GB2371539A

GB2371539A - Portable valve mechanism for filling a container

Info

Publication number: GB2371539A
Application number: GB0100490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Reece Walton
Original assignee: WALTON ANGELA CHRISTINE
Current assignee: WALTON ANGELA CHRISTINE
Priority date: 2001-01-09
Filing date: 2001-01-09
Publication date: 2002-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-09
Also published as: GB2371539B; GB0100490D0

Description

A Device

This invention relates to a portable valve mechanism for connecting to a water supply, in particular for connecting to the end of a flexible hose when filling a water container.

In many instances, such as on a farm or a building site, it is often not practicable to connect a permanent water or other liquid supply to a container. Instead, a flexible hose is used to fill the container. Once the container is full, the hose can be removed and used to fill another container.

However, it easy to forget to turn off the water supply.

The container may consequently overflow, resulting in a wastage of water and an undesirable wetting of the area surrounding the container. If the container is being filled with a liquid other than water, such as milk for example, the expense due to the wastage if the container overflows may be considerable.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for filling a container with liquid comprising: a main body member; a liquid passage through the body member, the liquid passage having an inlet and an outlet; a coupler for releasably connecting the inlet to a source of liquid; a releasable mounting for temporarily attaching the main body member to a container such that the outlet is arranged to dispense liquid into the container; a liquid level sensor for sensing the level of liquid in the container; and an on/off valve for controlling flow through the liquid passage, wherein the on/off valve is adapted to be actuated by the liquid level sensor.

By an on/off valve, it is meant a valve that is adapted to move between a completely open position and a completely closed position, these two positions corresponding to the on and off states respectively.

The device can be connected to a liquid supply such as a hose end and mounted on the side of a container. When the liquid level in the container is beneath a predetermined height, the valve will be in the open state and liquid will flow into the container, causing the liquid level to rise. When the liquid level sensed by the level sensor reaches a predetermined height, the valve will be actuated by the sensor and will move automatically to the closed state, cutting off the flow of liquid into the container.

This will reduce the risk of the container overflowing, removing the need for the liquid level to be watched continuously in order to determine the appropriate moment at which to turn off the supply of liquid.

After the liquid level had reached the predetermined height but before the hose end with the device is removed form the container, the supply of liquid to the hose can be turned off at a main valve situated upstream of the device. Alternatively, if liquid is frequently or continuously removed from the container, the device can be left in place in the container and the supply of liquid to the hose can be left on so that a substantially constant liquid level is maintained. When the supply of liquid to the container is no longer needed, the hose end with the device can readily be removed from that container and placed on/in another container.

The releasable mounting will preferably be rigidly attached to the main body member, in order to reduce the

risk that water will be directed to a point outside the container if the hose is inadvertently pulled. The main body member of the device will normally be mounted with the releasable mounting along a side wall of the container, preferably on the container rim, with the valve outlet facing into the container, so that water is directed therein when the valve is open. The releasable mounting will enable the device to be removed from or attached to a container by hand, preferably without the use of a tool.

The releasable mounting will preferably take the form of a clip or screw clamp, which will clasp the side wall of the container. The container will preferably be an open container having a rim. If a clip is used, the clip may have integrally formed biasing means, or other biasing means such as a compression spring. However, the releasable mounting may take the form of a hook or other U-shaped member adapted to seat upon the rim of a container, so that the device can hang on the rim of the container, against the container wall. The U-shaped member may be provided with clamping means such as a screw passing through a threaded aperture in the U-shaped member, which screw will act against the container wall.

Alternatively, the mounting may be a magnetic mounting.

The mounting will preferably be adapted for use with a variety of containers having a range of sizes and/or wall thickness, but the mounting may be adapted to engage with a corresponding feature on the container, such as a magnetic base in the case of a magnetic mounting.

To increase the structural strength of the device, the sensor and/or at least part of the liquid passage will preferably be housed in the main body member, such that

the main body member acts as a casing for the device. The on/off valve may also be within the main body member. The walls of the liquid passage may be housed internally within the main body member, or alternatively the walls of the liquid passage may at least in part be formed by one or more portions of the main body member wall. The valve outlet and/or inlet may be mounted on a wall of the main body member to make the device more compact and easy to position and/or carry. The main body member and/or the fluid passage may be formed from plastics material, preferably by injection moulding, for ease of fabrication.

The on/off valve may be located remotely to the main body member, for example at the end of a hose connected to the main body member.

If the liquid supply is provided by a hose end, the releasable coupler will preferably comprise a releasable connector adapted to releasably engage with a corresponding connector mounted on the hose to allow the device to be easily fitted or removed from the hose. The connectors may have a snap fit, bayonet or screw engagement. Alternatively, the liquid supply may be provided by a tapering rigid tube or spigot, in which case the coupler may be a simple tube end in which the spigot is received, preferably as a frictional push fit.

