阅读说明：本技术 用于饮用水装置的阀 (Valve for drinking water apparatus ) 是由 斯特凡·弗里斯 罗兰·布卢门塔尔 亚历山大·福格特 于 2020-03-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及用于饮用水装置的阀,该阀包括：与管道连接的阀壳体；和调节活塞,该调节活塞能够在阀壳体中移动并且耦接至在阀壳体的外侧暴露的主轴,并在与主轴相反的一侧与热膨胀元件配合,该热膨胀元件暴露在通过阀壳体的流路径中,并且在弹簧元件的预紧力下倚靠该调节活塞搁置,由于膨胀元件的膨胀,调节活塞能够相对于膛孔移动。在上述阀中,调节活塞限定Kv最小设定区域,在调节活塞的Kv最小位置处,在调节活塞与膛孔之间形成Kv最小流通路；和/或调节活塞利用形成在调节活塞的外周向表面上的支撑点和中间的流通路中空体限定Kv最大设定区域,在调节活塞的Kv最大位置处,支撑点延伸直至膛孔并且设置在支撑点之间的流通路中空体限定Kv最大流通路。(The present invention relates to a valve for a drinking water device, the valve comprising: a valve housing connected to the conduit; and an adjustment piston movable in the valve housing and coupled to the main shaft exposed outside the valve housing and cooperating on a side opposite the main shaft with a thermal expansion element exposed in a flow path through the valve housing and resting against the adjustment piston under the pretension of the spring element, the adjustment piston being movable relative to the bore due to expansion of the expansion element. In the above valve, the regulating piston defines a Kv minimum setting region at which a Kv minimum flow passage is formed between the regulating piston and the bore; and/or the adjusting piston defines a Kv maximum setting area with supporting points formed on an outer circumferential surface of the adjusting piston, which extend up to the bore and between which the flow passage hollow body defines a Kv maximum flow passage, and an intermediate flow passage hollow body.)

1. A valve for a potable water device, the valve comprising: a valve housing (2) connected to the pipe; and an adjusting piston (28) which is movable in the valve housing (2) and is coupled to a main shaft (14) exposed outside the valve housing (2), and which cooperates, on the side opposite the main shaft (14), with a thermal expansion element (24) which is exposed in a flow path through the valve housing (2) and which rests against the adjusting piston (28) under the pretension of a spring element (34), the adjusting piston (28) being movable relative to a bore (54) as a result of expansion of the expansion element (24),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the adjustment piston (28) defines a Kv minimum setting region (I) by which, in a Kv minimum position of the adjustment piston (28), a Kv minimum flow passage (56) is formed between the adjustment piston (28) and the bore (54) by at least one circumferentially discontinuous gap (58, 60) extending radially on the adjustment piston (28) and/or the bore (54).

2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating piston (28) comprises, in its Kv minimum setting area (I), a plastic sealing element (32), the outer circumferential surface of which plastic sealing element (32) defines the gap (58, 60) at the Kv minimum position of the regulating piston (28).

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the regulating piston (28) comprises in its Kv minimum setting area (I) a plastic sealing element (32), the outer circumferential surface of which plastic sealing element (32) abuts, at least along a part of its circumference, against a counter surface building the bore (54) at the Kv minimum position of the regulating piston (28).

4. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating piston (28) comprises, in its Kv minimum setting area (I), a plastic sealing element (32), the plastic sealing element (32) having, at the Kv minimum position of the regulating piston (28), a radial slot (60) defining the clearance.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the regulating piston (28) defines a Kv maximum setting area (III) with supporting points (62) formed on its outer circumferential surface and an intermediate flow passage hollow body (64), and wherein, at the Kv maximum position of the regulating piston (28), the supporting points (62) extend up to the bore (54) and the flow passage hollow bodies (64) disposed between the supporting points define Kv maximum flow passages (III).

6. Valve according to claim 5, characterized in that the Kv maximum setting area (III) is arranged on the regulating piston (28) between the Kv minimum setting area (I) and the main shaft (14).

