WO1995023263A1

WO1995023263A1 - Down pipe valve

Info

Publication number: WO1995023263A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000716
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Michael Doherty; Jonathan Doherty
Original assignee: Watergate Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1994-02-24
Filing date: 1994-11-21
Publication date: 1995-08-31

Abstract

A valve apparatus (1) adapted to be fitted between two portions (11 and 12) of down pipe, such that with the valve (5) in its closed position, the down pipe and gutter can be filled with water to lessen the risk of destruction of the house by bush fires. The valve apparatus (1) comprises a hollow body (2) with a valve seat (4) located intermediate its two ends. The valve (5) is preferably an elongated gate valve which slides into an aperture (3) in the side of the hollow boby (2) to seal on the seat (4).

Description

Down Pipe Valve

The present invention relates to an apparatus for blocking water flow in down pipes connected to guttering such that the gutters connected to the down pipes can be filled with water.

In bush fire prone areas, wind blown cinders falling upon the roofs of houses can end up in the gutters where they ignite the twigs and leaves which can build up therein. The fire then spreads to the battens and eaves and soffit supports, and ultimately the house is badly damaged or is destroyed by the fire.

In the recent bush fires in Sydney people tried to block their down pipes with tennis balls. This, while partly blocking the down pipe in some cases, was wholly unsuccessful in the cases of down pipes of non- circular cross-section.

The present invention therefore proposes to ameliorate these disadvantages by providing a valve apparatus adapted for connection between two portions of down pipe comprising:

a hollow body having a top section and a lower section adapted to sealingly connect to a respective portion of said two portions of down pipe;

a valve seat section located intermediate said top and lower sections; and a valve adapted to adopt a first position whereby it seats on said valve seat to substantially prevent the flow of water past said valve, and a second position whereby said valve allows water to flow past said valve.

In another form the invention comprises a down pipe comprising intermediate its ends a valve seat; and a valve adapted to adopt a first position whereby it seats on said valve seat to substantially prevent the flow of water past said valve, and a second position whereby said valve allows water to flow past said valve.

Whilst the valve can be of any suitable compatible shape to suit the particular cross-section of the down pipe, preferably the valve apparatus is rectangular in cross section.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a valve apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a cut away view of the valve apparatus illustrated in figure 1 , fitted into a down pipe with the valve in seating position;

Figure 3 illustrates the valve apparatus of figure 1 with the valve removed from the valve seat; Figure 4 illustrates the valve inserted into a valve in an open position;

Figure 5 illustrates another view of the valve apparatus of figure 1 ;

Figure 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of the valve apparatus of figure 1 with a base connection attached;

Figure 7 illustrates a valve member for the hose connector useable in the valve apparatus shown in figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates the valve member of figure 7 shown in the open position; and

Figure 9 illustrates a sectional view of the valve shown in figures 1 to 4.

The valve apparatus (1 ) as shown in figure 1 comprises a hollow body (2) having an aperture (3) located in one side thereof. A shoulder (4) forms a valve seat and support and extends around the inner surface of the body (2) adjacent the aperture (3).

A valve (5) of suitable dimensions slides into the aperture (3) . Sealing can be produced both by the engagement of the respective side surfaces (6) and the lower surface (7) with the side walls (8) of the valve apparatus body (2) and the shoulder (4). Preferably as shown in figure 2 there is also a top shoulder (24) which extends around the inner surface of the body above the aperture 3.

The valve seating arrangement of the side walls (8) between the top shoulder (24) and shoulder (4) could be tapered with a corresponding taper of the valve (5) such that it is at only the final positioning of the valve (5) in the aperture (3) that sealing occurs.

The valve (5) could be hollowed out as shown in figure 6, or solid or hollow, and made of plastics or any other suitable material. The valve (5) also has located at approximately 90° to the valve a projection (9), which is of the same dimensions as the aperture (3), and a grip ( 10) .

