A valve, a valve and a valve control actuator assembly, and a method of assembling the assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve of the type comprising a valve housing with a valve body (14) connected to an elongated valve shaft (16) for connecting an elongated connector shaft (105) of a valve control actuator (100) to the valve body (14), for turning the valve body (14) about an axis. The valve shaft (16) has distally from the valve body an elongated portion (20) extending along an axis and having a) an end face (31), b) a length (L1), and c) a square, or generally square, cross-section, with opposite sides (S1) of the portion (20) being parallel to one another, at least a part (30) of the valve shaft (16) including a screw thread (25) to allow a nut (50) complementary with the screw thread (25) to engage the screw thread (25) and to be screwed onto the part (30) of the valve shaft in the direction from the end face (31). One side of the four sides of the said portion of the valve shaft includes a projection extending parallel with said axis.

Description

[0001] A valve, a valve and a valve control actuator assembly, and a method of assembling the assembly

[0002] The present invention concerns a valve, a valve control actuator and valve assembly, and a method.

[0003] The object of the present invention is inter alia to provide an improved valve of the type valve comprising a valve housing with a valve body connected to an elongated valve shaft for connecting an elongated connector shaft of a valve control actuator to the valve body, for turning the valve body about an axis. The valve shaft has distally from the valve body an elongated portion extending along an axis and having a) an end face, b) a length, and c) a square, or generally square, cross-section, with opposite sides of the portion being parallel to one another, at least a part of the valve shaft including a screw thread to allow a nut complementary with the screw thread to engage the screw thread and to be screwed onto the part of the valve shaft in the direction from the end face.

[0004] US patent 7,131 ,635 generally discloses such a valve which is suitable to form part of an assembly with an actuator and providing for a torque transmittance. However, there is a risk that a person preparing the assembly may connect the actuator to the valve body in the wrong way, i.e. rotated incorrectly relative to one another, whereby subsequent activation of the actuator will bring about an undesired / unplanned positioning of the valve body.

[0005] Summary

[0006] To eliminate the aforementioned risk an improved valve is provided where one side of the four sides of the said portion of the valve shaft includes a projection, wherein the projection preferably is formed integrally with the said portion of the valve shaft in a metal casting or milling process. Preferably, the aforementioned end face is flat or substantially flat, extending perpendicularly to the opposite sides of the elongated portion. An upwardly domed or pointed shape of the end face is also foreseen. Where the valve body is rotatable between a closed and an open position, and two positions allowing venting or no venting, respectively, ensuring the aforementioned proper assembly is highly critical.

[0007] The term generally square cross-section as used herein is intended to reflect deviations from a perfect square, such as resulting from the flat sides of the said portion of the valve shaft meeting along the length thereof at respective comers that are slightly rounded, at which comers a thread may have been milled.

[0008] Also claimed is an assembly including the aforementioned valve and an actuator comprising a housing and an elongated connector shaft having an end face and an elongated internal passage extending into the connector shaft from the end face thereof, parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongated connector shaft, wherein the passage has opposite sides parallel to one another and being adapted to matingly receive at least a part of the aforementioned length of the elongated portion of the valve shaft, wherein only one side of four sides of the passage includes an elongated recess extending parallel with the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the valve projection, turning of the valve body and the connector shaft being about the longitudinal axis.

[0009] This ensures that activation of the actuator will bring about a known positioning of the valve body, in that the actuator can only be connected to the valve housing in a single orientation relative to the turning axis of the valve body. Preferably, on a single projection and only a single elongated recess complementary therewith is provided. Preferably, the opposite sides of the internal passage are flat, in the sense they have no portions projecting inwardly towards the longitudinal axis. This allows for use of the actuator also with valves, such as the one shown in US patent 7,131 ,635, having a square cross-section valve shaft portion without the aforementioned projection.

[0010] Preferably, the internal passage has only a single recess. Some assemblies may, however, be foreseen involving use of an actuator wherein the internal passage has several recesses, each complementary with the projection of a specific one of a set of alternative valves of the type generally claimed herein, to also allow for correct assembly over a broad range of valves, but only with a specific relative orientation of the actuator with respect to the given valve.

