The present invention is related to a valve device, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention is related valve device for fluid, liquid or gas, and a typical application for the valve device according to the present invention will be as a stop valve/safety valve, but it can also be modified to an adjustable valve.

The valve device can be used for fluid, liquid or gas in all thinkable applications where it is necessary to close rapidly and safely, e.g. blow-out preventer or other similar safety valves, in a sound directing and/muzzle flash dampening device, or as an adjustable device in a pipeline or similar for transport or control of fluid, liquid or gas.

Background

A lack of prior art valve devices is that they are custom-made for the actual application, and that they often do not provide a rapid and safe opening or closing.

It is further a lack of known valve devices is that they require external manipulation for opening or closing.

In the most valve device which are adjustable it is required that sensor means are arranged which provide information to an actuator which further shall open or close the valve.

It is accordingly a need for a valve device which does not need to be custom-made to the actual application, but can be used in all kinds of applications independent of it is fluid, gas or liquid.

It is further a need for a valve device where one does not need external manipulation for opening, closing or adjusting the valve device, at the same time as one with simple modifications can make it adjustable.

Object

The main object of the present invention is to provide a valve device which entirely or partly solves the lacks of prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device which is arranged for even closing/opening for fluid, liquid or gas in the valve device.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a valve device providing rapid and secure closing or opening of fluid, liquid or gas.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device which can function as a balancing valve, arranged such that pressure in front or behind the valve device activates movable parts of the valve in greater or lesser degree, and maintains the flow (of fluid, liquid or gas) at a desired level/velocity.

A further object with the present invention is to provide a controllable valve device or that the valve device comprises a controllable actuator mechanism for adjustment of properties of the valve device.

Further objects will appear at consideration of the following description, claims and attached drawings.

The invention

The valve device according to the present invention is disclosed in claim 1. Preferable features of the valve device are disclosed in the remaining claims.

The valve device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is formed by an outer tube which at one end thereof is provided with a connection/fastening device to existing tube, pipeline or similar, and which at its other end is provided with a corresponding connection to tube, pipeline or similar, such that the mentioned valve device can be arranged between two tube sections or similar, transporting fluid, liquid or gas. The mentioned connection/fastening device can possibly also be formed by a reinforced cover.

According to a second embodiment of the valve device according to the present invention the valve device is formed by an outer tube which at one end thereof is provided with a

connection/fastening device to a barrel of a firearm, such that the mentioned valve device can be arranged in the extension of the barrel of the firearm. At the other end of the valve device there is arranged a (reinforced) cover which exhibits a central hole adapted for passing of a projectile fired via the barrel of the firearm.

The valve device further comprises a closing mechanism which is formed by stop discs arranged movably to bolts or rods extending in longitudinal direction of the valve device, between mentioned connections/fastening devices/cover, i.e. at inside of the tube, or where the stop discs are fixed to the bolts or rods which are movable in longitudinal direction and the stop discs are therethrough movable in longitudinal direction of the valve device.

The stop discs are separated in longitudinal direction of the valve device and are connected by at least three rods or activation bolts extending between the two mentioned stop discs with increasing or decreasing angle. The stop discs are further provided with a central through hole where fluid, liquid or gas can flow.

The valve device further comprises a closing disc formed by at least two disc parts, which are movably arranged to the mentioned at least three rods or activation bolts, between the mentioned stop discs. The mentioned disc parts exhibit slots of such a form and such angles that they are forced to change relative position as the movable rods/activation bolts in longitudinal direction of the valve device or that the rods/activation bolts move in the longitudinal direction of the valve device.

According to a further embodiment of the valve device according to the present invention it comprises cylindrical aperture box, fixed or movably arranged in the tube of the valve device, between the mentioned stop discs, which aperture box exhibits an inner cavity for accommodating the closing disc formed by at least two disc parts, and is provided with a central through hole as the first and second stop disc, and where it in connection with the central hole, i.e. outside the circumference thereof, also is arranged slots for the at least three rods or activation bolts which thus extend through the aperture box when this is arranged between the first and second stop disc.

