MXPA98010140A - Full valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A filling valve to control the filling of a fluid container, such as a cistern. The valve decreases the time required to fill the container by maintaining maximum fluid flow through the valve, until the instantaneous closing of the fill valve once the container is full. The fill valve includes a reciprocating valve head carried on a valve stem connected to a float arm, to determine the level of fluid within the container. The valve head is positioned within an enclosure having slots to drive the flow of fluid through the valve head, to create a back pressure behind the valve head. The valve stem seals a passage through the valve head that operates as a pilot valve during the opening and closing of the valve.

Description

FILLING VALVE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to filling valves and, in particular, to a pilot-operated cistern valve that facilitates the flow of fluids into a container with instant closure while the float rises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tank filling valves operated by float are known. However, conventional filling valves have several disadvantages. Tank filling valves are normally used to control the filling of containers or receptacles for water supply and receiving water from a municipal supply. In many cases, the tank can only be filled during a specific period of time and requires that the container be filled as quickly as possible. A drawback of known prior valves is the tendency to decrease the flow of fluid as the "float reaches the filling line.This can substantially increase the time required to completely fill the tank, particularly in tanks with P1744 / 98MX a large surface area.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of known prior valves by providing a hydraulic and mechanical fill valve combination for efficiently filling a container such as a tank, in a short period of time. The filling valve of the present invention aims to control the filling of a fluid container as quickly and efficiently as possible, by combining hydraulic and mechanical characteristics in the valve. The filling valve includes a housing, with an inlet and an outlet, within which the valve components are housed. Positioned within the housing is a flow control enclosure having a substantially tubular configuration with an outside diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the housing to facilitate fluid flow through the enclosure into the flow portholes formed in the enclosure. Formed on the inner surface of the enclosure is at least one pilot slot. Arranged reciprocally within the enclosure and the valve housing is a valve unit that includes an axial valve rod and a valve head mounted movably on the rod P1744 / 98MX valve. The valve stem is mechanically connected to the arm of the float to act in accordance with the fluid levels in the container. An elongated head portion of the valve stem cooperates with the valve head to selectively close an axial passage of the valve head. The valve head includes a seal disc, which cooperates with the inner surface of the enclosure and the valve housing to control the flow, and an elongated nose extending toward the valve outlet and forming the axial passage. With the float arm raised, the valve stem and the valve head are pushed into a closed position within the valve housing preventing fluid flow therethrough. However, longitudinal grooves formed in the interior surface of the enclosure allow fluid to leak around the valve head to increase the fluid pressure behind the valve head, within the enclosure. When the water level inside the container drops, the float and the float arm will descend by moving the rod head away from the valve head to reduce the pressure on one side of the valve head. This pressure drop reverses the external force applied to the valve head and moves the head of the P1744 / 98MX valve away from the seat, allowing full flow through the valve. While the float arm is raised, any mechanical stress applied to the valve stem will be released, allowing pressure differences on opposite sides of the valve head to close the valve almost instantaneously once the container has been filled to a predetermined level. In this way, the filling valve of the present invention utilizes a combination of mechanical and hydraulic systems to control the flow through the valve. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The presinvon will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodimof the presinvon, when read in consideration of the accompanying drawings, wherein the reference numbers are consisty used in all of the drawings. views and wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filling valve characterizing the presinvon, with a float in the raised position and the P1744 / 98MX closed valve; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filling valve with the float lowered and the valve in a fully open position; Figure 3 is an elongated and cross-sectional view of the valve in the closed position; Figure 4 is an enlarged and cross-sectional view of the float arm below and the valve in an intermediate open position; Figure 5 is an enlarged and cross-sectional view of the valve in the fully open position; and Figure ß is an exploded view of the fill valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVON Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a filling valve 10 depicting the presinvon is shown, for controlling the filling of a fluid container 12, for example a cistern or other tank. The fill valve 10 is in fluid communication with a fluid supply 14 which can provide continuous or intermittfluid supply to the valve 10. In accordance with well principles P1744 / 98MX, the filling valve 10 is operated by a float 16 mounted on a float arm 18 which moves as the water level varies to control the filling valve 10. Figure 1 shows the float 16 in a closed elevated position, while Figure 2 shows the float 16 in an open lowered position. However, the operation of the fill valve 10 will be described in greater detail below. The filling valve 10 of the presinvon includes a housing 20 comprising first engaging housing portions 22 and a second housing portion 24 that respectively include a fluid inlet 26 