GB2197055A

GB2197055A - Control flap arrangement for pipes adapted to convey fluids

Info

Publication number: GB2197055A
Application number: GB08725223A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Guest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-29
Filing date: 1987-10-28
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-28
Also published as: GB8625822D0; GB8725223D0; GB2197055B

Abstract

A control flap arrangement (1) comprises a mounting device (12) for mounting the arrangement (1) on a pipe (2), adjacent an inlet end thereof, hinge means (13, 14) carried by the mounting device (12), a flap (15) directly or indirectly supported on the hinge device for hinging movement with respect to the mounting device (12) between a closing position and an opening position, and a float (20) attached to the flap (1 5) and adapted, in use, under the influence of a variable liquid level operative on the float (20) at high liquid levels, to hinge the flap (15) between a closing position at low liquid levels and an opening position at high liquid levels. The invention also includes, in combination, the control flap arrangement (1) and a pipe (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Control flap arrangement for pipes adapted to convey fluids This invention relates to a control flap arrangement for location at an inlet end of a pipe, tube, or conduit (hereinafter referred to as a "pipe") capable of conveying fluid e.g.

water.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a control flap arrangement comprising: a mounting device for mounting the arrangement on a pipe, adjacent an inlet end thereof; hinge means carried by the mounting device; a flap directly or indirectly supported on the hinge means for, in use, hinging movement with respect to the mounting device between a pipe inlet end closing position and a pipe inlet end opening position; and a float attached to the flap and adapted, in use, under the influence of a variable liquid level operative on the float at high liquid levels, to hinge the flap between a pipe inlet end closing position at low liquid levels and a pipe inlet end opening position at high liquid levels.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, a control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying fluid, th e pipe being disposed horizontally or generally so, and having an inlet end and an outlet end, and the control flap arrangement comprising: a mounting device for mounting the control flap arrangement on the pipe, adjacent an inlet end thereof; hinge means carried by the mounting device; a flap directly or indirectly supported on the hinge device for hinging movement with respect to the mounting device between a pipe end closing position and a pipe end opening position; and a float attached to the flap and adapted, in use, under the influence of a variable liquid level external to the pipe and operative on the float at high liquid levels, to hinge the flap between a closing position on the inlet end of the pipe at low liquid levels and an opening position on the inlet end of the pipe at high liquid levels;; with and the flap being mounted on the pipe adjacent the inlet end thereof, by means of the mounting device, with the hinge means located above an upper edge of the pipe with the hinge axis extending orthogonally with respect to the pipe axis, whereby, in the closing position,the flap depends downwardly from the hinge means and closes off the inlet end of the pipe, the flap being biassed into the closing position by its own weight and that of the float when the latter is not influenced by a high liquid level, yet automatically being hinged to the opening position up on a rise in liquid level occuring, which rise produces corresponding lifting of the float and hence hinging of the flap, and conver sely, upon a fall in liquid level occuring results in automatic hinging of the flap and hence loweirng of the flap and its return to the closing position.

It follows that the flap should be of dimensions slightly exceeding the internal diameter of the pipe involved, in this respect the flap is, conveniently, disc-like.

The arrangement in accordance with the invention is particularly advantageous where the pipe involved in an overflow pipe from a cold water tank or W.C. cistern of a domestic dwelling, public building, office block, etc.

(hereinafter all referred to as a "building") where invariably the pipe passes through a wall of the tank or cistern (hereinafter referred to as a "tank") and through a wall of the building, terminating in a projecting spout to provide a capability for overflow discharge at the infrequent interval when such discharge would occur e.g., when a ball cock develops a fault, but the vast majority of the time simply providing for unimpeded access into the tank or tank area, cold air and contaminants such as debris and insects, and hence the arrangement in accordance with the invention serves as a draught, debris and insect excluder.

The dimensions of the control flap arrangement and its installation in a tank are such that, at normal, low water levels, the float is above the water surface and hence not influenced by the water level, so that both the float weight and flap weight bias the flap to the closing position, but upon a rise in water level to an extent that the water surface reaches the float, the latter begins to be lifted, in an arcuate, upward direction about the hinge means, the lifting continuing if the water level continues to rise, until the flap is totally clear of the inlet end of the pipe, and the water in the tank has full and unobstructed access to the inlet end of the pipe, whereby overflow, and water discharge through the outlet end of the pipe, can occur.

