GB2268943A - Overflow device - Google Patents

Abstract

An overflow device for a toilet cistern or other container (not shown) comprises a vessel 2 to collect water from the cistern via overflow pipe 1, said vessel containing a float operated valve 4 which is responsive to the volume of water in the vessel and able to control the inlet water supply to the cistern. The water supply to the container passes along pipe 7 into inlet 5, through valve 4, and continues from outlet 6 along pipe 8 to the container. As water enters vessel 2 the displaced air can escape through an optional air release unit 13 or can bubble up pipe 1 to be released from the container. Water entering vessel 2 causes the water level to rise, as the water level rises float 9 also rises and pivots around pivot 11 transmitting the movement via lever 10 to cranked portion 10a which operates directly on plunger 12 to stop the flow of water through valve 4. The overflow warning system for the cistern is therefore adapted to alert the user to the malfunction in the cistern by shutting of the inlet water supply, in contrast to current overflow warning pipes which allow water to drain to waste indefinitely. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Overflow Device This invention relates to devices for responding to an overflow from a water container such as a toilet cistern to reduce or stop the flow of water into the container.

The invention aims to provide flood prevention or reduction for a container, such as a toilet cistern, which has an inlet water supply pipe, the device being connected into the inlet water supply pipe and connected to an overflow outlet from the container, and arranged to shut off or reduce the inlet water supply to the container if a sufficient volume of water enters the overflow outlet from the container.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figures 1 and 2 show overflow devices capable of being fitted to a container, figure 3 shows an overflow device fitted to a toilet cistern, figures 4 and 5 show sections through a single unit which combines an overflow device and a container and figure 6 shows an overflow device suitable for a container with two or more inlet water supply pipes.

In figure 1 pipe 1 is connected to the overflow outlet of a container (not shown) and to overflow vessel 2. Should water enter pipe 1 from the container it is conducted along pipe 1 and into overflow vessel 2. Any water that enters vessel 2 will remain in the vessel because the outlet hole in the base of vessel 2 is sealed by a removable stopper 3.

Vessel 2 contains a float operated valve controlling the inlet water supply to the container. The valve 4 has an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 which pass through, and are secured to, the wall of vessel 2. The water supply to the container passes along pipe 7 into inlet 5, through valve 4, and continues from outlet 6 along pipe 8 to the container. Float 9 is connected to lever 10, and lever 10 is connected to valve 4 by pivot 11. Extending beyond pivot 11 lever 10 has a cranked portion 10a. When float 9 is lifted the movement is transmitted via lever 10 and pivot 11 to cranked portion 10a whereby cranked portion 10a forces plunger 12 into valve 4 and the water flow to the container is stopped.

As water enters vessel 2 the displaced air can escape from vessel 2 through an optional air release unit 13 or can bubble up pipe 1 to be released from the container. Water entering vessel 2 causes the water level in vessel 2 to rise, as the water level rises float 9 also rises and pivots around pivot 11 transmitting the movement via lever 10 to cranked portion 10a which operates directly on plunger 12 to stop the flow of water through valve 4.

Once the overflow device has operated to shut off the water supply to the container the water supply can be restored by manually releasing the water from vessel 2. This is done by pulling stopper 3 from the outlet of vessel 2. As vessel 2 is emptied of water float 9 will return to its lowest position by the action of gravity. Cranked portion 10a will move away from plunger 12 which will emerge from valve 4 allowing flow of water through valve 4 and restoring the inlet water supply to the container.

Figure 2 shows a similar overflow device to figure 1 the only difference being in the outlet means of the overflow vessel.

In figure 2 the outlet of vessel 14 comprises a pipe 15, which may be flexible, and a valve 16 which is manually operated to control the passage of water along pipe 15. With valve 16 in a closed position any water that enters vessel 14, from inlet pipe 1, will remain in the vessel. As the water level in vessel 14 rises the float 9 is raised reducing and eventually shutting off the water supply to the container (not shown). Water in vessel 14 is released by manually opening valve 16. Opening valve 16 allows water to exit out of vessel 14 along pipe 15. Vessels 2 and 14 can be arranged such that inlet pipe 1 and air release unit 13 are below the level of valve 4. This prevents valve 4 from being submerged in water by creating an air lock in the top of the vessel.Overflow vessels 2 and 14 are not required to move for the operation of the devices and can be fixed in position in a rigid manner such as by attachment to a wall. Overflow vessels 2 and 14 can be supported by the water supply pipes 7 and 8 to the container and / or by pipe 1. Water supply pipes are often made of material rigid enough to hold the overflow device in position and alleviate the need for further fixing. Valve 4 of the overflow devices in figures 1 and 2 can be mounted outside of the vessels 2 and 14 with a mechanical arrangement of levers transmitting the movement of float 9 inside the vessel to valve 4 outside the vessel.

