GB2149148A - Servo operated liquid level control valve - Google Patents

Servo operated liquid level control valve Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2149148A
GB2149148A GB08426752A GB8426752A GB2149148A GB 2149148 A GB2149148 A GB 2149148A GB 08426752 A GB08426752 A GB 08426752A GB 8426752 A GB8426752 A GB 8426752A GB 2149148 A GB2149148 A GB 2149148A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
pilot valve
diaphragm
valve member
liquid level
level control
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08426752A
Other versions
GB8426752D0 (en
GB2149148B (en
Inventor
Alan James Edward Davies
Eric Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pegler Ltd
Original Assignee
Pegler Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB08220841A external-priority patent/GB2103391B/en
Application filed by Pegler Ltd filed Critical Pegler Ltd
Priority to GB08426752A priority Critical patent/GB2149148B/en
Publication of GB8426752D0 publication Critical patent/GB8426752D0/en
Publication of GB2149148A publication Critical patent/GB2149148A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2149148B publication Critical patent/GB2149148B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/12—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid
    • F16K31/18—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid actuated by a float
    • F16K31/34—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid actuated by a float acting on pilot valve controlling the cut-off apparatus
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
    • F16K31/06—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
    • F16K31/08—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid using a permanent magnet
    • F16K31/086—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid using a permanent magnet the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/12—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid
    • F16K31/36—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid in which fluid from the circuit is constantly supplied to the fluid motor
    • F16K31/38—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid in which fluid from the circuit is constantly supplied to the fluid motor in which the fluid works directly on both sides of the fluid motor, one side being connected by means of a restricted passage and the motor being actuated by operating a discharge from that side
    • F16K31/385—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid in which fluid from the circuit is constantly supplied to the fluid motor in which the fluid works directly on both sides of the fluid motor, one side being connected by means of a restricted passage and the motor being actuated by operating a discharge from that side the fluid acting on a diaphragm
    • F16K31/3855—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid in which fluid from the circuit is constantly supplied to the fluid motor in which the fluid works directly on both sides of the fluid motor, one side being connected by means of a restricted passage and the motor being actuated by operating a discharge from that side the fluid acting on a diaphragm the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by a mechanically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm

Abstract

A servo operated liquid level control valve including a flexible diaphragm (120) a central portion of which is closable onto a seating (116) surrounding a low pressure outlet and an outer part of which on that side which contacts the seating being subjected to inlet pressure at all times, the inlet pressure being able to communicate with a control chamber (124) on the other side of the diaphragm (120) by way of a restricted opening (126) and a pilot valve member (128) being provided for allowing fluid under pressure to escape from said control chamber (124) to cause the valve to open, said pilot valve member being under the control of a control element (144). So that the valve can be of relatively simple construction, and so that the risk of leakage of fluid can be virtually eliminated, the control element is not directly connected to the pilot valve member but has magnetic attraction relative thereto via a magnet (140). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid level control valve The invention relates to liquid level control valves.
Liquid level.control valves generally have a float carried by a pivotally mounted arm, the arrangement being such that pivoting of the arm as a result of a rise or fall of liquid level is directly translated into movement of a valve member towards or away from a valve seat.
So that a sufficient closing force can be applied to the valve member, the float requires to be relatively large and/or the pivotally mounted arm requires to be relatively long. Consequently, such a valve can never be very compact and can be difficult to accommodate in a relatively small water tank. Fur thermore; the valve starts to close as soon as the float begins to rise in the tank. Such a valve is not capable of remaining fully open until the required liquid level has almost been achieved.
The object of the invention is to provide a liquid level control valve which will at least alleviate some of these drawbacks of conventional float valves.
According to the invention, there is provided a liquid level control valve having a flexible diaphragm a central portion of which is closable onto a seating surrounding a low pressure outlet, an outer part of said diaphragm on that side which contacts the seating remaining subjected to inlet pressure at all times and inlet pressure being able to communicate with a control chamber on the other side of the diaphragm by way of a restricted opening so that, when the valve is closed, the diaphragm is held against its seating by differential pressure, means being provided for allowing fluid under pressure to escape from said control chamber to cause the valve to open, said means being constituted by a pilot valve member movable within the control chamber and capable of closing a bleed hole in the central portion of the diaphragm, mechanism which is provided for moving said pilot valve member within the control chamber including a control element not directly connected to said pilot valve member but having magnetic attraction relative to said pilot valve member or relative to a carrier member therefor, whereby the pilot valve member is caused to move in response to movement of said control element, said control element being an encircling member loosely surrounding a portion of said valve within which the pilot valve member is movable, the encircling member being carried by a float element, the arrangement being such that the pilot valve member follows the movements of said float element. The pilot valve member may be slidably mounted for movement towards and away from the diaphragm.
In this case, the encircling member which has magnetic attraction relative to the pilot valve member, or relative to a carrier member therefor, may surround a depending element in which the pilot valve member is slidably located, a lower end of said depending element preferably having a nut to limit downward movement of the float. Inlet pressure will preferably be able to communicate with the control chamber by way of a small hole in the diaphragm. The pilot valve member may be urged towards the diaphragm by a spring.
In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a liquid level control valve embodying the invention, shown in closed condition, and Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the valve in open condition.
Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the liquid level control valve there illustrated is one which might be used for controlling the level of water in a domestic water tank. The valve, which is shown in vertical section, comprises a body 100 which is shown to be formed integrally at one end with an inlet pipe 102 by means of which it can be secured in normal manner to the side wall of a water tank and connected to a water supply. At its other end, the body is provided with a part defining a valve seating 11 6 surrounded by an annular space 118 with which the supply water communicates.
A flexible diaphragm 1 20 is located in position within a downwardly extending cylindrical portion of the body, a peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm being clamped in position by a depending plug element 1 22 an upper end of which has a part in register with the cylindrical part of the body. A screwthreaded annular nut 1 23 engages a screwthread on the outer periphery of the cylindrical part of the body and acts against the upper part of the depending plug element to force the latter against the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm. A central portion of the diaphragm is closable onto the valve seating 116 as shown in Fig. 1.
A space immediately beneath the flexible diaphragm, and formed by a cavity in the upper part of the depending plug element 1 22 constitutes a control chamber 124 with which water supply pressure can communicate by way of a restricted opening, that is to say by way of a small hole 1 26 in the diaphragm. The arrangement is such that, when the valve is closed as shown in the drawing, the diaphragm is held against its seating by differential pressure, that is to say by the fact that the areas of the diaphragm against which water supply pressure is able to act are substantially different, the area be neath the diaphragm being substantially the whole area thereof whilst the effective area above the diaphragm is the area of the annular space 118 surrounding the seating 116.
This will of course continue until water pressure is allowed to escape from the control chamber at a rate greater than can flow into said chamber through a small hole 126.
Means which are provided for allowing the escape of water pressure from the control chamber to cause the valve to open include a pilot valve member 1 28 made of ferrous metal and movable within the control chamber in such a way that it is capable of closing a bleed hole 1 30 in the central portion of the diaphragm (or more correctly in a central stiffening disc 1 32 carried by the diaphragm).
The pilot valve member is slidably mounted in a downwardly extending blind bore 1 34 of the depending plug element 122. It is urged upwardly by a light coil spring 1 36 and carries at its upper end a resilient element 1 38 which is arranged to contact a downwardly extending central portion of the disc element 1 32 to close the bleed hole 1 30.
Means which are provided for moving the pilot valve member within the control chamber include a control element not directly connected to said pilot valve member, that is to say an annular magnet 140 constituting an encircling member loosely surrounding a downwardly projecting central shaft portion of the depending plug element 122 within which the blind bore 1 34 is formed. The annular magnet is carried, as shown, at the upper end of a float element 144 provided with an internal cavity 145 into which the downwardly projecting central shaft portion of the depending plug element 1 22 extends. The arrangement is such that as the water level in the tank drops, the float moves downwards relative to said central shaft portion, the latter carrying a nut 146 at its lower end to limit the downward movement of the float as shown in Fig. 2.Since there is magnetic attraction between the magnet and the pilot valve member, the latter follows the movement of the magnet. Downward movement of the pilot valve member away from the diaphragm causes the latter to be unseated and water can flow from the inlet into the tank concerned by way of an anti-syphon delivery tube 11 3 which is connected into an upper part of the body as shown. (The anti-syphon tube is in the nature of an inverted U-tube provided with any of the known means for "breaking" a syphon).
As the predetermined required level of water in the tank becomes re-established, the float element 144 rises and moves the annular magnet upwardly towards the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. This lifts the pilot valve member towards its former position, assisted by the force of the spring 1 36. The closure of the bleed hole 1 30 in the diaphragm by the pilot valve member causes the latter to close upon its seat.
The main advantages of a liquid level control valve as described above are as follows: 1. It is more compact in size than float valves of conventional construction, this being due mainly to the fact that the float can be of relatively small size and hangs vertically downwards instead of being carried by a pivotally mounted arm.
2. The valve is held fully open until the required water level has almost been achieved.
3. It gives a measure of protection against concussion or water hammer (the speed of reaction when either opening or closing being determined by the sizes of the restricted openings through the diaphragm).
4. Since there is no physical connection between the pilot valve member and the means for moving it, leakage of fluid from the valve is very unlikely. The only fluid seal required is that formed at the periphery of the flexible diaphragm and this is a fixed seal and not one which needs to allow relative movements between adjacent parts. Consequently, it can be very tightly clamped and is virtually certain to maintain a leak proof seal throughout the working life of the valve.
Various modifications may be made. For example, it will be understood that the pilot valve member could be made of magnetic material and the annular member the movement of which is arranged to move the pilot valve member could then be made of nonmagnetised ferrous metal. Alternatively, both of these elements could be magnetic and be arranged so that they mutually attract.
The restricted opening from the pressure side of the valve into the control chamber 1 24 need not necessarily be provided by a small hole in the diaphragm. It could be provided by a restricted channel in the body of the valve, although this might then require additional sealing means to guard against leakage.

