AU1000395A - Valve device - Google Patents

Description

AMENDED

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

00 00 0 0 0 0 0 0o o o o 0000 0 0 0 0000 0 0 0000 0 00 000 0 0 0o 0 0 09 0 0 00 0 00 0 00 Name of Applicant: GBH TRADING SDN BHD Address for Service: R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: "VALVE DEVICE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

0 II- VALVE DEVICE The present invention relates to a valve device for controlling the passage of liquid into a container. In particular the invention relates to an inlet stop valve device to regulate the flow of liquid into a container or reservoir tank.

Various types of stop valves to shut off the passage of liquid into a container after the liquid reaches a pre-determined level is known in the art, One types of stop valve is a ball float valve. Such ball float valves are voluminous and occupy substantial space in a container. The configuration of So the ball float and the leverage arm connected to it dictates the length of the container in which the stop valve is installed.

00 Another disadvantage of prior art stop valves is that the valve acts against the pressure of the incoming flow of liquid.

Such arrangement results in the frequent wearing off of the 000 plastics gaskets, thus requiring frequent maintenance work.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve oo~u S device for controlling the passage of liquid into a container 0: 0 wherein the inflowing flow pressure of the liquid is used to seal off the flow of liquid into the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve device, wherein the entire configuration of the valve device is compact and less voluminous in comparison to the ball float valve used in conventional valve devices.

The invention discloses a valve device for controlling the passage of liquid into a container. The invention comprises of a chamber body housing a seal means. The chamber body is connected to a liquid inflow conduit and to a float body to displace the seal means from a first position when the liquid in the container is at or below a first pre-determined level to a second position when the liquid in the container reaches or exceeds a second pre-determined level. The second level is higher than the first level denoting a large quantity of liquid at the second pre-determined position. The chamber body includes a first outlet port at the floor of the chamber body. The invention further comprises of a first seal body to sealingly close the first outlet port and a second seal body to sealingly close the second outlet port. When the float body is at a first position the first and second outlets ports are open and liquid flows into the chamber body and out of the chamber body and out of the chamber body into the container. When the float body is at a second position the first and second outlet ports are sealingly closed by the first and second sealing bodies respectively.

In another aspect the first seal body is a seal body whose planar surface area is marginally smaller than the internal crosssectional area of the chamber body such that the difference in cross-sectional area of seal body and the chamber body is larger than the cross-sectional surface area of the second outlet port.

The second seal body is a T-shaped seal device. In T-shaped seal device is displaceable from a first to a second position by the displacement of the float body from a first pre-determined level to a second pre-determined level. A pivotally mounted shaft displacement member is used to coordinate the movement of the shaft member of the T-shaped seal device with the displacement of the float body. The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the valve device in a sealed position.

Figure 2 illustrate a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of 15 the valve device in an open position.

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a o o~ o a ora a nfirsso a a ao o ~o a ra a Figure 3 illustrate a cross-sectional view of a float body attached to a shaft displacement lever.

oo.0 oo. 20 Referring to Figs 1 and 2 there is shown valve device oo mounted onto a side wall of a container The valve device comprises of an inlet pipe (14) connected to a chamber body (16) which chamber body is connected to a fulcrum member (18) The inlet pipe (14) is sealingly connected to the chamber body (16) and includes a first aperture (20) to facilitate the passage of liquid from the inlet pipe into the chamber body (16) I ENE _I ~(li~ The chamber body (16) includes two apertures, second aperture (22) positioned on the ceiling portion of the chamber body and a third aperture (24) positioned on the floor of the chamber body. A free moving float seal (26) is provided in the chamber body. Preferably the float seal is a tubular seal with one closed end and one open end. Between the second aperture (22) and the float seal there is provided a first sealing gasket Immediately above the third aperture (24) is provided a second sealing gasket A flat headed pin (32) with a substantially long shaft is provided. The flat head (34) of the pin is configured to seat above the second sealing gasket Qo o o The shaft (36) extends through the third aperture A oo o o seal seat (31) is positioned across the diametrical section of the fulcrum member.

