GB2261600A

GB2261600A - Overflow prevention and fluid conservation apparatus for sanitary ware

Info

Publication number: GB2261600A
Application number: GB9207076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-20
Filing date: 1992-03-31
Publication date: 1993-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-31
Also published as: GB2261600B; GB9207076D0

Abstract

Apparatus for preventing fluid overflow from fluid receptacles comprises first biasing means operable to move an actuation member from a first to a second position upon release of detent means caused by movement of a pressure actuation member against a second biasing means. Movement of the pressure actuation member is effected by pressure caused by a head of fluid in an overflow conduit provided for the receptacle, the actuation member either moving to displace a plug in a plug aperture of the receptacle or to close a fluid supply valve preventing further supply of fluid to, and hence, wastage of fluid from the receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

OVERFLOW PREVENTION and FLUID CONSERVATION APPARATUS.

This invention relates to apparatus for preventing fluid overflow from tanks, cisterns, baths, basins and other fluid receptacles, and in some applications, the conservation of the fluid contained.

Baths and basins are commonly fitted with an overflow conduit connected to the bottom drain system. This overflow will prevent the bath or basin overflowing onto the floor in the event of a tap dripping while the drain is plugged. It will not however prevent the bath or basin overflowing in the event of a tap or taps being left fully open, likewise cisterns and other tanks are fitted with an overflow that cannot cope with the flow of fluid from a completely failed inlet valve. This can pose a real risk in multi-storey buildings with many W.C.s and bathrooms such as hotels, hospitals, homes for the elderly, etc.

I have now devised an improved overflow prevention device some variants of which will also conserve water or other fluids.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for preventing fluid overflow from a receptacle, which apparatus comprises: a) an actuation member movable from a first position to a second position under the influence of first biasing means; b) detent means, arranged in a detent position, to retain said actuation member in said first position; and c) pressure actuation means in communication with a receptacle overflow conduit and arranged to be movable relative to said detent means against the biasing force of a second biasing means, movement of said pressure actuation means against said second biasing means when said actuation member is in said first position causing said detent means to move from said detent position to a released position such that said actuation member is caused to move to said second position under the influence of said first biasing means.

It is preferred that the first biasing means is arranged to exert a biasing force substantially greater than the biasing force exerted by the second biasing means.

Typically, but not exclusively, the first and second biasing means are in the form of coiled compression springs or the weight of the relevant components ie. the actuating member and the pressure actuation means.

Advantageously, the apparatus is provided in a housing, which housing is locatable adjacent a wall of the fluid receptacle and connectable to a fluid overflow conduit provided for the receptacle. Typically, the housing is provided with a fluid outflow port connectable to a fluid outflow conduit arranged to collect overflowing fluid.

The pressure actuation member is typically a piston arranged to be movable under the influence of pressure exerted by a "head" of fluid in the overflow conduit.

Advantageously the piston is substantially annular, with the actuation member arranged to pass through the annular aperture. Typically the piston is provided with sealing means arranged to seal the piston to the housing.

It is preferred that the detent means comprises at least one detent ball or the like arranged,- when in the detent position with the actuation member in the first position, to be located in an aperture in a detent housing and engage a detent formation provided on the actuation member. In the detent position, the detent ball or the like is biased into engagement with the detent formation provided on the actuation member by the pressure actuation member. Movement of the pressure actuation member causes the detent ball to be released from engagement with the detent formation provided on the actuation member. In this way the detent means assumes the released position.

Advantageously, a plurality of detent balls are provided arranged around the periphery of the actuation member, such that with the actuation member in the first position, each detent ball engages with a respective portion of a detent formation provided on the actuation member.

Typically, when the fluid has been drained from the receptacle, the apparatus may be reset to its initial position by moving the actuation member back to its original position, in so doing resetting the detent means to its detent position.

