GB1588216A

GB1588216A - Fluid flow control device

Info

Publication number: GB1588216A
Application number: GB3487076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HARRISON MONOBAND Ltd
Current assignee: HARRISON MONOBAND Ltd
Priority date: 1977-08-16
Filing date: 1977-08-16
Publication date: 1981-04-15

Description

(54) FLUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE (71) We, HARRISON MONOBOND LIMITED, a British Company of P.O. Box 1, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a control device for use in controlling the supply of water to a cistern when the device is mounted, or provided, therein.

Conventionally, the water supply control device or "ball valve" in a cistern comprises a body, an inlet pipe leading to the body and having a mounting in a side wall of the cistern, an outlet pipe, a valve arrangement for controlling the supply of water from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe, and a float-arm arrangement coupled with the body for controlling the operation of the valve arrangement. Usually, the inlet pipe, and the arm of the float-arm arrangement when in the closed position, extend substantially horizontally.

According to the invention, there is provided a control device for use in a water cistern for controlling the supply of water to the cistern so as to maintain a predetermined level of water in the cistern, the device comprising: an upstanding inlet pipe adapted for fitting at one end in an aperture in the base of the cistern; a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being releasably coupled with said inlet pipe and having a water-flow axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inlet pipe; a hollow valve seating communicating at one end with said inlet; a valve element movable in use substantially horizontally between open and closed position with respect to the opposite end of said valve seating in order to control the communication between said inlet and said outlet;; and a float-arm arrangement coupled with said valve body and operable in use to follow the level of water in the cistern and thereby to control the movement of the valve element between said open and said closed positions.

Embodiments of control device according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in longitudinal section, of the first embodiment of control device according to the invention; for controlling the level of water in a water cistern; Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a second embodiment of control device according to the invention, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative construction of diverter for use with the control device of Figure 1 or Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a fluid flow control device 10 which is primarily, though not exclusively intended for use in controlling the supply of water to a water cistern, so as to maintain a predetermined level of water therein. Control devices for use in water cisterns are sometimes known as "ball valves". The device 10 comprises a body 11 which is provided with an inlet 12, an outlet 13, a hollow valve seating in the form of a valve seat 14 in the body 11 in the path between inlet 12 and outlet 13, a valve element 15 movable between open and closed positions with respect to valve seat 14, and a float-arm arrangement 16 coupled with body 11 for monitoring the level of liquid in the cistern (not shown) with which the device is to be used.The arrangement 16 includes a long arm, only part of which is shown at 17, and a float (not shown) is provided at the end of arm 17 remote from body 11. The arrangement 16 is operable to effect a direct action on valve element 15 to move the latter to its closed position by means of a plunger 18 slideably mounted in one end of body 11. An adjustable stop 19 is carried by an upstanding lug 20 carried by arm 17, and is engageable with plunger 18 to move the latter to the right as the arm 17 pivots upwardly about pivot 21 as the water level rises.

Valve element 15 takes the form of a resilient washer which is seated at its peripheral margin 22 at one end of body 11 by means of an end cap 23 in which plunger 18 is slideably mounted. End cap 23 is retained in position on the end of body 11 by means of a coupling nut 24 having threaded engagement with the end of body 11.

Outlet 13 comprises an outlet pipe stub 25 which is formed integrally with body 11 and extends upwardly therefrom, and a diverter 26 is detachably coupled in clip-on or snap-fitted relationship with the external surface of stub 25, as seen particularly in Figure 2. Diverter 26 includes a collapsable tube 27 which extends downwardly thereof and is intended, in use, to terminate at its lower end at or near the minimum level of water in the cistern. This provides for quiet filling of the cistern, but tube 27 will collapse in order to prevent suck-back of water from the cistern to the device 10 in the event of a faulty water supply to the device.

The inlet 12 comprises an inlet pipe stub 28 formed integrally with the body 11 and located intermediate the ends thereof. Pipe stub 28 extends downwardly of body 11 in an opposite direction to the extent of outlet pipe stub 25. A standpipe 29 is releasably coupled, at its upper end, with pipe stub 28 by means of an indexable circlip 30 and a coupling nut 31. The circlip 30 is seated in an annular recess provided in the upper end of standpipe 29, and includes an axially extending short tooth (not shown) which is receivable in a corresponding aperture provided in pipe stub 28.Nut 31 is engaged with a thread 32 provided on the external surface of pipe stub 28, and an indexing notch (not shown) is formed in the wall of the pipe stub 28 forming this thread in order to receive the tooth of circlip 30. Thereby, the standpipe 29 is locatable in a predetermined angular setting relative to body 11, and relative angular displacement therebetween is opposed. An 0-ring or sealing washer 33 is positioned between the upper end of standpipe 29 and the pipe stub 28.