I.e. that it in front of the first stop disc is formed a chamber which is filled with fluid, liquid or gas driving the first and second stop disc forward in longitudinal direction of the valve device, alternatively the aperture box. Correspondingly, there is formed a chamber behind the second stop disc, such that the valve device is to be considered as a bidirectional valve, and that it as well can be the second stop disc that moves, alternatively the aperture box, such that the valve device is closed from the opposite side. In this way the present invention also could function as a non return valve. The movement forwards or backwards of these stop discs/the aperture box results in that the disc parts slide along the mentioned rods/activation bolts and therethrough are forced towards the core line of the valve device where they form a closing mechanism and therethrough close the central through hole of the valve device in a rapid and secure manner supported by the stop disc.

The mentioned first and second stop disc may further be spring-loaded, or that the bolts or rods extending in longitudinal direction of the valve device themselves are spring-loaded, alternatively the aperture box, such that it is required a certain force before the closing mechanism is activated. The mentioned spring-functionality of the bolts/rods/aperture box/stop discs can further be used such that after the pressure in the mentioned chamber again drops, the rods/bolts/aperture box/stop discs are returned and the valve device again opens as the disc parts are forced from each other, outwards towards the inner diameter of the tube.

The mentioned valve device can further be considered as a module-based valve device where several such closing mechanisms, i.e. first and second stop discs, activation bolts, possibly aperture box, and closing disc in disc parts, can be arranged after one another in the same tube for increased safety or possibly close at different pressure. The above mentioned closing mechanism can further be automated by that the mentioned stop discs or bolts/rods or aperture box is arranged to an actuator mechanism and therethrough the opening and closing can be adjusted by moving the stop discs/bolts/rods/aperture box in longitudinal direction of the valve device and therethrough determine the opening formed by the position of the disc parts in relation to each other.

The valve device according to the present invention can further be arranged as a balancing valve, arranged such that the pressure in front or behind the closing mechanism activates the valve parts in greater or lesser degree, and maintains the flow (of fluid, liquid or gas) at a certain level/velocity.

Further preferable features and details of the present invention will appear from the following example description.

Example

The present invention will be described in further detail below with references to the attached drawings, where:

Fig. 1 is a principle drawing of a valve device according to the present invention in cross- section,

Fig. 2 shows details of the closing mechanism of the valve device, seen inclined from the front, Fig. 3 shows details of the closing mechanism of the valve device in entirely closed position, Fig. 4 shows detail of the closing mechanism of the valve device in partly open position, Fig. 5 shows an embodiment where the valve device is arranged to a barrel of a firearm, and Fig. 6 shows an embodiment where the valve device is provided with an actuator mechanism.

Reference is now made to Figure 1 which shows a principle drawing of a valve device 10 according to the present invention, in a cross-sectional view, Figure 2 showing details of the closing mechanism of the valve device, seen inclined from the front, where parts of the valve device 10 are removed for revealing inner details, Figure 3 showing details of the closing mechanism in entirely closed position where parts of the valve device 10 are removed for revealing inner details, and Figure 4 showing details of a closing mechanism of the valve device in partly open position where parts of the valve device 10 are removed for revealing inner details.

The valve device 10 according to the present invention is formed by an outer tube 11 which at one end thereof is provided with a connection/fastening device 12a for existing tube, pipeline or similar (not shown), and which at the other end thereof is provided with a corresponding connection/fastening device 12b for tube, pipeline or similar (not shown), such that the mentioned valve device 10 can be arranged between two tube sections or similar transporting fluid, liquid or gas.

The valve device 10 further comprises bolts or rods 13a-c extending in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10, between mentioned connections/fastening devices 12a-b/cover 12c, i.e. inside the tube 11, which is distributed in circumferential direction of the tube 11, in the example three bolts or rods 13a-c which mutually form a triangular construction in the tube 11. In this way it is formed a strong construction.

The valve device 10 according to the present invention further comprises a first 14a and second 14b movable stop disc arranged to the mentioned bolts or rods 13a-c, which stop discs 14a-b are arranged with a distance from each other, seen in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10. The stop discs 14a-b are further provided with a central through hole 15a-b where fluid, liquid or gas can flow.