7. Valve according to claim 5, characterized in that the spindle (14) is rotatably supported in a valve insert housing (12) defining at least one radial flow outlet (42) leading to the expansion element (24) and at its end located opposite the spindle (14) is connected to an inlet sleeve (38) defining at least a second radial flow passage (40) and a bottom (36) on which the spring element (34) rests.

8. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the bottom (36) is defined by a spring support sleeve (44) supported such that: the spring support sleeve is axially movable relative to the valve insert housing (12) and rests on the valve housing (2) and defines a support collar (46) for internal support of the spring element (34).

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein a valve disc (20) supports the expansion element (24) and carries a sealing disc (22) that, in a closed position of the valve, abuts a sealing seat (72) disposed adjacent the bore (54).

10. The valve according to claim 1, wherein a motor drive (68) is operatively connected to the spindle (14) and connectable to a control unit comprising a memory in which a predetermined flushing protocol is stored, and wherein the control unit is configured such that: the motor drive (68) moves the adjusting piston (28) from a preset adjusting position to the Kv max position for flushing and, after the flushing operation is completed, resets the adjusting piston (28) to the preset adjusting position.

11. Valve according to claim 10, characterized in that the motor drive (68), the control unit and the memory are accommodated in a uniform drive housing (70) connected to the valve housing (2).

12. Valve according to claim 11, characterized in that the valve housing (2) is provided with a positive locking element and the actuator housing (70) is provided with a positive locking counter element, by means of which the actuator housing (70) can be connected to the valve housing (2) such that the actuator housing is secured against rotation relative to the valve housing.

13. A valve for a potable water device, the valve comprising: a valve housing (2) connected to the pipe; and an adjusting piston (28) which is movable in the valve housing (2) and is coupled to a main shaft (14) exposed outside the valve housing (2), and which cooperates, on the side opposite the main shaft (14), with a thermal expansion element (24) which is exposed in a flow path through the valve housing (2) and which rests against the adjusting piston (28) under the pretension of a spring element (34), the adjusting piston (28) being movable relative to a bore (54) as a result of the expansion element (24), characterized in that the adjusting piston (28) defines a Kv maximum setting region (III) with a support point (62) formed on its outer circumferential surface and a flow-path hollow body (64) in the middle, and wherein, at a Kv maximum position of the adjusting piston (28), the support points (62) extend as far as the bore (54), and a flow passage hollow body (64) arranged between the support points defines a Kv maximum flow passage (III).

14. Valve according to claim 13, characterized in that the Kv maximum setting area (III) is arranged on the regulating piston (28) between Kv minimum setting area (I) and the main shaft (14).

15. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the spindle (14) is rotatably supported in a valve insert housing (12) defining at least one radial flow outlet (42) leading to the expansion element (24) and at an end thereof located opposite to the spindle (14), the valve insert housing being connected to an inlet sleeve (38) defining at least a second radial flow passage (40) and a bottom (36), on which the spring element (34) rests.

16. A valve according to claim 15, wherein the bottom (36) is defined by a spring support sleeve (44) supported such that: the spring support sleeve is axially movable relative to the valve insert housing (12) and rests on the valve housing (2) and defines a support collar (46) for internal support of the spring element (34).

17. The valve of claim 13, wherein a valve disc (20) supports the expansion element (24) and carries a sealing disc (22) that, in a closed position of the valve, abuts a sealing seat (72) disposed adjacent the bore (54).

18. The valve according to claim 13, wherein a motor drive (68) is operatively connected to the spindle (14) and connectable to a control unit comprising a memory in which a predetermined flushing protocol is stored, and wherein the control unit is configured such that: the motor drive (68) moves the adjusting piston (28) from a preset adjusting position to the Kv max position for flushing and, after the flushing operation is completed, resets the adjusting piston (28) to the preset adjusting position.

19. Valve according to claim 18, characterized in that the motor drive (68), the control unit and the memory are accommodated in a uniform drive housing (70) connected to the valve housing (2).

