IE54953B1 - Float valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to float valves which may, for example, be used domestically in water tanks, W.C. cisterns or the like and may be used industrially in a number of situations in which a liquid fills a tank.

The conventional type of ball valve which is used in the majority of domestic situations in Great Britain involves a cylindral housing with a longitudinally removable solid cylinder which is urged longitudinally by the short arm of a pivotal lever the long arm of which carries a ball. The valve piston includes a resilient washer which is urged against a tubular valve seat through which the water enters. Such a structure is inherently rather complicated, relies on the upthrust of the ball to give the full valve closing force and is liable to jamming.

Further improvements have been suggested, for example, in British Patent Nos. 160949; 373476 and 523299 in which a closed chamber is defined by the valve housing and has an inlet port adapted to be connected to an inlet pipe to the cistern, an outlet port from the chamber having a valve seat surrounding the port. The valve member passes through the outlet port and has a valve head located within the chamber. A pivotally mounted lever having a float at one end has means connecting the other end of the lever to the valve member to raise the head from the seat when the water level falls below a certain value, to allow water to flow from the chamber via the outlet.

The constructions described in the above patents utilise the fluid pressure to assist in closing the valve but are very complicated and therefore expensive and are themselves liable to jamming. 3 3 54953 It has also been proposed to form certain parts of valves of this general type from plastics material.

Thus, the prior known structures may be considered to consist of a float valve mechanism for a cistern or tank, said mechanism comprising a valve housing defining a closed chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected permanently to an inlet pipe to the cistern or tank, an outlet port from the chamber having a conical valve seat surrounding the port and having a cone axis, a plastics material valve member passing through the outlet port and having a conical valve head located within the chamber and a pivotably mounted lever pivotable about a horizontal axis, said lever having a float rigidly fixed thereto at a location laterally spaced from said horizontal axis, so as to be freely movable in the cistern or tank, and means connecting the lever directly and rigidly to the valve member and passing freely through said outlet port, to raise the head from the seat, when water or other liquid in the cistern or tank falls below a certain level to allow liquid to flow from the chamber via the outlet port.

It is now proposed, according to the present invention, to provide a float valve mechanism for a cistern or tank, said mechanism comprising a valve housing defining a closed chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected permanently to an inlet pipe to the cistern or tank, an outlet port from the chamber having a conical valve seat surrounding the port and having a cone axis, a plastics material valve member passing through the outlet port and having a conical valve head located within the chamber and a pivotably mounted lever pivotable about a horizontal axis, said lever having a float rigidly fixed thereto at a location laterally spaced from said horizontal axis, so as to be freely movable in the cistern or tank, and means connecting the lever directly 4 4 5 4 9 5 3 and rigidly to the valve member and passing freely through said outlet port, to raise the head from the seat, when water or other liquid in the cistern or tank falls below a certain level to allow liquid to flow from 5 the chamber via the outlet port, the valve head pivoting as an integral unit with the lever, whereby the valve head moves along a circular path passing through the outlet port from a closed position to an open position, the conical valve head sealingly engaging in the conical 10 valve seat at said closed postion of the valve, the float being a hollow float which is partly filled with water to render it relatively heavy, said float being mounted to extend below the lever, and the pressure of the water in the.chamber, acting on that portion of the valve 15 within said chamber, being sufficient to maintain the valve in the closed position continuously until the pivoting moment of the weight of said partly filled float is sufficient to overcome the pivoting movement of the water pressure in said closed chamber acting on said 20 valve head.

Such a structure can be made very cheaply and simply and yet is very effective insofar as it again utilises water pressure within the chamber to provide the closing force on the valve member. The only movement is the 25 pivotal movement and there is no necessity, as in the prior constructions, for there to be any sliding movement at all.

Preferably the valve head is formed actually integrally with the lever.