A lower end 34 of standpipe 29 is intended to be mounted in a bottom or base wall of a cistern (not shown) and includes a locating flange 35 which will sit on the base of the cistern, and a threaded shank portion 36 which will be taken through the base and mounted rigidly thereon in sealed manner by means of a sealing washer 37 and one or more locking nuts 38. Returning now to the internal parts of body 11, this includes valve seat 14 which comprises a removable element which is generally frusto-conical in shape, though the side walls of the cone shape are curved as shown. Valve seat 14 is located against an annular shoulder 39 provided within body 11, and is maintained in position by means of a removable fitting 40 which is entered through an open end 41 of body 11 remote from arrangement 16.

Fitting 40 is generally tubular and closed at its end remote from valve seat 14, fitting 40 providing a flow path from inlet 12 to valve seat 14, in that a circular inlet aperture 42 is provided in the wall of fitting 40. Aperture 42 is located in register with inlet pipe stub 28 by means of an indexing projection (not shown) which is receivable in a corresponding notch (not shown) formed in an external thread 43 provided on the end of body 11.

An assembly nut 44 engages on thread 43 in order to locate fitting 40 and valve seat 14 in position within body 11. In order to seal fitting 40 within body 11, an O-ring 45 is provided in an external annular groove in the wall of fitting 40.

As referred to above, the entire device 10 may be mounted in a cistern by having stand pipe 29 mounted at its lower end in the base of the cistern. In order to provide a more rigid mounting of the device, an adjustable stop is provided which is mounted on body 11 and comprises a threaded fastener 46 which is taken through an apertured lug 47 attached integrally to body 11. Fastener 46 constitutes an adjustable stop which is engageable at one end with a side wall of the cistern in order to resist movement of body 11 and standpipe 29 in a direction towards that side wall.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, a second embodiment of control device will now be described, and parts corresponding with the previous embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail again.

By contrast with the first embodiment, which provides a direct mechanical action on the valve arrangement by means of float-arm arrangement 16, the embodiment of Figure 3 provided an indirect action which therefore does not require a long lever arm.

The embodiment of Figure 3 is a di aphragm-type equilibrium valve, and the diaphragm arrangement and cooperating parts, as well as the float-arm arrangement, are described in more detail in the Complete Specification and drawings accompanying cognate applications Nos. 9220/75 (Serial No. 1,540,082) and 48896/75. Accordingly, only very brief description will be made tn the specification of these parts, and reference may be had to the aforementioned Complete Specification for a fuller disclosure of the construction of these parts, and the operation thereof.

A valve seat 14a is provided in body 11, and a diaphragm-type valve element 15a is cooperable therewith, element 15a defining a control or sub-chamber 46 within body 11 which communicates with the water supply via a central metering valve 47. Chamber 46 has a restricted outlet 48 which is closeable by float-arm arrangement 16a when the latter rises to an upper position corresponding to the predetermined required upper liquid level. In this upper position, as shown in Figure 3, outlet 48 is closed, whereby the pressure in chamber 46 can build-upWto a level sufficient to effect displacement of element 15a to the right and into sealing engagement with valve seat 14a, thereby constituting the closed position thereof.

When the water level falls, arm 17a pivots downwardly thereby allowing escape of water from chamber 46 via outlet 48, whereby the force extended on valve element 15a is sufficient to maintain the element in the closed position, whereupon water can flow through body 11 from inlet 12 to outlet 13.

An additional feature provided by the embodiment of Figure 3 is that body 11 can accommodate a removable filter element 49. To this end, filter 49 can be housed within fitting 40 as shown, and filter element 49 is generally frusto-conical in shape as shown, and may be as described and illustrated in more detail in the aforesaid Complete Specification. Evidently, water from inlet 12 is required to pass transversely through the side wall of filter element 49 before passage through valve seat 14a, and then radially outwardly towards outlet 13 (valve element 15a will be displaced towards the left from the position shown in Figure 3 so as to permit passage of water to outlet 13 when water is required to fill the cistern).

