Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 1 6933 1
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk pierced with n apertures,
with n ~ 1 intended to be used in a valve for a liquid whose flow is reg-
ulated by stopping up said openings to a greater or lesser degree. It
also relates to a valve comprising such a disk.
Valves of the most widespread type use a fixed seat having circular
apertures for passage of the water, closable by means of a mobile rubber
flap able to move perpendicularly to the seat. Control of the flap is
in general progressive, by use of a screw, whose rotation in the base of
the valve causes, by one of its ends, translation of the flap, the other
end forming the rod or "operating~stem". However, this structure has
several disadvantages,~connected on the one handl to the considerable
movement required by the flap to pass from stopping to maximum flow,
ma~ing closing imprecise and on the other hand to the evolution in time,
tled up particularly with the proglessive crushing of the flap in parti-
cular if the liquid distributed by the valve is hot. This evolution
causss that of the final angular position on closing, which is very
troublesome when the control knob comprises an operating stem, for which
a geometrically well-defined orientation is desirable in the closed posi-
tion.
.
- This is for example indispensable in the case of mixers having twomechanisms whose operating elements must be, for reasons of symmetry,
perfectly and identically orientated in the closed position.
This is why devices having an identical purpose have been proposed
recently using as seat and flap two dlsks, most often made from a ceramic
material having apertures and disposed one above the other, their rotation
placing these apertures either in coincidence, which corresponds to the
passage of the liquid, or in opposition, which corresponds to clos~ng of
the valve. These mechanisms are more satisfactory because of ~he geomet-
-~ 30 rical position of their closure, the stability of their flow rate, for a
`: :
:
69331
given aperture, whatever the temperature of the liquid controlled and
finally because of their reliability.
The apertures of the disks of which one is fi~ed and the other mobile
are in general 1, 2, 3 or possibly 4 in number, corresponding respectively
to a rotation of the control rod at 180, 90, 60 and possibly 45 for
passing over from the open position to the closed position and vice versa.
The valves with t~o sectors the most widespread and which correspond there-
fore-to a rotation of the control rod through an angle of 90, are often
designated under the name "a quar-ter revolution".
~owever, in spite of their advantages, these valves present disadvan-
tages :
The very principle of partial stopping up causes, because of the flat
surfaces perpendicular to the c:urrent lines which it implies, hydrodynamic
disturbances in the flow of the liquid. This flow thus passes from
"laminar" or substantially laminar operating conditions to "turbulent"
operating conditions, causing, particulaFly close to closure, the presence
- of noise-generating vortices.
This acoustic phenomenon is particularly pronounced when, through a
reduction of the dimensions of the valve, with a view to making them sim-
ilar to those of a conventional flap valve, the speed at which the liquid
passes through the apertures is increased.
Moreover, the flat disks known up to present do not aIlow sufficient
water flow rates to be obtained at a pressure of 3 bar~s for them to comply
with Class Cl oE high-flow and low-noise valves as defined by the ISO, NF
and DIN norms relating to sanitary valves and fittings to which reference
,
may be made for further details. In particular, "quarter of a revolution"
valves having two sectors at 90, for a standardlzed connection diameter
of 15 x 21, do not allow flow rates higher than 18 l/min to be attained
for a noise of at least 70 dB on cornpiete opening.
`' ' 1 ~ 69331
SUM~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The disk of the invention, used in a valve such as described above,
; allows this acoustic phenomenon to be considerably reduced.
To this end, the disk of the invention is characterized in that it
has one flat face and one nonflat face onto which the liquid is fed, the
form of said nonflat face being soch that a substantially laminar flow
condition of the liquid is maintained whatever the degree of stopping up
of said apertures.
This face of nonflat form may be constructed particularly in differ-
ent ways : it may be curvilinear~in shape, it may comprise at least oneconvex part in the vicinity of the axis of the disk perpendicular to its
flat face, it may be provided with apertures comprising particularly one
or more curvilinear surfaces whose generatrices are inclined with respect
to the perpendicular to the flat face of the disk. In all cases, a man
skilled in the art will give to this nonflat face a shape such that a
substantially laminar flow condition of the liquid is maintained whatever
the degree of stopping up of said apertures.