Advantageously the closed chamber is a wall inclined obliquely downwardly from the inlet port, the cone axis of the outlet port being inclined downwardly towards the adjacent wall of the cistern or tank. 5 54953 and the valve head is also inclined in a cooperating manner therewith. Thus fluid flowing into the inlet port is caused to flow against the adjacent side of the valve head to maintain the valve firmly in the open position until the float pivots the lever to a position nearly closing the valve, whereupon the water pressure within the chamber urges the valve head against the valve seat. Water pressure thus is used firstly to hold the valve open as the water flows into the chamber and secondly to hold the valve closed when the valve has moved to its closed position under the action of the float.

The housing may be formed in two parts including a generally channel shaped member, having the outlet port formed in the web of the channel and a cover sealingly closing the space between the free ends of the arms of the channel, the cover, when removed and during assembly of the valve, allowing the end of the lever remote from the valve member to pass through the chamber and then through the outlet port until the valve head is located within the chamber adjacent to the outlet port.

This facilitates the assembly of the valve which has the relatively large cross-section head mounted on the lever which must, therefore, be passed through the outlet port from the inside of the chamber. An alternative construction could involve the use of a screw top to the chamber.

The housing may be provided with a bleed passage which connects a portion of the valve seat, when the valve is closed, to the interior of the chamber. The advantage of this is to reduce the possibility of water hammer.

The force required to close the valve under the upthrust of the float is really very small because it is the water pressure which actually causes the 6 closing. However, the force required to open the valve is quite considerable and it is advantageous, therefore, for the float to be relatively heavy and it is for this reason that the float is partly filled with water to 5 render it relatively heavy.

To account for different pressures of water,means may be provided to allow the positions of float along the lever to be adjusted and to provide the necessary adjustment of a level at 10 which the valve shuts off the flow of liquid,these may be provided to allow the vertical position of the float to be adjusted relative to the lever,for example in the form of a screw connection.

In order that the present invention may more 15 readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a cross-section through one embodiment of valve according to the invention shown positioned in 20 the side wall of a tank, with the valve in the closed position; Figure 2 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 with the valve in the open position; Figure 3 is an end view of the valve of Figures 1 25 and 2; and Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 showing a modified construction.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is illustrated a tank 10 filled with water to a level 12 and having 30 mounted, on the inner surface of the wall 10 above the water, a valve 14 according to the present invention.

The valve is mounted on a threaded inlet pipe 16 provided with a sealing washer 17 and a locking nut 18. The inlet pipe 16 can be connected to a source of water 35 (not shown).

Threaded onto the interior end of the pipe 16 is 7 7 54953 the body 20 of the housing of the valve. This body is formed from a plastic material and is of generally channel cross-section and is provided with a cover 22.

It will be noted that the cover 22 and the lower surface 5 of the body 20 are inclined downwardly away from the inner end of the pipe 16. The body 20 and cover 22 define a closed chamber 24 having an inlet port 26 which includes the internal screw thread 27 for connection to the inlet pipe 16. The housing is also provided with an 10 outlet opening 28 having a conical valve seat 30 surrounding the opening. The axis 32 of the conical valve seat is inclined downwardly and towards the tank wall 10.

A valve member indicated by the general reference 15 numeral 34 is again formed of plastics material and includes a conical valve head 36 which is formed integrally with a lever 38 from a plastics material. It shall be seen that the lower part of the body 20 is provided with a downwardly opening groove 40 defined by 20 two horizontally spaced, generally vertically extending flanks. Extending between these flanks is a pivot pin 42 upon which the lever 38 is pivotally mounted.

The lever 38 has an arm 44 extending to the right of the pivot 42 and slidable onto this arm 44 is a clamp 25 46 the position of which can be adjusted and thereafter fixed by a clamping screw 48. Vertically threaded into the clamp 46 is a rod 50 carried by a cap 52 of a bottle 54 forming a float which is filled to a particular level, indicated at 56, for example with water.