20. Valve according to claim 19, characterized in that the valve housing (2) is provided with a positive locking element and the actuator housing (70) is provided with a positive locking counter element, by means of which the actuator housing (70) can be connected to the valve housing (2) such that the actuator housing is secured against rotation relative to the valve housing.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a valve for a drinking water device according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. Such a valve is known from DE102011010840a 1.

Background

The invention relates in particular to a valve for regulating the circulation of cold water. A flow path for drinking water is formed in the valve housing, in which flow path a thermal expansion element is exposed, which rests against the adjusting piston under the pretension of the spring element. The adjustment piston moves relative to the bore due to expansion of the expansion element. As a result, a temperature controlled regulation of the flow through the valve is performed. The purpose of this flow through the valve is to set the Kv minimum for low temperature drinking water so that only minimal circulation will occur when the drinking water is sufficiently cold. On the other hand, if the temperature of the drinking water rises, the purpose of increasing the circulation through the valve is to drain warm drinking water from the pipe section associated with the valve as quickly as possible and to supply it to the cooling unit through a circulation pipe, which is usually provided with a pump, for example as described in EP2487301B 1. The installation situation described there (installation situation) also applies to conceivable installation situations of the valve according to the invention.

The valve for controlling a cold water circuit known from DE102011010840a1 still has room for improvement, since the solution described there corresponds to a conventional valve for regulating a hot water circuit. Such regulation has been known for a long time, the only difference being that the performance of the expansion element is utilised so that as the water temperature rises, the flow passage will be increased without being reduced as in the case of a thermal control valve for hot water circulation. As for the rest of the cases, the design principle of the hot water regulating valve is adopted in the same manner. However, these design principles do not adequately meet the circulation requirements in cold water systems.

Based on the above problem, the invention provides an improved valve for drinking water installations up to now, wherein the valve allows a large volume flow of cold water at water temperatures above this temperature depending on the adjustable or non-adjustable temperature, and the valve preferably controls the flow rate to a minimum volume flow at low temperatures.

Disclosure of Invention

To solve this problem, the present invention teaches a valve having the features of claim 1. An alternative solution is specified in claim 5. The combination of the two aspects provides a valve adapted to circulate cold water in the best possible way.

According to the solution defined in claim 1, the valve can be set at about 0.05m where Kv is at a minimum³/h+/-0.01m³Very small volumetric flows of/h. In contrast to conventional control valves, the control gap is not formed here as an annular gap in the circumferential direction. Instead, a radially extending circumferentially discontinuous gap is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the adjustment piston and the bore, which is typically the stationary portion of the housing. Through this gap, a Kv minimum flow path is defined. The flow passage is defined when the adjustment piston with its Kv minimum setting area is positioned at the level of the bore. This Kv minimum set region position is referred to as a Kv minimum position.

The very small Kv minimum flow path is defined by a single radially extending gap. It goes without saying that a plurality of radially extending gaps can also be provided, each gap being discontinuous in the circumferential direction. The gap typically extends in the circumferential direction by a few degrees, for example between 2 and 8 °.

The Kv minimum setting region of the adjusting piston is formed here by a piston region which extends in the axial direction and is positioned in the bore at the Kv minimum position.

Adjacent to the Kv minimum setting area, the regulating piston usually forms an outer circumferential surface which increasingly allows cold water to pass through the regulating gap as the drinking water temperature increases, causing the expansion element to expand. In this way, the flow passage between the regulator piston and the bore is increased to expel warm, stale water.

The regulating piston typically includes a plastic sealing element in its Kv minimum setting area, the outer circumferential surface of which defines a gap at the Kv minimum position of the regulating piston. The outer circumferential surface of the plastic sealing element can abut against a counter surface (facing surface) which is usually a fixed part of the housing and builds up a bore, at least along a part of its circumference, and seal the adjustment gap in the circumferential direction, at least for a major part thereof. Sealing at least the main part in the circumferential direction means here that the circumferential dimension of the sealing bore is at least 330 °, preferably at least 350 °.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, the adjusting piston comprises, in its Kv minimum setting region, a plastic sealing element which, at its Kv minimum position, has a radial slot which defines the adjusting gap. The plastic sealing element can be pressed against the counter surface under radial pretension. The support surface supporting the sealing element and which may be defined by the adjusting piston base, and/or the inner circumferential surface of the bore may be conical in shape, so that as the Kv minimum position gets closer, the annular plastic sealing element will be compressed in the region of the slit, and the flow passage will narrow in this way. The position of the flow path that is completely blocked or unusable by the expansion element should not be adjustable.