In an alternative solution of the valve device 10 according to the present invention, the mentioned stop discs 14a-b are fixed arranged to the mentioned bolts or rods 13a-c which are arranged such that they are movable in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10 and therethrough also make the stop discs 14a-b movable in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10.

Between the first 14a and second 14b stop disc extend at least three rods or activation bolts 16a-c arranged in an angle relation to each other and which exhibit an increasing or decreasing angle, seen in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10, from the first stop disc 14a to the second stop disc 14b, in the example with increasing angle. It should be mentioned that these rods/activation bolts 16a-c are arranged such that they mutually and separately form triangles between the first 14a and second 14b stop disc.

The valve device 10 according to the above shown embodiment further comprises a cylindrical aperture box 20, fixed arranged in the tube 11 of the valve device 10, which aperture box 20 exhibits an inner cavity 21 for accommodating disc parts 22a-c, which is provided with a central through hole 23 as in the first and second stop disc 14a-b, and where it in connection with the central through hole 23, i.e. outside the circumference thereof, also are arranged slots 24a-c for the at least three rods or activation bolts 16a-c which thus extend through the aperture box 20 when this is arranged between the first and second stop disc 14a-b.

The closing disc of the valve device 10 is divided in at least two mainly crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c, which disc parts 22a-c are arranged to the mentioned rods or activation bolts 16a-c and are arranged in the cavity of the mentioned aperture box 20. The mentioned disc parts 22a-c exhibit slots at their ends of such a shape and angle that the mainly crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c are forced to change relative position as the rods/activation bolts 16a-c move forward in the longitudinal direction of the valve device 10 as a consequence of movement of the stop discs 14a- b. It shall be mentioned that the mentioned crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c always are arranged to at least two of the mentioned rods/activation bolts 16a-c, and the disc parts 22a-c together with the rods/activation bolts 16a-c form triangles, both mutually and together with each other for reinforced construction. The shape of the mainly crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c will further be designed such that they engage each other when they are moved towards each other such that they together form a disc which is entirely closed.

I.e. that it in front of the stop disc 14a is formed a chamber 30a filled with fluid, liquid or gas driving the first 14a and second 14b stop disc forward in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10. There is correspondingly formed a chamber 30b behind the second stop disc 14b, such that the valve device 10 according to the present invention is to be considered as a bidirectional valve and that it as well can be the other stop disc 14b that is moved, such that the valve device 10 closes from the opposite side. In this way the present invention also may function as a non return valve. The movement forwards or backwards of these stop discs 14a-b results in that the mainly crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-b slide along the mentioned rods/activation bolts 16a-c and therethrough are forced towards the core line of the valve device and in engagement with each other, and therethrough form a closing mechanism which closes the central through hole 15a in the first stop disc 14a in a rapid and secure manner supported by the first stop disc 14a.

The mentioned first 14a and second 14b stop discs may further be spring-loaded, or that the bolts or rods 13a-c extending in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10 themselves are spring-loaded, such that a certain force is required before the stop discs 14a-b are moved and the closing mechanism (disc parts 22a-c) is activated. The mentioned spring-functionality of the bolts/rods 13a-c or stop discs 14a-b can further also be used such that after the pressure again drops in the mentioned chamber 30a-b the rods/bolts 13a-c and stop discs 14a-b are returned and the closing mechanism opens again as the mainly crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c are forced away from each other again, outwards towards the inner diameter of the mainly cylindrical aperture box 20.

It will be obvious for a skilled person that a natural modification of the valve device 10 according to the present invention will be that the closing mechanism comprises more than three crescent-shaped disc parts 22a-c overlapping each other, and also comprises more than three rods/activation bolts 16a-c.

Reference is no made to Figure 5 showing a valve device 10 according to the present invention arranged to a barrel 40 of a firearm. In this application the valve device 10 will function as a sound director and/or muzzle flash damper. In this application the valve device 10 comprises connection means 12a at the one end being used to attach the valve device 10 to the firearm barrel 40, i.e. forming a fastening device to the firearm barrel 40, and that the connection means 12a seals against the firearm barrel 40. This will typically be achieved by that the barrel 40 and connection means 12a are provided with corresponding threads such that the valve device 10 can be detachably attached to the barrel 40. There is further arranged a cover 12c at the other end of the valve device 10, which centrally is provided with a through hole 31 adapted for allowing a projectile fired via the firearm barrel 40 to pass. The bolts or rods 13a-c extending in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10, between the connection means 12a and the cover 12c, are not shown in the example.

