Valve for industrial gases

Abstract

A valve for compressed gases comprises a valve body provided with an inlet and outlet pipe and a safety group configured for discharging the operating fluid under emergency conditions. The safety group comprises a discharge pipe, a breakable sealing element, which is configured to close said discharge pipe as long as a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value acts on said sealing element and a deflector element which is configured to be inserted into a seat of the discharge pipe so as to project. The deflector element is configured to discharge the operating fluid outside said valve in a direction which substantially diverges with respect to the discharge direction. The safety group comprises a protection structure which projects in a direction away from said seat and which is arranged peripherally with respect to an upper portion of said peripheral surface which comprises sloping surfaces.

Description

[0001] VALVE FOR. INDUSTRIAL GASES

[0002] The present invention relates to a safety valve, particularly of the type for compressed industrial gases, comprising a venting unit configured to discharge an operating fluid under emergency conditions, i.e. when its internal pressure reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[0003] In the field of industrial gas valves, particularly of the type intended for use in pressure vessels, such as cylinders, various devices are known which allow excess pressure to be discharged into the atmosphere or into a pipe. Many of these devices include a rupture disc, designed to break when an uncontrolled temperature rise takes place inside the cylinder, e.g. following a fire. In some embodiments, as illustrated in patent document JP2011038622A filed by Koda KK, the safety cap is circumferentially covered by a protection surface. Despite the fact that this solution is effective in protecting the safety cap, a valve with a protection surface such as the one described has certain critical issues.

[0004] First of all, if the valve is located outdoors and is subject to interaction with weather and environmental agents, water and / or snow may accumulate on the valve. Rainwater stagnation can cause oxidation in the area where the safety cap is assembled to the valve, thus increasing the possibility of degradation and damage. In addition, known safety valves are typically designed in such a way as to generate a substantially diffused discharge flow, which affects the front region of the valve.

[0005] Further examples of known valves are described in US 4576015 A, EP 4028688 Bl, EP 3495713 Al, EP 4276348 Al, US 4911403 A, US 3930517 A, US 5234015 A, US 2022 / 387947 Al and US 2580426 A.

[0006] The applicant therefore perceived the need for valves in which the risk that an outflow of gas could be accidentally directed towards the operator is reduced. Therefore, the task of the present invention is that of making available a valve for industrial gases valve that is structurally and functionally conceived to at least partly obviate one or more of the drawbacks expressed above in reference to the mentioned prior art.

[0007] An object of the invention is to manufacture a valve that allows atmospheric and environmental agents to be drained in order to prevent them from stagnating in an area close to and / or in contact with a safety group.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to develop a valve that can increase the level of safety for an operator compared to known valve types.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a valve to protect the valve safety group from accidental contact with external objects.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to manufacture a valve that allows to protect the safety group from possible impacts during the assembly of the filling bracket. This task, as well as one or more of the aforementioned objects and others which will better appear hereafter, are achieved, at least in part, by the invention, in a first aspect thereof, by means of a valve for industrial gases comprising a valve body which is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, which is preferably configured to receive a compressed operating fluid from a bottle or from another pressurized container or tank.

[0011] Preferably, the valve comprises a safety group, configured for discharging the operating fluid under emergency conditions. The safety group preferably comprises a discharge pipe in fluid communication with the inlet pipe.

[0012] Advantageously, a communication between the discharge pipe and the inlet pipe allows the overpressure operating fluid to be discharged even when a valve plug intercepts the fluid passage to prevent it from flowing to the outlet pipe.

[0013] The discharge pipe defines a discharge direction for the operating fluid and is provided with a seat. The safety group comprises a sealing element, preferably breakable, which is configured to close the discharge pipe as long as a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value acts on the sealing element.

[0014] Preferably, the safety group also comprises a deflector element which is configured to be inserted into said seat so as to project with respect to it with an external portion thereof, which is provided with a peripheral surface and with a front surface.

[0015] The term "front surface" refers to the surface of the deflector element facing the environment outside the valve and essentially orthogonal to the discharge direction of the discharge pipe. The term "peripheral surface", on the other hand, refers to a lateral surface of the deflector element that is contiguous to the front surface and substantially interposed between the latter and the discharge pipe.