[0011] Further claimed is a method of assembling the aforementioned assembly, comprising first aligning the connector shaft with the valve shaft by orienting the housing of said valve actuator relative to the said axis such that the said projection is longitudinally receivable by the recess of the connector shaft, and then moving the said valve control actuator towards the valve body such that the connector shaft is received within the passage of the connector shaft.

[0012] In an embodiment, the projection is at least adjacent to or at the end face of the elongated portion of the valve shaft whereby a person performing the assembling may immediately recognise when proper alignment has been achieved by the projection slipping into the recess. In other, less preferred embodiments the projection may be located distant from that end face.

[0013] By the projection projecting outwards from the said one side towards but not beyond the perimeter of an imaginary circle circumscribing the said elongated portion a nut, used for assembling the valve proper or for mounting a handle to the valve, as the case may be, may be screwed onto the valve shaft from the free end face thereof, distal from the valve body. Preferably the projection projects radially towards the said imaginary circle and is elongated to extend along the axis A, to assist in the mating cooperation between the sides of the valve shaft and the sides of the passage.

[0014] The projection may have a rounded or a pointed elongated tip extending along the length of the connector shaft portion, and be provided with a screw thread for the aforementioned nut to also engage.

[0015] Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Fig. 1 a is a perspective view showing an assembly of the invention,

[0017] Fig. 1 b is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of fig. 1 a,

[0018] Fig. 2a is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the assembly of fig. 1 a,

[0019] Fig. 2b is an enlarged detailed view of fig. 2a

[0020] Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c are cross-sectional views showing an elongated portion of the valve shaft, of the elongated portion of the valve shaft received in a passage of a connector shaft an actuator of the assembly, and the elongated portion and the valve shaft mounted to a valve body, and

[0021] Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the valve with a handle for manual turning of the valve body.

[0022] Detailed description The invention will now be explained in more detail below by reference to preferred embodiments.

[0023] Fig. 1 a is a perspective view showing an assembly 1 comprising a valve 10 releasably connected to a valve control actuator 100.

[0024] Fig. 1 b is a cross-sectional view showing some of the components of the assembly 1 of fig. 1 a, namely the valve control actuator 100 with a housing 101 inside which is an elongated valve shaft connector 105. Also shown is a valve body 14 inside the housing 12 of the valve 10, which valve body 14 is connected to an elongated valve shaft 16 which connects the elongated connector shaft 105 of the valve control actuator 100 to the valve body 14, for turning the valve body 14 about an axis A of rotation, to thereby open or close for through- flow through the valve housing 101 on activation of a driving motor (not shown) of the actuator 100.

[0025] Figs. 2a is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the assembly 1 , showing the elongated valve shaft connector 105, which on the outer face of a proximal end thereof has teeth 107 for engaging the driving motor (not shown) inside the actuator housing 101 . The connector shaft 105 has an end face 106 at a distal end thereof. An elongated passage 110 opens up at the end face 106 (see fig. 3b) and extends inside the shaft connector 105, parallel with the aforementioned axis A. As seen best in the cross-sectional view of fig. 3c, the passage 110 of the connector shaft 105 is defined by opposite elongated sides 112a, 112b; 112c, 112d that are parallel to one another, and the passage 110 is adapted to matingly receive at least a part of the length L1 of an elongated portion 20 of the valve shaft 16, shown in the enlarged detailed view of fig. 2b.

[0026] On a single one of the opposite sides 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d defining the passage 110 is formed an elongated recess 108 extending parallel with the axis A and configured to receive a projection 40 formed on the elongated portion 20. Through this arrangement it is only possible to assemble the assembly 1 with a single possible orientation of the valve housing 10 relative to the actuator housing 101. This ensures that subsequent activation of the actuator 100 will bring about a known positioning of the valve body 14, in that a person preparing the assembly can only connect the actuator 100 to the valve body 14 in a single way.

[0027] Turning to the valve 10, the valve shaft 16 has distally from the valve body 14 the aforementioned elongated portion 20 extending along the axis A and having a) an end face 31 , b) a length L1 , and c) a square, or generally square, cross-section, with opposite sides S1 , S3; S2, S4 of the portion 20 being parallel to one another.

[0028] Specifically, as seen best in figs. 2b, 3a and 3c, according to the invention one side S2 of the four sides S1 , S2, S3, S4 of the portion 20 includes the aforementioned projection 40 which preferably is elongated to extend parallel with the axis A from the end face 31 of the elongated portion 20.

