GB2579340A

GB2579340A - Irrigation valve

Info

Publication number: GB2579340A
Application number: GB1817141.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rusling Steven
Original assignee: Hydrogarden Ltd
Current assignee: Hydrogarden Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-22
Filing date: 2018-10-22
Publication date: 2020-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-22
Also published as: GB201817141D0; GB2579340B

Abstract

A valve assembly 2 for controlling the supply of water an irrigation system comprises a main body 4 having a platform 12 bordered by downwardly extending side walls 8. A float 16, located below the platform, is moveable towards and away from the platform by water in the main body. An arm 18 is pivotally connected to the float and engages with a tube 30 extending from a water inlet 14 enabling water to flow through the tube and the valve assembly when unrestricted. The arrangement is such that raising the float by water causes the arm to rise to the underside of the platform to produce a restriction (32 figure 3) in the tube to stop the flow of water to the assembly, and lowering the float causes the arm to lower to remove the restriction and to allow water to flow through the valve assembly. Magnets 20, 22 may be positioned on the arm and underside of the platform.

Description

Irrigation valve

Field of invention

The present invention relates to an irrigation valve. More especially the invention relates to a valve for use in the horticulture and gardening industries for controlling the flow of water into a reservoir for subsequent absorption by plants and the like. The invention has particular application for use in the hydroponics industry.

Background to the invention

At the heart of irrigation systems is the need to control the supply of water to plants in accordance with the plants' needs.

Traditionally, conventional ballcock-type float valves have been used for this purpose. Such valves, however, do not allow total reduction of the fluid level within a growing container before re-filling.

A valve developed by Autopot Systems and marketed under the brand "Smart-Valve Mkt" is designed to allow total reduction of a fluid level within a container before re-filling. The Smart-Valve is designed to open to allow water to enter the bottom of a growing container to a pre-determined and pre-set depth (usually between 20mm and 35mm). The valve then closes and permits no further water to enter the growing container until all the original water supply has been conveyed to the growing container and consequently to the plant. Once the water has been absorbed the valve re-opens and another supply of water is conveyed to the growing container.

The Autopot valve works on the basis of a vacuum being 5 formed to close the valve thereby to cut-off the water supply.

The Applicant has found that the reliance on the formation of a vacuum prevents a consistent reduction of the water 10 level.

The Applicant's patent GB2498542 discloses an improved valve that, amongst other benefits, does not rely on the formation of a vacuum to shut off supply.

Whilst the valve disclosed in GB2498542 works well and has proven to be commercially successful, there is an ongoing need to simplify the design of the valve whilst maintaining the efficiency of its operation.

The present invention seeks to provide a hydroponic valve assembly with improved sensitivity and water shut-off control.

Statement of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve assembly for controlling the supply of water to a reservoir of an irrigation system, the valve assembly comprising a main body which includes a platform bordered by downwardly extending side walls, a float located below the platform and moveable in use towards and away from the platform by water present in the main body, an arm pivotally connected to the float and engaging with a tube which extends from a water inlet to enable water to flow through the tube and the valve assembly when unrestricted, the arrangement being such that raising of the float by water entering the assembly causes the arm to 5 rise to the underside of the platform to produce a restriction in the tube to the extent that the flow of water to the assembly is stopped, and lowering of the float causes the arm to lower to remove the restriction and to allow water to flow once more through the valve 10 assembly.

Preferably the tube is made from silicone.

Preferably the arm includes a magnet which engages with a 15 magnet located on the underside of the housing platform.

Brief description of the drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by 20 way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an irrigation valve constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the valve illustrated in Figure 1 when it is open to permit the flow of water; Figure 3 is an end view of the illustrated valve at the 30 point when the float is lifted and the flow of water is stopped; and Figure 4 is an end view of the illustrated valve at the point where the float has lowered but the flow of water is still prevented.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment

Referring first to Figure 1, the illustrated valve assembly 2 comprises a housing 4 which includes a platform 6 formed with a skirt 8 which extends downwardly from the edges of the platform 6. In use the skirt 8 defines sidewalls of the housing 4 which upstand from the surface on which the valve assembly 2 is positioned in use. As illustrated, the skirt 8 has a cut-out 10 along its front wall allowing access to the interior of the valve 2. In an un-illustrated embodiment, no cut-out 10 is provided.

The housing 4 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic polymer such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It may however be made from any other

suitable material.

The platform 6 includes a connector 12 in the form of a grommet plug assembly upstanding from a water inlet 14 to connect the valve assembly 2 to a water supply via, for example, a hose (not shown). It will be appreciated that the illustrated connector is simply one of several which could be employed. Moreover, whereas the embodiment illustrated shows the connector in a vertical orientation, the connector and water inlet could equally well be connected in a horizontal orientation or may comprise a "plug and play" connection.

