AU736446B2

AU736446B2 - An improved float valve

Info

Publication number: AU736446B2
Application number: AU87039/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alfred Hirzel
Original assignee: Apex Valves Ltd
Current assignee: Apex Valves Ltd
Priority date: 1997-09-26
Filing date: 1998-09-25
Publication date: 2001-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-25
Also published as: ZA988777B; NZ328862A; AU8703998A

Description

P/00/00 1 I Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Apex Valves Limited Alfred Hirzel T R.4Z REG -022.10(2)- 39_Mm &E j' C ro AbertV o Aol 1b3er AN IMPROVED FLOAT VALVE AN IMPROVED FLOAT VALVE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us E399au2 2 AN IMPROVED FLOAT VALVE This invention relates to float valves and in particular is concerned with a float valve suitable for use in a stock feeding trough.

Float valves particularly for use in stock feeding troughs need to be robust owing to the in situ conditions in which they are installed and used. Furthermore, often the water being controlled by the valve contains considerable amounts of foreign matter, in particular detritus solids which can block or otherwise hinder a valves operation. An object of this invention is to provide a float valve which it is envisaged will be particularly useful for use in stock trough valves.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a float operated valve comprising an inlet pressure operated flexible member adapted to control fluid passage from an inlet through the valve to an outlet, an inlet connected chamber within the valve, a stationary element mounted to an housing of the valve to form a restricted passage extending between the inlet, the inlet connected chamber and to atmosphere via an opening in the valve housing, a dynamic valve member, adapted to be operated by the action of an associated float, and mounted to control fluid passage through the restricted passage by, in a first mode venting the inlet connected chamber to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace under pressure at the inlet to open the valve and in a second mode closing the vent to atmosphere allowing the inlet pressure to reinstate the flexible member to close the valve.

E399au2 3 According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a float valve comprising an housing having an inlet and an outlet to an interior thereof, an inlet pressure operated flexible member adapted to control passage through the valve, a chamber within the housing, a stationary bored stem element mounted to the housing to connect the bore thereof with an opening through a wall of the housing to provide a restricted passage between the inlet, the chamber and the opening, a valve member adapted to be operated by a float and mounted within the restricted passage whereby in the valve member being moved in a first direction the chamber is vented to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace to open the valve and in being moved in the opposite direction to close the valve.

According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided a float valve comprising an housing having an inlet and an outlet to an interior thereof, an inlet pressure operated flexible member disposed between the inlet and outlet to control passage therebetween and to create an interior chamber, a stationary bored element mounted to the housing to connect the bore thereof with an opening through a wall of the housing to provide a restricted passage between the inlet, the chamber and the opening to atmosphere, a reciprocally operative valve member connected to a float actuated member and mounted within the restricted passage whereby with the float actuated member tending to withdraw the valve member the chamber is vented to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace to connect the outlet to the inlet to open the valve, and with the valve member tending to be inserted connecting the inlet to the chamber to thus enable pressure at the inlet to displace the flexible member to close the valve.

E399u2 4 In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing (Figure 1) which is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment. The valve 3 preferably comprises a two part housing 4a, 4b made of a suitable plastics material. The housing parts 4a, 4b are preferably assembled together by screw-threads 5 enabling access to an interior (indicated generally by 6) of the housing. An inlet 7 and an outlet 8 lead to the interior 6 of the housing 4 and a rocker arm or lever 9 is preferably pivotally attached as at 10 to the housing 4. A float (not depicted) can be attached to lever 9 to operate the valve as hereinafter described. Preferably two float attachment points 11 (the arrows 11 depicting the general line of action of an associated float) are provided. Preferably a spring 21 is provided to resist ie. dampen the action of a float and return the lever 9 as described below.

A flexible member 12 preferably in the nature of a diaphragm is mounted within the interior 6 of the valve to control the passage of fluid, typically water therethrough. Preferably member 12 is fixed about its periphery between the housing parts 4 when joined as aforesaid.

An aperture 12a is provided through the centre of member 12 to sealingly accommodate a restricted passage 15 forming element 16 therethrough. In the drawing flexible member 12 is depicted seating on a valve seat 13 formed by the inner end of inlet 7. The mounting of flexible member 12 within the interior 6 forms a chamber 14 (being part of interior 6) separated from outlet 8 but joining with inlet 7 as hereinafter described. The surface area of member 12 associated with chamber 14 is greater than the surface area thereof associated with inlet 7.

Restricted passagel 5 is provided between inlet 7, chamber 14 and atmosphere (as at opening The restricted passage 15 is preferably partly formed by longitudinally bored rigid stem E399au2 element 16 detachably mounted internally to housing part 4a to extend through member 12 as aforesaid to conjoin passage 15 with inlet 7. Element 16 is preferably mounted between an annular skirt 4d and a bored spigot 4c integrally incorporated on and internally of the housing part 4a. The bore of the spigot 4c terminates as opening 15c and the bore of the stem 16 aligns with the bore of the spigot 4c. A seal 22 is preferably provided between the housing part 4d and element 16. At the end of restricted passage 15 adjacent housing part 4a the bore of the stem 16 is formed with an enlarged diameter section 15c. Seals 17, preferably in the nature of 0-Rings are seated therein in spaced apart relationship to straddle ports 15d connecting chamber 14 to restricted passage A dynamic valve member 18 extends through both bores reducing the volume thereof to form the restricted passage 15 and to control the passage of fluid therethrough. Preferably valve member 18 is in the form of a rod which extends for the full length of restricted passage 15 and is coupled to rocker lever 9 to be reciprocally operated within restricted passage 15. Valve member 18 includes an exterior recess such as an annular groove 19 which, depending on whether being disposed in an open or closed mode, will bridge the sealing provided by one or other of seals 17 separating the section of passage 15 formed by the bore of stem 16 from the section of the passage 15 formed by the bore of the spigot 4c.

