Valve device

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of PCT/JP2019/035457, filed Sep. 10, 2019, which is incorporated herein reference and which claimed priority to Japanese Application No. 2018-179314, filed Sep. 25, 2018. The present application likewise claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Application No. 2018-179314, filed Sep. 25, 2018, the entire content of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a valve device.

A valve device in which a valve chamber of a valve device body is covered by a diaphragm and the valve device is opened and closed by operating the diaphragm is available in the prior art (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-162043, for example).

In this conventional valve device, however, sufficient measures have not been taken against deformation of the diaphragm and pressure exerted on the diaphragm by high-pressure fluid, and therefore, when greater durability than that of a conventional valve device is required, a conventional valve device is lacking.

Hence, one of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide a valve device exhibiting superior durability.

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a valve device includes a valve device body, a diaphragm, a stem, and a valve body portion. The valve device body has a fluid passage and a valve chamber formed therein and includes a valve seat. The diaphragm that is provided to cover the valve chamber and keeps the valve chamber airtight.

The stem that is configured to move to approach and separate from the valve seat. The valve body portion is inserted into a central portion of the diaphragm and connected to the stem, and is configured to open and close the fluid passage by approaching the valve seat and separating from the valve seat. The diaphragm includes a main diaphragm, and a support diaphragm positioned on an opposite side of the main diaphragm to the valve chamber side and provided in contact with the main diaphragm. A first terminal end portion on an inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm is fixed to the valve body portion. A second terminal end portion on an inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm is separated from the first terminal end portion on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a valve device in an open state according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a diaphragm of the valve device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a valve device in an open state according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a diaphragm of the valve device according to the second embodiment.

A valve device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve device 1 according to the first embodiment in an open state. FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a diaphragm 8 of the valve device 1 .

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the valve device 1 includes a valve device body 2 , a bonnet 3 , a stem 4 , a connecting member 5 , a valve body portion 6 , a retaining ring 7 , the diaphragm 8 , a retaining adapter 9 , a handle 10 , and an indicator 11 . Note that in the following description, the handle 10 side of the valve device 1 will be described as an upper side, and the valve device body 2 side will be described as a lower side.

A valve chamber 2 a, and an inflow passage 2 b and an outflow passage 2 c that communicate with the valve chamber 2 a are formed in the valve device body 2 . A peripheral edge of a location, where the inflow passage 2 b communicates with the valve chamber 2 a, of the valve device body 2 forms an annular valve seat 2 d.

The bonnet 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is fixed to the valve device body 2 so as to cover the valve chamber 2 a by screwing a male screw portion provided on a lower end portion thereof into a female screw portion provided in an upper end portion of the valve device body 2 . A stem insertion hole 3 a is formed in the bonnet 3 . Further, a female screw portion 3 B is formed in an upper end portion of an inner periphery of the bonnet 3 .

The stem 4 is inserted into the stem insertion hole 3 a in the bonnet 3 . A male screw portion 4 A is formed on an upper side portion of the stem 4 , and the male screw portion 4 A is screwed into the female screw portion 3 B in the bonnet 3 . Thus, the stem 4 is supported so as to be capable of rotating relative to the bonnet 3 and moving in an up-down direction while rotating. When the stem 4 is at top dead center, the valve device 1 is in an open state, and when the stem 4 is at bottom dead center, the valve device 1 is in a closed state.

A screw hole 4 b that opens downward and has a female screw portion formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof is formed in a lower side portion of the stem 4 . Further, an O-ring 4 C is interposed between the stem 4 and the bonnet 3 .

The connecting member 5 is provided on a lower end of the stem 4 and includes a columnar portion 5 A and a hemispherical portion 5 B. A male screw portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 5 A, and the male screw portion is screwed into the screw hole 4 b. As a result, the connecting member 5 is fixed to the stem 4 . A first flange portion 5 C that projects outward in a radial direction of the columnar portion 5 A is provided on the columnar portion 5 A on the lower side of the male screw portion, and the first flange portion 5 C contacts a lower surface of the stem 4 . The hemispherical portion 5 B is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape (a shape between a hemisphere and a full sphere) and provided on a lower end of the columnar portion 5 A.

