Apparatus for control of differential pressure in a heating and cooling system

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus ( 1 ) for controlling the pressure difference in a heating or cooling system, which comprises a heating or a cooling source ( 2 ) and a feed duct ( 3 ) as well as a return duct ( 4 ), connected to the source, and consumption devices ( 5 ) disposed between the ducts, which emit or receive heat, at least one valve or the like ( 6 and 7 and 8, respectively) being used to control the flow through such a loop, and a pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) being used to keep the pressure difference between the feed duct and the return duct constant. According to the invention, the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) is optionally mounted in one of the ducts ( 3 or 4 ) and is provided with signaling terminals ( 29 and 27 and 32 and 30, 31, respectively) connected to the inlet ( 17 ) and the outlet ( 28 ), respectively, as well as to the low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) and the high pressure regulating side ( 15 ), respectively. At least one valve or the like ( 6 and 7, respectively), mounted in the other duct ( 4 and 3, respectively) in relation to the duct ( 3 and 4, respectively) of the pressure difference regulator, is provided with signaling terminals ( 23; 34 and 12; 33, respectively), connected to its inlet ( 21 and 24, respectively) and outlet ( 14 and 22, respectively). The pressure difference regulator is controlled via optional signaling ducts ( 13 and 16 and 19 and 20 and 25 and 26, respectively) between the terminals.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for controlling pressure difference in one of a heating and a cooling system, the apparatus comprising one of a heating and a cooling source ( 2 ), a feed duct ( 3 ) and a return duct ( 4 ) connected to the source ( 2 ) with at least one consumption device ( 5 ) located therebetween, which emits or receives heat, at least one valve ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 , respectively) being used to control flow through a loop provided in this way, a pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) being used to keep the pressure difference between the feed duct and the return duct constant, wherein the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) is provided for optional mounting in one of the feed duct ( 3 ) or the return duct ( 4 ) and is provided with signaling terminals ( 29  and  27  and  32  and  30 , 31 , respectively), connected to an inlet ( 17 ) and an outlet ( 28 ), respectively, as well as to a low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) and a high pressure regulating side ( 15 ), respectively, the at least one valve ( 6  and  7 , respectively), mounted in the other duct ( 4  and  3 , respectively), in relation to the duct ( 3  and  4 , respectively) of the pressure difference regulator, is provided with other signaling terminals ( 23 ; 24  and  12 ; 33 ), connected to inlets ( 24  and  21 , respectively) and other outlets ( 14  and  22 , respectively), and that the pressure difference regulator is designed to be controlled via optional signaling ducts ( 13  and  16  and  19  and  20  and  25  and  26 , respectively) between the terminals.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the feed duct ( 3 ) adjacent a first consumption device ( 5 ) an thermostat controlled control valve ( 6 ) is mounted, which is designed to precision control the first consumption device ( 5 ) and in front of the first consumption device in the flow direction a guiding point ( 7 ), in the form of a control valve with a measuring function, which guiding point is useable for a preregulation of a loop flow, the flow to a plurality of devices ( 5 ), in that in the return duct ( 4 ) adjacent the first consumption device ( 5 ) an adjustment valve ( 8 ) is mounted and after the adjustment valve( 8 ) in the flow direction a pressure difference regulator ( 9 ), that a signaling wire ( 13 ) is connected to the outlet ( 14 ) of the guiding point via a first terminal ( 12 ) and leads to a second terminal ( 13 ) on the high pressure regulating side ( 15 ) of the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ), and that a first signaling duct ( 16 ) connects a third terminal ( 29 ) at the inlet ( 17 ) of the pressure difference regulator with a fourth terminal ( 32 ) on the low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) of the regulator.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein in the feed duct ( 3 ) adjacent the consumption device ( 5 ) an thermostat controlled control valve ( 6 ) is mounted, which is designed to precision control the consumption device ( 5 ), in that in the return duct ( 4 ) adjacent the device ( 5 ) an adjustment valve ( 8 ) is mounted and after the adjustment valve ( 8 ) in the flow direction the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ), and in that the signaling ducts ( 19 , 20 ) connect a first terminal ( 33 ) on an outlet side ( 22 ) of the control valve ( 6 ) to a second terminal ( 32 ) on the low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) of the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) and a third terminal ( 34 ) on an inlet side ( 21 ) of the control valve ( 6 ) to a fourth terminal ( 31 ) on the high pressure regulating side ( 15 ) of the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ), respectively.