In accordance wlth a preferred embodiment, the disk o~ the invention
pierced with n apertures with n ~ 1, is characterized in that it has one
flat face and one face comprising n projecting dihedrons, each plane of
a dihedron being inclined with respect to the plane perpendicular to the
flat face of the disk and containing the solid~angle of~intersection of
: `~ : : :
said dihedron.~ ~
So as to obtain a dis~ in accordance with the invention, the man
skilled in the art will give preferably to the nonflat face a shape such
; that it allows, in maximum closed position of the valve, to ensure a
water flow rate greater than or equal to 20 l/min at a pressure of 3 bars,
for a disk having an outer dlameter of~ 17 mm It will be preferabl~ to
; choose among the different snapes thus obta~ned ~those ensuring, un~er the
same conditions as above, a flcw rate greater than or equal to 25 l/mn.
;5331
According to another embodiment o~ the invention, the shape of the
nonflat face will be chosen so that it ensures, whatever the degree of
stopping up of the apertures, a water flow rate which generates noise less
than or equal to 65 dB for a disk having an outer dia~eter of 17 mm.
Preferably, said disk will comprise in all cases n apertures in
angle sectors substantial}y equal to 180/n.
So as to further improve the laminar flow of liquid, the disk of the
invention is characterized in that the face opposite the flat face compri-
ses at least one-¢onvex part in the vicinity of the axis~of the disk
perpendicular to its flat face.
In fact, it has been discovered that to avoid any turbulence in the
flow of the liquid, it was preferable to avoid sharp edges which would
present an obstacle to the flow of the liquid.
With the same end in view, the disk of the invention is characterized
in that one at least of the planes forming one of the dihedrons is exten~
ded towards the periphery of the disk by a convex surface.
In accordance with a variation, one at least of the planes forminy
one at least of the dihedrons is extended towards the periphery o the
disk by a concave surface.
In the preferred variation of the invention which corresponds to the
presence of n dihedrons projecting from the nonflat face of the disk,
these latter will be disposed, when n is greater than or equal to 2, so
that the n planes perpendicular to the flat face of the disk and each
containiny one of the n solid angles of intersection of said dihedrons,
intersect substantially along an axis perpendicular to the flat face,
at the center thereof, at an angle equal to 360/n. In particular, in
the case where n i5 equal to 2, t~he two solid angles of intersection of
the two dihedrons will form an angle of 180 therebetween and will there-
fore be disposed in the extension of each other, the planes of the dihed-
rons then merging preferably two by two and forming then only a single
i :1 6`933~ `
dihedron whose solid angle of intersection iS disposed in a diametrical
plane of the disk.
PreferabIv, the solid angle of intersection of each dihedron will be
substantially parallel to the flat face of said disk, whereas each aper-
ture will comprise a plane of symmetry.
According to another variation, the disk of the invention i9 charac-
terized in that the face opposite the flat face is formed by a plurality
` of secant curvilinear surfaces.
Aceording eo~a~n~ther important characteristic, the disk of the inven-
tion is surrounded on~its lateral surface by a cylindrical sleeve whoseheight is at least equal to that of the disk, this sleeve being formed
from the same material as the disk and forming a single block therewith.
According to a variation, the disk and/or the sleeve are formed from
or covered by a plastic material.
According to another variation~ the disk is formed from two parts
made from different materials. It has In fact been discovered that it
was sometimes difficult to construct the disks of the invention pa~ticu-
larly when they are made from a sintered ceramic material. These t~o
.
parts are generally joined up along a plane parallel to the flat face of
the disk. This connection surface may however have a rough or even
"undulating" surface condition for facilitating posItloning of the two
parts before assembly and also improving the adherence after bonding.
So as to solve more easily the problem set, another embodiment of
the disk of the invention is characterized in that sald di~sk/from two
partsr one being~preferably a flat disk made from a ceramic material, the
.
other being generally made from a molded plastic material. This plastic
material may be rigid or flexible, which allows, in this latter case, to
avoid using seals in the valves employing disks such as described above.
These t~o parts ~ill generally be asse~.bled with one another by means af
an adhesive, adapted to the use of the valve such as the epoxy, poly-
1 1 6933 1
urethanb, isocyanate, mono or bi-componen~ bonding materials.
