GB2118687A - Fluid control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to fluid control valves. It has particular application to such valves in which the internal parts of the valve may be removed for maintenance whilst the valve is "under pressure", that is to say fluid is being supplied to and from the valve whilst the maintenance of the valve is carried out. An improved valve of this type is disclosed in our co-pending U.K. application No. 8123569. One of the situations in which it is particularly valuable to be able to maintain a valve whilst under pressure is when the valve is being used as a stop-cock valve such as in the ordinary domestic water supply. As shown in Fig. 18 the valve 231 has a base plate 233 screwed on to its stem with a chamber 232, with a sealed lid 239, attached to the base plate. Threaded flange 236 is provided for attachment of a standpipe. The crutch handle 2 is removable with a dust cap 4 to expose the internal parts of the valve. Special tools are provided to enable the valve to be maintained whilst under pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid control valve This invention relates to fluid control valves.

It has particular application to such valves in which the internal parts of the valve may be removed for maintenance whilst the valve is "under pressure", that is to say fluid is being supplied to and from the valve whilst the maintenance of the valve is carried out.

An improved valve of this type is disclosed in our copending UK application No. 8123569.

One of the situations in which it is particularly valuable to be able to maintain a valve whilst under pressure is when the valve is being used as a stop-cock valve such as in the ordinary domestic water supply.

Stop-cock valves are very often out in the open and are consequently located below the frost line which may be anything from half a metre to a metre and a half in depth.

Stop-cocks are therefore located in chambers or pits below ground level and are difficuit to reach and to maintain.

If the valve fails in any way and it is necessary to take the valve apart then the whole water supply has to be cut-off in the area in order to do it. This is clearly a very expensive operation and there is tremendous advantage in being able to maintain such a stop-cock in situ without cutting off the water supply.

Thus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is a combination of a valve of the kind in which the internal parts of the valve may be removed for maintenance whilst the valve is under pressure, with means for attachment of a chamber to the valve so that the valve may be maintained whilst being used as a stop-cock valve.

Alternatively or in addition means may be provided for attachment of a stand pipe.

Preferably the means comprises a base plate with a threaded aperture adapted to be screwed onto a corresponding thread on the valve itself, preferably on the stem of the valve.

The base plate may be provided with means for attachment of both a chamber for the stop-cock valve and a separate sealed chamber for maintenance at the stop-cock valve whilst under pressure.

A suitable valve which may be used in this invention is described in our copending application No. 8123569 for example in Figure 7 of the drawings accompanying the specification of that application.

From another aspect the invention comprises a combined crutch handle and dust-cap which may be used in combination with a valve of the kind described in mycopending application 8123569.

From another aspect the invention comprises a kit of tools in combination with a valve of the kind which has internal parts of the valve removable for maintenance whilst the valve is under pressure, in combination with a chamber and means for attachment of the chamber to the stop-cock valve.

Optionally the invention may include a set of tools for maintaining the valve as a stop-cock valve under pressure. The set of tools may for example include a crutch head work spanner, a crutch handle clip, spindle holder, a collar spanner, plug and spindle keys and one or more tool holders.

In the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a crutch handle and dust-cap adapted for use with a valve of the kind shown, for example, in Figure 7 of my copending application 8123569; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of crutch headwork spanner; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a crutch handle clip; Fig. 4 is a view of a spindle holder; Fig. 5 is a view of a collar spanner; Fig. 6 is a view of a squre key; Fig. 7 is a view of a spindle adjustment key; Fig. 7a is a view of a plug key; Fig. 8 is an elevation of a stand pipe; Fig. 9 is an isometric view of a stand pipe collar brush; Fig.10 is an elevation of a hollow toolholder; Fig. 11 is an elevation of a central toolholder;; Fig. 12 shows a valve of the kind illustrated in Fig. 7 of copending application 8123569 mounted in a pipeline and modified in accordance with the present invention and mounted in a chamber as an external domestic stop-cock; Fig. 1 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the chamber shown in Fig. 12; Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative form of chamber; Fig. 1 6 shows a concrete meter box adapted to interlock with the chamber shown in Figs. 14 and 15; Fig. 1 7 shows a plunger for removing water from the stand pipe after completion of maintenance; Fig. 1 8 is a section through a chamber containing a stop-valve which may be maintained under pressure, the base for the stand pipe forming the screw attachment to the valve;; Fig. 19 shows the same chamber with a stand pipe attached; Fig. 20 illustrates a special key to remove the headworks; Fig. 21 is a plan view of the key; and Fig. 22 is a modification showing a combined chamber and detached crutch handle.