In a first embodiment according to the invention, the apparatus is fixed to a receptacle such as a bath or sink adjacent the plug aperture. In this embodiment, the actuation member is arranged, in the first position, to have its upper end located in the plug aperture at a suitable level enabling the plug to be located in the plug aperture in the normal manner. In this embodiment, when in the second position the actuation member is arranged to project into the receptacle through the plug aperture, in so doing displacing the plug therefrom.Since in this embodiment, the end of the actuation member which projects into the receptacle is typically provided with apertures communicating with a substantially hollow cone, water contained in the receptacle may then flow through the apparatus into an outflow conduit, thus preventing the receptacle from overfilling and consequently overflowing.

In a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, the movement of the actuation member from the first to the second position is arranged to cause a valve in fluid supply means to the receptacle to close, thereby substantially inhibiting further flow of fluid into the receptacle.

In this embodiment it is preferred that rotary valve means is provided rotatable between open and closed positions to either permit or inhibit fluid supply to the receptacle.

Advantageously, the linear movement of the actuator member is converted to rotational movement so as to rotatably move the valve means by means of a rack and pinion type mechanism. In this case the rack is provided on the actuation member, and the geared pinion on the valve means.

Alternatively, the valve may be electrically actuated to the closed position, for example by means of a suitable microswitch/solenoid arrangement.

Typically, the fluid supply means will be fluid pipework extending to further valve means (such as one or more taps) selectively operable to permit or inhibit fluid passing into the receptacle.

In this embodiment it is further preferred that the actuation member is manually operable between the first and second position such that the valve means may be selectively closed or opened irrespective of whether the detent means is released by action of fluid pressure on the pressure actuation member.

The invention will now be further described in specific embodiment by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of overflow prevention apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a part of a apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of a second embodiment of overflow prevention apparatus according to the invention; Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of overflow prevention apparatus according to the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3, the overflow prevention apparatus is seen in use in the region of a plug aperture of a sink or bath 20. A collar 1 defining the plug aperture is threadably connected to a main body 3 such that the bottom wall of the bath 20 is clamped therebetween. The apparatus is confined within a walled housing 7, the top part of the housing being connected by a conduit 24 to the bath overflow aperture (not shown).

The main body 3 has a generally cylindrical internal cavity within which is located an actuation member or plunger 22 which is itself provided with a substantially cylindrical cavity arranged to receive a relatively stiff coiled compression spring 21. The spring 21 and actuation member 22 are both retained in the cavity in the main body 3 by means of an annular supporting disc 12 and circlip 13.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the spring 21 is under load and attempting to push the actuation plunger 22 upwardly through the aperture in the collar 1. The actuation plunger is however restrained against upward movement by the action of a detent mechanism comprising three ball bearings 19 (only one is shown in Figure 1) peripherally spaced around the actuation plunger and restrainingly engaging with respective recesses 16 provided in the circumferential surface of the actuation plunger 22. The ball bearings 19 are mounted in respective circumferential apertures in the main body 3, the apertures being large enough for the ball bearings to pass through.In the position show in Figure 1, an annular piston disc 18 surrounding the main body acts to prevent outward radial movement of the ball bearings 19, thereby ensuring that the actuation plunger 22 remains retained in the position shown in Figure 1 whilst the spring 21 is under load. The annular piston disc 18 is supported by a second compression spring 17 (which is relatively weaker than spring 21) which rests on an annular support ring 15 supported by a circlip 14 which is connected to the main body 3.

A number of watertight seals 2,4,5,10,11, mainly of the O ring type are provided at the interface of various parts of the apparatus.