Generally, and so as to obtain extended use of the disk of the inven-
tion in valves such as described above, said disks will generally be made
from ceramic materials, known for their exceptional hardness, but easily
rectifiable, which allows them to be given flat faces having a low fric-
tion coefficient. In fact, such disks are caused to cooperate with a
second disk, as was explained above. This second disk is also made from
a very hard material and preferably from a ceramic material. However,
the manufactu~e;of the disk of the invention, considering its special
shape, is a relativély long and difficult operation. This is why, ac-
cording to another variation of the invention, said disk may be made from
two parts : one, made from a hard material such as ceramic, having the
shape of a flat disk pIerced with n apertures in sectors, and the other
having one flat face and one face comprising n projecting dihedrons.
Advantageously, this second part, which is the most delicate to fashion,
will be made from a moldable material In fact, this second part
; suffers no stress or friction when the disk is mounted in a valve.
~herefore, it may be made from much less hard material and in particular
from a moldable plastic material such as tbe polyolefins, the homo or
co-polymers or vinyl polychloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate,
polyurethane, methyl polymethacrylate, polyester, etc..~, as well as
natural or synthetic rubber, said products being of course chosen depend-
`~ ing on the use of the valve, i.e. the nature and the~maximum temperature
of the liquid to be conveyed. The two parts of the disk of the inven-
tion will be assembled together by means o~ an adhesive, such as the
polyurethane paste adhesives of the mono or bi-component type, the cor-
responding sector apertures of the two parts being placed facing each
other.
The invention also re~ates to liquid valves having a cylindrical
body ~1) with an outlet t.ube (Z) for discharging the water, an inner
- i I J 6933 1
cylindrical support (5) for receiving a first disk (4) pierced with n
apertures with an input face for the liquid, and supporting on its other
face a second disk (3) pierced with n complementary sector apertures, the
two disks being able to be driven with a relative rotational movement con~.
trolled by a rod (6), the angular position of the disks defining the pas-
sage for the liquid, said valve being characteriæed in that the first disk
(4) is such as described above, the liquid being brought onto the face
opposite the flat face of the disk (4).
The. control rod ~6) of the valve ensures ro~ation of one o~ the:d.i.sks
through a U-shaped part whose legs.penet~ate into diametrically opposite
housings in the disk, and the median part into a slit carried by the end
of the control rod, having preferably a cone shape.
So as to further improve t:he acoustic performances of the valve of
the invention, this latter is characteriæed in that the output face of
the second dlsk (3) supports at 1east one grating, each sector-shaped
aperture of this disk having penetrating therethrough a part of this grat-
: ing having substantially the shape of a cone, the axis of each cone being
orientated towards that of ~the edges o~ the apertule of the second disk
which corresponds to total closure of the water passageway. In other
words, the apex of the cone which is preferably rounded, is disposed in
the vicinity of the edge of the aperture of the second disk which corres-
ponds to total closure of the water passageway. The ape~ of the cone is
:. moreover situated very close to the contact sur:face of the two disks
According to another varlation, the output face~of the second dlsk
(3) supports at least one g~ating, each sector-shaped~aperture having
penetrating therethrough a part of this gratlng having the shape of two
inclined planes with unequal slopes, the:plane having the greatest slope
: being orientated towards~that of the aperture edges which corresponds to
total closure of the water passageway.
For the two grating variations mentioned above, it is then important
I 1 B9331
for one of the inclined planes or lateral surface of the cone to be sit-
uated close to the edge of the aperture corresponding to closing of the
valve.
Generally, there should be understood by grating any small plate
pierced with a plurality of holes, disposed before the output face of the
second disk, which is generally mobile. The purpose of this small plate,
in the form of a ~etal sieve, or close-mesh grating, is to fractionate
and break up possible hydrodynamic vortices, created in the inlet pipe,
upstream of the valve. Such sieves have already been used in practice,
but the present invention provides.for conferring on their:surface the
shape of two cones inclined:in opposite directions and disposed side by
side, so that the apex of each inclined cone, present in each of the aper-
tures, corresponds to the direction of closing of the valve : at small
openings, in fact, the speed is then maximum and the presence of an anti-
vortical grating in the immediate vicinity of the aperture has been dis-
covered to be particularly efficient. The operation of the valve of the
invention may be further improved by disposing a plural.ity of anti~vorte.x
gratings, having the same or diffe~ent pitches, whose apertures may be
staggered with respect to one another.