in communication with the supply 4 and a fluid outlet 28 in communication with the container 12 .. The housing 20 forms an inner chamber 30 within which the valve unit is placed. The inner chamber 30 includes a valve seat 32. In a preferred embodim the valve seat 32 is formed by an annular flange 34 which is connected to the fluid outlet 28 of the housing 20. An enclosure 36 is disposed within the chamber , interior 30. Enclosure .36 includes legs 38 for maintaining the position of enclosure 36 within interior chamber 30. Enclosure 36 includes a first conical end 40 for directing fluid flow to enclosure 36 and a second P1744 / 98 X open end 42 to receive the valve compon. In proximity to the second end 42 are a plurality of ports 44 to allow the flow of fluid into the enclosure 36 in accordance with the presinvon. At least one longitudinal groove 46 is formed in the inner surface of the enclosure 36 to allow filtration around the valve unit 50 as will be described subsequy. The valve unit 50 is reciprocally positioned within the enclosure 36 and the housing 20 to control the flow of fluid through the valve 10. The valve unit 50 includes a valve head 52 that selectively seals against the valve seat. 32 to prevfluid flow to the outlet 28. The valve head 52 has an elongated nose 54 to alter the surface area affected by fluid pressure within the housing 20. An exterior seal ring 56 is carried by the head of the valve. valve 52 for closing against the seat 32 and an inner seal ring 58 is brought adjacto the axis of the valve head 52. The valve head 52 including the elongated nose 52 has a through hole 60 which receives a valve stem 62 The valve rod 62 includes a rod head 64 and an elongated body 66 which is mechanically connected to the float arm 18. The rod head 64 is P1744 / 98MX configured to selectively cooperate and seal with the seal ring 58 inside the valve head 52. The operation of the fill valve 10 controls the filling of the container 12 facilitating the total flow of fluid to the container 12 it is almost full, thus providing the instantaneous closing of the valve 10. Furthermore, the enclosure 36 acts as a screen reducing the large debris that may eventually clog the valve 10 or reduce its efficiency. The valve 10 operates through the steps shown in the figures of the drawings to first prevent flow to the container 12, control the filling of the container 12 and close the valve 10 once the fluid level has reached a predetermined level. The valve 10 is shown closed in Figure 3 preventing flow through the housing 20 to the fluid outlet 28 and the container. The float 16 and the arm 18 are raised. The valve rod 62, connected to the float arm 18, is prevented from retracting towards the inner chamber 31 thus maintaining the valve head 52 against the seat 32. The flow through the ports 44 of the enclosure 36 and the passage of the Valve seat 32 is blocked by valve head 52 (Figure 3). The longitudinal grooves 46 formed on the surface P1744 / 98MX inside the enclosure 36 allow the filtration of fluid through the valve head 52 into the inner chamber 32, upstream of the valve head 52. This produces a pressure behind the valve head 52 keeping the valve closed. Because the surface area of the valve head 52 driven by the back pressure on the upstream side of the valve head 52 is larger than the outer surface area of the annular flange 34 of the valve seat 32, this back pressure will tend to keep the valve head 52 sealed against the seat 32. The outer seal ring 56 also acts as a cleaner, removing any debris that may clog the slots 46 while the valve head 52 moves within the enclosure 36. As the fluid in the container 12 is used, the level will descend by moving the float 16 downwards and causing the float arm 18 to pivot downwards (Figure 4). As the float arm 18 pivots downwardly, the valve rod 62 will move toward the valve inlet 26 away from the valve head 52. The movement of the rod head 64 away from the valve head 52 will open the axial through hole 60, reducing the back pressure behind the valve head 52. The fluid pressure through the ports 44 of the enclosure P1744 / 98MX 56 will now be sufficient to push the valve head 52 away from the valve seat (Figure 5), allowing the total flow of fluid through the valve 10 into the container 12. The longitudinal slots 46 will continue to allow the filtration of water to the upstream side of the valve head 52. The configuration of the valve head 52 including the elongated nose 54 alters the downstream fluid pressure applied to the valve head 52, compared to the pressure of fluid behind the valve head 52. This is particularly applicable to the fluid passing through the annular flange 34 which applies pressure to a relatively small proportion of the side downstream of the valve head 52. The total fluid flowing through of the pilot flow valve 10 will reduce the filling time for the container 12, since the valve head 52 is kept open until the container 12 will ena In contrast, fill valves are known that close gradually by extending the time required to fill the container while the flow is reduced to a trickle through the valve. While the float arm 18 is pivoted upward, the rod head 64 will be traversed against the valve head 52 closing the axial through hole 60. Filtration through P1744 / 98MX longitudinal grooves 46 to the upstream side of the valve head 52 will increase the fluid pressure. The float arm 18 will not completely travel the valve head 52 against the valve seat 32, but allows its movement towards the valve seat 32 once the fluid pressure against the upstream side of the valve head 52 is greater than the pressure on the outlet side of the valve head 52. The pressure applied to the valve head 52 is controlled through the configuration of the valve head 52, particularly on the downstream side where less area of surface is directly affected by the fluid pressure compared to the relatively continuous upstream side of the valve head 52. Once the fluid pressure inside the enclosure exceeds the fluid pressure acting on the lateral outlet of the valve head 52, the valve head 52 will be pushed against the valve seat 32, instantaneously interrupting the flow of fluid from an almost total flow. The float 16 and the float arm 18 will be in their raised position and the rod head 64 will be sealed against the valve head 52. An added feature of the float unit is an extended tail 19 of the float arm extending a significant distance over the P1744 / 98MX housing 20. This added length retards the inverse pivot movement of the float arm 18 during adjustment of the float 16. The upward tension applied to the float arm 18 will be applied to the rod lock 66. If sufficient tension is applied to the rod 66, the rod 66 can be pushed from the head 64 causing the valve to bend apart. The tail 19 of the float arm is coupled to the upper part of the housing 20, avoiding excessive tension on the rod lock 66. The detailed description has been given above for clarity of understanding only and unnecessary limitations should not be understood from it. , ! • while some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