[0016] Preferably, the deflector element is configured to discharge the operating fluid outside the valve in a direction which substantially diverges with respect to the discharge direction of the operating fluid following breakage of the breakable sealing element. Preferably, the safety group comprises a protection structure which projects in a direction away from the seat. Preferably, the protection structure is arranged peripherally with respect to an upper portion of the peripheral surface of the deflector element.

[0017] The term "upper portion" refers to a section of the peripheral surface facing substantially towards the sky in the valve use configuration.

[0018] Advantageously, the protection structure thus allows the deflector element to be protected from accidental contact with the outside and to be protected from atmospheric and / or environmental agents if the valve is exposed to an outdoor environment.

[0019] Preferably, the protection structure also comprises sloping surfaces. Preferably the sloping surfaces extend towards a lower portion of the peripheral surface. Preferably, the sloping surfaces extend from the upper portion of the peripheral surface.

[0020] The term "lower portion" refers to a section of the peripheral surface opposite the upper portion and substantially facing the ground in the valve use configuration. The term "sloping surface" refers to any surface having downward inclined extension. Such surface may either be radiused to the remaining part of the protection structure or develop therefrom with sharp edge. Moreover it may extend either for a substantial portion of the protection structure or for a limited portion thereof. For example it may be formed by the lateral surface having a substantially flat shape, provided that the flat shape does not have an essentially negligible thickness.

[0021] Preferably, the protection structure defines an outflow notch for the operating fluid and / or for another fluid- such as an environmental fluid, like rain - in the region of the lower portion.

[0022] Each of the embodiments illustrated above contributes to define a geometric conformation that allows to drain away atmospheric agents such as rain and snow in such a way that they do not stagnate in a region close to or in contact with the deflector element. At the same time, the sloping surfaces having the aforementioned features allow to form an invitation to avoid the rainwater droplets to from accumulating in the operating area of the protection device. The absence of a concave surface at the bottom does not cause any accumulation of, for example, rainwater, substantially preventing the occurrence of oxidation phenomena that could degrade the deflector element and compromise the functioning of the safety group. In addition, the presence of a notch in the lower portion also defines a preferential discharge route for the operating flow if it is discharged through the deflector element, as will be further clarified later. In this area, in fact, any possible outflow from the deflector element will not be deflected by the presence of the protection structure and can be directed appropriately depending on the conformation adopted for the deflector element.

[0023] In some embodiments, the protection structure projects from the seat along an extension axis substantially parallel with the discharge direction of the discharge pipe. The latter preferably comprises a discharge section which is directed to the deflector element. In preferred embodiments, the protection structure has an extent along the extension axis at least equal to the distance between the discharge section and the front surface of the deflector element.

[0024] Appropriately, this extent of the protection structure allows the deflector element to be completely covered in its longitudinal extension along an axis parallel to the discharge axis, so that it is not exposed to the elements.

[0025] In preferred embodiments, the protection structure extends around the deflector element with a geometric configuration which is substantially annulus sector-like. Preferably, the aforementioned annulus sector is subtended by an angle substantially less than 240°, so that the outflow notch defined at the bottom is of sufficient size to ensure the passage of raindrops. Even more preferably, the angle is substantially comprised between 120° and 220°.

[0026] In preferred embodiments, the protection structure has a rounded profile.

[0027] In some embodiments, the surface has a substantially U-shaped geometric formation.

[0028] In some embodiments, the protection structure may comprise a plurality of contiguous sloping surfaces in such a way as to define a broken-line profile configured to drain atmospheric agents.

[0029] In some embodiments, the protection structure has a substantially V-shaped geometric formation.

[0030] In some embodiments, the protection structure may have a substantially flat shape and the sloping surfaces may be formed by lateral surfaces of the protection structure which define respective ends thereof.

[0031] All these embodiments make it advantageous to define profiles suitable for draining rain and atmospheric agents away from the deflector element. In preferred embodiments, the deflector element is equipped with a first vent opening for discharging the operating fluid following a breakage of the sealing element. Preferably, the first opening is open at the peripheral surface of the deflector element and faces the protection structure.

