GB2161900A

GB2161900A - Ball-float valve

Info

Publication number: GB2161900A
Application number: GB8417902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Fletcher Wigley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-07-13
Filing date: 1984-07-13
Publication date: 1986-01-22
Also published as: GB8417902D0

Abstract

A diaphragm ball valve with a top outlet 11 receives an adjustable stem or shank 2 of a protective device that prevents discharged water re-entering the supply system. The protective device with a vertical shank that can be reduced in length, incorporates a droptight non-return valve 4, and a diversion chamber with one or two anti- splash discharge outlets 9. An independent bracket 7 is provided, with one or two retractable adaptors 8 for receiving flexible or rigid silencing tubes. The brackets are attached to the vertical stem or shank when a noiseless fill to the cistern is required. The protective device discharges water above the spill-over level or rim of the cistern or the weir level of a W.C. cistern. The invention provides a diaphragm ball valve and protective device that is visible for inspection and can be adjusted to the varying dimensions that occur when replacement ball valves are required in existing installations or new products. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements to ball-float valves This invention relates to a diaphragm float bail valve incorporating a device to protect the water supply from backflow when discharging into a cistern or container.

Ball or float valves, generally known as ball valves, are the standard or common method of controlling the amount of water in a cistern or tank to a specified water level. Two types of valves are in general use, the piston type and the diaphragm type. The dimensional and installation requirements of these two valves are based on Water Authority Requirements and national standards. They can be installed as side-inlet units into cisterns or bottom inlet units into cisterns.

Due to the new Model Water Byelaws and Water Authority Requirements, referred to as W.A.R., ball valves must now be fitted with approved protective devices to prevent discharged water from being drawn back into the water supply when fracture occur in the mains or the water supply is shut down. These conditions cause vacuum or minus pressures to occur in the supply pipe and water can be drawn back into the water system through the silencing pipes during a refilling piocess or if the ball valve becomes broken or faulty. Any submerged ball valve without a protective device is a potential health hazard.

The main feature of this invention is the addition to the ball valve of a protective device which can be shorted or adjusted in length to satisfy the W.A.R., whether in new products or existing installations and where noise levels can be reduced by silencing pipes. Apart from a slight enlargement of the vertical outlet in a modern diaphragm valve, manufactured to W.A.R. and national standards, the dimensional and material requirements of the diaphragm ball valve have not been altered. The protective device can be adjusted so that the discharge into the cistern can be above the spill-over level of the rim of the cistern and to a dimension which is comparable with an 'A' Type airgap or below the rim of the cistern as in the case of a W.C.

cistern where a weir level is provided or the siphon weir is acceptable as the spill-over level.

The function of the protective device when fixed in the vertical outlet of the ball valve is to convey water through an adjustable vertical tubular shank that can be reduced in length, through a non-return valve device into a diversion-chamber where the flow of water is directed into a downward flow discharging through one or more anti-splash devices into the open air and thence into the cistern.

When/Where silencing tubes are required, an adjustable horizontal bracket can be attached to the vertical discharge tubes from the ball valve. Inserted into the bracket are retractable adaptors to which can be fitted rigid or flexible silencing tubes.

This system is designed to operate between the rim or spill-over level of the cistern and the cover of the cistern. In this position the Inspectorate of the Water Authority can make an immediate visual inspection by noting that the airgap is dimensionably above the spillover level of the cistern.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a protective device with a single discharge anti-splash outlet, a tubular plain or threaded shank for inserting into the top outlet of a diaphragm fall valve by means of threads or adhesive methods, a backnut for securing a water tight joint on a threaded shank. Within the tube at the top of the shank is a droptight non-return valve which when closed prevents discharged water re-entering the supply system. Water passes through the non-return valve into a diversion chamber and discharges through an anti-splash device into the open air and thence into the cistern.The shank is of sufficient length to achieve a Type 'A' air gap above the rim or spill-over level of the cistern when the ball valve is fixed into the cistern to the dimensions laid down in National Standards and W.A.R. for float valve installations. The tubular shank can be reduced in length to allow for the protection device to discharge below the level of the rim of the cistern in certain cases such as in W.C. cisterns where a weir overflow is provided below the rim of the cistern.

Figure 2 is identical to the protective device in Fig. 1 but secured on the tubular shank by threads or by adhesives on a plain shank in a horizontal bracket for supporting a silencing tube. A retractable outlet unit is secured in the bracket and is designed for a rigid or flexible silencing tube to be affixed thereto.

Figure 3 is a cross section of a double outlet anti-splash discharge unit complete with horizontal bracket and retractable outlet unit and is a duplication of the features described in Fig. 2. The horizontal bracket with retractable outlet units for silencing tubes is an independent unit that is attached to the stem of the protective device when a noiseless fill is required.

Figure 4 is a lateral cross-section of a side inlet type diaphram ball valve without lever and float or ball showing a shortened version of the protective device secured into the top outlet socket of the ball valve and made watertight by means of a backnut and sealing medium.

Figure 5 shows a diametrical cross-section of a shortened version of a single outlet protective device secured into the body of a diaphragm float valve by means of a backnut and sealing medium.

The non-return valve is shown in the open position with water discharging through the anti-splash device into the silencing tube of an elastomeric material attached to the retractable outlet unit of the horizontal bracket.