The valve body portion 6 includes a valve body holder 6 A and a valve body 6 B. The valve body holder 6 A includes a valve body holding portion 6 C, a penetrating portion 6 D, and a fitting portion 6 E. The valve body holding portion 6 C is substantially disc-shaped and holds the annular valve body 6 B, which is formed from resin. A fluid passage is opened and closed by bringing the valve body 6 B into contact with the valve seat 2 d of the valve device body 2 and separating the valve body 6 B from the valve seat 2 d.

The penetrating portion 6 D is provided on an upper side of the valve body support portion 6 C and formed in a stepped columnar shape that tapers toward the upper side. A fixing groove 6 g is formed around the entire circumference of an outer peripheral surface of a first step portion 6 F of the penetrating portion 6 D. The fitting portion 6 E is provided on an upper side of the penetrating portion 6 D and formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a fitting hole 6 h that opens upward is formed therein. The fitting hole 6 h is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape (a shape between a hemisphere and a full sphere) corresponding to the hemispherical portion 5 B. The hemispherical portion 5 B of the connecting member 5 is fitted into the fitting hole 6 h. Thus, the valve body holder 6 A and the connecting member 5 are connected so that the valve body holder 6 A can slide around the outer surface of the hemispherical portion 5 B. Further, the fitting portion 6 E is formed to have a smaller diameter than the penetrating portion 6 D so that a second step portion 6 J is formed by the fitting portion 6 E and the penetrating portion 6 D.

The retaining ring 7 is provided on the opposite side of the diaphragm 8 to the valve chamber 2 a side, and includes a cylindrical portion 7 A and a second flange portion 7 B. By press-fitting the fitting portion 6 E of the valve body holder 6 A into the cylindrical portion 7 A, the retaining ring 7 is fixed to the valve body holder 6 A. An inner diameter side of a lower surface 7 C of the cylindrical portion 7 A contacts the second step portion 6 J, and an outer diameter side of the lower surface 7 C of the cylindrical portion 7 A is positioned further outward than the outer peripheral surface of the penetrating portion 6 D. The second flange portion 7 B projects outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 7 A from an intermediate part of the cylindrical portion 7 A in the up-down direction.

The diaphragm 8 is provided to cover the valve chamber 2 a of the valve device body 2 , thereby keeping the valve chamber 2 a airtight. The diaphragm 8 includes a main diaphragm 8 A and a support diaphragm 8 B.

The main diaphragm 8 A is constituted by a single thin plate (thickness: 0.1 to 0.2 mm, for example) formed in a plate shape from nickel alloy or stainless steel, for example. The main diaphragm 8 A directly opposes the valve chamber 2 a and directly contacts a fluid such as a process gas. The main diaphragm 8 A includes, in order from the outside toward the inside in the radial direction thereof, a first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 , a first intermediate portion 8 A 2 , and a first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 .

The first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 , together with a second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 of the support diaphragm 8 B, is provided between a fixing portion 2 E formed on the valve device body 2 and the annular retaining adapter 9 , and by tightening the bonnet 3 , the first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 and second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 are compressed by the retaining adapter 9 and the valve device body 2 so as to be held in an airtight state. The first intermediate portion 8 A 2 has an arc-shaped cross-section when cut on a plane that includes the axis thereof.

The first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 is formed so as to curve downward from an inner end of the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 . An inner peripheral surface of the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the penetrating portion 6 D. A first penetrating hole 8 c that is penetrated by the penetrating portion 6 D of the valve body holder 6 A is formed in a central portion of the main diaphragm 8 A by an inner peripheral surface of the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 . A projecting portion is provided on a first terminal end portion 8 E of the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 , and in a state where the projecting portion is fitted to the fixing groove 6 g of the penetrating portion 6 D, this part is welded W over the entire circumference thereof by electron beam welding, laser welding, or the like so that the first terminal end portion 8 E of the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 is fixed to the penetrating portion 6 D.

The support diaphragm 8 B is provided on the upper side of the main diaphragm 8 A, or in other words the opposite side to the valve chamber 2 a. The support diaphragm 8 B is simply placed on the main diaphragm 8 A and not adhered or otherwise joined thereto. The support diaphragm 8 B is constituted by a single thin plate (thickness: 0.1 to 0.2 mm, for example) formed in a plate shape from metal, rubber, resin, or the like, for example. In this embodiment, the support diaphragm 8 B is formed from a different material to the material forming the main diaphragm 8 A, but the support diaphragm 8 B and the main diaphragm 8 A may be formed from the same material. The support diaphragm 8 B includes, in order from the outside toward the inside in the radial direction thereof, the second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 , a second intermediate portion 8 B 2 , and a second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 .

