GB2276656A

GB2276656A - Water supply isolation system

Info

Publication number: GB2276656A
Application number: GB9306922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Sage-Passant
Original assignee: SAGE PASSANT PETER
Current assignee: SAGE PASSANT PETER
Priority date: 1993-04-02
Filing date: 1993-04-02
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Also published as: GB9306922D0; CA2120285A1

Abstract

A water isolation system comprises a valve (1) in a water flow line (10), with a latched solenoid to open or close the valve. A power source operates the valve with an electrical switch (2) causing pulsed actuation of the solenoid on operation of the switch. The solenoid is unpowered when the switch is not being operated. The switch (2) is located at a convenient point within a building to which the water is supplied, which point may be remote from the water flow line, such as adjacent a main entry/exit door to the building. Use of the system allows the water supply to be completely isolated when the building is to be unoccupied for even the shortest period of time. It also prevents excessive water loss and water damage when there is a burst pipe by being controlled at a point which is easy to reach and thereby switch off the system quickly. Finally, it can be easily closed to facilitate maintenance or replacement of any part of the water or heating system within the building. <IMAGE>

Description

WATER ISOLATION SYSTEM The present invention relates to a water isolation system.

More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a system for isolating when desired, and reinstating water supply to a building, preferably at a point near where the supply enters the building.

Hitherto, it has been usual to provide a stopcock in the mains water supply near where it enters the building.

Very often, this may be in such a position that it is inconvenient to use the stopcock. For this reason, the stopcock is not always used when it should be, thereby defeating its purpose.

It is known that water pipes or connections may burst either because of a failed fitting, or frost damage or the like. If the occupant of the building is not present at the time or fails to notice the damage immediately, the water supply, which is inevitably still turned on, will continue and may cause major damage to the building over a period of several hours, or longer in some cases.

One further problem with the existing stopcocks is that they are used so rarely that they will become stiff and hard to use which both discourages their use normally and hinders their use in an emergency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which is simple to use, convenient to use and which will enable isolation of the water system at a point close to its entry into the building. Use of the system allows the water supply to be completely isolated when the building is to be unoccupied for even the shortest period of time. It also prevents excessive water loss and water damage when there is a burst pipe by being controlled at a point which is easy to reach and thereby switch off the system quickly. Finally, it can be easily closed to facilitate maintenance or replacement of any part of the water or heating system within the building.

According to the present invention there is provided a water isolation system comprising a valve in a water flow line, a latched solenoid to open or close the valve, a power source, electrical switch means to cause pulsed actuation of the solenoid on operation of the switch means and to cut-off power thereto when the switch means is not being operated, said switch means being adapted to be located at a convenient point within a building to which the water is supplied, said point optionally being remote from the water flow line.

Preferably the switch means is located adjacent a main entry/exit door to said building.

A bypass line may be provided to bypass the valve, said bypass line being normally closed, but manually openable.

This enables the water flow system to be continued should the valve stick in its closed position.

Additionally, manually operable valve means may be provided in the main line within the points of entrance and exit of the bypass line, said valves being normally open but closable to enable the solenoid valve to be removed for repair, replacement or maintenance. In this case, the bypass line valve may be opened to allow continuance of flow of water to the building.

The valve is preferably located in series in the water flow line with a conventional stopcock.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows schematically a system embodying the present invention; and FIGURE 2 shows a typical building water supply system embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a water supply enters a building from a water mains and travels in the direction indicated by the arrow 10. It enters by means of a feeder pipe 5 as far as the conventional stopcock 4. Although not essential, it is preferred in the present invention to retain this item for the piece of mind of the occupants of the building or in case there is an overwhelming need to positively close off the entire water supply, for example in the case of demolition of the building. Following the stopcock 4 in the water flow supply line is the valve system embodying the present invention. A latched solenoid control valve 1 is located in the main supply line. It is adapted to be either open or closed under the influence of a latched solenoid.

The solenoid valve 1 is controlled by means of a switch 2 located remotely therefrom, preferably in a convenient position adjacent a main entry or exit door 12 to the building. It is connected to the solenoid valve 1 by means of wire 3. Thus, each time the building is vacated or entered, the water supply can be switched off or on, as desired.

