GB2339884A - Delay action device - Google Patents

Description

1 2339884 DELAY ACTION DEVICE This invention relates to a Delay Action

Device.

Fully adjustable mechanical Delayed Action Valves are well known and are used to control the level of water/liquid (hereinafter referred to as liquid), in storage tanks and the like to predetermined levels by large amounts. They are relatively expensive and usually require specialised fitting, herein after known as (type one). There are, however, other delayed action valves that have a fixed or small amount of adjustment, requires no specialised fitting, and are relatively cheap, herein after known as (type two). There is a type of delayed action valve, known as a Ball Cock Valve Regulator that has a small amount of adjustment and was patented by myself No.GB 2 302 394 B this is in the (type two) category. The ball cock valve regulator used in conjunction with a ball cock will automatically fill tanks with liquid, allow small quantities of liquid to be drawn off a tank without opening the valve, and assists the valve to open and close relatively quickly, firmly and smoothly.

I wanted an inexpensive way to adapt a (type two) ball cock valve regulator, retaining all its advantages and be equal to, or out perform a (type one) delayed action valve by, being able to adjustably increase the amount of liquid that can be drawn of a tank before the valve opens. In addition I wanted to prevent back siphoning by automatically closing the valve if the liquid supply was interrupted, whilst the valve was fiinctioning. I also wanted the facility to be able to remotely control the opening of the valve when required, to enable the tank to be topped up to its pre-set capacity (for example at night when demand for liquid from mains suppliers is low), without infiringing Statutory Regulations.

According to the present invention there is provided a ball cock valve regulator delay action device which consists of a specially shaped tube to hold a buoyancy chamber in an adjustable position along its length or turn upon its axis, and a shaped buoyancy chamber strategically placed and adjustably fitted to allow movement towards, or away from the valve fulcrum point, allowing the correct buoyancy is, in use, mounted mainly below the liquid line and works in conjunction with and attached to, a ball cock valve regulator, and is affixed with means of adjustment, to a ball cock arm.

2 A specific embodiment of the 'invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 shows in cut away section, the delky action device attached to a ball cock valve regulator which is fitted to ball cock arm 3 by an adjuster 12. 'Me liquid in tank 5 at its high level after the initial fill. The float 4 partially in the liquid. T"he buoyancy chamber 10 fully submerged in the liquid. The reservoir I empty and the valve 6 closed.

Figure 2 shows an amount of liquid has been drawn off tank 5. The float 4 fully out of the liquid. The buoyancy chamber 10 submerged and keeping the valve 6 shut.

Figure 3 illustrates the liquid at low level. The buoyancy chamber 10 partially out of the liquid, unable to keep valve 6 closed. Liquid from valve 6 trickling out of discharge feed nozzle 7 into, and filling reservoir 1.

Figure 4 shows reservoir I full and overflowing, at its maximum weight. The siphon tube 2 discharging liquid into main body of tank 5. The valve 6 fiffly open and liquid discharging out of feed nozzle 7 at its maximum. The buoyancy chamber 10 held under the liquid by the weight of the reservoir 1.

3 The drawings have been drawn in such a manner as to allow the internal viewing of relevant parts. Referring to the drawings, the ball cock valve, fitted with a ball cock valve regulator, and a delay action device, has a top discharge conforming to British Standards 212. The delay action device as described, works as follows. Liquid is drawn off tank 5 until float 4 is out of the liquid, at this time the buoyancy chamber 10 keeps valve 6 shut as shown in Fig 2. Liquid continues to be drawn off tank 5 until part of the buoyancy chamber 10 is out of the liquid, the buoyancy chamber 10 now less buoyant will allow arm 3 to fall opening valve 6 partially, liquid is discharged into reservoir I as shown in Fig 3. The reservoir 1 will fill to overflowing activating siphon tube 2, the weight of liquid held in reservoir I causes the buoyancy chamber 10 to fully submerge allowing arm 3 to fall further opening valve 6 fully, as shown in Fig 4. Liquid will flow out of feed nozzle 7 filling tank 5 until it reaches and lifts float 4 raising arm 3 and shutting valve 6, reservoir I has discharged its liquid down siphon 2, tank 5 is now M, as shown in Fig 1. The amount of liquid that can be drawn off tank 5 can be varied by sliding buoyancy chamber 10 up or down tube 9, by means of adjustment 11. If liquid supply is interrupted when valve 6 is open and discharging liquid into tank 5, (even if only a partial fill has occurred), the siphon 2 win empty reservoir 1, and the buoyancy chamber 10 will lift arm 3 closing valve 6, this will prevent back siphoning. To activate valve at any time between pre-set top and bottom liquid levels in tank 5, the buoyancy chamber 10 can be turned by adjustment 11 around the a3ds of tube 9, thereby increasing or decreasing its distance from fulcrum 8 altering the amount of lift/or leverage required by the buoyancy chamber 10 to keep valve 6 closed. The amount of lif'Vor leverage required to keep valve 6 closed can then be pre-set. This will enable mains suppliers to trigger valve 6 open by increasing the liquid pressure (fbr example, by one or two bar), going to the inlet side of valve 6, this will replenish tank 5 to its pre-set ftill level. After tank 5 is fidled to capacity the liquid pressure can be returned to normal by mains suppliers - A delay action device can be fitted to a ball cock valve regulator and ball cock by screws, bolts, glue or moulding to arm 3.

4

Claims (1)

1. A delay action device which consists of a specially shaped tube to hold a buoyancy chamber in an adjustable position along its length or turn upon its axis, and a shaped buoyancy chamber strategically placed and adjustably fitted to allow movement towards, or away from the valve falcrum point, allowing the correct buoyancy is, in use, mounted mainly below the liquid line and works in conjunction with, and attached to, a ball cock valve regulator, and is affixed with means of adjustment to a ball cock arm. 2 A delay action device as described in claim I which by means of adjustment I I will, 'in use, allow buoyancy chamber 10 to be adjustably turned upon axis of tube 9 towards or away from valve fulcrum point 8. 3 A delay action device as described in claim 1 which by virtue of the action of claim 2, will allow valve 6 to be remotely opened when liquid pressure to inlet side of valve 6 is increased, according to adjustments made. 4 A delay action device as described in claim 1 which by means of adjustment I I as claimed in claim 2 will, in use, allow buoyancy chamber 10 to be moved along the length of tube 9. 5 A delay action device as described in claim I which by virtue of the action as described in claim 4 will, in use, by moving buoyancy chamber 10 away from float 4 allow large quantities of liquid to be drawn off tank 5 before valve 6 opens, according to adjustments made. 6 A delay action device as described in claim 1 which by virtue of the action as described in claim 4 will, in use, by moving buoyancy chamber 10 towards float 4 allow small quantities of liquid to be drawn off tank 5 before valve 6 opens, according to adjustments made. 7 A delay action device as claimed in claim I by virtue of the claim as claimed in claim 2 will, in use, allow buoyancy chamber 10 to automatically close valve 6 if the liquid supply to inlet side of valve 6 is interrupted, according to adjustaimts made. 8 A delay action device as claimed in claim I which by virtue of the action as described in claim 7 will, in use, prevent back siphoning.