The present invention relates to a device on a valve for shutting off and/or regulating a flow of liquid, intended specifically to ^" be used as the tank valve on WC cisterns.

In valves used for shutting off a flow of liquid, every effort is made to produce a valve which will cause the least possible noise in the pipework as it closes, and which will prevent impact ^" between the valve body and the valve seat. This is a difficult problem, particularly in the case of valves for V/C cisterns, where the closing action is relatively slow.

A valve is known from Prench Patent No. 1.371.834, in which a free-moving ball acts as the valve body, and may be rolled to and from its closed position against the valve seat by mechanical means, e.g. a rod. A valve is ^' known from US Paten _.o. 3.238.965, in which either a ball or a cylinder is enclosed in a depression and is forced into either an open or a closed position against a valve seat.

The present invention is based on the method described in the two publications referred to above for the manufacture of a valve which is particularly suitable for use as a tank valve in WC cisterns. The aim is thus to produce a valve which will operate as quietly as possible, which will close without any impact occurring between the valve body and the valve seat, which will allow the cistern to fill at the most constant rate possible irrespective of the supply pressure, which is cheap to produce, strong .-and reliable, and which may be readily adapted to suit bottom-inlet or side-inlet tanks, and with the outle •either below or above the water level inside the tank.

This is achieved in accordance with this invention by means of a device on a valve for shutting off and/or controllin a flow of liquid, consisting of a valve box with a chamber to which are connected an inlet and an outlet, together with a valve body in the form of a ball or a cylinder so arranged as to be capable of rolling from a closed position against the valve seat to an open position away from the seat,, and vice

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versa, intended specifically to be used as the tank valve WC cisterns, with the characteristic features of the inven consisting of the following a) that the ball is so positioned as to move freely in a blind hole in a body; b) that the body containing the blind hole is cylindrical and is supported so as to rotate in the chamber; c) that the body may be moved from a position where the b hole and the ball are above the valve seat to a position w these components are to one side of the seat; d) that the blind hole is so arranged as to be approximate at right angles to the longtitudinal axis of the body, and e) that the valve seat is situated inside the valve box or a component v/hich is attached to it.

One further characteristic feature of the inventio is that the body containing the blind hole exhibits a clear in relation to the walls of the chamber of such a size that annular chamber is formed, and that the inlet is led into t annular space. One further characteristic feature is that t blind hole is of such a depth that it will at least hold practically the entire ball. The clearance provided between the ball and the walls of the blind hole shall be such that the liquid under pressure is free to flow into the space in blind hole behind the ball.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the v is characterized in that the valve box is divided transvers to the longtitudinal axis into two parts which are joined together so as to be liquidtight and in such a way that the two parts may be set at an angle to eachother and may be lo in the desired positions.

One further feature of the invention is that the va seat is formed at the end of the outlet pipe v/hich passes entirely inside as far as the wall of the valve chamber, an that the valve seat is in the form of a cylindrical hole at the end of the outlet pipe, said hole being lined with rubb or v/ith some similar elastic material.

The valve in accordance with this invention is very

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simple and cheap to manufacture. The complete valve ^" basically consists of three parts, namely the valve block with the valve chamber, the movable body • with its recess, and the valve body in the form of a ball or cylinder. In the above-mentioned practical embodiment, the valve box is divided transversely into ^' two"parts so ^"' thaf ^' the ^'' -parts- maybe ^' set' at' an ^' angle ^" to ^" -- ^■ ' ^'" - eachother in such a way that by so doing the relative angle between the inlet connection and the outlet connection may be varied at will. Tests have shown the valve to operate practically without noise and without impact.

The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which pig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the valve in accordance with the invention shown in plan view and in section;

Pig. 2 is a section through the points A-A shown in Pig. 1 , with the valve in its closed position, and

Pig. 3 is also a section through the points A-A in Pig. 1, but wit the valve in its open position.

The valve in accordance with this embodiment comprises a valve box 1 shown here in two halves 2 , 3 v/hich have a graduated joint face and v/hich are sealed by means of a seal 4 . The two halves 2 and 3 may be locked together by means of a locking ring 5 v/hich runs in grooves in the tv/o halves of the valve box. Por example, in the case of the half 3 , tv/o sets of grooves may be positioned at 90° to eachother so that the parts may be turned and locked in relation to eachother at intervals of 90°.