The devices shown in figures 1 and 2 serve to alleviate the need for a conventional overflow warning pipe which often requires routing overflow piping through an outside wall. Vessels 2 and 14 serve as terminal fittings to the overflow pipe of a container as no overflow piping is required beyond the outlets of the vessels.

When the vessels 2 and 14 are emptied of water the water can be collected manually by any suitable receptacle.

Figure 3 shows the overflow device from figure 1 connected to a toilet cistern. The cistern 17 has a water inlet supply which passes along pipe 7, through valve 4 and continues along pipe 8 to the cistern. Inlet pipe 8 terminates at a water level control mechanism for the cistern such as a float operated valve 18.

Water exits cistern 17 by pipe 19 when the cistern is flushed by manual operation of the flushing mechanism (not shown).

Under normal operation, the water level in the cistern is maintained below the level of the overflow outlet 20 by valve 18.

If valve 18 fails, the water level in the cistern can rise and water passes through the overflow outlet 20 into the overflow pipe 1.

Overflow pipe 1 conducts the water to vessel 2 where the water is collected. As the water level in vessel 2 rises the float 9 also rises and this movement is transmitted to valve 4 which is operated to prevent the passage of water from pipe 7 to pipe 8 and therefore to prevent further water from entering the cistern.

After operation of the overflow device to shut off the water supply to the cistern, the cistern will continue to flush until the water that it contains is used up. No more water will enter the cistern and if the overflow condition is not perceived by a change in the overflow device it will become apparent when the cistern no longer flushes.

Figures 4 shows a cross-section of a combined unit comprising an overflow device and a toilet cistern. The unit comprises compartment 21 which is the overflow vessel and compartment 22 which is the toilet cistern. The two compartments are separated by partition 23.

Under normal operation compartment 21 is empty of water and valve 4 allows the inlet water supply from pipe 7 to reach the water level control mechanism 24 of the cistern. Outlet 6 of valve 4 may pass through the wall of partition 23 or may pass over the top of partition 23. The water level control mechanism 24 is shown as a float operated valve connected via pipe 8, or directly connected, to the outlet 6 of valve 4. Compartment 22 fills with water from inlet valve 24 to a level below the height of partition 23, or a hole in partition 23, which forms the overflow outlet from the cistern. When the cistern is flushed by a flushing mechanism (not shown) the water in compartment 22 exits out of the cistern along pipe 25.

Should the water level in cistern 22 rise above the minimum height required to pass over or through partition 23, for example by malfunction of valve 24, water will overflow into compartment 21. Water in compartment 21 is unable to exit and as the water level in compartment 21 rises float 9 also rises operating valve 4 to stop the inlet water supply to compartment 22. Water can be released from compartment 21 by manually opening an outlet hole in the base of compartment 21 such as by removing a stopper 26. The valves 4 and 24 could be combined into a single casing.

Figure 5 shows, from above, only the float operated valves and the compartments of the unit described in figure 4. An alternative arrangement for valves 4 and 24 is to be separate valves placed at opposite ends of the unit as shown in figure 5.

The float which operates valve 4 can be at the opposite end of the unit to the float which operates valve 24 and partition 23 can be moulded to allow each float enough space to move freely and to minimise the width of the unit.

The device shown in figures 4 and 5 alleviates the requirement for any overflow piping from the container.

By collecting the overflow water and shutting off the inlet water supply the overflow devices shown in figures 1 to 5 offer a water saving alternative to the conventional overflow warning pipe which at present allows overflow water to discharge to waste indefinitely.

In figure 6 overflow from a bath (not shown) passes into a closed stationary vessel 210. If a bather slops water about but the amount of overflow water is small, then it will pass to waste through hole 211 in pipe 212 which is the pipe connecting the vessel 210 to the overflow outlet of the bath. If however the amount of the overflow is large, water passes to the vessel 210 through the outlet of pipe 212 and starts to fill vessel 210. This causes floats 213, 214 to float up and to shut off valves 215, 216 which are arranged to cut off flow to the taps (not shown).

