GB2425342A

GB2425342A - Magnetic valve

Info

Publication number: GB2425342A
Application number: GB0508185A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takis Sozou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-22
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: GB0508185D0

Abstract

A shut off safety valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid, the assembly comprises a tee shape body 1, a shut off spherical washer 2, a ferrous metal flat washer 3, a spring 4, an end cup 5 and an electrical magnet 8. The valve is operable open against the bias of the spring by the electrical magnet and will shut off under the spring bias when there is no electrical power to the magnet.

Description

I

PATENTS ACT 1977

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTTON

AN AUTOMATIC WATER SAFETY VALVE

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an automatic safety water valve.

Automatic water valves as used at present for domestic and industrial purposes have certain limitations the present invention seeks to overcome, .there are in general two types of automatic water valves widely used today the ball valve type as used in the majority of apparatus of water containers such as water tanks and the motorized valve type as used for special applications such as in central heating in combination central heating boilers with instant hot water supply and other application were an automatic way of stopping the flow of water is required, they both however have certain limitation the present invention seeks to overcome Is a well know fact that the ball type valves suffer of wear and do need regular adj usting and maintenance if they r not to waste water and the motorised type valve& are expensive and complicated to produce and as most work against the flow of water for opening or closing they are only generally used for low water pressures they do suffer from wear and can cause water leaks as there is a linkage between the motor on the outside and the inner water tight compartment of the valve According to the present invention there is provided an automatic safety water valve comprising a housing an extensible element for stopping the water a spring an electric magnet an electric flow switch an electric change over relay an auxiliary electrical switch, and a low water level switch In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be describe by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of the main components of the valve with the arrows showing the direction if the water flow in which: I is the main body of the valve, 2 is the spherical washer for stopping the water made of rubber or any other suitable material that offers a good water tight seal, 3 is a ferrous metal washer that may be treated to stop oxidization, 4 is the spring, 5 is the water tight end cup with a suitable washer, 6 and 7 is the thread on the end cup and the valve, 8 is an electric magnet, 9 is a flow switch, 10 is an overflow system containing three overflow pipes, 11 is the emergency overflow pipe, 12 is the water flow pipe to activate the flow switch, 13 contains the water level switch, 14 is a water level switch, 15 is an electrical relay 16 is an electrical auxiliary switch for special applications, 17 is a water storage container.

Figure 2 and figure 2 A is showing the valve I in an open position (figure 2) and (figure 2 A) in a closed position.

Figure 3 and figure 3 A is showing the valve I in (figure 3) with the water level in the storage container at the right level and the valve I in the open position, and (figure 3 A) with the water lever at a higher than the right level thus the flow switch 14 been activated and the valve I in the closed position Figure 4 and figure 4 A is showing the valve 1 in (figure 4) with the water level in the bath at the right level and the valve I in the open position and (figure 4 A) with the water level at higher level thus activating the flow switch 14 and causing the valve 1 to close.

The spherical sealing washer 2, may be also manufactured with a ferrous metal insert thus eliminating the need or working in conjunction with the ferrous metal washer 3, also the spherical washer 2 may be cylindrical in shape but spherical at the sealing end i.e. the front end opposite the spring 4 and may have one or more apertures in parallel with the spring so if any water is trapped behind the washer when the valve is closed the aperture will allow water to escape when the valve is opening.

The flow switch 9, the high water level switch 14 and the low water level switch 14 A may be of the changeover type therefore eliminating the need for the electrical relay in some applications.

When this valve I is been used in closed conditions such as central heating systems and or in combination boilers it will be in the closed position, once is required to open an electrical current will be send to the electrical magnet 8 to open the valve I against the bias of the closing spring 4, the electrical current may be received from an electrical or electronic time switch an electrical thermostat or a water flow switch and or any other means that are used in the system. once the valve I is no longer required to be in the open position the current to the magnet 8 will be stopped therefore the magnet will no longer be active and the bias oithe spring 4 will close the valve 1.

Alternatively the washer 2 may be round and flat in shape, but valve 1 will then have to operate against the flow of the water.