In order to adapt the device for use with different water supply pressures, the device may be capable of accommodating a pressure restrictor. To this end, the lower end of standpipe 29 may accommodate a removable pressure restrictor 50, which also may be of the type more fully disclosed and illustrated in the afore-said Complete Specification.

An alternative construction of diverter is shown in Figure 4 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 51. The diverter 51 is adapted for mounting on the outlet pipe stub of the control device of Figure 1 or Figure 3 in similar manner to the diverter 26, and comprises an outlet branch 52 to which a collapsable tube 53 is connected, an inlet branch 54 which is connectable to the outlet pipe stub of the body of the control device, and an air inlet branch 55.

In normal operation, water enters the diverter 51 via the branch 54, and leaves the diverter 51 via the outlet branch 52 for passage through the tube 53. However, in the event of a failure in the water supply, the air inlet branch 55 is operable to admit air to the diverter 51 so as to prevent any risk of back siphonage occurring.

A further modification (not shown) of the diverter for the control device may comprise the use of an additional component for the two-branch type of diverter 26 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The additional component comprises a one-way valve provided at the inlet to the diverter and preferably comprises a thin membrane extending across the mouth of the inlet to the diverter 26. The membrane is held in position by means of an end cap on the diverter, and comprises a means of opening or closing the inlet to the diverter depending respectively on whether there is positive or negative pressure in the supply to the control valve.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A control device for use in a water cistern for controlling the supply of water to the cistern so as to maintain a predetermined level of water in the cistern, the device comprising: an upstanding inlet pipe adapted for fitting at one end in an aperture in the base of the cistern; a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being releasably coupled with said inlet pipe and having a water-flow axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inlet pipe; a hollow valve seating communicating at one end with said inlet; a valve element movable in use substantially horizontally between open and closed position with respect to an opposite end of said valve seating in order to control the communication between said inlet and said outlet; ; and a float-arm arrangement coupled with said valve body and operable in use to follow the level of water in the cistern and thereby to control the movement of the valve element between said open and said closed positions.

2. A control device according to claim 1 in which the valve element is directly responsive to the movement of the float-arm arrangement.

3. A control device according to claim 2, in which the valve element comprises a washer movable by a plunger towards the closed position, the plunger being movable in use by the arm of the float-arm arrangement as the latter rises with rising water

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. No. 1,540,082) and 48896/75. Accordingly, only very brief description will be made tn the specification of these parts, and reference may be had to the aforementioned Complete Specification for a fuller disclosure of the construction of these parts, and the operation thereof. A valve seat 14a is provided in body 11, and a diaphragm-type valve element 15a is cooperable therewith, element 15a defining a control or sub-chamber 46 within body 11 which communicates with the water supply via a central metering valve 47. Chamber 46 has a restricted outlet 48 which is closeable by float-arm arrangement 16a when the latter rises to an upper position corresponding to the predetermined required upper liquid level. In this upper position, as shown in Figure 3, outlet 48 is closed, whereby the pressure in chamber 46 can build-upWto a level sufficient to effect displacement of element 15a to the right and into sealing engagement with valve seat 14a, thereby constituting the closed position thereof. When the water level falls, arm 17a pivots downwardly thereby allowing escape of water from chamber 46 via outlet 48, whereby the force extended on valve element 15a is sufficient to maintain the element in the closed position, whereupon water can flow through body 11 from inlet 12 to outlet 13. An additional feature provided by the embodiment of Figure 3 is that body 11 can accommodate a removable filter element 49. To this end, filter 49 can be housed within fitting 40 as shown, and filter element 49 is generally frusto-conical in shape as shown, and may be as described and illustrated in more detail in the aforesaid Complete Specification. Evidently, water from inlet 12 is required to pass transversely through the side wall of filter element 49 before passage through valve seat 14a, and then radially outwardly towards outlet 13 (valve element 15a will be displaced towards the left from the position shown in Figure 3 so as to permit passage of water to outlet 13 when water is required to fill the cistern). In order to adapt the device for use with different water supply pressures, the device may be capable of accommodating a pressure restrictor. To this end, the lower end of standpipe 29 may accommodate a removable pressure restrictor 50, which also may be of the type more fully disclosed and illustrated in the afore-said Complete Specification. An alternative construction of diverter is shown in Figure 4 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 51. The diverter 51 is adapted for mounting on the outlet pipe stub of the control device of Figure 1 or Figure 3 in similar manner to the diverter 26, and comprises an outlet branch 52 to which a collapsable tube 53 is connected, an inlet branch 54 which is connectable to the outlet pipe stub of the body of the control device, and an air inlet branch 55. In normal operation, water enters the diverter 51 via the branch 54, and leaves the diverter 51 via the outlet branch 52 for passage through the tube 53. However, in the event of a failure in the water supply, the air inlet branch 55 is operable to admit air to the diverter 51 so as to prevent any risk of back siphonage occurring. A further modification (not shown) of the diverter for the control device may comprise the use of an additional component for the two-branch type of diverter 26 shown in Figures 1 to 3. The additional component comprises a one-way valve provided at the inlet to the diverter and preferably comprises a thin membrane extending across the mouth of the inlet to the diverter 26. The membrane is held in position by means of an end cap on the diverter, and comprises a means of opening or closing the inlet to the diverter depending respectively on whether there is positive or negative pressure in the supply to the control valve. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A control device for use in a water cistern for controlling the supply of water to the cistern so as to maintain a predetermined level of water in the cistern, the device comprising: an upstanding inlet pipe adapted for fitting at one end in an aperture in the base of the cistern; a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being releasably coupled with said inlet pipe and having a water-flow axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inlet pipe; a hollow valve seating communicating at one end with said inlet; a valve element movable in use substantially horizontally between open and closed position with respect to an opposite end of said valve seating in order to control the communication between said inlet and said outlet;; and a float-arm arrangement coupled with said valve body and operable in use to follow the level of water in the cistern and thereby to control the movement of the valve element between said open and said closed positions.