In Fig. 1 is shown a spindle 1 with a crutch handle 2 fixed at an angle of 900 by a screw 3. To prevent the crutch from turning the handle 2 is breached with a square hole to receive the square end 2a of the spindle. The spindle 1 passes through a hole in a dust cap 4 at point 9a. The spindle 1 is slideable within the dust cap 4. To prevent the spindle 1 from pulling right through, the dust cap 4 engages with a corresponding shoulder 6 on the internal bore of the dust cap 4.

Spindle 1 has a square end 7 which fits into the top of the fluid valve spindle shown in the valve in Fig. 7 of my copending application No. 812569 and turns the valve on and off. There is an internal thread in the dust cap 9 which corresponds with the external thread on the head of the fluid control valve.

The hexagon 8 on the dust cap is used for tightening it down on to the head of the valve. This is done with the aid of a crutch headworks spanner shown in Fig. 2. The hexagon 8 may be replaced by a splined boss or by a dog-toothed member in which case the spanner shown in Fig. 2 would also be appropriately modified. The spanner 29 has a hollow top section 31 and is threaded externally at 35, at one end, and has two slots 34 cut in the end. At the other end is a section 30 cut in the shape of a spanner to mate with hexagon on the dust cap 4 (Fig. 1). A section 33 of the spanner has been hollowed out at 32 to allow the crutch handle in Fig. 3 to rest there whilst it is being removed from the top of the valve.

Fig. 3 shows a crutch handle clip which consists of a shaft 21 made of metal or other suitable material, which is threaded at one end 22 with two slots 23 and counterbored at 24 internally. Secured at the other end is circular clip 25 hollowed out at 26. Clip 25 is fastened to the shaft at an angle of 90 by means of a bolt 28 or similar device. To enable the clip to slip on to the crutch handle more easily the open edge 27 of the circular clip is angled. Fig. 4 illustrates a spindle holder 1 6 which is threaded at one end 17 and has two slots 18 and is counterbored at 1 9 at the same end. At the other end it is counterbored and threaded with a female thread 20 corresponding to the thread on upper spindle of the fluid control valve.

Fig. 5 illustrates a hollow collar spanner 1 Oa with lugs 10 which will match the slots in the collar of the fluid control valve. The face 11 of spanner 1 Oa rests on the collar when used to remove it. At the other end of the spanner is an external thread 14 and two slots 13. The spanner is also counterbored at 1 5 at this end to enable it to fit on to a hollow tool-holder shown in Fig. 1 0.

The bore 12 of the spanner 1 0a allows the spindle holder shown in Fig. 4 to slide up inside when the operation of removing the spindle is required.

In Figures 6, 7 and 7a are shown keys used to adjust fluid control valves and all the keys fit on to either the hollow toolholder shown in Fig. 10 or the central toolholder shown in Fig. 11.

The square key 41 shown in Fig. 6 is a hollow key made from metal or other suitable material which has two slots 42 and a thread 43. The same end is counterbored at 42a to allow for connection to the hollow toolholder shown in Fig. 10. At the other end is a square ended shaft 44 with a hole 45 in it. This hole 45 allows the socket spanner 49 shown in Fig. 7, to pass through when adjusting the fluid valve spindle and also allows passage of plug key 53 (Fig. 7a) when used to cut the supply of water on a semi-permanent or permanent basis.

The spindle adjustment key 56 shown in Fig. 7 is made from metal rod or other suitable material, threaded at one end 57 and with two slots 58. It is also countbored at 57a to enable it to be connected to central tool holder (Fig.11).

Fig. 7a illustrates a plug key 59 which is counterbored at 50 and has two slots 52 and has an external thread 51 at one end to enable it to be fitted to central tool holder shown in Fig. 11. The other end has a threaded stem 53.

Fig. 8 shows a standpipe 61 made of metal or other suitable material. It has a straight through fluid control valve such as a gate valve 62 attached to the top. Near to the top at right angles to the standpipe is a pressure relief valve 63 which is connected to the standpipe by a hollow bush 64 at point 65. This valve is only used during the maintenance under pressure of the fluid control valve illustrated in my patent application No.

8123569. It relieves the pressure of water and allows it to flow away thereby easing the pressure on the movement of the tool holder shown in Fig.

