(19)
(11) EP 0 190 890 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
13.08.1986 Bulletin 1986/33

(21) Application number: 86300664.9

(22) Date of filing: 31.01.1986
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4B65D 90/56, B65D 90/58
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 06.02.1985 GB 8502948

(71) Applicant: THE BRITISH STEAM SPECIALTIES GROUP plc
Lee Circle Leicester LE1 3QQ (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Gillett, David Frederick
    Tadley Basingstoke Hampshire (GB)

(74) Representative: Pearce, Anthony Richmond et al
MARKS & CLERK, Alpha Tower, Suffolk Street Queensway
Birmingham B1 1TT
Birmingham B1 1TT (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Valves


    (57) The present invention, there is provides a valve comprising a flexible sleeve having first and second axially spaced sleeve portions 7, 8; first and second coaxially disposed, relatively angularly movable rings 2, 16 relative to which the first and second sleeve portions 7, 8 are respectively fixed; and means 1 for mounting the first and second rings around an opening through which the flow of material is to be controlled by the valve; wherein the first and second rings form parts of an epicyclic gear mechansim; and wherein means 32,34 are provided for effecting angular movement of part of the epicyclic gear mechanism between a first position corresponding to a fully closed position of the valve and a second position corresponding to dully open position of the valve, said epicyclic gear mechanism producing an increased angular relative movement of the rings 2, 16 for a given angular movement produced by said angular movement effecting means 32, 34.




    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to valves in which relative rotation of concentrically mounted rings is used to effect opening and closure of the valve; more particularly, it is related to valves wherein the concentrically mounted rings carry one or more flexible sleeves.

    [0002] Such valves are typically used for controlling the flow of particulate material from a hopper or other container.

    [0003] In a known form of a valve of this type, the flexible sleeve is secured at each end to a circumferential ring. The ring at one end of the sleeve is secured by means of a first clamping ring in a recess in a first casting having an annular mounting flange which is apertured to enable it to be bolted to a corresponding flange around the lower outlet of the hopper or other container. The ring at the other end of the flexible sleeve is disposed in a recess in a second casting which is mounted on the underside of the first casting so as to be rotatable relative thereto. The clamping ring at said opposite end of the sleeve is rotatable with the second casting so that, upon rotation of the latter relative to the first casting, for example by hand, the sleeve can be twisted or untwisted so as to close or open, respectively, the valve.

    [0004] However, this type of valve requires 180° of relative circular movement of the rings to close the sleeve fully from its fully open position. Achieving this movement mechanically (e.g. using a pneumatic cylinder) usually requires a complicated cable mechanism which requires frequent adjustment to compensate for wear and cable stretch.

    [0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a valve comprising a flexible sleeve having first and second axially spaced sleeve portions; first and second coaxially disposed, relatively angularly movable rings relative to which the first and second sleeve portions are respectively fixed; and means for mounting the first and second rings around an opening through which the flow of material is to be controlled by the valve; wherein the first and second rings form parts of an epicyclic gear mechanism; and wherein means are provided for effecting angular movement of part of the epicyclic gear mechanism between a first position corresponding to a fully closed position of the valve and a second position corresponding to a fully open position of the valve, said epicyclic gear mechanism producing an increased angular relative movement of the rings for a given angular movement produced by said angular movement effecting means.

    [0006] In one embodiment, the first ring is fixed against angular movement, the epicyclic gear mechanism comprises a carrier upon which pinion wheels are rotatably mounted, said pinion wheels drivingly engage the first and second rings and said angular movement effecting means can be used to move the carrier such that angular movement of the carrier is transmitted, by cooperation of said pinion wheels with said first and second rings, to the second ring and produces a correspondingly increased angular movement thereof.

    [0007] Preferably, at least one of said pinion wheels is toothed, the teeth engaging with corresponding teeth on the inner surface of the first ring and the outer surface of the second ring.