Claims (6)

1. A liquid level control valve having a flexible diaphragm a central portion of which is closable onto a seating surrounding a low pressure outlet, an outer part of said diaphragm on that side which contacts the seating remaining subjected to inlet pressure at all times and inlet pressure being able to communicate with a control chamber on the other side of the diaphragm by way of a restricted opening so that, when the valve is closed, the diaphragm is held against its seating by differential pressure, means being provided for allowing fluid under pressure to escape from said control chamber to cause the valve to open, said means being constituted by a pilot valve member movable within the control chamber and capable of closing a bleed hole in the central portion of the diaphragm, mechanism which is provided for moving said pilot valve member within the control chamber including a control element not directly connected to said pilot valve member but having magnetic attraction relative to said pilot valve member or relative to a carrier member therefor, whereby the pilot valve member is caused to move in response to movement of said control element, said control element being an encircling member loosely surrounding a portion of said valve within which the pilot valve member is movable, the encircling member being carried by a float element, the arrangement being such that the pilot valve member follows the movements of said float element.
2. A liquid level control valve according to claim 1, in which the pilot valve member is slidably mounted for movement towards and away from the diaphragm.
3. A liquid level control valve according to claim 2, in which the encircling member which has magnetic attraction relative to the pilot valve member, or relative to a carrier member therefor, surrounds a depending element in which the pilot valve member is slidably located, a lower end of said depending element having a nut to limit downward movement of the float.
4. A liquid level control valve according to any one of the preceding claims, in which inlet pressure is able to communicate with the control chamber by way of a small hole in the diaphragm.
5. A liquid level control valve according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pilot valve member is urged towards the diaphragm by a spring.
6. A liquid level control valve constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
GB08426752A 1981-07-31 1984-10-23 Servo operated liquid level control valve Expired GB2149148B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08426752A GB2149148B (en) 1981-07-31 1984-10-23 Servo operated liquid level control valve