i o° A shaft displacement lever (38) is pivotally mounted on the fulcrum member The displacement lever on one side of the fulcrum point is positioned within the fulcrum member and adjacent to the shaft of pin The other side of the displacement lever extends into the spatial chamber (40) of the tank At the distal end of the displacement lever there is provided a float body (42) The cross-sectional area of the float seal (26) is marginally smaller than the internal cross-sectioned area'of the chamber body The arithmetical difference in cross-sectional area between the float seal and the chamber body is longer than the cross-sectional area of the third aperture.

i_ The working mechanism of the invention together with other features of the invention will now be described. Referring to Fig 1, there is illustrated the position of the various components at the phase where the tank (12) contains liquid up to the pre-determined level. At this phase, the float body (42) is at position B, such that the shaft displacement lever (38) is spatially distanced from the shaft of the pin At this position, the shaft of the pin (36) extends freely owing to the pressure exerted on the pin head The head of pin (34) is seated on top of the second sealing gasket No liquid from the chamber body flows through the third aperture (24) of the oo ac °oooo° chamber body into the tank body.

oco oooo oo The seal (26) is disposed in sealing contact with the sealing 015 gasket No liquid from the chamber body flows through the upper aperture (22) of the chamber body. A light wire spring 0 means (44) disposed between the seal and the pin head (34) is provided to ensure the seal does not settle completely down on the third aperture or on the pin head. The seal is preferably cup shaped. As the third aperture (24) is sealingly closed, the pressure of the liquid in the inlet pipe (14) and the pressure inside the chamber body (16) is equal. The hydraulic pressure within the chamber body forces the seal (26) to be displaced upwards, so as to be in sealing contact with the sealing gasket. At this position it would be appreciated that no liquid flows from the inlet pipe (14) into the tank (12) through the valve device as there is no liquid outflow from the chamber body (16) *11 As the liquid level in the tank body (40) drops below the pre-determined level, the float body (42) and the shaft displacement lever (38) rotate about the fulcrum point thereby displacing the shaft of the pin (36) from the original axis. As the shaft of the pin (36) is displaced, the head of pin (34) is displaced from the second sealing gasket Liquid from the chamber body (16) flows into the tank body thus reducing the pressure in the chamber body.

As the arithmetic difference of the cross-sectional areas o between the seal (28) and the chamber body is smaller than the o cross-sectional area of the third aperture greater volume 0 of liquid flows out of aperture (24) than the volume of liquid flowing under the seal :ie hydraulic pressure of the incoming liquid is greater than the hydraulic pressure beneath 0 the seal Thus the seal is forced down due to the differential pressure regions. As the seal moves down from the second aperture incoming liquid flows out of the second aperture into the container body.

The seal (26) is spatially distanced from the sealing gasket.

Liquid from the inlet pipe flows into the tank body via the upper aperture (22) (substantially) and via the lower aperture (24) (marginally). As the tank body (40) is filled with the liquid, the float body (42) rises from level A to level B.

6 _~_-~~1~LIIII When the float body is at level B, the shaft displacement lever (38) is spatially distanced from the shaft of the pin (36) and the shaft is free whereby the head of the pin (34) is in sealing contact with the second sealing gasket The hydraulic pressure of the liquid below the seal increases because liquid is forced into the lower part of the chamber below the seal, whilst there is no outflow of liquid at the third aperture. -The increase in pressure below the seal forces the seal to move up to close off the second aperture.

Once the upper aperture is sealced off, the hydraulic pressure in the anterior chamber equalises with the hydraulic pressure in the inlet pipe. The hydraulic pressure in the chamber body causes ot 15 the valve seal (26) and the head of pin (34) to be forced against the sealing gasket at the second apertures (24) and the third aperture (24) respectively.