As described above, the second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 , together with the first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 of the main diaphragm 8 A, is provided between the fixing portion 2 E of the valve device body 2 and the annular retaining adapter 9 , and by tightening the bonnet 3 , the second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 and first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 are compressed and held by the retaining adapter 9 and the valve device body 2 . The second intermediate portion 8 B 2 has an arc-shaped cross-section when cut on a plane that includes the axis thereof, and a lower surface thereof contacts the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 . Further, the second intermediate portion 8 B 2 is configured such that the radial direction length thereof is shorter than that of the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 .

The second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 curves from the inner end of the second intermediate portion 8 B 2 so as to separate from the main diaphragm 8 A and extend toward the second step portion 6 J of the valve body holder 6 A. The second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 contacts the lower surface 7 C of the retaining ring 7 . In other words, a second terminal end portion 8 F on the inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm 8 B is separated from the first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A. Note that the support diaphragm 8 B may contact the main diaphragm 8 A while exerting pressing force thereon by configuring the second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 to receive pressing force from the retaining ring 7 . Further, a second penetrating hole 8 d that is penetrated by the penetrating portion 6 D of the valve body holder 6 A is formed in a central portion of the support diaphragm 8 B by an inner end of the second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 .

The handle 10 is attached to an upper end of the stem 4 , and when an operator rotates the handle 10 manually so as to generate driving force, the stem 4 receives the rotary driving force so as to rotate while moving in the up-down direction. A through hole 10 a is formed in the handle 10 .

The indicator 11 is fixed to an upper end of the bonnet 3 . The words “Open” and “Closed” are printed on an upper surface of the indicator 11 . When the handle 10 is rotated such that the valve device 1 is in the open state, the word “Open” is visible through the through hole 10 a in the handle 10 , and when the valve device 1 is in the closed state, the word “Closed” is visible through the through hole 10 a in the handle 10 .

In the valve device 1 of this embodiment, when the stem 4 moves up and down in response to a rotation operation of the handle 10 , the valve body portion 6 moves up and down, the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 of the main diaphragm 8 A and the second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 of the support diaphragm 8 B move up and down together therewith, the diaphragm 8 undergoes elastic deformation such that the valve body 6 B contacts and separates from the valve seat 2 d, and as a result, the inflow passage 2 b and the outflow passage 2 c are opened and closed.

According to the valve device 1 of this embodiment, the diaphragm 8 includes the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B, which is positioned on the opposite side of the main diaphragm 8 A to the valve chamber 2 a side and provided in contact with the main diaphragm 8 A. The first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A is fixed to the valve body portion 6 , the second terminal end portion 8 F on the inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm 8 B is separated from the first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A, and the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B are formed from different materials.

According to this configuration, the diaphragm 8 is constituted by the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B. Hence, thickness is secured in the diaphragm 8 so that pressure resistance to the pressure of the fluid is maintained. Further, in each of the diaphragms 8 A, 8 B, a difference in the amount of deformation thereof due to a curvature difference between the upper and lower surfaces can be reduced, and therefore the load exerted on the diaphragm 8 during displacement of the diaphragm 8 can be reduced. Furthermore, the support diaphragm 8 B, which moves in synchronization with the main diaphragm 8 A, supports the main diaphragm 8 A at all times, regardless of the open/closed state of the valve. As a result, the durability of the diaphragm 8 can be improved.

