GB2511592A

GB2511592A - A liquid flow cut off means

Info

Publication number: GB2511592A
Application number: GB1318266.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Geraint Evans
Original assignee: MENTRWN Ltd
Current assignee: MENTRWN Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-09
Filing date: 2013-10-15
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Also published as: GB201304374D0; GB201318266D0

Abstract

A flow cutoff means for stopping the flow of liquid to a container being filled comprises a liquid supply pipe 8 with a liquid outlet 38, a valve, a float 26, and magnet 34. The valve comprises a valve seat 18 and a valve stem 22 to which is attached a valve head 20. The valve stem 22 extends through a channel in the valve seat 18 and the valve head 20 is located adjacent the face of the valve seat 18 remote from the liquid outlet. The valve stem 22 is attached to the float 26 via a steel link plate 30. The magnet 34 is so located that the when the liquid in the container reaches a predetermined level the plate 30 and magnet 34 move into contact, and the valve head 20 is pulled against the valve seat 18 (Fig. 3).

Description

A LIQUID FLOW CUT OFF MEANS

This invention related to liquid flow cut off means. In particular, this invention relates to liquid flow cut off means for use when filling containers with liquid.

It is known that containers for the storage and/or transportation of liquid are frequently filled via liquid supply pipes, often known as hoses. Typically, the flow of liquid through the liquid supply pipe is controlled by a tap that is turned on to allow liquid to flow through the pipe and turned off to stop that liquid flow. A problem with such an arrangement is that to avoid over filling the container, or indeed, liquid overflowing out of the container, a person must be available to turn off the tap when a suitable amount of liquid has entered the container.

To seek to overcome the requirement for a person to be present, it is known to use floats to actuate and close diaphragm valves or pin valves when a desired water level is reached. In these configurations the diaphragm valve or the pin valve is pushed closed when the liquid in the container lifts the float to a predetermined height relative to the valve. The diaphragm or pin valve is pushed against the end of the liquid inlet pipe so stopping the flaw of the liquid. These solutions are generally used in connection with containers that are provided with means to attach the liquid supply pipe to the container. This is often the case with containers that are in a fixed location, such arrangements are, however, not overly suitable for use where the container is nat supplied with means to attach a liquid supply pipe to it.

An alternative approach to stopping the filling of a container when the desired liquid level is reached is disclosed in KR 880001713B1 (Cho Sub Dong et al) in which a liquid supply pipe is provided wherein at the end of that pipe there is a ring magnet through which the liquid flows. A second magnet is located on top of a float, that float being loosely captive in a cage. When the liquid level in the container being filled reaches the level of the cage the float is lifted by the liquid and, assuming the ring magnet is vertically higher than the magnet on the float, the magnet on the float is moved toward the ring magnet. When the two magnets are sufficiently close to attract each other they come into contact and the second magnet closes the hole in the ring magnet and the flow of fluid through that hole is stopped.

According to the present invention there is provided a flow cut ott means suitable for use in stopping the flow of liquid through a liquid supply pipe when a container being filled via the liquid supply pipe reaches a predetermined level comprising a liquid supply pipe with a liquid outlet, a valve, a float, and a first and second magnet, characterised in that the valve comprises a valve seat which defines a channel extending through the valve seat from one face to an opposite face of the valve seat and a valve stem to which is attached a valve head, the valve seat is located within the liquid supply pipe so that the channel allows the flow of liquid along the liquid supply pipe, the valve stem extends through the channel in the valve seat and the valve head is located adjacent the face of the valve seat remote from the liquid outlet, the valve stem is attached to the float via a link means, one of the magnets is attached to or incorporated in the float, the other magnet is so located that the when the liquid in the container reaches a predetermined level the magnets become sufficiently close to each other that they pull towards each other and into contact due to magnetic attraction, and the link means is so dimensioned and configured that when the magnets move into contact with each other the valve head is pulled against the valve seat by the float.

The first and second magnets may either be permanent magnets or they may be electromagnets. Where the first and I or second magnet is an electromagnet then the apparatus of the present invention further comprises means suitable for the control of the electromagnet and a power source or a means for connecting to an external power source.

One of the first and second magnets may in preferred embodiments of the present invention be a plate or other shape of magnetisable material. Such a plate or other shape may be made of steel. In this description and the claims of this application it is to be understood that reference to two magnets encompasses a magnet and a magnetic plate or other shape of magnetisable material.