Figure 6 is a diametrical cross-section of a shortened version of a double outlet protective device secured into the top outlet of a diaphragm float valve and made watertight by means of a backnut and sealing medium. The non-return valve is shown in the open position with water discharging through 2 anti-splash devices into silencing tubes of a rigid material which are attached to the retractable outlet units of the horizontal bracket by means of a threaded connection or adhesively welded.

Figs. 5 and 6 are shown to illustrate the approximate dimensional view of the valve and protective device when fixed in a standard installation conforming to W.A.R. or National Standard. The dimension X is the statutory dimension between the centre of the water supply in the float valve and the top edge or rim of the cistern. The dimension Y is the width of the air gap in relation to dimension X. The double outlet unit is designed for high pressure and large volumes of water that cannot be accepted by a single silencing pipe.

It also increases the air flow into the water supply system during minus pressure conditions and when the non-return valve is omitted.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the body of a side entry inlet diaphragm float valve with a single outlet and looking at the section between the cap of the protection device and the anti-splash discharge outlet. The fins of the non-return valve are also shown.

Figure 8 is the plan view of a bottom entry inlet diaphragm float valve with a double outlet and looking at the section between the cap and the anti-splash discharge outlet together with the fins of the non-return valve in the centre supply tube.

Referring to Fig. 1 on the drawing the water supply inlet 1 is the internal diameter of an externally threaded stem 2, a locknut 3, a droptight non-return valve 4, diversion chamber 5, anti-splash device 6. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal bracket 7 attached to the threaded stem 2, the bracket 7 retains a retractable silencing tube adaptor 8. Referring to Fig.

3-in cases where high pressure and large volumes of water are discharged, a double anti-splash unit 9 is integrated on the adjustable stem 2 and a horizontal bracket 10 with two retractable silencing adaptors 8 included in the bracket. The main features described in Fig. 1 are duplicated. Because there is twice the volume of air available on the discharge outlet for backflow purposes the non-return valve can be withdrawn.

Fig. 4 shows a section of a standard type diaphragm ball valve with the vertical outlet 11 adapted to receive the stem 2 and the backnut 3 sealing medium providing a watertight joint.

In Fig. 5 the silencing tube adaptor 8 shows a flexible silencing tube 1 2 attached by means of a fastener 1 3 and in Fig. 6 the rigid silencing tubes 14 are secured from the inside of the adaptor 8.

Fig. 7 shows a single outlet diaphragm valve with a side entry inlet 1 5. Fig. 8 is a bottom entry inlet 1 6 with a double outlet.

Claims

1. A side entry inlet or bottom entry inlet diaphragm ball or float valve with a top outlet adapted to receive a vertical tubular protective device against backflow incorporating a droptight non-return valve for preventing discharged water from re-entering the supply system, diversion chamber with one or two anti-splash outlets for discharging water through an air gap into a cistern, an independent horizontal bracket with adaptors for one or more silencing tubes for attaching to the vertical tubular shank of the protective device.

A protective device that discharges water above the rim or spill-over level of the cistern or the weir level of a W.C. flushing cistern. A diaphragm ball valve with a protective device that can be adjusted to the varying dimensions that occur when replacement ball valves are required in existing installations or new products. A protective device that is visible for inspection.

2. A diaphragm ball valve and protective device as claimed in Claim 1 with a threaded or plain tubular shank of sufficient length that will provide a statutory air gap above the rim of the cistern when the ball valve is fixed to the statutory dimension into the cistern or alternatively the tubular shank can be reduced in length so that the whole protective device can be installed below the rim of a W.C.

cistern where a weir level is provided below the rim.

3. According to Claims 1 and 2 a combination of a float operated valve, a vertical tubular shank with a diversion chamber incorporating anti-splash outlets, with or without a non-return valve or a bracket and silencing tubes provides a means of preventing backsiphonage into the supply pipe through an air gap system substantially as described herein with references to Figs. 1-8 of the accompanying drawings.

3. A diaphragm ball valve and protective device as claimed in Claims 1-2 where the protective device has a single anti-splash discharge outlet and a separate horizontal bracket incorporating a retractable outlet adaptor for receiving rigid or flexible silencing tubes. The bracket is attached to the tubular shank when a noiseless fill to the cistern is required.

4. A diaphragm ball valve and protective device as claimed in Claims 1-3 when the proective device has twin anti-splash discharge outlets and a separate bracket with twin outlets incorporating retractable outlet adaptors for receiving rigid or flexible silenc ing pipes. The bracket is attached to the vertical tubular shank when a noiseless fill is required.

5. A diaphragm ball valve and protective device with independent brackets for silencing pipes substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-8 of the accompanying drawing.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-5 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A diaphragm float valve with a top outlet adapted to receive a vertical tubular shank terminating in a diversion chamber with or without a non-return valve and incorporating one or two anti-splash outlets for discharging water through an air gap into a cistern.

The vertical tubular shank is of sufficient length to provide a type 'A' air gap above the spill over level of the cistern and can be reduced in length so that the diversion chamber is below the top of the cistern.

2. A tubular shank according to Claim 1 to which can be affixed a horizontal bracket for supporting one or more silencing tubes in such a manner that an 'acceptable' air gap is maintained between the discharge outlets of the diversion chamber and the silencing tubes.