According to a particularly preferred alternative embodiment, which is effectively associated with the creation of the above-discussed Kv minimum setting region on the regulating piston, the regulating piston additionally has a Kv maximum setting region. In this Kv maximum setting region of the adjusting piston, a support point is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the adjusting piston. Between these support points, a flow passage hollow body is provided. The support points and the flow passage hollow bodies thus alternate in the circumferential direction at the level of the Kv maximum set area. In the Kv maximum position of the adjustment piston, the support point extends as far as the bore. This has the effect that the piston will be guided and supported at the Kv max position. In this connection, it should be taken into account that the spring element for tensioning the adjusting piston in the direction of the main shaft is usually compressed to a large extent in the Kv maximum position with the interposition of the expansion element, and that the adjusting piston is guided axially relative to the main shaft only to an insufficient extent, directly or indirectly via the expansion element, and is supported there only directly or indirectly against the end face of the main shaft. The support point thus causes the adjusting piston to be guided to some extent in the Kv maximum position. The support points do not need to be configured in a way that a fitting (fit, match) is built. The support point may define an envelope surface that is slightly smaller than the inner circumferential surface of the bore. However, typically at least two support points abut against opposing surfaces built by the bore, so that the adjustment piston will be supported and guided by the housing, which typically defines the bore, at the Kv maximum position.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, the Kv maximum setting region is arranged on the adjusting piston between the Kv minimum setting region and the main shaft. The result is that, starting from the spindle, the regulating piston first defines a Kv maximum setting area, then a regulating setting area for regulating the flow passage on the basis of the expansion element and a Kv minimum setting area for setting a Kv minimum flow passage. The setting area usually also represents the highest position of the adjusting piston in the displacement frame of the adjusting piston in the valve housing. In this uppermost position, the regulating piston is maximally close to the valve head through which the spindle extends. Thus, the distance to the bottom is greatest at the highest position.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, the spindle is rotatably supported in the valve insert housing. The valve insert housing defines at least a first radial flow passage leading to the expansion element. The first radial flow path may be an inlet opening or an outlet opening to a flow path within the valve insert housing to which the expansion element is exposed. On the end located opposite the main shaft, the valve insert housing according to a preferred further development of the invention is connected to an inlet sleeve which is normally sealingly connected, normally screw-fastened, to the valve insert housing and defines a second radial flow path which is defined by the other of the inlet opening and the outlet opening to the flow path. Preferably, the inlet sleeve here defines the inlet of the flow to the expansion element. The inlet sleeve additionally defines a bottom on which the spring element rests with its free lower end.

Compared to the solution known from DE102011010840a1, this design offers the advantage that the flow enters radially and not through the spring element as in the above-described prior art, wherein the flow first has to pass radially through the coils of the spring in order to reach the expansion element. A situation is conceivable in which the spring coils are relatively closely spaced. In this case, a smooth passage through the valve insert housing is not possible.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, the inlet sleeve preferably defines a supporting collar (collar, sleeve, collar) against the interior of which the spring element rests. The spring is a coil spring. The support collar prevents the spring element from buckling and guides the coil spring externally. The support collar is preferably formed by a spring support sleeve which is supported so as to be axially movable relative to the valve insert housing, preferably so that it is axially movable to a limited extent within the inlet sleeve. The inlet sleeve defines at least one end stop against which the spring support sleeve abuts before assembly due to the pretensioning of the spring element, so that the valve insert housing together with the inlet sleeve and the spring support sleeve can be handled as a unit and screwed into the valve housing.