The apparatus of the present invention offers the particular advantage that because of the positioning of the valve head relative to the valve seat, the pressure of liquid within the liquid supply pipe will, once the valve head is in contact with the valve seat, serve to keep the valve head in contact with the valve seat. This is in contrast to the previously known solutions in this field where pressure in the liquid supply pipe acts against the means closing the valve. This is of particular advantage because in previously known liquid flow cut off means an increase in the pressure of the liquid in the liquid supply pipe can overcome the attractive force between the magnets of the flow cut off means, or the force that is exerted by buoyancy of the float, and flow of liquid can resume. This can lead to leakage and overflowing of the container being filled. In contrast, with the apparatus of the present invention, the greater the pressure within the liquid within the liquid supply pipe the greater the force there is keeping the valve of the present invention closed.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the flow cut off means further comprises a float guidance means which ensures that the float rises along a known path as the liquid level within the container rises. In these preferred configurations the magnet which is not attached to or integral with the float may be located in a fixed position relative to the float guidance means. This ensures that the magnets will start to attract each other and pull toward each other at a known, predetermined, location relative to the liquid level and position of the float. This has the effect that it can be ensured that the valve head is pulled against the valve seat by the float (via the float link means) at a known predetermined liquid level in the container. The flow cut off means of the present invention can include markings or other indicia that a user can use to determine what the liquid level will be in the container before the flow is cut off.

It is particularly preferred that in apparatus according to the present invention the valve seat is so configured that it defines a channel that extends through the valve seat from one face of the valve seat to the opposite face so that liquid may flow through that channel. The face or faces of the valve seat that define the channel are most preferably adapted and configured so that when the valve head is pushed or pulled against the face or faces of the valve seat that defines the valve channel there is formed a liquid tight seal between the valve seat and the valve head.

The valve stem of the flow cut off means according to the present invention is attached to the valve head and extends through the channel defined by the valve seat. The valve head is located adjacent the face of the valve seat remote from the liquid outlet that is on the upstream side of the valve seat when the flow cut off means is being used to fill a container with liquid.

The link means between the valve stem and the float may be any appropriate link means as long as rising of the float with the liquid level within the container being filled causes the valve stem to be pulled by the float which has the effect that the valve head is pulled toward the valve seat. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention the valve stem is rigid. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the link means between the float and the valve stem may be a simple attachment means, for example a nut and bolt or it may be some intermediate physical means. The intermediate physical means may be flexible or rigid depending upon the configuration of the particular embodiment of the present invention.

It is most preferred that in the flow cut off means of the present invention that the link means is so dimensioned and configured that when the magnet that is associated with the float is sufficiently close to the magnet that is not associated with the float, that the magnets start pulling towards each other and the valve head is, simultaneously, pulled into physical contact with the face or faces of the valve seat defining the channel via the link means. This has the effect of causing flow of liquid through the valve channel to cease. Thereafter, the attraction between the magnets is sufficient to hold the valve head against the faces of the valve seat defining the channel, and any pressure increase within the liquid within the liquid supply pipe will serve only to increase the force pushing/pulling of the valve head against the valve seat. The magnets may, in preferred embodiments, be sufficiently strong that if there is a decrease in the pressure of the liquid in the liquid inlet pipe that decrease in pressure will not cause the valve head to move away from the valve seat and will not admit air into the liquid inlet pipe. The strength of each magnet may in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention be calibrated so as to provide a predetermined resistance to the valve head being sucked away from the valve seat by decreasing liquid pressure.

The apparatus of the present invention may be further provided with a means that allows a user to physically push the float away from the magnet that is not incorporated with or attached to the float so that, via the link means and valve stem the valve head is pushed away from the valve seat. This has the effect of re-opening the channel passing through the valve seat and allowing liquid to flow through the valve seat once more.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, means may be provided that allow a user to push the valve stem so as to push the valve head away from the valve seat. The link means would then be caused to pull the float and magnet associated therewith away from the magnet not associated with the float.