[0032] Appropriately, the outflow from the first opening thus impacts an inner surface of the protection structure, which acts as a barrier and deflector for it.

[0033] In preferred embodiments, the valve comprises a plug element configured to intercept the operating fluid and which is provided with an actuation member which projects from the valve body at an access region and which can be activated by a user. Preferably, the upper portion is substantially interposed between the access region and the lower portion.

[0034] Advantageously, the protection structure thus acts as a deflector for the operating fluid being discharged from the first opening towards a preferential discharge path. Preferably, the latter is defined away from the access region.

[0035] In some embodiments, the protection structure is integral with the valve body and forms a single member therewith.

[0036] This feature gives the valve particular resistance, as the protection structure and valve body are made as a single piece and do not have any reciprocal coupling or attachment portions that could represent points of structural weakness of the valve in its barrier function against the operating fluid.

[0037] In some embodiments, the deflector element has an external thread which is configured to bring about a threaded coupling with an internal counter-thread of the seat defined on the discharge pipe.

[0038] Appropriately, such a threaded "male" type coupling guarantees an excellent level of safety and reliability of the safety group, in accordance with the standards subscribed to by international bodies such as EIGA (European Industrial Gases Association): in fact, the threaded portion of the deflector element inside the seat is subjected to compressive stress in such a way as to prevent the formation of cracks and fissures that may result from external stresses during the step of coupling the deflector element with the seat itself.

[0039] In some embodiments, the peripheral surface of the deflector element is configured to be engaged by an external tool so as to disconnect the deflector element from the seat.

[0040] Advantageously, the deflector element can be removed in this way for maintenance and / or replacement of one or more parts of the safety group, e.g. following the breakage of the sealing element for removal and replacement with a new, equivalent element.

[0041] These and further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof shown, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the safety valve according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0042] • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve shown in Figure 1 performed along plane II-II;

[0043] • Fig. 3 is a front orthogonal elevation view of the valve shown in Figure 1;

[0044] • Fig. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a detail of the valve in Figure 1 performed along plane II-II;

[0045] • Fig. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of a detail of the valve in Figure 1.

[0046] With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a valve for industrial compressed gases is globally referred to by reference number 10 and comprises a valve body 11 provided with an inlet pipe 12 and an outlet pipe 13. The inlet pipe 12 is configured to receive a compressed operating fluid from a bottle or other pressurized container or tank.

[0047] The valve also comprises a safety group 14 configured for discharging the operating fluid under emergency conditions and which in turn comprises a discharge pipe 15 which is in fluid communication with the inlet pipe 12 and substantially orthogonal thereto. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, the discharge pipe 15 defines a discharge direction 16 of the operating fluid and is provided with a seat 17.

[0048] The safety group 14 also comprises a breakable sealing element 18, which is configured to close the discharge pipe 16 as long as a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value acts on the sealing element 18. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in the figures, the sealing element 18 is a rupture disk having a planar extension and provided with an annular rim projecting peripherally from its lying plane and substantially orthogonal thereto, so as to define a housing seat for a gasket 8, illustrated in Figure 5.

[0049] Also included in the safety group 14 is a deflector element 19 configured to be inserted into the seat 17 with a substantially cylindrical inner portion 9 thereof so as to project from the seat 17 with an external portion 20 thereof provided with a peripheral surface 21 and a front surface 22.

[0050] The deflector element 19 is shaped like a plug and is configured to discharge the operating fluid outside the valve 10 in a direction substantially divergent with respect to the discharge direction 16 following breakage of the sealing element 18. Also included in the safety group 14 is a protection structure 23 which projects in a direction away from the seat 17 and which is arranged peripherally with respect to an upper portion 24 of the peripheral surface 21. Note that this structure extends for the upper protection of the deflector element 19.

[0051] In addition, the protection structure 23 comprises sloping surfaces 25 extending from the upper portion 24 towards a lower portion 26 of the peripheral surface 21 and defining an outflow notch 29 for the operating fluid and / or another fluid at the lower portion 26. Such a notch is preferably defined as an area of interruption in the extension of the protection structure.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as the one shown in the figures, the protection structure 23 projects from the seat 17 along an extension axis 27 substantially parallel to the discharge direction 16.

