), and filtration is performed on the processed fluid that flows into the filter (17) through the inlet (50). When the valve body (4) is in the washing position, the outer surface of the cylindrical end wall (49) and the entire outer surface of the frustoconical filter cylinder (48) are directed toward the second inlet (27), and the inlet (50) is directed toward the second outlet (28), so that the filtration residue trapped inside the filter cylinder (48) is discharged from the second outlet (28) through the inlet (50) along with the washing fluid. A nozzle (70) is installed inside the second inlet (27) to spray cleaning fluid toward the filter cylinder (48) and the end wall (49) of the filter (17). The central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48) passes through the center (C1) of the end wall (49). When the valve body (4) is in the cleaning position, the central axis (A2) of the cleaning fluid jet ejected from the nozzle (70) coincides with the central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48). A ball valve with a filter, characterized in that, when the valve body (4) is in the washing position, the central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48) is configured to pass through the center of the circle of the open end facing the valve chamber (18) of the second inlet (27) and the center of the circle of the open end facing the valve chamber (18) of the second outlet (28).

2. The ball valve with filter according to Claim 1, wherein the nozzle (70) is a full cone nozzle that forms an injection region (71) having a bottom diameter (D2) larger than the inner diameter dimension (D1) of the passage (16).

3. The ball valve with filter according to Claim 1, wherein the tip of the nozzle (70) facing the valve body (4) is located outside the trajectory of the attitude displacement of the valve body (4).

4. A cleaning fluid supply pipe (6) is connected to the second inlet (27) to supply cleaning fluid, A filter-equipped ball valve according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle (70) is attached to the tip of the cleaning fluid supply pipe (6).

5. A primary transfer pipe (2), a secondary transfer pipe (3), a ball valve (1) disposed between the two transfer pipes (2 and 3), an actuator (5) for displacing the valve body (4) of the ball valve (1), a cleaning fluid supply pipe (6) for supplying cleaning fluid for filter cleaning to the ball valve (1), a cleaning fluid discharge pipe (7) through which the cleaning fluid after filter cleaning is discharged, a cleaning fluid supply mechanism (8) responsible for supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid supply pipe (6), and a control device (9) for controlling at least the actuator (5) and the cleaning fluid supply mechanism (8), The ball valve (1) comprises a valve body (15), a ball-shaped valve element (4) housed in a valve chamber (18) of the valve body (15), a filter (17) fixed in a passage (16) of the valve element (4), and a nozzle (70) that sprays cleaning fluid toward the filter (17). The valve body (15) comprises a main flow path consisting of the first inlet (25) and the first outlet (26), and a subflow path consisting of the second inlet (27) and the second outlet (28), through which the first inlet (25) and the first outlet (26) are connected. The valve body (15) is connected to a first inlet (25) through which the treated fluid flows in, to which the primary transfer pipe (2) is connected, to which the treated fluid after filtration by the filter (17) flows out, to which the cleaning fluid supply pipe (6) is connected, and a second outlet (27) and the second outlet (28) are connected. The second inlet (27) and the second outlet (28) are located opposite each other on the valve body (15), and a nozzle (70) is installed inside the second inlet (27). The open end of the second inlet (27) facing the valve chamber (18), and the open end of the second outlet (28) facing the valve chamber (18), are each formed in a circular shape. The valve body (4) is configured to be able to change its position between a capture position in which the main flow path and the passage (16) are connected, the main flow path is in communication, and the sub-flow path is closed, and a washing position in which the sub-flow path and the passage (16) are connected, the sub-flow path is in communication, and the main flow path is closed. The passage (16) of the valve body (4) has a circular cross-sectional shape and is a straight hole with a uniform inner diameter throughout its entire length. The filter (17) is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, comprising a hollow cylindrical filter tube (48) and a circular end wall (49) that closes one opening of the filter tube (48), with the other opening of the filter tube (48) serving as an inlet (50) that allows the introduction of the processing fluid. The filter tube (48) is shaped like a frustoconical cone with an expanding outer diameter, increasing from the end wall (49) side towards the inlet (50) side. When the valve body (4) is in the capture position, the inlet (50) is directed toward the first inlet (25) and the cylindrical end wall (49) is directed toward the first outlet (26), and filtration is performed on the processing fluid introduced into the filter (17) through the inlet (50). When the valve body (4) is in the washing position, the outer surface of the cylindrical end wall (49) and the entire outer surface of the frustoconical filter cylinder (48) are directed toward the second inlet (27). The central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48) passes through the center (C1) of the end wall (49). When the valve body (4) is in the cleaning position, the central axis (A2) of the cleaning fluid jet ejected from the nozzle (70) coincides with the central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48), When the valve body (4) is in the washing position, the central axis (A3) of the filter cylinder (48) is configured to pass through the center of the circle at the open end facing the valve chamber (18) of the second inlet (27) and the center of the circle at the open end facing the valve chamber (18) of the second outlet (28). In normal mode, the control device (9) sets the valve body (4) to a trapping position via the actuator (5) and turns off the cleaning fluid supply mechanism (8), so that the processing fluid flows through the ball valve (1) from the primary transfer pipe (2) to the secondary transfer pipe (3). In cleaning mode, the control device (9) drives the actuator (5) to position the valve body (4) in a cleaning position, and then turns on the cleaning fluid supply mechanism (8). As a result, cleaning fluid is supplied to the filter (17) via the cleaning fluid supply pipe (6) and nozzle (70), and the filtration residue captured inside the filter cylinder (48) is discharged together with the cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid discharge pipe (7) via the inlet (50) and second outlet (28), thereby cleaning the filter (17). This is a cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter.

6. The cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter according to claim 5, wherein the control device (9) switches from normal mode to cleaning mode after a predetermined time has elapsed according to a preset program and cleans the filter (17), and returns from cleaning mode to normal mode after the cleaning mode has been continued for a predetermined time.

7. A sensor is provided to detect the turbidity or pressure of the processed fluid after filtration by the filter (17) that flows through the secondary transfer pipe (3), The control device (9) determines whether or not the filter (17) needs to be cleaned based on the output of the sensor. A cleaning system for a ball valve with a filter according to claim 5, wherein when it determines that the filter (17) needs to be cleaned, the control device (9) switches from normal mode to cleaning mode to clean the filter (17), and when the cleaning mode is continued for a predetermined time, it switches from cleaning mode to normal mode to filter the processed fluid.

Images