The flap arrangement in accordance with the invention is conventionally produced from a number of synthetic plastics components assembled together, the components being either injection mould or stamped from sheet material, and hence being rust free, although the hinge means could comprise a metallic pin.

In detail, the mounting device may, if the pipe end on which the control flap arrangement is to be mounted is threaded, consist of a ring or collar which is correspondingly threaded internally. Alternatively, the mounting device may be a push-fit or a snap-fit over the relevant pipe end, by being "U"-shaped or horse-shoe shaped for instance. With either arrangement, the hinge means is preferably set back from the inlet end, in which case the flap, at an upper edge thereof, is provided with a bif urcated arm, or a pair of spaced apart arms, eitending to the hinge means. If the hinge means comprises a metal pin secure to the mounting device, the arm(s) adjacent their terminal ends, may be pierced for hinged mounting on the pin.

In principle, the float and flap may be formed integrally or separate. With the former arrangement the combined float and flap is cheaper to produce and is suitable where no float positional adjustment would be required e.g., in a cold water tank with the latter arrangement, attachment means are required for attaching the float to the flap, such that the float position may be adjusted with respect to the flap e.g., to ensure that the flap hinging action is not obstructed by a ball cock of a conventional W.C. cistern. In detail the lower edge of the flap may be provided with a float attachment means, conveniently in the form of a threaded spigot, to receive a correspondingly threaded float.Basically, the float may be secured in three alternative positions viz directly beneath the flap by being screwed directly onto the spigot, or to either lateral side of the flap by the use of a threaded extension arm interposed between the flap and the float, the extension arm being screwed, at one end, onto the spigot, and the float being screwed onto the other end of the arm. In detail, the flap may be provided with a male thread to locate with a female thread on the float, or alternatively. the male flap thread may engage a female thread on the float arm, to be held in position by a female nut, with the float then screwed to the float arm.

Preferably, the float is of expanded polystyrene. and hence cannot become water-logged and hence cannot fail.

Various embodiments in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example the with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a first embodiment of control flap arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and combination of control flap arrangement and pipe in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figure 2 corresponds in part to Figure 1 but shows a second embodiment; Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows another embodiment; and Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show different float positions with respect to the flap.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is shown, a control flap arrangement 1 in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in combination with a pipe 2 in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

The pipe 2 illustrated is water overflow pipe and is externally threaded at 3 and is secured by a nut 4 to a side wall 5 of a conventional W.C. cistern 6, the pipe 2 passing through an aperture 7 in the side wall 5, with a collar and cover plate 8 mounted on the pipe 2 externally of the side wall 5 so as to grip the wall 5. To the portion 9 of the pipe 2 located externally of the cistern 6 is secured in any convenient manner a water outlet pipe 10 indicated in chain dotted line.

A portion 11 of the pipe 2 located internally of the cistern 6, and beyond the nut 4 is also externally screw threaded to receive, in the embodiments of both Figures 1 and 3 a screw-on mounting device in the form of a collar 12, which carries hinge means in the form of an aperture support lug(s) 13 carrying a metal pivot pin 14 on which a flap 15 is mounted adjacent inlet end 16 of the pipe 2, but with the pin 14 set back slightly from the inlet end 16. The pin 14 extends orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 2, and above the pipe 2.The flap 15 is disc like of diameter slightly exceeding that of the inlet end 16, the latter in fact constituting in efect a valve seat, with the flap a valve member adapted to hinge between the pipe opening position illustrated in Figure 1 in which the flap 15 is spaced from inlet end 16 of the pipe 2 and the pipe closing position illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 in which the flap 15 abuts the inlet end 16 of the pipe 2 in which the flap 1 5 depends downwardly from the hinge means 13, 14.

In detail, the flap 15 is provided with a pair of bifurcated arms 1 7 (best seen in Figures 4A to 4C) which arms 17 are pierced near their terminal ends for passage therethrough of the hinge pin 14.