    [0008] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a portion of each pinion wheel which engages the first ring has a different diameter to a portion of each wheel which engages the second ring so that the angular movement of the rings produced by the angular movement effecting means is further increased. :

    It is also preferred that the first ring comprises a casing and a fixed ring, the fixed ring being fixedly connected to the casing and engaging said pinion wheels, said first flexible sleeve portion being fixed relative to the casing.



    [0009] The means for rotating the carrier is conveniently an arm attached at one end to said carrier and at its other end to mechanical means such as the piston of a pneumatic cylinder or a threaded screw driven by an electric motor, for providing movement of said arm. It will be appreciated that this valve may also be manually operated either by manually moving the arm directly or by operating a reduction means such as a manually operated screw mechanism.

    [0010] In a further embodiment the epicyclic gear mechansim comprises a plurality of pinion wheels rotatably mounted on said mounting means and engaging said first and second rings, said angular movement effecting means being used to move one of said rings such that angular movement of said one of said rings is transmitted by cooperation of said pinion wheels with said first and second rings to the other of said rings and produces a correspondingly increased angular movement thereof.

    [0011] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

    Fig. 1 is a part section plan view of a valve according to a first example of the present invention.

    Fig. 2 is a half section elevation on the line A-A of Fig. 1,

    Fig. 3 is a section on the line B-B of Fig. 1,

    Fig. 4 is a section on the line C-C of Fig. 1,

    Fig. 5 is a sectional view through part of a second example of a valve according to the present invention,

    Fig. 6 is a sectional view through part of a third example of a valve according to the present invention, and

    Fig. 7 is a sectional view through part of a fourth example of a valve according to the present invention.



    [0012] Referring now to the drawings, the valve of the present invention comprises a casing 1 having an upper and lower face la and lb, each face being defined by an inner and outer part 40a, 40b fixed together by screws 41 located in threaded bores 42..

    [0013] The casing 1 has an internally toothed fixed ring 2 firmly fixed thereto by means of external pegs (not shown) fitted into corresponding locating holes (also not shown) in the casing 1 and fixed ring 2 and also by means of three pairs of fixing screws 3, 3a, each pair of which is located in a respective threaded bush 4 in a respective arcuate slot 5 in a radially outer part of the ring 2. Counterbored holes, 6, 6a are provided in the upper and lower faces la, lb, of the casing 1 so that the heads of the fixing screws 3, 3a are set below the surface of each respective face la, lb. The arcuate shape of the slots 5 allows adjustment of the position of the fixed ring 2 relative to the casing 1 to account for any stretch in the valve closure member to be described hereinafter. Such adjustment can be effected after removal of the pegs from the locating holes. The casing 1 and the fixed ring 2 together define a first ring.

    [0014] The valve closure member is a two-part sleeve comprising a first sleeve 7 and a second sleeve 8, each sleeve having respective first (7a, 8a) and second (7b, 8b) parts. The free end of the first part 7a of the first sleeve 7 is positioned in a groove 10 in the upper face la of the casing 1 and is held there by retaining plate 11 and screws 12. The free end of the first part 8a of the second sleeve 8 is similarly held in a groove 13 in the lower face lb of the casing by a retaining plate 14 and screws 15.

    [0015] A second ring 16 which is toothed on its outer periphery is provided concentrically with the fixed ring 2 and between the portions of the upper and lower faces la, lb of the casing where the free ends of the first parts 7a, 8a of the first and second sleeves 7 and 8 are respectively retained. Grooves 17 and 18 are provided in the top and bottom surfaces of the second ring 16 together with respective retaining plates 19, 20 and retaining screws 21, 22. These serve to retain the ends of the second parts 7b and 8b of the first and second sleeves 7 and 8 in the same way that the free ends of the first parts 7a and 8a are retained in the casing. In this particular embodiment however, only one groove 17 is used as the first and second sleeves are formed from a single folded tube of material, the second parts 7b and 8b having common ends.

    [0016] It is to be appreciated that this embodiment of the present invention will work equally as well with the first and second sleeves 7 and 8 formed from two separate folded tubes in which case both grooves 17 and 18 would be used to retain the free ends of the two tubes.