In use, the actuation plunger is loaded to the position shown in Figure 1, and a conventional plastics, metal, or rubber plug (not shown) inserted in the plug aperture in the collar 1. The bath or sink may then be filled in the normal manner. If the water level in the sink or bath reaches the level of the overflow aperture (which is typically situated immediately below the rim of the bath), water will overflow through that aperture and pass via conduit 24 into the overflow prevention apparatus. As the water continues to overflow, a column (or "head") of water in the conduit 24 will exert a downward pressure on the piston disc 18.When the pressure of water exerted is sufficient to overcome the upward biasing force of the weak spring 17 on the piston disc 18, the piston disc 18 will move downwardly (in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1) permitting the detent ball bearings 19 to move radially outwardly in their respective apertures in the main body, thereby disengaging respective recesses 16 in the actuation retaining the actuation plunger 22. At this instant, since the detent mechanism retaining the actuation plunger 22 in the position shown in Figure 1 is released, the compressed spring 21 expands forcing actuation plunger 22 upwardly (in the direction of arrow B) ejecting the plug (not shown) from the aperture in collar 1. Water in the bath is subsequently able to flow into the aperture in collar 1 and down through drain holes 25 into the apparatus housing.The water then passes out of the housing through outflow conduit 26.

It is important to note that as the detent balls 19 are released and move radially outward, their movement in the radial direction is constrained by seal ring 4. Also, the actuation plunger 22 is prevented from being ejected from the apparatus by means of restraining ball 6 which co-operates and engages with longitudinally running groove 8 on the actuation plunger 22.

In order to reset the apparatus, the actuation plunger 22 is simply pushed downwardly, re-energising spring 21, thereby resetting the apparatus components to the position shown in Figure 1.

The plunger, 22 is provided with further longitudinally extending grooves (not shown) which may be rotated to a position such that they receive respective detent ball bearings 19, enabling the plunger to be manually removed from the main body 3 for cleaning.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 an alternative embodiment of overflow prevention apparatus is shown arranged to cut off water supply to taps 30. Figure 4 shows a bath 31 provided with an overflow 32 connected to an overflow conduit 33 which communicates with the housing 34 of the overflow prevention apparatus. It will be seen that the water mains supply pipework 35 and outflow conduit 36 also pass through the housing 34. Referring to Figure 5 in particular, the overflow prevention apparatus contained in housing 34 is shown in detail. With the apparatus in the position shown in Figure 5, powerful compression spring 44 is in the compressed or "loaded" position. In this condition water supplied by the mains may pass up (i.e. out of the plane of the paper) through apertures 36a, 36b, in rotary valves 37a, 37b to the bath taps 30.

The apparatus operates in essentially the same manner as that described above.

On the water level in the bath reaching and flowing into the overflow 32, a column or "head" of water will be formed in the overflow conduit 33 exerting a pressure on the annular pressure actuation disc (or piston) 38. Once the water pressure is sufficient to overcome the relatively weak biasing force of spring 39, the piston disc 38 moves in the direction of arrow A in Figure 5 permitting detent ball bearings 40 to move radially outwardly (in apertures in support body 41), thereby disengaging shoulder portions 42 of an actuation member (or plunger) 43.

Immediately this detent mechanism has been released, the powerful compressed spring 44 is released and expands forcing carriage 45 (and thereby actuation plunger 43 to which it is connected) in the direction of arrow B in Figure 5. Carriage 45 is connected at opposed ends to rack portions 46a,46b of respective rack and pinion mechanisms, the respective pinions 47a,47b being provided on the rotary actuation members of rotary valves 37a,37b. As the racks 46a,46b move in the direction of arrow B, the pinions 47a,47b are caused to turn, thereby closing valves 37a,37b preventing mains water flowing through apertures 36a,36b. Water supply to taps 30 is therefore cut off. Movement of the carriage 45 and actuation plunger 43 also causes the plunger head 48 to be projected in the direction of arrow B and extend further into the bath. In order to reset the overflow prevention apparatus the plunger head 49 is pressed in the direction of arrow A re-compressing powerful spring 39, and resetting the detent mechanism of the detent ball bearings 40 in engagement with shoulders 42.

The apparatus therefore provides an efficient means of cutting off water supply to the bath when an initial controlled overflow has been detected.