In further alternative embodiments of the present invention where one or bath of the first and second magnets are electromagnets, the electromagnet (s) can be turned on while the container is being filled. These embodiments work to pull the valve head against the valve seat in the same fashion as when the magnet(s) is I are permanent magnets. When it is desired to move the valve head away from the valve seat and so allow the flaw of liquid through the channel the electromagnet(s) are turned off and gravity will cause the float to push the valve head away from the valve seat.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the first and second magnets are either both electromagnets or one is an electromagnet and the other a permanent magnet. In this embodiment the means for controlling the or each electromagnet includes means for allowing one of the electromagnets to have different polarities. This is particularly beneficial because it means that when the container is filling the polarities of the faces of the magnets closest to each other can be made to be opposite and as such the magnets are attracted to each other. When it is desired to cause the valve head to move away from the valve seat the polarity of the magnet with the reversible polarities may be set to be the same as the closest face of the other magnet so that the magnets then repel each other.

The use of electromagnets in the present invention is beneficial because it allows the apparatus of the present invention to be used in positions where a human operator Cannot reach and I or conditions where a human operator would not be safe.

It is particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the float guidance means will have attached to it or integral with it one of the magnets.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention a proportion of the liquid supply pipe can act as the float guidance means. In particular, in preferred embodiments of the present invention the float may be configured so as to incorporate an aperture extending through the float, said aperture being so dimensioned that the liquid supply pipe can pass through the said aperture and the aperture is sufficiently large so that the float can move relatively along the liquid supply pipe. This has the particular bonus of resulting in a relatively compact flow cut off means and ensuring that the float is retained in the correct position.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention the valve head is of a substantially conical shape with the valve stem being attached to the tip or apex of the cone. In such an embodiment of the present invention the channel through the valve seat is preferably defined by faces if the valve seat that define a cone of substantially the same characteristics as the valve head.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention the liquid supply pipe incorporates a U shaped bend. It is most preferred that the U shaped bend is so located that in normal use, the portion of the liquid supply pipe downstream of the U shaped bend includes the liquid outlet and the valve seat.

It is particularly preferred to incorporate the U shaped bend in the liquid supply pipe so that, in use, it is possible for the portion of the liquid supply pipe upstream of the U shaped bend to enter the container in a substantially vertical orientation with the U shaped bend being at the lowermost portion of that inlet supply pipe. The portion of the inlet supply pipe downstream of the U shaped bend is then orientated substantially vertically with the flow going substantially upwards. This has the advantage that when the float pulls the valve head into or against the valve seat it is pulling the valve head substantially upwards. This is the direction that a float being raised by the increasing liquid level within the container is travelling and hence the float is pulling the valve head.

It is preferred that the flow cut off means according to the present invention includes a liquid outlet means. It is most preferred that the liquid outlet means is so configured as to direct the flow of liquid in a generally downward direction relative to the preferred orientation of the flow cut off means when in use. This serves to minimise splashing or turbulence in the liquid going into the container. The liquid outlet means may, in some embodiments of the present invention be reconfigurable by a user so as to direct the liquid coming out of the flow cut off means in a preferred direction.

The valve stem may, in some preferred embodiments, exit the liquid supply pipe via the liquid outlet means. In other preferred embodiments, the liquid inlet pipe may be so configured that the valve stem extends out of the liquid inlet pipe via an aperture that is not a fluid outlet. It is most preferred that the valve stem is substantially linear and whether the valve stem needs to pass out of the fluid outlet means of the liquid supply pipe or an aperture in the wall of the liquid supply pipe will depend upon the configuration of the end of the liquid supply pipe.

It is particularly preferred that the flow cut off means according to the present invention is supplied with appropriate means for temporarily or reversibly engaging the liquid supply means with the container that is being filled. The means of engagement may be adapted to suit the particular containers to be filled. Typical means of engagement may be a hook that is adapted to hook over an upper edge of an open mouthed container. Alternatively, if the container being filled is one with a mouth and neck, the engagement means may be adapted to reversible engage with the portion of the neck of the container adjacent the mouth.

It is preferred that the engagement means may be adapted to allow adjustment of the level of the flow cut off means according to the present invention relative to the level of the mouth of the container being filled. This will allow for different fill levels of liquid within the container to be achieved.

The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example in which: *1 Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a flow cut off means according to the present invention attached to the mouth of a container to be filled with liquid; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the inside of the flow cut off means of Figure 1 when liquid is able to flow through the flow cut off means; and Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the inside of the flow cut off means of Figure 1 when the flow cut off means is preventing flow of liquid through the flow cut off means.

With reference to Figure 1, a container (2) in the form of a bucket is placed on a surface (not shown) ready for filling with a liquid such as water. A flow cut off means (4) is provided with a hook (6) which is adapted to be hooked over the edge of the bucket (2) that defines the mouth of the bucket. The flow cut off means (4) is provided with a liquid supply pipe (8) which is fitted at a first end with a connector (10) suitable for joining onto the end of a water supply hose (not shown).