[0029] Further, as shown in fig. 2b, at least a part 30 of length L2 of the valve shaft 16 includes a screw thread 25 to allow a nut 50, 52 with a screw thread 58 complementary therewith to be screwed onto that part 30 in the direction from said end face 31 . The nut 50 referred to may typically be as shown in fig. 2a, namely a nut used for securing the valve shaft to the valve housing 12, with sealing rings 60 therebetween. In addition, a nut 52 may be applied for securing a handle 200 to the valve 10, as shown in fig. 4, which handle 200 has a gripping portion 205 and a valve shaft 16 engagement portion 202 including an opening 210 complementary with the elongated portion 20, one side wall or edge of the opening 210 including a recess 212 adapted to receive the projection 40. The threads 25 are formed where the sides S1 , S2, S3, S4 meet an imaginary circle IC that circumscribes the elongated portion 20 of the valve shaft 16, or in a portion BP distant from the end face 31 , see fig. 3b where no thread has been illustrated. The projection 40 extends from the aforementioned one side S2 at most as far as the imaginary circle IC. In this way, a nut 50 may be screwed onto the elongated portion 20 without the projection 40 restricting rotation of the nut 52, which is useful where the nut 52 is used for assembling the valve 10 in the case where the valve body 14 with the valve shaft 16 is mounted from within the valve housing 12, as shown in fig. 2a. The projection 40 preferably has a rounded or pointed elongated tip 41 , where preferably also the screw thread 25 for the nut 50, 52 is provided.

[0030] As shown, the projection 40 preferably terminates at the end face 31 of the valve shaft and, hence, will immediately slip into the passage 110 on correct relative positioning. The projection 40 may be elongated to extend along a relatively long length L1 of the valve shaft 16, or it may have a shorter length, or be broken up into segments extending one after another along the length of the valve shaft 16.

[0031] As will be understood from the foregoing the passage 110 has a square crosssection complementary with that of the valve shaft 16, and hence mates with the valve shaft 16 to transfer torque to the valve body 14 on activation of the actuator 100. The valve control actuator 100 as such may eg. be electrically operated, for the setting by rotation of the position of a valve body which has multiple valve ports.

[0032] In fig. 1 b the projection 40 and the recess 108 are shown as located in a plane parallel with the flow passage of the valve body 12, while in the embodiment of fig. 2b the passage 40 and, hence, the recess 108, is located in a plane offset by 45° relative to the axis A. A method of connecting the valve control actuator 100 to the valve 10 comprises first correctly aligning the connector shaft with the valve shaft by orienting the housing 101 of the actuator 100 relative to the aforementioned axis A of rotation such that the projection 40 is longitudinally receivable within the recess 108 of the connector shaft 105, and then moving the valve control actuator 100 towards the valve body 14 such that the valve shaft 16 projection 40 is received within the passage 110 of the connector shaft 105. This moving involves the respective sides 112a, S2; 112b, S3; 112c, S4; 1 12d, S1 sliding against each other, or being in close proximity of each other.

[0033] It will be appreciated that numerous variants of the embodiments described above are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims1. A valve (10) comprising a valve housing (12) with a valve body (14) connected to an elongated valve shaft (16) for connecting an elongated connector shaft (105) of a valve control actuator (100) to the valve body (14), for turning the valve body (14) about an axis (A),- said valve shaft (16) having distally from said valve body (14) an elongated portion (20) extending along an axis (A) and having a) an end face (31 ), b) a length (L1 ), and c) a square, or generally square, cross-section, with opposite sides (S1 , S3; S2, S4) of said portion (20) being parallel to one another,- at least a part (30) of said valve shaft (16) including a screw thread (25) to allow a nut (50, 52) complementary with said screw thread (25) to engage said screw thread (25) and to be screwed onto said part (30) in the direction from said end face (31 ), characterised in- one side (S2) of said sides (S1 , S2, S3, S4) of said portion (20) including a projection (40).

2. The valve (10) of claim 1 , said part (30) being a portion (BP) of said valve shaft (16) between said valve body (14) and said elongated portion (20).

