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CN-116669599-B - Valve device

CN116669599BCN 116669599 BCN116669599 BCN 116669599BCN-116669599-B

Abstract

Some embodiments described herein relate to a valve device (10; 110; 210) comprising an inlet aperture (12; 212) and an outlet aperture (13; 213) for a fluid, a chamber (16) selectively communicating the inlet aperture (12, 212) and the outlet (13, 213), a housing compartment (15), a piston (14, 214) disposed in the compartment (15), and an elastic return means (17) associated with the piston (14; 214), the piston being movable between a closed position, in which fluid transfer is blocked, and an open position, in which fluid is allowed to pass. The invention also relates to a machine for preparing beverages comprising at least one valve device according to the invention.

Inventors

  • Paul Evangelisti
  • Nicholas Piovan
  • David Bonoto

Assignees

  • 德隆奇电器单一股东有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20211026
Priority Date
20201029

Claims (11)

  1. 1. Valve device (10; 210; 310) comprising: A valve body (11; 311) defining a housing compartment (15); An inlet aperture (12; 212; 312) and an outlet aperture (13; 213; 313) for a fluid; A chamber (16), the chamber (16) selectively communicating the inlet aperture (12; 212; 312) with the outlet aperture (13; 213; 313); A piston (14; 214; 314) disposed in the housing compartment (15), the piston being movable between a closed position in which the piston prevents fluid transfer and an open position in which the piston allows fluid to pass through the outlet aperture (13; 213; 313), the piston comprising a shutter portion (27,227,327); Elastic return means (17) associated with said piston (14; 214; 314) and arranged outside said chamber (16), Characterized in that in the closed position of the valve device (10; 210; 310) and in the position of maximum release of the elastic return device (17), a defined free space (30) is maintained between the head surface (22; 222; 322) of the piston (14; 214; 314) and the inlet wall (26; 226; 326) of the valve body (11; 311), which free space faces directly the inlet aperture (12; 212; 312) and is substantially as wide as the housing compartment (15), wherein the periphery of the housing compartment (15) corresponding to the inlet wall (26; 226; 326) has a portion with a smaller diameter defined by a shoulder (23; 223; 323) configured to act as an impact and abutment element for the head surface (22; 222; 322) of the piston (14; 214; 314) in the closed position, wherein the shoulder (23; 223; 323) laterally delimits the free space (30).
  2. 2. The valve device (10; 210; 310) according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position of the piston (14; 214; 314) the minimum volume of the free space (30) is greater than or equal to 10% of the maximum volume corresponding to the fluid passing position.
  3. 3. The valve device (10; 210; 310) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet wall (26; 226; 326) comprises at least one flat portion substantially parallel to the head surface (22; 222; 322) and the free space (30) has a substantially constant depth in a plane orthogonal to an axis coaxial with the inlet aperture (12; 212; 312).
  4. 4. Valve device (10; 210) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture (12; 212) and the outlet aperture (13; 213) are arranged substantially orthogonal to each other and the shutter portion (27; 227) delimits the chamber (16), which separates the chamber from the elastic return means (17), and is provided with a side wall (31; 231) which serves as a shutter portion of the outlet aperture (13; 213).
  5. 5. The valve device (310) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet aperture (312) and the outlet aperture (313) are arranged coaxially to each other with respect to a central axis of the valve body (311), and that the piston (314) comprises the shutter portion (327) provided with the head surface (322) at one end and a rod (328) extending to the other end, wherein the piston (314) is at least partly hollow and comprises a transfer channel (340) for fluid inside the piston, which transfer channel extends between at least one inlet (341) through the shutter portion (327) and an end of the rod (328) defining the outlet aperture (313).
  6. 6. The valve device (310) according to claim 5, wherein the shutter portion (327) comprises a larger portion (343) connected to the stem (328) having a cross section substantially identical to that of the housing compartment (15), and a smaller portion (344) on which the at least one inlet (341) is provided, having a smaller cross section than the housing compartment (15), and defining, together with the inner wall of the housing compartment, a passage (345) for the passage of the fluid towards the at least one inlet (341).
  7. 7. Valve device (10; 210; 310) according to any one of claims 4 or 6, wherein at least one circumferential groove (32; 232; 332) is provided in a side wall (31; 231; 331) of the shutter portion (27; 227; 327) adapted to receive an annular gasket (33; 323; 333) to ensure a hydraulic seal of the chamber (16) between the piston (14; 214; 314) and the valve body (11; 311).
  8. 8. The valve device (10; 210; 310) according to claim 1, wherein the piston (14; 214; 314) has a cavity (37; 237; 337) on the opposite side of the chamber (16) configured to receive and hold in place at least a portion of the elastic return means (17).
  9. 9. The valve device (10; 210; 310) according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (11) comprises an upper half-shell (18; 218; 318) defining an upper portion of the shell compartment (15) and a lower half-shell (19; 219; 319) configured to be coupled to the upper half-shell (18; 218; 318) and to close the shell compartment (15) at a lower portion.
  10. 10. A machine (40) for preparing a coffee beverage, comprising Brewing unit (41) provided with a brewing chamber (42) connected to a supply circuit (43) for water through a water inlet aperture (52) and to an outlet circuit (45) for beverage through a beverage outlet aperture (53), characterized in that it comprises at least one valve device (10; 210; 310) according to claim 1, upstream or downstream of said brewing chamber (42).
  11. 11. The machine (40) according to claim 10, comprising a first valve device (10; 210; 310) upstream of the brewing chamber (42) and a second valve device (10, 210; 310) downstream of the brewing chamber (42), the first valve device being configured to define a minimum limit for the pressure of the water supplied, the second valve device (10, 210; 310) being configured to act as a creamer whipper valve and to promote the production of bubbles in the beverage.

