WO2000001970A1

WO2000001970A1 - Anti-hammer and noise reducing control valves for dishwasher and washing machine type applications

Info

Publication number: WO2000001970A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000549
Authority: WO
Inventors: Trevor Thomas Esplin; Walter George Morrison
Original assignee: ESPLIN TRICIA
Current assignee: ESPLIN TRICIA
Priority date: 1998-07-06
Filing date: 1999-07-06
Publication date: 2000-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2001-01-06

Abstract

The anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve comprises a housing (1) which has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). Threaded section (4) allows the body to be installed onto the outlet of a tap. Threaded section (5) allows the further water consuming device to be connected to the outlet (3). Valve seat (6) in conjunction with valve body (7) allows fluid to flow freely from the inlet (2) to the outlet (3) of the housing (1) and spring (8) in conjunction with location plate (9) provide a severe restriction to fluid attempting to flow from the outlet (3) to the inlet (2). Flow passageways (10) in the location plate (9) allow for free passage of fluid. Location device (11) holds the location plate (9) in place within the housing (1).

Description

ANTI-HAMMER AND NOISE REDUCING CONTROL VALVES FOR DISHWASHER AND WASHING MACHINE TYPE APPLICATIONS.

It will be seen from Australian Patent Application Number. 641620 there is presented a tap valve whose primary function is a shut-off device which also, in one of its embodiments, can provide a flow controllinαrestricting feature as well.

This new application in some of its embodiments, can provide for a similar flow controlling function but in an entirely new presentation which was not obvious until the prototypes were developed and upon which this patent application is based.

This application provides an inexpensive and reliable system for anti-hammer and noise reducing control valves to be easily installed in dishwasher and washing machine type situations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one of these embodiments of the present invention, instead of having the retaining ring with the large upstand being located and held in its position within the tap by the sealing O-ring, in this presentation, the retaining ring is now provided with a body which is a greatly extended body such that it now features the following items. The outlet end of the retaining ring now forms part of the extended body, the outlet end of the extended body is provided with an outlet screw threaded section which can be attached to the flexible water hoses which are associated with washing machine/dishwasher type inlet connections which are in current use in domestic and commercial situations today. The inlei end of the extended body provides for an inlet screw threaded section which has a fitting which is compatible with the plumbing pipe work currently associated with the connection for laundry type screw thread taps, hereinafter referred to as laundry type connections. This laundry type connection can be such that the current noise reduction invention can be located between the tap and the flexible hose, or between the flexible hose and the machine, or it can be located in the inlet orifice of the machine's solenoids.

In one particular embodiment of the current invention, there is located within the extended body between the inlet screw threaded section and the outlet screw threaded section is a retaining when the 0-niig is in plat , a seating arrangement is μiυvi ed fυι the O-ring within the extended body on the inlet side of the O-ring Internally located within the O-rmg is a valve seat which firmh locates and holds the O-πng in place within the retaining groove On the inlet side of the O-πng is a valve seat which can make a se ling contact with the O-ring A movable j u μei type valve it. then provided on ihe outlet side of the O-ring A biasing means acts upon the movable jumper type vaive member which biases it towards the closed position The diameter of the disc of the jumper valve and the internal diameter υf the extended body on the outlet side of the retaining ring can be machined such that the desired flow control at a particular inlet pressure is thus achieved A vanation to this flow rate can be achieved by having the internal diametei υf the extended body tapered or stepped such that for the range of positions of the movable type jumper valve, this positioning allows for different flow rates to be achieved as the spπng is compressed The biasing means is a spimg and the amount of movement υf the movable type jumper valve is limited so as tυ not exceed half of the diameter of the movable type jumper valves outside diameter of the disc B\ providing the features as described above, the device provides an effective anti-hammer noise reducing function

In another embodiment of the current invention, theie is located within the extended

between the screw threaded inlet end and screw threaded outlet ends a reduced diameter passageway which defines and separates the miet chamber and the outlet chamber Located within the outlet, diambci is a noise controlling segment which may be a disc which is spπng biased towards the reduced diameter passageway The circular area between the outer periphery of the noise controlling segment and the inner diameter of their outlet chamber is such that as fluid is flowing around and past this noise controlling segment, a restπction of the fluid flow at particular dynamic supply pressure occurs The diameter of the outlet chamber can vary such that as the dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing past that portion of it can vary piυpυiuυndlly as the nυisc controlling segment moves in relation to the varying size of the diameter of the outlet chamber as the movement compresses tne biasing spring