It will be appreciated that the displacement of the seal (26) and the pin head is dependent on the differential pressure created in the chamber body when the float body is at a first and second pre-determined position. The cross-sectional area (Al) of the second aperture is larger than the cross-sectional area of the third aperture The arithmetical difference (S3) in area between the interior cross-sectional area of the chamber body (S1) and the seal (S2) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the third aperture (A2) I i I_~r~_lll~ Thus: A1>A2, S2<SI S2-S1 S3 and S3<A2 and S3<AI Assuming the pressure of the incoming liquid is P2 and the pressure of the liquid between the seal (26) and the third aperture is P1, then when the valve device is at or sealed position, P2=Pl and at an open position P1<P2.

The level in the tank body (40) to which liquid would be °y introduced into the tank body, is determined by the height of the -float body (42) from the base of the tank body. Thus by adjusting the height of the float body (42) from the.floor of the C"o" 15 tank body, it is possible to pre-determine the quantity of liquid that should be introduced into the tank body before the valve device automatically shuts off the flow of incoming liquid.

A means of adjusting the height of float body (42) from the floor of the tank body is illustrated in Figure 3. The shaft eouu displacement lever (38) includes a perpendicularly disposed member (46) at a terminal end. This member (46) includes a longitudinal slit along the length to which slit is attached a connecting pin (48) 'fhe connecting pin (48) is attached to the float body The float body (42) can slide along the member (46) to effect adjustment.

r c ii It would be appreciated other methods or configuration of |i attachment of float body (42) to the shaft displacement lever (38) are applicable. In a preferred embodiment, the float body is connected to the member (46) by a ack and pinion mechanism.

If it is desired to direct the flow of liquid from the upper aperture (22) to a particular point, a suitably designed pipe means (50) can be attached to the chamber body (16) (See Fig 3) It will be appreciated that the chamber body (16) and the fulcrum member (18) can be a single integrated piece or 0OoO00 advantageously be two different parts, a first chamber body and 00 a second fulcrum member (18) attached to the chamber body by 00 screw thread means or by other means known to the art. An example is shown in Fig 3 where the fulcrum member (18) is attached to the terminal end of the chamber body (16) by screw thread means.

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Claims (22)

1. k valve device (10) for controlling the passage of liquid into a container comprising a chamber body which houses a seal means and is connected to a liquid inflow conduit and a float body to displace the seal means from a first position when the liquid in the container is at or below a first pre-determined level to a second position when the liquid in the container reaches or exceeds a second pre-determined level, the second level being higher than the first level characterised in that:- .0oo0 the chamber body (16) includes first outlet port 0 o 0 a second outlet port and an inlet port for the inflow of liquid from a mains supply, a o o first sealing member (26) positioned between the first and second outlet port, to sealingly close 0 0 0 0 0 0the first outlet port, a second sealing member (35) to sealingly close the second outlet port (24) o~rc wherein the float body is at a first position (A) 2Qo the first and second outlet ports are open to liquid inflow into the chamber body and out of the chamber body into the container, while when the float body is at a second position the first and second outlet ports are sealingly closed by the first and second sealing members respectively.

2. A valve device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first sealing member includes a U-shaped body (26) and whose specific gravity is lower than the specific gravity of the liquid flowing through the valve device.

3. A valve device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the first sealing member is a cup shaped body (26).

4. A valve device (10) for controlling the passage of liquid into a container comprising a chamber body which houses a seal means and is connected to a liquid inflow conduit and a float body to displace the seal means from a first position when the liquid in the o# o o o ocontainer is at or below a first pre-determined level to 0-0* o. o a second position when the liquid in the container ooe 0.r00 ooo° reaches or exceeds a second pre-determined level, the o000 second level being higher than the first level, °characterised in that:- .0 the chamber body (16) of cross-sectional area S1 includes a first outlet port of cross-sectional area Al, a second outlet port of cross-sectional area A2 and an inlet port (20) for the inflow of oa,0 liquid from a mains supply a first sealing member (26) of cross-sectional area S2 to sealingly close the first outlet port, a second sealing member (35) to sealingly close the second outlet port (24) wherein A1>A2 and 52<51 and the arithmetic difference (S3) in the cross-sectional areas S2, 51 of the chamber body (16) and the seal body (26) respectively is less that Al and less than A2, 11 and when the float body is at a first position (A) the first and second outlet ports are open to liquid inflow into the chamber body and out of the chamber body into the container, and when the float body is at a second position the first and second outlet ports are sealingly closed by the first and second sealing members respectively.