Outlet pipe 217 includes a small hole 218, which is positioned just inside the point where pipe 217 passes out of vessel 210. Vessel 210 fills because more water can enter vessel 210 through pipe 212 than can be conducted to waste through hole 218, this is because pipe 212 has a larger diameter than hole 218. Levers 220, 221 connect floats 213, 214 respectively to valves 216, 215 and these valves include shut-off pins 222, 223 and cranked levers parts 220a, 221a for closing valves 215, 216. The arrangement of figure 6 shows a closed, air-tight vessel which is open to the atmosphere only at pipes 212 and 217. This ensures that air cannot be forced out anywhere other than at these two pipes and that an air-lock is provided around the two valves 215, 216.

Water flows into valves 215, 216 from the water supply source and out through pipes 224, 225 to the taps. The overflow device shown in figure 6 does not shut off the water supply to the container permanently, but will allow water to enter the container at the same rate as it exits vessel 210 through hole 218. When the overflow condition is cleared in the container and no more water enters pipe 212 the overflow device in figure 6 will drain of water through hole 218 and will restore the water supply to the container without manual intervention. The overflow device from figure 6 can therefore be placed in awkward locations or boxed in by facia.

There need be no parts external to any of the overflow devices shown in figures 1 to 6 that require movement to enable the device to shut off the water flow to the container. This ensures that the overflow devices cannot be prevented from operating by the presence of material surrounding them.

The overflow devices of figures 1 to 6 can operate in conjunction with a conventional overflow pipe. If a conventional overflow warning pipe is also routed from the container to waste the outlets should be arranged such that the overflow vessel is filled with water before water is conducted to waste by the overflow warning pipe.

The presence of water in the overflow devices can be seen by a transparent or translucent component such as an inlet pipe, outlet pipe or window in vessel 2. Alternatively an alan device can be fitted to give an audible or visual signal on contact with water or by sensing the presence of water. Such audible devices include electronic circuits triggered by change in position, capacitance or resistance between two electrical contacts and such visual devices include material fixed to the outside wall of a vessel, such as a fish tank, which changes colour in response to change in temperature.

The overflow devices shown in figures 1 to 6 may be restricted to containers whereby the water entering the overflow outlet of the container is deemed uncontaminated, or 'as supplied by the undertakers'. It is to be understood that the overflow vessels may be sealed units, except for the inlet and outlet holes, or that they may have means of access such as a removable lid which may or may not be a watertight and / or air-tight fit. All pipes and connections are likely to be watertight and / or air-tight and / or sealed.

Valve 4 may operate by the same mechanism as a conventional float operated diaphragm valve, however these valves may seize up if not used for long periods of time such as in an overflow device. Valve 4 therefore contains grease around plunger 12 both inside and outside of the valve casing, grease on pivot 11, and grease around float 9. The inside of the overflow vessels in figures 1 to 5 may likewise be greased to ensure that the float is unlikely to stick. Other containers to which the overflow devices shown here can be connected include header tanks, storage tanks and bath tubs.

Claims (13)

1 An overflow device capable of being fitted to a container, such as a toilet cistern having an overflow outlet, said device comprising a vessel which is supported in a substantially rigid manner, inlet means for conduction of water into said vessel from said overflow outlet, outlet means by which water can exit out of said vessel, and valve means responsive to the quantity of water in said vessel and adapted to control the flow of water into the said container.

2 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve means are located within said vessel.

3 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device comprises an external addition to said container and said vessel requires no direct physical attachment to said container, said vessel being connected via an overflow pipe and water supply pipe of said container.

4 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said overflow device and said container comprise a single unit and / or said inlet means of said vessel is formed directly by said overflow outlet of said container.

5 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet means, said vessel and said outlet means comprise a water-tight and / or air-tight terminal fitting to the overflow pipe of said container.

6 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said overflow device negates the requirement for said container to comprise any overflow piping.

7 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein any water entering said overflow device from said container will remain within said overflow device until said outlet means is opened by manual operation to allow water to exit out of said overflow device.

8 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel is held in position by the water supply pipe and / or the overflow pipe of the said container.

9 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein no external parts of the device are required to move unless by manual operation.

10 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the presence of water in said overflow device is perceived by an audible or visual warning from said overflow device.

11 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein parts of said valve means and / or parts of said vessel are coated in lubricant.

12 An overflow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet means is arranged such that any water in said vessel is able to continuously exit out of said vessel.

13 An overflow device substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.