AU2010100141A4

AU2010100141A4 - Float valve

Info

Publication number: AU2010100141A4
Application number: AU2010100141A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Anthony COCCIARDI
Original assignee: GERALDINE COCCIARDI
Current assignee: Cocciardi Geraldine Mary
Priority date: 2010-02-12
Filing date: 2010-02-12
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-12

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: GERALDINE MARY COCCIARDI Actual Inventor(s): PETER ANTHONY COCCIARDI Address for Service: SANDERCOCK & COWIE 180B SLADEN STREET CRANBOURNE VICTORIA 3977 Invention Title: FLOAT VALVE - 1 - - la TITLE: FLOAT VALVE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention concerns float valves inter alia for controlling the level of water in cattle troughs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 In my Patent No. 783106 I describe a float valve for controlling replenishment of stock -2 troughs. Water quality varies considerably across farming country. Some areas have high ion content and scale is common. Windblown sand may be an unpreventable inclusion in other areas. All solutes tend to assist electrolytic corrosion in the plumbing work and working parts are effected soon after installation. If a malfunction leads to 5 water wastage there may be serious consequences. This specification concerns improvements to the valves described in the above patent. These were made of brass with a hollow plastic ball float. The larger than usual flow passage and the sideways discharge of the water into the trough thereby to avoid silt 10 disturbance are still desirable features of such valves. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a float valve for controlling liquid levels 15 in troughs, comprising a body with a major passage and a coaxial minor passage, a valve zone between the passages; a valve slidably mounted in the minor passage, and moveable axially in the valve zone in which the valve seals the end of the major passage, and an open position in which the valve allows liquid to flow out of the end of the major passage, whereby the valve zone leads directly to the exterior in use, a bore in the body 20 disposed transversely to the axis of the minor passage for mounting a float arm, wherein the end of the major passage has a separate static valve seat and the slidable valve has a seal and a seal holder which closes to the valve seat. In a preferred embodiment, the minor passage houses a push rod for the slidable valve 25 which in use is closed by a float arm and the push rod is made of self-lubricating plastic. The part of the body which has the minor passage has a pair of external parallel flats for engagement by a tightening tool. The valve is a cup with a stem which is a slide fit in a bore in the end of the push rod and a resilient disc seal in the cup. A float is connected to the float arm by a chain, the length of which can be adjusted to select the distance 30 between the float and the arm thereby altering the depth of liquid in the trough.

-3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the valve body. Figure 2 is a side view of the valve body of Figure 1 with a float arm fitted. 10 Figure 3 is a sectional plan of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an isometric view of the valve and float arm showing how the float is attached. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS In Figure 1, the valve body 2 is a stainless steel casting with a central D-aperture 4 which separates 1 " bore 6 from passage 8. Spigot 10 projects from one end of the block-like body and has an exterior thread. The portion of the body behind spigot 10 is enlarged to 20 form a disc through which bore 6 extends. Bore 6 terminates in an annular shoulder which seats a stainless steel ring 12 with an upstanding lip 14. The parts are shown in the filling position. Figure 2 shows the valve with the parts in the shut off position. 25 The body beyond the D-aperture 4 has flats 16 to take the jaws of the wrench and the endmost part is bifurcated to create a slot 18 for a float arm (see Figures 2 and 3). Between the D-aperture and the slot 18 is the passage 8 which supports a sliding push rod 22 made of VESCONITE@ which is a self-lubricating plastic. The forward end of the 30 push rod has a blind bore 24 which receives the stem 28 of a stainless steel valve cup 30. The opposite end is hemispherical and projects into slot 18. Cup 30 retains a push fit elastomeric disc seal 32 which in use contacts the lip 14 of the ring 12. The stem 28 is -4 a loose fit in blind bore 24 which is deep enough to allow 5mm separation between the seal 32 and lip 14 to admit generous flow when the float allows. The body has three transverse bores 34, 36, 38 for the installation of the float arm 40 as 5 described in Patent No. 783106 using stainless steel split pins. Float arm 40 has shackle 42 for the attachment of a stainless steel chain 44. The upper end of the chain has a hooked link which engages threaded brass insert 46 which screws into the moulded nipple 48 of spherical plastic float 50. The lower end of 10 the chain ends in a hook 52. As the valve, float arm and float are all made of materials which are not affected adversely by prolonged immersion, the valve may be installed below water level in a trough. The operator selects the length of chain by adjusting the length of loop 54 15 utilising the hook 52. Thus the chain length determines the height of the float and thereby the volume of water in the trough. This sets the drinking level and the horn space available to bovines while drinking. The height varies from trough to trough. Once a suitable height is established the hooked links can be closed with pliers. Even if the trough empties, the chain will not release the float. As soon as the trough refills the 20 selected water level returns. The installation and operation of this embodiment is as described in Patent No. 783106 and the advantage of unrestricted flow for periods of high demand together with sideways discharge through the D-aperture are retained. Additionally, we have found the extra 25 advantages to be: 1. The reduction in mass cheapens the cost. The body may be injection moulded in plastic. 30 2. The provision of a cup in which the disc seal sits prevents accidental dislodgement under all flow conditions.

-5 3. The provision of a ring seat in the cast shoulder of the body is easier to manufacture. 4. Movement between push rod and valve cup prevents scale build up. 5 5. The use of self-lubricating plastic gives long life between repairs. It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude 10 the addition of other elements. It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention. 15

Claims

1. A float valve for controlling liquid levels in troughs, comprising a body with a major passage and a coaxial minor passage, a valve zone between the passages; 5 a valve slidably mounted in the minor passage, and moveable axially in the valve zone in which the valve seals the end of the major passage, and an open position in which the valve allows liquid to flow out of the end of the major passage, whereby the valve zone leads directly to the exterior in use, a bore in the body disposed transversely to the axis of the minor passage for mounting a float arm, 10 wherein the end of the major passage has a separate static valve seat and the slidable valve has a seal and a seal holder which closes to the valve seat.

2. A float valve as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the minor passage houses a push rod for the slidable valve which in use is closed by a float arm and the push rod is 15 made of self-lubricating plastic.

3. A float valve as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the part of the body which has the minor passage has a pair of external parallel flats for engagement by a tightening tool. 20

4. A float valve as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the valve is a cup with a stem which is a slide fit in a bore in the end of the push rod and a resilient disc seal in the cup. 25

5. A float valve as claimed in any one of Claims 2-4, wherein a float is connected to the arm by a chain of adjustable length.