    [0017] Annular seals 23 are provided between respective portions of the second ring 16 and the casing 1.

    [0018] A third ring comprising upper and lower pinion support rings 24 and 25 is provided within the casing 1 externally of the second ring 16. Between the upper and lower pinion support rings 24 and 25 there are six equiangularly spaced bearing units 26 comprising an upper and a lower locating stud 27, 28 and a bearing bush 29, each bearing unit 26 carrying either a toothed pinion wheel 30 or an upper and a lower idler wheel 31a, 31b. The teeth on the pinion wheel 30 engage with the teeth on the first and second ring 2 and 16. The pairs of idler wheels 31a, 31b engage the rings 2 and 16 on non-toothed peripheral edges of the latter and serve to maintain the relative positions of the first, second and third rings.

    [0019] A handle 32 formed of an upper part 32a and a lower part 32b is attached at one end to the respective pinion support rings 24, 25 forming the third ring, apertures being provided in the other ends of the parts 32a, 32b to which mechanical drive means can be attached such as a pneumatic piston and cylinder device 34. The parts 32a and 32b of the handle 32 project through respective openings 33 provided in the casing 1 the parts 32a and 32b passing respectively above and below the first ring 2. Movement of the handle 32 effects rot-ation of the third ring relative to the fixed ring 2. The total possible range of rotation of the third ring is limited by the stroke of the pneumatic piston and cylinder device 34.

    [0020] As the ring 2 is fixed, rotation of the third ring relative to the ring 2 causes rotation of the pinion wheels 30 due to the mutual engagement of the teeth between the pinion wheels 30 and the fixed ring 2. This induced rotation of the pinion wheels 30 is transmitted in the manner of an epicyclic gear mechanism to the second ring 16 through the engagement of the teeth provided on the pinion wheels 30 and the second ring 16. Consequently, for a given angular displacement of the third ring, a correspondingly increased angular displacement of the second ring 16 occurs. In the present example, 81° rotation of the third ring causes 180° rotation of the second ring 16 and so effects closure of the valve by twisting of the first and second sleeves 7 and 8. Opening of the valve is effected by a corresponding rotation in the opposite direction.

    [0021] It will be appreciated that the amount of angular displacement of the second ring relative to the third ring is due to the relative radii of the first and second rings in accordance with the principles of epicyclic gearing.

    [0022] In a second example, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the valve is similar to the valve of Fig. 1 and similar parts are accorded corresponding reference numerals in the 100 series. In this example, internally toothed fixed ring 102, instead of being of one-piece construction like ring 2, is of three-piece construction and comprises an outer ring portion 102a and spaced upper and lower ring portions 102b and 102c, respectively '0' ring seals 155 are provided in grooves 156 in the upper and lower surfaces of the outer ring position 102a, and radially inward of the fixing screws and associated structure 103 - 106. The upper and lower ring portions 102b and 102c are secured in upper and lower stepped formations in the outer ring portion 102a by means of respective sets of screws 150 and 151. The inner edges of the respective ring portions 102b and 102c are disposed further inwardly in the radial direction than the outer ring portion 102 and are toothed for engagement with corresponding upper and lower annular sets of teeth 152 and 153 on pinion wheel 130. The pinion wheel 130 is also provided with an intermediate annular set of teeth 154 which mesh with the teeth on the outer periphery of second ring 116. The upper and lower annular sets of teeth 152 and 153 are of the same diameter which is half of that of the intermediate annular set of teeth 154. The valve of Fig. 5 also has a set of idler wheels (not shown) corresponding to idler wheels 31 described above. However, in this embodiment, the idler wheels are of a similar stepped outline to the pinion wheels 130 but without the toothing thereon. The valve of Fig. 5 operates in a similar way to that described above except that, as a result of the 2:1 diameter ratio of the toothing described above, an increased angular displacement of the second ring 116 is obtained for a given rotation of the third ring. In this embodiment, 54° rotation of the third ring gives 180° rotation of the second ring 116.