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DR~WINGS
The invention will be better understood from the following descrip-
tion with reference to the accompanying figures in which :
Figure 1 shows a quarter-of-a-revolution valve of the prior art~
Figure 2~shows a varlation, in partial section, of a part of a
quarter-of-a-revolution va]ve of the prior art;
Figure 3 shows a disk of the gaarter-of-a-revolution valve of the
present lnventlon; : ~ .
Figure 4 shows a vsriation of a disk of the invention;
Figure 5 shows a variation of Figure 3, i:n which the disk is made
in two pa~ts;
'
I J ~3 3 1
Figure 6 shows a variation of Figure 4~ in which the disk is made in
two parts;
Figure 7 shows a second variation of Figure 3, in which the dihedrons
are formed by curvilinear surfaces, the solid angle of intersection being
formed by the intersection of a plane parallel to the flat face and inter-
secting the two curvilinear surfaces;
F~gure 8 shows a section along AA of Figure 7;
Figure 9 shows a third variation of Figure 3, in which the solid angle
of i~tersection of the di.hedr.on is a curvllinea~r surface nonparalleY.to
the flat surface of the disk;
Figure 10 shows a variation of the disk of the invention comprising
three sectors;
: Figure 11 shows a fourth variation of the disk shown in Figure 3;
Figure.12 shows a fifth varlation of the disk shown in Figure 3;
Figure 13 which comprises two views A and B shows a sixth variation
of the disk of Figure 3;
Figure 14 shows a disk of the invention having a singl.e sector;
: . Figure 15 shows, in two views (A and B~, two positions of the fixed
and mobile disks of the valve of the invention, Eitted with a grating cone;
Figure 16 shows a quarte~r-of-a-revolution valve of the invention,
equipped with a control rod with internal ends in the shape of cones.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI.MENTS
. Figure l shows a quarter-of-a revolation ~alve of the prior art.
It is formed from a body l, generally cylindrlcal in shape, on the lateral
surface oF which there is provided a water outlet 2. The devlce for r2g-
ulating the flow oE~the water is formed from two disks 3 and 4, in the
form of a cyli~nder of small heIght~ shown spaced apart in Figure l for a
better understanding, but whlch are normally applied one on the other,
Disk 4 is fixed and integral with a support 5, and disk 3 is rotary under~
the action of a control rod 6. The disks each have two sector-shaped :.
~ ~933~
apertures, on the one hand 7 and 8 and on the other hand, 9 and 10. This
rotation cannot exceed an angle of ~0, due to a means not shown, which
ensures either that the apertures be placed in coincidence, or placed in
quadrature, with all the intermediate positions.
When water is fed, in the direction of arrows 11, to the input face
12 of the fixed disk, its flow is thus adjusted from stoppage up to the
maximum value tied up with the dimension of the-apertures~ then placed in
coincidence. ~owever, this type of valve, though it ensures correct reg-
ulation of the flow, emits an excessive operating noise for high fIuid
speeds, as was indicated earlier on, in particular when the sector-shaped
apertures are almost at closure point, providing restrictions of the fluid
stream, generators of noise-pro~oting vortices.
Figure 2 shows, in partial section, a part of a quarter-of-a-
revolution valve of the prior art, using a mobile disk of so-called "but-
terfly" shape. Disk 4 doez not have continuous walls on its lateral
surface, as in the case o Figure 1, and apertures 7 and 8 are thus open
; laterally, which improves the flow of the water.
-~ In the two embodiments of disks at present known, it will be noticed
that they comprise two flat parallel faces.
Figure 3 shows a fixed disk for a quarter-of-a-revolution valve in
accordance with the invention. It is shown in an inverted position for
better understanding.
It is characterized by the replacement of the flat input face 12 of
the known disk of Figure 1 by a dihedron-shaped face 20 having a solid
; 25 angle of intersection 21 parallel to flat face 70 and two planes 22 and
23. Each sector-shaped aperture 24 has its axis of symmetry contained
in the plane perpendicular to the solid angle of intersection 21 of the
dihedron. It will also be noticed in this figure that sector 24 is
defined by two solid angles of intersection 71 and 72 which are the inter-
section of flat face 70 and planes 73 and 74 perpendicular thereto and
11
.