[0053] Furthermore, the discharge pipe 15 comprises a discharge section 28 substantially orthogonal to the discharge direction 16 and facing the deflector element 19, while the protection structure 23 has an extent along the extension axis 27 at least equal to the distance between the discharge section 28 and the front surface 22 of the deflector element 19, so as to cover it in its longitudinal extension along an axis parallel to and substantially coincident with the discharge direction 16.

[0054] Advantageously, the protection structure 23 extends around the deflector element 19 with a geometric formation which is substantially an annulus sector subtended by an angle A substantially less than 240°. Preferably, the angle A is substantially comprised between 120° and 220°.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as the one depicted in the figures and as seen in Figure 3, the protection structure 23 has an angular extent slightly less than 180°. In other embodiments not shown, the aforementioned surface 23 may instead have a greater angular extent, provided that the interruption described above is defined and consequently an outflow notch 29 sufficiently wide to allow raindrops to pass through. Again, in a further alternative solution not shown, the notch 29 can be realised as a through opening in the region of the lower portion 26 of the deflector element 19.

[0056] The protection structure 23 advantageously has a rounded profile and a substantially overturned U-shaped geometric formation.

[0057] In other embodiments, not shown, the protection structure can have a substantially overturned V-shaped geometric formation. In this case, the sloping surfaces will define an edge between them.

[0058] In some embodiments, still not shown, the sloping surfaces may extend, either radiused or with a sharp edge, from a substantially flat portion or, in any case, from a portion having a lower inclination.

[0059] In some embodiments, also not represented, the protection structure has a substantially flat shape, extending essentially within a plane.

[0060] Referring now again to the figures, in some embodiments the deflector element 19 is provided with a first vent opening 31 for discharging the operating fluid following breakage of the sealing element 18. This first opening 31 is in fluid communication with the discharge pipe 15 and is oriented along a vent direction 32 substantially orthogonal to, or more generally transverse to, the discharge direction 16. Moreover, the first opening 31 opens at the peripheral surface 21 of the deflector element 19 which faces the protection structure 23, so that the operating fluid is discharged outwards substantially radially with respect to the deflector element 19.

[0061] In some embodiments, such as the one depicted, moreover, the deflector element 19 is also provided with a second opening 36, communicating and aligned with the first opening 31 along the same vent axis 32 and open at the peripheral surface 21 at its lower portion 26, so as to discharge part of the operating flow to a region opposite to the protection structure 23.

[0062] As depicted in the above figures, the valve 10 is further provided with a plug element 33, configured to intercept the operating fluid and provided with an actuation member 34 which projects from the valve body 11 at an access region 35 and which can be activated by a user. The upper portion 24 is substantially interposed between the access region 35 and the lower portion 26 in such a manner that the protection structure 23 acts as a deflector for the operating fluid which, being discharged from the first opening 31, hits the protection structure 23 and is diverted towards a preferential discharge path, not shown in the figures, in a direction away from the access region 35.

[0063] The protection structure 23 is integral with the valve body 11 and forms a single member therewith.

[0064] As for the deflector element 19, it is also configured to be removably coupled to the seat 17.

[0065] For this purpose, the deflector element may have an external thread configured to create a threaded coupling with an internal counter-thread of the seat 17. Its peripheral surface 21, moreover, is configured to be engaged by an external tool in such a way as to decouple the deflector element 19 from the seat 17.

[0066] Note that by removing the deflector element 19, it may be possible to access the seat 17 where, in some embodiments, the rupture disc or, in general, the sealing element 18 is housed.

[0067] The operation of the valve 10 according to the invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments.

