GB2339830A - Frost-proof valve apparatus - Google Patents

Description

2339830 VALVE APPARATUS This invention relates to a valve apparatus.

It is often necessary to ensure a supply of water to outside locations for such equipment as safety showers or eyewashes and in winter, there is the danger that although water can be supplied satisfactorily underground, any water above ground is in danger of freezing.

The present invention seeks to enable a supply of water even in adverse conditions.

According to the invention, there is provided a valve apparatus comprising a shut off valve for location below the frost line in a supply pipe prior to the supply above ground and automatic drain means for automatically draining piping above the shut off valve.

Preferably, the shut off valve is located at the lower end of a stand pipe and is connected by a linkage to control means for operating the valve and is located in the upper part of the stand pipe.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:- Figure I is a side elevation of one embodiment of valve apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the valve apparatus of Figure L) Figure 3 is a typical example, in section of a ball valve suitable for use in the apparatus of the invention; Figure 4 is sectional view of a drain valve suitable for use in the valve apparatus in a closed or non draining position, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the drain valve in an open or draining position.

Referring firstly to Figures I and 2, there is shown an embodiment of the valve apparatus of the invention. The apparatus as shown comprises a stand pipe or the like I which is connected under the ground to a water main system not shown. Since the water main is normally located below the frost line the lower end 3 of the standpipe I will also be located below the frost line. For the purposes 2 of the present invention, it is necessary for the main to be sufficiently below the frost line to enable a ball valve 5 (see Figure 3 for details) to be located there below. The ball valve 5 acts as a shut off valve which, when open, will allow water to pass up the standpipe I to an outlet I I which is used to feed emergency 5 equipment such as a shower or eyewash.

In order to provide control of the valve, 5, the apparatus is provided at its upper end with an operating lever 13 which is connected operatively to the ball valve 5 below ground by a parallel linkage 15.

Also provided just above the ball valve 5 is a drain arrangement 17 incorporating a drain valve 19 biased to an open position for draining water from the stand pipe I when the ball valve 5 is closed. The construction of this valve 19 will be discussed in greater detail hereafter in connection with Figures 4 and 5 The operation of the apparatus will now be considered. It is to be assumed that the ball valve is in the shut off position and it is desired to obtain water for the emergency equipment. To do this, the lever 13 is moved from its upright or closed position (as seen in bold lines in Figure 1) to its rearward or open position (as seen in feint lines in Figure 1. This movement will, through the linkage 15, rotate the ball valve 5 into the open position which will allow water under mains pressure to pass up the standpipe I and out of the outlet 11. At the same time, the water will pass into the normally open drain valve 19 and will act thereon to close it against its bias and so prevent the water being supplied up the standpipe from draining away.

Once the use of the emergency equipment has terminated, it is desirable, particularly in winter, that the water supply be cut off. This can be achieved by pushing the lever 13 up from its substantially horizontal position, as shown, to its vertical position. This in turn rotates the ball valve 5 by way of the linkage 15 and the supply of water is cut off.

Unfortunately, this would in normal circumstances leave standing water above ground, at least in the standpipe 1. In winter, particularly in long periods of non use, this water in the standpipe I could well freeze, blocking the pipe I and at best, prevent use of the emergency equipment and at worst could result in bursting of the standpipe 1.

3 The drain valve 19 is provided to avoid this state of affairs. When the pressure of water in the standpipe I drops due to shutting of the ball valve 5, the biasing of the valve 19 overcomes the water pressure and thus opens, allowing the water in the standpipe to drain away.

A suitable form of ball valve 5 for use in the above described apparatus is shown in Figure 3. This comprises a housing 21 with connection portions 23 at each end. The centre portion is provided with a spherical chamber 25 housing the ball 27 which has a through bore 29. Sealing arrangements 31 are provided to seal the outer surface of the ball 27 to the adjacent parts of the housing 2 1.

The ball 27 is mounted on a spindle 33 which passes out of the housing, the spindle being connected for positive rotation by the elements of the linkage 15. The ball valve 5 in Figure 3 is shown in the open position, the closed being achieved by rotation of the ball 27 through 90 degrees, in which position the through bore lies across the water channel and the water channel is closed by opposing surfaces of the ball 27.

Figures 4 and 5 show the construction of the drain valve 19. This valve 19 basically comprises a housing 41 having a through bore 43 with a small diameter portion 45 and a large diameter portion 47, the two portions 45 and 47 being connected by a shoulder 49. Located in this through bore 43 is a shuttle 51 slidable axially therein.

The shuttle is hollow, generally in the form of a cylinder and extends from the smaller diameter portion 45 into the larger diameter portion 47. The shuttle is prevented from sliding out of the portion 45 by an annular lip 53 located at its lower end. The upper end of the shuttle is tapered and closed and is provided with a mushroom like head 55. Between the head 55 and the shoulder 49 is located a biasing compression spring 57. The shuttle 51 is also provided with a cross bore 59 which, in the open position shown in Figure 5, provides a communication between the larger diameter portion 47 of the bore 43 and the interior cavity 61 of the shuttle 51.

The way in which this valve 19 works is as follows:- 4 Assuming that there is no or only a relatively small pressure in the larger diameter portion 47 of the bore 43, the valve will be biased into its upper position as shown in Figure 5 by the spring 57. In this position, the cross bore 59 is located above the shoulder 49 and thus communication takes place between the interior of the larger diameter portion 47 of the bore 43 and the interior cavity 61. Since the lower end of the shuttle 51 is open, any water located in the larger diameter portion 47 of the bore 43 can drain out past the valve 19.

If, on the other hand, a significant pressure is present in the larger diameter portion 47, this will act on the head 5 5 of the shuttle 5 1, forcing it down so that the bore 59 drops below the shoulder 49 of the bore 43, shutting off communication between the larger diameter portion 47 of the bore 43 and the interior of the shuttle.

It will be appreciated that modifications of or additions to the above described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the ball valve 5 is considered to be particularly suitable for use in this apparatus, any other suitable shut off valve could be used.

The same applies to the drain valve 19. If desired, the drain valve 19 could be a mechanically operated valve linked to the shut off valve 5 such that when the shut off valve is open the drain valve is closed and vice versa.

In a further alternative, the two valves could be replaced by a multiport type valve having three ports, one port connected to the water supply, a second port being connected to the water outlet and the third port connected to the drain outlet. In this case the valve member would be arranged to alternately connect ports one and two and one and three.

Claims (8)

1. A valve apparatus comprising a shut off valve for location below the frost line in a supply pipe prior to the supply above ground and automatic drain means associated with the shut off valve for automatically draining piping above the valve.
2. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the shut off valve is located at the lower end of a stand pipe or like riser pipe and is connected by a linkage to control means for operating the valve which control means is located in the upper part of the stand pipe.
3. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the shut off valve is a ball valve.
4. 4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drain means comprises a drain valve connected above the shut off valve and is arranged to be automatically closed when the shut off valve is open and vice versa.
5. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drain valve comprises means for sensing the pressure on the downstream side of the shut off valve.
6. 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the drain valve is biased towards an open position by a spring.
7. 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drain valve has a head 20 portion on which the pressure on the downstream side of the shut off valve acts in opposition to the spring.
8. 8. A valve apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.