APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIQUID STORAGE VESSEL

Field of the Invention

The present relates to the modifying of the operating characteristics of a float valve regulated, automatically filling liquid storage vessel. The invention relates particularly to devices fitted to or within liquid containers incorporating float operated valve regulators to control the filling or refilling thereof.

The invention more particularly relates to water cisterns and water closets (toilets) in which a refilling cycle commences before the end of a cycle where water is drawn off from a cistern.

Background to the Invention

In the description that follows, reference to "water" is intended to indicate by example only on of a number of liquids that can be handled. Similarly, a reference to "cistern" or "tank" is intended to include any appropriate container or vessel into which a liquid may flow.

Although of general application to most liquids and liquid containers, the invention has a primary application in water cisterns to save water used during the flushing cycle of a water closet [WC] (toilet or lavatory).

In general, such cisterns incorporate a float controlled water inlet valve, for example, those constructed to meet British Standard BS Part 1, 2, 3 or 4. Such valves are closed as the water level in the cistern rises and lifts the float. As soon as the WC is flushed, water drains rapidly from the cistern causing the float to

drop opening the valve and allowing water to re-fill the cistern until the rising water level lifts the float to a predetermined level at which the inlet valve is closed once again.

hi practice, the inlet valve begins to open as soon as the float begins to drop, so that water is admitted while water is flowing out of the cistern. The incoming water adds to the water available to be discharged. This is particularly the case where the water is drawn off using a siphon effect mechanism, as is most commonly used in WCs. The volume of water in the cistern (when filled to the point at which the inlet valve is closed) is calculated to be sufficient to flush the associated WC. Therefore, any additional incoming water available to the siphon mechanism is effectively wasted. It simply increases the volume of water available to flush, over and above the volume calculated to give the required throughput of water. Over time, the quantity of water "wasted" in each flush amounts to a considerable volume of wasted water, which could be reduced or eliminated. Towards the end of a refill cycle, when the float actuating arm of a float operated valve approaches the maximum fill level, the valve gradually closes and the flow rate of incoming water drops. Consequently, most float controlled valves take some time to finally stop the flow of incoming water and it is common for such valves to continue to run at a very low flow rates, perhaps dribbling water into the cistern after the float hasreached the level at which the valve should have been shut off.

This noise towards the end of each cistern refill cycle can become very noticeable particularly in normally quiet environments and it is another object of the invention to provide a modified float controlled cistern inlet valve which shuts off more reliably and does not therefore cause the noise which is so often associated with the refilling cycle of a water cistern.

A number of devices have been devised to address the above disadvantages, including UK Patent Publication Nos. GB 2 339 884 and GB 2 302 394 to the present Applicant. In each disclosure, a reservoir or other tillable vessel is secured to the lever arm of float operated valve mechanism to provide a valve regulator which improves (amongst other characteristics) the shutting off of the

incoming water feed valve.

Similarly, UK Patent Publication No 2 338 536 to Parks discloses a float mounted on a valve actuating lever arm, in which the float includes a shaped water receiving tray. The float could tilt to empty the water from the tray, increasing the buoyancy effect of the float and shutting the valve more rapidly. UK Patent

Publication No 2 311 360 to Barker discloses a float operated flow control valve which directs incoming water from the feed valve a float which comprises a first sealed buoyancy chamber and a second water receiving chamber to alter the buoyancy characteristics of the float.

hi each of the above disclosures, a water reservoir is part of the float or formed on the lever arm connecting the float to the inlet valve and affects directly the flow characteristics of the valve. While each invention may be retrofitted to an existing cistern or water container, it involves either a significant amount of alteration or plumbing in of a replacement valve regulator.