[0068] Upon reaching a predetermined threshold value for the pressure to which the sealing element 18 is subjected, the latter ruptures and allows the overpressure operating fluid to be discharged first through the discharge pipe 15 and subsequently through the first and second vent openings 31 and 36 of the deflector element. The part of the flow exiting the first opening 31 hits the protection structure 23 and is deflected away from it towards the lower portion 26 of the peripheral surface 21, while the part of the flow exiting the second opening 36 is discharged directly into a region adjacent to the aforementioned lower portion 26. In practice, it was found that the invention solves the task and objects by providing a safety valve which allows to drain atmospheric and environmental agents to prevent their stagnation in an area close to and / or in contact with the safety group. An advantage of the valve according to the invention is that it increases the level of safety for an operator, due to the conformation and arrangement of the protection structure that acts as a barrier for the discharged operational flow by diverting it away from the region where the actuating member of the actuation member projects. A further feature that contributes to the safety of this type of valve is the male-type coupling between the deflector element and the seat in which it is inserted, which essentially prevents cracks from forming due to external stresses, such as the torque applied to the deflector element to make the threaded coupling with the seat.

[0069] Another advantage of the valve according to the invention is that it protects the safety group of the valve from accidental contact with external objects, especially from possible impacts that may occur during assembly of the filling bracket.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A valve (10), particularly of the type for compressed gases, comprising:• a valve body (11) which is provided with an inlet pipe (12) and an outlet pipe (13), the inlet pipe (12) being configured to receive a compressed operating fluid from a bottle or from another pressurized container or tank;• a safety group (14) which is configured for discharging the operating fluid under emergency conditions and which comprises:a discharge pipe (15) which is in fluid communication with the inlet pipe (12), said discharge pipe (15) defining a discharge direction (16) for the operating fluid and being provided with a seat (17);a breakable sealing element (18) which is configured to close the discharge pipe (15) as long as a pressure less than a predetermined threshold value acts on the sealing element (18);a deflector element (19) which is configured to be inserted into the seat (17) so as to project from the seat (17) with an external portion (20) thereof which is provided with a peripheral surface (21) and with a front surface (22), the deflector element (19) being configured to discharge the operating fluid outside the valve (10) in a direction which substantially diverges with respect to the discharge direction (16) of the operating fluid following a breakage of the breakable sealing element (18);wherein the safety group (14) comprises a protection structure (23) which projects in a direction away from the seat (17) and which is arranged peripherally with respect to an upper portion (24) of the peripheral surface (21), the protection structure (23) comprising sloping surfaces (25) which extend towards a lower portion (26) of the peripheral surface (21), the protection structure (23) further defining an outflow notch (29) for the operating fluid and / or for another fluid in the region of the lower portion (26).

2. A valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein the protection structure (23) projects from the seat (17) along an extension axis (27) which is substantially parallel with the discharge direction (16).

3. A valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge pipe (15) comprises a discharge section (28) which is directed towards the deflector element (19), the protection structure (23) having an extent along theextension axis (27) which is at least equal to the distance between the discharge section (28) and the front surface (22) of the deflector element (19).

4. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the protection structure (23) extends around the deflector element (19) with a geometric configuration which is substantially an annulus sector subtended by an angle which is substantially less than 240°, the angle preferably being between 120° and 220°.

5. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the protection structure (23) has a rounded profile.

6. A valve (10) according to claim 5, wherein the protection structure (23) has a substantially U-shaped geometric formation.

7. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the deflector element (19) is provided with a first vent opening (31) for discharging the operating fluid following breakage of the sealing element (18), the first opening (31) being open at the peripheral surface (21) of the deflector element (19) and facing the protection structure (23).

8. A valve (10) according to claim 7, comprising a plug element (33) which is configured to intercept the operating fluid and which is provided with an actuation member (34) which projects from the valve body (11) at an access region (35) and which can be activated by a user, wherein the upper portion (24) is substantially interposed between the access region (35) and the lower portion (26) in such a manner that the protection structure (23) acts as a deflector for the operating fluid being discharged from the first opening (31) towards a preferential discharge path in a direction away from the access region (35).

9. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the protection structure (23) is integral with the valve body (11) and forms a single member therewith.

10. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the deflector element (19) has an external thread which is configured to bring about a threaded coupling with an internal counter-thread of the seat (17).

11. A valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral surface (21) is configured to be engaged by an external tool so as to disconnect the deflector element (19) from the seat (17).

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