10. A hosepipe is connected at point 62a to allow the water to be carried well out of the way of the operative near the standpipe. A handle 72 is provided to control the flow of the valve.

A slideable locking ring 66 with an internal thread 66a can move up and down the standpipe freely between the shoulder 60 and the bush 65.

The internal shoulder 66b in the locking ring 6 abuts matching shoulder 60 to prevent it going down further when a standpipe collar bush 75 (Fig. 9) is attached to the end of the standpipe.

The standpipe collar bush 75 consists of a hollowed out body having a bore 79 with an external thread 77 at one end and two slots 78.

This end of the collar bush connects on to the end of the standpipe 68 and the pins 69 (Fig. 8) on the standpipe slide into the slots 68. The locking ring on the standpipe is then drawn down the standpipe and the internal thread 66a on the locking ring 66 is turned until it firmly holds the collar bush in position. The pins 69 and the slots 38 prevent the collar bush from turning. The thread 76 at the bottom end of the collar bush matches the external thread on the head of the control valve shown in my specificatoin No.

8123569. A shoulder 80 prevents the bush from over screwing on to the head of the valve.

Fig. 10 shows a hollow tool holder which consists of a piece of tube 83 with at the top a hexagon '0' ring housing 96, a dome 88 made of perspex (R.T.M.) or other suitable material, a locking ring 84 a fixed shoulder 85 and anti-swivel pins 86.

A central tool holder shown in Fig. 11 comprises a rod 131 made of metal or other suitable material which has a locking ring 130 at one end which holds the keys in position and antiswivel pins 129.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the position the valve would be in when fitted in a pipeline. In Fig.

12 is shown a sealed chamber 101 made of plastic or similar suitable material. At the base of this chamber 101 is a disc or base-plate 1 02a which is threaded internally at 1 02b to match a thread formed on the body of the valve 108. On top of this disc is placed the crutch handle and dust cap shown in Fig. 1 and marked on this diagram as 11 Oa and 11 Ob. The bottom of the crutch handle 110 is sitting in the top of the spindle of the control valve 105. At the top of the inner chamber is a seal cap 11 2 which prevents water or silt getting in. The valve and inner chamber are installed in a sectional chamber 112 made from concrete or suitable material and set on a concrete base 114.

The base has a recess 11 6 to receive the first concrete section 113. Figure 1 3 demonstrates how the pipes are connected into the valve going through the hole 1 23 in the lower section through which the pipe 11 7 passes. The sections can be interlocked as shown at 111 or plain ended. The top section 1 27 (Fig. 12) is made to receive a surface box cover 124 which is hinged at 125 and closes on to a lip 1 23 to prevent water coming into the pit. The pavement level is indicated at 126 and the backfill at 128. The collar of the fluid control valve is as shown at 109.

METHOD OF UNDERPRESSURE MAINTENANCE Stage 1 Open the surface box cover 1 24 shown in Fig.

12 and remove sealed lid 112.

Stage 2 Removing the crutch handle and dustcap Take the hollow tool holder shown in Fig.10 and connect the crutch headwork spanner 29 shown in Fig. 2 to the end 87 of hollow tool holder. The end of the spanner is slid on to hollow tool holder at 87 ensuring that the slots 34 on the spanner engage with the pin 86 on the toolholder.

When in position the locking ring 84 is drawn down and the internal thread 84a engages the external thread 35 of spanner 29 and is made secure. The locking ring shoulder 84b engages with shoulder 85 to prevent overturning. The crutch handle clip 25 shown in Fig. 3, is connected to the central tool holder shown in Fig. 11. The end of the crutch handle clip with the slots 23 is slid over the end of the central tool holder engaging the pins 1 29. The internal thread 134 of the locking ring 130 engages the thread 22 in the crutch handle. A shoulder 132 prevents the locking ring from coming off the end of the rod.

The central tool holder is now passed up through the bore of the hollow tool holder until the top of the central tool holder 133 is seen to protrude through the top of the hollow tool holder at point 97a.

Both the tool holders with their respective keys are now fed down through the inner chamber 101 shown in Figure 12 and the crutch handle clip shown in Fig. 3 secures itself on to the crutch handle 2 shown in Fig. 1. The hexagon section 30 of the spanner shown in Fig. 2 engages the hexagon 8 on the dust cap shown in Fig. 1. By turning both the tool holders the dust cap unscrews from the head of the valve and the crutch handle is also released. Both the crutch handle and dust cap are withdrawn clear of the chamber.

