GB2219649A

GB2219649A - A water or other fluid supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2219649A
Application number: GB8904167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Murray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-27
Filing date: 1989-02-23
Publication date: 1989-12-13
Also published as: GB8904167D0; GB8804623D0

Abstract

A water or other fluid supply system includes electrically operated ON/OFF valve means 1 which is connected in a supply pipe to a tap outlet or equivalent embodying electric switching or other means 5 operable in dependence upon the condition of the tap outlet or the equivalent to control the operation of the ON/OFF valve means. The electric switching means may comprise switch contact members forming an integral part of a compressible tap washer (9-17 Fig. 2). or may comprise insulated contact members or regions which engage or disengage a relative rotation of superimposed discs of a fluid flow control device. The valve means 1, which may be incorporated in, or downstream of a water meter may supply a plurality of tap outlets. Pipe 2 may be located by electrical conductors therein; and the valve means may be operated from the mains and may have a back-up battery. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING To FLUID SUPPLY SYS1s5 This invention relates to fluid supply systems and is especially directed to a water supply system which prevents substantial leakage of water from mains supply pipes in the event of pipe fracture between incoming water mains supply and one or more tap outlets or the equivalent.

thereof. Conservation of water and the avoidance of damage resulting from extensive water leakage are two objectives of this invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a fluid supply (e.g. water supply) system comprising electrically operated ON/OFF valve means connected in a supply pipe to a tap outlet or the equivalent

thereof which embodies electric switchingjmeans operable in dependence upon the condition of the tap outlet or the equivalent thereof to control the operation of the electrically operated ON/OFF valve means.

In carrying out the present invention the electric switching means inay fone an integral part of a tap washer or other fluid flov control device forming part of the tap outlet or the equivalent thereof.

The electric switching means may comprise ssttce contact me-bers embodied in a compressible washer having electrical connections thereto extending through the periphery of the washer.

An alternative to the washer may comprise a pair of superimposed relatively rotatable perforated discs of insulating material for controlling the flow of fluid there through in which case the electric switching means will comprise suitably insulated contact members or regions which engage or disengage one another electrically in response to relative rotation between the discs.

For fail safe reasons it is preferred to arrange that the contacts of the electric switching means are closed in the OFF condition of the tap outlet or equivalent thereof in order to produce energisation of the OS/OFF valve means and the closure thereof. In the event of electrical

power failure, such as due to failure or switch off/the mains supply from which the power to the valve means may be deriveA t > -ourW n ster-d transformer, the valve means will open. However, a battery back-up arrangement could be provided to operate the valve means in the event of mains supply failure ctc. in which case the tap outlet could include normally open switch contacts.

The electrical connections between the switching means and the ON/OFF valve means may be made by insulated electrical conductors located within the supply pipe to the tap outlet or equivalent.

It may also be advantageous to keep the temperature of water within the section of pipe between the valve means and the tap outlet slightly above the ambient temperature especially when the supply system is not used for prolonged periods thereby to avoid freezing and possible fracture of the pipe section concerned and consequential leakage. For tis purpose a small heating element which may be located within the Lipe section may be arranged to be energised by a very small electric current to heat the water within the pipe section when the tap outlet or equivalent is in the closed condition.

In the case where a plurality of pipe branches extend from an incoming mains supply to individual tap outlets or the equivalent thereof a single ON/OFF valve may be provided in the supply pipe before the pipe branches with suitable electrical connections being made between the respective switching means of the tap outlets or equivalent and the ON/OFF valve.

Where water meters are provided in the water supply system the ON/OFF valve means may be located on the consumer's side of the meter or it may be embodied in the meter itself.

By way of example, the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a water supply system according to the present invention: Figure 2 shows an exploded view of electric switch means/tap washer means incorporated in the tap outlet of the system shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a low voltage electrically operated valve 1 is connected in the water supply pipe 2 (e.g. mains supply) to a tap outlet 3. The valve 1 may be arranged to be supplied with a low operating voltage (e.g. 12 volts) through a mains transformer 4. The operating circuit for the on/off valve 1 includes an electric switch 5 which is embodied in the tap structure of a tap outlet 3. In the present example the electric switch 5 provides normally open contacts 6 and the switch is electrically connected to the valve 1 by insulated electrical conductors 7 and 8 which may conveniently be contained within the water supply pipe 2 as shown. In response to closure of the contact by opening tap 3 an electrical circuit is completed for the energisation of the valve 1.

To ensure that in the event of mains failure or switch off the valve 1 will open in response to opening of the tap 3, a battery back-up arrangement (not shown) may be provided. Alternatively a fail safe arrangement may be provided in which the switch 5 is provided with normally closed contacts which maintain the valve 1 in an energised condition whilst the tap 3 is closed but open to de-energise the valve 1 when the tap is opened.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, this showe one form of the electrical switch 5 adapted to define a tap washer which comrrises a plurality of component parts bonded together to provide 9 compressible sealed cylindrical washer fitted within the usual washer cavity of the tap body. The switch comprises a base support ring or anulus 9 of compressed fibre, for example, on which is located a base ring 10 of hard rubber or similar material having an arcuate aperture 11 therein. A flexible contact carrying ring 12 of rubber, for example, is located on top of the base ring 10 eo that an arcuate metal contact 13 defining one of the electrical contacts of the switch 5 is positioned over the aperture 11 in the base ring 10.