As shown in figure 1 , the valve apparatus ( 1 ) is connected between two portions of down pipes ( 1 1 ) and (1 2) and affixed thereto in any suitable manner to provide a watertight connection. Preferably the valve apparatus ( 1 ) is pop riveted to the down pipe portions ( 1 1 ) and (1 2) through the small side faces (13) and (14).

Additional sealing around the aperture (3) is provided by an o-ring

( 1 5) located in the recess ( 1 6) in the valve (5) as shown in figures 1 and 9. To assist in the sealing of the aperature (3) by the O-ring, the aperature (3) has a lead in (29) .

As shown in figure 6, the body (2) has an integral threaded spigot

(1 8) located on the back face. A hose connection (20) is screwed into the threaded spigot (1 8) . A valve member ( 1 9), of the type shown in figures 7 & 8, is held by the annular outer portion (25) between the end of the spigot (1 8) and the annular retention portion (27) of the hose fitting (20).

The valve member (19) is a disc which can be made from any suitable material to provide suitable flexibility and sealing ability, but preferably from Santoprene. The disc (19) has a slit (21 ) extending through the material but only partially around the disc (19) to form a central flap (22) .

Therefore as shown in figure 6 the flap (22) acts as a one-way valve, sealing on the shoulder (23) of the hose connection (20) .

To assist in the sealing between the valve (5) and the body (2) both the side walls (8) between the top shoulder (24) and shoulder (4) are tapered as well as the end wall (26) with similar tapers on the respective sides of the valve (5). This provides sealing between the side walls of the body and the valve walls as well as the lower surface (7) of the valve and the shoulder (4).

Therefore in case of a bush fire, the valve (5) is inserted into the aperature (3), sealing the down pipe and hose clicked onto the hose connection (20) and the water turned on filling the downpipe and gutters .

When the danger is past the valve is removed and the gutters drain. To prevent water splashing out of the aperture (3), and entrance of vermin and rubbish into the aperture (3), the valve (5) has a projection (9) which as shown in figures 3 and 4 is sealingly inserted into the aperture (3). Further the valve (5) could be connected by a suitable chain (1 7) to the body (2).

The valve (5) and valve apparatus body (2) can be made of any suitable material such as plastics, rubber or metal, and whilst the preferred embodiment illustrates a gate valve concept, other valve types such as ball valves, plug cocks and butterfly valves could be used.

Further the closing of the valve and the turning of the water could be activated by solenoid valves operated by a signal down the telephone line.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that alteration and modifications can be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims

Claims:

1 . a valve apparatus adapted for connection between two portions of down pipe comprising:

a valve seat section located intermediate said top and lower sections;

and a valve adapted to adopt a first position whereby it seats on said valve seat to substantially prevent the flow of water past said valve, and a second position whereby said valve allows water to flow past said valve.

2. A valve apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body is rectangular in cross section and has an aperture on one side wherein said valve is inserted in said aperature and seats on said valve seat.

3. A valve apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said valve seat comprises a shoulder extending around the interior of said hollow body adjacent said aperature and said valve seals its lower surface on said shoulder.

4. A valve apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said valve also seals against the inside walls of said hollow body.

5. A valve apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there is a further shoulder extending around the interior of said hollow body located above said first shoulder.

6. A valve apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the walls of the hollow body between said shoulders are tapered and seal against correspondingly tapered surfaces of said valve.

7. A valve apparatus according to claims 2 to 6 wherein the valve has a ring which seals in the aperature.

8. A valve apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said aperature has a lead in against which said O-ring seals.

9. A valve apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said top section of said body has a water inlet means, whereby when said valve is seated on said valve seat, the down pipe and gutters can be filled with water from said water inlet means.

10. A valve apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said water inlet means comprises a spigot having a one way valve.

1 1 . A valve apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said spigot is threaded and said one way valve is a flexible disc with a circular flap, said disc being sealingly held between said spigot and a hose fitting screwed onto said threaded spigot, with said flap sealing against said fitting.

12. A valve apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.