GB2579363A

GB2579363A - Fill valve assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2579363A
Application number: GB1819387.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hanson Allan; David Illingworth Paul
Original assignee: MERCANTILE VENTURES Ltd
Current assignee: MERCANTILE VENTURES Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-28
Filing date: 2018-11-28
Publication date: 2020-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-28
Also published as: GB201819387D0; GB2579363B

Abstract

The shut-off valve has a cut-off valve having two parts 108 with an inlet for connection to a water supply 112 and an outlet (122, Fig. 2) releasably connectable to an inlet 104 housing of a float valve 106, the cut-off valve being sealing securable in an aperture in a wall 111 of a cistern 102. The cut-off valve is biased towards a closed, shut-off position and is openable by engagement of the outlet (122) with an inlet 104 of a fill valve assembly. Also claimed is a fill valve assemble 100 for a cistern 102 having an inlet 104 connected to the shut-off valve and a float valve 106 connected to an outlet. The cut-off valve is shown in Fig. 2 and has an isolating member (150) biased by spring (156). When engaged with the inlet 104 of the float valve the member is forced downwards, against the bias, opening the valve. The assembly includes a quick release mechanism 114 having spring biased push button (144) operating sliding locking plate (140, Figs. 2-3b), to maintain engagement of the two parts of the cut-off valve.

Description

FILL VALVE ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to fill valve assemblies and in particular, but not exclusively, to fill valve assemblies suitable for use in toilet cisterns.

A cistern typically comprises a reservoir for containing a specified volume of water which can be automatically filled via a connection to a mains water supply, and an outlet arrangement that enables the contents of the cistern to be emptied.

The connection of the cistern to the mains water supply is usually effected using an inlet valve, which opens and closes automatically in response to the level of water within the cistern. In many cases, the inlet valve is actuated using a float, which floats on the water in the cistern: as the water level rises, the valve is progressively closed such that when the water level reaches a particular level, the valve is completely closed, thereby shutting-off the flow of water from the mains supply to the cistern and thus completing the filling of the cistern.

However, current fill valve assemblies are known to have limitations, which often leads to the assembly having to be serviced or replaced entirely, necessarily requiring the assembly to be first disconnected from the system. In order to disconnect the assembly from the system, the flow of water from the mains water supply must first be shut-off and any water remaining in the cistern (including water in the fill valve assembly) must be drained. This process is often messy, inconvenient and time consuming.

A further problem of known fill valve assemblies is back siphonage of water from the assembly into the mains water supply. Back siphonage results from the supply pressure being lowered below that of the system and may occur when the supply is interrupted or 1 drained down causing a higher pressure in the system than its supply. Water contained within the cistern is classified as "grey water" and as such represents a serious contamination risk to the mains water supply which is also used to supply drinking water. This problem affects, in particular, bottom fill inlet valve assemblies. A "bottom filf inlet valve assembly is one that is adapted to be fitted to the base wall of the cistern with the mains inlet pipe coming up from below the cistern. Assisted by gravity, grey water may flow back from the bottom fill valve assembly into the mains water supply.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or alleviate these known problems.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is a fill valve assembly for a toilet cistern, comprising: a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a through passage extending between the inlet and the outlet; a float valve connected to the outlet of the housing; and a cut-off valve means having an inlet for connection to a water supply and an outlet releasably connectable to the inlet of the housing, the cut-off valve means being sealingly securable in an aperture in a wall of the inlet cistern; the cut-off valve means being biased towards a closed, shut-off position and being opened on engagement of the outlet of the cut-off valve means with the inlet of the housing.

As such, the invention may conveniently provide a fill valve assembly, suitable for use in a toilet cistern, which can be easily disconnected from the cistern. Upon disconnection, the assembly automatically closes the outlet of the mains water supply, obviating the need to turn off the mains water supply.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is an automatic shut-off valve assembly comprising: a cut-off valve means having an inlet for connecting to a water supply and an outlet releasably connectable to the inlet of a housing of a float valve, the cut-off valve means being sealingly securable in an aperture in a wall of an inlet cistern, wherein the cut-off valve means is biased towards a closed, shut-off position and being opened on engagement of the outlet of the cut-off valve means with the inlet of the housing.

Preferably, the cut-off means comprises a valve closure member which is biased towards sealing engagement with a valve seat, and wherein the housing engages with the valve closure member and displaces it from the valve seat when the inlet of the housing is engaged with the outlet of the cut-off valve means.

In addition, it is preferred that the housing is tubular.

Preferably the housing comprises a projection which is releasably engageable with the valve closure member of the cut-off valve.

Preferably the valve closure member is moveable between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position.

In addition, it is preferred that the valve closure member sealingly closes the outlet of the water supply when in the first, extended position and allows the flow of water from the water supply when in the second, retracted position.

