GB2288330A

GB2288330A - Overflow control system for bath, basin etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2288330A
Application number: GB9407458A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Cox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-15
Filing date: 1994-04-15
Publication date: 1995-10-18
Also published as: GB9407458D0

Abstract

An overflow control system for a bath, basin etc. comprises a vessel (20) having inlet means (25) for conduction of overflow water into said vessel from the overflow outlet of a bath, basin etc., outlet means (27) for such water, and float valve means (29) responsive to the quantity of water in said vessel and adapted to control the supply of water (16A, 17A) to said bath, basin etc.. <IMAGE>

Description

OVERFLOW CONTROL SYSTEM This invention relates to an overflow control system. In what follows the term 'bath' is used generically to include not only a conventional bath as used for ablutions but also any other sort of liquid container subject to changes in content level.

If a bath is not prevented from overflowing serious damage can be caused to decoration, flooring and floor coverings and furniture and fittings in the bathroom or in regions beneath it. Inadvertent overflow occurs when a person drawing a bath is distracted from recalling in due time that the bath has a rising water level.

Typically in such a situation the flow of water into a bath can exceed the outflow of water from the bath down a conventional overflow outlet located in the upper region of the bath. Control to avoid overflow needs to be undertaken before overflow actually starts. Typically the supply of water to the bath is terminated or the drainage of water already in the bath can be initiated at such a rate that even if water continues to be supplied to the bath the rate of drainage from it is sufficient to prevent the water level rising further.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing overflow of liquid from a bath or other storage container having at least one liquid supply line to the container comprising the steps of: 1 providing an outlet from a liquid fillable volume of the container at a working level somewhat below an overflow level from the volume; 2 providing a second container outside the liquid fillable volume of the container and coupled to the outlet so that liquid flowing out of the volume through the outlet passes into the second container; 3 providing a float in the second container adapted to move between a first position relative to the second container when the second container is substantially empty and a second position relative to the container, when the float is floating on liquid in the second container, when the container has received at least a predetermined amount of liquid by way of the outlet 4 enabling the float, in moving from the first to the second position, to cause a valve to move from a flow position, corresponding to the first position of the float and providing for the passage of liquid along the supply line, to a closed position, corresponding to the second position of the float and providing for the valve to inhibit the passage of liquid along the supply line; and 4 enabling liquid in the second container to drain therefrom a rate less than that at which liquid can enter the second container from the outlet so that when water ceases to enter the second container from the outlet liquid left in the second container thereafter drains therefrom so as to restore the float to its first position and thereby the valve to its flow position.

Typically the float in moving from the first to the second position acts on the valve in such a way as to that the distance moved by the float is more than corresponding displacement of the valve.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bath or other storage container having a working volume for liquid in which there is established a working liquid level and an overflow level above the working level and a supply line for liquid to the working volume characterised by: I an outlet for liquid from the container located at an outlet level intermediate the working and overflow levels; 2 a second container for liquid located outside the working volume; 3 a duct for liquid having a first end communicating with the outlet and a second end venting into the second container; the duct being disposed so that a part of the duct intermediate its first and second ends lies at a position between the outlet level and the overflow level; 4 a float located in the second container so that with the second container empty or substantially empty the float is located at a first level; and when the second container contains at least a predetermined amount of liquid falls the float is carried upwardly by the liquid therein to a second position; 5 a valve in the supply line operable between a flow position where the valve allows liquid flow along the line and a closed position where the valve inhibits liquid flow along the supply line; 6 a link between the float and the valve such that when the float is in the first position the valve is maintained in the flow position and when the float moves to the second position the link causes the valve to move to its closed position; and 7 a drain outlet from the second container providing for liquid initially held in the second container to drain from the second container at a rate less than that at which water enters the container from the outlet when liquid in the bath is at the overflow level.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a bath and overflow control unit of which: Figure 1 is a part sectioned elevation of one end of a bath unit; Figure 2 is side view in direction II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view on section rn-rn of Figure 2.

The figures variously show a bath 11 having a conventional waste outlet 12 opening into a outlet pipe 13 and a pair of conventional taps 14, 15 supplied by, respectively, supply line 16, 17. An overflow outlet 18 is linked to outlet pipe 13 by way of pipe 18A and an overflow control system 19 described in more detail in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

The system 19 comprises a housing 20 located between pipe sections 16A, 17A of of, respectively supply lines 16, 17.

Section 16A contains a valve 21 operable by lever 22 between a flow position with lever 22 in position F and a closed position with lever 22 in position C.

Section 17A contains a valve 23 operable by lever 24 between a flow position with lever 24 in position F and a closed position with lever 24 in position C.

Overflow outlet 18 feeds overflow liquid from the bath 11 into housing 20 by way of pipe 25. Lower end 26 of pipe 25 is located some way into the container 20 to reduce splashing of water entering the container.

Outlet 27 opens at upper end 28 into the container 20 to provide a volume V in the lower part of the container 20. Liquid in this lower volume V serves to support a float 29. The float 29 is shown within a vertical tube 30 so that the float is not affected by a lateral component of movement of liquid in the container 20.