It is a first object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide an apparatus and method of modifying the operating characteristics of a liquid storage vessel with a view particularly to reducing the volume of water used unnecessarily in a refill cycle.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a water cistern having a float operated valve which shuts off more reliably and positively and eliminates the noise associated with the refilling cycle.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a device for saving water normally wasted during the flush and refill cycle of a WC.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a liquid saving device suitable for use in a liquid storage vessel of the type having an inlet valve regulator for controlling the volume or flow rate of liquid entering the vessel through an associated valve during an automatic refill cycle which

commences when a volume of liquid contained in the vessel is drawn therefrom, the liquid saving device comprising a reservoir adapted to receive incoming liquid from the inlet valve to maintain a volume therein for a period sufficient to prevent liquid entering the vessel through the valve during a refill cycle from becoming part of the immediately preceding volume of liquid drawn from the vessel, the reservoir comprising means for retaining the reservoir in a fixed position with respect to the inlet valve and flow control means to allow liquid retained within the reservoir to be gradually released.

In this arrangement, the liquid saving device modifies the operating characteristics of the storage vessel and valve regulator combination to provide a more efficient and silent refill cycle.

Conveniently, the means for retaining the reservoir in a fixed position comprises elements for securing the reservoir to one or more walls of a liquid storage vessel.

The securing elements may comprise one or more brackets extending from the reservoir and adapted to be secured to the vessel wall or retained by engaging with the rim of the vessel allowing for easy retrofitting of the device.

The bracket may be bifurcated to form two narrow flat fingers which in use are positioned on either side of the inlet valve and extend over the rim of the vessel wall were they are bent to engage the rim and support the reservoir within the vessel.

In another arrangement, the bracket includes an aperture to enable it to be threaded onto a plumbing fitting, such as the inlet valve. This arrangement is most convenient for fitting the device to a liquid storage vessel at installation but remains retrofittable.

In an alternative construction, the reservoir is formed integrally with the storage vessel.

The reservoir may comprise a trough which is formed integrally with the walls of the vessel and extending below the inlet valve to receive incoming liquid. In one

construction, the reservoir may extend to the base of the vessel and ideally, in such arrangement, a servicing plug is provided to drain the reservoir.

Advantageously, the flow control means comprises one or more apertures through which liquid is allowed to escape.

Preferably, the flow control means comprises a first aperture is positioned in or adjacent a base portion of the reservoir for substantially draining the reservoir and a second aperture is spaced at a predetermined level from the base of the reservoir for allowing excess water to escape from the reservoir.

Optionally, the flow control means comprises or includes a siphon tube. The siphon tube is so sized and shaped to ensure that once a predetermined level of liquid is established in the reservoir, a siphoning action will be established to drain liquid from the reservoir.

It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee mat excessive incoming liquid will be able to overflow the reservoir and into the vessel should the need arise. In this case the overflow level is determined by the depth of the reservoir.

Where the reservoir discharges other than by overflowing, a cover may be provided so as to substantially enclose the reservoir and the inlet valve, to prevent liquid from splashing out of the reservoir. Alternatively a Hd may extend over part of the reservoir except the region thereof below the inlet valve outlet, so as to allow liquid to pass directly into the reservoir there from, thereby to reduce loss of liquid due to splashing. The lid may be formed with a plurality of removable panels so that on being fitted to a reservoir, an opening can be formed in the lid so as to register or align with the inlet valve by removing one or more of the panels. The lid may be formed from a plastics or suitable material and the panels may be so-called knock-out panels.

As noted above, the reservoir preferably includes a drain aperture in the base thereof through which the liquid can flow so as to allow the reservoir to empty, ready to receive a new inflow of liquid when the inlet valve is next opened.

Preferably, a moveable plug is provided in the aperture which normally closes the opening but which is lifted so as to allow flow therethrough as the liquid level in the vessel rises. In one such arrangement, a supplementary float is attached to the underside of the plug so that when the vessel is empty, the supplementary float ensures the plug blocks the aperture but as the vessel fills and the level of liquid therein rises, the supplementary float lifts the plug, so unblocking the aperture allowing the reservoir to drain.

hi use, the supplementary float will be disposed at a level which is just below the maximum height to which liquid will rise in the vessel so that the supplementary float acts only as the liquid approaches that height in the vessel and will drop again as soon as the liquid level in the vessel starts to drop.

hi another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid storage vessel of the type having an inlet valve regulator for controlling the volume or flow rate of liquid entering the vessel through an associated valve during an automatic refill cycle which commences when a volume of liquid contained in the vessel is drawn therefrom, the vessel including a reservoir adapted to receive incoming liquid from the inlet valve to maintain a volume therein for a period sufficient to prevent liquid entering the vessel through the valve during a refill cycle from becoming part of the immediately preceding volume of liquid drawn from the vessel, the reservoir comprising means for retaining the reservoir in a fixed position with respect to the inlet valve and flow control means to allow liquid retained within the reservoir to be gradually released.