The switch 2 includes a battery power pack, preferably operating at 6 or 9 volts, but at a voltage adapted to drive the solenoid in one or the other direction. The switch itself 7 is a rocker switch with a central off position, to which the switch is biased. Movement of the switch to one end position will send a pulse of power of a first polarity to the solenoid and this will be sufficient to drive the solenoid to close the valve 1. Movement of the rocker switch 7 to its other end position will send a pulse of power of opposite polarity to the solenoid and thereby cause opening of the valve 1. Indicator means, such as LED's, may be provided to show that the pulse of power is being sent and immediately this has appeared, the switch may be released to allow its return to its normally off central position.Thus, once the solenoid valve has assumed a new position, where it is latched in position, no further power is supplied to the solenoid thereby avoiding any overheating thereof. This also extends the life of the battery. It is preferred to use a battery since water and mains electric power are not mutually compatible, but other power source means could be used if so desired.

As shown in Figure 1, the valve 1 lies in a main supply line having tee junctions 8, one on either side of the valve 1. These can be connected to the existing mains line by means of compression couplings 6. The tee joints 8 connect via elbows 9 to form a bypass line around the valve 1. This contains a manually operable valve 23 which is normally closed. In the event that the solenoid valve 1 should stick in the closed position, this valve 23 can be opened to allow continuance of the flow.

Furthermore, the main supply line contains two manually closable valves 22 to isolate the solenoid valve 1. If it is desired to remove the solenoid valve 1 for repair, maintenance or replacement, these normally open valves 22 may be shut and valve 23 be opened to continue the supply via the bypass line.

Referring now to Figure 2, it can be seen that the mains water supply flowing in the direction of arrow 10 generally, in most buildings, passes to a cold water storage tank 17 and cental heating header tank 16. From the latter, a central heating supply pipe passes around the building. From the former, a supply may be taken through line 21 to cold water outlets within the building and a supply may be taken to a hot water cylinder 18, whence a hot water supply pipe 20 takes hot water to various outlets through the building. As can be seen, there are a number of connections and a number of pipes within this system, and leakage through any one of them will cause a flow of water to escape and possibly damage the building. The present invention allows the inflow of water to be cut off at source, or near the source thereby minimising the damage.Of course, depending where a leak occurs, there still may be the contents of the cold water supply tank 17 etc., which will be leaked, but this is a finite quantity.

As stated above, it is all too usual to leave the stopcock in an open condition even when the house is to be unoccupied for some considerable time. If the switch 2 is placed adjacent the main entry/exit door to the property, it can be used to turn off the water supply whenever the house is to be left unoccupied, even for a short period of time. Thus, any damage to the property caused by leaking water supply will be minimised, provided that the occupant of the house is encouraged to use the switch.

It would be possible so to arrange the system that more than one switch 2 can be provided, especially in such cases where there are more than one entrance or exit to the building which are regularly used. In this case, the electronics of the systems in the switches could be arranged to show at the switch the existing state of the solenoid valve and whether or not action was required on leaving by that door.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A water isolation system comprising a valve in a water flow line, a latched solenoid to open or close the valve, a power source, and electrical switch means to cause pulsed actuation of the solenoid on operation of the switch means, power to the solenoid being cut-off when the switch means is not being operated, said switch means being adapted to be located at a convenient point within a building to which the water is supplied, said point being remote from the water flow line.

2. A water isolation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch means is located adjacent a main entry/exit door to said building.

3. A water isolation system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a bypass line is provided to bypass the valve, said bypass line being normally closed by second valve means, but manually openable.

4. A water isolation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein third manually operable valve means are provided in the water flow line at a location between the points of entrance and exit of the bypass line, said third valve means being normally open but closable to enable the solenoid valve to be removed.

5. A water isolation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein a conventional stopcock is located in series with said third valve means in the water flow line.

6. A water isolation system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of isolating a water inflow system to a domestic building comprising providing an electrically operable valve in the water inflow line and switch means to control said valve located remote from said valve and adjacent an entry/exit to or from said building, and operating said switch means to open or close said valve.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, comprising providing second valve means in series with said first mentioned valve and operating said second valve means manually.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising providing a bypass line around the first mentioned valve and second valve means, providing third valve means in said bypass line, and manually opening said third valve means in conjunction with closing said second valve means in order to maintain water inflow in the event of failure or replacement of said first mentioned valve.

10. A method of isolating a water inflow system to a domestic building substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany drawings.