Description

Valve device Technical Field The embodiments described herein relate to a valve device adapted to increase pressure along a pipe, which may also be used as a check valve. For example, the device may be used in a machine for preparing a coffee beverage, either upstream of the brewing chamber as a delivery valve or downstream of the brewing chamber as a creamer whipper valve. The device also has scale prevention performance. Background Valve means are known for increasing the pressure in a chamber or a conduit along which the valve means are arranged. For example, in machines for preparing coffee beverages, it is known to use, downstream of the infusion chamber along the path of the fluid, a valve device which acts as a creamer whipper valve. The increase in pressure along the beverage discharge conduit results in the generation of bubbles that form a foam layer at the top of the beverage. Known valve devices generally comprise a housing body provided with at least one inlet and one outlet for a fluid, and a shutter body movable inside the housing between an open position, in which the fluid is able to flow through the valve device, and a closed position, in which the shutter body blocks the fluid flow. Furthermore, a spring is typically provided, which acts on the shutter body, which is typically arranged along the flow path of the fluid and in contact with the fluid. A disadvantage of these known valve devices is that scale may deposit on the coils of the springs when used for liquid flow, thereby degrading their performance and requiring frequent descaling operations. Furthermore, in case the coffee beverage has to pass through such a valve device, solids dissolved in the beverage can also deposit on the elastic element. These solids are well known to be tolerated and tend to cause things to become very dirty, which complicates the cleaning operation. In particular, coffee machines requiring the use of such known valve devices frequently require special cleaning and descaling cycles. Known valve arrangements are described, for example, in WO-A-2014/053439A1, EP3311713A1, EP2299155A1 and W02105/015370A 1. Document WO-up>A-2014/053439 up>A 1 describes up>A valve device for injecting up>A fluid under pressure into up>A capsule containing coffee powder. The valve device comprises a shutter portion which is inserted into a mating seat in which an outlet hole for the liquid is provided, wherein the shutter portion is kept positioned in substantial contact with the outlet hole by elastic means acting on the piston. The valve means is designed to minimize any internal space in which liquid can accumulate and requires high pressure to be in an open state. Document EP describes a valve for a compressor, having a passage for converging-diverging fluid, and a corresponding method of reducing pressure losses. Other valve arrangements for espresso coffee machines are described in documents EP3311713A1 and W02015/015370A. Another disadvantage of the known solution is that the known valve device does not always ensure that the flow direction occurs in a single direction, so that a flow (flow) fed in a certain direction tends to be possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve device which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art solutions. In particular, it is an object to provide a valve device which prevents the accumulation of scale and which can therefore be cleaned in a simple and effective manner. It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve device that is simple and economical. It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve device that ensures stable and durable compressive forces even when subjected to continuous and repeated stresses. Another object is to provide a valve device that can be used as a check valve, ensuring that fluid can only flow in a single direction. Another object of the present invention is to perfect a machine for preparing coffee beverages which is efficient and requires minimal cleaning and maintenance interventions. It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve device which ensures an optimal seal in the closed state, however, which can be used in applications requiring relatively low pressure values. The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. Disclosure of Invention The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other features of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea. According to the above object, the valve device comprises a valve body defining a housing compartment, an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for a fluid, a chamber for selectively communicating the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, a piston arranged in the compartment and movable relative to the outlet aperture between a first closed position and a