Specifically, the present invention provides a liquid storage vessel comprising a water closet (WC) having a ball cock valve regulator for controlling the volume of water entering the cistern through an associated valve during an automatic refill cycle which commences when substantially all of the water contained in the cistern is drawn therefrom by a siphon actuated flush mechanism, the cistern including a reservoir adapted to receive incoming water from the inlet valve to maintain a volume therein for a period sufficient to prevent water entering the cistern through the valve during a refill cycle from becoming part of the water being drawn from the cistern while the siphon flush continues, the reservoir

comprising means for retaining the reservoir in a fixed position with respect to the inlet valve and flow control means to allow water retained within the reservoir to be gradually released.

In a more general aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of conserving a liquid resource including storing the liquid in a storage vessel of the type having an inlet valve regulator for controlling the volume or flow rate of liquid entering the vessel through an associated valve during an automatic refill cycle which commences when a volume of liquid contained in the vessel is drawn therefrom, discharging incoming liquid into a reservoir adapted to receive incoming liquid from the inlet valve to maintain a volume therein for a period sufficient to prevent liquid entering the vessel through the valve during a refill cycle from becoming part of the immediately preceding volume of liquid drawn from the vessel, the reservoir comprising means for retaining the reservoir in a fixed position with respect to the inlet valve and controlling flow of liquid from the reservoir to allow liquid retained within the reservoir to be gradually released.

The invention also concerns a method of controlling the flow of liquid from a float controlled inlet valve into a liquid storage vessel after the inlet valve has opened due to a falling liquid level in the vessel, wherein the incoming liquid from the inlet valve is prevented from entering the container for a predetermined period after the inlet valve is opened and is directed into an intermediate reservoir attached to or forming part of the vessel, the predetermined period being determined by the rate of flow of liquid from the inlet valve and the volume of liquid which can be accommodated in the intermediate reservoir before liquid will escape from the reservoir and flow into the container.

It will be noted that since the liquid saving device or reservoir of the invention intercepts the flow of liquid from the inlet valve after the latter is opened, by the falling of a standard float operated inlet valve regulator, the invention is of general application and can be incorporated into any container or water cistern irrespective of the type of inlet valve fitted thereto, the only requirement being that the liquid flow from the outlet of the inlet valve is in a generally downward direction and is over a defined area which can be encompassed by the reservoir.

- - Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only two embodiments of apparatus to modify the operating characteristics of a liquid storage vessel. In the following, the phase "water saving device" is used as a general description of the apparatus of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a water cistern having a standard float operated water inlet valve regulator and a first construction of a first embodiment of water saving device of the present invention;

Figure IA is an exploded detail view of a flow restrictor moveably secured in a drainage hole of the first construction of water saving device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 1 , illustrating the profile of the first construction of water saving device and a means for securing the device in fixed position with respect to the discharge outlet of the water inlet valve;

Figures 3 to 8 are a series of side elevations showing progressively the movement of the float and valve lever arm and the water flow changes during a refill cycle in a cistern as a volume of water is drawn off;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a cistern showing a side elevation of a standard ball cock valve regulator and a first construction of a second embodiment of water saving device comprising a reservoir formed integrally with at least one wall of the cistern and including drainage openings in one wall of the reservoir;

Figure 9A is a front elevation similar to that of Figure 9 illustrating a second construction of the second embodiment of water saving device comprising a reservoir formed integrally with or secured to at least one wall or the base of the cistern and including a siphon;

Figures 10 to 12 are side elevations and a perspective view of the first

-y- construction of the second embodiment of water saving device;

Figures 13 to 16 are a set of views of the water cistern similar to those of Figures 9 to 12 in which the integral reservoir of a third construction of the second embodiment of water saving device includes a siphon discharge tube in place of drainage openings;