    [0023] In a third example, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the valve is similar to that shown in Fig. 5. However, the overall diameter of the valve has been reduced by reducing the diameter of the epicyclic gear arrangement. In Fig. 6 similar parts to that shown in Fig. 5 are accorded corresponding reference numerals in the 200 series and certain parts have been omitted for clarity. In this example, internally toothed, fixed ring 202 is of one-piece construction replacing the three piece construction 102a, 102b, 102c shown previously. Each face of the casing is defined by a respective single part 240. Upper and lower handle parts 232a, 232b and their respective pinion support rings 224, 225 are also integrally formed, which further serves to reduce the diameter thereof.

    [0024] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7, the pinion wheels are fixed with respect to the casing and valve closure is effected by rotation of the outer ring. Similar parts to those shown in previous drawings are accorded corresponding numbers in the 300 series.

    [0025] Outer ring 302 is not fixed to the casing but is free to rotate and is supported by rubbing strips 360, 361 mounted on upper and lower casing parts 340. Seals 362, 363 are also provided in the parts 340 located outwardly of the strips 360, 361 and engaging the ring 302. Casing parts 340 project beyond the outer limit of the ring 302 and a dust cover 364 is provided therebetween. A slot (not shown) is provided in the cover 364 to allow movement of the actuating arm (also not shown).

    [0026] The pinion support ring is absent in this embodiment, the pinion wheel 330 and idler wheels (not shown) being rotatably mounted on the casing parts 340 by means of bolts 365.

    [0027] In use, the valve is opened or closed by rotating the outer ring 302 relative to the casing parts 340. The engagement of inward facing teeth on the outer ring 302 and teeth on the pinion wheel 330 causes the pinion wheel 330 to rotate. The engagement of teeth on the pinion wheels with outward facing teeth on the second ring 316 causes rotation of the second ring 316 when the outer ring 302 is rotated. Again, increased, angular displacement of the second ring 316 is achieved by the epicyclic gearing and the stepped pinion wheel described previously.


    Claims

    1. A valve comprising a flexible sleeve having first and second axially spaced sleeve portions; first and second coaxially disposed, relatively angularly movable rings relative to which the first and second sleeve portions are respectively fixed; and means for mounting the first and second rings around an opening through which the flow of material is to be controlled by the valve; wherein the first and second rings form parts of an epicyclic gear mechanism; and wherein means are provided for effecting angular movement of part of the epicyclic gear mechanism between a first position corresponding to a fully closed position of the valve and a second position corresponding to a fully open position of the valve, said epicyclic gear mechanism producing an increased angular relative movement of the rings for a given angular movement produced by said angular movement effecting means.
     
    2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ring is fixed against angular movement, the epicyclic gear mechanism comprises a carrier upon which pinion wheels are rotatably mounted, said pinion wheels drivingly engage the first and second rings and said angular movement effecting means can be used to move the carrier such that angular movement of the carrier is transmitted, by cooperation of said pinion wheels with said first and second rings, to the second ring and produces a correspondingly increased angular movement thereof.
     
    3. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the epicyclic gear mechansim comprises a plurality of pinion wheels rotatably mounted on said mounting means and engaging said first and second rings, said angular movement effecting means being used to move one of said rings such that angular movement of said one of said rings is tramsmitted by cooperation of said pinion wheels with said first and second rings to the other of said rings and produces a correspondingly increased angular movement thereof.
     
    4. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said pinion wheels is toothed, the teeth engaging with corresponding teeth on the inner surface of the first ring and the outer surface of the second ring.
     
    5. A valve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a portion of each pinion wheel which engages the first ring has a different diameter to a portion of.each wheel which engages the second ring so that the angular movement of the rings produced by the angular movement effecting means is further increased.
     
    6. A valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first ring comprises a casing and a fixed ring, the fixed ring being fixedly connected to the casing and engaging said pinion wheels, said first flexible sleeve portion being fixed relative to the casing.
     
    7. A valve as claimed in claim 2 or 6 wherein, the means for rotating the carrier is an arm attached at one end to said carrier and at its other end to mechanical means, for providing movement of said arm.
     




    Drawing