Single Shut-Off Valve for Ring Main Water Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking and domestic water systems with ring mains face challenges in preventing misuse, ensuring traceability of operation and installation, and simplifying the shutdown of ring mains for testing, cleaning, or maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A single shut-off valve is connected to the outlet and inlet openings, as well as the ring main, with an actuator to set valve positions. This valve is located between the outlet and inlet openings and the ring main, allowing direct connection to the line and enabling various operational positions to manage flow through the ring main.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two full-flow shut-off valves are installed in the ring main (one at inlet opening and one at outlet opening), then the ring main can be shut off for maintenance and functional tests, but the installation effort is considerable and the aesthetic impression is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate shut-off valve functions into a single shut-off valve located at the outlet opening. This single valve can close both the outlet opening and the ring main simultaneously, eliminating the need for two separate valves while maintaining the ability to isolate the ring main for maintenance and testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The single shut-off valve is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the outlet valve and the ring main isolation valve. By positioning it at the outlet opening and configuring it to control both flow paths, it provides universal shut-off capability for both the line flow and the ring main.
2Reliability
If two shut-off valves are installed in the ring main, then the ring main can be isolated for maintenance, but it is often not possible for the user to trace the respective valve position and misuse can occur
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the two valve functions into one single shut-off valve, the system eliminates the confusion of tracking multiple valve positions. The user only needs to monitor one valve position to understand the state of both the line flow and the ring main isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates visual indicators (such as color-coded markings or position indicators) on the single shut-off valve that provide immediate feedback about its position. This allows users to easily trace the valve position and understand whether the ring main is isolated or not, preventing misuse.
3Reliability
If two shut-off valves are installed, then the ring main can be shut off, but passages or inspection flaps corresponding to the number of valves must be provided which impairs aesthetic impression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the number of access points from two (one for each valve) to one (for the single combined valve). This single access point or inspection flap is sufficient to maintain both the line and the ring main, significantly improving the aesthetic appearance while preserving the shut-off functionality.
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 reduces installation complexity, enhances the traceability of the shut-off valve's operation, and minimizes the risk of misuse by allowing only one access point for the shut-off valve, thereby improving aesthetic and functional aspects of the water system.
Implementation Method 1
The flow resistance element can create a Venturi effect at the inlet opening
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a drinking and domestic water system with a transfer point (22) from the public water supply network, a line (2, 4) from which at least one ring main (10; 38, 40) provided with at least one consumer (12) branches off, wherein the ring main (10) branches off from the line (2, 4) via an outlet opening (14) and is led back into the line (2, 4) via an inlet opening (16), wherein the line (2, 4) and the ring main (10) are led in parallel and a flow resistance element (36) is arranged in the line (2, 4) between the outlet opening (14) and the inlet opening (16), or wherein the ring main (38, 40) is led back into a circulation line (6) via the inlet opening (16). The present invention aims to provide such drinking and domestic water system, which is intended to simplify the shutting off of the ring main for functional tests, cleaning measures or maintenance purposes. For this to achieve, the outlet opening (14) and the inlet opening (16) and the ring main (10) are connected to a shut-off valve (18, 20) which has an actuator (44) and is arranged between the outlet opening (14) or the inlet opening (16) and the ring main (10) provided with the at least one consumer (12). The shut-off valve of the present invention comprises a housing (42) having a first line-side connection (58) communicating with the outlet opening (14), a second line-side connection (60) communicating with the inlet opening (16), a first ring main-side connection (62) and a second ring main-side connection (64), and an actuator (44) arranged and formed in the housing (42) such that depending on the position of the actuator (44), a first and a second flow path (70, 76) between the ring main-side connections (58, 62; 60, 64) or bypass paths (76; 78) are formed in the housing (42), which connect two connections (58, 60; 62, 64) while other connections (62, 64; 58, 60) are shut off, or render one of the flow path (70, 76) continuous while the other flow path (76, 76) is shut off.