Figures 17 to 19 illustrate three different constructions of the first embodiment of water saving device, each having alternative means of securing the reservoir thereof in fixed position with respect to the discharge outlet of the inlet valve;

Figures 20 to 22 show how tines extend above one wall of a reservoir, such as those shown in Figures 18 and 19, can be bent over to grip the upper edge of a cistern,

Figures 23 and 24A and 24B show other construction of water saving device having similar securing means to those shown in Figures 17 to 19; Figures 25 A, 25B and 26 are perspective, end and side views of a lid which serves as a splash guard for a water saving device reservoir;

Figures 27 and 28 are detailed elevations of lid connection profiles showing how the lid is fitted to the reservoir side walls;

Figures 29 and 30 are views similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 but showing a reservoir which incorporates a siphon as an alternative to the draining holes or for emptying the openings reservoir; and

Figure 31 is a reduced scale view similar to Figure 29 but incorporating a different form of siphon device which in use acts in a refill progression identical to that illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 but with draining of the reservoir occurring through the siphon tube.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1, IA and 2, a cistern 10 shown

- - comprising an end wall 12, base 14 and lid 16. A water feed pipe 18 is secured to a fitting 20 which serves to support an inlet valve 22 in the cistern and supply water to the valve. The valve is opened and closed with the fall and rise of a float 24 connected to the valve 22 by a lever arm 26.

The valve is closed when the float 24 and lever arm 26 are raised by the water in the cistern but is opened when the water level falls as water leaves the cistern when, for example, the associated WC is flushed.

Water is discharged from the valve via an outlet 28 which, as best seen in Figure 2, can be rotated so as to divert the exiting water to one side or the other of the valve body 22.

In a traditional siphon flush lavatory (toilet or WC) as soon as the flush is activated via the siphon, the water level drops and the valve opens, discharging a volume of water into the cistern which remains available to the siphon mechanism until the cistern is substantially empty and the siphon is broken. During the flush, which may take many seconds, the additional water entering the cistern during that time may be flushed away. This additional volume of water is not necessary for the flush and is essentially wasted.

The present invention provides an apparatus for modifying the operational characteristics of the liquid storage vessel such as a cistern by preventing water from being immediately discharged into the cistern when a refill cycle is commenced. In doing so and limiting the amount of water that joins the volume of water undergoing the siphoning action (or other flush or emptying cycle), the wasted volume referred to above can be saved. As a consequence, less water is used during each refill cycle, the flush and refill cycles are shorter and there is less noise.

Below the body of the valve 22 there is provided a water saving device comprising an intermediate reservoir in the form of a rectangular box 30 which intercepts water discharging from the valve outlet 28 and generally stops any significant volume of water from entering the cistern until the level in the

reservoir 30 reaches a side exit opening 32. If the in-fiow exceeds the out-flow through the opening 32, the level will continue to rise in the reservoir 30 until the water cascades over the rim 34 of the reservoir.

A much smaller opening 36 located in the base of the reservoir, as illustrated in Figure IA, allows water to drain from the box when the in-flow of water ceases, so as to leave the reservoir empty after the cistern has refilled.

Figures 3 to 8 show the sequence of operation. Firstly, as shown in Figure 3, the cistern is full, the water level being denoted by line 38, the valve 22 is closed and the reservoir 30 is empty. Upon flushing, the cistern empties rapidly causing the float 24 and arm 26 to drop and the valve 22 to open. Water cascades into the reservoir 30 from the outlet 28 but very little water finds its way into the cistern through the lower drainage hole 36 until the rising level of water in the reservoir 30 reaches the discharge opening 32. This increasing level is denoted by line 40 in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows the water level 40 just reaching side exit opening 32 when the cistern is virtually empty and the siphon discharge into the WC is broken. The incoming flow of water through the valve outlet 28 is at its maximum at this point. When the siphon is broken, all water entering the cistern is retained until the next flush cycle. As the water level increases in the reservoir 30, it first breaches the side exit opening 32 and subsequently flows over the rim 34 when the reservoir is full, as shown in Figure 6.

The level in the cistern now rises, lifting the float 24 and arm 26 as shown in Figure 7.

Eventually the valve 22 is shut off and water ceases to flow from the valve outlet 28 into the reservoir 30, as the water level reaches its maximum level in the cistern, as shown in Figure 8.

The water retained in the reservoir 30 now drains out via the bottom drainage hole 36 into the cistern. This causes the level of water in the cistern to rise fractionally

thereby more securely shutting off the valve. The reservoir 30 is now empty and the sequence reverts to what is depicted in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 16, alternative constructions of a second embodiment of water saving device are shown. In these constructions, the reservoir 30 is formed integrally with the cistern. While these constructions operate exactfy as before, it is necessary for the drainage openings 32, 36 to be located in the end wall of the reservoir and are comprised of a base 42 and weir 44, formed integrally with the end wall and front and rear walls of the cistern, shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12.

hi another arrangement, as shown in Figure 9A, the reservoir comprises a wall attached to the base of the cistern and the front and rear walls. In this construction, a siphon tube 46 provides drainage from the reservoir. A servicing plug 79 is provided in the cistern base. In an alternative construction, as shown in Figures 13 to 16 a siphon tube 46 is employed and the drainage holes 32,36 can be dispensed with. In other regards these constructions are similar to those shown in

Figures 9 to 12.

Different fixing techniques, for when a separate reservoir or retro-fitted device is employed, are shown in Figures 17 to 19. In Figure 17, an end wall 48 of the box reservoir 30 extends upwardly and has an opening 50 through which the valve fitting 20 can pass. The plate 48 is sandwiched between the fixing nut 21 (in

Figure 1) and the cistern wall 12.

Alternatively, the reservoir wall 48 may include upwardly directed, spread apart tines 52,54 which optionally comprise a plastic and metal lamination to allow the tines to be bent and fitted over the upper edge of the cistern wall 12, as shown in Figures 1 to 8. The tines may be widely spaced as in Figure 18 or closer as in.

Figure 19. The arrangement shown in Figure 8 allows the box reservoir 30 to be moved laterally within the cistern to accommodate an offset inlet pipe 18 or inlet 28.

Figures 20 to 22 show how the tines are formed from a layer of metal 56 sandwiched within a plastic material 58.

Figures 23, 24A and 24B show use of the tines 52,54 in water saving devices which include drainage openings 32,36 in place of the siphon of Figures 17 to 19.

Figures 25 A, 25B and 26 show a lid 60 which can be fitted over the reservoir 30 and fixed to the rim 34 thereof to prevent water from splashing out of the reservoir 30, as it falls from the valve outlet 28.

The end wall of the reservoir box 30 is shown indented at 62. TMs is considered necessary to accommodate the lever arm 26 when it falls to its lower position when the cistern empties.

The lid includes grooves 64,66 to allow it to be fitted onto the upper edges of the two longer side edges 34 of the box 30. Where the rim 34 includes external ribs 68, the grooves 64,66 include indentations 70, as shown in Figures 27 and 28, so as to snap fit to the rim of the box.

Figs 29 and 30 show an arrangement very similar to Figure 1 but using the siphon tube 72 which can be employed to empty the reservoir box 30 in place of the drainage openings 32,36. The siphon will only strike when the level of water in the box 30 reaches the crown 74 of the bent tube forming the siphon 72.

Figure 31 shows an alternative siphon device in which a small central tube 76 rises up through the base of 30 and is surrounded by a larger outer tube 78 whose upper end is closed. The lower end of the outer tube 78 includes one or more openings (or is spaced from the base of 30 by a small annular gap) to allow water to flow into the annular (coaxial) space between the tubes 76,78. As the water level in the reservoir 30 reaches the upper end of the outer tube 78, as the water flows down the central tube 76 into the cistern, a siphon is struck which is only broken when the reservoir 30 is completely drained.

It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the terms "cistern", "tank", "vessel" and "container" as used herein are not intended to be limiting and that

any suitable liquid may be stored or handled by the water (liquid) saving device or apparatus for modifying the operating characteristics of a liquid storage vessel of the present invention. As described hereinabove, the invention applies most commonly to the handling of water in domestic, industrial and civil installations.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.