Fitting the Standpipe The standpipe (Fig. 8) is now connected to the top of the valve. The stand pipe collar bush shown in Fig. 9 is connected to the standpipe, as previously explained, and the thread 76 in the standpipe collar bush is screwed on to head of the valve allowing the standpipe to independently stand vertically on top of head of the valve.

Removing the internal workings of the valve The final stage to remove the workings of the valve is a simple operation. The spindle holder shown in Fig. 4 is slid on to the end of the central tool holder shown in Fig. 11 and the slots 18 engage the pins 129 and the locking ring 130 is drawn down to engage with the thread 1 7 on the spindle holder to secure the two together. The tool holders are then passed down on the inside of the standpipe and internal spindle thread 20 is screwed on to the valve spindle thread. The collar spanner shown in Fig. 5 is now connected on to the end of the hollow tool holder shown in Fig. 10 by sliding the end with the slots 13 over the end 87 of hollow tool holder.The slot engages the pins 86 which prevent it turning on the end of the pipe and the locking ring 84 attached to the hollow tool holder is then drawn down so that internal threads 84a can engage with the external threads 1 4 of the collar spanner shown in Fig. 5.

The toolholder and spanner are then fitted to the collar of the valve by allowing the top end 133 of the central tool holder (Fig. 11) to pass through the centre 12 of the spanner (Fig. 5) and through the centre of the pipe 83 of the tool holder. It also passes through the seal housing 98 of the toolholder and protrudes through the seal adjuster 97. The complete toolholder is then passed through the standpipe until the thread 99 on the dome 88 which is attached to the hollow toolholder connects with the thread 67 of the valve 62 on top of the standpipe (Fig. 8). The thread 99 on the dome 88 is then screwed into valve and made secure. To prevent water leakage there is a seal 95 on the thread of the valve which engages with the top of the valve 62 on the standpipe as the dome is tightened down.Other seals prevent the escape of fluids whilst the valve is being maintained. One is situated in the dome and is shown at 94. The lock nut 93 in the dome is hollow to allow passage of the pipe 83. The lock nut is attached to the dome by a thread 91 and by turning the lock nut against the seal it compresses it against the tube 83 creating a seal. The other seal is in the hexagon seal housing 96. The seal 98 is inside the housing and when the top of the central toolholder is in position the seal is adjusted by turning seal adjuster 97. When all the seals are in position and the shoulder 90 of the dome is firmly sitting on the top of the standpipe valve 62 (Fig. 8), the relief valve 63 on the standpipe is opened fully. After ensuring that the lugs 10 on the collar spanner are engaging the slots in the collar, the pipe of the tool holder is turned to slacken the collar in the valve. When completely free the spindle which is threaded through the collar and is now connected to the thread 20 of the spindle holder (Fig. 4) can be pulied up through the standpipe and into the recess 92 of dome 88 on the hollow toolholder.

By now fluid will be flowing freely out via the relief valve 63. By closing the valve 62 at the top of the standpipe, using the handle 71, the spindle and collar are isolated inside the dome 88. To prevent the waste of fluids the relief valve 63 is turned off by using the handle 72. Now all the valves are turned off, the valve spindle and collar can be removed from the dome and any maintenance required can be carried out on the valve.

The procedure to put the workings back is reversed.

A second type of concrete chamber is illustrated in Fig. 14 which has a key section 202 which mates with a corresponding key section 201 in Figure 15. The interlock section 203 in Fig.

14 and 202 in Fig. 15.

Figure 16 shows a meter box of concrete sections which can be added to the concrete stop tap pit.

In Fig. 16, 210 is the wall of the pit and 202 is the male section of the key which interlocks with item 201 of Figure 15. The meterisshown at 213 and the non-return valve at 21 4.

Figure 1 7 shows a plunger which removes the water from the standpipe after all the maintenance has been completed. The plunger is attached to the end of spindle holder shown in Fig.

4. The plunger consists of a circular rod 221 threaded at one end 222 which screws into the spindle holder. It has a flexible disc 223 which is slightly larger than the bore of the standpipe. The disc is fitted to the rod by a bolt 225 which passes through a washer 224. The plunger is lowered to the bottom of the standpipe and pulled upwards as the water is drawn up the standpipe it flows out of the relief valve.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 18 to 21.

