GB2191846A

GB2191846A - Flow control valve

Info

Publication number: GB2191846A
Application number: GB08611092A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wojcieszyn
Original assignee: Plas Tech
Current assignee: Plas Tech
Priority date: 1986-05-07
Filing date: 1986-05-07
Publication date: 1987-12-23
Also published as: GB8611092D0

Abstract

A flow control valve for the control of flow of water in a W.C. cistern comprises a housing (6) defining a central chamber (8), the housing being provided with an inlet (10) and an outlet (12), together with an opening (14) opposite to the inlet. The housing (6) is provided, on an inner side thereof, and extending around the inlet (10) with a rebate (18), which provides a seating for an inlet nozzle (20). Located in the chamber (8) is a cylindrical clamping member (50) which holds nozzle (20) in position, said member having an opening (52) which is aligned with the outlet (12), a closure diaphragm (54) also being located in said chamber, a circumferential portion of which is trapped between the clamping member (50) and an inner ring (40) of an end cap (34). By twisting of the end cap (34) through about 20 DEG only, the end cap may be removed, allowing easy removal of the diaphragm (54), the clamping ring (50), and the inlet nozzle (20) through opening (14), without disconnecting float arm (48) from lugs (46) on the cap (34). Cap (34) has lugs (42, 43) engagable in slots (28, 29, 30, Fig. 3) in the housing. In a modification, Fig. 5, arm (48a) is angularly adjustable relative to a member (50) pivoted to the lugs (46), and the float (58) is angularly adjusted relative to the arm (48a). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flow control valves This invention is concerned with improvements relating to flow control valves, particularly of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the king specified) as are used to control the flow of water into a W.C. cistern, and comprising a housing having an inlet, in which an inlet nozzle is located, an outlet extending to the cistern, and an opening through which a flow control device extends into the housing.

The flow control device conventionally comprises a diaphragm clamped across the opening by a clamping member, and a piston extending through a bore in the clamping member, the clamping member being clamped against the housing by a screw-threaded cap, a pin/slot arrangement being provided between the housing and the clamping member to prevent rotation of the clamping member as the cap is tightend. An arm is pivotally secured at one end to the housing (conveniently to the clamping member) and carries at its opposite end a float. Rising water level in the cistern causes the flow to rise, and the arm to pivot, and an adjustment device carried by the arm to engage the piston and to move it against the diaphragm to carry a central part of the diaphragm into engagement with the inlet nozzle to terminate flow of water.

A requirement of BS 12.12 Part 3 is that the inlet nozzle be capable of being replaced, and conventionally this is effected by a construction in which the nozzle is entered into a rebate around the inlet of the housing from the outside, and clamped in position by an externally-threaded inlet or shank (which in use is connected to the water supply) and a screw cap.

Thus a conventional flow control valve is complicated in that it requires the assembly of a number of individually-produced parts, and it is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a flow control valve which is simpler in its construction.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a flow control valve of the kind specified, comprising an inlet fitting which is integral with the housing, the inlet nozzle being introduced into the inlet from the inner side of the housing and being clamped in position in consequence of securing the flow control device to the housing.

Preferably the flow control valve comprises an ancillary clamping element, conveniently in the form of sleeve, which is urged against an inner portion of the inlet nozzle and clamps the inlet nozzle against a rebate on the inner side of the housing in consequence of securing the flow control device to the housing.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a flow control valve of the kind specified wherein the flow control device is secured in position by a clamping member which is secured to the housing by a means which does not involve any significant degree of rotation thereof.

By the term "no significant degree of rotation" we mean a construction in which clamping is effected by a degree of rotation which is less than 45" and which is preferably about 20 or less.

Thus the clamping member may be in the form of a cap secured directly to the housing.

Since no significant degree of rotation is involved, the arm may be pivotally connected to the housing by way of the clamping member, and securement of the clamping member to and removal thereof from the housing may be carried out without removal of the arm from the clamping member.

Conveniently the clamping member is secured to the housing by the use of a plurality of cooperative formations on the clamping member and on the housing.

Advantageously a flow control valve in accordance with the second aspect of this invention is also in accordance with the first aspect thereof.

According to this invention there is also provided a flow control valve of the kind specified comprising an arm secured at one end portion to the housing through the intermediary of a first mounting which is pivotally secured to the housing, the arm being secured to said mounting member in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular positions, a float being secured to an opposite end portion of the arm through the intermediary of a second mounting member by which the float may be secured to the arm in a plurality of predetermined angular positions.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a control valve which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, and which has been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the preferred embodiment; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment, an end cap thereof having been removed; FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the housing, viewed in the direction of 10 Arrow A, Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation of the end cap, as viewed in the direction of the Arrow B, Figure 1; and FIGURE 5 is a view showing a modified moulding of the float arm of the valve.

The flow control valve which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is specifically a flow control valve of the kind specified, being used for controlling the flow of water into a W.C. cistern, and comprises a housing 6 defining a central chamber 8. The housing is provided with an inlet 10 and an outlet 12, together with an opening 14 opposite to the inlet.

Integral with the housing 6 and extending from the inlet 10 is a threaded shank 16, providing an inlet fitting to which in use a supply of mains water will be connected. The outlet 12 is similarly screw-threaded, and in use a fitting will be connected thereto by which water will be directed as required into the cistern.

The housing 6 is provided, on a inner side thereof, and extending around the inlet 10, with a rebate 18, which provided a seating for an inlet nozzle 20, a sealing gasket 22 being interposed between the surface of the housing and the inlet nozzle.