In this application powder gases following the projectile on its way out of the firearm barrel 40 will hit the first stop disc 14a and therethrough move the first 14a and second 14b stop disc forward in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10, such that the closing mechanism closes as described above. Alternatively, the aperture box 20 is movably arranged between the first 14a and second 14b stop discs and that the power gases drive the aperture box 20 in longitudinal direction from the first stop disc 14a towards the second stop disc 14b and therethrough such that the disc parts 22a-c are moved towards each other and closes.

Accordingly, the valve device 10 will close immediately after the projectile has passed the disc parts 22a-c and therethrough cutting/closing for powder gases and/or muzzle flash following the projectile as it leaves the barrel 40, and therethrough delay and divert the powder gases on their way out of the valve device 10.

In such an application it will be an advantage that the valve device 10 allows some gas to escape outside the closing disc, e.g. via slots or channels 32 at the outer circumference of the second stop disc 14b, and that the valve device 10 is provided with spring-functionality, as described above, such that when the gas pressure in front of the valve device 10 drops the valve device 10 gradually opens. In this way is achieved an effective sound director and/or muzzle flash damper where powder gases/muzzle flash following a projectile is/are effectively «locked in» and delayed on their/its way out of the valve device 10.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 showing a further embodiment of a valve device 10 according to the present invention where the closing mechanism is adjustable by that there is arranged an actuator mechanism 50 to the aperture box 20 capable of adjusting the aperture box 20 in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10 and therethrough determine the opening formed by the position of the disc parts 22a-c in relation to each other. In this way is enabled adjustment of the valve device 10 to a desired level/velocity of the flow of fluid, liquid or gas through the valve device 10. Alternatively, the actuator mechanism 50 is arranged to the mentioned stop discs 14a-b or bolts/rods 13a-c which can move the stop discs 14a-b/bolts/rods 13a-c in longitudinal direction of the valve device 10 and therethrough determine the opening formed by the position of the disc parts 22a-c in relation to each other. The actuator mechanism 50 itself can be electric or mechanic and of known type for a skilled person, which is controlled by a control unit 51 or manually. The control unit 51 can further be provided with various communication means and interface to known control systems and warning systems. The control unit 51 can further be connected to various sensor systems which can provide input for control of the actuator mechanism 50.

In an alternative embodiment the actuator mechanism 50 is a spring-based device which can be controlled such that the valve device 10 opens or closes at a certain pressure by determining the force of the spring-based actuator mechanism 50. In this way it can be provided a balancing valve device 10 functioning such that the pressure activates the disc parts 22a-c in larger or lesser degree depending on the pressure of the fluid, liquid or gas, and maintains the flow (of fluid, liquid or gas) at a certain level/velocity. It should be mentioned that the embodiment does not require a controllable actuator mechanism 50, but the actuator mechanism 50 can hold a desired spring force. The same can be achieved by arranging the actuator mechanism 50 to the stop discs 14a- b/bolts/rods 13a-c.

In other words the stop discs 14a-b can be movably arranged in the valve device 10 with the aperture box 20 fixed, the aperture box 20 movably arranged with the stop discs 14a-b fixed, the stop discs 14a-b movably arranged to the rods/bolts 13a-b, or a combination of several of these. In a further embodiment of the valve device 10 according to the present invention the aperture box 20 is omitted such that the disc parts 22a-c via their mutual connection will be connected to the activation bolts 16a-c.

The valve device 10 according to the present invention can further be considered as a module- based valve device 10 where several such closing mechanisms, i.e. first 14a and second 14b stop disc, activation bolts 16a-c, possibly aperture box 20, and disc parts 22a-c, can be arranged after one another in the same tube 11 for further safety and possibly closing or opening at different pressure.