Conveniently the sealing section part of the valve I may be lined with a suitable sealing material Advantageously an electrical auxiliary switch 16 may also be fitted and be activated by the magnet 8 Conveniently when the valve I is used to control the water supply to a water storage container such as water storage tanks cisterns or other water containers, it may also be used in conjunction with an ball valve type and an overflow construction system that is constructed in three part overflow pipe 10, in which: II is the emergency overflow pipe, 12 houses the high water level switch,l3 houses the low water lever switch, It is understood that the high and low level water switches may also be housed in the water storage container and may also be combined in a single unit.

When the water reaches the level of the pipe 12 it will activate the high lever water switch and then power from the high level switch 14 will flow to the relay therefore activating the change over relay 15, to stop the flow of power to the electrical magnet 8 therefore deactivating the magnet 8 and causing the bias of the spring to close the valve I. When the water level reaches a pre-determined level the low water switch 14 A will he activated therefore sending power to the change over relay and to the magnet 8 to open the valve I and therefore start filling the water storage container with water, once the water reaches the high lever switch 14 then power from the high level switch 14 will activate the change over relay to stop power to the magnet 8 and therefore the bias of the spring 4 will close the valve I. As can be seen in any event of an electrical or mechanical failure the bias of the spring 4 will close the valve I and therefore save water and possible damage from water flooding, it is understood that the high and low level switches 14 and 14A may be incorporated into one unit, and may also be housed directly into the water storage container.

When the valve I is used for a bath the high water level switch 14 will be replaced by a flow switch 9, on or in the overflow pipe of the bath, and low water level switch 14 A, will be replaced by a flow switch 9 A on or in the waste pipe carrying the waste water away from the bath and the overflow pipe of the bath will be connected to the waste pipe after the flow switch 9A. If the water taps filling the bath are left open with the plug closed and the bath overfills then water will flow through the overflow pipe.

The flow switch 9 will be activated sending power to the electrical relay 15 activating the change over relay to stop power to the magnet 8 therefore causing the valve 1 to close under the bias of the spring 4, when the waste pipe plug blocking the waste water running through the waste pipe is removed water flowing through the waste pipe will activate the flow switch 9 A causing the flow switch 9 A to send power to the change over relay and on to the magnet 8 to open the valve I and the water tap or taps to he operational again, thus no flooding or water wastage can occur when the valve I is used. Jt is understood of course that a simple electronic circuit board can replace the change over relay in a production model thus reducing cost further.

Claims

CLAIMS.

I An automatic water flow controlling safety valve comprising a housing, a water tight end cup, a spherical sealing washer made from rubber and or any other suitable material, a flat ferrous metal washer, a spring, the spring bias keeping the valve closed an electrical magnet that will open the valve against the bias of the spring when it receives an electrical power from an outside source and the bias of the spring will close the valve when power is no longer received
2 An automatic water flow safety valve according to claim I wherein the valve is controlled closed by a high water level switch
3 An automatic water flow safety valve according to claim I wherein the valve is controlled open by a low water level switch
4 An automatic water flow safety valve according to claim I wherein the valve is controlled closed by a water flow switch.
An automatic water flow safety valve according to claim I wherein the valve is controlled open by a water flow switch.
6 An automatic water flow safety valve according to any preceding claims wherein the spherical sealing washer is cylindrical in shape with the front the closing end spherical in shape 7 An automatic water flow safety valve according to any of the preceding claims wherein the spherical and or cylindrical sealing washer is made from ferrous metal and surrounded by rubber or any other suitable material 8 An automatic water flow safety valve according to claims 2 to 5 wherein the valve is relay controlled 9 An automatic safety water flow valve according to claims 2 to 5 wherein the valve is electronic circuit board controlled An automatic safety water flow valve according to the preceding claims wherein the spherical and or cylindrical sealing washer is round and flat in shape and closes and or opens with or against the flow of water against 11 An automatic safety water flow valve according to any on the preceding claims that also operates an auxiliary switch