The chamber 24, as indicated, is fully closed to atmosphere and is subject to pressure from the water or other liquid flowing into the inlet port 26. The water pressure acting on the valve head 36 will maintain the valve in the closed position of Figure 1 even when the 35 water level 12 falls somewhat. However, when the 55953 water level falls beyond a certain value, the weight of the float 54, with water in it, will be sufficient to pivot the lever 38 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The inflow of water against the left-hand side of 5 valve head 36 will maintain the pivotal arrangement of Figure 2 until the tank is nearly full and the upthrust from the float is sufficient to overcome this force. Thereupon the lever will pivot to the position of Figure 1 and it will snap into this position rapidly and thence 10 shut off the flow. The level of the water at which the valve shuts off can be altered by screwing the rod 50 higher or lower into the clamp 46. The rod can be secured in the selected position by tightening the lock nut 53.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified arrangement in which a bleed passage 58 is provided adjacent the valve to allow some of the pressure within the chamber 24 to bear upwardly against a small portion of the conical surface of the valve thereby reducing any tendency for 20 water hammer when the valve closes. One can adjust the position of the clamp 46 to suit any particular water pressure and one can adjust the vertical position of the rod 50 to give a desired level. The valve tank shown here is again generally conical and is shown as being 25 hollow so that the water pressure urges the valve head more firmly into the seat.

The inclined outflow from the inlet port along the axis 32 will project water against the wall of the tank and thereby reduce the noise of discharge of water from 30 the chamber. Additionally a shroud may be added which is clamped between the wall of the tank and the body 20 of the housing and which has walls extending below the body, to reduce the noise of the discharging water still further.

Claims (7)

54953 ΰ

1. A float valve mechanism for a cistern or tank, said mechanism comprising a valve housing defining a closed chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected permanently to an inlet pipe to the cistern or tank, an outlet port from the chamber having a conical valve seat surrounding the port and having a cone axis, a plastics material valve member passing through the outlet port and having a conical valve head located within the chamber and a pivotably mounted lever pivotable about a horizontal axis, said lever having a float rigidly fixed thereto at a location laterally spaced from said horizontal axis, so as to be freely movable in the cistern or tank, and means connecting the lever directly and rigidly to the valve member and passing freely through said outlet port, to raise the head from the seat, when water or other liquid in the cistern or tank falls below a certain level to allow liquid to flow from the chamber via the outlet port, the valve head pivoting as an integral unit with the lever, whereby the valve head moves along a circular path passing through the outlet port from a closed position to an open position, the conical valve head sealingly engaging in the conical valve seat at said closed postion of the valve, the float being a hollow float which is partly filled with water to render it relatively heavy, said float being mounted to extend below the lever, and the pressure of the water in the chamber, acting on that portion of the valve within said chamber, being sufficient to maintain the valve in the closed position continuously until the pivoting moment of the weight of said partly filled float is sufficient to overcome the pivoting movement of the water pressure in said closed chamber acting on said valve head. 10 10 54953

2. A float valve according to claim 1, wherein the float chamber has a wall inclined obliquely downwardly from the inlet port, the cone axis of the outlet port is inclined downwardly towards the adjacent wall of the 5 cistern or tank and wherein the valve head is also inclined in a co-operating manner therewith.

3. A float valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is formed of two parts including a generally channel shaped member, having the outlet port formed in 10 the web of the channel, and a cover sealingly closing the space between the free ends of the arms of the channel, the cover, when removed and during assembly of the valve, allowing the end of the lever remote from the valve member to be passed through the chamber and then through 15 the outlet port, until the valve head is located within the chamber adjacent to the outlet port.

4. A float valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is provided with a bleed passage connecting a portion of the valve seat, when the valve is 20 closed, to the interior of the chamber.

5. A float valve according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided to allow the position of the float along the lever to be adjusted.

6. A float valve according to any preceding claim, 25 wherein means are provided to allow the vertical position of the float, relative to the lever, to be adjusted.

7. A float valve according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. F. R. KELLY & CO., AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS