WO2007099549A2

WO2007099549A2 - Device to save water from wastage through open taps on resumption of water supply

Info

Publication number: WO2007099549A2
Application number: PCT/IN2007/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Milind Kotwal
Original assignee: Milind Kotwal
Priority date: 2006-02-06
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: WO2007099549A3

Abstract

A device (A) to prevent wastage of water is described. Under normal conditions water is fed to the device (A) from a water supply line (B) through opening (1 ) and flows via outlet (7) towards a system (C) of water consumers, like for example water taps. Under this condition the float chamber (3) is filled with water and the float (4) is in its upper position away from the valve seat. If water supply in supply line (B) is interrupted and a tap downstream of device (A) is open, float chamber (3) is drained and fills with air, float (4) comes to its lower, closed position. If water supply in supply line (B) is re-established, chamber (3) fills with water. The float (4) is dimensioned in such a way, that it keeps in its closed position, as long as atmospheric pressure remains downstream of the valve seat, which will be the case, as long as a downstream tap remains open. By closing the downstream water tap, the small amount of water, that runs through the bleed-passage within member (4) fills the downstream system of water-pipes until the pressure downstream of device (A) is sufficient, to lift float (4) and open device (A).

Description

Title of the Invention:

DEVICE TO SAVE WATER FROM WASTAGE THROUGH OPEN TAPS ON RESUMPTION OF WATER SUPPLY

Technical Field

This is a domestic and industrial water or liquid distribution piping aide.

Background Art:

It is a common experience that water taps opened for drawing water are left inadvertently open if there is no water supply. Such open taps are cause of water wastage when the water supply resumes. This type of wastage is very high when the residents are not in the house. Also it may cause water flooding inside the houses. The wastage of water through taps left inadvertently open increases when there are frequent supply disruptions due to water scarcity.

Disclosure of Invention:

The object of the invention disclosed here is to stop resumed water supply from flowing to the downstream. if there are open taps, and restore the flow on closing of the open taps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 : This Figure shows the location of the device in the water distribution piping

Figure 2: This figure describes the construction of the device

Figure 3: This figure describes construction of valve float assembly

Figure 4: This figure describes arrangement for restoring water flow through device by increasing downstream pressure with manually operated arrangement. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention

Device construction

As shown in Figure no 1, the device (A) is fitted in-line between main water supply pipe (B), and branch (C) supplying water to the area which is required to be protected from water wastage due to open taps. The location of the device in case of residential buildings is the water pipe entry point to the individual apartment.

Figure no 2 shows the device construction. The device has seven main parts, these are:

1. Water inlet which receives water from water main supply pipe,

2. Valve chamber which houses the valve,

3. Float chamber which houses the valve float,

4. Valve Float assembly

5. Top Float

6. Trapped air bypass line

7. Water out let

Figure no 3 shows construction of valve float assembly. The assembly has three main parts, central rod (8), Float (9) and valve disc (10). Float is fitted on one end of the rod and the valve disc is fitted on the other end of the rod. The central rod is hollow with two fine holes. One hole opening is in the rod end (1 1) on valve disc side whereas another hole (12) opening is between float and valve disc.

During the regular water supply the water passes from water mains, to device water inlet to valve chamber to water outlet and finally to water distribution network.

Figure 4 describes manually operated arrangements to release water flow through the device. Top of Float Chamber (13) has a Push Rod (14) with Disc (15) and Rubber Disc for sealing retained by Top Cover (16). The Push rod (14) is retained by a Spring (17). The arrangement has provision for trapped air bypass line (18) Which comes out from Float Chamber through the gap around push rod. Device Operation

In the normal working condition when there is regular water supply and usage, the device body remains flooded with water and thus the floating float keeps the valve disc away from valve seat, and water flows from the main water supply pipe to the taps through the device.

In the condition when there is a break in water supply, but there is no drawing of water from the taps, the device remains flooded with water and thus the floating float keeps the valve disc away from valve seat, .

In the condition when there is a break in water supply and any of the taps is opened to draw water, water from the device gets drained out thus emptying the float chamber. Valve disc which is connected to valve float comes down to rest on the valve seat, closing the passage of water downstream to the water taps.

In above mentioned condition the taps are sometimes left inadvertently open.

When the water supply resumes after break in water supply, if any of the water outlets is open pressure on downstream side of the device remains atmospheric, while that on supply side increases due to incoming water pressure. This difference in pressure forces the valve disc against the valve seat. This retains the valve disc securely on the valve seat preventing flow of water through the regular water passage.

Air bypass tube is provided to remove air tapped in the device body. The tube connects the top of the float chamber to water outlet thus providing passage to the air through open taps. When the air in the device body is flushed out by incoming water, the upper float starts rising with the water level and rests on the air outlet and shuts it. Thus it does not allow the water to pass through the air bypass line.

As explained in the device construction, there are two small holes on the central rod of the float connected by hollow in the rod. This small passage allows the water to pass from valve chamber to water outlet when the passage is blocked by valve disc. When the downstream taps are in open condition the water leaking through the passage in the float valve is released to the atmosphere. However if the taps are in closed condition or are closed following restoring of water supply, the water leaking through the passage in the float causes increase in pressure on the tap side of the valve disc. As the pressure difference across the valve disc drops, force due to water pressure on the disc reduces till it is less than the force of buoyancy of the float, when floats moves up and lifts the valve disc above the valve seat thus releasing the water passage for normal flow of water through the device.

In another embodiment of the invention the automatic mechanism to restore water supply can be replaced or supported by manually operated mechanisms. One such mechanism is shown in drawing no 4.

Mechanism shown in drawing no 4 is used to manually release water through air bypass line by pushing down the top float and opening the outlet covered by top float. When the water from float chamber is manually released on the tap side of the valve disc after closing the open taps, pressure difference across the valve disc reduces. When force due to pressure difference across the valve disc reduces below that due to buoyancy of float, the valve disc is lifted from the valve seat releasing water passage restoring normal water supply.

Industrial Applicability:

The device is a float operated mechanism to be fitted in line between main water supply pipe and branch supplying water to the area which is required to be protected from water wastage through the taps left open during break in water supply. The device operates automatically to close the water passage if there is a break in water supply and opens the passage only if there is no open tap in the downstream network. It operates automatically to open the water passage after the taps are closed for a short period of time before opening the same for drawing water.

Claims

Claims:I claim:

1. An inline mechanical device that automatically stops resumed liquid flow through it, if there is an open outlet downstream.

2. Devise as claimed in claim 1 has a float valve assembly that operates on the level of liquid in the body of the device.

3. The float Assembly as claimed in claim 2 shuts the devise outlet when the liquid level in the devise falls.

4. The float Assembly as claimed in claim 2 has a valve disc which when subjected to incoming liquid pressure develops force which is more than the force of buoyancy of the float assembly thus keeps the liquid outlet closed.

5. The Device as claimed in claim 1 provides thin passage for liquid in valve chamber to pass across the valve seat.

6. Devise as claimed in claim 1, when in shut condition and on resumption of liquid supply, uses the liquid flow as claimed in claim 5 to reduce pressure difference across valve plate of float assembly as claimed in claim 2 when the down stream outlets are in shut condition.

7. Devise as claimed in claim 1 uses pressure difference with downstream side of the valve to suck air trapped in the devise and release it to the atmosphere through the downstream taps.

8. Devise as claimed in claim 1, when in shut condition and on resumption of liquid supply, has an arrangement to build up pressure on the downstream side of the devise by manually releasing the liquid in the valve chamber through air bypass line.