I ~ ~933 ~
defining a 90 opening sector.
After positioning in the fixed support 5 of th~ valve of Figure 1,
and in cooperation with the cylindrical internal walls of this support,
the planes such as 22 of the fixed disk provide a progressive and even
reduction of the free section offered to the water, and produce a hydro
dynamic guiding effect for the fluid stream which maintains it in laminar
operating conditions, even for small openings~ by behaving as inp~t def-
lectors. The noise produced by the valve thus eguipped is then reduced
in considerable proportions, the appearance of vortices being shifted to
flow rates situated very much above the usual values.
Figure 4 shows a variation of the fixed disk of the invention. Ac-
cording to this variation~ an outer cylindrical sleeve 30 is added to the
lateral surface of disk 4. This sleeve, made Erom a single and continu-
ous material with that of the disk, plays the role of the internal cylin-
drical wall of the support of Figure 1 for providing the desired hydro-
dynamic effect. It allows the disk to be fixed in a simple manner in
this cylinder, which then only serves as a mechanical support. This
sleeve 30 may however, as described above, be made from a difEerent mat-
erial, added around the disk. Moreover, the connection ~one 31 between
one of the planes of the dihedron and the cylinder may with precision be
given a shape either in accordance with a gutter profile or in accordance
with a re-entrant dihedron improving the flow.
In Figure 5, which shows a variation of the disk shown in Figure 3~
; but made from two parts, the same elements as those in Figure 3 bear the
2~ same references. In this figure, the lower part of the disk is formed
by a flat disk 61, pierced with apertures having the shape of sectors,
such as 24. The upper part 64 of this disk is quite similar to the
disk shown in Figure 3. The surface 69 separating the two parts of the
disk is here parallel to the solid angle of intersection 21`oE the dihed-
ron.
12
1 1 6933 1
In Figure 6, which shows a variation of Fig~re 4 in which the diskis made from two parts, the same elements as those in this figure bear
the same references. The lower disk 61 has the same structure as that
of the corresponding disk of Figure 5, except that the secto~s such as
24 are closed sectors.
Such a two-part structure, such as described in Figures 5 and 6 is
particularly advantageous to construct, since the lower part 61 of the
simple-shaped disk may be made from a ceramic material without difficulty,
the upper part 64 of said disk, having a much more complex shape, being
then molded from a thermoplastic or rubber material. The assembly of
the two parts can be achieved without any difficulty, by means of an
adhesive resisting high temperatures, such as a mono or bi-çomponent
polyurethane bonding agent, the sectors such as 24 of the two parts of
the disk being placed facing each other.
Figure 7 shows a var1at1on of Figure 3, in which the planes 22 and
23, forming the dihedron and intersecting along the solid angle of inter-
section 21, are curvilinear planes. This gives a particular shaps to
the solid angle of interseotion 21, whose contour resembles approximately
the outer contour of a letter X. Such a struc~ure h~s the advantage o~
greater strength of the solid angle of intersection.
In Flgure 8, there is shown a section along plane AA of Figure 7.
In this section there are shown two portions of plane 22~ limited respec-
tively at 66, 65 and 67, 68. This plane has the profile of a grooYer
respectively 63, 64, one end of which (65, 67) is much lower than the
~5 other ~66, 68). Such a profile is particularly well adapted to maintain-
ing the laminar flow of most liquids and in particular of water.
Although the section of Figure 8 is that of the disk shown in Figure
7, it should be understood that the disks shown in the other figures may
also have the same groove-shaped profile.
In Pigure 9 there 1S sho~n . third va~i~t1on of tùe disk of Pigure 3,
13
1 1 693~ 1
in which variation the solid angle of intersection 21 is not parallel to
the flat face of said disk. This solid angl~ of intersection however is,
as in the case of the other figures, generally substantially symmetrical
with respect to a plane perpendicular to the flat face of said disk.
Such a structure as shown in Figure 9 has the advantage of greater
compactness.
It should be noted that the solid angle of intersection may also be
orientated in a convex way, contrary to the illustration of Figure 9 where
it is orientated in a concave way.
Figure 10 shows a variation of the disk of the invention~ in which
said disk comprises three sectors, corresponding to an angle of 60,
between the open and closed positlons.