Referring now to Figure 2, a float 16 is located within the confines of the housing 4. The float 16 is sized and dimensioned to fit within the housing 4 and is able to move vertically within the housing 4 as the level of the water on which it floats rises. Rotation of the float 16 may be prevented.

The float can be made from any suitable material, one example being ABS.

The illustrated valve assembly further includes an activation arm 18 located within the housing 4 which pivots about a pivot point located on a back edge, or otherwise connected or formed on the float 16. The arm and other structural components of the assembly, are preferably made from a material such as ABS. Other materials suitable for the horticultural environment could however be employed.

The activation arm 18 has a recess near its distal end to receive and retain a disc magnet 20. The disc magnet 20 maybe produced from any suitable material such as steel or neodymium and may be held within the recess using, for example, self-adhesive.

The inside surface of the platform 6 includes a downwardly facing latching mechanism comprising, for example, a magnet 22, of neodymium, cobalt or ferrite, which engages with the disc magnet 20 of the activation arm 18 when the float 16 is at a sufficient height for the arm 18 to be a predetermined distance from a second magnet 22 located on the housing 4.

The magnet 22 is located against the underside of the housing platform to provide an element of protection against the surrounding environment and particularly to protect the magnet 22 from water contamination.

The latching mechanism including the magnets may be encapsulated.

The exposed faces of the magnet disc 20 and the magnet 22 10 are oriented to be polar opposites such that they attract and engage at a pre-determined distance.

The pre-determined distance may be adjustable, thereby adjusting the sensitivity of the valve assembly, by a threaded adjustment screw 24 which extends through an aperture in the arm 18 which has a complimentary internal thread. The adjustment screw 24 is preferably made from a nylon material and extends at its top through an aperture 26 in the platform 6 when the arm 18 is at its highest position (as can be seen in Figure 1). This allows for fine adjustment of the valve mechanism without the need to dismantle the housing 4 to access its interior.

The float 16 includes a central slot 28 to accommodate the 25 activation arm 18 when the magnets 20, 22 are not engaged. In an alternative arrangement, no central slot is provided.

Flow of water through the assembly is provided by a 30 silicone tube 28 which extends into the assembly from the inner face of the water inlet. The tube 30 extends downwardly to a groove which is formed in the arm 18 and acts as a guide for the tube 28 to direct the tube to the back of the assembly to direct water flow to the floor to irrigate the surrounding area.

The flow of water is controlled simply by restricting the tube 28 diameter. Compression of the tube diameter, through folding 32, occurs and increases as the float 16 and the arm 18 are raised by the increasing water level. Once the arm 18 reaches the pre-determined height within the assembly the attraction force of the magnets 20, 22 causes them to abut, holding the arm 18 up against the housing 4 at which point the fold 32 in the tube 30 restricts the diameter at the fold to such an extent to cause a blockage thereby stopping the flow of water through it. Figure 3 shows the point at which the surrounding water level of a height to shut-off the flow.

As the surrounding area is irrigated, the latch mechanism remains closed until the lost motion causes the arm to fall whereupon the water level gradually lowers without being replenished by any flow of water through the assembly. As such, the float 16 also gradually lowers.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the magnets 20, 22 remain engaged (so the arm 18 remains held against the top of the 25 housing 4) until such time as the height of the float 16 and the weight of the arm 18 combine to disengage the magnets 20, 22. Consequently, the arm 18 falls back to rest against the float 16 and to cause the tube 30 to straighten and water to flow once more through the 30 assembly.

The fact that the tube 26 is made from silicone allows it to continually bend and straighten without losing its structural integrity.

It will described only and departing invention be understood, that the various embodiments herein have been described by way of example that modifications may be made thereto without from the spirit and scope of the present as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A valve assembly for controlling the supply of water to a reservoir of an irrigation system, the valve assembly comprising a main body which includes a platform bordered by downwardly extending side walls, a float located below the platform and moveable in use towards and away from the platform by water present in the main body, an arm pivotally connected to the float and engaging with a tube which extends from a water inlet tc enable water to flow through the tube and the valve assembly when unrestricted, the arrangement being such that raising of the float by water entering the assembly causes the arm to rise to the underside of the platform to produce a restriction in the tube to the extent that the flow of water to the assembly is stopped, and lowering of the float causes the arm to lower to remove the restriction and to allow water to flow once more through the valve assembly.
2. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube is produced from silicone.
3. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the arm includes a first magnet positioned to engage with a second magnet located on the underside of the platform as the platform moves towards the platform of the housing.
4. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is produced from a thermoplastic polymer.
5. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the platform includes a connector in the form of a grommet plug assembly which upstands from a water inlet for connecting the valve assembly to a water supply.