GB2155984A - Water supply method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for supplying water from a main to a plurality of points of utilisation includes a manifold 13, a branch pipe 10 connecting the manifold inlet 12 to the water main, and a plurality of pipes 17 connecting the manifold outlets 15 to the points of utilisation of the water. The manifold 13 is disposed within a covered access shaft and each manifold outlet 15 is provided with an individual stop valve 16 to turn on and off the water supply to each point of utilisation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water supply method and system This invention relates to a method of and system for supplying water from a main to a plurality of points of utilisation.

According to this invention there is provided a method of connecting a plurality of points of utilisation of water to a water main comprising connecting one end of a branch pipe to the water main, connecting the other end of the branch pipe to an inlet connection of a manifold which manifold has a plurality of outlet connections each of which incorporates an individual stop valve, and connecting said points of utilisation to respective outlet connections of the manifold.

The invention also provides a water supply system comprising a branch pipe having one end connected to a water main and its other end connected to an inlet connection of a manifold having a plurality of outlet connections, each of which outlet connections incorportes an individual stop valve, and a plurality of pipes extending from the respective outlet connections of the manifold to points of utilisation of the water.

Preferably, the connection of the branch pipe to water main incorporates a stop valve whereby the supply of water from the main to the manifold can be cut off.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the manifold is disposed within a covered access chamber.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of part of a water supply system according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a system for supplying water to a plurality of points of utilisation, e.g. a number of establishments arranged relatively close to each other, comprises a branch pipe 10 having one end connected to a water main (not shown) and its other end connected to a screw threaded inlet connection 1 2 of a manifold 1 3. The inlet connection 1 2 is preferably at the mid-length of the manifold 13; two further connections 1 2a are provided one at each end of the manifold for use as alternative inlet or outlet connections. The connection of the branch pipe 10 to the main preferably incorporates a stopcock (not shown) so that the supply of water to the manifold can be shut off if necessary.The manifold, the body of which is preferably constituted by a gun metal casting, has a plurality of screw threaded outlet ports 1 5 (six in the illustrated arrangement) to each of which is connected an individual stopcock 1 6 and individual supply pipes 1 7 are connected to the outlet connections of the stopcocks and lead to the respective points of utilisation, so that the supply to any one or more of the points of utilisation can be cut off without affecting the supply to the others.

The manifold and its connections are conveniently housed in an access chamber equipped with a removable cover 20. The disposition of the manifold within the chamber allows direct access for maintenance and the provision of water meters at the same or a later time without further excavation. The access chamber can conveniently be formed from a plurality of pre-cast concrete rings or rectangular sections 21 which are mounted on a base and interengage with each other as shown or may be formed in any other convenient manner, the cover 20 and its frame 22 being disposed at ground level.

1. A method of connecting a plurality of points of utilisation of water to a water main comprising connecting one end of a branch pipe to the water main, connecting the other end of the branch pipe to an inlet connection of a manifold which manifold has a plurality of outlet connections each of which incorporates an individual stop valve, and connecting said points of utilisation to respective outlet connections of the manifold.

2. A water supply system comprising a branch pipe having one end connected to a water main and its other end connected to an inlet connection of a manifold having a plurality of outlet connections, each of which outlet connections incorporates an individual stop valve, and a plurality of pipes extending from the respective outlet connections of the manifold to points of utilisation of the water.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a stop valve is provided between the water main and the manifold whereby the supply of water from the main to the manifold can be cut off.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stop valve is incorporated in the connection of the branch pipe to the water main.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the manifold is disposed within a covered access chamber.

6. A water supply system substantially as herein-before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Water supply method and system This invention relates to a method of and system for supplying water from a main to a plurality of points of utilisation. According to this invention there is provided a method of connecting a plurality of points of utilisation of water to a water main comprising connecting one end of a branch pipe to the water main, connecting the other end of the branch pipe to an inlet connection of a manifold which manifold has a plurality of outlet connections each of which incorporates an individual stop valve, and connecting said points of utilisation to respective outlet connections of the manifold. The invention also provides a water supply system comprising a branch pipe having one end connected to a water main and its other end connected to an inlet connection of a manifold having a plurality of outlet connections, each of which outlet connections incorportes an individual stop valve, and a plurality of pipes extending from the respective outlet connections of the manifold to points of utilisation of the water. Preferably, the connection of the branch pipe to water main incorporates a stop valve whereby the supply of water from the main to the manifold can be cut off. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the manifold is disposed within a covered access chamber. The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of part of a water supply system according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, a system for supplying water to a plurality of points of utilisation, e.g. a number of establishments arranged relatively close to each other, comprises a branch pipe 10 having one end connected to a water main (not shown) and its other end connected to a screw threaded inlet connection 1 2 of a manifold 1 3. The inlet connection 1 2 is preferably at the mid-length of the manifold 13; two further connections 1 2a are provided one at each end of the manifold for use as alternative inlet or outlet connections. The connection of the branch pipe 10 to the main preferably incorporates a stopcock (not shown) so that the supply of water to the manifold can be shut off if necessary.The manifold, the body of which is preferably constituted by a gun metal casting, has a plurality of screw threaded outlet ports 1 5 (six in the illustrated arrangement) to each of which is connected an individual stopcock 1 6 and individual supply pipes 1 7 are connected to the outlet connections of the stopcocks and lead to the respective points of utilisation, so that the supply to any one or more of the points of utilisation can be cut off without affecting the supply to the others. The manifold and its connections are conveniently housed in an access chamber equipped with a removable cover 20. The disposition of the manifold within the chamber allows direct access for maintenance and the provision of water meters at the same or a later time without further excavation. The access chamber can conveniently be formed from a plurality of pre-cast concrete rings or rectangular sections 21 which are mounted on a base and interengage with each other as shown or may be formed in any other convenient manner, the cover 20 and its frame 22 being disposed at ground level. CLAIMS

1. A method of connecting a plurality of points of utilisation of water to a water main comprising connecting one end of a branch pipe to the water main, connecting the other end of the branch pipe to an inlet connection of a manifold which manifold has a plurality of outlet connections each of which incorporates an individual stop valve, and connecting said points of utilisation to respective outlet connections of the manifold.

2. A water supply system comprising a branch pipe having one end connected to a water main and its other end connected to an inlet connection of a manifold having a plurality of outlet connections, each of which outlet connections incorporates an individual stop valve, and a plurality of pipes extending from the respective outlet connections of the manifold to points of utilisation of the water.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a stop valve is provided between the water main and the manifold whereby the supply of water from the main to the manifold can be cut off.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stop valve is incorporated in the connection of the branch pipe to the water main.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the manifold is disposed within a covered access chamber.

6. A water supply system substantially as herein-before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.