A Dampening Valve Unit

• US 20190316331A1
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3Eflow AB
• Original Assignee: 3Eflow AB
• Inventors: Abbing, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 11,136,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/07 Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/077 Arrangement of backflow preventing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/08 Arrangement of draining devices, e.g. manual shut-off valvesdraining devices in general F16K, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/04 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/00 Means in valves for absorbing fluid energy for pipes F16L55/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/052 Pneumatic reservoirs

Abstract

A dampening valve unit, for use in a liquid distribution system is disclosed. A feeding conduit is evacuated of liquid after an associated tap unit is closed and refilled with liquid after the tap unit is opened. The dampening valve unit comprises a dampening chamber, connectable to said feeding conduit, and a liquid stop valve unit, connectable at an inlet end thereof, to said associated feeding conduit and which has an outlet end being connectable to said associated liquid tap unit. Said dampening chamber is adapted to collect gas and is connectable to said associated feeding conduit via a passage. The passage is directly connected, without any restrictions therebetween, also to a liquid stop valve at said inlet end. The passage is always open at the dampening chamber for fluid connection between the passage and the dampening chamber.

Claims

1. A dampening valve unit, for use in a liquid distribution system having a centrally located liquid source connected via at least one feeding conduit to at least one liquid tap unit, wherein at least one feeding conduit is evacuated of liquid after an associated tap unit is closed and refilled with liquid after the tap unit is opened, the dampening valve unit comprising a dampening chamber, which is connectable in use to at least one of said feeding conduit, and a liquid stop valve unit, which is also connectable in use, at an inlet end thereof, to said associated feeding conduit and which has an outlet end being connectable in use to at least one of said associated liquid tap unit, said dampening chamber is adapted to collect gas and is connectable to said associated feeding conduit via a passage of the dampening valve unit, the passage is directly connected, without any restrictions therebetween, also to a liquid stop valve at said inlet end of said liquid stop valve unit, and the passage is always open at the dampening chamber for fluid connection between the passage and the dampening chamber.

2. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid stop valve unit comprises at least one non-return valve.

3. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a pressure responsive part, separate or integrated, is provided in the liquid stop valve unit which biases the at least one liquid stop valve in a closed state.

4. The dampening valve unit according to claim 3, wherein the pressure responsive part, integrated or separate, having an opening characteristic going from the closed state to an open state with no or a slight increase of pressure or a decrease of pressure after a threshold pressure has been reached.

5. The dampening valve unit according to claim 3, wherein the pressure responsive part at least one spring.

6. The dampening valve unit according to claim 5, wherein the spring has a non-linear load-deflection characteristic curve with a horizontal or negative portion, thus providing a long deflection after a threshold pressure has been reached.

7. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring is a metal diaphragm spring.

8. The dampening valve unit according to claim 7, wherein the at least one metal diaphragm spring has spring fingers arranged along a rim of the spring and the fingers pointing with their free ends towards a centre.

9. The dampening valve unit according to claim 7, wherein the at least one spring may have one or two resting states.

10. The dampening valve unit according to claim 7, wherein the springs are stacked at least two in the same direction.

11. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a sensor for sensing pressure or another physical variable is provided downstream the at least one liquid stop valve in the liquid flow direction when the tap unit is open.

12. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the dampening chamber has a free inner space.

13. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a membrane, piston or other pressure responsive or dampening device, is provided within the liquid valve unit, between the at least one liquid stop valve and the outlet end, the membrane having the possibility to take care of pressure building up within the liquid valve unit.

14. The dampening valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid stop valve unit opens at a threshold pressure of at least 1 bar over atmospheric pressure.

15. The dampening valve unit according to claim 7, wherein the springs are stacked at least—

three in the same direction.