The float 29 is shown in broken outline in its first, lower, position. Levers 22, 24 are pivotally coupled to the float 29 and, with the float 29 as shown, the levers 22, 24 are in their F positions in which the valves 21, 23 are enabled to allow an free flow of liquid along the supply pipe sections 16A, 17A. Whether liquid does flow along one or both of pipes 16, 17 depends on conventional taps 14, 15 on the bath.

However given that tap 14, 15 are singly or together allowing flow along the supply pipes 16, 17 then the control unit 19 will serve to control flow as will be described hereafter.

Within the container 20 the outlet pipe 27 is pierced by a bleed orifice 31 to enable liquid in the container 20 to drain away along pipe 27 to a conventional outlet drain pipe.

With the bath 11 and the container 20 empty water can be supplied to the bath by opening taps 14, 15. Normally the supply of water to the bath 11 will be stopped by turning off the taps 14, 15 when the water level reaches a normal working level W. However in the event the taps are not turned off and the water level reaches outlet 18 water starts to flow into continuer 19 by way of pipe 18A. As volume V fills the float 29 rises from its first position 29' causing levers 22, 24 to move upwardly from their F position. As a result the valves 21, 23 are progressively closed off until the water level in the container has risen to the level where (with the float 29 in its fully outlined second position) the levers 22, 24 are aligned in their C position where the valves 21, 23 are closed so preventing the further flow of water along supply pipes 16A, 17A.As a result the water level in the bath ceases to rise.

While overflow occurs from the bath into the container 20 and the overflow water level is above the level of inlet 28 to the pipe 27 water will flow out of the container by way of pipe 27. Once the water level in the container 20 has fallen below the level of inlet 28 water (filling volume V) water slowly drains out of the container 20 into outlet 27 by way of bleed outlet 31.

Once water from volume V in the container 20 has drained away through outlet 31 the float 29 will have dropped back to be located at its first position (shown by broken outline 29') so causing the levers 22, 24 to be aligned in their flow position F providing for the flow of water along supply pipes 16, 17 under the control of, respectively, taps 14, 15.

The exemplary embodiment provides for the prevention of damage resulting from an overfilled bath by reducing and then preventing a supply of water in excess of that capable of being handled by a conventional overflow pipe. Apart from limiting the supply of water to a full bath the invention provides for the control system to automatically reset itself for further use.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment the overflow control unit can be supplied as a self contained unit providing for its ready assembly to an existing bath installation or for incorporation as original equipment in a new bath.

Claims

CLAIMS IA method of preventing overflow of liquid from a bath or other storage container having at least one liquid supply line to the container comprising the steps of: 1 providing an outlet from a liquid fillable volume of the container at a working level somewhat below an overflow level from the volume; 2 providing a second container outside the liquid fillable volume of the container and coupled to the outlet so that liquid flowing out of the volume through the outlet passes into the second container;; 3 providing a float in the second container adapted to move between a first position relative to the second container when the second container is substantially empty and a second position relative to the container, when the float is floating on liquid in the second container, when the container has received at least a predetermined amount of liquid by way of the outlet 4 enabling the float, in moving from the first to the second position, to cause a valve to move from a flow position, corresponding to the first position of the float and providing for the passage of liquid along the supply line, to a closed position, corresponding to the second position of the float and providing for the valve to inhibit the passage of liquid along the supply line; and 5 enabling liquid in the second container to drain therefrom a rate less than that at which liquid can enter the second container from the outlet so that when water ceases to enter the second container from the outlet liquid left in the second container thereafter drains therefrom so as to restore the float to its first position and thereby the valve to its flow position. 2 A method of preventing overflow as claimed in Claim I wherein the float in moving from the first to the second position acts on the valve in such a way that the distance moved by the float is more than the corresponding displacement of the valve. 3 A bath or other storage container having a working volume for liquid in which there is established a working liquid level and an overflow level above the working level and a supply line for liquid to the working volume characterised by:

1 an outlet for liquid from the container located at an outlet level intermediate the working and overflow levels;

2 a second container for liquid located outside the working volume;

3 a duct for liquid having a first end communicating with the outlet and a second end venting into the second container; the duct being disposed so that a part of the duct intermediate its first and second ends lies at a position between the outlet level and the overflow level;

4 a float located in the second container so that with the second container empty or substantially empty the float is located at a first level; and when the second container contains at least a predetermined amount of liquid falls the float is carried upwardly by the liquid therein to a second position;

5 A bath or other storage container having a working volume for liquid in which there is established a working liquid level and an overflow level above the working level and a supply line for liquid to the working volume equipped with means for preventing overflow as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 a valve in the supply line operable between a flow position where the valve allows liquid flow along the line and a closed position where the valve inhibits liquid flow along the supply line;

6 a link between the float and the valve such that when the float is in the first position the valve is maintained in the flow position and when the float moves to the second position the link causes the valve to move to its closed position; and

7 a drain outlet from the second container providing for liquid initially held in the second container to drain from the second container at a rate less than that at which water enters the container from the outlet when liquid in the bath is at the overflow level.

4 A method of preventing overflow of liquid as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.