초록 ▼

The Valve device comprises two paths communicating depending on the position of a movable valve which includes a first and a second flap one of which being hollow. A third flap is freely mounted between the first and the second flaps assisting either the first and second flap in sealing either path.

The Valve device comprises two paths communicating depending on the position of a movable valve which includes a first and a second flap one of which being hollow. A third flap is freely mounted between the first and the second flaps assisting either the first and second flap in sealing either path.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A valve device for a multi-path circulation system, the system including a hollow connector body presenting structure defining first and second fluid circulation paths in selective fluid communication with each other, the valve device being movably mounted between the first and second fluid circu

1. A valve device for a multi-path circulation system, the system including a hollow connector body presenting structure defining first and second fluid circulation paths in selective fluid communication with each other, the valve device being movably mounted between the first and second fluid circulation paths, and movable through the hollow connector body along an axis such that the first and second fluid circulation paths either communicate or not with each other depending on position of the valve device mounted therebetween, the valve device being selectively shiftable along the axis within the connector body between an open position, a closed position, a first cleaning position, and a second cleaning position, the valve device comprising: first and second valve flaps, the second valve flap being coupled to or belonging to a hollow movable body, the hollow movably body defining an inner leakage chamber;an actuator assembly for moving the first and second valve flaps along the axis of the connector body, the actuator assembly comprising at least a central shaft operably coupled to the first and second valve flaps,wherein the first and second valve flaps are designed to be mounted within the connector body of the circulation system to— prevent communication between the first and the second fluid circulation paths, when in the closed position,allow communication between the first and second fluid circulation paths, around first and second flaps, when in the open position,prevent communication between said first and second fluid circulation paths, while allowing communication between only one of said paths and the leakage chamber when in the first cleaning position, andallow communication between only the other of said paths and the leakage chamber when in the second cleaning position of the valve device; anda third valve flap positioned between the first and the second flaps, the third valve flap being mounted on the valve device without physical connection to the central shaft such that the third valve flap is freely movable along the axis of the connector between the first and second valve flaps, and independently of direct control movement by the actuator,wherein the third valve flap exhibits a sealed relationship with the first valve flap when in the first cleaning position in which the third valve flap sealingly engages the first valve flap, and with the second valve flap when in the second cleaning position in which the third valve flap sealingly engages the second valve flap, andwherein in the first and second cleaning configurations, two of the first, second, and third valve flaps laterally engage an inner surface of the hollow connector body. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the third valve flap is mounted such that the third valve flap is freely movable in the first and second cleaning positions between the first and the second valve flaps, which are movable under control of the actuator assembly, the third valve flap being guided in its movements by bearing against one of said first and second valve flaps. 3. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein: the first, second and third valve flaps are movable between said open and closed positions along a common displacement axis coaxial with the axis of the connector body and inside the hollow connector body in which, in order from top to bottom of the connector body, the first, the third, then the second valve flaps are mounted,the second valve flap belonging to said hollow movable body so as to ensure a flow of flushing liquid therethrough into the inner leakage chamber when the valve device is in the first and second cleaning positions,said valve flaps respectively bearing first, third and second outer periphery gaskets, respective diameters of said first and second gaskets being identical, and a diameter of the third gasket being smaller than the diameter of the first and second gaskets, andthe hollow connector body in which the valve device is mounted having:a first inner diameter at a first location along the axis of the connector body against which bear the first and the third valve flaps when the valve device is in said closed position, and the third valve flap when the valve device is in each of the two cleaning positions, anda second inner diameter at a second location along the axis of the connector body, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first diameter, and against which bears the second valve flap when the valve device is in a closed position, and in one of the cleaning positions, in which the first valve flap is positioned higher than said first location of the first diameter and is therefore open to allow fluid communication between the first fluid path and the leakage chamber, andwherein the actuator assembly moves the flaps along the displacement axis to the open position by raising them above the first inner diameter of the connector body. 4. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the third valve flap is annular and is independently guided along said axis, towards an outer periphery thereof, by: radial contact with one of the first and second flaps, and,in the first and second cleaning positions, by a sealed relationship, with the inner surface of said hollow connector body. 5. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second valve flaps are made of metal, the third valve flap containing a plastic material adapted to be fluid-tight by gasket-free sealed bearing, in both cleaning positions, against the first or the second valve flaps, respectively. 6. The valve device according to claim 5, wherein the first, second and third valve flaps each comprise a gasket being mounted on a peripheral section of one of said valve flaps, and wherein outer diameters of said first and third valve flaps and outer diameters of the gaskets are identical. 7. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the third valve flap is made of PEEK. 8. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein: the first and second valve flaps are movable between said respective closed and open positions, along a common displacement axis coaxial with the axis of the connector body, andthe third valve flap positioned therebetween is provided with outer periphery centering spouts, so as to locally bear externally against an inner periphery of the second valve flap of the hollow body. 9. The valve device according to claim 8, wherein each centering spout externally comprises a bulge that defines a bearing segment and which connects via an inwardly curved part to an annular part of the third valve flap. 10. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein: the first, second and third valve flaps extend transversely to a vertical axis along which they are movable, with, from top to bottom, the first, the third and the second valve flaps, and,the third valve flap has a body with a diameter which narrows in a downward direction from top to bottom of the flap, and then extends outwardly at the bottom of the flap to define centering spouts for bearing against the second valve flap. 11. The valve device according to claim 10, wherein: the third valve flap has structure defining a groove on an outer peripheral section where a gasket is provided, to ensure, both in said closed position and said first and second cleaning positions, tightness against said fluid through contact with the connector body in which valve device moves, andthe third valve flap is freely movable in the first and second cleaning positions, between the first and the second valve flaps. 12. The valve device according to claim 10, wherein the body of the third valve flap is frustoconical in shape. 13. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third valve flaps each comprise a single gasket, said respective three gaskets being identical and mounted respectively on a peripheral section of said valve flaps, for tightness between each one of them and the inner surface of the hollow connector body in which the valve is movably mounted. 14. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the third valve flap comprises bearing surfaces transverse to the axis of the connector body, the bearing surfaces being arranged to be deformed and crushed during contact with at least one of the first and second valve flaps. 15. The valve device according to claim 14, wherein the bearing surfaces respectively define, with respect to the axis extending longitudinally or vertically along the connector body, upper and lower surfaces terminating in annular end portions, said annular end portions adapted to be raised and lowered respectively along the axis to sealingly engage and cover a corresponding rounded end portion of both first and second valve flaps when in the open position, and the corresponding rounded end portion the first valve flap when in the first cleaning position, and the corresponding rounded end portion of the second valve flap when in the second cleaning position. 16. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the second valve flap is integral with the hollow movable body.