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) is mounted in the return duct ( 4 ), whereas a guiding point ( 7 ) is mounted in the feed duct ( 3 ), a signaling duct ( 13 ) connecting the other outlet ( 14 ) of the guiding point to a high pressure regulating side ( 15 ) of the regulator and another signaling duct ( 16 ) connecting the inlet ( 17 ) of the regulator to the low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) of the regulator, or that the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) is mounted in the feed duct ( 3 ), whereas the guiding point ( 7 ) is mounted in the return duct ( 4 ), a second signaling duct ( 26 ) connecting the first outlet ( 28 ) of the regulator to the high pressure regulating side ( 15 ) of the regulator, whereas another signaling duct ( 25 ) connects the low pressure regulating side ( 18 ) of the regulator to the inlet ( 24 ) of the guiding point.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressure difference regulator ( 9 ) has a housing ( 35 ) with a socket ( 36 ), preferably oblique, between the inlet ( 17 ) and the outlet ( 28 ), that the socket extends to a partition ( 37 ) between the inlet and the outlet, which partition has an opening ( 38 ) for a seat ( 39 ), the socket a lower part ( 40 ) of the regulator is inserted and preferably fastened by screwing by means of bolts ( 46 ), on which lower part an upper part ( 41 ) of the regulator is fastened, the lower part ( 40 ) of the regulator comprises a cage-like bottom part ( 42 ), a free end ( 43 ), all around with sealing by means of an O-ring ( 44 ), being inserted into an opening of the partition, the bottom part with a shoulder end being pressed into or screwed into an outer end of the socket, preferably with an O-ring ( 47 ), which surrounds a mouth of the socket, that between two ends of the bottom part ( 42 ) a wall section with radial openings ( 48 ) is provided, which allows a flow to pass through the bottom part, and that the seat ( 39 ) is mounted within the bottom part at a transition region between a wall section with an opening and a free end of the bottom part, which is closed all around.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein immediately outside the outer socket end, the bottom part ( 42 ) changes to a cup-like widened connection part ( 49 ), which with a radial shoulder ( 50 ) is supported by a free socket end and preferably is fastened to the free socket end through bolts ( 46 ), and which with the free end forms a projecting mounting collar ( 51 ) with axial holes for mounting bolts ( 52 ), by means of which the upper part ( 41 ) with a matching collar ( 53 ) and opposite axial holes is fastened to the lower part ( 40 ), and that the lower part ( 40 ) as well as the upper part ( 41 ) are provided with the signaling terminals ( 30 , 31 , 32 ) at one or more of at various levels, in various radial directions for deaeration and signaling duct connection.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein in the shoulder end ( 45 ), a guiding part ( 55 ) is inserted by screwing and sealed by means of a surrounding O-ring ( 54 ), which guiding part abuts a mouth region of the shoulder end and the rear end ( 57 ) of which is designed to receive a tool and is bent inwards in order to form an inner constriction ( 59 ), through which a rear end ( 60 ) of a valve cone ( 61 ) is inserted, that a wide inner part of the guiding part forms a guiding channel ( 62 ) for a flange-like expansion ( 63 ) on the cone with a recessed surrounding O-ring ( 64 ), and the inwardly bent cone part forms a limitation for opening movement of the cone.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein a cone ( 61 ) suitably has through axial holes, that a free end of the cone is widened into a plate ( 65 ), a side of which faces a seat ( 39 ), adjacent a periphery is provided with a recessed O-ring ( 66 ), against that part of which, which faces an axial central part, a suitably partly spherical clamping plate ( 67 ) with a peripheral part abuts, the clamping plate by means of a threaded bolt ( 68 ) is fastened to a holder ( 69 ), inserted into the free end of the cone, or that the clamping plate ( 67 ), the holder ( 69 ) and a part ( 68 ) for tool insertion form a unit, which can be inserted into the cone, and that the plate ( 65 ) during an entire stroke at a distance is surrounded by a wall section of the bottom part with openings ( 48 ), which also forms a protective cage ( 70 ) around sensitive parts of the cone and the seat ( 39 ) during storage and shipping.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the rear end of the cone one end ( 71 ) of a spindle ( 72 ) is fastened, an other end ( 73 ) of the spindle preferably having a polygonal shape and being inserted into an opening ( 74 ), which fits the other end, in a bushing ( 75 ) in a handwheel ( 76 ), mounted outside the upper part and which in turn has a non-rotation symmetrical housing ( 77 ), in which a handwheel bushing ( 78 ) is inserted, which fits the part and which is threaded onto a neck ( 80 ), which projects from the end ( 79 ) of the upper part and which in a bottom opening ( 81 ) with a locking ring ( 82 ) receives a preferably diameter-reduced end ( 83 ) of the spindle bushing ( 75 ), which end is provided with a hexagonal opening ( 85 ), accessible through an opening ( 84 ) in the handwheel, which opening is designed to receive a tool, which will rotate the spindle bushing and consequently also the spindle in relation to a prestressing device without causing the handwheel to rotate, the rotation of the handwheel is provided to make, by pitch of thread on the neck of the upper part and the axial adaptability of the spindle bushing ( 75 ) in relation to the handwheel bushing ( 78 ), the spindle bushing ( 75 ) with an inner end abut a step ( 86 ) on the spindle in order to displace the spindle in an axial direction, until the cone seals against the seat, and that the spindle bushing ( 75 ) in a pushed-out end position abuts with a flange ( 119 ) at an inner end the end of the upper part and on an outer side is provided with a recessed O-ring ( 87 ) in order to seal against the neck of the upper part.