EP2042658B1

EP2042658B1 - Float valve, float flood gate and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2042658B1
Application number: EP09000286.6A
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: 2016-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-15
Also published as: DK2042658T3; DK1411172T3; EP1411172A2; EP2042658A1; ATE428827T1; NL1021680C2; DE60327146D1; EP1411172A3; EP1411172B1

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 maintaining or causing a difference in water height and/or difference in level, and a method for use thereof.
GB-A-2294079 discloses an adjustable counterbalanced self-regulatory tilting weir 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 structure 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.
The invention has for its object to provide a non-motorized device with which a difference in water level can be maintained or caused.
The invention provides for this purpose a device for maintaining or causing a difference, in a determined ratio, 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 or full closing thereof.

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 a 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.
The device comprises adjusting means coupled to the valve means for adjusting the predetermined ratio of the difference in liquid levels. 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 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 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 adjusting means are coupled to the valve means via one or more rods. An upper level thus rises in a roughly constant, linear or logarithmic ratio relative to a lower level.
In a further preferred embodiment the device comprises one or more ballasts for damping vibrations.
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.
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;
Figs. 2a-2c show a cross-section in side view of the device of fig. 1 in three successive situations of use, varying from a first extreme position in fig. 2a to a second extreme position in fig. 2c;
Figs. 3a-3c show a cross-section in side view of the device of fig. 1 in a second preferred embodiment in three situations of use varying between two extreme positions.

A first embodiment according to the present invention (fig. 1) relates to a so-called floodgate valve 50 which is arranged in opening 52 in a water-retaining structure. Floodgate valve 50 comprises plates 54 which are arranged symmetrically in relation to each other in the water-retaining structure and which are L-shaped in top view for pivotal connection thereto of a plate 56, on both sides of which are arranged plates 58 of quarter-circle shape between which a ballast 60 is arranged at an angle of about 90° to pivot axis 62 relative to plate 56. Arranged on both sides of plate 56 are floating bodies 64 which are rotatably connected to plate 56 at a predetermined location 66. A ballast 68 is arranged on the bottom of floating bodies 64 in order to damp undesirable movements, such as movement to and from of the float members (fig. 1, 2a).
The lowest reference level at which the floodgate valve 50 functions is determined by the height of pivot point 62, wherein the opening 52 in the water-retaining structure under pivot point 62 is closed by wall 70. In this situation of use the level 72 on one side of floodgate valve 50 is the same as level 74 on the other side (fig. 2a). When level 74 rises, the floating bodies 64 will also rise due to their buoyancy, so that plate 56 moves into an inclining position relative to water-retaining structure 54, wherein the outer end 76 of plate 56 protrudes above the level 74. Plate 56 acts here as an overflow, wherein as higher level the level 72 reaches the position of outer end 76 (fig. 2b). The extreme value of this rise is related to the position at which level 74 has risen such that plate 56 comes to lie in a vertical or almost vertical position (fig. 2c), wherein level 72 also reaches the maximum range of adjustment. Between the extreme positions shown in fig. 2a and fig. 2c the floodgate valve ensures that level 72 rises in a determined ratio relative to level 74, determined by the location of connection 66 to plate 56. Location 66 can be chosen such that the ratio in which the liquid levels 72 and 74 rise in relation to each other is roughly constant, assuming a starting position wherein the both levels are the same as shown in fig. 2a. This is of particular importance when areas of differing level are compartmentalized in the Westland (NL), wherein a desired reference level can be set per area of differing level.
In a second embodiment (fig. 3a, 3b, 3c) corresponding components have the same reference numerals as in the above described second embodiment. The float members 64 are in a higher position relative to water level 74 since ballasts on the floating bodies have been omitted. Floating bodies 64 are connected via rods 76, 78 and 80 at location 66 to plate 56 and are also pivotally connected to water-retaining structure 70 at point 82.
The operation of the second embodiment corresponds for a greater part to the operation of the first embodiment, wherein however, due to the predetermined ratio of the length of rods 76, 78, 80, the ratio of the rise in level 72 relative to level 74 can be substantially constant, linear or logarithmic. Ballast 60 provides the desired damping. There is a greater freedom of adjustment here due to the variation in the length of rods 76, 78, 80 and the location and size of the ballast, whereby the different constant, linear or logarithmic ratios are among the possibilities.
The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments, in which many modifications can be envisaged, but the protection sought is defined solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Device for maintaining or causing a difference in liquid levels, in a ratio determined in advance 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 said opening for at least partial closing thereof;

- adjusting means coupled to said valve means for adjusting the ratio, determined in advance or subsequently, of the difference in liquid level (72,74);
the adjusting means comprise
- one or more float members (64), the buoyant force of which is adjustable; characterized in that

- wherein a location (66) where the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means is displaceable so as to vary the buoyant force.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means with one or more hinges.
Device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means via one or more rods (76, 78, 80).
Device according to any of the foregoing claims, also comprising one or more ballasts (60, 68) for damping vibrations and/or balancing the valve means.
Device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the valve means and/or float members (64) are of plastic, metal or wood.
Device as claimed in any of claims 1-2, wherein a width of the valve means lies in the range of 0.1 to 30 m.
Device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the predetermined ratio is roughly constant or roughly linear or roughly logarithmic.
Device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein a float member (64) is connected pivotally to the framework.
Method for maintaining or causing a difference in liquid levels, in a ratio determined in advance 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 the steps of:
- determining the ratio, between the first state, with associated first liquid levels on the first and the second side of a framework (6), and the second state, with associated second liquid levels on the first and the second side of the framework (6);

- adjusting of adjusting means that are coupled to valve means for adjusting the ratio of the liquid level differences on the first and the second side of the framework (6) between the first and second state, said valve means being arranged in an opening of the framework (6) for at least partial closing thereof;

- adjusting the adjusting means comprises adjusting the buoyant force of one or more float members (64); characterized in that

- adjusting the buoyant force of the one or more float members (64) comprises the step of displacing a location (66) where the adjusting means are coupled to the valve means.
Method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of balancing the valve means with one or more ballasts (60, 68).
Method for maintaining a difference in water height or level according to any of claims 9 or 10, using a device as claimed in any of claims 1-8.