It is also preferred that the valve closure member is biased towards the first, extended position by a biasing means and wherein the biasing means is a compression spring.

It is preferred that the projection urges the valve closure member into the second, retracted position upon connecting the cut-off means to the inlet tube.

Preferably the cut-off valve means comprises a double check valve and, preferably wherein the double check valve is removable. Such a configuration prevents backflow of water from the fill valve into the water supply. In cases with a gravity fed supply, such as with a header tank, there is no risk of back siphonage into the tank and, consequently, the double check valve can be removed.

In addition, it is preferred that the cut-off means comprises an upper portion for connecting to the inlet and a lower portion for connecting to the outlet of the water supply.

It is preferred that the upper portion is releasably engageable with the lower portion.

It is preferred that a first end of the lower portion is received in a correspondingly shaped and sized bore formed in the base of the upper portion and comprises a circumferential groove.

In addition, it is preferred that the upper portion comprises a locking member for releasably securing the first end of the lower portion to the upper portion, wherein the locking member is moveable between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position.

It is preferred that the locking member is biased towards the first, locked position by a biasing means and, more specifically, by a compression spring.

Preferably, the locking member comprises an aperture.

More specifically, it is preferred that the aperture comprises a first end complimentarily sized and shaped to receive the first end of the lower portion and a second end complimentarily sized and shaped to receive an inner diameter of the circumferential groove.

It is also preferred that an inner wall of the second end of the aperture is received by the circumferential groove when the locking member is in the first, locked position.

In addition, it is preferred that the first end of the lower portion is separable from the upper portion when the locking member is in the second, unlocked position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fill valve assembly according to the invention, fitted to a bottom-fill cistern; Figure lb is a perspective view of the fill valve assembly of Figure la in a detached configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic, sectional view of an automatic shut-off valve which forms part of the fill valve assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a plan view of a locking mechanism which forms part of the automatic shut-off valve of Figure 2, in an unlocked configuration; Figure 3b is a plan view of the locking mechanism of Figure 3a in a locked configuration; and Figure 4 is a schematic, sectional view of a removable double check valve in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Figures la and lb of the drawings, a bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100 is used to control the flow of water into a toilet cistern 102 (one corner of which is shown in cross-section in Figure 1). The inlet valve assembly 100 has an inlet tube 104, a float valve 106 that controls the flow of water into the cistern 102, and an automatic shutoff valve 108 connected to the inlet tube 104. The automatic shutoff valve 108 houses a removable double check valve 110 (see Figure 4) preventing backflow or siphonage from the inlet valve assembly 100 to a mains water supply 112 to which the automatic shutoff valve 108 is connected in use, as will be explained. The inlet valve assembly 100 is located within the cistern 102 and, in use, the automatic shutoff valve 108 is arranged so as to protrude through an opening 111 in the base wall of the cistern 102 so that it can be connected to the external mains water supply 112.

Nested within the inlet tube 104 is an actuating member (not shown) which projects vertically downwards beyond a periphery of the inlet tube 104 for engagement with the automatic shutoff valve 108 (as will be explained).

The automatic shutoff valve 108 has a lower portion 116 which is permanently coupled to the mains water supply 112 and an upper portion 114 which can be releasably coupled to the inlet tube 104. The upper and lower portions are releasably connectable to each other allowing the inlet valve assembly 100 to be easily disconnected from the mains water supply 112 (shown in Figure lb).

In Figure 2, the automatic shutoff valve 108 of the bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100 is shown. The automatic shutoff valve 108 has a generally tubular body formed from the upper and lower portions 114, 116. A central fluid bore 118, which corresponds with a central fluid bore of the attached inlet tube 104, runs the length of the body and allows liquid to flow through the length of the body when the automatic shutoff valve 108 is attached to the mains water supply 112.

The upper portion 114 comprises an externally threaded connection 120 at its upper end 122 for securing the upper portion 114 of the automatic shutoff valve 108 to an adjacent portion of the inlet tube 104. Similarly, the lower portion 116 terminates in an externally threaded connection 124 having a plastic washer 126 and nut 128 for sealingly securing the lower portion 116 of the automatic shutoff valve 108 in the opening in the base wall of the cistern 102.

The lower portion 116 comprises a first, inner end 130 which is received in a complimentarily shaped and sized bore 132 formed in the base of the upper portion 114. The outer surface of the first, inner end 130 is provided with a first circumferential groove 134 for receipt of a deformable 0-ring seal 136, as shown in Figure 2, for sealing engagement with an inner surface of the corresponding bore of the upper portion 114. A second circumferential groove 138 is also formed beneath the first circumferential groove 134, for receipt of a locking member 140, for releasably securing the lower portion 116 to the upper portion 114.

The upper portion 114 has, at its lower end 142, a locking projection 144 which is biased radially outward by a compression spring 146. The locking projection 144 extends radially outward from the lower end 142 of the upper portion 114 and is contiguous with the locking member 140. The locking projection 144 is constrained to move in the radial direction by means of a guide bore 148 formed in the lower end 142 of the upper portion 114. The locking projection 144 has, along its length, a shoulder portion 145, against which the compression spring 146 biases the locking projection 144 radially outward. This configuration allows the locking projection 144 to be radially moveable between a retracted and extended position.

When the locking projection 144 is in the extended position, the locking member 140 is received in the second circumferential groove 138 formed in the outer surface of the lower portion 116 thereby securing the lower portion 116 to the upper portion 114. When the locking projection 144 is in the retracted position, the locking member 140 is withdrawn from the circumferential groove 138 against the restoring force of the spring allowing the lower portion 116 to be separated from the upper portion 114. This locking mechanism allows the bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100 to be easily disconnected from the mains water supply 112.

In Figure 3, a plan view of the locking mechanism is shown in an unlocked configuration (shown in Figure 3a) and locked configuration (shown in Figure 3b). The locking member 140 is rectangular in shape and has a central aperture 141 comprising a first end 147, which is complementarily shaped and sized to receive the first, inner end 130 of the lower portion 116, and a second end 149, which is shaped and sized smaller than the first, inner end 130 of the lower portion 116 so that a portion of an inner wall 143 of the second end 149 of the aperture 141 projects into the second circumferential groove 138 when the locking projection 144 is in the extended position.

To secure the lower portion 114 to the upper portion 116, the locking projection 144 is first depressed into the retracted position against the restoring force of the compression spring 146 and the first, inner end 130 of the lower portion is inserted through the first end 147 of the aperture 141. The locking projection 144 is then released, allowing the restorative force of the compression spring 146 to bias the locking projection 144 radially outward into the extended position. When in this position, the first, inner end 130 of the lower portion 114 is located in the second end 149 of the central aperture 141 and the inner wall 143 is received in the second circumferential groove 138, thereby securing the lower portion 114 to the upper portion 116.

To release the lower portion 114 from the upper portion 116, the locking projection 144 is depressed into the retracted position against the restoring force of the compression spring 146 causing the locking member 140 to move radially inward. When in this position, the first, inner end 130 of the lower portion 114 is located in the first end 147 of the central aperture 141 which is sized to allow the first, inner end 130 to be withdrawn from the aperture 141.

Referring again to Figure 2, the lower portion 116 has an isolating member 150 located within and protruding vertically out of the fluid bore 118. The isolating member 150 is formed into an enlarged head 152 at its inner end which is biased towards sealing engagement with a circumferential shoulder 154 formed within the fluid bore 118 by means of a compression spring 156 acting on its opposite side. The compression spring 156 is mounted on a support 158 which is seated within a circumferential groove 160 formed on the inner surface of the fluid bore 118.

The isolating member 150 is vertically moveable between a retracted and extended position.

When the isolating member 150 is in the extended position, the fluid bore 118 is sealingly closed by the enlarged head 152 that bears against the circumferential shoulder 154. When the isolating member 150 is in the retracted position, the enlarged head 152 is held away from the circumferential shoulder 154, allowing water to flow from the mains water supply 112 into the bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100.

In use, when the inlet tube 102 is connected to the automatic shut off valve 108, the actuating member of the inlet tube 104 abuts the inner end of the isolating member 150 of the automatic shut off valve 108, urging the isolating member 150 vertically downwards against the biasing force of the compression spring 156 and into the retracted position, allowing water to flow from the mains water supply 112, through the automatic shut off valve 108 and into the bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100.

To disconnect the bottom fill inlet valve assembly 100, the locking projection 144 is depressed into the retracted position, against the restoring force of the compression spring 146 causing the locking member 140 to disengage from the circumferential groove 138, allowing the lower portion 116 to be separated from the upper portion 114. Upon separation of the upper and lower portions 114, 116, the actuating member of the inlet tube 104 disengages from the inner end of the isolating member 150 and the biasing force of the compression spring 156 acts to force the isolating member 150 into the extended position, causing the enlarged head 152 to bear against the circumferential shoulder 154, sealingly closing the fluid bore 118. The valve 108 is automatically closed upon separation of the upper and lower portions 114, 116, thereby preventing the inflow of water from the mains water supply 112.

Referring now to Figure 4, the removable double check valve 110 housed within the central fluid bore 118 is shown. The removable double check valve 110 is formed from two diaphragm check valves connected in series with the outlet of the first diaphragm check valve 162 forming the input of the second diaphragm check valve 164. Each check valve has a spring biased rubber diaphragm 166 positioned to create a normally-closed valve seal. As water flows, the pressure on the inlet is greater than the pressure on the outlet of each check valve, creating a pressure differential. The pressure differential acts against the biasing force of a compression spring 168 causing the check valve to open allowing flow.