In this figure, the same elements as those of the preceding figures
bear the same references. The upper face of the disk comprises three
solid angles of intersection 8, 81, 82 which intersect substantially alony
the axis of the disk. Each sector is formed from two curvilinear surfaces
. '
83 and a4 extended by their substantially vertical surEaces 85 and 86.
Figure 11 shows a variation of the disk shown in ~igure 3, in which
the same elements bear the same references. The dihedron has here been
replaced by an assembly of two curvilinear surfaces 22 and 23 which join
up along concave surface 21. In this embodiment of the invention~ the
face of the disk on which the liquid arri~es presents then no projecting
part but rounded parts, which allows turbulence phenomena to be avoided
even better.~ ~
Figure 12 shows another variation of the disk shown in Figure 3
In this variation, all the sharp edges of the upper face of the disk have
been eliminated, as in thq case of F~gure 11. How~ver~ the flat parts
73 and 74 of Figure 11 have been eliminated and replaced by a continuous
concave surface ending at the solid angles of intersection 71 and 72 of
sector 24. Thus, in this figure, the lsteral solid angle of intersection
~ .
.
14
1 169331
75 of the disk ~as well as the opposite solid angle of intersection 76~
forms a continuous line having successively a concave part at the begin-
ning of the solid angle of intersection 21 of the dihedron then a convex
part and finally another concave part in the vicinity of the solid angle
of intersect~on 72. This disposition is symmetrical with respect to
the plane perpendicular to the 1at face 70 of the disk and containing
solid angle of intersection 21.
In Figure 13 there is partially shown another variation of the disk
shown in Figure 3. In this variation, the~ lateral solid an~le~of inter-
section 75 of the disk has a shape substantially identical to that of thesolid angle of intersection 75 of the disk of Figure 11 but presents t~-
~ards the bottom a concave part which rises towards the vertical plane
74. This disposition is better shown ln Figure 13 B which shows a section
of the disk of Figure 13 A along a plane perpendicular to solid angle of
intersection 72j in the vicinity of the periphery of the disk. ~s can
be seen in this Figure 13 Br solid angle of intersection 74 has a peak 77.
The path of the liquid shown by the broken-line arrows in the figure is
then dèflected, such an arrangement suDjects the liquid to an effect
known by the English name "spoiler" which alIows the noise to be even
more attenuated at the moment of opening or closing of the valve.
Figure 14 shows a disk in accordance with the invention having a
single opening at 180, which disk may accordingly be used in valYes where
the "operatlng stem" of said valve forms an angle of~180~ between the ~;
opening and closing positions. This disk has been shown according to
the variation of the invention in which said disk is surrounded by a cir-
. ~ ~
cular sleeve. In this figure, the same elements as those in the pre~ed-
ing figures bear the same references ~he dis~ such as shown in this
figure comprises a flat face 70 and a nonflat face 20 ormed from a
; .
curvilinear part 92 and a flat 2art 90 whlch intersect along the solid
angle of intersection 21. Such as it is~shown in this figure, the liquid
~ 16933~
must be fed from the top as in the case of the preceding fiyures. rrhe
curvilinear surface 92 intersects the lower flat face of the disk along
the solid angle of intersection 94 which defines with the corresponding
wall of sleeve 7g the sector, or aperture, 93 formed substantially by a
semicircle. It should of course be understood that for this type of
disk with a sector at 180 as well as moreover for disks having three
sectors such as shown in Figure 10, all the variations shown in Figures
11, 12 and 13 as well as in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 may also be applied.
Generally~, a;ll the d-isks such as described above, whatever the shape
of the surfaces which form the nonflat face of the disk and which allow
the acoustic phenomena to be attenuated on opening and closing of the
- vàlve with respect to a corresponding disk having apertures with walls
perpendicular to said flat face, come within the scope of the present in-
vention, to the extent that this acoustic improvement occurs for usual
flow rates or pressures in particular as far as valves and fittings in-
tended for the distribution of water axe concerned. As a general rule,
this applies to flow rates less than 50 l/min and preferably less than
25 l/min.
Figure 15 shows, in two views A and B, an additional arrangement of
the valve of the invention, situated this time on the output face of
- the ~obile disk 3, i.e. a grating 40~ The characteristic of this grat-
ing, which is usually in the shape of a flat disk in known constructions,
is that it is in the shape of a pair of cones, each cone having its axis
sloping in the direction of one of the radial faces of one of the two
sector-shaped apertures.