A metal contact ring 14 defining the other electrical contact of the switch is positioned on top of the contact carrying ring 12 and is provided with a small hole 15 which is located over the arcuate contact 13 and through which a small cylindrical insulating stud 16 secured to a superimposed ring 17 projects so that it bears on the contact 13. As previously mentioned, the switch assembly is bonded together and is housed within the normal tap washer enclosure and is adapted to itself define the washer within the tap. With the tap in the closed condition the switch assembly/washer is compressed so that the insulating stud 16 pushes the arcuate contact 13 away from the contact ring 1t to provide open switch contpcts and the water pipe 2 is closed off by the compressed rings defining the tap washer.

In this condition of the switch contacts the on/off valve 1 is de-energised so that the valve is closed and the water supply to the tap outlet is shut off. When the tap outlet 3 is opened the switch 5 is decompressed so that the flerure of the flexible rings assisted by air compressed in the arcuate aperture 11 causes the pressure exerted by the stud 1 on the arcuate contact to be relieved thereby allowirW the arcuate contact 13 to make contact with the contact ring 1G.The energising circuit for the on/off valve 1 ia accordingly complete and the valve opened in order to allow water to flow along the pipe 2 to the tap outlet 3 whilst the decompressed switch assembly effectively serves as a conventional tap washer allowing the water flow to be controlled.

It will be appreciated therefore that with the tap in the oft condition the valve 1 will also be in the off condition and although there will be some water in the supply pipe 2 in the event of this supply pipe becoming fractured the actual loss of water will be very small thereby contributing to water conservation and avoiding extensive damage in the event of fracture etc. of the supply pipe between the valve 1 and the tap outlet 3.

As previously mcntioned a battery back-up arrangement could be provided to ensure that the valve 1 could be opened by opening the tap 3 in the event of electric mains supply failure or switch off.

With a view to reducing the possibility of water in the pie 2 freezing it may be arranged that a heating element wire 18 is fed through the pipe 2 and either manually or thermostatically controlled (contacts 19) to provide heating current from the supply for the on/off valve 1 when the tap 3 is closed and switch contacts 22 are closed in order to maintain the water in the pipe 2 at a temperature above freezing.

The electrically operated valve 1 can be constructed to inccrporate a feed-in tube 20 so that on installation the water flow may be used to draw a brush 21 connected to the electrical conductors 7 and e and heating element wire 18 along the supply pipe 2 to the outlet tar 3 and also to provide 9 means for connecting the electrical conductors 7 and 8 and heating element wire 18 to valve 1.

It may here be mentioned that the compressible washer switch sssemblo could be replaced by a pair of superimposed relatively rotatable discs which are perforated so as to control the flow of water therethrough in response to relative rotation therebetween. In this case the switch contacts corresponding to contacts 6 and 22 may somprise suitably insulated metallic members or regions attached to the discs which engage and disengage one another as the discs are rotated relative to each other.

Often a mains water supply pipe will branch into a plurality of pipe branches which are terminated by tap outlets or the equivalent thereof (e.g. input valve to washing machine or other appliance). In applying the invention to such arrangements the tap outlets or equivalent will have switches embodied therein for controlling the energisation of a single electrically operated valve connected in the water supply pipe before it branches.

Vhere a water meter is provided in the mains supply pipe the valve 1 will be located on the sonsumer side of the meter or the valve may be incorporated in the meter itself.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A fluid supply system comprising electrically operated ON/OFT valve means connected in a supply pipe to a tap outlet or the equivalent

thereof which embodies electric switchingt eans operable in dependence upon the condition of the tap outlet or the equivalent thereof to control the operation of the electrically operate ON/OFF valve me2ns.

2. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, in which the electric switching means forms an integral gart of a tap washer or other fluid flow control device forming part of the tap outlet or the equivalent thereof.

3. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 2, in which the electric switching means comprises switch contact members embodied in a compressible w2sher having electrical connections thereto exte;dir, through the periphery of the washer.

4. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 2, in which the fluid control device comprises a pair of superimposed relatively rotatable perforated discs of insulating material for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough and in which the electric switching means comprises suitably insulated contact members or regions which engage or disengage one another in response to relative rotation between the discs.

5. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 3, in which contacts of the electric switching means are closed in the OFF condition of the tap outlet or equivalent thereof in order to produce energisation of the ON/OFF valve and the closure thereof.

6. A fluid supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electrical circuit for energising the electrically operated valve means comprises electrical conductor means located in the supply pipe between the tap outlet or the equivalent thereof and the GR/OFF valve means.

7. A fluid supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electric switching means also serves to complete an electric circuit for heating the fluid in the section of pipe between the tap outlet or the equivalent and the electrically operated valve when the tap outlet or equivalent thereof is closed.

8. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 6, in which the heating of the fluid in the supply pipe is achieved by electric current flowing in electrical conductor means located within the supply pipe.

9. A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim in which a single electrically operated ON/OFT valve is provided in respect of a plurality of branches extended from a mains supply pipe and terminated by individual tap outlets or the equivalent thereof each having switching means embodied therein for controlling the ON/OFF valve.

10. A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a water meter is connected on the supply input side of the electrically operated valve means.

11. A water supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the electrically operated valve means is incorporated in a water meter.

12. A fluid supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the ON/OFF valve means is operated from a low voltage supply.

13. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 12, in which the low voltage supply is obtained from the mains supply through a transformer.

14. A fluid supply system as claimed in claim 13, in which a battery back-up system is provided to supply electrical power to the valve means in the event of mains supply failure or switch off.

15. A water supply system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.