GB2235490A

GB2235490A - Burst pipe prevention

Info

Publication number: GB2235490A
Application number: GB8919798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick O'rourke
Original assignee: ROURKE PATRICK O
Current assignee: ROURKE PATRICK O
Priority date: 1989-09-01
Filing date: 1989-09-01
Publication date: 1991-03-06
Also published as: GB8919798D0

Abstract

A burst pipe prevention system for a domestic water supply comprises a three-way valve (7) actuated by a thermostat (19) when the temperature approaches 0 DEG C so as to shut off the supply pipe (2) and connect the upstream portion thereof (14) to the drain pipe (8). A non-return valve (22) allows air into the system when the three-way valve is in the drain position, so as to enable water to automatically drain from the upstream portion of the supply pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

BURST PIPE PREVENTION SYSTEM This invention relates to a burst pipe prevention system suitable for use in protecting a water supply installation.

In order to protect against the potentially serious damage that can occur to a building and its contents as a result of burst pipes it is necessary to not only shut off the water supply pipe, but also to drain the system. This can be a relatively tedious and time consuming procedure and on the one hand is often carried out when it is not in fact necessary and on the other hand may be forgotten on the few occasions when it is actually necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a burst pipe prevention system suitable for use in protecting a water supply installation comprising a water supply pipe having at least one discharge outlet provided with a valve means, said system comprising a three-way valve means having a supply pipe inlet and a supply pipe outlet for connection of the three-way valve means, in use of the system, in series with the supply pipe with said inlet and outlet connected to respective upstream and downstream portions of the supply pipe, and a drain outlet, said three-way valve means having a first, operating, position in which a valve member is disposed so that the drain outlet is closed and the supply pipe inlet in communication with the supply pipe outlet, and a second, drain, position in which the valve member is disposed so that the supply pipe inlet is closed and the supply pipe outlet in communication with the drain outlet, said three-way valve means having a drive means for driving said valve member between said operating and drain positions; at control means having a thermostat switch means mountable on said supply pipe, in use of the system, between said discharge outlet and the three way valve means and formed and arranged for actuating the drive member to drive said valve member from its operating position to its drain position upon a fall in the supply pipe temperature below a predetermined 0 value at or just above 0 C; and an air point having an air inlet controlled by a one way valve means and connectable into said supply pipe between said discharge outlet and said three-way valve means remote from the latter, and formed and arranged for sealing said air inlet under the influence of water pressure when said three-way valve is in its operating position and opening said air inlet to admit air to the main supply pipe when said three-way valve is in its drain position, whereby in use of the system when the temperature of the main supply pipe approaches freezing the main supply pipe is closed by the three-way valve and the main supply pipe downstream thereof drained.

Thus with the system of the present invention whenever there is a risk of a burst pipe, the main supply is automatically cut-off to prevent any possible flooding, and the downstream end of the supply pipe i.e.

that most exposed to the risk of freezing is automatically drained to eliminate the possibility of freezing and the pipe bursting.

The present invention also extends to a method of preventing a burst pipe comprising providing said pipe with a burst pipe prevention system of the invention.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of a preferred embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a schematic circuit diagram of a burst pipe prevention system of the invention in use in a domestic water installation.

In the drawing is shown part of a domestic water installation 1 comprising a main water supply pipe 2 extending upwardly into the loft 3 where it supplies a water storage tank 4 via a ball-cock valve 5. At a lower end 6 the supply pipe 2 is provided with a threeway 'anti-burst' valve 7 through which it is connected to a drain pipe 8 which is led out through an outside wall 9 to a convenient location.

As may be seen in the detail view in which the three-way valve 7 is shown in its normal operating position, the drain outlet 10 to the drain pipe 8 is normally closed allowing water to flow freely from an upstream portion 11 of the water supply pipe 2 via a water inlet 12 to the water outlet 13 and then into a downstream portion 14 of the supply pipe 2.