The liquid level sensor may comprise a float valve on a swinging arm, and the on/off valve may be mechanically actuated into the off state by the leverage force of the swing arm when the arm rises beyond a predetermined angle due to the floatation of the float. Such an arrangement, commonly known as a ball cock or ball valve, may be useful in large containers or in containers having a rigid side wall. However, if the device is not mounted on a

container sufficiently securely, the leverage moment of the float on the swing arm may cause the device to move relative to the container on which it is mounted. To reduce the leverage forces the device experiences, a mechanical rise-and-fall float valve may be used as an alternative to a ball cock, of the type for example which uses a float carrying a needle to close the flow of water though a bore.

To make the device more compact, the on/off valve will preferably be electrically actuated in response to an electrical signal produced by an electrically powered sensor, when the sensed liquid level reaches a predetermined value. The sensor may be an electrical/electronic sensor such as a capacitance sensor comprising a pair of capacitatively coupled electrodes whose capacitance is a function of the volume of liquid between them. Alternatively, the sensor may be an optoelectronic sensor, for example of the type which comprises a non contact switch formed by an optoelectronic circuit with a light detector and light emitter arranged such that the light path between the detector and the emitter is broken or perturbed when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height. As a further alternative, the sensor may be an electromechanical sensor, comprising for example a rise-and-fall float which closes/opens an electrical switch. An electromechanical sensor comprising bellows which collapse under liquid pressure to close an electrical switch may alternatively be used.

Preferably, if an electrically powered sensor is employed, such a sensor will be battery operated so that the device can be used where there is no convenient electrical mains supply present, such as outdoors on a farm, for example.

If the on/off valve is electrically actuated, then a solenoid valve will preferably be used as the on/off valve. An electrically actuated valve will preferably normally be in the open state, moving into the closed state under the influence of an electrical actuating signal. If the valve is a simple solenoid valve, then the actuating signal will be a current/voltage of sufficient magnitude to move or maintain the solenoid valve in the closed state. Alternatively, a solenoid may be used to release a catch and the valve may move into the closed/open state under the influence of the liquid pressure acting upon it. However, the valve may comprise a logic or other electronic circuit or switching means such that a pulse or other non continuous actuating signal triggers the valve to switch between the on state and the off state in a toggle type fashion. The switching means may comprise a mechanical or solid state relay so that the actuating signal to the valve triggers a larger current/signal which causes the valve to move between the open position to the closed position.

The on/off valve may normally be in the closed state until it is activated, for example in response to a trigger signal when the hose is placed in a container and the valve is ready to be used. After the valve has been activated it will preferably be in the normally open state, so that liquid can enter the container. The valve will then close again when the liquid level reaches a pre determined height. The valve can then be deactivated so as to bring it into the normally closed state, for example when the valve is removed from a first container and placed in a second container.

An additional valve may be placed upstream of the on/off valve, to prevent liquid from flowing though the on/off

valve if it is in the open position when the valve is being moved from one container to another.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of filling a container with liquid to a predetermined level using a device having: a main body member; a liquid passage through the main body member, the liquid passage having an inlet and an outlet; a releasable mounting ; a liquid level sensor; and an on/off valve responsive to the liquid level sensor, wherein the method comprises the steps of: i) using the releasable mounting to temporarily attach the main body member to the container with the outlet arranged to dispense liquid into the container; ii) allowing liquid to flow through the liquid passage to fill the container; iii) using the sensor to sense the liquid level in the container; iv) automatically controlling the on/off valve in response to the liquid level sensed by the liquid level sensor in order to fill the container to the predetermined level.

The inlet will preferably be directly connected to the outlet of a liquid supply, which outlet may be formed by the end of a flexible hose or a spigot. Alternatively the liquid supply outlet may be the end or stub of a rigid pipe or tube.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which : Figure 1 shows a container with a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, where the device has an electrical sensor; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the device, where the device has a mechanical sensor ; and Figure 3 is a functional diagram for an electrically actuated device.

In Figure 1, a device 10 for controlling liquid flow in an on/off fashion is connected to the end of a hose 16 by a hose connector 17. The device 10 is removably attached to the side wall 12 of a container 14 by a releasable mount 20, so that water from the hose 16 is directed into the container 14 from an outlet 18 of the device 10 facing into the container.

The releasable mount 20 comprises a clip 22 with pivoted jaws 24, each jaw 24 having a respective handle portion 23 extending therefrom on the opposite side of the pivot point. The jaws 24 are biased towards each other and against each side of the side wall 14 by biasing means, shown here in the form of a compression spring 26 acting between the handle portions 23 of the clip 22. The releasable mount 20 is fixedly attached to the hose connector by an arm 31 and holds the device 10 in place on the side wall 12. The releasable mount 20 keeps the valve outlet 18 facing into the container 14, to reduce the risk of the device 10 swinging upwards and directing water out of the container 14.