In Figure 18 the stop tap valve 231 is shown in position in the pipeline connected to the chamber 232 by having the head of the valve 235 connected to the base of chamber 233 by mating screw threads. The parts 232 and 233 can be all in one or in two parts fixed at the edges 234.

When the chamber is fitted to the valve, the top headworks of the valve 1 8 shown in Fig. 2 is screwed into the body of the valve 231. The chamber when secured to the head of the valve has a seal to prevent silt ingress and a further seal prevents water escaping. The headworks flange 238 ensures that the chamber cannot be unscrewed from the valve. The main modification is that the screw attachment 236 to which the standpipe can normally be attahced is no longer on the head of the valve but on the base of the chamber. This enables the standpipe to be fitted over the crutch handle of the valve and allows the headworks to be removed in one operation.

The other details of Figures 1 8 and 19 include a service pipe connection 237 and a seal cover 239 for the chamber. The standpipe 242 is shown in Fig. 19 in a fixed position on the threads 236 and 243 with seals 246 and 247. A shut-off valve 244 has a thread 244a to which a dome is fitted. The dome is hollowed out to receive the headworks of the valve. A relief valve 245 is also provided.

Figures 20 and 21 illustrate a special key to remove the headworks. A handle 251 holds the key 253 and a clip 252 holds the crutch handle of the headworks as they are being withdrawn.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the spanner and shows the hexagon 254 of the spanner which fits over the headworks.

Every household in the UK has a stop cock control valve which is the property of the Local Water Authority. The valves are costly to maintain and part of this cost is the cleaning of the stop cock valve pit and the constant excavations needed to be able to get at the valve. Another labour intensive part of maintenance is the water leak sounding which is essential to locate the top of the valve with a sounding device.

The combined chamber and crutch handle shown in Figure 22 overcomes a considerable amount of the time consuming problems.

The chamber 260 is in separate parts a chamber made from plastic pipe 261 a lid 262 with a seal 263 and bottom section 264 which fits tightly into the bottom end of the chamber. This bottom has a hole 265 through which the crutch handle 266 sticks and also has a matching thread 267 to fit via a ring or plate 269 on to the top of the valve. The crutch handle is separate from the valve and when the chamber is unscrewed from the valve head 270 the crutch handle 266 comes away with it This enables the valve to be maintained under pressure described in one of my ealrier patents. The chamber and the detachable crutch handle can be used as separate units.

Claims (14)

1. A combination of a fluid control valve of the kind in which the internal parts of the valve may be removed for maintenance whilst the valve is under pressure, with means for attachment of a chamber to the valve so that the valve may be maintained whilst being used as a stop-cock valve.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which means may be provided for attachment of a stand pipe.

3. A combination according to claim 1 or claim 2 and in which said means comprises a base plate with a threaded aperture adapted to be screwed onto a corresponding thread on the valve.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which the thread is on the stem of the valve.

5. A combination according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the base plate is provided with means for attachment of both a chamber for the stopcock valve and a separate sealed chamber for maintenance of the stop-cock valve whilst under pressure.

6. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the valves of the kind described in our copending application No.8123569.

7. The combination of any of claims 1 to 5 further combined with a combination crutch handle and dust cap.

8. A kit of tools in combination with a valve of the kind which has internal parts of the valve removable for maintenance whilst the valve is under pressure, in combination with a chamber and a means for attachment of the chamber to the stop-cock valve, the tools being adapted to operate through the chamber to enable the internal parts of the valve to be removed whilst the valve is under pressure.

9. The combination of claim 1 and including a set of tools for maintaining the valve as a stopcock valve under pressure.

10. A kit of tools according to claim 8 or a combination according to claim 9 in which the set of tools includes a crutch head work spanner, a crutch handle clip, spindle holder, a collar spanner, plug and spindle keys and one or more tool holders.

11. A combination according to claim 1 including a standpipe adapted to be attached to a base plate forming the bottom of said chamber, or adapted to act as said chamber and to be attached directly to the valve body.

12. A combination according to claim 11 and in which the standpipe comprises a gate valve and a pressure relief valve.

13. A combination according to claim 11 or claim 12 and including standpipe collar bush adapted to be connected between the standpipe and the fluid flow control valve.

14. A method of maintaining a fluid flow control valve whilst under pressure substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 5. The combination of a fluid flow control valve and means for enabling it to be maintained under pressure substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.