Control valve for heating and/or cooling system manifold and floor heating system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control valves in heating and cooling systems suffer from leakage issues and inadequate flow control due to pressure differentials, leading to inefficiencies and energy loss, particularly in systems with multiple individual circuits.
Innovation Solution
A control valve design featuring a movable throttle member with a rolling diaphragm and annular body that allows for axial and rotational movement, maintaining a constant differential pressure and reducing leakage by using a pressure communication channel to maintain precise flow control, even when not fully closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a control valve with a rolling diaphragm is used to maintain differential pressure, then flow control accuracy is improved, but leakage occurs due to clearance between the collar and central shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic clearance by introducing a sealing element that fills the gap between the collar and central shaft. The sealing element is inserted into the collar to eliminate the leak path while preserving the necessary movement clearance for the rolling diaphragm to function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element acts as an intermediary component between the collar and central shaft. It mediates the contradiction by providing a sealing interface that prevents leakage through the clearance while allowing the rolling diaphragm to move freely for pressure regulation.
2Reliability
If the rolling diaphragm is allowed to move freely to respond to pressure changes, then differential pressure control is improved, but a clearance must be provided that creates a leak path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful leakage effect by inserting a sealing element into the collar. This extraction of the leak path allows the rolling diaphragm to maintain free movement for reliable pressure control without generating the harmful leakage effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element provides localized sealing quality at the interface between the collar and central shaft. This local modification maintains the overall free movement capability of the rolling diaphragm while eliminating leakage at the specific clearance location.
3Ease of operation
If multiple flow control valves are arranged in a manifold, then ease of installation and maintenance is improved, but leakage from multiple valves increases energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful leakage effect into a beneficial sealed system. By providing the sealing element in the collar, the design ensures that even though multiple valves are arranged in the manifold (which could multiply leakage paths), each valve becomes leak-free, thereby reducing overall energy loss while maintaining ease of installation and maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides accurate flow regulation and minimizes leakage, ensuring efficient energy distribution across multiple circuits in heating and cooling systems, enhancing system balance and reducing energy loss.
Implementation Method 1
a movable throttling element that is affected on one side by a first pressure P1 and on the other side by second pressure P2
Implementation Method 2
a resilient force, for example from a helical spring
Data Source
Figure 1~8
Figure 9
Figure 10
AI summary
A control valve (1) for controlling flow of liquid in a heating and/or cooling installation, comprising: an elongated valve body (2,4) with opposite first- and second longitudinal ends, the first longitudinal end being provided with an inlet opening (9), a pressure regulating arrangement configured for maintaining a substantially constant differential pressure between a first pressure (P1) in the control valve (1) and a second pressure (P2) in the control valve (1), the pressure regulating arrangement comprises a movable throttle member (16) that is urged by the first pressure (P1) to increase the flow resistance posed by the pressure regulating arrangement and that is urged by a resilient member (20) and by the second pressure (P2) to decrease the flow resistance posed by the pressure regulating arrangement, the movable throttle member comprising a rolling diaphragm (16) that interacts with a plurality of exit openings (18), the rolling diaphragm (16) having a circular circumference attached to an annular body (11), the plurality of exit openings (18) being formed radially through the annular body (11), and the annular body (11) being slidably disposed in a cylindrical portion (4) of the valve housing (2) for allowing axial movement and rotational movement of the annular body (11) relative to the valve housing (2). A manifold (40) for a for heating system. The manifold comprises an elongated tubular housing (44), the housing (44) is provided with a manifold outlet (43), a plurality of sockets (42) for connection to respective return lines of circuits (I,II,III,IV) in the floor heating system, the sockets (42) having a lumen and being arranged to extend through a wall of the housing (44), a plurality of flow control valves (1), each flow control valve (1) being associated with one of the sockets (42), the flow control valves (1) comprise a pressure regulating arrangement configured for maintaining a substantially constant differential pressure between a first pressure (P1) in the control valve (1) and a second pressure (P2) in the control valve (1), the flow control valves (1) comprise an inlet in fluidic connection with the socket associated with the flow control valve (1) concerned, and at least one outlet (7) in fluidic connection with the manifold outlet (43), the flow control valves (1) comprise an elongated body (4), with a first longitudinal end sealingly engaging a socket (42) and a second longitudinal end for coupling to an actuator (48).