GB2162233A

GB2162233A - Liquid supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2162233A
Application number: GB08516424A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leo Benson Blacklock; Jeremy Salter
Original assignee: Derwent MacDee Ltd
Current assignee: Derwent MacDee Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-05
Filing date: 1985-06-28
Publication date: 1986-01-29
Also published as: GB2162233B; GB8516424D0

Abstract

A liquid supply system includes a plurality of tanks 11 and 15 with liquid communication 16 between them. Liquid is supplied directly to the top of each tank 11 and 15 in response to a fall in the level of liquid within the tanks by means of ballcock and a pipe 21. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid supply system The conventional supply system for domestic water comprises a tank with an outlet at the bottom and a ballcock controlling the passage of water from the mains supply into the top of the tank. When additional capacity is required, it has been proposed to add a second tank with a connecting pipe near the bottom of the tanks, with an outlet to the domestic water system from one or both tanks. The original ballcock is retained in the original tank and no additional ballcock has been provided for the second tank. Water flows through the connecting pipe between the tanks to equalize the water levels within the tanks.This arrangement has the disadvantage that water in the second tank above the connecting pipe may become stagnant since the flow within the second tank will be restricted to the volume around the connecting pipe and any outlet to the domestic water system from that tank. The defect is made worse where drawoff is minimal and re-fill is rapid due to high pressure water supply to the ball valve. It is also common practice to install the tank in roof spaces and other locations subject to solar heat gain. The water entering from the ball valve is therefore normally colder and therefore heavier than the stored water. The defect is not overcome by the fitting of a separate ball valve in each tank, because the valves have to be critically adjusted to operate simultaneously and the maintenance of this adjustment is not practical.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid supply system comprising a plurality of liquid containers, means providing communication for liquid between said containers, means sensing the liquid level in one container and means responsive to the sensing means to supply liquid directly to each of said containers. The direct supply of liquid to each of the containers overcomes the problem of liquid becoming stagnant in any of the containers. Since there is liquid communication between the containers, it is only necessary to sense the liquid level in one container.

Preferably, the liquid supply means is arranged to cause liquid to fall onto the surface of liquid within the container; this provides maximum disturbance of the liquid within the container to prevent any stagnation.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagramatic vertical section through a known liquid supply system.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 modified in accordance with the invention, and Figure 3 is a part elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 modified according to another embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1, a cold water supply storage tank 11 has an outlet 12 at the bottom and a ballcock 13 connected to the high pressure water supply mains pipe 14 at the top. As is well known, when the ball, which floats on the water, falls below a predetermined level, the ballcock valve 13 opens to allow water from the mains pipe 14 to enter the tank until the water rises again to a level sufficient to close the ballcock valve 13. In Figure 1, additional capacity has been provided by adding a second tank 15 with a connecting pipe 16 adjacent the bases of the tanks 11 and 15. The tank 15 has a separate outlet 17, although this is not essential. Water enters the tank 15 through the connecting pipe 16 and can leave the tank through outlet 17 or back through the pipe 16 if the water level in tank 11 drops below that in tank 15.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that water in the tank 15 above the level of the connecting pipe 16 becomes stagnant since the flow of water within the tank 15 is restricted to the lower part of the tank, around the end of the pipe 16 and, if provided, the outlet 17. This may lead to a health hazard.

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the invention designed to overcome this problem. All the components described in Figure 1 are included, but in addition, a second outlet is provided from the ballcock 13 connected through an additional pipe 21 to the top of tank 15. With this arrangement, when the level of water in the tanks 11 and 15 drops so that the float opens the ballcock valve 13, water from the pipe 14 will enter the tank 11 from the first outlet 23 of the ballcock 13 and will also pass from the second outlet 24 through the pipe 21 to the top of the tank 15 from which it will fall on to the surface of the water within that tank, thus creating maximum disturbance of the water above the level of the pipe 16 and minimizing stagnation.

With this arrangement, water within the tank 15 flows from the top surface to the outlet 17 with some flow to and from the pipe 16 if the amounts of water drawn from the two tanks are unequal.

Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement in which the ballcock 13 has a single outlet connected to a pipe 31, the pipe 31 having a spray outlet 32 supplying water to the top of the tank 11 and a spray outlet 33 supplying water to the top of the tank 15. With the arrangement of Figure 2, it is necessary to fit a junction piece between the pipe 14 and the ballcock 13 for the pipe 21, whereas in Figure 3 the pipe 31 can be connected directly to the conventional outlet of the ballcock valve 13.