In another embodiment of the current invention, the noise controlling portion in its rest position forms a sealing contact with the reduced diameter passageway oπfice

In another embodiment of the current invention, the noise controlling portion in its rest position provides for a relief passageway to be present such that fluid from the inlet chamber can communicate with fluid in the outlet passageway even when the noise controlling segment is at rest. This relief passageway can be located on the outlet face of the reduced diameter passageway or on the inlet face of the noise controlling segment. The limit of travel towards the outlet end of the noise controlling segment is provided by the a limiting device which is located by a profile, a star type washer or the like within the inner surface of the outlet chamber.

In another embodiment of the current invention, the body is located between the flexible hose and the screw threaded connection of the tap and is actually the hose's connection end whose outlet portion is firmly attached to the flexible hose and whose stepped inlet end is surrounded by a compatible threaded connection which is attachable to the tap. A reduced diameter passageway, which may be removable, is located at the inlet end of the body and which may be held in position by a soft seating strainer unit. Located within the outlet chamber is a noise controlling segment which is spring biased towards the reduced diameter passageway. The circular area between the outer periphery of the noise controlling segment and the inner diameter of their outlet chamber is such that as fluid is flowing around and past this noise controlling segment, a restriction of the fluid flow at particular dynamic supply pressure may occur. The diameter of the outlet chamber can vary such that as the dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing past that portion of it can vary proportionally as the noise controlling segment moves in relation to the varying size of the diameter of the outlet chamber as the movement compresses the biasing spπng.

In another embodiment of the current invention, the noise controlling segment in its rest position provides for a relief passageway to be present such that fluid from the inlet can communicate with fluid in the outlet passageway. This relief passageway can be located on the outlet face of the reduced diameter passageway or on the inlet face of the noise controlling segment. The limit of travel towards the outlet end of the noise controlling segment is provided by the profile of the inner surface of the outlet chamber.

In another embodiment with a current invention, within the conventional type hose fitting attachment which screws onto the tap, a particular design has been found to substantially reduce the noise of water hammer and can be more fully described in the following manner. Within the internally threaded hose tap attachment is positioned a thin sealing disc (possibly of plastic) onto whose lower portion near the extremities of its circumference is located a resilient seal This could be an O-πng positioned within a groove on the outlet side of the thin sealing disc When positioned in its working position it is squeezed between the flexible hose's inlet connection on its outlet side and the filtering sieve washer on its inlet side and thus a watertight seal is able to be established between the tap and the flexible hose as a squeezing effect is produced by the tightening of the threaded end connector which is firmly screwed onto the matching screw thread on the supply taps outlet passageway Located approximately through the centre of a thin sealing disc is a locating hole which is more or less centrally aligned with the central axis of the thin sealing disc Circumscribed and spaced around and displaced from the locating hole are a series of fluid through passageways which are co\ered by a biased disc which is located on the underside (the outlet side) of the thin sealing disc A shaft from a biased disc attaching mechanism protrudes from or through the thin sealing disc through the locating means and is constructed such that the biasing means and a biasing means attaching mechanism helps keep the disc against this sealing disc when fluid is not flowing through the device The biased disc attaching mechanism when its rest position can, but does not necessarily have to. cover all of the fluid through passageways It has been found that the device appears to operate better when not all of the holes are completely covered In this configuration, substantial noise reduction usually associated with the effect known as water hammer have been achieved

These devices listed herein basically present noise controlling mechanism which are biased towards the closed position and which is normally located between the flexible connecting hose and the tap which is providing the supplied water to the dishwasher, washing machine and ice maker type devices which are located downstream of the flexible hose It will be seen from the following diagrams that all of the herein descπbed devices have the ability to substantially reduce the noise which is created by the effect known as water hammer, while not necessarily attempting to control the water hammer shock waves itself With all of the above described embodiments, it will be found that when the fluid control shut-off devices in the hereinbefore descπbed machines or water systems provides terminate the flow of water, a return to the rest position of our hereinbefore descπbed discs or valves is achieved Therefore as the water flow ceases, the biasing means acting on our noise controlling \alve closes our valve at the time of the cessation of the water flow Therefore these noise controlling valves are already shut and the return shock wave normalh caused by the electric solenoid in the OEM^'s equipment, is released back into the water supply line at a slow controlled rate. Therefore this built up shock wave in the flexible hose is prevented from returned the spiked water hammer effect in an uncontrolled manner which, when uncontrolled, will then interfere with other valves and/or pipes in the remainder of the properties associated plumbing network.