The device 10 has an on/off valve 28 situated in a liquid

passage 29 between the hose 16 and the valve outlet 18. The valve 28 is controlled by a solenoid 32. A water level sensor 30 in the form of a battery operated capacitance sensor is housed within a main body member or casing 32 mounted on the walls of the liquid passage 29.

The capacitance has probes (not shown) arranged such that when the water level reaches the probes, the water between the probes changes the capacitance of the sensor, which produces an electrical signal for actuating the on/off valve 28.

The valve 28 is normally open, so that water from the hose 16 will flow through the device 10 and begin to fill up the container 14. When the water level reaches the level sensor 30, the sensor will send a signal to the solenoid 32 controlling the valve 28, and the valve will close, preventing the water level from rising further.

The water supply to the hose 16 can be turned off, and the releasable mount can then be released from the wall 12 of the container 14 in order to remove the device. The mount can be released from the wall 12 by hand, by squeezing the handle portions 23 of the clip 22 together, which causes the jaws 24 of the clip 22 to move away from one another. However, if desired, the water supply to the hose 16 may be left on and the device 10 may be left in place in the container 14, since the on/off valve 28 will remain closed until the water level falls.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2, where the on/off valve 28 is mechanically actuated (components corresponding to those in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals). In this embodiment, the valve takes the form of a ball cock 30 in which a mechanical valve 28 is actuated by an arm 36 which pivots

as a float 34 at one end of the arm 36 rises with the rising water level.

The releasable mount 20 comprises a U-shaped plate 22 which seats against the rim 13 of the side wall 12. The U-shaped plate 22 is clamped onto the side wall by a screw 26 which passes though a threaded aperture in the U-shape plate and acts on the external face of the side wall 12.

The screw 26 has a handle 23 so that it can easily be unscrewed to allow the mount to be removed from the container side wall 12.

The U-shaped plate 22 is fixedly attached to the main body member 32 of the device 10, so that when the U-shaped plate 22 seats on the rim 13 and the screw 26 acts against the side wall 12, the device 10 is rigidly secured to the container 14. This will reduce the risk of the outlet 18 becoming misaligned and directing water to a point outside the container 14 due to the leverage force of the ballcock 30 or when the hose 16 is inadvertently pulled. Although the releasable mount 20 in Figure 2 is shown in use with a ballcock 30, it may be used with other valves/sensors.

A block diagram in Figure 3 shows the functional relationship between a sensor (S) 30, and an electrical/electronic valve (V) 28 controlling the flow of water through a liquid passage 29. The valve 28 is normal open, allowing water to flow through the liquid passage 29. When the water level reaches a predetermined height, the sensor sends an actuating signal 36 to an an actuator (A) 37 which actuates the valve 28, such that the valve 28 closes, preventing further flow of water through the liquid passage 29. The actuator may comprise an electronic circuit capable receiving a low level actuating signal 37 from the sensor and producing an high level

signal which operates the valve 28.

As it will be appreciated, such an arrangement represents a convenient way to reduce the risk of water overflowing form a water container whilst it is being filled.

Claims

Claims :

1. A device for filling a container with liquid comprising: a main body member; a liquid passage through the body member, the liquid passage having an inlet and an outlet; a coupler for releasably connecting the inlet to a source of liquid; a releasable mounting for temporarily attaching the main body member to a container such that the outlet is arranged to dispense liquid into the container; a liquid level sensor for sensing the level of liquid in the container; and an on/off valve for controlling flow through the liquid passage, wherein the on/off valve is adapted to be actuated by the liquid level sensor.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the liquid level sensor is mechanical and the on/off valve is mechanically actuated.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the liquid level sensor is electrical and the on/off valve is electrically actuated in response to an actuation signal produced by the liquid level sensor.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the liquid level sensor is a battery operated capacitance sensor.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the on/off valve is a solenoid valve.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the on/off valve comprises an electronic circuit or switching means such that an actuating signal causes the valve to switch between the on state and the off state in a toggle type fashion.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the releasable mounting is a clip or screw clamp.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the releasable mounting comprises aU-shaped member adapted to seat upon the rim of a container.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the coupler comprises a releasable connector.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the liquid passage and the sensor are housed in a main body member.

11. A device as claimed Claim 10, wherein the releasable mounting is rigidly attached to the main body member.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the on/off valve is normally in the open state.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the releasable mounting is rigidly attached to the main body member.

14. A method of filling a container with liquid to a predetermined level using a device having: a main body member; a liquid passage through the main body member, the liquid passage having an inlet and an outlet; a releasable mounting; a liquid level sensor; and an on/off valve responsive to the liquid level sensor, wherein the method comprises the steps of: i) using the releasable mounting to temporarily attach the main body member to the container with the outlet

arranged to dispense liquid into the container ; ii) allowing liquid to flow through the liquid passage to fill the container; iii) using the sensor to sense the liquid level in the container; iv) automatically controlling the on/off valve in response to the liquid level sensed by the liquid level sensor in order to fill the container to the predetermined level.

15. A device substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method for filling a container substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.