AU8784291A - Dump valve construction - Google Patents

Description

DUMP VALVE CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to dump valves, and in particular, discloses a dump valve assembly that prevents inadvertent closure of the valve. 5 Dump valves are conventionally used in sinks and basins instead of a plug. The dump valve, generally includes a manually operated lever assembly that permits opening and closing of the valve. As the valve opens upwardly into the sink, the weight of water overlying the valve tends to depress it to close the discharge outlet. Thus dump valve 10 mechanisms have either had to be manually held open (normally closed) or include a manually releasable latch mechanism. It is an object of the presentiinvention to provide a dump valve assembly that prevents inadvertent closure of the valve. In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed a dump 15 valve assembly comprising a valve connected to a stem and locatable in a drain outlet to open and close same, said stem being arranged for reciprocable movement along a longitudinal axis of said outlet, said stem being operatively associated with one end of a substantially L-shaped lever extending through a sealed opening in said outlet, said lever being 20 pivoted adjacent its corner the other end of said lever being connected to a first actuator, a first arm of a substantially L-shaped latch piece being connected to a second actuator, said latch piece being pivoted adjacent its corner and having a second arm including a ramp adapted for engagement and disengagement with a foot extending from said lever 25 adjacent its pivot, said ramp being adapted to engage said foot upon actuation of said assembly through enabling of said first actuator to open said outlet by movement of said valve, said engagement preventing the inadvertent closing of said outlet by a force acting on said valve, said ramp section being disengaged from said foot upon enabling of said 30 second actuator and a consequent rotation of said latch piece caused thereby. Preferably, the first and second actuators are solenoids. This arrangement also requires positive actuation to cause opening and closure. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be 35 described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dump valve assembly; Fig. 2 is a left side view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a right side view of Fig. 1; IAD/1076o Fig. 4 shows (A) a top plan view, (B) a left side elevation view, and (C) a rear end elevation view of the lever used in the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows (A) a top plan view, (B) a left side elevation view, 5 and (C) a front end elevation view of the latch piece used in the assembly of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 shows (A) a top plan view, (B) a side elevation view, and (C) a front end elevation view of the connector used in the assembly of Fig. 1. 10 As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a dump valve assembly 10 is shown latched in the open configuration. The assembly 10 is adapted to open and close the drain outlet 2 of a sink 1. The outlet 2 supplies a discharge pipe 3 into which liquid (not illustrated) flows. from the sink 1 under gravity. The assembly 10 includes a dump valve 11 that is configured to open 15 and close the outlet 2 by movement along the longitudinal axis 6 of the discharge pipe 3. The longitudinal movement of the dump valve 11 is guided by a sleeve 5 formed in a spider grill 4 arranged at the opening 2. A valve stem 12 passes through the sleeve 5 to pivotally interconnect the dump valve 11 with a substantially L-shaped lever 20. A long arm 22 20 of the lever 20 is retained in an eye 9 (see Fig. 2) located at the lower end of the valve stem 12. Alternatively, the stem 12 and the long arm can be connected by any other form of pivotable join, such as a hinge (not illustrated). The lever 20 passes through the discharge pipe 3 at an opening 7 25 which is sealed by a rubber boot 13, one end of which being sandwiched between the pipe 3 and a mounting flange 15 of a support block 14. The support block 14 provides a foundation for a first remotely operable solenoid 16 that provides for actuation of the assembly 10 by means of a reciprocable armature 17 interconnected with the lever 20 by a connector 30 40. A spring 18 is provided about the armature 17 to maintain the armature 17 extended when the solenoid 16 is not energized. As seen in Fig. 2, and shown in more detail in Fig. 4, the L-shaped lever 20 has a pivot 21 at its corner and its short arm 23 extends therefrom to terminate in a pin receiving hole 24. The hole 24 provides 35 for pivotal connection of the lever 20 to the bifurcated end 43 of the connector 40, best seen in Fig. 6. A pivot 44 provides connection between the connector 40 and the armature 17. IAD/1 076o -3 The interconnection provided by the connector 40 and the lever 20, between the armature 17 and the valve stem 12, provides for the raising of the valve 11 to open the opening 2. In Fig. 2, the armature 17 is shown in the retracted position whereby, on energization of the solenoid 5 16, the armature 17 and thus the short arm 23 of the lever 20 are pulled back thus pivoting the lever 20 clockwise about the pivot 21 to elevate the lever arm 22 and open the valve 11. Also provided in the assembly 10 is an interlock mechanism formed by a latch piece 30 that interacts with the lever 20 that is releasable 10 by a second remotely operable solenoid 50. As best seen in Fig. 5B, the latch piece 30 is substantially L-shaped and includes a pivot 31 formed at its corner. Extending from the pivot 31 is a latch arm 32 that includes a ramp 33 and a stop face 34. Also connected to the pivot 31 and extending in directions both 15 perpendicular to, and transverse to, the arm 32 is a cruxiform-shaped inclined connecting arm 35, best seen in Fig. 5C. The connecting arm 35 extends to a distal end connection 39 to which an armature 51 of the solenoid 50 is connected (seen in Fig. 3). A spring 52 is provided so as to maintain the armature 51 retracted when not energized. 20 Also, with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, extending from the pivot 21 of the lever 20 is a foot 25 that is adapted for interengagement with the ramp 33 and stop face 34 of the latch piece 30. The interlock operation of the latch piece 30 can now be described with reference to Fig. 3. 25 To attain the open valve position of Fig. 3, the solenoid 16 is energized and the armature 17 is retracted. Also, the solenoid 50 is not energized and therefore, due to the operation of the spring 52, fully retracted, which imparts a counter-clockwise rotation to the latch piece 30 about pivot 31. As such, the latch arm 32 is lifted from within a 30 recess 18 (seen in Fig. 2)In the support block 14, to engage the foot-25 of the lever 20. This engagement takes the form of abutment against the stop face 34 such that any downward force upon the valve 11, which would act to rotate the lever 20 in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 3) about pivot 31, is prevented. As such, the latch piece 30 prevents the 35 closing of the opening 2 by a downward force on the valve 11. Once the valve 11 is open, and latched, energization of the solenoid 16 is ceased. Still referring to Fig. 3, in order to close the valve 11, the IAD/1076o -4 solenoid 50 is energized to extend the armature 51 so as to impart a clockwise rotation about pivot 31 to the latchpiece 30. The latch arm 32 thereby drops into the recess 18 thereby permitting a clockwise movement of the foot 25 away from the pipe 3, which is assisted by the extending 5 of the armature 17 under the force applied by the spring 18. The lever 20 thereby lowers the valve 11 to close the outlet 2. In order to open the valve 11, the armature 17 is retracted which results in a counter-clockwise rotation (Fig. 3) of the lever 20. As the solenoid 50 is not energized, the spring 52 imparts a corresponding 10 rotation upon the latch piece 30. The foot 25 engages the ramp 33 and slides thereover into the stop position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When energized for actuation, each of the solenoids 16 and 50 are energized momentarily sufficient to achie.ve latching, on opening, and closure. Once opened, the interlock maintains the valve 11 raised 15 irrespective of the energization of solenoid 16. When closed, gravity and the pressure of overlying water maintain closure. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle 26 (Fig. 4) between the foot 25 and the lever arm 22 is preferably 60". Also, preferably the angles 50 and 51 as seen in Fig. 5 are each 15'. 20 The lever 20, latch piece 30 and connector 40 are preferably manufactured of resilient plastics material, however mild steel can also be used. The dump valve assembly 10 disclosed herein has specifically been designed to form part of an automatic dishwasher olCtable in a kitchen 25 sink. However, the present invention is not limited to use in sinks and basins. Other applications such as swimming pool outlets or outlets for storage vats are equally applicable. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be 30 made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the solenoids 16 and 50 can be replaced by other forms of actuators. Also, through relocation of the solenoids 16 and/or 50, the latch piece 30 can be simplified to omit the inclination of the connecting arm 35 35. For example, if the solenoid 50 was located underneath the solenoid 16, the armatures 17 and 51 can be longitudinally aligned one above the other without unwanted collision between the lever 20 and the latch piece 30. IAD/1076o

