EP1411172B1

EP1411172B1 - Float valve, float flood gate and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1411172B1
Application number: EP03078257A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wouter Ent
Original assignee: TBS Soest BV
Current assignee: TBS Soest BV
Priority date: 2002-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-15
Publication date: 2009-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-15
Also published as: EP2042658B1; DK2042658T3; DK1411172T3; EP1411172A2; EP2042658A1; ATE428827T1; NL1021680C2; DE60327146D1; EP1411172A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for causing a difference, in a ratio determined in advance and/or subsequently, in liquid level between a first position, with associated first difference in liquid level, and a second position, with an associated second difference in liquid level, comprising: - a framework in which at least one opening is arranged; - valve means arranged in the opening for at least partial closing thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for causing a difference in liquid level, in a ratio determined in advance and/or subsequently, between a first state, with associated first difference in liquid level, and a second state, with an associated second difference in liquid level, according to the preamble of claim 1.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for maintaining or causing a difference in water height or level using such a device.
GB-A-2294079 discloses an adjustable counterbalanced self-regulatory tilting weir according to the preamble of claim 1, that automatically rises to reduce flow or falls to increase flow in order to maintain a specified upstream level. It can also be operated and fixed in a position by manual override.
FR-A-123261 discloses to a tilting gate weir that is hinged at its upper side and balanced with floating members downstream. The objective of the tilting gate is to maintain a downstream level.
US-A-1716698 discloses a hydrostatic weir shutter comprising a substructure having two hydrostatic chambers arranged in juxtaposition, flaps arranged in said chambers and adapted to swing in vertical planes about axes situated at the adjacent sides of the chambers, and shutter placed hinged together and to the free ends of the flaps so as to form a roof-shaped stricture which can be raised and collapsed by means of the flaps.
AU-A-2986001 discloses a liquid level regulation apparatus that is defined for regulating the level of liquid on a first side of a barrier with respect to a moveable level of liquid on a second side of the barrier.
WO-A-01/88292 discloses a method and device for controlling effluent and/or for cleaning sewers, in particular for reducing deposits of polluting matter, sediments or similar of the effluent in combined sewers. A rinsing wave is created in the sewer by using at least one regulator. To this end, at least one through-flow opening in the bottom sluice at the sewer bottom is temporarily closed. The rinsing wave flushes out and evacuates the residual impurities in the sewer and serves as an overflow if the sewer becomes full.
The invention has for its object to provide a non-motorized device with which a difference in water level can be maintained, and a method for use thereof.
According to the invention, this object is achieved with the device for causing or maintaining a difference in liquid level, in a ratio determined in advance and/or subsequently, between a first state, with associated first difference in liquid level, and a second state, with an associated second difference in liquid level, comprising:

a framework in which at least one opening is arranged;
valve means arranged in the opening for at least partial closing thereof;
adjusting means coupled to the valve means for adjusting the ratio, determined in advance and/or subsequently, of the difference in liquid level;

one or more float members, the buoyant force of which is adjustable; and
one or more hollow pipes which are connected to the one or more float members for modifying a quantity of water therein so as to adjust the buoyant force thereof.

The adjusting means comprise one or more float members, the buoyant force of which is adjustable. The buoyancy is thus used to cause or maintain a difference in level.
The device according to the invention maintains a predetermined difference in liquid level between two sides of a barrier. With the device according to the invention a ratio in liquid levels desired by a water company or farmer can be adjusted between for instance plots for cattle farming, arable farming or market gardening, also referred to as agriculture, and/or urban areas.
In a further preferred embodiment the location where the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means is displaceable so as to vary the buoyant force. Such a construction is robust and can be adjusted easily.
In a further preferred embodiment the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means with one or more hinges. An upper level thus rises in a roughly constant, linear or logarithmic ratio relative to a lower level.
In a further preferred embodiment the valve means and/or the float members are of plastic, metal or wood. These materials are found to have sufficient durability and strength.
In a further preferred embodiment a float member is arranged pivotally under the framework. Such a device combines a relatively large flow rate with relatively small dimensions by making use of the available difference in level.
Further advantages and features of the invention will be elucidated with reference to the annexed figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention in a first preferred embodiment;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the device of fig. 1 in a second situation of use;
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section in side view of the device of fig. 1 in a first situation of use;
Fig. 4 shows a cross-section in side view of the device of fig. 1 in a second situation of use;

A preferred embodiment of a device 1 according to the present invention relates to a so-called float valve 1, comprising a substantially block-like elongate housing 2 provided with an opening 22 in the underside and an opening 26 in the rear side which communicate which each other for the passage of liquid. The rear side of the housing is coupled to a plate-like member 4 with corresponding opening 26 for fixing the housing therewith to a water-retaining structure 6 between two areas of differing level in which a corresponding opening 28 is likewise arranged for passage of liquid. Arranged on the underside of housing 2 are hinged valve means, comprising in the shown embodiment a substantially beam-shaped hollow floating body 8 for closing therewith the opening or openings in the underside of housing 2 when a desired difference in liquid level has been reached or this liquid level falls below the desired difference, and for leaving this opening or openings clear when the predetermined difference in liquid level is exceeded, both in the case the upper surface 10 rises above a determined level and the lower surface 12 falls below a determined level.
Float valve 1 is fixed to the water-retaining structure 6 under liquid level 12, wherein pipes 14 and 16 protrude at one end above the liquid and are connected at the other end to floating body 8. Via pipe 14 a suitable liquid can be carried into floating body 8 by allowing a liquid to flow in via coupling piece 15, for instance using an external pump, or for removing liquid therefrom wherein tube 16 with curved upper part 18 provides the required venting and bleeding. The buoyancy of floating body 8 can thus be adapted to maintain a desired difference 20 which can be established for a shorter or longer period on either side thereof with relatively simple means (fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4).
In a state of equilibrium, wherein the level difference 20 set in the above stated manner is reached, floating body 8 closes, due to the buoyancy thereof, the opening 22 in the underside of housing 2 preferably provided with a rubber profile 24 for sealing (fig. 3). If the level difference 20 is exceeded, i.e. if either the upper level 10 becomes too high or the lower level 12 too low, floating body 8 is pressed downward by the increased water pressure, i.e. the float loses buoyancy, so that opening 22 is left clear for the passage of water, which flows in the direction of the arrow (fig. 4). This figure also shows clearly that the opening 26 in the rear of housing 2 communicates with opening 28 in the water-retaining structure 6. The figures are two-dimensional representations of a three-dimensional product.
The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments, in which many modifications can be envisaged; the protection sought is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Device for causing or maintaining a difference in liquid level, in a ratio determined in advance and/or subsequently, between a first state, with associated first difference in liquid level, and a second state, with an associated second difference in liquid level, said device comprising:
- a framework (6) in which at least one opening is arranged;

- valve means arranged in the opening for at least partial closing thereof;

- adjusting means coupled to the valve means for adjusting the ratio, determined in advance and/or subsequently, of the difference in liquid level,
characterized in that the adjusting means comprise:
- one or more float members (8), the buoyant force of which is adjustable; and

- one or more hollow pipes (14, 16) which are connected to the one or more float members (8) for modifying a quantity of water therein so as to adjust the buoyant force thereof.
Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location (66) where the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means is displaceable so as to vary the buoyant force.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means with one or more hinges.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the valve means are of plastic, metal or wood.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the float member (8) is of plastic, metal or wood.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a width of the valve means lies in the range of 0.1 to 30 m.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a float member is arranged pivotally under the framework.
Method for causing or maintaining a difference in water height or level using a device as claimed in any of the claims 1-7.