Preferably, in the mounted condition, the spring support sleeve rests against the valve housing. This will avoid dead corners or the like which may occur between the bottom of the inlet sleeve, which is closed at its lower side, and the opposite wall forming the valve housing.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a valve disc is provided, which carries a sealing disc, which in the closed position of the valve abuts against a sealing seat provided adjacent to the bore. The valve disc preferably supports the expansion element. The valve disc is thus positioned between the main shaft and the expansion element and is usually preferably directly contacted by the main shaft side end of the expansion element.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a motor drive is provided which is operatively connected to the spindle. The motor drive is particularly suitable for setting Kv max. The Kv max of the valve according to the invention allows in particular flushing of the pipe section associated with the valve. In this case, Kv is set to a maximum such that 1.8m can be set at a normal system pressure³/h+/-0.5m³Volumetric flow per hour. Such a regulating characteristic cannot be set solely by the expansion of the expansion element. In contrast, in the case of the valve according to the invention, Kv max is preferably set by the motor drive. For this purpose, the motor drive has a control unit which comprises a memory in which at least one predefined flushing protocol (state, mode, regime) is stored. The control unit is configured such that the motor drive moves the adjusting piston from a preset adjusting position to a Kv maximum position, preferably advances the adjusting piston axially like a plunger, for flushing. The preset setting position is here the position of the setting piston, at which the setting region or Kv minimum setting region is located in the bore. In addition, the control unit is adjusted such that, when the flushing operation is completed, the adjusting piston will be reset to the preset adjusting position by driving by means of the motor drive. In doing so, the motor drive is typically engaged with the spindle, however the spindle may also be manually rotated independently of the motor to make the adjustment.

With regard to a compact and functionally independent solution, the motor drive, the control unit and the memory are preferably accommodated in a uniform drive housing, which is preferably connected to the valve housing, so that the drive housing is secured against rotation relative to the valve housing. The connection between the valve housing and such a drive can be constructed, for example, according to DE202006013186U1 from the applicant of the present application.

With the valve according to the invention, the regulating body can be moved axially in the Kv minimum setting region while maintaining a constant volume flow within the limits of the housing-side bore. The Kv minimum flow passage thus has a constant flow cross section over a certain axial extension. This also applies to the Kv maximum setting region and the Kv maximum flow path.

Drawings

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a valve according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the sectional view according to fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a perspective side view of the valve insert according to fig. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternative valve insert;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI for a first variant of the design of the region for the minimum setting of Kv;

fig. 7 shows a second variant modified compared to fig. 6;

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment in a flushing position;

fig. 9 shows a sectional view along the section line IX-IX according to fig. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second embodiment in a closed position, an

Fig. 11 shows the embodiment according to fig. 1 with a driver unit in a perspective side view.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a valve having a valve housing 2 defining an inlet opening 4 and an outlet opening 6. A spacer 8 is provided in the valve housing 2, defining a bore in which a valve insert 10 is sealingly mounted.

The valve insert 10 has a valve insert housing 12 in which a spindle 14 is rotatably supported, the spindle 14 being supported by an adjusting top 16 which is screw-fastened to the valve insert housing 12. The adjustment top 16 has a protrusion that engages over a portion of the spindle 14 to axially fix the spindle 14 in position relative to the valve top 16. The valve top 16 is screw-fastened inside the valve insert housing 12 and can be adjusted there, allowing the spindle 14 to be preset.