A further enhancement of the above products is provided by a central nodule which stands proud of the inlet surface end of the disc and which protrudes through the inlet orifice which communicates and separates the outlet and inlet chambers. Thus, when our valve opens due to the reduced pressure in the flexible tubing the fluid pressure required to open this valve is less than the fluid pressure required to hold the valve open due to the differing areas of the central nodule. With the above mentioned embodiments it has been found that a substantial flow of fluid through the hereinbefore described valves is achieved while still providing a very inexpensive and effective method of reducing the noise effects of water hammer. The variety of designs and applications allows the particular device used to suit a myriad of different applications.

In another embodiment of this invention a different sealing type operations can be provided which produce a non-return valve function for the control valves.

Preferably there is an anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve which has a body that has an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet attachment means cooperate with the body for providing a fluid tight seal between the inlet end of the body and the outlet of a fluid supply valve, located within the body is a valve seat, making contact with the valve seat is a valve which is biased towards the valve seat, the valve and valve seat are arranged to allow for the movement of fluid from the inlet end of the body to the outlet end of the body while severely restricting fluid flow in the reverse direction, and an outlet attachment means for providing a fluid tight seal between the body and the further fluid consuming mechanism. Preferably the outlet attachment means provides for a fluid tight connection for a flexible hose. Preferably the outlet attachment means is formed by the body of a further fluid consuming mechanism. Preferably the percentage of fluid allowed to return through the valve is twenty percent or less of the of the amount which is possible to flow through the valve in a forward condition.

For all of the above described devices, it has been found that substantial noise reduction is provided when installed with the operation Other Equipment Manufacturers appliances which intermittently initiate and terminate water flow during their operational cycles such as dishwashers, ice making machines, washing machines and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a presentation where the anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve is installed between the tap outlet and the flexible hose which leads to the water consuming device

Figure 2 shows a presentation where the anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve is installed between the tap outlet and forms part of the plumbing network leading to the water consuming device.

In Figure 1 there is a body (1) which has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). Threaded section (4) allows the body to be installed onto the outlet of a tap. Threaded section (5) allows the further water consuming device to be connected to the outlet of the body. Valve seat (6) in conjunction with valve (7) allows fluid to flow freely from the inlet to the outlet and spring (8) in conjunction with location plate (9) provide a severe restriction to fluid attempting to flow from the body outlet to the inlet. Flow passageways 10 in the location plate allow for the free passage of fluid. Location device (11) holds the location plate in place.

In Figure 2 there is a removable valve seat (12) which fits into the body and can be held in place by the removable type sieve and washer combination (not shown). A thread adaptor (13) allows the device to be attached to the threaded outlet of the tap. The attachment form at (14) shows one version of attaching the anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve to the flexible hose of the further water consuming device. Other attachment methods can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

The claims defining the im ention are as follows:-

1 An anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve which has a body that has an inlet end and an outlet end, an mlet attachment means cooperates with the body for providing a fluid tight seal between the inlet end of the body and the outlet of a fluid supply valve, located within the body is a valve seat, making contact with the valve seat is a valve which is biased towards the valve seat, the valve and valve seat are arranged to allow for the movement of fluid from the inlet end of the

to the outlet end of the bod\ while severely restricting fluid flow in the reverse direction, and an outlet attachment means for providing a fluid tight seal between the body and the further fluid consuming mechanism

2 An anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve according to claim 1 wherein, the outlet attachment means provides for a fluid tight connection for a flexible hose

3 An anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve according to claim 1 wherein, the outlet attachment means is formed by the body of a further fluid consuming mechanism 4 An anti-hammer and noise reducing control valve according to any of the previous claims wherein, the percentage of fluid allowed to return through the valve is twenty percent or less of the of the amount which is possible to flow through the valve in a forward condition