3. The valve (10) of claim 1 or 2, said elongated portion (20) comprising said part (30), said screw thread (25) being formed where said sides (S1 , S2, S3, S4) meet, preferably by being milled into said part (30).

4. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims, said projection (40) projecting outwards from said one side (S2) of said sides (S1 , S2,S3, S4) towards but not beyond the perimeter of an imaginary circle (IC) circumscribing said elongated portion (20).

5. The valve (10) of the previous claim, said projection (40) projecting radially towards said imaginary circle (IC).

6. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims, said projection (40) being elongated and extending parallel with said axis (A).

7. The valve (10) according to the previous claim, said projection (40) having a rounded or pointed elongated tip (41 ).

8. The valve (10) of the previous claim, said projection (40) provided with a screw thread (25) for said nut (50, 52) to also engage.

9. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims, said projection (40) being at least adjacent to or at said end face (31 ).

10. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims, including a nut (50, 52) complementary with said screw thread (25) and a handle (200) having a gripping portion (205) and a valve shaft (16) engagement portion (202) including an opening (210) being complementary with said elongated portion (20), one side wall of said opening (210) including a recess (212) adapted to receive said projection (40), said nut (50, 52) being configured to be screwed onto said part (30) to secure said handle (200) to said valve shaft (16).

11. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims wherein only said one side (S2) of said sides (S1 , S2, S3, S4) of said portion (20) includes a projection (40) extending parallel with said axis (A).

12. The valve (10) according to any of the previous claims, a proximal end of said valve shaft (16) being configured to engage said valve body (14).

13. A valve (10) and valve control actuator (100) assembly (1 ) comprising: i) a valve housing (12) with a valve body (14) connected to an elongated valve shaft (16) for connecting an elongated connector shaft (105) of a valve control actuator (100) to the valve body (14), for turning the valve body (14) about an axis (A),- said valve shaft (16) having distally from said valve body (14) an elongated portion (20) extending along an axis (A) and having a) an end face (31 ), b) a length (L1 ), and c) a square, or generally square, crosssection, with opposite sides (S1 , S3; S2, S4) of said portion (20) being parallel to one another,- at least a part (30) of said valve shaft (16) including a screw thread (25) to allow a nut (50, 52) complementary with said screw thread (25) to engage said screw thread (25) and to be screwed onto said part (30) in the direction from said end face (31 ),- one of said sides (S1 , S2, S3, S4) of said portion (20) including a projection (40), and ii) a valve control actuator (100) comprising a housing (101 ) and said elongated connector shaft (105), said connector shaft (105) having an end face (106) and an elongated passage (110) extending into said connector shaft (105) from said end face (106) of said connector shaft (105), parallel with said axis (A),- said passage (110) having opposite sides (112a, 112b; 112c, 112d) parallel to one another and being adapted to matingly receive at least a part of said length (L1 ) of said elongated portion (20) of said valve shaft (16),- wherein only one side (112a) of said opposite sides (112a, 112b, 112c, 112d) of said passage (110) includes an elongated recess (108) extending parallel with said axis (A) and configured to receive said projection (40).

14. The assembly (1 ) of claim 13, said projection (40) and said recess (212) of said one (S2, 112a) of said opposite sides being elongated.

15. The assembly (1 ) of any of claims 13-14, said projection (40) having a rounded or pointed elongated tip (41 ).

16. The assembly (1 ) of any of claims 13-15, said projection (40) being at least adjacent to or at said end face (31 ).

17. The assembly of any of claims 13-16, said valve control actuator (100) being electrically driven.

18. A method of assembling the valve (10) and valve control actuator (100) assembly (1 ) of any of claims 13-16, comprising first aligning said connector shaft (105) with said valve shaft (16) by orienting said housing (101 ) of said valve actuator (100) relative to said axis (A) such that said projection (40) is longitudinally receivable by said recess (108) of said connector shaft (105), and then moving said valve control actuator (100) towards said valve body (14) such that said connector shaft (105) is received within said passage (110) of said connector shaft (105).

19. The method of claim 18, a proximal end of said valve shaft (16) being configured to engage said valve body (14), wherein, before said first aligning, said valve shaft (16) is brought to engage said valve body (14) and a nut (50, 52) is then screwed onto said part (30) form said end face (31 ), to secure said valve shaft (16) to said valve housing (12).

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