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein a prestressing device includes a compression spring ( 88 ), a small end of which adjacent the handwheel abuts a cross bar ( 89 ) as a spring tension-device, which is threaded onto the spindle and which preferably is secured outside the thread by means of a locking device ( 90 ) in a groove in the spindle, that ends of the cross bar ( 89 ) are secured against a rotation by guiding the ends of the cross bar in lateral taperings ( 91 ) of the upper part, and the end of the compression spring ( 88 ) adjacent the cone abuts a holder ( 92 ) with a radial plate ( 93 ) with a wide, central opening ( 94 ) for the spindle to pass through and with circular arc-shaped openings ( 95 ), preferably distributed along a periphery.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the plate is surrounded by a short axial ring wall ( 96 ) with an outer ring flange ( 97 ) and preferably along inner periphery distributed projections ( 98 ) between the circular arc-shaped openings ( 95 ) in order to center the compression spring, that the ring flange is fastened between a step ( 99 ) in the mounting collar ( 51 ) and the collar ( 53 ) of the upper part, and that the ring wall ( 96 ) has outer annular grooves ( 100  and  101 , respectively) on both sides of the ring flange to receive the O-rings ( 102  and  103 , respectively), which abut the upper part and the lower part, respectively, adjacent the respective mounting collar.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the O-ring ( 103 ) of the ring wall, which abuts the lower part is an end bead of a membrane ( 104 ), preferably made of rubber, reinforced with a fabric material, that from the end bead the membrane extends at first in parallel to a cup-shaped wall of the lower part in order to obtain one side of a soft rounded fold ( 104 ), which then at a distance from the wall is bent upwards to a level, which is about the same as a level of the bead or somewhat lower, where central parts of the membrane are supported by a rotation symmetrical support plate ( 105 ), preferably with an outer border ( 106 ) and an inner cup part ( 107 ), which both extend towards the shoulder of the lower part, that the cup part forms a recess in the support plate and the membrane follows the recess as well as outer upper side of the plate and is fastened by vulcanization on these parts, that in a bottom of the cup part a central bore is provided, designed to let the spindle pass through, the membrane preferably being pressed through this bore and ending at a short distance from the lower side of the bottom of the cup part, and that the rear end of the cone suitably has a slightly concave or conic surface and receives a sliding plate, which surrounds the spindle and is made of a friction reducing.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein in a regulating device between the high and the low pressure regulating side ( 15  and  18 , respectively) a piston ( 108 ) made of one or more of metal and a plastic material is used, which is a relatively short cylinder ( 109 ) with a radial wall ( 110 ), the center of which is a hub ( 111 ), which surrounds the spindle, which hub preferably has the same length as and preferably is somewhat longer than a radial ring wall, ends of the ring wall and the hub, which face the shoulder, being positioned at roughly a same level, the hub, between ends, surrounds the spindle with a relatively wide annular gap ( 114 ), at least the inner opening ( 112 ) of the one hub end has a larger diameter than the spindle, at least one of the inner hub openings and in an axial middle area of the hub an O-ring ( 113 ) is recessed, which allows a certain swinging of the piston around the spindle to occur, the other hub end and the axial hub center, respectively, being used as a swinging center.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the cylinder ( 109 ) is guided by a relatively short extension of the ring wall ( 96 ), in which the O-ring ( 115 ) is recessed, the extension houses the piston with a play and has such a length, the wall material will be sufficient to keep the O-ring ( 115 ) in place and to allow the swinging movement of the piston within the peripheral area to be carried out.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein a spindle diameter varies in a longitudinal direction of the spindle within a region of movement of the O-ring ( 113 ) of the piston, which abuts the spindle, in order to vary the pressure on one or more of the ring, and the ring is mounted in a groove with an asymmetrical cross section with a short groove wall in relation to the cone, which with a press ring ( 120 ), a shape of which fits the rear end of the cone, is designed to abut the O-ring and have a sealing effect in the axial direction.