Referring now to Figure 6, an alternative embodiment of overflow apparatus is shown suitable for cutting off water supply to a cistern 51. The apparatus operates in a similar manner to the apparatus described above with a rotary valve 50 being turned to cut off water supply to the cistern 51 when overflow water exerts pressure on pressure actuation disc (or piston) 52 in the direction of arrow A in Figure 6. When the weak biasing force of spring 52 is overcome, the piston disc 52 moves in the direction of arrow A causing detent balls 53 (only one is shown in Figure 6) to move radially outward in support housing 54 becoming disengaged from respective detent shoulders in actuation member (or plunger) 55.

Immediately, powerful spring 56 (which is under compression as shown in the Figure) expands, moving carriage 57 in the direction of arrow B. Movement of the carriage causes rack and pinion mechanism 58 to operate such that rotary valve 50 is closed preventing further filling of the cistern 51. Resetting of the apparatus may be effected by lifting plunger handle 59 upwards. In this embodiment of the apparatus, it is possible to operate the mechanism, thereby closing the valve, even where there is no overflow. In order to facilitate this, actuation plunger 55 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis such that grooves 60 on the periphery of actuation plunger 55 (only one is shown in the Figure) align with and receive respective detent balls 53. In this condition, actuation plunger 55 may be manually pushed downwardly (in the direction of arrow B) causing the carriage 57 to move correspondingly downwardly, and the rack and pinion mechanism 58 to operate so as to close the valve 50.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for preventing fluid overflow from a receptacle, which apparatus comprises: a) an actuation member movable from a first position to a second position under the influence of first biasing means; b) detent means, arranged in a detent position, to retain said actuation member in said first position; and c) pressure actuation means in communication with a receptacle overflow conduit and arranged to be movable relative to said detent means against the biasing force of a second biasing means, movement of said pressure actuation means against said second biasing means when said actuation member is in said first position causing said detent means to move from said detent position to a released position such that said actuation member is caused to move to said second position under the influence of said first biasing means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first biasing means is arranged to exert a biasing force substantially greater than the biasing force exerted by the second biasing means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the force exerted by the first biasing means relative to the second biasing means is of the order of 10:1.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second biasing means are typically, but not exclusively, springs, or the weight of the relevant components.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a housing for the apparatus is provided, the housing being locatable adjacent to a wall of the fluid receptacle and connectable to a fluid overflow conduit provided for the receptacle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing is provided with a fluid output port connectable to a fluid outflow conduit arranged to collect fluid being drained from the receptacle.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure actuation member is a piston arranged to be movable under the influence of a "head" of fluid pressure.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the piston is substantially annular, with the actuation member arranged to pass through the annular aperture.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the detent means comprises at least one detent ball or the like arranged, when in the detent position with the actuation member in the first position, to be located and engage in a detent formation provided on the actuation member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein movement of the pressure actuation member causes the detent ball to be released from engagement with the detent formation provided on the actuation member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein a plurality of detent balls are provided arranged around the periphery of the actuation member, such that with the actuation member in the first position, each detent ball engages with a respective portion of a detent formation provided on the actuation member.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus may be reset to its initial position by moving the actuation member back to its original position.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation member is arranged, in the first position, to have its upper end located in a plug aperture at a suitable level enabling a plug to be located in the plug aperture in the normal manner, whilst in the second position the actuation member is arranged to project into the receptacle through the plug aperture, in so doing displacing the plug therefrom.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein movement of the actuation member from the first to the second position is arranged to cause a valve in fluid supply means to the receptacle to close, thereby substantially inhibiting further flow of fluid into the receptacle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein rotary valve means is provided rotatable between open and closed positions to either permit or inhibit fluid supply to the receptacle.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the actuation member is manually operable between the first and second position such that the valve means may be selectively closed or opened irrespective of whether the detent means is released by action of fluid pressure on the pressure actuation member.

17. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.