The main shaft 14 is a non-rising main shaft which engages with a setting element 18 which cooperates on the opposite side with a valve disc 20 which engages with a cam with an opening of the setting element 18. On the lower surface opposite the setting element 18, the valve disc 20 carries a sealing disc 22 which circumferentially surrounds an expansion element 24. The expansion element 24 has a centering pin that engages a complementarily configured, slightly tapered insert bore of the valve disc 20. The expansion element 24 has a contact collar 26 against which the adjustment piston 28 bears. The adjusting piston 28 comprises a metal adjusting piston base 30 and a plastic sealing element 32 made of plastic material, see fig. 4. On the side opposite the adjusting piston 28, the spring element 34 bears against the expansion element 24 under pretension. The other end of the spring element 34 rests against a contact surface 36 of the inlet sleeve, indicated with reference numeral 38. The inlet sleeve 38 defines opposing valve insert inlet openings 40 through which the cold water to be conditioned flows to the expansion element 24. Reference numeral 42 designates a valve insert outlet opening through which the flow leaves the valve insert 10.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 4, the inlet sleeve 38 is screw-fastened to the valve insert housing 12. The seal seals the screw connection. The inlet sleeve 38 has a further sealing ring at its lower end which seals the valve insert 10 against the bore hole formed in the spacer 8. In the embodiment according to fig. 1, the inlet sleeve 38 is formed on the valve insert housing 12 as a section of a uniform component.

In the embodiment according to fig. 1 to 3, the spring element 34 rests on a spring support sleeve 44 on its underside, which spring support sleeve 44 is provided with at least two opposite holes on its outer circumference in order to avoid dead corners. These holes are provided in the region of a support collar 46 which circumferentially supports the spring elements 34 configured as coil springs. The support collar 46 projects beyond the support ring 48 against which the spring element 34 bears on its end side and which defines a radially outwardly projecting locking projection which is axially movable and is limited in its downward movement by a stop. The spring support sleeve 44 can thus move axially relative to the valve insert 10 to a limited extent.

It can be seen that this movability serves to support the spring support sleeve 44 on the valve housing 2 and to place it against the valve housing in the mounted condition of the valve insert 10. The spring support sleeve 44 may thus be open at the bottom or closed at the bottom as shown in fig. 2.

The support collar 46 has an inner diameter configured to receive the free end of the expansion element 24 therein.

On the opposite end of the valve insert 10, a setting wheel 50 is arranged, which is arranged such that it is secured against rotation relative to the setting element 18, and cooperates with a gauge 52 to preset a Kv minimum value and to indicate a preset value by means of the gauge 52, which gauge rotates during a preset operation relative to the spindle with the corresponding marking. However, the setting wheel 50 may also be used as a motor adapter for a drive unit for setting the spindle 14.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment which is slightly modified compared to the embodiments according to fig. 1 to 3. Essentially, this embodiment differs only in the structural design of the bottom 36, which defines the contact surface for the spring element and which is flat here and does not cooperate with the valve housing 2 in the mounted condition. Like parts are denoted by like reference numerals as compared to the above embodiments.

Fig. 5 shows the adjusting piston 28 in its Kv minimum position, and this figure also applies to the first embodiment. In this position, the outer circumferential surface of the plastic sealing element 32 mates as an almost complete circumferential seal with the bore 54 defined by the valve insert housing 12.

Fig. 6 here shows a flow passage for the first variant, indicated with reference numeral 56 and defined by radial slots 58 in the bore 54. The notches 58 extend in the radial direction but have only a small circumferential dimension. Three circumferentially distributed notches 58 are provided which together define a flow passage at the Kv minimum position of the regulating piston 28 shown. In this variant, the plastic sealing element 32 is closed in the circumferential direction.

The situation is different with respect to the embodiment according to fig. 7. There, a plastic sealing element 32, which is configured similarly to the closed sealing ring in fig. 6, is slotted. In this way, a C-shaped structural design is obtained with a radial slot 60 defining a unique flow passage 56. It is readily envisioned that the slot may be increased or decreased in size to variably adjust the flow passage 56, depending on the position of the expansion element 24, with the tapered design of the adjustment piston base 30 and/or bore 54.

Fig. 5, 6, and 7 show the configuration of the adjustment piston 28 and bore 54 in the Kv minimum position (constellation). As described above, the flow passage 56 is not formed circumferentially between the bore 54 and the adjustment piston 28. Instead, only at least one discrete section is provided in the circumferential direction, which allows the flow to pass through. As for the rest, the plastic sealing element 32 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the mainly circular bore 54 in substantially the entire circumferential direction. In fig. 5, the Kv minimum setting region defined by the adjusting piston 28 in the above-described position is denoted by I.