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8123517 1981-07-31
GB08220841A GB2103391B (en) 1981-07-31 1982-07-19 Servo operated fluid flow taps and valves
GB08426752A GB2149148B (en) 1981-07-31 1984-10-23 Servo operated liquid level control valve

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8426752D0 GB8426752D0 (en) 1984-11-28
GB2149148A true GB2149148A (en) 1985-06-05
GB2149148B GB2149148B (en) 1986-02-19

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08426752A Expired GB2149148B (en) 1981-07-31 1984-10-23 Servo operated liquid level control valve

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2149148B (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0319124A1 (en) * 1987-09-23 1989-06-07 Torbeck Control Valves Limited Servo-operated fluid flow control valve
EP0329758A1 (en) * 1987-08-24 1989-08-30 DRAIN-All, INC. An automatic drain valve
GB2252180A (en) * 1991-01-23 1992-07-29 Mark John Dickinson Liquid level control float valve
GB2256257A (en) * 1991-05-31 1992-12-02 Jasmart Design & Technology Li A liquid level control valve
AU659356B2 (en) * 1993-02-17 1995-05-11 Nu-Valve Pty Limited Self-regulating inlet flow valve
WO2000050795A1 (en) * 1999-02-23 2000-08-31 Nu-Valve Pty Ltd. Improved magnetically operated valve
FR2920217A1 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-02-27 Aquaconcept Sarl Water level regulating device for e.g. swimming pool, has control unit changing state of diaphragm control valve placed between supply channel and water outlet based on water level of tank, where control unit includes solenoid valve
US8113231B2 (en) * 2007-10-23 2012-02-14 Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd. Device for controlling water level
EP2687763A1 (en) * 2011-03-17 2014-01-22 T & D Corporation Valve system
EP1920116B1 (en) * 2005-08-06 2016-11-30 Abertax Research And Development Ltd. System for opening and/or closing an inlet valve of a liquid container

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0329758A1 (en) * 1987-08-24 1989-08-30 DRAIN-All, INC. An automatic drain valve
EP0329758A4 (en) * 1987-08-24 1991-10-30 Drain-All, Inc. An automatic drain valve
EP0319124A1 (en) * 1987-09-23 1989-06-07 Torbeck Control Valves Limited Servo-operated fluid flow control valve
GB2252180A (en) * 1991-01-23 1992-07-29 Mark John Dickinson Liquid level control float valve
GB2272044A (en) * 1991-05-31 1994-05-04 Jasmart Design & Technology Li Liquid level control valve
WO1992021906A1 (en) * 1991-05-31 1992-12-10 Jasmart Design & Technology Ltd. Liquid level control valve
GB2256257A (en) * 1991-05-31 1992-12-02 Jasmart Design & Technology Li A liquid level control valve
AU659356B2 (en) * 1993-02-17 1995-05-11 Nu-Valve Pty Limited Self-regulating inlet flow valve
WO2000050795A1 (en) * 1999-02-23 2000-08-31 Nu-Valve Pty Ltd. Improved magnetically operated valve
EP1920116B1 (en) * 2005-08-06 2016-11-30 Abertax Research And Development Ltd. System for opening and/or closing an inlet valve of a liquid container
FR2920217A1 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-02-27 Aquaconcept Sarl Water level regulating device for e.g. swimming pool, has control unit changing state of diaphragm control valve placed between supply channel and water outlet based on water level of tank, where control unit includes solenoid valve
US8113231B2 (en) * 2007-10-23 2012-02-14 Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd. Device for controlling water level
EP2687763A1 (en) * 2011-03-17 2014-01-22 T & D Corporation Valve system
EP2687763A4 (en) * 2011-03-17 2014-08-20 T & D Corp Valve system
US9885425B2 (en) 2011-03-17 2018-02-06 T&D Corporation Valve system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8426752D0 (en) 1984-11-28
GB2149148B (en) 1986-02-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010719