The flow cut off means (4) is encased in a casing (12) which is substantially cylindrical and has open ends. The casing (12) serves to protect the mechanism of the flow cut off means (4) whilst, via the upper and lower open ends, allowing liquid to exit the casing and a user to access the mechanism of the flow cut off means (4) which is located within the casing (12).

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, these show the mechanism of the flow cut off means which is located within the casing (12) of the flow cut off means (4).

The liquid supply pipe (8) is a rigid pipe of plastics or metal construction. The liquid supply pipe (8) includes a "U" bend (14). In use, the liquid to go into bucket (2) flows through the liquid supply pipe (8) in the direction shown by arrow (16).

Fixed within the liquid supply pipe downstream of the "U' bend (14) is a valve comprising a valve seat (18), a valve head (20), and a valve stem (22). The valve stem (22) is attached to the valve head (20). The valve seat (18) defines a channel (24) through which liquid may flow when the channel is not closed by the valve head (20). Also passing through channel (24) is the valve stem (22). The valve seat (1 8) and valve head (20) are adapted to form a liquid tight seal between them when the head (20) is in contact with the seat (18).

The supply pipe (8) is provided, downstream of the "U' bend (14), with an end chamber (36) which includes the valve seat (18). The end chamber (36) is provided with a spout (38) out of which may flow liquid that has flowed through the inlet pipe (8). That liquid can, when in use, fill the bucket (2).

The flow cut off means (4) is further provided with a float (26). The float (26) is, in this embodiment, cylindrical and defines a passage (28) through the float (26). The passage (28) is so configured that it entirely surrounds the fluid supply pipe (8) and is sufficiently large that the float (26) may move relative to the supply pipe (8) along the length of the straight portion supply pipe (8) on the upstream side of the "U" bend (14). Attached to the face of the float 26 remote from the "U" Bend (14) in the liquid supply pipe (8) is a link plate (30). The link plate 30 is suitably dimensioned so that the valve stem (22) may be attached to it by suitable attachment means (not shown).

Such suitable attachment means may include nuts, bolts or other known fixing means.

Attached to the fluid supply pipe (8) by an attachment means (32) is a magnet (34).

The attachment means (32) and magnet (34) are so located on the fluid supply pipe (8) and the length of the valve stem (22) such that when the link plate (30) is in contact with the magnet (34) as illustrated in Figure 3, the valve head (20) is pulled against valve seat (18) by the valve stem (22). In this preferred embodiment of the present invention the link plate (30) is of a magnetisable material such as steel. In other embodiments of the present invention the link plate (30) could be wholly or partially of a magnetic material or partially of a magnetisable material. In alternative embodiments, the magnet (34) could be mounted on the link plate (30) and the attachment means (32) could wholly or partially comprise of a magnetisable material.

As may be seen from Figure 2 and 3, the valve stem (22) passes out of the chamber (36) via an aperture through the wall of the chamber. That aperture does not have to be liquid tight but it is preferred that the aperture is not significant larger than the cross section of the valve stem (22).

In use, the flow cut off means (4) is hooked over the edge of a bucket (2) using the hook (6) and the casing (12) of the flow cut off means is located within the mouth of the bucket. A user will connect the connection means (10) to the end of a hose and turn on the fluid flow to the hose.

The user will then check to see whether liquid is flowing through the flow cut off means (4) and into the bucket (2). If liquid is not flowing, then the float (26) is in the position shown in Figure 3 and the valve head (20) is closing the channel (24) so preventing the flow of liquid. The user may then reach into the inside of the casing (12) via the upper open end of the casing (12) and push down on the link plate (30).

The users strength will overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnet (34) and the link plate (30) and the float (26) will move to the position illustrated in Figure 2. This will cause the valve head (20) to be moved away from the valve seat 1(8) opening the channel (24) and allowing liquid to flow through the channel.

When the liquid level within the bucket (2) is sufficiently high, the liquid will lift the float (26). As the liquid level within the bucket (2) continues to rise, the float (26) is carried by the liquid along the length of the fluid inlet pipe (8) so that the link plate (30) moves toward the magnet (34) and the valve stem (22) pulls the valve head (20) toward the valve seat (18). When the float (26) has been lifted sufficiently near to the magnet (34), the magnetic attraction between the magnet (34) and link plate (30) pulls them together and the valve head (20) is pulled against the valve seat (18).