The operation of such a latticed cone is the following, shown by two
views taken with respect to the mobile disk for better understanding.
At wide openlngs (Figure 15 A), the ~obile disk 3 has its aperture
in coincidence with fixed disk 4. The water passes through without
- 30 meeting any restriction and grating 40 is traversed as a whole without
.
16
~169331
playing any role; moreover, in the case where the mobile disk has the
"butterfly" shape of Figure 3, a part of the water passes laterally through
- the apertures of the mobile disk.
On the other hand, at small openings (Figure 15 B), the passageway
left for the water at 42 is reduced, and residual vortical phenomena may
occur. The latticed cone then presents its apex 41, in the immediate
vicinity of the narrow aperture 42, and the fluid jet is then guided at
its outlet, evenly and continuously,~ in the directions shown by the arrows
such as 43,~ the~rest of the latticed cone 44 behaving as an antivortex
expansion cone.
Figure 16 shows the assembly of the low-noise value of the invention,
t~e same elements bearing therein the sam~ references. It comprises
another additional arrangement for reducing the risk of creating vortices
and the outlet of the fluid jet. For that, control rod 6 is no longer
connected mechanically to mobile disk 3, as shown in Figure 1 of the prior
art~
The control of the disk is made by means of an inte~mediate part 50,
having the general shape of the letter U, whose legs 51 and 52 penetrate
into housings 53 and 54 in the disk, and whose median part 55 penetrates
into a slit carried by the free end of the control rod~ Under these con-
ditions, the end face 56 of the rod may be, in accordance with the inven-
tion, easily shaped as a deflector of revolution for the water, improving~
guidance thereof towards the lateral apertures 57 and 58 of support 5.
- The shape may be eithèr a cone with a wide angle at the apex or, prefer-
ably, a spherical skullcap.
The intermediate control part may be preferably made from stainless
:
steel and may moreover play the role, by means of one of its transverse
ends, of "quarter-of-a-revolution" stop, limiting to the desired value
the angle of~rotation of the "operatlng stem".
It should be noticed that, In what has gone before, the valve of the
~` . .
17
- 1169331
invention has been described by way of example in the case of the ~uarter
of a revolution, with two sector-shaped apertures.
The variations of the disk shown in Figures 7 to 13 have been shown
in a single part. It will be readily understood that these disks may be
also formed in two parts, with or without sleeve, as is indicated in Fig-
ures 5 and 6.
It should also be noticed that in Figures 15 A and 15 ~, the valve
of the invention has been described for the sake of simplicity with a
singIe cone-s~aped grating;. It will be readily understood that se~eral
gFatings may be superimposed having the same pitch or a different pitch,
having meshes staggered with respect to one another or not, without
departing ~rom the scope of the invention.
It should also be noticed that in the embodiment described, since
the resilient bearing force of the two disks on one another cannot be
exerted by horseshoe-shaped part, it is on the disks that this force is
exerted by means of the annular seal 60 which ensures the seal between the
body of the valve and the support for the disk. This arrangement causes
then advantageously the seal to assume two functions, the fixecl disk
being slidingly mounted. It should furthermore be noted that although
~0 in the description the grating used has a cone-shape, a grating may be
used in which the cone is partially cut along the lateral surfaces of
the disk, thus conferring on said grating the shape of two inclined planes
with unequal slopes. The valve of the invention described in particular
.
with reference to Figure 16 mentions that the disk ~3) is mobile, whereas
disk (4~ is fixed. It will be readily understood that the reverse may
also be provided, disk (4) being mobile, disk (3) being fixed. For that,
it is sufficient for the control rod (6~ to have a matching shape, for
example for it to have one end in the form of nippers whose teeth are
fixed on disk 4, the control rod bearing on disk 3 and maintaining it in
a fixed positlon, by any suitable means.
:''' , '
~ 18
~ ~ 6933 1
It should finally be noticed that, with respect to the "quarter-of-a-
revolution" valves constructed in accordance with the known structure o~
Figure 1, the valve constructed in accordance with Figure 16 has, fo}
flow rates of comparable value, provided an improvement in the reduction
S of noise of the order of 5 to 10 clecibels.
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