Flow control valve for fluidized material

• US 8,172,200 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Wurth, S.A. (Paul Wurth International SA)
• Original Assignee: Paul Wurth, S.A. (Paul Wurth International SA)
• Inventors: Kroemmer, Yvan, Censi, Emanuele
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIETJEN, MARINA ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US12/160,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20100163769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 251/176, 251/180, 251/181, 251/192
• US Class Current: 251/181
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/204 with the plugs or parts of the plugs mechanically pressing the seals against the housing

Abstract

A flow control valve for fluidized material comprises a valve housing having a valve chamber with a valve seat and a valve plug having a flow passage, the valve plug being arranged inside the valve chamber in front of the valve seat (30) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for controlling a flow through the flow control valve. It further comprises spring means biasing the valve plug against the valve seat perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, for achieving a sealing contact between the valve seat and the valve plug. According to an important aspect of the invention, the spring means comprises at least one cantilever spring (40) arranged in a clearance space opposite to the valve seat (30) so as to bias the valve plug against the valve seat.

Claims

1. A flow control valve for fluidized material comprising:

a valve housing having first and second retention pins and a valve chamber with a valve seat, said valve seat being arranged in a conjugated socket in said valve housing;

a valve plug having a flow passage, said valve plug being arranged inside said valve chamber in front of said valve seat so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for controlling a flow through said flow control valve and said valve plug comprises a cylindrical plug biasing surface; and

at least one cantilever spring arranged in a clearance space opposite to said valve seat, said cantilever spring being fixed to said valve housing and having an end portion in contact with said cylindrical plug biasing surface so as to bias said valve plug against said valve seat perpendicularly to said axis of rotation for achieving a sealing contact between said valve seat and said valve plug, wherein said first and second retention pins are configured to secure said valve plug when said at least one cantilever spring is removed.

2. The flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cantilever spring is a rod spring with a first end portion spring biasing said valve plug against said valve seat and a second end portion fixed to said valve housing.

3. The flow control valve according to claim 2, wherein said rod spring tapers towards its first end portion.

4. The flow control valve according to claim 3, wherein said rod spring comprises a saddle member mounted on a first end portion of said rod spring and having a contact surface conformed to the outer cylindrical plug biasing surface of said valve plug.

5. The flow control valve according to claim 4, further comprising an adjustment device supporting said second end portion of said rod spring, said adjustment device allowing the axial position of said rod spring with respect to said valve plug to be set.

6. The flow control valve according to claim 5, wherein said adjustment device comprises an operating portion for setting the axial position of said rod spring, said operating portion protruding from said valve housing.

7. The flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein two pairs of cantilever springs are arranged in corresponding clearance spaces tangentially with respect to said valve plug and on opposing sides of a flow channel through said valve housing.

8. The flow control valve according to claim 7, wherein the cantilever springs of each pair are arranged in parallel and two cantilever springs of either pair are arranged in opposing coaxial relationship.

9. The flow control valve according to claim 1, further comprising an actuating shaft mounted rotatable in said valve housing and an Oldham coupling which couples said valve plug to said actuating shaft.

10. The flow control valve according to claim 9, wherein said clearance space is arranged perpendicular to the axis of said actuating shaft in said valve housing.

11. The flow control valve according claim 1, wherein said valve plug comprises an essentially cylindrical hollow body having a cylindrical plug sealing face in contact with a corresponding sealing face of said valve seat.

12. The flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein said flow control valve is comprised in a pulverized coal injection system for a blast furnace.

13. A flow control valve for fluidized material comprising:

a valve housing having first and second retention pins and a valve chamber with a valve seat, said valve seat being arranged in a conjugated socket in said valve housing;

a valve plug having a flow passage, said valve plug being arranged inside said valve chamber in front of said valve seat so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for controlling a flow through said flow control valve and said valve plug comprises a cylindrical plug biasing surface;

at least one cantilever spring arranged in a clearance space opposite to said valve seat, said cantilever spring being fixed to said valve housing and having an end portion in contact with said cylindrical plug biasing surface so as to bias said valve plug against said valve seat perpendicularly to said axis of rotation for achieving a sealing contact between said valve seat and said valve plug, wherein said first and second retention pins are configured to secure said valve plug when said at least one cantilever spring is removed; and

an adjustment device supporting said second end portion of said cantilever spring, said adjustment device allowing the axial position of said cantilever spring with respect to said valve plug to be set.

14. The flow control valve according to claim 13, wherein said adjustment device comprises an operating portion for setting the axial position of said cantilever spring, said operating portion protruding from said valve housing.

15. The flow control valve according to claim 14, wherein said at least one cantilever spring is a rod spring with a first end portion spring biasing said valve plug against said valve seat and a second end portion fixed to said valve housing.

16. The flow control valve according to claim 15, wherein said rod spring tapers towards its first end portion and comprises a saddle member mounted on a first end portion of said rod spring and having a contact surface conformed to the outer cylindrical plug biasing surface of said valve plug.

17. The flow control valve according to claim 16, wherein two pairs of rod springs are arranged in corresponding clearance spaces tangentially with respect to said valve plug and on opposing sides of a flow channel through said valve housing.

18. The flow control valve according to claim 17, wherein the rod springs of each pair are arranged in parallel and two rod springs of either pair are arranged in opposing coaxial relationship.

19. The flow control valve according to claim 18, further comprising an actuating shaft mounted rotatable in said valve housing and an Oldham coupling which couples said valve plug to said actuating shaft.

20. The flow control valve according to claim 19, wherein said clearance space is arranged perpendicular to the axis of said actuating shaft in said valve housing.

21. The flow control valve according claim 20, wherein said valve plug comprises an essentially cylindrical hollow body having a cylindrical plug sealing face in contact with a corresponding sealing face of said valve seat.

22. A flow control valve for fluidized material comprising:

a valve housing having first and second retention pins and a valve chamber with a valve seat, said valve seat being arranged in a conjugated socket in said valve housing;

a valve plug having a flow passage, said valve plug being arranged inside said valve chamber in front of said valve seat so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for controlling a flow through said flow control valve and said valve plug comprises a cylindrical plug biasing surface; and

at least two pairs of cantilever springs wherein at least one cantilever spring of said two pairs is arranged in a clearance space opposite to said valve seat, said cantilever spring being fixed to said valve housing and having an end portion in contact with said cylindrical plug biasing surface so as to bias said valve plug against said valve

seat perpendicularly to said axis of rotation for achieving a sealing contact between said valve seat and said valve plug,

wherein two pairs of cantilever springs are arranged in corresponding clearance spaces tangentially with respect to said valve plug and on opposing sides of a flow channel through said valve housing, wherein said first and second retention pins are configured to secure said valve plug when said at least one cantilever spring is removed.

23. The flow control valve according to claim 22, wherein the cantilever springs of each pair are arranged in parallel and two cantilever springs of either pair are arranged in opposing coaxial relationship.

24. The flow control valve according to claim 22, wherein said at least one cantilever spring is a rod spring with a first end portion spring biasing said valve plug against said valve seat and a second end portion fixed to said valve housing, said rod spring tapering towards its first end portion.

25. The flow control valve according to claim 22, wherein said rod spring comprises a saddle member mounted on a first end portion of said rod spring and having a contact surface conformed to the outer cylindrical plug biasing surface of said valve plug.

26. The flow control valve according to claim 22, further comprising an adjustment device supporting said second end portion of said rod spring, said adjustment device allowing the axial position of said rod spring with respect to said valve plug to be set and comprising an operating portion for setting the axial position of said rod spring, said operating portion protruding from said valve housing.