GB2263060A - Overflow control fitting for a bath - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device for dispensing water from a containment such as a bath comprises a sensor 19 provided in or adjacent the upper part of the bath such that in the event of water being detected by the sensor a signal is generated causing the outflow 13 to be opened. In addition, at least one tap supplying the bath can be isolated from the water supply so preventing the further supply of water to the bath. As a further feature an alarm system can be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

WASTE OUTLET CONTROL This invention relates to a waste outlet control. It is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with the control of waste water from a bath.

In a bath for domestic, commercial and residential use serious damage can be caused by a bath being allowed to overflow. This is most likely to occur inadvertently when a person drawing a bath is distracted from recalling in due time that the bath has a rising water level. In such a situation the flow of water into a bath can readily exceed the outflow of water from it down a conventional overflow outlet disposed in the upper region of the bath.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for dispensing with water from a bath when overfilling is probable. Bath overflow is a common occurrence in domestic and residential locations and the consequent damage can be substantial particularly when, as is often the case, the bath is in an upstairs location.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing water from a containment such as a bath having a main outflow therefrom which is closed when the bath is to be filled, to a greater or lesser extent, with water characterised by the steps of sensing for the presence of water in an upper region of the bath either directly or by way of a duct communicating with the upper region and in the event of water being detected by the sensor causing the outflow to be opened to enable water in the bath to vent from the bath by way of the outflow.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing unit whereby water can be dispensed from an outflow from a bath or other containment comprising: 1 a demountable closure for the outflow adapted for displacement from an open position to allow of substantially free flow from the low region of the bath to the outflow, and a closed position where flow from the low region to the outflow is substantially prevented; 2 an actuator for driving the demountable closure from at least the closed to the open position; and 3 a level sensor for positioning at, or for communication by means of a duct with, a datum position and 4 a control link for coupling the level sensor to the actuator and adapted so that in the event the level sensor generates a level sensing signal the coupling provides for the actuator to drive the closure from the closed to the open position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a bath having a main outflow from a lower region of the bath and dispensing unit according to the second aspect characterised in that: the demountable closure is located in the main outflow; the level sensor is located in, or in communication by means of a duct with, an upper region of the bath.

Typically the actuator incorporates a compression spring which is held compressed by way of a latch with the closure in the closed position, which latch can be tripped by way of the control coupling to provide for the actuator to drive the closure from the closed to the open position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a bath according to the third aspect characterised by at least one tap providing for the supply of water to the bath the or each tap being capable of isolation from its water supply by way of a valve in response to the level sensing signal or a derivative thereof.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a domestic bath or components for use therewith in accordance with the present invention of which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; Figure 2 shows a detail of first part of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail of a second part of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a tap system for the bath described in connection with the foregoing figures.

Items appearing in two or more figures are identified by the same reference in each.

Bath 10 is located on floor 11 by levelling feet 12 and is equipped at one end of the lower part of the bath with a main outlet 13 venting into upstream end 14 of waste outlet pipe 15. Combination tap 16 (described more extensively in relation to Figure 4) provides for the bath to be filled with water, to a greater or lesser extent, as required. A conventional overflow outlet 17 is located in an upper part of the bath 10 and is coupled by pipe 18 with the main outlet 13.

A capacitive level sensor 19 is located by way of a tube 19A at a position above the upper end of pipe 18 where it serves to sense the passage of overflow water into the pipe 18 as would arise when the bath has been left filling but unattended resulting in a water level approaching the rim of the bath. However the sensor is located so that the entry of a large person into a well filled bath will merely allow a small overflow without causing the level to reach the sensor. The senor will nevertheless detect a progressive rise resulting from filling of the bath to a level approaching the upper rim of the bath.

An earth leakage circuit breaker 20 is located beneath the bath (in the vicinity of the main outlet 15) with a safety waste device 21 which is coupled by lead 22 to the sensor 19. These items will now be considered in more detail in relation to Figure 2.

The main outlet 13 is closed by way of a tethered bath plug 23 which contains a central recess 24 on its underside. The outlet 13 has co-axially mounted in it a sleeve 25 (attaching the two section of waste) in which is slidably mounted a push rod 26. The push rod 26 can be displaced along axis A by arm 27 of a pivot link 28 whose other arm 29 is coupled to a draw bar 30.The angular location of the link 28 about pivot 31 is controlled by a compression spring 32 located in a cylinder 33 incorporated in housing 34 which also contains a latch 35 which can be driven into, and drawn out of, the wall 36 of cylinder 33 by way of a low voltage solenoid 37 powered from earth leakage circuit breaker 20 by way of line 37 connected to the mains supply and triggererd by sensor 19 on line 22 As shown in Figure 2 the compression spring 32 is shown seated with one end against stop 38 and retained in its compressed state by means of latch 35 extending through the wall of cylinder 36. In this state the link 28 provides for the push rod 26 to seat in its ldwest position on axis A (as shown). The upper end of the push rod is located slightly clear of the underside of the plug 23.

