Control valve for solar heating systems
AssigneeSunglo Solar Ltd.
InventorJohn M. Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control valve for a solar heating system is disclosed. The valve has a valve body which defines four chambers disposed end to end. A valve operating rod is movable axially through all four chambers uder motor control and carries a valve member for directing liquid through the valve. In one position of the valve member, incoming liquid is directed to an outlet for connection to a solar collector and liquid returning from the collector can flow through the valve body and back to the swimming pool. In the other position of the valve member, the liquid bypasses the collector and is directed back to the pool while liquid in the collector drains back into the valve body through the outlet and is removed by suction from a drain-down chamber in the valve body.
Claims12
A control valve for a solar heating system which includes at least one solar collector having flow and return lines, a reservoir for liquid to be heated, and a pump for circulating liquid from the reservoir and through the collector for heating, the control valve comprising:
- a valve body which defines:
- a valve chamber having an inlet for liquid to be heated and first and second outlets;
- flow and return chambers communicating respectively with said first and second valve chamber outlets, said flow chamber having an outlet adapted to be coupled to said solar collector flow line for delivering liquid to the collector, and said return chamber having an inlet adapted to be coupled to said solar collector return line, said return chamber additionally having an outlet for returning liquid received from said collector to said reservoir;
- a drain-down chamber having an inlet for receiving liquid drained from said collector, and an outlet through which drained liquid can be returned to the reservoir, said inlet communicating with said flow chamber;
- check valve means associated with said return chamber inlet and adapted to prevent reverse flow of liquid in said inlet;
- valve means including a primary valve member disposed in said valve chamber and movable between first and second positions in which said member closes said first and second valve chamber outlets respectively, valve actuating means operable from externally of said chambers and adapted to move the valve member between its said positions, and a secondary valve member associated with said drain-down inlet and operable simultaneously with said primary valve member to close said inlet when said primary valve member is in its said second position, and to open said inlet when the primary valve member is in its said first position.
A solar heating system comprising:
- at least one solar collector having flow and return lines and vacuum breaker means for admitting air to said collector during draining of water therefrom;
- a reservoir containing liquid to be heated;
- means defining a main liquid circulation circuit and having an outlet through which liquid can be removed from said reservoir and an inlet through which liquid can be returned to the reservoir;
- a pump in said circuit for conveying liquid from said outlet to said inlet;
- a control valve coupled in said circuit and including:
- (a) a valve body which defines:
- a valve chamber having an inlet communicating with said pump for receiving liquid to be heated, and first and second outlets;
- flow and return chambers communicating respectively with said first and second valve chamber outlets, said flow chamber having an outlet coupled to said solar collector flow line through which liquid can be delivered to the collector, and said return chamber having an inlet coupled to said solar collector return line, said return chamber additionally having an outlet coupled to said circulation circuit inlet through which liquid received from said collector can be returned to the reservoir;
- a drain-down chamber having an inlet for receiving liquid drained from said collector and an outlet through which drained liquid can be returned to the reservoir, said inlet communicating with said flow chamber;
- (b) check valve means associated with said return chamber inlet and adapted to prevent reverse flow of liquid in said inlet;
- (c) valve means including a primary valve member disposed in said valve chamber and movable between first and second positions in which said member closes said first and second valve chamber outlets respectively;
- valve actuating means operable from externally of said chambers and adapted to move the valve member between its said positions;
- and a secondary valve member associated with said drain-down chamber inlet and operable simultaneously with said primary valve member to close said inlet when the primary valve member is in its said second position, and to open said inlet when the primary valve member is in its said first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.