Once the positive pressure stops, the compression spring 168 acts against the diaphragm 166 causing the diaphragm 166 to automatically move back to its original closed position. This configuration prevents backflow of water into the mains water supply 112 in the event of downstream valve or seal failure. This configuration also prevents siphonage from the bottom inlet valve assembly 100 to the mains water supply 112 when in use.

Referring again to Figure 4, an arched projection 170 extends diametrically across the inlet of the first check valve 162. The arched projection 170 projects vertically such that when the removable double check valve 110 is fitted in the central fluid bore 118, it projects out of the externally threaded connection 124of the automatic shutoff valve 108. The arched projection 170 allows for placement of the double check valve 110 within the central fluid bore 118 of the automatic shutoff valve 108 as well as its removal from the central fluid bore 118.

The present description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiment without departing from the full and fair scope of the present disclosure. For example, other fill inlet valve assemblies may be used, including a "side fill" inlet valve assembly which is adapted to be fitted to a side wall of a cistern with the mains water pipe coming in from the side/rear of the cistern. In addition, the automatic shutoff valve 108 may be provided with or without the removable double check valve 110. Further still, the removable double check valve 110 may be placed at other locations within the inlet valve assembly 100 including, but not limited to the inlet tube 104, and the central fluid bore 118 of the upper portion 114 of the automatic shutoff valve 108. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fill valve assembly for a toilet cistern, comprising: a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a through passage extending between the inlet and the outlet; a float valve connected to the outlet of the housing; and a cut-off valve means having an inlet for connection to a water supply and an outlet releasably connectable to the inlet of the housing, the cut-off valve means being sealingly securable in an aperture in a wall of the inlet cistern; the cut-off valve means being biased towards a closed, shut-off position and being opened on engagement of the outlet of the cut-off valve means with the inlet of the housing.
2. An automatic shut-off valve assembly comprising: a cut-off valve means having an inlet for connecting to a water supply and an outlet releasably connectable to the inlet of a housing of a float valve, the cut-off valve means being sealingly securable in an aperture in a wall of an inlet cistern, wherein the cut-off valve means is biased towards a closed, shut-off position and being opened on engagement of the outlet of the cut-off valve means with the inlet of the housing.
3. The fill valve assembly of claim 1 or the automatic shut-off valve assembly if claim 2, wherein the cut-off means comprises a valve closure member which is biased towards sealing engagement with a valve seat, and wherein the housing engages with the valve closure member and displaces it from the valve seat when the inlet of the housing is engaged with the outlet of the cut-off valve means.
4. The fill valve assembly of claim 1 or the automatic shut-off valve assembly if claim 2, wherein the housing is tubular.
5. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 3 to 4, wherein the housing comprises a projection which is releasably engageable with the valve closure member of the cut-off valve means.
6. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the valve closure member is moveable between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position.
7. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve closure member sealingly closes the outlet of the water supply when in the first, extended position.
8. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve closure member allows the flow of water from the water supply when in the second, retracted position.
9. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the valve closure member is biased towards the first, extended position by a biasing means.
10. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the biasing means is a compression spring.
11. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the projection urges the valve closure member into the second, retracted position upon connecting the cut-off means to the inlet.
12. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 3 to 11, wherein the cut-off valve means comprises a double check valve.
13. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the double check valve is removable.
14. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 12 to 13, wherein the double check valve prevents water flowing from the cut-off valve means into the water supply.
15. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 3 to 14, wherein the cut-off means comprises an upper portion for connecting to the inlet and a lower portion for connecting to the outlet of the water supply.
16. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the upper portion is releasably engageable with the lower portion.
17. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 16, wherein a first end of the lower portion is received in a correspondingly shaped and sized bore formed in the base of the upper portion.
18. The fill valve or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the first end comprises a circumferential groove.
19. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the upper portion comprises a locking member for releasably securing the first end of the lower portion to the upper portion.
20. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the locking member is moveable between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position.
21. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 20, wherein the locking member is biased towards the first, locked position by a biasing means.
22. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 21, wherein the biasing means is a compression spring.
23. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the locking member comprises an aperture.
24. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 23, wherein the aperture comprises a first end complimentarily sized and shaped to receive the first end of the lower portion.
25. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 23 to 24, wherein the aperture comprises a second end complimentarily sized and shaped to receive an inner diameter of the circumferential groove.
26. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of claim 25, wherein an inner wall of the second end of the aperture is received by the circumferential groove when the locking member is in the first, locked position.
27. The fill valve assembly or the automatic shut-off valve assembly of any of claims 20 to 26, wherein the first end of the lower portion is separable from the upper portion when the locking member is in the second, unlocked position.