In operation, with a float applying tension in the direction of either arrow 11 valve member 18 will tend to be inserted further into restricted passage 15. In so doing groove 19 will bridge the lower sealing means 17 enabling water within inlet 7 to enter chamber 14 via passage 15 and ports 15d. Owing to the pressure differential at the opposing surfaces of E399au2 6 flexible member 12 it will tend to seat on seat 13 and thus close the valve. Preferably a compression spring 20 is included to assist the closing action of flexible member 12.

As tension is eased in the direction of arrows 11 spring 21 will tend to opposingly articulate rocker arm 9 and thus tend to withdraw valve member 18 from restricted passage 15. In so doing groove 19 will bridge the upper sealing means 17 thus venting chamber 14 via ports restricted passage 15b and opening 15a, to atmosphere. The liquid pressure in inlet 7 will thus be greater than that in chamber 14 and flexible member 12 will be dislodged into chamber 14 clear of valve seat 13 thus opening the valve.

Claims

1. A float operated valve comprising an inlet pressure operated flexible member adapted to control fluid passage from an inlet through the valve to an outlet, an inlet connected chamber within the valve, a stationary element mounted to an housing of the valve to form a restricted passage extending between the inlet, the inlet connected chamber and to atmosphere via an opening in the valve housing, a dynamic valve member, adapted to be operated by the action of an associated float, and mounted to control fluid passage through the restricted passage by, in a first mode venting the inlet connected chamber to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace under pressure at the inlet to open the valve and in a second mode closing the vent to atmosphere allowing the inlet pressure to reinstate the flexible member to close the valve.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dynamic valve member is adapted to be coupled to a float via a lever pivotally mounted to a housing of the valve, the lever being biased to resist, in situ, the action of a float connected thereto.

3. A valve as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the flexible member is in the form of a diaphragm which seats on an inner end of the inlet to control the passage through the valve.

4. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the dynamic valve member is formed by a rod which is reciprocally operable within the restricted passage between an open mode and a closed mode.

E399au2 8 A float valve comprising an housing having an inlet and an outlet to an interior thereof, an inlet pressure operated flexible member adapted to control passage through the valve, a chamber within the housing, a stationary bored stem element mounted to the housing to connect the bore thereof with an opening through a wall of the housing to provide a restricted passage between the inlet, the chamber and the opening, a valve member adapted to be operated by a float and mounted within the restricted passage whereby in the valve member being moved in a first direction the chamber is vented to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace to open the valve and in being moved in the opposite direction to close the valve.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5 wherein the dynamic valve member is adapted to be operated by a float via a lever pivotally mounted to the valve housing, the lever being biased to resist, in situ, the action of a float connected thereto.

7. A valve as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the restricted passage is partly formed by a longitudinally disposed bore formed in the stem element which is mounted internally of the valve to extend through the flexible member into the inlet.

8. A valve as claimed in any one of the claims 5 to 7 inclusive wherein the flexible member is in the form of a diaphragm which seats on an inner end of the inlet to control the passage through the valve.

9. A valve as claimed in any one of the claims 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the valve member is formed by a rod which is reciprocally operable within the restricted passage between an open mode and a closed mode.

E399au2 9 A float valve comprising an housing having an inlet and an outlet to an interior thereof, an inlet pressure operated flexible member disposed between the inlet and outlet to control passage therebetween and to create an interior chamber, a stationary bored element mounted to the housing to connect the bore thereof with an opening through a wall of the housing to provide a restricted passage between the inlet, the chamber and the opening to atmosphere, a reciprocally operative valve member connected to a float actuated member and mounted within the restricted passage whereby with the float actuated member tending to withdraw the valve member the chamber is vented to atmosphere allowing the flexible member to displace to connect the outlet to the inlet to open the valve, and with the valve member tending to be inserted connecting the inlet to the chamber to thus enable pressure at the inlet to displace the flexible member to close the valve.

11. A valve as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bored element is in the form of a stem which is detachably mounted on a bored spigot integrally incorporated on and internally of the housing and terminating therethrough to atmosphere, the bore of the stem aligning with the bore of the spigot and the valve member extends through both bores reducing the volume thereof to form the restricted passage.

12. A valve as claimed in claim 11 wherein means are provided to bias the action of the valve member against any opening action of a float connected to the valve.

13. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the restricted passage connects with a port extending laterally thereof to the inlet associated chamber and the valve member incorporates a recess adapted to align with the port to, in a closing mode connects the port to the inlet or in an opening mode connects the port to atmosphere. E399au2

14. A valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein the port connects with an enlarged section of the restricted passage, seals being mounted in the enlarged section to separate that section from the remainder of the restricted passage, the recess in the valve member bridging one or other of the seals to provide for the opening or closing of the valve.

15. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a spring is provided to tend to dispose the flexible member to close the valve.

16. A float valve substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.