Upstream, the regulating piston 28 defines a Kv maximum setting region, indicated with reference sign III, when viewed in the direction of the main shaft 14. As illustrated by the sectional view according to fig. 9, the adjusting piston 28 has a substantially star-shaped sectional shape and defines support points 62 which are distributed in the circumferential direction and between which a flow-path hollow body 64 is formed. The support points 62 extend up to the inner circumferential surface of the bore 54 and may also rest thereon in order to counteract buckling loads that may occur with the spring element 34. The flow passage hollow body 64 defines a Kv max flow passage, indicated by reference numeral 66, at the Kv max position shown. This design is also realized in the case of the embodiment according to fig. 1.

Between the Kv maximum setting region, indicated by reference sign III in fig. 8 and 9, and the Kv minimum setting region I in fig. 6 to 8 of the adjusting piston 28, there is an adjustment setting region II in which the flow passage is increased. This adjustment setting area II sweeps the inner circumferential surface of the bore 54 due to the rotation of the expansion element 24.

It can be seen that the spindle 14 must be set to move from the Kv minimum position to the Kv maximum position shown in fig. 9 and 10 (see the arrow in fig. 8). The Kv maximum position corresponds here to the flushing position of the embodiment shown. The flushing position is preferably set by means of a driver unit 68 shown in fig. 11, which has a uniform driver housing 70 in which a not shown motor, memory and control unit are accommodated. In a modified case, the driver housing 70 may accommodate only the motor driver. The control signals and memory may be stored in a central control unit that is data connected to a motor drive positioned inside the drive housing 70. An autonomous energy source, such as a battery or accumulator, may be disposed in the drive housing 70.

The memory is here configured such that the driver unit has sent a signal to it at predetermined time intervals, for example after about 36 hours +/-10 hours, indicating that the Kv maximum position should be set such that the pipes upstream of the valve will be flushed and the old water will be removed.

The valve according to the invention provides here a discharge of approximately 1 to 2m during flushing³Volumetric flow possibility/h. This value corresponds to Kv max. Owing to the special structural design of the adjusting piston 28, it can be set to approximately 0.05m³Kv/h is minimal.

It goes without saying that the control unit provided in the driver unit 68 can also trigger and monitor the rinsing process in a temperature-controlled manner. For this purpose, the control unit has an interface for a temperature sensor which measures and monitors the temperature of the water in the pipe area upstream of the valve.

After the flushing operation is completed, the motor drive resets the position of the regulating piston 28, which was previously given only by the expansion element.

The closed position shown in fig. 10 may be achieved by the driver unit or manually. In this condition, the spindle driver presses the valve disc 20 downward until the sealing disc 22 rests against the sealing seat 72 disposed adjacent the bore 54. In this way, the valves can be closed for maintenance work or for controlled partial flushing of the individual lines of the water line system for cold water.

Fig. 10 assumes here that the motor drive moves the spindle 14 axially like a plunger. The movement of the spindle continues until the sealing disk 22 abuts the seal seat 72. When the valve is manually closed, the spindle is rotated. If the motorized drive outlined above is provided, it is removed beforehand. The spindle 14 is rotated by hand through a hex head provided at the free end of the spindle 14 until the closed position has been reached.

List of reference numerals

2 valve housing

4 inlet opening

6 outlet opening

8 spacer

10 valve insert

12 valve insert housing

14 spindle

16 adjusting top

18 setting element

20 valve disc

22 sealing disk

24 expansion element

26 contact gasket

28 adjusting piston

30 adjusting piston base

32 plastic sealing element

34 spring element

36 bottom/contact surface

38 inlet sleeve

40 valve-insert inlet opening

42 valve-insert outlet opening

44 spring support sleeve

46 support collar

48 support ring

50 setting wheel

52 scale

54 bore hole

Kv minimum 56 flow path

58 slot

60 radial slot

62 support point

64-flow passage hollow body

Flow passage 66 Kv max

68 driver unit

70 driver housing

72 sealing seat

I Kv minimum setting region

II adjusting the setting region

III Kv maximum setting region