In the event that the level sensor 19 has its capacitive field changed by the presence of water in the tube 19A the resulting change in state is signalled by way of lead 22 to cause solenoid 37 to draw down the latch 35 so releasing the spring 32 and enabling it to expand to the left (as seen in Figure 2) causing draw bar 30 to displace link 28 anti-clockwise about pivot 31 and drive push rod 26 upwardly from its rest position as shown so that its upper end initially contacts and thereafter displaces plug 23 out of the main outlet so enabling water to be dispensed from the bath by way of outlet pipe 15. The maximum flow of water from the taps is balanced to ensure that even if the taps are left running the capacity of the outlet pipe will be sufficient to provide for the water level in the bath to fall to a minimal value.

To restore the waste safety device to its normal standby condition the waste plug 23 is temporarily replaced in the outlet 22 so as to drive the upwardly projecting push rod 26 downwardly so providing for link 28 to be rotated clockwise about pivot 31 so providing for draw bar 30 to compress spring 32 and enable latch 35 to project back into cylinder 36 and retain the spring 32 in its standby condition. Preferably the device is programmed so that the plug will stay open until deliberately reset, and when the water level is below the sensor.

The exemplary embodiment provides for the bath to be emptied once an overfilling situation has been sensed. However it does not provide for the supply of water to the bath to be actually terminated. To this end Figure 4 shows a further embodiment where the operating signal which causes the plug to be opened to empty the bath is also enabled to turn off the water supply. Tap 16 is provided with a mixer spout 41 which is fed from hot valve 42 and a cold valve 43.

Hot valve 42 is connected by pipe 44 to a hot water supply H. The hot water supply H can be isolated from the hot valve 42 by way of a ceramic disc stop cock 45 which can be operated by shaft 46 over an angular range of 90 degrees between its fully closed and fully opened positions by means of a rotary solenoid 47.

Cold valve 43 is connected by pipe 48 to a cold water supply C. The cold water supply C can be isolated from the cold valve 43 by way of a ceramic stop cock 49 which can be operated by shaft 50 over an angular range of 90 degrees between its fully closed and fully opened positions by means of a rotary solenoid 51.

Both rotary solenoids 47, 51 are coupled by way of control links (respectively links 47', 51') to the level sensor 19 and powered from a mains supply by way of the earth leakage circuit breaker 20. In this way the output signal from the level sensor 19 both shuts down the supply of further water into the bath and also dispenses water already in it. Such a dual arrangement is particularly useful where the outlet 13 may be blocked as can occur with a face flannel or towel or other flexible object which drops into the bath while it is emptying.The two systems can be installed either in conjunction with each other or as separate systems The proposed safety device is readily fitted as original equipment to new baths and to existing bath installations and can be connected to an electrical alarm system 52 by way of line 52' either in conjunction with, or as an alternative, to one or both of the mechanical systems. The alarm system provides for a local audible alarm to be generated to enable a nearby person to turn off the bath.

In addition or as an alternative for use in large scale systems, such as a hotel or hospital, the alarm system 52 is used to trigger a remote alarm at a manned control centre to enable an operator to establish the existence of a problem at an early stage.

The exemplary embodiment utilises a capacitative level sensor and a solenoid controlled actuator. A wide range of alternative sensing and actuating systems are available which also fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus level sensing can be undertaken, amongst other ways, by way of light sensitive, mechanical or electronic means. Actuation can be, in addition to electrical systems, by way of a compressed fluid (liquid or gas including air) or mechanical means. In addition the location of the various components of the system can be adapted to circumstances. Thus if necessary electrical or other units susceptible to damp can be located near the bath but above any likely water level and suitable actuators used to provide for the required mechanical movement of the push rod or other device used to displace the plug from its outlet closing to its open position.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1A method of dispensing water from a containment such as a bath having a main outflow therefrom which is closed when the bath is to be filled, to a greater or lesser extent, with water characterised by the steps of sensing for the presence of water in an upper region of the bath either directly or by way of a duct communicating with the upper region and in the event of water being detected by the sensor causing the outflow to be opened to enable water in the bath to vent from the bath by way of the outflow. 2 A dispensing unit whereby water can be dispensed from an outflow from a bath or other containment comprising:

1 a demountable closure for the outflow adapted for displacement from an open position to allow of substantially free flow from the low region of the bath to the outflow, and a closed position where flow from the low region to the outflow is substantially prevented;

2 an actuator for driving the demountable closure from at least the closed to the open position; and

3 a level sensor for positioning at, or for communication by means of a duct with, a datum position and

4 a control link for coupling the level sensor to the actuator and adapted so that in the event the level sensor generates a level sensing signal the coupling provides for the actuator to drive the closure from the closed to the open position.

3 A bath having a main outflow from a lower region of the bath and dispensing unit according to the second aspect characterised in that: the demountable closure is located in the main outflow; the level sensor is located in, or in communication by means of a duct with, an upper region of the bath.

4 A bath as claimed in Claim 3 characterised by at least one tap providing for the supply of water to the bath the each tap being capable of isolating the, or each, tap from its water supply by way of a valve the valve being operable in response to the level sensing signal or a derivative thereof.

5 A bath as claimed in Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 4 incorporating an alarm system operable in response to the level sensing signal or a derivative thereof to generate an alarm signal.

6 A dispensing unit as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7 A bath as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.