A valve device (10) as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 4 wherein the first sealing member whose cross- sectional area S2 is marginally smaller than the cross- 00 0 00o sectional area S1 of the chamber body (16) and is o0o slidable along the longitudinal axis of the chamber body (16). 0150 S

6. A valve device (10) as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the 0 0 0 valve device includes a means to prevent the first sealing member from sealing off the second outlet port. 0000

7. A valve device (10) as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the means to prevent the first sealing member from sealing off the second outlet port includes a spring means.

8. A valve device (10) as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the means to prevent the first sealing member from sealing off the second outlet port includes a restraining member disposed between the first sealing member and the second outlet port. 12

9. A valve device as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein the second sealing member comprises a T-shaped seal device wherein the shaft member (36) of the seal device is displaceable from a first longitudinal axis when the float body is at the first pre-determined position to a second longitudinal axis when the float body is at the predetermined second position. A valve device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the shaft member (36) of the seal device (35) is displaceable off °the longitudinal axis by shaft displacement member (38) 0 connected to the float body.

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11. A valve device as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the shaft displacement member comprises an inclined L-shaped S0 member pivotally mounted to a fulcrum member (18).

12. A valve device as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the fulcrum member (38) is attached to the chamber body (16).

13. A valve device as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the shaft displacement member includes a longitudinal member (46) attached to one end of the shaft displacement member (38).

14. A valve device as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the longitudinal member includes a slit (47) to which a _C s_ DLq~--R r(--C-lll-- connecting pin is slideably attached and which connecting pin is attached to the float body.

A valve device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a biasing means (44) is disposed between the first and second seal members.

16. A valve device as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the biasing means is helical spring.

17. A valve device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein sealing washers are positioned between the outlet ports and the seal members.

18. A valve device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 i wherein a conduit means is connected to the first outlet i! port. 1

19. A valve device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 i 20 wherein the floor of the chamber body is detachable from the chamber body. i i

20. A valve device as claimed in Claim 19 wherein the floor of the chamber body is connected to the fulcrum member.

21. A valve device as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 4 wherein the float body (42) is rotatably mounted about the chamber body. AMENDED

22. A float body displaceable from a first position to a second position characterised in that the float body (42) is mounted into a rack and pinion assembly and wherein the said assembly is connected to a liquid flow regulating valve device according to either Claim 1 or Claim 4. Dated this 7th day OfFebruary, 1995. ~SC 1 04 U GBH TRADING SDN BHD, A By its Patent Attorneys f 7 f f i Vo R K M'ADDERN ASSOCIATES r L ABSTRACT The invention relates to a valve device (10) for controlling j the passage of liquid ipto a container the valve device comprising a chamber body (16) which has a first aperture (20) for connection to an inlet pipe a second aperture (22) formed in an upper wall of the chamber body and third aperture (34) formed in the floor of the chamber body A freely movable sealing member (26) housed within the chamber body (16) is arranged to sealingly close the second aperture (22) while a further sealing member (32) is arranged to sealingly close the third aperture (34). SL A float body (42) is operatively associated with the further sealing member the arrangement being such that when the i float body is at a first position the second and third apertures are opened and liquid flows into the chamber body LUS o (16) and in turn into the container while when the float body (42) is at a second position the second and third apertures are sealed closed by the sealing members (32) scive 41 respectively. I I00031 26 02-- 080 B 36 0 0 00 04 00 2 Ft 0 44 0024 0 00 0 0 38 'z zs