The upper end 15 of the supply pipe 2 in the loft 3 is provided with a 'frost-stat' i.e. a thermostat switch means 19 mounted in direct contact with the pipe 2 i.e. underneath any lagging material 16 and set for operation at a temperature just above OOC to actuate an electrically operated valve drive means 17 provided at the three-way valve 7, to rotate the valve member 18 thereof through 900 in an anti-clockwise direction.(as viewed) into its drain position. In the latter position the water inlet 12 is sealed off while the water inlet 13 is connected to the drain outlet 10.

The 'frost-stat' 19 is connected to the valve drive means 17 via suitable electrical leads and together therewith constitutes a control means for the three-way valve 7.

Close to the storage tank 4, the supply pipe 2 is provided with an automatic air point 21 comprising a one-way valve having a valve member 22 arranged to normally seal an air inlet 23 under the influence of a positive water pressure in the pipe 2, and to open the air inlet 23 to admit air into the pipe 2 under the influence of negative water pressure when the three-way valve 7 moves to its drain position, thereby allowing the water in the pipe 2 above the three-way valve 7 to drain out of the pipe 2.

Thereafter if the temperature continues to fall the risk of freezing of water in the pipe 2 is avoided and when the temperature rises again the three-way valve is automatically restored to its normal operating position and the downstream supply pipe portion 14 reconnected to the upstream portion 11 so that when water is required to be drawn off e.g. by opening of the ball-cock valve 5, the downstream supply pipe portion is refilled with water. Thus the system provides automatic protection against frozen pipes and flooding and at the same time avoids any unnecessary shutting off and draining of the system.

Claims

1. A burst pipe prevention system suitable for use in protecting a water supply installation comprising a water supply pipe having at least one discharge outlet, said system comprising a three-way valve means having a supply pipe inlet and a supply pipe outlet-for connection of the three-way valve means, in use of the system, in series with the supply pipe with said inlet and outlet connected to respective upstream and downstream portions of the supply pipe, and a drain outlet, said three-way valve means having an operating position in which the drain outlet is closed and the supply pipe inlet is in communication with the supply pipe outlet, and a drain position in which the supply pipe inlet is closed and the supply pipe outlet is in communication with the drain to allow drainage of the downstream supply pipe portion; drive means for driving said three-way valve means between said operating and drain positions; control means having a thermostat switch means for actuating the drive means to drive said three-way valve means from its operating position to its drain position upon a fall in the supply pipe temperature below a predetermined value at or just above O"C;; and an air inlet controlled by a one way valve and connectable into said supply pipe between said discharge outlet and said three-way valve mean remote from the latter, for sealing said air inlet under the influence of water pressure when said three-way valve is in its operating position and opening said air inlet to admit air to the downstream supply pipe portion to facilitate drainage when said three-way valve is in its drain position, whereby in use of the system when the temperature approaches freezing the supply pipe is closed by the three-way valve means and the supply pipe downstream thereof drained.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the three-way valve means comprises a valve body provided with said supply pipe inlet and outlet and said drain outlet, and a valve spool rotatably mounted within said body and rotatable between said operating position and said drain positions.

3. A system according to either preceding claims wherein said drain outlet passes through the outside wall of the building.

4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the thermostat switch means is adapted to be mounted on the downstream supply pipe portion.

5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the said inlet is situated at the highest point of the downstream supply pipe portion.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the air inlet is situated above a storage tank so that any water leakage through said air inlet discharges into the storage tank.

7. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the one-way valve is adapted to allow air into the downstream supply pipe portion when the water pressure within the pipe is subatmospheric.

8. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the upstream portion of the supply pipe is connected directly to the water main.

9. A burst pipe prevention system substantially as described in conjunction with the drawing.

10. A method of protecting a water supply installation which comprises fitting to an existing installation a three-way valve means, a drive means, a control means and a one-way valve in the manner according to claim 1.

11. A kit of parts for providing the burst pipe prevention system of claim 1, which comprises a three-way valve means, a drive means, a control means and a one-way valve.