This may be particularly useful when existing installations are to be modified according to the invention.

1. A liquid supply system comprising a plurality of liquid containers, means providing communication for liquids between said containers, means sensing the liquid level in one container and means responsive to the sensing means to supply liquid directly to each of the said containers.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid supply means comprises a pipe extending between said containers and provided with an outlet into the top of each container.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Liquid supply system The conventional supply system for domestic water comprises a tank with an outlet at the bottom and a ballcock controlling the passage of water from the mains supply into the top of the tank. When additional capacity is required, it has been proposed to add a second tank with a connecting pipe near the bottom of the tanks, with an outlet to the domestic water system from one or both tanks. The original ballcock is retained in the original tank and no additional ballcock has been provided for the second tank. Water flows through the connecting pipe between the tanks to equalize the water levels within the tanks.This arrangement has the disadvantage that water in the second tank above the connecting pipe may become stagnant since the flow within the second tank will be restricted to the volume around the connecting pipe and any outlet to the domestic water system from that tank. The defect is made worse where drawoff is minimal and re-fill is rapid due to high pressure water supply to the ball valve. It is also common practice to install the tank in roof spaces and other locations subject to solar heat gain. The water entering from the ball valve is therefore normally colder and therefore heavier than the stored water. The defect is not overcome by the fitting of a separate ball valve in each tank, because the valves have to be critically adjusted to operate simultaneously and the maintenance of this adjustment is not practical. According to the present invention there is provided a liquid supply system comprising a plurality of liquid containers, means providing communication for liquid between said containers, means sensing the liquid level in one container and means responsive to the sensing means to supply liquid directly to each of said containers. The direct supply of liquid to each of the containers overcomes the problem of liquid becoming stagnant in any of the containers. Since there is liquid communication between the containers, it is only necessary to sense the liquid level in one container. Preferably, the liquid supply means is arranged to cause liquid to fall onto the surface of liquid within the container; this provides maximum disturbance of the liquid within the container to prevent any stagnation. An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagramatic vertical section through a known liquid supply system. Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 modified in accordance with the invention, and Figure 3 is a part elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 modified according to another embodiment of the invention. In Figure 1, a cold water supply storage tank 11 has an outlet 12 at the bottom and a ballcock 13 connected to the high pressure water supply mains pipe 14 at the top. As is well known, when the ball, which floats on the water, falls below a predetermined level, the ballcock valve 13 opens to allow water from the mains pipe 14 to enter the tank until the water rises again to a level sufficient to close the ballcock valve 13. In Figure 1, additional capacity has been provided by adding a second tank 15 with a connecting pipe 16 adjacent the bases of the tanks 11 and 15. The tank 15 has a separate outlet 17, although this is not essential. Water enters the tank 15 through the connecting pipe 16 and can leave the tank through outlet 17 or back through the pipe 16 if the water level in tank 11 drops below that in tank 15. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that water in the tank 15 above the level of the connecting pipe 16 becomes stagnant since the flow of water within the tank 15 is restricted to the lower part of the tank, around the end of the pipe 16 and, if provided, the outlet 17. This may lead to a health hazard. Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the invention designed to overcome this problem. All the components described in Figure 1 are included, but in addition, a second outlet is provided from the ballcock 13 connected through an additional pipe 21 to the top of tank 15. With this arrangement, when the level of water in the tanks 11 and 15 drops so that the float opens the ballcock valve 13, water from the pipe 14 will enter the tank 11 from the first outlet 23 of the ballcock 13 and will also pass from the second outlet 24 through the pipe 21 to the top of the tank 15 from which it will fall on to the surface of the water within that tank, thus creating maximum disturbance of the water above the level of the pipe 16 and minimizing stagnation. With this arrangement, water within the tank 15 flows from the top surface to the outlet 17 with some flow to and from the pipe 16 if the amounts of water drawn from the two tanks are unequal. Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement in which the ballcock 13 has a single outlet connected to a pipe 31, the pipe 31 having a spray outlet 32 supplying water to the top of the tank 11 and a spray outlet 33 supplying water to the top of the tank 15. With the arrangement of Figure 2, it is necessary to fit a junction piece between the pipe 14 and the ballcock 13 for the pipe 21, whereas in Figure 3 the pipe 31 can be connected directly to the conventional outlet of the ballcock valve 13. This may be particularly useful when existing installations are to be modified according to the invention. CLAIMS

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said outlet comprises spray means.

4. A liquid supply substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying draw ings.