Extending around the opening 14, also integral with the housing 6, there is provided a generally cylindrical portion 24 having a radially outwardly-extending lip 26. Four circumferentially-extending-slots 28 are provided in the cylindrical portion 24, said slots being provided with a central region 29 of reduced depth, circumferentially-extending axial slots 30 being provided in the lip 26 which open into the slots 28, (see Figure 2).

Mounted over the opening 14 is an end cap 34 comprising a generally circular end plate 36, having a generally thickened central portion provided with an axial bore 38. Extending from the plate 36 on the inner side thereof is an inner ring 40, and, disposed circumferentially outwardly of the ring 40, four axially-extending lugs 42, each lug 42 comprising a radially-inwardly-extending portion 43. The end portions 43 are visible through opening 45 provided in the end plate 36, as is seen in Figure 4, the openings 45 being provided for manufacturing purposes.

The relatively sizes of the slots 28 and 30, together with those of the lugs 42, and portions 43 thereof, are such that, when the end cap is in alignment with the housing, the lugs 42 may be inserted each through a respective slots 30, into an adajcent slot 28. On rotation of the end cap in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, the portions 43 of the two lugs may be moved circumferentially around the slots 28, being located in end portions of said slots on the side of the region 29 of reduced depth remote from the openings 30 to the slots.

In this way the end cap may be interfitted with the housing without any significant degree of rotation of the end cap, and in parti cular by a degree of rotation about 20 . If desired, one of the portions 43, together with an appropriate one of the openings 30, may differ in size from the remainder ensuring that the end may be fitted onto the housing only in a specific 20 orientation.

Located in the chamber 8 is a cylindrical clamping member 50, said member having an opening 52 which is aligned with the outlet 12. Also located within the chamber is a diaphragm 54, a circumferential portion of which may be trapped between the clamping member 50 and the inner ring 40 of the end cap 34. In this manner the end cap 34 serves not only to clamp the against the gasket 22, by virtue of the clamping action of a radially-inwardly-extending portion of the clamping member 50.

Extending through the bore 38 is a piston 60, a head 62 of which is 30 interposed against the gasket 54. In the use of the flow control valve, on rising movement of the water within the cistern, the arm 48 will pivot in an anticlockwise direction about the lug 46, causing the adjustment device 49 to engage the piston 60 and move it to the left (Figure I) causing the central portion 54 of the diaphragm to be moved and ultimately into sealing engagement with the inlet nozzle 20.

By a simple twisting of the end cap 34, through about 20 , the end cap may be removed, allowing easy removal of the diaphragm 54, the clamping ring 50, and the inlet nozzle 20, and this may be accomplished without the need to disconnect the arm 48 from the lug 46.

In an alternative construction for mounting the arm 48 to the housing, as is shown in Figure 5, the arm (denoted in that Figure by the numerial 48a) is secured to the housing by the use of a first intermediate mounting member 50, comprising a wing which is secured between the two ears 46 for pivotal movement, the member 50 also comprising a fixed abutment member 52 adapted on such pivotal movement of the member 50, to engage the piston 60.The arm 48a is fixedly secured to the member 50 by a means which is capable of adjusting the angular position of the arm 48a relative to the member 50, specifically about an axis which extends parallel to the axis about which the member 50 pivots on the ears 46, such means comprising a set of formations disposed on said member 50 radially about said axis, and a set of formations on a cooperative part of the arm 48a, screwthreaded means 54 being provided to secure the arm to the member 50 in a desired angular position. In this manner adjustment of the device to cause cessation of water flow at a specific level in the tank may be effected of loosening of the screw-threaded means 54, to allow he interengaging formations to be moved out of engagement, rotation of the arm to a desired extent, and retightening of the screw 54.

At the opposite end portion of the arm 48a a similar ancillary mounting member 56 is provided, to which a bore valve 58 may be secured, in a manner which enables the position of the bore valve to be varied similarly by the loosening of a screw-threaded means 60, and rotation of the clamping member 56 about an axis 62. This allows the bore valve to be swung about said axis 62, as may be necessary in relation to the size and/or shape of the cistern within which the control valve is to be located.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A flow control valve of the kind specified, comprising an inlet fitting which is integral with the housing, the inlet nozzle being introduced into the inlet from the inner side of the housing and being clamped in position in consequence of securing the flow control device to the housing.

2. A flow control valve according to Claim 1 comprising an ancillary clamping element which is urged against an inner portion of the inlet nozzle and clamps the inlet nozzle against a rebate on the inner side of the housing in consequence of securing the flow control device to the housing.

3. A flow control valve according to Claim 2 wherein the ancillary clamping element is in the form of a sleeve.

4. A flow control valve of the kind specified wherein the flow control device is secured in position by a clamping member which is secured to the housing by a means which does not involve any significant degree of rotation thereof.

5. A flow control valve according to Claim 4 wherein the degree of rotation involved is less than 45".

6. A flow control valve according to one of Claims 4 and 5 wherein the degree of rotation involved, is about 20 or less.

7. A flow control valve according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the clamping member is in the form of a cap secured directly to the housing.

8. A flow control valve according to Claim 7 wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the housing by way of the clamping member, and securement of the clamping member to and removal thereof from the housing is carried out without removal of the arm from the clamping member.

9. A flow control valve according to Claim 8 wherein the clamping member is secured to the housing by the use of a plurality of cooperative formations on the clamping member and on the housing.

10. A flow control valve according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, being also in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3.

11. A flow control valve of the kind specified comprising an arm secured at one end portion to the housing through the intermediary of a first mounting which is pivotally secured to the housing, the arm being secured to said mounting member in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular positions, a float being secured to an opposite end portion of the arm through the intermediary of a second mounting member by which the float may be secured to the arm in a plurality of predetermined angular positions.

12. A flow control valve constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.