This closes the channel (24) and liquid ceases to flow through the flow cut off means.

Not illustrated in Figure 1 is means for adjusting the relative position of the hook (6) relative to the casing (12) and/or the flow cut off means mechanism as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The user may, before starting the flow of liquid through the flow cut off means, adjust that positioning mechanism so that the bucket will be filled to a desired level. The casing may be provided with suitable markings or indicia to allow easy correlation between the position of the hook (6) relative to the casing (12) and the final desired level of liquid within the bucket.

Once filling of the bucket is completed and the valve head (20) is pulled against the valve seat (18) the flow cut off means (4) may be unhooked from the edge of the bucket. If a user wishes to fill a number of buckets (2) then the flow cut off means may be transferred to the next bucket (2) without needing to turn off the water supply to the hose. This is because the flow cut off means (4) will stay closed and not allow fluid flow through the flow cut off means. Further, if, for example, someone steps upon the hose supplying the water sending a pulse of higher pressure along the hose and into the flow cut off means, this increase in pressure will simply serve to push valve head (20) harder against valve seat (18) keeping the seal between the two. Once the flow cut off means (4) has been placed in the next bucket (2) to be filled, the user may then, again, use his finger to push down on the link plate (30)so causing the filling process to start.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A flow cut off means suitable for use in stopping the flow of liquid through a liquid supply pipe when a container being filled via the liquid supply pipe reaches a predetermined level comprising a liquid supply pipe with a liquid outlet, a valve, a float, and a first and second magnet, characterised in that the valve comprises a valve seat which defines a channel extending through the valve seat from one face to an opposite face of the valve seat and a valve stem to which is attached a valve head, the valve seat is located within the liquid supply pipe so that the channel allows the flow of liquid along the liquid supply pipe, the valve stem extends through the channel in the valve seat and the valve head is located adjacent the face of the valve seat remote from the liquid outlet, the valve stem is attached to the float via a link means, the first magnet is attached to or incorporated in the float, the second magnet is so located that the when the liquid in the container reaches the predetermined level the magnets become sufficiently close to each other that they pull towards each other and into contact due to magnetic attraction, and the link means is so dimensioned and configured that when the magnets move into contact with each other the valve head is pulled against the valve seat by the float.
2 A flow cut off means according to claim 1 which further comprises a float guidance means characterised in that the float guidance means guides the movement of the float as the liquid level rises, and the second magnet is held in a fixed position relative to the float guidance means.
3 A flow cut off means according to claim 2 in which the second magnet is attached to the float guidance means.
4 A flow cut off means according to claim 2 or 3 in which the float guidance means is comprised of a portion of the liquid supply pipe.
A flow cut off means according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the valve head is substantially conical, the valve stem is attached to the tip of the cone, and the channel through the valve seat is so configured to that the sides defining the channel engage with the conical sides of the valve head when the valve stem is pulled by the float.
6 A flow cut off means according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the liquid supply pipe is rigid and includes a U shaped bend.
7 A flow cut off means according to claim 6 in which the flow cut off means is adapted to be used when the portion of the liquid supply pipe upstream of the U shaped bend is substantially vertical.
8 A flow cut off means according to claim 6 or 7 in which the portion of the liquid supply pipe downstream of the U shaped bend includes the liquid outlet and the valve seat.
9 A flow cut off means according to any of claims 1 to 8 in which the valve stem is rigid and extends out of the liquid supply pipe.
A flow cut off means according to any of claims 1 to 9 in which the flow cut off means is provided with a means for reversibly attaching the flow cut off means to the container to be filled so that the flow cut off means is within the container.
11 A flow cut off means according to claim 10 in which the means for reversibly attaching the flow cut off means to the container to be filled is a hook adapted to hook over the edge of the container, or a means for engaging with the mouth of a container that has a mouth.
12 A flow cut off means according to any of claims ito 11 in which one of the first and second magnets is a plate or other shaped piece of magnetisable material.
13 A flow cut off means according to any of claims 1 to 12 in which one of the first and second magnets is an electromagnet.
14 A flow cut off means according claim 13 which further comprises control means for the electromagnet which control means may be operated from a position remote from the flow cut off means.
15 A flow cut off means according to any of claims 13 or 14 in which the control means includes means that can reverse the polarity of the electromagnet.