Claims (10)

1. A dump valve assembly comprising a valve connected to a stem and locatable in a drain outlet to open and close same, said stem being arranged for reciprocable movement along a longitudinal axis of said outlet, said stem being operatively associated with one end of a substantially L-shaped lever extending through a sealed opening in said outlet, said lever being pivoted adjacent its corner, the other end of said lever being connected to a first actuator, a first arm of a substantially L-shaped latch piece being connected to acsecond actuator, said latch piece being pivoted adjacent its corner and having a second arm including a ramp adapted for engagement and disengagement with a foot extending from said lever adjacent its pivot, said ramp being adapted to engage said foot upon actuation of said assembly through enabling of said first actuator to open said outlet by movement of said valve, said engagement preventing the inadvertent closing of said outlet by a force acting on said valve, said ramp section being disengaged from-said fcot upon enabling of said second actuator and a consequent rotation of said latch piece caused thereby.

2. A dump valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first actuator comprises a (first) solenoid having an (first) armature pivotally connected to said lever.

3. A dump valve assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first solenoid includes a spring adapted to extend said first armature when said first solenoid is unenergized.

4. A dump valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a connector piece is interposed between, and pivotally connected to both said first armature and said lever.

5. A dump valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second actuator comprises a (second) solenoid having a (second) armature pivotally connected to said latch piece.

6. A dump valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stem includes an eye hole at a lower end thereof into which said one end of said lever is inserted to create said operative association.

7. A dump valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealed opening is provided by a boot surrounding an arm of said lever associated with said one end and sandwiched between a chassis of said assembly and said'opening. IAD/ 1076o -6

8. A dump valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuators are remotely actuable.

9. A dump valve assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

10. A liquid holding vessel including a dump valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. DATED this THIRTEENTH day of NOVW1BER 1991 McIlwraith Davey Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON & FERGUSON IAD/1076o 7V 2/j I I01 -. N \t) N N Set C N 39 301 33 33 4 A < 9 3 37 39 -12 as8 3o 33 33o (C)(B)32 F/S. 5 44, ~-40 440 443 Fl