P1744 / 98MX

Claims (17)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property: 1. A filling valve comprising: a housing having a valve seat; a float means for vertical movement; an actuator means connected at one end to the float means and, at the other end, pivotally connected to the housing; and a movable valve unit mounted in the housing and seated in the valve seat in a closed position, the valve unit includes a valve head and a valve stem having a first end and a second end, the first end in engagement with the valve head and the second end is connected to the actuator means; wherein during the vertical downward movement of the float, the actuator means is coupled to the • second end of the valve stem and pushes it towards the interior of the housing thus facilitating the movement of the valve head out of the valve seat and opening the filling valve.
2. 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein P1744 / 98MX The valve stem has an opening extending through the valve, adjacent to the second end.
3. 3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the opening of the valve stem has a first wall and a second wall, the actuator means extending through the opening. The valve of claim 3, wherein during the downward movement of the float the actuator means engages the first wall and moves the rod into an open position. The valve of claim 3, wherein during the upward movement of the float, the actuator means engages the second wall and moves the rod, with the valve head, to the closed position. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve head includes an axial through hole, the first end of the valve rod selectively seals to the through hole of the valve head to selectively prevent fluid from flowing through the valve head. the valve head. The valve according to claim 6, wherein the valve head includes a nose portion that extends toward an outlet end of the housing, the through hole extends through the portion of the valve housing. P1744 / 98MX nose. The valve according to claim 1 and further comprising a means of enclosure placed within the housing and housing the valve unit, the valve head is reciprocally movable within the enclosure means between the closed position and a position open, to control the flow of fluid through the valve. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the enclosure means includes means for directing the fluid passing to the valve head, in order to selectively increase the fluid pressure behind the valve head, by pushing the head valve to the valve seat. The valve according to claim 9, wherein the enclosure means includes an enclosure positioned within the housing and having at least one fluid port, the valve head sealingly engaging an interior surface of the enclosure. The valve according to claim 10, wherein the means for directing the fluid passing to the valve head comprises at least one longitudinal groove formed in the inner surface of the enclosure to facilitate the flow of fluid towards the valve head. 12. A filling valve to control the selective filling of a fluid container, the valve P1744 / 98MX comprises: a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a chamber positioned between the inlet and outlet, and a valve seat formed within the housing; a float means for detecting fluid levels within the container, the float means includes an actuator arm connected to the housing; an enclosure placed inside the chamber to direct the flow of fluid through the valve seat; a movable valve unit positioned within the enclosure between an open position and a closed position, seated in the valve seat, the valve unit includes a valve head and a valve stem having a first end and a second end, the The first end of the valve rod is coupled to the valve head and the second end of the valve rod is connected to the actuator arm of the float means, the valve head is sealingly coupled to an inner surface of the enclosure; means for directing the flow of fluid through the valve head into the enclosure, forming a back pressure of fluid on an upstream side of the valve head, to facilitate movement of the valve head against the valve seat; Y P1744 / 98MX pilot means that selectively allow flow to flow through the valve head. The valve according to claim 12, wherein the means for directing fluid flow through the valve head includes at least one longitudinal groove formed in the inner surface of the enclosure to direct the flow of fluid behind the valve head , increasing the fluid pressure inside the enclosure. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the pilot means includes an axial through hole formed in the valve head, the first end of the valve stem includes a rod head for selectively sealing the through hole of the head valve. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of fluid ports upstream of the valve seat to direct the flow of fluid against the valve head positioned within the enclosure, upon opening the valve unit, the Fluid flows through the fluid ports and through the valve seat to the valve outlet. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the valve head includes a nose portion extending toward the outlet of the housing, the orifice P1744 / 98MX axial through extends through the nose portion. The valve according to claim 16, wherein the second end of the valve stem includes loop means engaging the actuator arm, so that movement of the actuator arm urges the valve stem between a first and a second position. P1744 / 98MX