Moreover, by employing a material exhibiting superior corrosion resistance to the process gas and so on for the main diaphragm 8 A, and for the support diaphragm 8 B, which does not contact the process gas and so on, meaning that corrosion resistance need not be taken into account, employing a superior material that is capable of suppressing deformation of the main diaphragm 8 A due to internal pressure exerted thereon by the fluid, the durability of the diaphragm 8 can be improved. The support diaphragm 8 B is provided in contact with the main diaphragm 8 A, while the second terminal end portion 8 F on the inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm 8 B is separated from the first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A. Hence, even when the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B deform by different amounts during displacement due to the curvature difference between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the first terminal end portion 8 E and the second terminal end portion 8 F are not fixed in the same location, and therefore the support diaphragm 8 B deforms so as to follow the deformation of the main diaphragm 8 A. Thus, formation of a gap between the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B can be suppressed, thereby ensuring that the support diaphragm 8 B supports the main diaphragm 8 A, and as a result, the pressure resistance and durability of the diaphragm 8 can be improved. It is therefore possible to provide a valve device 1 exhibiting superior pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability.

Further, the lower surface 7 C of the retaining ring 7 provided on the valve body portion 6 contacts the second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 (the inner peripheral portion) of the support diaphragm 8 B, and therefore the support diaphragm 8 B can be prevented from separating from the main diaphragm 8 A such that a gap is formed between the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B. As a result, deformation of the main diaphragm 8 A due to the internal pressure of the fluid can be suppressed by the support diaphragm 8 B.

Furthermore, the second outer peripheral portion 8 B 1 contacts the first outer peripheral portion 8 A 1 , the second intermediate portion 8 B 2 contacts the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 , the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 is configured to curve away from the inner end of the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 toward the valve seat 2 d, and the second inner peripheral portion 8 B 3 is separated from the main diaphragm 8 A. According to this configuration, the support diaphragm 8 B can deform so as to follow the deformation of the main diaphragm 8 A. Thus, deformation of the main diaphragm 8 A due to the internal pressure of the fluid can be suppressed by the support diaphragm 8 B, and as a result, the durability of the diaphragm 8 can be improved.

Moreover, the main diaphragm 8 A is formed from a metallic material while the support diaphragm 8 B is formed from rubber or a resin material, and the first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A is fixed to the valve body portion 6 by welding. According to this configuration, the durability of the diaphragm 8 can be improved, whereby a valve device 1 exhibiting superior durability can be provided.

A valve device 21 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve device 21 according to the second embodiment in an open state. FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a diaphragm 28 of the valve device 21 . Note that identical members to those of the valve device 1 of the first embodiment have been allocated identical reference numerals, and description thereof has been omitted, while parts that differ are described.

A third step portion 26 K is formed on a penetrating portion 26 D of a valve body holder 26 A of a valve body portion 26 .

A fourth step portion 27 D that contacts the second step portion 6 J is formed on an inner peripheral side of a cylindrical portion 27 A of a retaining ring 27 . Further, a lower surface 27 C of the cylindrical portion 27 A has a curved surface shape.

A second intermediate portion 28 B 2 of a support diaphragm 28 B of a diaphragm 28 is configured such that the radial direction length thereof is equal to the first intermediate portion 8 A 2 . A second inner peripheral portion 28 B 3 of the support diaphragm 28 B is formed to curve downward from an inner end of the second intermediate portion 28 B 2 , and contacts only an upper side part of the first inner peripheral portion 8 A 3 . Hence, a second terminal end portion 28 F on the inner peripheral side of the support diaphragm 28 B is separated from the first terminal end portion 8 E on the inner peripheral side of the main diaphragm 8 A. Furthermore, a second penetrating hole 28 d that is penetrated by the penetrating portion 26 D of the valve body holder 26 A is formed in a central portion of the support diaphragm 28 B by an inner end of the second inner peripheral portion 28 B 3 . The lower surface 27 C of the cylindrical portion 27 A contacts a boundary part between the second intermediate portion 28 B 2 and the second inner peripheral portion 28 B 3 , the boundary part corresponding to an inside portion of the support diaphragm 28 B.

Likewise in the valve device 21 of this embodiment, the durability of the diaphragm 28 can be improved in a similar manner to the valve device 1 of the first embodiment, and as a result, a valve device 21 exhibiting superior durability can be provided.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can made various additions, changes, and the like within the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in the above-described embodiments, the manually operated handle 10 is used as driving means for moving the stem 4 up and down, but automatic driving means may be used instead. Hydraulic driving means may be employed as the automatic driving means. Similar effects to those of the valve devices 1 and 21 of the above-described embodiments are achieved with a valve device having this configuration.

Further, the main diaphragm 8 A and the support diaphragm 8 B, 28 B are each provided singly but may be provided in a plurality.