level in the cistern.

4. A control device according to claim 1, in which the valve element is indirectly responsive to the movement of the float-arm arrangement.

5. A control device according to claim 4 in which the valve element comprises a diaphragm which defines within the body a control chamber on one side of the diaphragm and which is communicable in use with water in the body upstream of the valve seating.

6. A control device according to claim 5, in which the control chamber has a outlet which is closable by said arm as the latter rises with rising water level in the cistern.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet comprises a projecting inlet pipe stub formed integrally with the body and having an external thread engageable by a coupling nut for attaching the inlet pipe thereto.

8. A control device according to claim 7, in which an indexed ring or circlip is provided on one end of the inlet pipe which forms a flange holding-back the coupling nut and which is locatable with a suitable formation at or in the inlet pipe stub in order to locate angularly the body and the inlet pipe and to resist relative angular displacement therebetween.

9. A control device according to claim 8, in which an O-ring or flat sealing washer is positioned between said one end of the inlet pipe and a seating in the inlet pipe stub.

10. A control device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the outlet of the control device comprises an outlet pipe stub formed integrally with the body and having a flow-axis extending outwardly of the body in an opposite direction to the flow-axis of the inlet pipe stub.

11. A control device according to claim 10, in which a diverter has a clip-on or snap-fitting engagement with the outlet pipe stub and includes a length of collapsable tube which extends downwardly of the body in use to terminate near or below the minimum level of water in the cistern.

12. A control device according to claim 7 or any one of claims 8 to 11 when appendant to claim 7, in which the control device is mounted in a cistern by means of a fitting in the base of the cistern which firmly holds, in a sealed manner. said one end of the inlet pipe.

13. A control device according to claim 12, in which an adjustment screw is mounted in an apertured lug attached to the body, the screw being engageable in the manner of an adjustable stop with a side wall of the cistern in order to prevent movement of the body and the inlet pipe towards the side wall.

14. A control device according to any one of claims 12 or 13, in which a removable filter is mounted in the end of the inlet pipe remote from the body.

15. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which a removable filter is mounted in the body upstream of the valve seating.

16. A control device according to claim 15, in which the valve seating and the filter are located in the body by means of a spacer washer which, together with the valve seating and the filter, is held by securing and tightening an assembly nut at one end of the body.

17. A control device according to any one of the preceding claims, including a pressure restrictor for reducing the pressure of the water supply to the control device.

18. A control device according to claim 11, in which the diverter has an inlet branch connected to the outlet pipe stub, an outlet branch to which the collapsable tube is connected, and an air inlet branch through which air is admissible in order to prevent back siphonage in the event of a failure in the water supply.

19. A control device according to claim 11, in which a one-way valve is associated with the diverter and is arranged to be openable only in the direction permitting liquid flow from the outlet pipe stub to the diverter.

20. A control device according to claim 19, in which the one-way valve comprises a membrane extending across an inlet to the diverter.

21. A control device according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A cistern having mounted therein a control device according to any one of the preceding claims.