Three-in-one valve and control system
The present invention relates to a three-in-one valve comprising an inlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow to an inlet of the valve, an outlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow into an outlet of the valve and a control valve for opening and closing the valve. During operation, the control valve can be opened and closed while the inlet shut off valve and outlet shut off valve are in an open position. The inlet shutoff valve and outlet shutoff can be closed for preventing flow into the control valve, thereby allowing the control valve to be serviced without draining of an attached fluid system, such as a radiator. In one embodiment, the three-in-one valve can be used to provide individual zone control for an individual radiator in a multi-radiator and boiler recirculating system.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-in-one valve in which a single valve includes three independently controlled valve portions to close various aspects of the valve.
2. Description of Related Art
Typical heating systems include a central valve for controlling a flow to plurality of radiators. A thermostat is used to regulate control of the control valve. Accordingly, all radiators are shut down and air is bled upon closing of the control valve.
It is desirable to provide an individually controlled valve to allow a single fluid source, such as a radiator, to be controlled upon control of the valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a three-in-one valve comprising an inlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow to an inlet of the valve, an outlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow into an outlet of the valve and a control valve for opening and closing the valve. During operation, the control valve can be opened and closed while the inlet shut off valve and outlet shut off valve are in an open position. The inlet shutoff valve and outlet shutoff can be closed for preventing flow into the control valve, thereby allowing the control valve to be serviced without draining of an attached fluid system, such as a radiator. In one embodiment, the three-in-one valve can be used to provide individual zone control for an individual radiator in a multi-radiator and boiler recirculating system.
In one embodiment, the inlet shutoff valve comprises a plug and cap. The plug being fitted within the inlet and the cap being fitted over the plug. The plug can be turned by a shutoff screw for moving the plug with the inlet to close the inlet.
In one embodiment, the outlet shutoff valve is a butterfly valve for preventing back flow from the outlet into the valve. The butterfly valve comprises a rotatable butterfly disc for closing or opening the outlet.
In one embodiment, the control valve comprises a diaphragm valve. The diaphragm valve includes a diaphragm within a body cap and a valve body portion. A bi-stable solenoid is attached to move a plunger adjacent the diaphragm upwards or downwards for opening and closing the control valve.
A remote controlled system can be associated with the three-in-one valve for remotely controlling the control valve.
The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.
Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
In one embodiment, inlet shutoff valve 12 includes plug 13 and end cap 14. Plug 13 is fitted within end 14 of inlet 15. End cap 14, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Upper surface 51 of valve body 45 includes funneled portion 52 adjacent central opening 53. Central opening 53 is aligned with central opening 46. Funneled portion 52 slopes downwardly to aid flow of fluid to central opening 53. Funneled portion 52 can have an elliptical shape.
Diaphragm 55 is positioned between body cap 44 and valve body 45. Diaphragm 55 divides the area between body cap 44 and valve body 45 into upper chamber 56 and lower chamber 57. Plunger 58 is raised and lowered by bi-stable solenoid 59 to raise and lower diaphragm 55 between an open position allowing flow through control valve 40 and a closed position shutting off flow through control valve 40. For example, bi-stable solenoid 59 can lift plunger 58 to open control valve 40 in a first polarization and thereafter the polarization is reversed to allow the plunger to drop and close control valve 40.
Diaphragm 55 includes an aperture 60. Aperture 60 allows fluid to flow between lower chamber 57 and upper chamber 56 for equalizing pressure between lower chamber 57 and upper chamber 56.
Referring to
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Valve controller 102 operates by requesting the status of control valve 40 on a regular basis from main control unit 110. Valve controller 102 can operate by switching from an extreme low power state to powered state at a specific time, for example, approximately every five minutes. When in the powered states, the single chip micro computer 106 sends a request to main unit 110 for the state of control valve 40 across transceiver module 105. Main unit 110 responds with the required status of control valve 40, if control valve 40 is not in the required state, single chip microcomputer 106 switches on the switched mode power supply 108 to operate a valve coil to change the state of solenoid 59 to the required state resulting in control valve opening or closing as requested. After this operation, valve controller 102 acknowledges the operation by sending the current room temperature back to main control unit 110 for display. When the operation is complete, single chip microcomputer 106 switches off transceiver module 105 and switched mode power supply 108 to minimize the supply current from battery pack 104. During this off period, the supply current is extremely low and allows battery pack 104 to be recharged by ambient light in the room using solar panel 103. Solenoid 59 being of the bi-stable type allows control valve 40 to remain in the open or closed state without requiring any battery current. As each valve controller 102 is assigned a unique address, each valve state can be controlled individually. All valve control is done without wires using low power radio frequency remote control. All functionality of the valve control is done using a programmable processor that is programmed to conserve as much energy as possible.