The valve box 1 has a circular chamber ^β in which a cylindrical body 7 is supported so that it is free to rotate, one end of which is supported with the aid of a dowel 8 v/hich engages in a blind hole 9 . At the other end is .an axle journal 10 v/hich runs in a hole in the end wall of the valve box 1 . To this axle journal 10 is attached a float arm 11 with a float 12 . ^' The body 7 is smaller in diameter than the chamber 6 , so that an annular chamber 13 is formed between the v/all of the chamber β and the outer circumference of the body 7 . In the body 7 is bored a radial blind hole 14 in v/hich is located a rather smaller

ball 15 . The valve box 1 has an inlet 16 which leads the annular space 13 . Also connected to the valve box 1 an outlet 17 -in the area of the blind hole 14 with the ba.ll..15.. _Λ -The.end.^o .th.e., outlet..pipe _: .-.17 .reaches, all.-the_ _. into the annular space 13 and forms the valve seat for t ball 7 . In order to provide a pliable and well-sealing seating, the inner end of the outlet pipe 17 is lined at mouth with rubber or a similar material 18 .

The valve operates as follows.

Water reaches the valve through the inlet pipe 16 which leads to the annular space 13 , .in such a way that is full of v/ater at all times. With the valve closed, ther a static build-up of water pressure in the blind hole 14 behind the ball, such that the ball is held firmly in place against the valve seat v/hich is formed by the lining 18 . Thus greater pressure is present above the ball than below ball. When the tank is emptied of v/ater, the float drops a the body 7 turns in such a way that the ball 15 is move av/ay from its closed position against the valve seat 18 , shown in Pig. 3 for instance. As the tank is filled, the bo 7 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow P and t ball is moved gently to the closed position, as may be see Pig. 2. The ball will be seen to rest against two points A and B , of which the former is a point of contact between shell of the ball and the internal wall of the bore 14 , the latter point B is the point of contact betv/een the sh of the ball and the internal wall of the hollow space 6 i the valve box 1 . Pull static pressure is present above th ball, and this pressure will ensure that full contact is ma against the two points referred to above during the entire closing action. Vibration of the ball is thus avoided durin the closing action, whereby impact during the actual closin is also avoided

As mentioned above, tests have shown that this valv causes very little noise whilst the tank is being filled. I is presumed that this may have to do with the fact that the flow of v/ater through the inlet pipe 16 passes into the annular space 13 , v/hich has a very large " et surface are

As may be seen from the drav/ing, only very minor sealing problems are encountered v/ith the valve in accordance with the invention. The only possible point of leakage is at the lead-in of the axle journal 10 . This passageway is, ^'"''""" However ^' ,' effec ^' tiveϊy ^':' sealed-- by me ns ^'' ofa 'teflon ^" seal which ^Λ - ^': "* ^: is forced into a sealing position by the pressure of the water.

The reason why the fact that the inlet and the outlet can be set at an angle relative to eachother is of such importance is that the regulations which apply in different countries place different requirements on such valves. There are also variations in the different models of toilet, and plumbers in certain countries have specific requirements for ease of installation. In the setting of the valve illustrated in Pig. 1 , in v/hich the inlet and the outlet are parallel, the valve has been set for installation in the base of the tank. In this case, the inlet 16 is extended and passes through a sealed opening in the base of the tank. The outlet 17 will then of course lie underwater. In this way, comparatively noiseless filling and ease of installation are achieved. Other countries prefer side installation with the outlet under water. The ring 5 is removed and the valve half 2 is turned through 90°, whereupon the ring is replaced so that the halves 2 and 3 are locked together in that position. Inlet 16 may now be installed in an opening in the side of the tank. The outlet 17 will be under the water in the tank. An EEC requirement exists for the outlet to be located above the surface of the v/ater. In side installations, the valve should be turned through a further 90° so that the inlet and the outlet lie end to end. With the outlet above the water and with the inlet at the bottom of the tank, the valve box may be locked so that the inlet and the outlet form an angle of 90° to eachother.

As may be seen from the drav/ing, the valve in accord¬ ance with the invention is extremely simple to manufacture and therefore inexpensive. It may be moulded entirely in plastic, and the design does not require close tolerances to

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be set. The one important requirement is that the blind hol 14 should be of rather larger diameter than the ball 15 . The valve is also very reliable in use, since there are no narrow passageways which can become choked and no precise ^' tolerances ^{' "} WHΪCΪL can ^" be affected by the ravages of time ^" .

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment described in the drawing and in the above. The body 7 is shown in the drawing as a rotating body. It would be easy t imagine a modification in which the body is displaced axial IFo is the invention restricted to tank valves, but may conceivably be used in all applications where there exists requirement to shut off or to control a flow of water or of some other liquid.

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