In the embodiment of Figure 1 a lower edge of the flap 15 is provided with a screw threaded aperture 1 8 into which is screwed a male spigot 19 of a float 20 of expanded polystyrene, the arrangement being such that the pipe 2 is located at such a height location on the side wall 5 that when water in the cistern 6 is at its normal level indicated by surface 21, the float is not immer sed and the weight of the float and flap hinges the control flap arrangement 1 to the closed posiion illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, but when the water level rises above its normal level to a higher level 22 illustrated in Figure 1, the float 20 becomes active and together with the flap 15, the control flap arrangement 1 is hinged clockwise to open the pipe 2 ready for discharge of excess water.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the flap 15 is so dimensioned that it also constitutes an integral flap and float serving not only to open or close the inlet end 16 of the pipe 2 but also to engage a rising water surface.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the mounting device is not of a screw-on tip but is attached by any convenient means e.g., adhesive, to the top of portion 11 of the pipe 2 Figures 4A-4C are illustrated alternative float positions to be adopted during installation, to suit the particular system involved by the use of an extension arm 23 and a wingnut 24.

Claims

1. A control flap arrangement comprising: a mounting device for mounting the arrangement on a pipe, adjacent an inlet end thereof; hinge means carried by the mounting device; a flap directly or indirectly supported on the hinge means for, in use, hinging movement with respect to the mounting device between a pipe inlet end closing position and a pipe inlet end opening position; and a float attached to the flap and adapted, in use, under the influence of a variable liquid level operative on the float at high liquid levels, to hinge the flap between a pipe inlet end closing position at low liquid levels and a pipe inlet end opening position at high liquid levels.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flap is disc-like.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, of synthetic plastics components assembled together.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the hinge means comprises a metallic hinge pin.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the mounting device consists of a ring or collar.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting device is "U"-shaped or horse shoe shaped.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the flap at an upper edge thereof, is provided with a bifurcated arm or a pair of spaced apart arms, extending to the hinge means.

8. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, when appendant to Claim 4, wherein the arm(s) adjacent their terminal ends are pierced for hinged mounting on the pin.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the float and flap are formed integrally.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the float and flap are formed separately.

11. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the lower edge of the flap is provided with a float attachment means.

12. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the float attachment means is in the form of a threaded spigot to receive a correspondingly threaded float.

13. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the float is securable in three alternative positions viz directly beneath the flap by being screwed directly onto the spigot, or to either lateral sides of the flap by the use of a threaded extension arm interposed between the flap and the float the extension arm being screwed, at one end, onto the spigot, and the float being screwed onto the other end of the arm.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the float is of expanded polystyrene.

15. A control flap arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A control flap arrangement, substantially as hereeinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A control flap arrangement, substantially as hereeinbefore described with ref erence to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A control flap arrangement, substantially as hereeinbefore described with reference to Figures 4A to 4C of the accompanying drawings.

19. In combination, a control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying fluid, the pipe being disposed horizontally or generally so, and having an inlet end and an outlet end, and the control flap arrangement comprising: a mounting device for mounting the control flap arrangement on the pipe, adjacent an inlet end thereof; hinge means carried by the mounting device; a flap directly or indirectly supported on the hinge means for hinging movement with respect to the mounting device between a pipe end closing position and a pipe end opening position; and a float attached to the flap and adapted, in use, under the influence of a variable liquid level external to the pipe and operative on the float at high liquid levels, to hinge the flap between a closing position on the inlet end of the pipe at low liquid levels and an opening position on the inlet end of the pipe at high liquid levels;; with and the flap being mounted on the pipe adjacent the inlet end thereof, by means of the mounting device, with the hinge means located above an upper edge of the pipe with the hinge axis extending orthogonally with respect to the pipe axis, whereby, in the closing position, the flap depends downwardly from the hinge means and closes off the inlet end of the pipe, the flap being biassed into the closing position by its own weight and that of the float when the latter is not influenced by a high liquid level, yet automatically being hinged to the opening position up on a rise in liquid level occuring, which rise produces corresponding lifting of the float and hence hinging of the flap, and conversely, upon a fall in liquid level occuring results in automatic hinging of the flap and hence lowering of the flap and its return to the closing position.

20. The combination as claimed in Claim 19, comprising a control flap arrangement as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 15.

21. The combination of control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying a fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 the accompanying drawings.

22. The combination of control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying a fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 the accompanying drawings.

23. The combination of control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying a fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 the accompanying drawings.

24. The combination of control flap arrangement and a pipe capable of conveying a fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4A to 4C the accompanying drawings.