Main control unit 110 comprises components including main power supply unit 112, liquid crystal display 114, embedded (PC) 116, addressable transceiver module 118, such as 433.9 Mhz, control buttons 119, and GSM module 120. Main control unit 110 contains embedded (PC) 116 that communicates wirelessly to all control valve 40 transceiver module 105. Main control unit 110 is capable of controlling the heating system with features such as independent on/off control of each room radiator; independent day of week and time control for each room radiator; remote operation and programming of heating system; and remote operation of room control valves. Panel 134 can be associated main control unit 110, as shown in
Control valve 40 can be controlled remotely with remote controller 130. Remote controller 130 can be a mobile phone and/or computer. Panel 134 can be associated with remote controller 130, as shown in
Remote controller 130 operating from a mobile phone can activate as part of the valve control system a program that can allow the user to control the heating system using a smart messaging system (SMS). The user selects a number of settings such as heating system immediately on/off; timed switch on; on duration; and selection of rooms to heat or not. On selecting the send command button, the program sends the request to main control unit 110 to process the required actions, when main control unit 110 has processed the required actions, main control unit 110 response by sending to remote controller 130, mobile phone, the current temperature of each room and the heating system status.
In general, the valve and control system of the present invention is a very versatile system. It is capable of various methods of controlling a heating system within a building, it requires no installation or wires to each valve minimizing installation and maintenance costs. The valve and control system of the present invention is capable of saving considerable amounts of heating energy by isolating rooms individually on a timed basis when not in use. The valve and control system of the present invention also provides a method to remotely control the heating system from a mobile phone.
It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A three-in-one valve comprising:
- an inlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow to an inlet of said valve;
- an outlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow into an outlet of said valve; and
- a control valve for opening and closing said valve.
2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said inlet shutoff valve comprises a plug said plug being fitted within said inlet.
3. The valve of claim 2 wherein said inlet shutoff valve further comprises an opening in said plug and a shutoff screw received in said opening, said shutoff screw being used for screwing said plug within said inlet.
4. The valve of claim 3 wherein said plug further comprises an O-ring at one end.
5. The valve of claim 3 wherein said inlet shutoff valve further comprises an end cap adjacent to said plug, said end cap attaching to a portion of said inlet.
6. The valve of claim 1 wherein said outlet shutoff valve comprises a butterfly valve, said butterfly valve including a rotatable butterfly disc for sealing said outlet.
7. The valve of claim 6 further comprising a butterfly screw coupled to said butterfly disc, said butterfly screw being rotated for rotating said butterfly disc.
8. The valve of claim 1 wherein said control valve comprises a diaphragm valve.
9. The valve of claim 8 wherein said diaphragm valve comprises a diaphragm positioned within a valve body and a body cap, said valve body being adjacent said body cap said diaphragm forming an upper chamber and a lower chamber.
10. The valve of claim 9 further comprising a bi-stable solenoid coupled to a plunger, said plunger being adjacent said diaphragm, said bi-stable solenoid being activated to raise and lower said plunger for opening and closing said diaphragm.
11. The valve of claim 9 wherein said diaphragm includes an aperture, said aperture providing fluid flow between said lower chamber and said upper chamber for equalizing pressure in said control valve.
12. The valve of claim 9 wherein said valve body includes a funnel portion at an upper surface thereof adjacent a central opening in said valve body.
13. The valve of claim 12 wherein said funneled portion has an elliptical shape.
14. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a remote controlled control system for controlling said control valve.
15. The valve of claim 14 wherein said remote controlled control system comprises a valve controller coupled to said control valve and a main control unit communicating to said valve control unit.
16. The valve unit of claim 15 further comprising a remote control unit, said remote control unit communicating with said main control unit.
17. The valve of claim 16 wherein said main control unit communicates wirelessly to said valve controller and said remote controller.
18. Use of a three-in-one valve for controlling fluid flow in a boiler recirculation system wherein said three-in-one valve comprises:
- an inlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow to an inlet of said valve;
- an outlet shutoff valve for shutting off flow into an outlet of said valve; and
- a control valve for opening and closing said valve.
19. The use of claim 18 wherein the three-in-one valve is coupled to a radiator.
20. The use of claim 18 wherein the three-in-one valve is positioned in an inlet to at least one radiator.
21. The use of claim 18 wherein said three-in-one valve is positioned at one or more outlets of a boiler manifold.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 7, 2008
Inventor: Edward O'Reilly (Dublin)
Application Number: 11/497,836
International Classification: E03B 1/00 (20060101);